VitaminBaronKeeping An Eye On Your Health
Natural Product Predicitions For 2007 |
The natural products industry is a
$51.3 billion dollar business. So it is no wonder
why more and more people are turning to natural
supplements, vitamins, and herbs to a healthier
2007. With so much research in the industry, new
products are being produced that are absorbed more
easily and completely. Here are some predictions on
what will be hot for the upcoming months ahead and
why you may want to jump on the bandwagon.
Cayenne
(Capsaicin) Pepper
Cayenne Pepper May Help Diabetes
In a discovery that has stunned
even those behind it, scientists
at a Toronto hospital say they
have proof the body's nervous
system helps trigger diabetes,
opening the door to a potential
near-cure of the disease that
affects millions of Americans.
Cayenne(Capsaicin) may have the best
effect for people who are
overweight, or with Type II
diabetes and insulin resistance.
It can also help those whose
diabetes has begun to slow their
digestion and cause sluggishness
in the colon. It can help with
colitis or other bowel
disorders. For the intestines,
cayenne has a laxative effect,
and it helps improve bowel
health and reduce the risk of
colon cancer which is increased
in people with slower bowel
function or chronic
constipation.
Diabetic mice became healthy
virtually overnight after
researchers injected a substance
to counteract the effect of
malfunctioning pain neurons in
the pancreas.
In Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas
does not produce enough insulin
to shift glucose into the cells
that need it. In Type 2
diabetes, the insulin that is
produced is not used
effectively; something called
insulin resistance, also
resulting in poor absorption of
glucose.
It turns out the nerves secrete
neuropeptides that are
instrumental in the proper
functioning of the islets.
Further study by the team, which
also involved the University of
Calgary and the Jackson
Laboratory in Maine, found that
the nerves in diabetic mice were
releasing too little of the
neuropeptides, resulting in a
vicious cycle of stress on the
islets.
The researchers are now setting
out to confirm that the
connection between sensory
nerves and diabetes holds true
in humans. If it does, they will
see if their treatments have the
same effects on people as they
did on mice.
Cayenne
Pepper May Help Prostate Cancer
WASHINGTON (Reuters)
Capsaicin, which makes peppers
hot, can cause Prostate cancer
cells to kill themselves, U.S.
and Japanese researchers
reported on Wednesday, February
2006.
Capsaicin led 80 percent of
human prostate cancer cells
growing in mice to commit
suicide in a process known as
apoptosis, the researchers said.
Prostate cancer tumors in mice
fed capsaicin were about
one-fifth the size of tumors in
untreated mice, they reported in
the journal Cancer Research.
It is estimated that the mice
ate the human equivalent of 400
milligrams of capsaicin three
times a week. That is about the
amount found in three to eight
fresh habanero peppers,
depending on how hot the peppers
are.
Grape Seed Extract
Grape Seed Extract, a powerful
antioxidant is a natural plant substance
that has a concentrated source of
oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC).
These anti-oxidants help protect cells
from free radical damage and also
promote healthy circulation.
Grape Seed Extract is rich in
polyphenols, a compound that's high in
antioxidants. Studies have shown OPC to
be more powerful antioxidants than
vitamin C, E, and beta-carotene.
Before Grape Seed Extract was
discovered, the best sources of
antioxidants came from vitamin C, E, and
beta-carotene; however, these sources
were not powerful enough to fight the
free radicals and are also excreted by
the body within a short time of
ingestion.
Grape Seed Extract, on the other hand,
has been shown to remain in the body for
as long as 3 full days, and is 20 times
more potent than vitamin C, and 50 times
stronger than Vitamin E.
Omega 3 Fish Oil
There is no doubtthat one of the hottest food additives of 2007 will be
Omega-3.
The name may sound like a sci-fi film,
but Omega-3, fatty acids found, for
example, in fish and some nuts and oils,
are increasingly being added to other
foods, often via fish oil or flax seeds.
Tropicana this month will roll out the
first national orange juice with
omega-3. Kellogg put it into a Kashi
cereal. Unilever put it in I Can't
Believe It's Not Butter.
Omega-3 has been shown to cut risks of
heart disease and maybe other diseases,
including Alzheimer's.
Two years ago, Omega-3 showed up in 120
new food products, but in 2006, it
appeared in about 250. An estimate for
2007, over 500.
Ester C
In 2006 - A double-blind clinical trial
of Ester-C has added more support to the
tolerability of the supplement.
Ester-C is an advanced form of vitamin
C. Amongst the benefits is a neutral pH,
which means that the vitamin is gentler
on the stomach than any other form of
the vitamin.
It has been known for years that Ester-C
should be better tolerated than regular
vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid.
This being confirmed in a double-blind,
placebo-controlled human clinical study
gives vitamin consumers, a proven
reason, in addition to the other
benefits to take Ester-C.
The study, published in the Journal
Advances in Natural Therapy, Vol 23, pp.
171-178, reports that 50 volunteers with
sensitivity to acidic foods had less
gastric adverse effects than standard
vitamin C.
Eye Support, LT Formulas & Wellness Formulas
Eye support products for macular
degeneration will be hot this year.
Wellness formulas, both herbal and
nutrient based for overall health will
also be big in 2007.
L- Trytophan is back, we will definitely
see a bevy of LT formulas hit the market
for sleep, depression and appetite.
As with any vitamin or supplement, please consult your doctor before taking. Author Beverly Terhune speaks from 35 years of living with Rheumatoid Arthritis and shares her experience, strength & hope on how to lead a healthy, substance-free life.
|