Advances in Digestive Health

It may well be true that if we had listened better to what our grandparents and parents taught us about the importance of eating fruit and vegetables, we would be living healthier and perhaps longer lives. Research is beginning to show us that aging, and the diseases that accompany that process, may well be the result of the decreasing ability of our bodies to deal with oxidative stress. There is also substantial evidence showing that eating adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables de-creases our chances of developing can-cer, high blood pres-sure, heart disease, stroke and diabetes. A complex network of

A natural health product is only effective if its ingredients are well absorbed. It may be the best formulated product on the market, and a perfect personal fit, but if you are taking it at the wrong time or with the wrong foods, your body may not be able to properly use the nutrients! There are many possible interactions that may occur with your supplements, thereby decreasing their absorption and effectiveness, or the safety of other medications. Here are some basic guidelines to improve your supplement scheduling. Minerals Should be Taken Without Food Generally speaking, minerals such as magnesium are

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is essentially a system of muscular tubes that propel materials along its length, to enable the absorption of nutrients and the excretion of waste products in and out of the body. The wall of the GI tract is sealed by a layer of intestinal epithelial cells. As well as selectively absorbing nutrients and excreting waste The GI wall acts as a first line of defense by preventing potentially harmful toxins or bacteria in the gut from entering the blood. Certain conditions and treatments may damage the GI tract, resulting in loss of integrity of the GI

I think we all could agree that a little more sleep in our lives would be a dream come true. Sleep is grossly underrated. In the world of health, we have an affinity to talk about the importance of exercise, work environment, and maintaining a balanced diet at length. However, the importance of a good night’s sleep for a healthy life is often overlooked, despite the fact that we spend (or should be spending) seven or more hours every day sleeping. This is strange, considering that anything else in our lives which consumed seven hours a day would be heavily

The number of individuals suffering from disturbed sleep is on the rise. Studies have shown that individuals who chronically get less than six hours of sleep are at a higher risk for developing certain diseases, are less able to deal with the effects of daily stress, and are more prone to weight gain2. The severity of sleep disturbance can vary depending on the root cause, but common symptoms include difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep for periods of time, or very early awakening3. Sleep is regulated by the body’s internal clock, which keeps track of light levels. There are two

Curcumin is a natural phenol in the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa), a perennial herb belonging to the ginger family. Turmeric is commonly used in East Asian curry dishes, and curcumin is responsible for giving these dishes their distinct yellow color. Curcumin has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine to treat joint pain and various types of chronic inflammatory conditions. A substantial amount of preclinical and human studies have highlighted the health-promoting effects of curcumin, namely its role as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Over the last decade, there has been an influx of curcumin based natural products on the market.

The dandelion (also known as Taraxacum officinale) is a well-known perennial herb native to North America and Eurasia. Despite its reputation as a stubborn weed, the dandelion possesses redeeming properties that make it an important ingredient for natural health products. Dandelion root extract has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of a plethora of conditions of the liver and gastrointestinal tract. However, new evidence from the University of Windsor, at the forefront of cancer research, has found that dandelion root extract also possesses potential anti-cancer properties. The potential anti-cancer effects of dandelion root extract first

What’s Already Known On This Topic? High blood pressure (or hypertension) is the leading risk factor contributing to death worldwide, primarily from heart disease and stroke. Effective lowering of blood pressure, even by small amounts, is however proven to reduce these events, and can thus save lives in middle and older age. Along with the well-recognized nutrition and lifestyle factors that contribute to higher blood pressure, there is much interest in the role of genetic factors. This aspect is receiving greater attention in recent years with the emergence of “genome-wide association studies” or GWAS, an approach that involves rapidly scanning