Health Express

Food has traditionally been used in Chinese herbal traditions in healing, so it’s no surprise that a study on the potential benefits of pumpkin extract on diabetes was conducted at the East China Normal University.

As this study was done on animals, it is too early to herald the benefits of pumpkin extract in people, but it points the way to some interesting new research. Animal studies are the first step usually before small and large scale studies with humans are organized.

The study found that the diabetic rats fed the pumpkin extract for 30 days had a greatly improved blood insulin level, and an improvement in the number of insulin-creating beta cells. In diabetes, beta cells are often damaged because of the high blood sugar levels that are a consequence of not having enough insulin. High blood sugar levels create more free radicals and hence oxidative stress, and this leads to the cell membranes of the beta cells being damaged. This in turn further reduces the ability of the body to produce insulin, as insulin is produced by the beta cells.

The authors found that not only was more damage to the beta cells prevented, but some actually regenerated. They do point out, however, that it is unlikely all beta cells that were damaged will be repaired, especially if diabetes has advanced, as some will be too damaged to be fixed.

They did say that even though their study was concerned with Type 1 diabetes, they thought that those with type 2 diabetes, and pre-diabetes would also benefit from using pumpkin extract. Can’t wait for the follow-up studies on this!

Yeast infections can affect the whole body, not just the vagina or the mouth. They are not confined to women either. In fact, the list of possible symptoms associated with yeast infections reflects this:

* bloating of the stomach
* gas
* irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
* cold sores
* some types of arthritis
* eczema
* acne (In some cases)
* athletes foot

We all have a mixture of beneficial and harmful bacteria present in our intestinal tract. The ‘good’ bacteria generally keep this balance tipped in the favor of health. They ensure the bad bacteria are not able to grow, or colonize parts of our body where they aren’t found in healthy people. Unfortunately, sometimes things happen that destroy the beneficial bacteria and allow yeast, bacteria and fungi to populate areas of the body they wouldn’t normally have access to.

Candida albicans, the fungus responsible for candida yeast infections, is one of the first of the ‘bad guys’ able to take advantage of a decimated population of good bacteria.

What causes the population of good bacteria to decline?

It could be an antibiotic course. Or poor nutrition, a low immune system as a result of some illness, or some other factor.

Unfortunately, the symptoms of yeast infections can mimic other illnesses or infections. There are other bacteria that cause vaginal infections, and allergies, food sensitivities, gluten intolerance, IBD, and other gastrointestinal problems that may be causing symptoms relating to, or mimicking, candida. It’s important to look at the whole picture, especially if symptoms suggest food (and gluten) intolerance or IBD. Even with bacteria causing vaginal infections, care needs to be taken to avoid a misdiagnosis.

Not only will you be unable to find relief until the true problem is identified and treated, but you may contribute to the problem of treatment-resistant candida. This is really becoming a problem with the availability of over-the-counter yeast infection treatments.

If you’re trying natural remedies to deal with yeast infections, it may not create anti-fungal-resistant candida organisms, but you might not find your symptoms go away either. That’s why a trip to the doctor first can save a lot of frustration later. Even if you’re planning on using natural treatments, get a reliable (medical) diagnosis first!

A sore throat is often the precursor to a full blown cold. And given that the germs that cause it concentrate in the mucous membranes of the throat and nasal passage, addressing a sore throat as soon as it comes up is often a great way to head off the flu. There are a lot of remedies available, such as herbs like echinacea, which is very effective at the start of a cold or sore throat. You can even get high quality sprays, that are more targeted. They don’t taste that bad either!

There are as many sore throat home remedies as cultures. Each region, each tradition, and even different modalities within them, all have different approaches to this age-old concern. Add to that mix is the folklore handed down in many families.

Here is an idea using aromatherapy. It has the added benefits that essential oils bring - namely, a remedy for the emotions, and the mind.

* 5 drops of thyme essential oil

* 10 drops of lemon essential oil

* 10 drops of sandalwood essential oil

* 5 drops of eucalyptus essential oil

Mix the oils together and rub onto the neck and chest. If you have sensitive skin, it’s probably a good idea to use a carrier oil, such as good quality almond oil, avocado oil, or similar. Eucalyptus may be too strong applied directly to your skin otherwise. It could cause irritation, or a brief burning sensation.

References: Australian Natural Health vol 6 no.3

For many people, encroaching age represents a time where our mental function can slow down with our bodies. Of course, sometimes this comes sooner rather than later! Fortunately, there may now be something we can do about it.

A recent study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that those people who consumed more flavanoids in their diet had better cognitive function than those with lower levels of flavanoids. Flavanoids are one of the active constituents in tea. Both green tea and black tea have good levels of flavanoids. For example, one cup of tea brewed for 40 to 60 seconds will have about 140mg of flavanoids in it. Stronger tea, that brewed for longer, has a greater concentration of flavanoids.

Tea is not the only dietary source of flavanoids, however. They are also found in vegetables, fruit, chocolate and coffee.

The study followed a group of 1,640 people whose median age was 77 years. They did not have dementia at the start of the study, which followed them for 10 years. The levels of flavanoids in their diet was measured using food frequency questionnaires 4 times in that 10 year period.

Those people who consumed between 13.6 and 36.9mg of flavanoids daily lost an average of 1.2 points on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), which was one of 3 tests to measure cognitive function. The others were Benton’s Visual Retention Test, and the “Isaacs” Set Test. Those whose daily intake of flavanoids were lowest lost more - 2.1 points. This was all over a 10 year period, and the results were adjusted for other factors such as age, sex, and educational level that may have otherwise skewed things.

Tea is rich in antioxidants, and green tea has become very popular with dieters because of its’ thermogetic properties. This means it helps boost metabolism slightly. It can also help with blood sugar levels.