Nicole Brechka
The Eye-Opening Benefits of Goji Berries
Goji berries have a long history of medicinal use in China, where they are eaten regularly and also enjoyed in tea form. A small study in Nutrients supports these brightly colored berries for the prevention of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in aging populations. Estimates showRead
Vitamin K2 May Help Aging Brains
Scientists continue to unravel the connection between cognitive function and vitamin K. In a recent rat study from Antioxidants, vitamin K2 was shown to offer some protection against age-related cognitive impairments related to Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. Study Details Mature rats were given menaquinone-7 (MK-7), a formRead
Aged Black Garlic Extract Lowers High Blood Pressure
Hundreds of studies support garlic’s cardiovascular benefits. Now a six-week clinical trial in Nutrients shows that a fermented form of garlic — aged black garlic extract — helps lower blood pressure in people with high cholesterol. Aged black garlic has long been a staple in Asian cuisine, where it’s consideredRead
Can Cocoa Extract Reduce Cardiovascular Disease?
We know that chocolate is the way to many people’s hearts. Now a study from The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that a cocoa flavanol extract may offer protection against cardiovascular events. Flavanols are nutrient-rich compounds found in several plant foods, including cocoa, purple and red grapes, blueberries, andRead
Could Antibiotic Use in Midlife Lead to Cognitive Decline?
Chronic antibiotic use among women during midlife may increase the risk of cognitive decline later in life. This is according to a prospective population-based cohort study involving more than 14,000 nurses published in PLOS ONE. Participants, who were part of the Nurses’ Health Study II, took a self-administered neuropsychologicalRead
Sleeping with the Lights On Spells Trouble
Sleeping in the dark may make you healthier, according to a new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Researchers found that just one night of exposure to moderate room light negatively affects cardiometabolic health. The sleep study involved 20 subjects, 10 of whom slept in a dim lightRead
People Who Meditate Make Fewer Mistakes
When you’re in a hurry, do you make more mistakes and forget things easily? Meditation may be the ideal antidote, according to researchers at Michigan State University. More than 200 people who had never meditated before were recruited to participate in the study, which appeared in Brain Sciences. Subjects wereRead
Which Diet Is Best for IBS?
Three popular IBS diets went head-to-head in a recent British study from Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology — low-FODMAP (LFD), gluten-free (GFD), and traditional dietary advice (TDA). Researchers were surprised to discover that all three eating plans reduced symptoms by roughly 50% among subjects suffering from non-constipated irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Read
Vitamin D2’s Questionable Role in Health
What’s in a number? Everything when it comes to vitamin D. According to researchers at the Universities of Surrey and Brighton, vitamin D2 and D3 do not have the same effect on the body. Moreover, vitamin D2 may have a “questionable” effect on human health, and it may also interfereRead
Our Organs Have Different Biological Ages
Researchers have gained new insight into human aging — organs such as the liver, heart, and lungs all age differently and at different rates. This discovery may prove essential when it comes to living longer and healthier. The analysis, which involved more than 4,000 people, was led by a teamRead
