Previous studies have shown positive effects with coffee, caffeine, or chlorogenic acid supplementation in improving oxidative stress and its associated cell death mechanisms and now a new study on the role of dietary intervention focused on coffee. The researchers examined the effect of coffee, caffeine and chlorogenic acid supplementation on markers of oxidative stress, antioxidant enzyme protein content and cell death in male and female mice models of ALS.  The researchers found that coffee appears to be beneficial for men, both reducing oxidative stress and cell death, and increasing antioxidants, but for women, caffeine appears to be harmful. The researchers recommended that women with the disorder may want to restrict caffeine consumption, or switch to decaffeinated products which contain the antioxidants, but with little caffeine.

Other men with decreased libido take Indian Ginseng, a tonic herb that is capable of strengthening the body and is even used by some as an aphrodisiac, for libido increase .   Believe it or not, the amino acid, L-Arginine is used by the body to create nitric oxide, the chemical that relaxes the blood vessels, in order to diminish erectile dysfunction.

L-Arginine is found in food sources such as meat, dairy products, poultry and fish.  Some men suffering from ED often have a deficiency of the mineral zinc and a simple supplement of 15-30 mg daily can help to improve their symptoms.  But before considering adding supplements and medications, men with ED should consider the research which shows that those men who exercise regularly are less likely to develop impotence as they age.  Researchers at the New England Research Institutes of Watertown, Mass., studied 593 men, ages 40 to 70, and found that men who burned at least 200 calories a day, were less likely to develop ED than sedentary men, so even minimal exercise is helpful when it comes to maintaining a healthy sex life.

Men should avoid St. John’s Wort which has a negative impact on male fertility and be sure he’s getting enough  of vitamins B-12, C and E, plus zinc and selenium. Both sides of the couple should take a daily multivitamin with folic acid and eat a balanced diet. Although you certainly want to get your fill of omega 3s, do limit our fatty fish intake as they have been shown to have mercury levels that are unhealthy (i.e. tuna, mackerel, shark, and farm raised salmon). Of course, you should also go organic and hormone-free when it comes to your groceries and avoid pesticides and unnatural hormones which can affect fertiltiy and likelihood of conception.

Other foods which may improve fertility include fruits that are both colorful and high in anti-oxidants such as: red peppers, oranges, greens, mangoes, apples, figs, sweet potatoes, nuts and carrots. High calcium foods also improve the likelihood of conceiving.  For the ladies, prenatal preparation should include relaxing exercise yoga since it helps reduce anxiety of trying to get pregnant.  Pre -Natal Yoga classes will teach you to strengthen the muscles of the body, used during childbirth and relaxing and meditating have powerful effects on ease of getting pregnant.  Finally, you may also want to consider acupuncture treatments which have yielded success after success in helping women to become pregnant.

A correlation was also noted between increasing BMI (a measure of obesity) and decreasing levels of vitamin D.  Turns out a deficiency of Vitamin D is an under-recognized source of diffuse pain and impaired neuromuscular functioning and by physicians can significantly improve their patients’ pain, function and quality of life by assessing and correcting Vitamin D deficiencies.  This study has important implications for both chronic pain patients and physicians, namely patients who suffer from chronic, diffuse pain and are on narcotics should consider getting their vitamin D levels checked. It may be that many patients who have been labeled with fibromyalgia are, in fact, suffering from symptomatic vitamin D inadequacy. Assessment and treatment are relatively simple and inexpensive. Levels can be assessed by a simple blood test (25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]).

So how does it work?  Well we know that H. pylori or over-use of aspirin and or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, causes most stomach ulcers, and while the ulcers can be effectively treated and eliminated with antibiotics and acid suppressants as Nexium Generic, that simple regimen is unavailable to many in developing countries who are infected with H. pylori.  In this new study, the researchers found that H. pylori seems to rely on a protein called unease to attach to and infect the stomach lining.  So they used vaccine-making technology and injected chickens with unease then allowed the chickens’ immune systems to produce the antibody, and harvested it from their eggs.  They then tested the theory on 42 people who tested positive for H. pylori, who volunteered to eat two cups daily of either plain yogurt or yogurt containing the antibody for four weeks. The results indicate that the suppression of H. pylori infection in humans could be achieved by drinking yogurt fortified with urease antibody, which was eventually destroyed by stomach acid, but not before its beneficial effect was made. Although the yogurt appears less effective than antibiotics for reducing levels of H. pylori, it is a lot easier to take than medicine and can be eaten daily as part of regular dietary routine.

New research has shown that women with higher intakes of calcium appear to have a lower risk of cancer overall, and both men and women with high calcium intakes have lower risks of colorectal cancer and other cancers of the Gastro system (this is from the February 23 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine).

The Institute of Medicine currently recommends 1,200 milligrams of calcium for adults age 50 and older, and the 2005 dietary guidelines for Americans recommend 3 cups per day of low-fat or fat-free dairy products.  In the study, the decrease in risk for women was with intake of up to 1,300 mgs per day, after which no further risk reduction was observed.  In both men and women, dairy food and calcium intakes were inversely associated with cancers of the GI and one-fifth of men who consumed the most calcium through food and supplements (about 1,530 mg per day) had a 16 percent lower risk of these types of cancer than the one-fifth who consumed the least (526 mg per day). For women, those in the top one-fifth of calcium consumption (1,881 mg per day) had a 23 percent lower risk than those in the bottom one-fifth (494 mg per day) with a most pronounced decrease for colorectal cancer. So what is it about dairy that is so protective against cancer?

Dairy is relatively high in anti-carcinogenic nutrients such as calcium, vitamin D and conjugated linoleic acid. Calcium has been shown to reduce abnormal growth and induce normal turnover among cells in the GI tract and breast and it binds to bile and fatty acids, which may reduce damage to the mucous membrane in the large intestine.  So the bottom line is: even if you’re dieting, be sure to include that lowfat dairy to protect yourself against disease!

While there are many potential positive effects of the duo, DHEA may not be so great in certain cells like pre-cancer or inflamed tissues as these cells can induce DHEA to become more androgenic.  But red clover isoflavones may modify androgenic effects in the prostate caused by DHEA which makes the two a great team, potentially.

Bottom line is, the jury is still out and while much more work in the laboratory and clinic is needed to validate the effects of these supplements, red clover may be one that’s pretty safe to use in the meantime.  The herb is a source of many nutrients including calcium, chromium, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, thiamine, and vitamin C—that’s why its considered an overall tonic by herbalists too, and its richness in isoflavones makes it great for menopause, such as hot flashes, cardiovascular health, and osteoporosis as well.  Also: red clover ointments have long been applied as a skin treatment to treat psoriasis, eczema, and other rashes and the herb also has a history of use as a cough remedy for children.  Because of its isoflavones, pregnant and breastfeeding women shouldn’t take it.

Ok, you may say, there are plenty of treatments available today for cancer, but the fact of the matter is, whether or not we are actually winning the war on cancer (announced by Nixon decades ago!), remains to be seen.  Its true that there are many new therapies out there today and yet there is an astounding number of new cases of cancer diagnosed each and every day and may still die from the disease.

So what do we do?  I say, it is essential to remember than we are vulnerable, and exposed to cancer-causing toxins each and every day.  But we can protect ourselves against cancer by doing a couple of simple and important things:

1. Get screened and use preventatives: We are blessed with access to plenty of cancer screening tests.  Use them.

2. Quit smoking already: We all know that inhaling toxins known to cause cellular mutation is just no good and its no good for those around you either.

3. Get regular!  If you’re not moving your bowels regularly, all of the stuff that’s supposed to come out is staying in, and even getting reabsorbed.  If you’re having trouble, add some fiber and water to your diet for a gentle intestinal brushing action that will get things moving in no time.
4. Clean up your diet: A cancer preventative diet should include ample organic fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and healthy protein sources.  Stay away from preservatives and artificial stuff in your food.  Its no good!
5. Wear sunscreen.  Slather it on every day and you’ll do your skin cells a whole lot of good (though too much can cause Vitamin D deficiency, but that’s another post!)

Water.  Yes, we all know we’re supposed to get 8 glasses of it per day but I’m always amazed when I realize how critical it is to our daily functioning.  Without proper hydration, our concentration and focus plummet.  We need water to feel alert and for our livers to flush toxins and fat out of our bodies.  Of course, water keeps bowels moving regularly and this is also key to preventing disease and keeping weight down.

Omega 3.  I especially love them in the form of Fish or Cod liver oil, that form of Omega 3’s are ready for the body to use and prevent heart disease, reduce cholesterol, reduce blood pressure, help varicose veins, improve circulation and reduce blood triglyceride levels.  Omega 3 is also beneficial for those who want to depression and cancer as well.  Added bonus: helps you lose weight, especially when already exercising.

Calcium/Magnesium. Again, we know this dynamic duo to be essential to building strong bones, but they do oh so much more.  Magnesium helps with constipation, leg cramps, hypertension, and kidney stones and calcium eases insomnia–and both help with nerve function, which is great if under stress.  Plus both play a role in assisting in weight loss as well.  Who couldn’t use deeper sleep and to lose a pound or 2?

Fiber.  This sounds like one for older folks but each and every one of us could use the gentle internal brushing that fiber provides for us.  Fiber absorbs excess fats, preventing their absorption (and again, helping in weight loss) and has benefits for colon cancer, heart disease and diabetes.  And you easily get it from foods, so no need to purchase supplements.

Protein.  There’s tons of research out there these days on the importance of getting good quality protein in the diet.  From stabilizing blood sugar to promoting the building of muscle to helping with weight loss, high-protein is the new lowfat.