Feature Channels: Health Food

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Chemists in Japan have found that brown seaweed, a flavor component used in many Asian soups and salads, contains a compound that appears in animal studies to promote weight loss by reducing the accumulation of fat. The compound, fucoxanthin, could be developed into a natural extract or drug to help fight obesity, the researchers say. Their study will be described Sept. 11 at the national meeting of the ACS.

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Omega-6 fatty acids, used in food processing and prevalent in corn oil, permeate the American diet and compete metabolically with heart-disease preventing Omega-3s. A new book, "The Queen of Fats" tells the story of how this happened, why eating fish for Omega 3 may not benefit most Americans, and explains what we can do about it.

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A daily glass of orange juice can help prevent the recurrence of kidney stones better than other citrus fruit juices such as lemonade, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered.

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In a large epidemiological study, researchers found that people who drank three or more servings of fruit and vegetable juices per week had a 76 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease than those who drank juice less than once per week.

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Pomegranate juice may provide important health benefits for diabetic patients. Subjects who drank pomegranate juice daily over a three month period experienced a reduced risk for atherosclerosis and a reduced uptake of "bad" cholesterol by immune cells.

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A cup of coffee may trigger a heart attack in some people within a hour of drinking it, according to a study reported in the journal Epidemiology. The risk is highest among people with light or occasional coffee intake and those with risk factors for coronary heart disease.

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A new study examining the effects of St. John's wort on pregnant women and those who are breastfeeding contributes to the evidence that the product should be used with caution.

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A new study finds that "Turkey Tail" mushroom extract may stimulate changes in immunologically relevant proteins in white blood cells, which are important in fighting infection and cancer.

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A team of researchers has investigated three common medicinal herbs -- Echinacea purpurea, Astragalus membranaceus, and Glycyrrhiza glabra "“ and found them to be effective in boosting key blood lymphocytes, the basic building block of the body's immune system.

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Researchers in the plant-biology laboratory of Dr. Johannes Stratmann at the University of South Carolina are seeking to discover how tomato plants defend themselves against plant-eating insects, such as caterpillars, and microorganisms.

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Animal research from the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML) indicates that apple juice consumption may actually increase the production in the brain of the essential neurotransmitter acetylcholine, resulting in improved memory.

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If you could eat foods that were tasty, nutritious and helped reduce your risk of disease, what more could you want?

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A small but informative clinical trial by Johns Hopkins investigators shows that a pill combining chemicals found in turmeric, a spice used in curries, and onions reduces both the size and number of precancerous lesions in the human intestinal tract.

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Common misconceptions keep many people, especially those worried about heart disease, from eating eggs. The July issue of the Harvard Heart Letter unscrambles the dietary facts and myths about the egg.

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Food that can make the brain function better is the same food that can make the entire body healthier. But that doesn't stop consumers from still seeking an edge. Food scientists and other researchers presenting at the Institute of Food Technologists annual meeting here say they're still trying to nail down mental energy's definition, even as new products make new claims that they are the answer.

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Contrary to popular opinion, beer is as healthy"”if not more healthy"”than wine, according to a university professor with an academic title any Joe Six-pack would relish.

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Drinking coffee, especially when it is decaffeinated, may be associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, according to a report in the June 26 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

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A University of Maryland study shows low vitamin D consumption in over 55 Americans, looks at fortifying bread and grain to increase vitamin D and calcium consumption.

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New research suggests one reason vegetables may be so good for us "“ a study in mice found that a mixture of five common vegetables reduced hardening of the arteries by 38 percent compared to animals eating a non-vegetable diet. Conducted by Wake Forest University School of Medicine, the research is reported in the current issue of the Journal of Nutrition.

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Dietary glycemic index may be an independent and modifiable risk factor for age-related macular degeneration, according to researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University and colleagues. The type and quality of carbohydate may be more significant than quantity, and researchers examined dietary glycemic index as it related to age-related macular degeneration.

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A strict low-carbohydrate diet had no effect on bone loss for adults following an Atkins-type diet for weight loss, a three-month study by rheumatologists at the University of South Florida found.

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Doctors have long been encouraging Americans to add more fruits and vegetables to their daily diets.

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New research from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has identified and established the substance in grapefruit juice that causes potentially dangerous interactions with certain medications.

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The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) announced today there is no reason to recommend any dietary change in regard to the low-calorie sweetener, aspartame. The report specifically states, "In its opinion published today, the Panel concluded, on the basis of all the evidence currently available, that there is no need to further review the safety of aspartame nor to revise the previously established Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for aspartame (40 mg/kg body weight)."

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Good news for chocolate lovers. A Wheeling Jesuit University professor reports that eating milk chocolate can improve your brain activity. Dr. Bryan Raudenbush led the study, Effects Of Chocolate Consumption On Enhancing Cognitive Performance, assessing the effects of various chocolate types on cognitive performance, mood, and task workload.

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Caffeine elevates children's blood pressure and surprisingly lowers heart rate in children during exercise, but does not affect metabolism, according to new research from Harding University in Searcy, Ark.

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Poultry scientists at the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture have found that Hops, an herb used in brewing beer, might work as a substitute for growth promoting antibiotics in broiler diets.

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Conference at Experimental Biology Explores Advances in Infant Feeding Over Past 25 Years.

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Antioxidants are believed to have substantial health benefits and raspberries in particular are a good source. In fact, raspberries may have 10 times more antioxidants than tomatoes or broccoli. Further, raspberries contain some specific antioxidants that are found almost nowhere else.

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Garlic, recognized for its healing powers in ancient times, is now being rediscovered by medical scientists, who have new evidence of its efficacy against cancer and heart disease.

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New website www.fruitjuicefacts.org focuses on scientific facts about consumption of 100 percent fruit juice; National survey confirms 100 percent fruit juice can be part of a healthy diet.

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In a review paper, Mohsen Meydani, DVM, PhD, director of the Vascular Biology Laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston, explores the potential benefits, beyond those achieved with weight loss alone, of a Mediterranean-style diet for patients with metabolic syndrome.

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Researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University (HNRCA) found that consuming a diet rich in whole-grain foods may lower an elderly person's risk for cardiovascular disease and reduce the onset of metabolic syndrome.

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Many soy food products carry health claims stating that they reduce the risk of heart disease. A review of the evidence, however, suggests that soy's cardiovascular benefits may have been overestimated by the early studies that formed the basis for its health claim.

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Chocolate is typically not part of a heart-healthy diet. But what if chocolate delivered substances that are good for the heart? Mars, the maker of M&M's and other treats, is rolling out CocoaVia, a line of chocolates laced with heart-healthy plant sterols and flavanols. But there's a big catch.

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A recent American Heart Association report has caused some confusion about the heart health benefits of soy protein. This statement is intended to outline the facts concerning soy protein, heart health and the recent AHA report.

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It's surprising when something that was once considered questionable for your health turns out to have health benefits, usually with the proviso to use it "in moderation." That happened with chocolate and alcohol, and now it is coffee's turn.

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The scent of peppermint or cinnamon may keep you more alert and decrease your frustration when you're behind the wheel. That's according to the results of a recent study led by Dr. Bryan Raudenbush, Director of Undergraduate Research and associate professor of psychology at Wheeling Jesuit University.

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New research from the University of Massachusetts Lowell suggests that consuming apple juice may protect against cell damage that contributes to age-related memory loss, even in test animals that were not prone to developing Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

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Compounds isolated from licorice root may help prevent cavities, according to researchers. In test tube studies, the scientists showed that an extract from a plant root that is used to make licorice candy and other products contains at least two compounds that appear to be potent inhibitors of Streptococcus mutans, a major cause of dental caries.

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Many herbal remedies could cause a toxic reaction when combined with other prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

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Could something as simple as caffeine be the female version of Viagra? Maybe, according to research.

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No food has been researched as thoroughly as soy. Research continues to show that soy is effective in decreasing the risk of heart disease. Talk to some of the leading experts in the field of soy, chronic disease prevention and health promotion to get the facts.

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A common mother's home remedy for a tummy ache or nausea has long been a glass of ginger ale or ginger tea. It turns out mom was onto something. Now U-M researchers are specifically looking at whether ginger can also be used to prevent nausea from chemotherapy.

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To help consumers make informed choices about contaminants in fish, Cornell Professor Barbara Knuth serves as a scientific adviser to Seafood Safe, a new voluntary fish-labeling program for companies, retailers and restaurants.

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Green tea beverages are showing signs of being able to prevent skin cancer.

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Women who drank at least two cups of tea a day had a lower risk of ovarian cancer than those who did not drink tea, according to a study.

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A study is finding a link between eating fruits and vegetables and reducing memory loss in the elderly. Researchers are also asking questions such as will cholesterol-reducing drugs protect memory and are people at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's if they have diabetes?

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That humble cup of coffee may be good for you in more ways than you know.

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The following news tips are based on abstracts prepared for the American Association for Cancer Research 4th International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research in Baltimore, Maryland, October 30 "“ November 2, 2005.