Chew gum, lose weight? Hormone that helps people feel ‘full’ after eating can be delivered into bloodstream orally

Scientists have demonstrated, for the first time, that a critical hormone that helps people feel “full” after eating can be delivered into the bloodstream orally.

Boost anti-cancer properties of broccoli by spicing it up

(NaturalNews) Ample and well-established research has confirmed that consuming broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables is a great way to help prevent cancer. But new research published in the British Journal of Nutrition has revealed that pairing broccoli with other foods and spices rich in myrosinase, (one of the key anti-cancer compounds found in broccoli) significantly increases the vegetable’s cancer-fighting abilities. Jenna M. Cramer and her colleagues from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s (UIUC) Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition studied and compared the anti-cancer effects of eating broccoli alone, to those exhibited when eating broccoli in combination with other foods rich in myrosinase, an enzyme necessary to convert GRP into SF, without which there would be no way to metabolize SF. While broccoli alone, particularly when overcooked, contains little or no myrosinase, human digestive enzymes and flora are still capable of converting some the vegetable’s GRP into SF. However, when myrosinase-rich foods like broccoli sprouts are added to the mix, the effect is remarkable, as seen with the team’s final study results. “To get the effect of anti-cancer benefits, spice up your broccoli with broccoli sprouts, mustard, horseradish, or wasabi,” said Elizabeth Jeffery, a corresponding author to the study. She added that cabbage, arugula, watercress, and other cruciferous vegetables paired with broccoli can also do the trick. “The spicier the better, that means it’s being effective.” Essentially, broccoli sprouts and other spices react with substances in cooked broccoli or broccoli powder to produce SF. And in tests, this reaction results not only in an added amount of SF created in the bloodstream, but also an effectively longer period of time during which it remains in the bloodstream to perform its vital anti-cancer work. The addition of myrosinase into the equation also causes the digestive tract to absorb the anti-cancer compounds, earlier in the gut rather than later. This is crucial because absorption rates in the upper intestine are much higher than they are in the lower intestine, where most nutrients in food end up being assimilated. “[I]t pays to spice (broccoli) up for added benefits and find ways to make it appealing so you don’t mind eating it if you’re not a broccoli fan,” added Cramer. “I add fresh broccoli sprouts to sandwiches and add them as one of my pizza toppings after the pie is out of the oven.” Sources for this story include: http://journals.cambridge.org/jeffery http://www.earthtimes.org/health/spice-broccoli-help-cancer-fight/1360/

High levels of vitamin D appear to lower risk of age-related macular degeneration in young women

High levels of vitamin D in the bloodstream appear to be associated with a decreased risk of developing early age-related macular degeneration among women younger than 75 years, according to a new study.

Increase energy and lengthen lifespan with amino acids

(NaturalNews) Amino acids are important and vital components in maintaining health and vitality because they are the building blocks of proteins. Naturally present in many foods, branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) provide the energy the body needs to function properly. And a new study has found that supplementing with BCAAs not only increases overall energy levels, but also appears to lengthen lifespan as well. Published in the journal Cell Metabolism , the study observed how three of the 20 amino acids — leucine, isoleucine and valine — affected male mice when given to them in addition to their normal food. After several months of supplementation, the amino acid mice lived an average of 12 percent longer than control mice. The amino acid mice also exhibited improved endurance and motor skill function. “This is the first demonstration that an amino acid mixture can increase survival in mice,” said Enzo Nisoli, a researcher from Milan University in Italy that worked on the study. The study adds to previous findings last year showing that the same amino acids lengthened the lifespan of single-cell yeast. Mitochondria, the cellular components that provide cells with needed energy, also increased as a result of BCAA supplementation. And SIRT1, a longevity gene, demonstrated increased activity in the presence of BCAAs as well. SIRT1 helps prevent the oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Unlike amino acids obtained through food, BCAA supplements are delivered immediately to the bloodstream upon ingestion, so they come with no additional “energy cost”. As a result, they can be particularly useful for people with energy defects like sarcopenia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as well as athletes that need a quick recovery boost. Nisoli believes that BCAAs are an excellent alternative to pharmaceutical drugs, but he said convincing doctors to prescribe them to their patients could be the most difficult hurdle to promoting their widespread use. Editor’s Note: NaturalNews is strongly against the use of all forms of animal testing. We fully support the implementation of humane medical experimentation that promotes the health and well-being of all living creatures. Sources for this story include: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-10/cp-aas092910.php

Vitamin D is essential for activating immune system function

(NaturalNews) Researchers have discovered that vitamin D plays a crucial role in activating the immune system’s ability to recognize and fight pathogens. While scientists have long known that vitamin D plays a critical role in bone health, recent research has begun to suggest that it also serves to regulate the immune system, helping prevent infection, cancer and autoimmune disorders. Until now, the mechanism by which the vitamin acts on the immune system has been unknown. In a study published in the journal Nature Immunology , researchers from the University of Copenhagen found that when a variety of white blood cells known as a T-cell comes across a pathogen in the bloodstream, it extends a receptor in search of vitamin D. If it encounters the vitamin, the T cell becomes “activated.” If there is not enough vitamin D in the blood, the cell remains passive and no immune response occurs. The body produces vitamin D upon exposure to sunlight. It can also be found in eggs, fatty fish, fortified milk and in supplement form. Once activated, a T-cell transforms into one of two kinds of cells. One type seeks out and destroys all traces of the infectious agent, while the other records information about the pathogen and transmits it to other parts of the immune system. These latter (“helper”) cells help the immune system respond quickly should infection with a similar pathogen occur at a later date. In addition to providing new information about the importance of vitamin D, the study provides hope for better understanding — and perhaps prevention — of the unhelpful immune responses that result in autoimmune disorders like allergies or Type 1 diabetes, as well as those that cause the body to reject transplanted organs. The researchers were able to determine what chemical steps occur to transform a T-cell from active to inactive, suggesting the possibility that doctors may eventually be able to initiate or block this process, depending on the patient’s need. Sources for this story include: http://news.ku.dk/all_news/2010/2010.3/d_vitamin/; http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1256149/Sunshine-play-vital-role-in.html.