Where I work we treat a lot of conditions of the gut. One of the things we have found to be successful in easing inflammatory bowel disease is fish oil. Recent research not only suggest that fish oil can reduce inflammation in the gut, such as ulcerative colitis, but can be a wonderful treatment for several other inflammatory conditions as well such as Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, lupus and other auto immune conditions. While most doctors recommend 1000mg of fish oil a day. I have found for inflammatory conditions the dosage can be much higher. Higher levels of fish oil can be given of 2000-5000mgs a day depending on the individuals needs.
When shopping around for fish oil make sure to smell the capsules, if they smell rancid then they should not be used. Look for EPA and DHA levels as well. EPA is an omega 3 fatty acid that can aid in heart and brain health, while DHA can protect the brain and ease inflammation in the body.
Some of my favorite companies are Nordic Naturals Ultima Omega, Metagenics EPA/DHA and
a new salmon oil that is cold pressed that has become available With New Chapter.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8161616.stm
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Drinking Coffee May Help Prevent Alzheimer's Disease
For those people who love coffee, as I do, and don't wish to give it up, there may be good news. According to a recent article on the BBC News site, caffeine may help prevent Alzheimer's disease.
Research on mice suffering from memory loss found that those mice that were given caffeine in their water performed better on memory tasks then those mice that did not. It is believed that the mechanism of action involves caffeine's ability to decrease inflammation in the brain and thus reduce the level of beta amyloid plaques. Beta amyloid plaques are proteins found in the brains of people suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
Why people form beta amyloid plaques in the first place is a subject of intense research and theory, but there appears to be a higher risk of this occurring in people with blood sugar disregulation, headaches, and chronic inflammation.
Though there is speculation about the cause and possible treatments of Alzheimer's disease, there are some things we are fairly certain of. For starters, we recommend that people with blood sugar disorders, like hypoglycemia and diabetes, monitor their blood sugar regularly and make sure to eat balanced small meals throughout the day. Make sure your meals contain protein. Load up on foods high in anti-oxidants, like fresh fruits and vegetables.
For those who are sensitive to caffeine, other foods that have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body include fish oil, and the supplements turmeric, bromelain (an enzyme found in pineapples), and boswellia (commonly referred to as frankincense).
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8132122.stm
Research on mice suffering from memory loss found that those mice that were given caffeine in their water performed better on memory tasks then those mice that did not. It is believed that the mechanism of action involves caffeine's ability to decrease inflammation in the brain and thus reduce the level of beta amyloid plaques. Beta amyloid plaques are proteins found in the brains of people suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
Why people form beta amyloid plaques in the first place is a subject of intense research and theory, but there appears to be a higher risk of this occurring in people with blood sugar disregulation, headaches, and chronic inflammation.
Though there is speculation about the cause and possible treatments of Alzheimer's disease, there are some things we are fairly certain of. For starters, we recommend that people with blood sugar disorders, like hypoglycemia and diabetes, monitor their blood sugar regularly and make sure to eat balanced small meals throughout the day. Make sure your meals contain protein. Load up on foods high in anti-oxidants, like fresh fruits and vegetables.
For those who are sensitive to caffeine, other foods that have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body include fish oil, and the supplements turmeric, bromelain (an enzyme found in pineapples), and boswellia (commonly referred to as frankincense).
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8132122.stm
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