Posts Tagged ‘Resveratrol’
Preemptive Steps for Prostate Health
- Image by Stella Blu via Flickr
Here is some good news for senior men who are concerned about taking steps to promote their prostate health. We can take a health tip from the dietary practices of the men in Western Europe. They have lower rates of prostate cancer than we do in the USA. Recent research appears to point to a number of the items in their diet. We have all heard about the Mediterranean diet, but this research identified some very specific staples in that diet that supported prostate health. These staples appear to provide powerful defenses against prostate cancer. Two of the leading defenders of the prostate are both garlic and scallions. In a recent study in a national cancer journal it was reported that men who ate ample amounts of scallions or garlic on a daily basis reduced their risk of contracting prostate cancer by 50%. The organosulfur compounds in both vegetables are credited with providing the key to defending the prostate.
The fermented juice of the red grape are loaded with resveritrol which is an antioxidant that is found in several plants. Researchers think that it is the antioxidant in resveratrol that inhibits the growth of prostate cancer. For those who like a glass of wine with their meal the researchers suggest no more than two glasses, in order to get the benefits of the resveratrol. More than two glasses could negate the the benefits of the resveratrol. Fortunately for those who do not like to consume wine, resveratrol is available in supplement form which will provide the same defense against prostate cancer.
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Resveratrol’s Twin Brother
- Image via Wikipedia
Studies based on recent plant extract research has discovered a plant extract that is very similar to resveratrol. This plant extract functions in ways similar to resveratrol, because it provides many of the benefits for longevity required for senior health. This compound which is found in minute quantities in grapes and blueberries regulates genes that control the development of diseases that typically affect seniors. Diseases like atheroschlerosis, cancer, diabetes, and systemic inflammation are classic examples of such age-related disorders. This plant extract is called pterostilbene and like resverotrol is a member of the stilbene family of compounds. It turns out that when the two are combined they work synergistically to enhance the good health benefits of resveratrol which is very good news for senior health.
When resverotrol and pterostilbene are combined they activate a person’s longevity genes. Together they act on our longevity genes in a manner that parallels caloric restriction without the obvious and very unpleasant side effect that accompanies caloric restriction. They act at different places to control gene expression. In the case of cancer they turn on the genes that kill cancer cells and turn off the genes that allow cancer cells to spread. They provide similar activity to head off diabetes and memory loss due to aging. Thanks to the availability of combined extracts of both resverotrol and pterostilbene seniors do not have to eat five cups of blueberries and drink 20 bottles of red wine a day.
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Can Pomegranate Protect against Age-Related Diseases?
- Image via Wikipedia
The health news has been full of reports about the benefits of resveratrol for extending life similar to benefits demonstrated for caloric restriction for senior health. Both caloric restriction and resveratrol work to promote longevity, because they change the way our genes are expressed. Both turn off the senescence genes and turn on the youth genes that promote cellular vitality. Recent research has shown that pomegranate protects against age-related diseases such as atherosclerosis, cancer, and type 2 diabetes by altering gene expression in a way similar to the action of resveratrol. Pomegranate extracts work in a multifold manner to prevent atherosclerosis and to undue the effects of atherosclerosis that has already attacked the arteries. In addition pomegranate juice has been shown to reduce total cholesterol and LDL levels which effectively reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Thanks to pomegranate’s broad spectrum antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it is no wonder that it has shown excellent results in preventing certain cancers and reversing the progress of already existing cancers. Beneficial results of treating folks with pomegranate extracts, juice and oils have been shown
for breast, colon, and prostate cancer.
Finally pomegranate juice and extracts have demonstrated powerful preventative effects at multiple levels for folks who are pre-diabetic and those who are diabetic. In lab tests the juice lowered blood sugar and in human trials it improved the lipid profiles in diabetics. The juice reduced the markers of tissue oxidation in diabetics by more than 50% which reduces the amount of atherosclerosis.
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What is the French Paradox about Cardiovascular Disease?
The people of France consume a diet high in fat, but they do not suffer from the consequences of cardiovascular disease that typically follow from consuming fatty foods. The French consume a lot of red wine when they are eating foods with a high fat content. The current scientific hypothesis proposes that a substance found in red wine known as resveratrol is responsible for neutralizing the usual negative cardiovascular consequences of consuming fatty foods.
Studies that used resveratrol in several animal species showed improved longevity. Laboratory studies and animal studies suggest that resveratrol may contribute greatly to reducing cardiovascular disease and cancer, too. Additional diseases associated with aging that may be mitigated or prevented include Alzheimer’s disease and inflammatory arthritis. The implication of these studies are very encouraging, because they show serious potential for improving health for seniors.
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