Research suggests that a good night’s sleep has tremendous positive impact on brain functions, metabolic processes and immune system function. However, as many as 50% of Canadian adults experience sleep problems. One reason may be insufficient production of melatonin,...
Research Archive
Moms can lower kids’ diabetes risk
Cod liver oil is an important source of vitamin D and the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which aid in the prevention of type 1 diabetes. At Ulleval University Hospital in Norway, researchers investigated...
The secret to pain-free aging?
As you age, will you be hobbling about with sore joints and muscles, or walking tall, strong and pain-free? According to two recent studies, that may depend on your intake of antioxidant nutrients. Researchers at Wake Forest University reviewed data from an existing...
Herbs effective for stress relief
Ginkgo is known to help increase circulation and improve oxygen delivery to the brain, while ginseng is known to help boost immunity and endurance, improve mental function and strengthen the adrenal glands. Researchers at the Central Drug Research Institute in...
The age of obesity: what you can do
It’s official: Canadians are getting bigger. Between 1985 and 2001, obesity rates increased from 7% to 14% among women and from 6% to 16% among men. The same report found that obesity rates among women increase with age, peaking between 55 and 59, then declining. This...
Nutrition Notes: Tea a healthy choice
If you’re a regular tea drinker, research shows that you may be doing your health a favour. A new report in the Journal of Nutrition identifies many different types of studies that show how tea could help in the prevention of cancer. Laboratory research with human...
Grandma’s cure for stiff joints?
Researchers from Cardiff University report that cod liver oil is effective in slowing the destruction of joint cartilage in patients with arthritis. The trial shows that 86% of pre-operative patients with arthritis who took cod liver oil capsules daily had absent or...
Artichoke leaf aids digestion, IBS
Two recent studies from the University of Reading in England found that artichoke leaf extract (ALE) could significantly benefit both mild dyspepsia (indigestion) and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The first study investigated the effects of low-dose ALE...
Soy isoflavones: a menopause must?
In the last decade, soy has received tremendous attention as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy because of its rich supply of isoflavones — compounds that can positively affect both menopausal symptoms and bone loss. A research review by scientists at the...
Cut asthma risk with antioxidants
A study by scientists at the Institute of Preventive and Clinical Medicine in Slovakia found that people with asthma had lower levels of antioxidants than did healthy people. In this study, the levels of the antioxidants coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), beta-carotene and...