Mercola profiles natural astaxanthin, a carotenoid the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis makes to shield itself when its water dries up, presenting it as both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. He warns against the synthetic version, which is made from petrochemicals.
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Phytochemicals
Plant compounds such as flavonoids, carotenoids and polyphenols, and what they do.
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Phytochemicals
Soluble fiber fights belly fat (PR)
A Wake Forest study found each additional 10 grams of soluble fiber eaten daily was associated with 3.7 percent less visceral fat over five years, and that stepping up moderate activity came with a 7.4 percent slower rate of visceral fat accumulation.
Phytochemicals
Help Make Your Body 62% Stronger - Flood it With This Inexpensive Nutrient
Mercola promotes astaxanthin, a carotenoid he calls the most potent antioxidant nature offers, saying clinical studies show it raises strength and stamina, shortens recovery after exertion and reduces soreness, without side effects or a high price.
Phytochemicals
Study proves drinking red wine helps prevent heart disease
Researchers at the University of Houston gave hypertensive rats resveratrol in drinking water for ten weeks. Compared with untreated rats, the treated animals had lower blood pressure, less oxidative stress and better endothelial function - a possible route by which red wine might protect arteries.
Phytochemicals
Green tea helps immunity
The green tea compound EGCG blocked DNA methyltransferase and raised Foxp3 and regulatory T cells in lab tests and in mice, Oregon State researchers found, suggesting green tea may help maintain normal immunity. A separate study found green tea polyphenols delayed herpes lesions in mice.
Phytochemicals
Green Tea and Medicinal Mushrooms for Health
Newcastle University researchers reported in Phytomedicine that the compounds left after gut enzymes break down green tea polyphenols bound toxins more strongly and supported cellular and neurological health better than the intact polyphenols did.
Phytochemicals
Antioxidant may prevent alcohol-induced liver disease (PR)
University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers report in Hepatology that MitoQ, an antioxidant aimed at mitochondria, prevented fatty deposits in the livers of rats given heavy daily alcohol for five to six weeks. Victor Darley-Usmar says it might prove useful against such liver damage.
Phytochemicals
Soy food doesn't affect breast cancer survival
Pooling four cohorts covering 18,312 women with invasive breast cancer, Vanderbilt's Xiao Ou Shu found those eating more than 23 mg of soy isoflavones daily were 9 percent less likely to die and 15 percent less likely to relapse. Neither result reached statistical significance.
Phytochemicals
Resveratrol may reduce body fat (PR)
A University of the Basque Country thesis by Arrate Lasa examined how conjugated linoleic acid and resveratrol affect triglyceride metabolism and body fat. CLA's effects within a low-calorie diet and resveratrol's effect on stored fat had not been well studied.
Phytochemicals
Dietary fiber helps cut death risk
In the NIH-AARP cohort, people in the highest fifth of dietary fiber intake had a significantly lower risk of death than those in the lowest fifth, with a relative risk of 0.78 in both men and women. Fiber from grains, but not other sources, drove the association.
Phytochemicals
Dietary fiber cuts premature death risk
Following about 388,000 adults for nine years, National Cancer Institute researchers found the highest fiber intakes came with a 22% lower risk of dying, and 24 to 59% reductions in cardiovascular, infectious and respiratory deaths. The link held for grain fiber, not fruit fiber.
Phytochemicals
Alpha-carotene may cut death risk
Following 15,318 US adults for 14 years, researchers reported in Archives of Internal Medicine that people with more alpha-carotene in their blood were 23 to 39 percent less likely to die. The study shows association only; the nutrient may simply be a marker.
Phytochemicals
The Most Powerful Nutrient Ever Discovered for Eye Health
Dr. Mercola profiles astaxanthin, a carotenoid made by the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis, citing claims that it scavenges free radicals 65 times more powerfully than vitamin C and quenches singlet oxygen 550 times more effectively than vitamin E.
Phytochemicals
Psyllium fiber supplements help patients with diabetes mellitus
Bajorek and Morello reviewed seven studies and found psyllium fiber supplements and a low-glycemic-index diet improved glycemic markers, with 10.2 grams of psyllium a day lowering post-meal glucose and A1C. They call it a possible additional option for type 2 diabetes.
Phytochemicals
Green tea extract fights chronic lymphocytic leukemia
In a phase II trial, 42 untreated patients with early-stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia took 2,000 mg of EGCG twice daily for six months. Nearly a third sustained a drop of more than 20% in lymphocyte count, and two thirds with palpable adenopathy saw nodes shrink by half.
Phytochemicals
Lignan Reduces Risk of Breast Cancer Death
Among 112 women with breast cancer, postmenopausal patients in the highest quartile of dietary lignan intake were 71% less likely to die of breast cancer and 51% less likely to die of any cause than those in the lowest quartile. High dried bean intake tracked with 39% lower breast cancer death risk.
Phytochemicals
Pink news: Soy protein cuts risk of breast cancer death
Among 5,042 Chinese breast cancer survivors followed about four years, women with the highest soy protein intake were 29 percent less likely to die and 32 percent less likely to suffer a recurrence than those eating the least, a JAMA study reports.
Phytochemicals
More antioxidants found in black rice than blueberries
A study presented at an American Chemical Society meeting found a spoonful of black rice bran holds more anthocyanin antioxidants than a spoonful of blueberries, plus more fibre and vitamin E and less sugar. Anthocyanins have been linked to lower heart disease and cancer risk.
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