A daily drink of juice containing wild blueberry powder may boost the levels of beneficial bifidobacteria in the gut, according to new study with human volunteers.
Six weeks of consuming a glass of the blueberry drink were associated with significant increases in Bifidobacterium spp., while no changes were observed in other bacterial species, including Bacteroides and Clostridium coccoides.
“The wild blueberry drink may also be interesting as a basis for the formulation of a ‘functional’ drink that could combine the positive prebiotic activity observed of the wild blueberry components with the probiotic activity of live Bidobacterium and/or Lactobacillus strains,” report researchers from the Università degli Studi di Milano in Italy.
Consumer interest in blueberries and the compounds they contain has increased in recent years, following results from studies reporting a wide range of health benefits, most notably for brain health and reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s.
The beneficial effects of the blueberries are thought to be linked to their flavonoid content – in particular anthocyanins and flavanols.
The new study indicates that the benefits of the berries may also extend to gut health. Stefano Vendrame and his Milan-based co-authors report that the bifidobacteria-boosting effects of blueberries may be linked to the polyphenol or fiber content, or the vitamin K in the berries.
Study details
The researchers recruited 20 healthymen with an average age of 46 and an average BMI of 25 kg/m2, and randomly assigned them to one of two groups. One group consumed a daily 250 ml drink of juice containing 25 grams of wild blueberry powder, while the second group consumed a placebo drink daily.
After six weeks, both groups underwent another six of ‘washout’ before being crossed over to the other group.
Results showed that the populations of Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. in the berry group, while Lactobacillus spp. only increased in the placebo, “probably related to the presence of simple sugars”, said the researchers.
On the other hand, no changes for Bacteroides spp., Prevotella spp., Enterococcus spp., and Clostridium coccoides were reported by the researchers.
“The results of this study suggest that regular consumption of a wild blueberry drink is able to favorably modulate the composition of the intestinal microbiota, increasing in particular bacterial strains from the genus Bifidobacterium, which is among the most health promoting bacterial groups,” wrote the researchers.
“Considering the discovery-based nature of this investigation, further experiments on a larger population group investigating specific species of bifidobacteria are strongly recommended,” they concluded.
Related post: Probiotics help protect intestines from radiation damage
Source: Journal of Agricultural and FoodChemistry, Published online ahead of print, Articles ASAP, doi: 10.1021/jf2028686, “Six-Week Consumption of a Wild Blueberry Powder Drink Increases Bifidobacteria in the Human Gut”
Authors: S. Vendrame, S. Guglielmetti, P. Riso, S. Arioli, D. Klimis-Zacas, M. Porrini
Welcome to my collection of health articles. Most of them contain little nuggets of health wisdom that we can easily apply to our daily lives. As you can gather, I've been consuming all sorts of supplements over the years, most of them from iherb. They deliver on time (DHL), and prices are good. If you're a first-time buyer, use my code 'pot089' to enjoy up to $10 off.
Showing posts with label polyphenols. Show all posts
Showing posts with label polyphenols. Show all posts
Thursday, 24 November 2011
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
Green tea supplements beat flu better than vaccination
Flu season is now in full swing and seasonal vaccinations are being pushed from every corner. Nonetheless, a recent clinical trial showed that green tea-based supplements reduced the risk of flu by 75%. This is far better than the 60% risk reduction recently reported in the Lancet for vaccinations. Given that green tea provides a host of other health benefits and none of the risks of injections, it would appear to be a far superior alternative to vaccination.
Green tea: natural antiviral and immune enhancer
For many years it has been known that green tea polyphenols actively suppress many bacterial, fungal and viral species. On the virus front, green tea suppresses the adenovirus, Epstein-Barr, herpes simplex, HIV-1 and influenza viruses. EGCG, one of the main polyphenols in green tea, is mainly responsible for this suppression. Specifically, ECGC binds to the hemagglutinin of the influenza virus, which blocks it from attaching to (and infecting) target receptor cells. EGCG also alters the virus cell membrane, which further inhibits its ability to infect other cells. Another important component of green tea is the amino acid L-theanine, which has been shown to activate human gamma-delta-T lymphocytes to proliferate and make interferon-gamma, a potent antimicrobial cytokine. These lymphocytes are considered to be the body's first line of defence against infection. Green tea therefore offers a two-pronged protection from the flu which vaccination simply cannot match. But for final proof, we need clinical trials.
Green tea lowers flu risk: early clinical evidence
One early trial using green tea against the flu involved gargling three times daily with a weak solution of green tea (50 mg of catechins per cup, of which 60% was EGCG). The theory was that since the throat was a major infection site of influenza, gargling could stop the flu virus there. The theory was right: 1.3% of garglers contracted the flu vs. 10% of the control group. In another more sophisticated trial on 97 healthy adults, a proprietary blend of theanine and green tea polyphenols (apparently worth about 10 cups of green tea per day, but exact amounts were not disclosed) was used for three months during flu season. This trial was randomized, double-blind and placebo controlled. The supplement takers experienced 32% less illnesses and 35% fewer "symptom days." However, participants were included in the statistical analysis even if their compliance (actually taking the green tea pills) was only 70%.
Latest clinical trial provides stunning results: 75% less illness
More recently, a better controlled trial was performed on 198 health care workers. This was randomized, double-blind and placebo controlled: the gold standard in clinical trials. The treatment group was each given a daily dose of 378 mg green tea catechins (containing 270 mg EGCG) and 210 mg of theanine from November 2009 to April 2010. The compliance rate in this trial was better: 93% took their pills according to plan. Those taking the green tea experienced 75% less clinically defined flu infection and this was statistically significant (P=0.022). But not all observed sicknesses were bona fide flu. When laboratory tests were used to confirm real influenza infection, it showed that green tea provided a stunning 83% reduction in flu risk, however this was not statistically significant (P=0.112) due to the small number of actual flu cases.
Related posts:
Top 5 anti-flu herbs
The multiple health benefits of tea
Green tea burns abdominal fat
Green tea lowers cholesterol
A simple and affordable remedy for mild diarrhea
Black tea lowers blood pressure
Drinking tea while eating sweets may prevent obesity
Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/034218_green_tea_flu_season.html#ixzz1ePxT4ebJ
Green tea: natural antiviral and immune enhancer
For many years it has been known that green tea polyphenols actively suppress many bacterial, fungal and viral species. On the virus front, green tea suppresses the adenovirus, Epstein-Barr, herpes simplex, HIV-1 and influenza viruses. EGCG, one of the main polyphenols in green tea, is mainly responsible for this suppression. Specifically, ECGC binds to the hemagglutinin of the influenza virus, which blocks it from attaching to (and infecting) target receptor cells. EGCG also alters the virus cell membrane, which further inhibits its ability to infect other cells. Another important component of green tea is the amino acid L-theanine, which has been shown to activate human gamma-delta-T lymphocytes to proliferate and make interferon-gamma, a potent antimicrobial cytokine. These lymphocytes are considered to be the body's first line of defence against infection. Green tea therefore offers a two-pronged protection from the flu which vaccination simply cannot match. But for final proof, we need clinical trials.
Green tea lowers flu risk: early clinical evidence
One early trial using green tea against the flu involved gargling three times daily with a weak solution of green tea (50 mg of catechins per cup, of which 60% was EGCG). The theory was that since the throat was a major infection site of influenza, gargling could stop the flu virus there. The theory was right: 1.3% of garglers contracted the flu vs. 10% of the control group. In another more sophisticated trial on 97 healthy adults, a proprietary blend of theanine and green tea polyphenols (apparently worth about 10 cups of green tea per day, but exact amounts were not disclosed) was used for three months during flu season. This trial was randomized, double-blind and placebo controlled. The supplement takers experienced 32% less illnesses and 35% fewer "symptom days." However, participants were included in the statistical analysis even if their compliance (actually taking the green tea pills) was only 70%.
Latest clinical trial provides stunning results: 75% less illness
More recently, a better controlled trial was performed on 198 health care workers. This was randomized, double-blind and placebo controlled: the gold standard in clinical trials. The treatment group was each given a daily dose of 378 mg green tea catechins (containing 270 mg EGCG) and 210 mg of theanine from November 2009 to April 2010. The compliance rate in this trial was better: 93% took their pills according to plan. Those taking the green tea experienced 75% less clinically defined flu infection and this was statistically significant (P=0.022). But not all observed sicknesses were bona fide flu. When laboratory tests were used to confirm real influenza infection, it showed that green tea provided a stunning 83% reduction in flu risk, however this was not statistically significant (P=0.112) due to the small number of actual flu cases.
Related posts:
Top 5 anti-flu herbs
The multiple health benefits of tea
Green tea burns abdominal fat
Green tea lowers cholesterol
A simple and affordable remedy for mild diarrhea
Black tea lowers blood pressure
Drinking tea while eating sweets may prevent obesity
Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/034218_green_tea_flu_season.html#ixzz1ePxT4ebJ
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Green tea burns abdominal fat
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| Chinese green tea, Bi Lo Chun |
Scientists publishing in the Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry demonstrate that it activates genes associated with fat burning while also helping to reduce absorption of fat from the digestive tract. Further evidence on the gene-altering activity of green tea is reported in the International Journal of Cardiology, as polyphenols from the drink lower free radical damage to help maintain telomere length in heart cells. Drinking several cups of green tea each day may hold the key to effective weight management and cardiac health.
Researchers from the Departments of Chemical Biology and Pharmacology and Toxicology at Rutgers University in New Jersey examined the effect of green tea supplementation on obese mice, known to exhibit similar metabolic characteristics to humans. The animals were broken into two groups and both were fed a traditional high fat/Western style diet. One group received water supplemented with the green tea bioactive catechin EGCG, while the second group acted as a non-supplemented control.
Green tea supplementation assists weight loss by reducing abdominal fat stores
The study determined that EGCG supplementation significantly reduced body weight gain, associated with increased fecal lipids and decreased blood glucose levels, compared to those of the control group. Scientists further found that fatty liver incidence, associated liver damage and liver triglyceride levels were also decreased by the EGCG treatment. Treated animals also experienced improved insulin response as well as lowered C-reactive protein (CRP) and interlukin-6 (IL-6) levels, both strong indicators of systemic inflammation and immune response.
The study authors concluded "Our results demonstrate that the high fat/Western diet produces more severe symptoms of metabolic syndrome and that the EGCG treatment can alleviate these symptoms and body fat accumulation. The beneficial effects of EGCG are associated with decreased lipid absorption and reduced levels of inflammatory cytokines." Green tea helps our cellular engines (mitochondria) to better metabolize calories more efficiently, providing a significant weight management tool.
Additionally, supporting research documents the effect of green tea catechins on extending the lifespan of heart muscle cells. Scientists found that EGCG supplementation exerted a potent antioxidant effect that lowered free radical damage to preserve telomere length and reduce heart cell death. Nutrition experts recommend two to four cups of fresh brewed green tea daily or an organically compounded and standardized EGCG supplement (300 to 500 mg daily) to assist weight management goals and improve cardiovascular health.
Related posts:
The multiple health benefits of tea
Green tea supplements beat flu better than vaccination
Green tea lowers cholesterol
A simple and affordable remedy for mild diarrhea
Black tea lowers blood pressure
Drinking tea while eating sweets may prevent obesity
Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/034153_green_tea_weight_loss.html#ixzz1dphWahGN
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