Blog

Vision Quest: Aging with Good Eyesight

An interview with Dr Mahmood Piraee, PhD By Jason Sebeslav Dr. Mahmood Piraee is a pharmacist with a PhD in molecular and cellular biology from Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada. He has over 20 years of experience in natural products drug discovery and...

Joint Research: Glucosamine eases chronic knee pain

If sore, stiff joints are slowing you down, you may be interested in the results of a recent study by Australian researchers. They report that glucosamine supplements can reduce knee pain in people with cartilage damage and may help in cases of osteoarthritis. Their...

Vitamin C, taurine ease artery damage from smoking

Researchers have found that vitamin C and taurine, an amino acid in fish, reversed abnormal blood vessel response associated with cigarette smoking. “When blood vessels are exposed to cigarette smoke it causes the vessels to behave like a rigid pipe rather than a...

Ginseng improves memory in stroke-related dementia patients

A recent study showed that a ginseng compound improved memory scores of people suffering from stroke-induced dementia, Chinese researchers reported. Memory loss, or dementia, may occur after stroke and is a growing problem in China, says lead researcher Jinzhou Tian,...

Cholesterol Clues: Study finds plant sterols cut levels

Phytosterols are naturally occurring plant compounds found in vegetables and legumes. They have a chemical structure similar to cholesterol, but inhibit the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine. Many studies have found that esterified phytosterols added to...

Exposure to second-hand smoke cuts vitamin levels

Past research has shown that smoking lowers vitamin C levels in smokers themselves. However, scientists wanted to know if children exposed to second-hand smoke would also show lower vitamin C levels. Researchers from the University of Puerto Rico gathered a study...

Prostate Protection: Good diet, exercise can kill cancer cells

UCLA scientists report that 11 days of daily exercise and a low-fat, high-fibre diet cause prostate cancer cells to die. The research is the first to show that diet and exercise can kill prostate cancer cells. "You can make changes in a short period of time that have...

Plant Power: Omega-6 oils increase heart benefit from fish oils

Combined fish (omega 3) and plant (omega 6) derived fatty acids are more effective for combating heart disease in women than fish oils alone, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (77, 1:37-42,2003). The study was carried out...

News for Diabetics: Vitamin C helps control blood pressure

Diabetics are at an elevated risk for many other diseases, including heart disease. Therefore, the maintenance of normal blood pressure is an important factor in avoiding poor cardiovascular health. According to a recent clinical trial, diabetics may lower their risk...

Maca Works: Study finds herb boosts sexual desire in men

Maca is an herb that grows in the Andes mountains and has been used in that region for many years for its aphrodisiac and/or fertility-enhancing properties. Scientists at the Faculty of Sciences and Philosophy at the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru,...

Look out Viagra: Ancient remedy aids erectile dysfunction

Men with sexual difficulties due to trouble achieving erection may find help in Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng), one of the oldest natural remedies. Worldwide, erectile dysfunction, or impotence, affects almost half of men over the age of 40. Often the problem is...