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Breaking Down The B’s

The B vitamins are a family that often appear naturally combined in the foods we eat. They’re commonly known as the B family, or B complex. They work in conjunction with one another for critical metabolic functions, acting as assistant coenzymes to catalyze many chemical reactions involved with nutrient breakdown, cellular energy production, and more.

Supplements for Smokers? Antioxidants aid smokers’ gum disease

Treating gum disease in smokers is daunting: Implants don't take hold as well, surgeries are less successful and infections heal more slowly than in nonsmokers. Short of convincing patients to quit, oral biologists at the University at Buffalo School of Dental...

Sugar and Spice: Cinnamon reduces glucose in diabetics

Less than a half-teaspoon per day of ground cinnamon helped volunteers with type II diabetes reduce their levels of blood sugar - and reduce several heart disease risk factors, as well. That's according to a preliminary study of a small group of 60 men and women, all...

Stop Nausea Now! Ginger helps with morning sickness

New research from South Australia has shown that there is more than hearsay to the notion that ginger helps to stop nausea in pregnancy. A randomized controlled trial of ginger as a treatment for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy has found that a dose of 1.05 gm of...

Spice may Help Cystic Fibrosis: Turmeric component corrects gene defect

Researchers at Yale University and the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto report that curcumin, a compound in the spice turmeric, corrects the defect of cystic fibrosis in mice. Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a debilitating and ultimately fatal genetic disorder. It causes...

Slow Prostate Cancer: Tea compounds inhibit tumour growth

Researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles were able to detect tea polyphenols in prostate tissue after a very limited consumption of tea. More importantly, the scientists found that prostate cancer cells grew more slowly when placed in a medium...

Slow Bone Loss: Study stresses importance of adequate B-12

Older women with low levels of vitamin B-12 are more likely to experience rapid bone loss, according to new research. The new findings help to establish the importance of vitamin B-12 in the bone health of women as they age. Vitamin B-12, which is found in animal...

SAMe Solution? Supplement aids depression in combination with drugs

Researchers have found that adding the nutritional supplement SAMe to a standard antidepressant may be helpful to patients who have not responded to single-drug treatment for clinical depression. The pilot study found that treatment with both SAMe and an...

Salsa Secret: Spice identified as strong antibiotic

Researchers have identified a compound in cilantro, a key flavour component of salsa and a variety of other dishes, that kills harmful Salmonella bacteria. It shows promise as a safe, natural food additive that could help prevent foodborne illness, according to a...

Reducing the Risk: Folic acid lowers risk of ovarian cancer

Folic acid is a water-soluble B vitamin that has been shown to play an important role in DNA synthesis and repair. Previous studies have shown that a low intake of folic acid may be associated with an increased risk of breast and colorectal cancer, especially among...

Recipe for Heart Health? Exercise, fish oils supplement a great combo

When fat (lipid) levels rise in the blood for an extended time, a condition called post prandial lipemia, it can cause a temporary risk for atherosclerosis, a leading cause of heart disease. Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia found that a session of...