A dose of safflower oil each day might help keep heart disease at bay.
A daily dose of safflower oil, a common cooking oil, for 16 weeks can improve such health measures as good cholesterol, blood sugar, insulin sensitivity and inflammation in obese postmenopausal women who have Type 2 diabetes, according to new research.
This finding comes about 18 months after the same researchers discovered that safflower oil reduced abdominal fat and increased muscle tissue in this group of women after 16 weeks of daily supplementation.
This combination of health measures that are improved by the safflower oil is associated with metabolic syndrome, a cluster of symptoms that can increase risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
These new findings have led the chief researcher to suggest that a daily dose of safflower oil in the diet – about 1 2/3 teaspoons – is a safe way to help reduce cardiovascular disease risk.
"The women in the study didn't replace what was in their diet with safflower oil. They added it to what they were already doing. And that says to me that certain people need a little more of this type of good fat – particularly when they're obese women who already have diabetes," said Martha Belury, professor of human nutrition at Ohio State University and lead author of the study.
"I believe these findings suggest that people consciously make sure they get a serving of healthy oil in their diets each day– maybe an oil and vinegar dressing on a salad, or some oil for cooking. And this recommendation can be extended to everyone."
The research appears online and is scheduled for future print publication in the journal Clinical Nutrition.
Safflower oil contains linoleic acid, which is a PUFA -- a polyunsaturated fatty acid. Research dating back to the 1960s has suggested that these dietary oils from plant sources can help prevent heart disease, said Belury, who holds the Carol S. Kennedy professorship in nutrition. But attention to these fats has declined as omega-3 fish oils have gained popularity among consumers, she said.
"The health benefits of omega-3 PUFAs seem convincing, but I think there's also a place for omega-6 PUFAs. We've known for a long time that polyunsaturated oils are very beneficial for cardiovascular disease prevention, and these data we are adding now show that these oils can also help with other aspects of metabolic syndrome, including even glycemic control," Belury said. "We suspect it could be through a mechanism that is not yet identified."
In the first study, published in September 2009, Belury and colleagues had compared the effects of safflower oil and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a compound naturally found in some meat and dairy products, on obese postmenopausal women with Type 2 diabetes. CLA had a reputation from previous studies for contributing to weight loss. Safflower oil's association with reduced abdominal fat took the researchers by surprise.
For this current research, the scientists performed a secondary analysis of data collected from that clinical trial, applying a powerful statistical analysis to the results and also checking to see how long it took for any effects of the oils to appear in the women's health profiles. The scientists had taken blood samples every four weeks during the study to obtain these measures.
In almost all cases in this analysis, safflower oil supplementation improved metabolic measures while CLA did not show any effects for glycemic or lipid control. Sixteen weeks of CLA supplementation did reduce total body fat and lowered the women's body mass index (BMI), a common health measure of weight relative to height.
Several of the beneficial effects of safflower oil were evident after 16 weeks of supplementation. On average among all of the women tested, these included:
An increase in insulin sensitivity of about 2.7 percent as measured by a formula known as the quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index. Higher insulin sensitivity is important for the transfer of sugar, or glucose, from the blood into the tissues, where it is used for energy. Insulin resistance, or lowered insulin sensitivity, is the hallmark of Type 2 diabetes.
A small, but significant, .64 percent decrease in a blood protein called HbA1C, which is a marker of long-term presence of excess glucose in the blood.
A roughly 17.5 percent decrease in C-reactive protein, a protein in the blood that rises in the presence of inflammation. A growing body of research suggests that high levels of this protein increase the risk for a heart attack.
The researchers had documented in the previous study that safflower oil also lowered fasting blood sugar levels by between 11 and 19 points on average. Blood sugar is considered normal if it falls below 110 milligrams per deciliter; the women's average blood sugar levels ranged from 129 to 148 after 16 weeks of safflower oil supplementation.
Within 12 weeks, the safflower oil led to a 14 percent increase in HDL, or "good," cholesterol, as well as an increase in adiponectin, a hormone that regulates levels of blood sugar and fats and which influences insulin levels. Higher levels of adiponectin could be expected to increase the efficiency of dietary fat burning, Belury said.
People with metabolic syndrome generally have three or more of the following conditions: excess fat in the abdominal area, borderline or high blood pressure, cholesterol problems that foster plaque buildup in arteries, insulin resistance or glucose intolerance and a high level of triglycerides, a form of fat in the blood.
At the start of the study, the women were obese and had Type 2 diabetes, low HDL cholesterol and high levels of C-reactive protein and the HbA1c protein. Though in many cases their health measures were still high or low enough at the end of the study to leave them at increased risk for heart disease, Belury said the safflower oil could function as a complementary intervention in combination with medications used to control their disorders.
"We don't know the long-term effects of safflower oil from this study alone, but I certainly think it's possible that the risk for cardiovascular problems could be significantly decreased in this high-risk group if supplementation were continued," Belury said.
She noted that the total dose of dietary oils the women took between their normal diets and the safflower oil supplementation amounted to 9.8 percent of their daily calories – a level that falls within federal guidelines for vegetable oil consumption. The women had been instructed not to change their diets during the study, and self-reports of their food intake showed that their eating habits did not change while they were taking the supplements.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Benefits Of Grape Seed Oil
The benefits of grape seed oil, has the same antioxidants as green tea, black tea, berries and red wine.
Grape seed oil benefits can do wonders for your skin and health.
The antioxidants in the oil are called procyanidolic oligomers (PCO’s), known for their health giving properties, and are more powerful than vitamin C and vitamin E.
seeds inside the grapes used for grape seed oil 200x300 Benefits Of Grape Seed Oil
Grape seed oil is made by cold-pressing the grape seeds, after they have been used to make wine. It is used in many facial and body care products, and is known for its anti aging effects.
It is very rich in vitamins, minerals and protein, and can be found in many products such as; soaps, hair care, cosmetics, facial creams, body creams, bath oils, lip balms and anything else you can think of.
Grape seed oil contains polyphenols, which are antioxidants. Polyphenols can help slow the process of aging, as well as having anti inflammatory and anti oxidant properties, which also makes it great for helping clear up acne.
Using this oil will help prevent pores clogging and breakouts, it is very good for oily skin as well.
Grape seed oil contains a high amount of linoleic acid, which is a fatty acid essential for the health of the skin and cell membranes.
This is the reason why it makes such a wonderful moisturizer, as it really nourishes your skin, helping keep it smooth and subtle.
It is known for its ability to lock in moisture, leaving your skin feeling more supple and smooth, and it does not leave a greasy feeling, which makes it ideal to use on all skin types.
The benefits of grapeseed oil is its ability to be easily absorbed into the skin, instead of sitting on top of the skin. This helps fight free radicals and stop some of the enzymes that destroy collagen, elastin and other connective tissue.
As it is a natural oil, it will inhibit problems such as fine lines and wrinkles, caused by the loss of collagen and elastin.
Along with vitamin C, grape seed oil is able to help the skin with the production of collagen. Make sure you are always using organic cold pressed Grape seed Oil.
There are plenty of products you can use to smooth out wrinkles and fine lines, but most of these products are only temporary. Whereas, a natural oil like grape seed can offer a more permanent solution.
As we age, our bodies produce less and less collagen, which is the cause of fine lines, wrinkles and blemishes. So, it makes sense to use a natural oil like grape seed to help beat the aging process, and keep you looking younger.
Grape seed extract is a way of taking it as a supplement, and has been extensively researched around the globe.
It is excellent for your circulatory system, and can help relieve varicose veins and spider veins. It is also useful in helping with a number of other conditions such as;
Uses for Grape Seed Oil
It is widely used in cooking by many great chefs, and becoming more popular for the health conscious, to have a bottle in their kitchen pantry, next to the olive oil of course!
It is cholesterol free and will help lower low density lipoproteins (LDL), bad cholesterol, and raise high density lipoproteins (HDL), good cholesterol.
You can use the oil for stir fries, marinades, salad dressings, baking and deep-frying. Until I did this post, I never considered using grape seed oil for cooking, I now use it all the time.
Grape seed oil is largely used as a massage oil, and gives great relief for a tired and stressed out body.
If you are considering taking a supplement, take only the best, natural, synthetic and chemical free supplements.
Remember, when taking grape seed oil supplements, you need to take them consistently over a period of time, to reap the health benefits of grapeseed oil.
The benefits of grape seed oil for aging skin is definitely worth it.
Grape seed oil benefits can do wonders for your skin and health.
The antioxidants in the oil are called procyanidolic oligomers (PCO’s), known for their health giving properties, and are more powerful than vitamin C and vitamin E.
seeds inside the grapes used for grape seed oil 200x300 Benefits Of Grape Seed Oil
Grape seed oil is made by cold-pressing the grape seeds, after they have been used to make wine. It is used in many facial and body care products, and is known for its anti aging effects.
It is very rich in vitamins, minerals and protein, and can be found in many products such as; soaps, hair care, cosmetics, facial creams, body creams, bath oils, lip balms and anything else you can think of.
Grape seed oil contains polyphenols, which are antioxidants. Polyphenols can help slow the process of aging, as well as having anti inflammatory and anti oxidant properties, which also makes it great for helping clear up acne.
Using this oil will help prevent pores clogging and breakouts, it is very good for oily skin as well.
Grape seed oil contains a high amount of linoleic acid, which is a fatty acid essential for the health of the skin and cell membranes.
This is the reason why it makes such a wonderful moisturizer, as it really nourishes your skin, helping keep it smooth and subtle.
It is known for its ability to lock in moisture, leaving your skin feeling more supple and smooth, and it does not leave a greasy feeling, which makes it ideal to use on all skin types.
The benefits of grapeseed oil is its ability to be easily absorbed into the skin, instead of sitting on top of the skin. This helps fight free radicals and stop some of the enzymes that destroy collagen, elastin and other connective tissue.
As it is a natural oil, it will inhibit problems such as fine lines and wrinkles, caused by the loss of collagen and elastin.
Along with vitamin C, grape seed oil is able to help the skin with the production of collagen. Make sure you are always using organic cold pressed Grape seed Oil.
There are plenty of products you can use to smooth out wrinkles and fine lines, but most of these products are only temporary. Whereas, a natural oil like grape seed can offer a more permanent solution.
As we age, our bodies produce less and less collagen, which is the cause of fine lines, wrinkles and blemishes. So, it makes sense to use a natural oil like grape seed to help beat the aging process, and keep you looking younger.
Grape seed extract is a way of taking it as a supplement, and has been extensively researched around the globe.
It is excellent for your circulatory system, and can help relieve varicose veins and spider veins. It is also useful in helping with a number of other conditions such as;
- premenstrual syndrome
- dental cavities
- cancer
- chronic venous insufficiency (damaged valves in the veins, carrying blood to the heart)
Uses for Grape Seed Oil
It is widely used in cooking by many great chefs, and becoming more popular for the health conscious, to have a bottle in their kitchen pantry, next to the olive oil of course!
It is cholesterol free and will help lower low density lipoproteins (LDL), bad cholesterol, and raise high density lipoproteins (HDL), good cholesterol.
You can use the oil for stir fries, marinades, salad dressings, baking and deep-frying. Until I did this post, I never considered using grape seed oil for cooking, I now use it all the time.
Grape seed oil is largely used as a massage oil, and gives great relief for a tired and stressed out body.
If you are considering taking a supplement, take only the best, natural, synthetic and chemical free supplements.
Remember, when taking grape seed oil supplements, you need to take them consistently over a period of time, to reap the health benefits of grapeseed oil.
The benefits of grape seed oil for aging skin is definitely worth it.
What is the Highest Antioxidant Drink
Chaga contains very high levels of ‘superoxide dismutase’ (SOD). This is a very powerful enzyme and is found in all living cells. SOD is a protein which will neutralize free radicals, before they have a chance of damaging your body and aging you.
What makes Siberian chaga so good is its unusual amounts of superoxide dismutase (SOD), it contains way more than co-enzyme Q10, vitamin C, vitamin E, pycnogenol, blueberries and any other antioxidant food or drink you can think of.
Chaga is actually a type of mushroom, which grows on the trunk of a tree, usually the Birch tree. It looks like burnt charcoal and is very prevalent in Russia where it grows in Siberia on the black birch trees. It does not look like the traditional mushroom we are used too.
It has been used since the 1500’s to treat many ailments and today its many healing properties are being discovered in the Western world.
Throughout the centuries Chaga has been referred to as the ‘gift from god’ or ‘mushroom of immortality’.
Drinking Chaga tea is a fantastic anti aging drink and many women will consume this tea to help maintain skins elasticity and promote healthy skin.
There have been some studies on the amount of antioxidants we should consume on a daily basis to help fight aging. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has come up with a method called the ORAC scale (Oxygen Radical Absorbent Capacity), in other words this is the strength any given food or drink will help your body fight free radicals. The higher the ORAC score, obviously the more free radicals you will destroy in your body.
The daily recommendation is between 4 to 13 ORAC units daily; unless you exercise a lot then you should up the recommended units as your body increases free radicals when you do physical exercise. You will need to increase that level also if you drink or smoke a lot.
This is where Chaga comes into it, because it has been discovered to possess the highest ORAC score compared to any other food or drink, such as blueberries, vitamin E, acai berry juice, goji berry’s and juice.
Chaga is full of minerals, amino acids, betulinic acid (BA) a good blood cleanser, saponins aid absorption of minerals and phytonutrients needed to sustain human life and prevent disease.
Chaga is so high in antioxidants this is all you would need to take each day.
Health Benefits of Chaga:
The chaga mushroom has traditionally been taken as a tea. The mushroom is usually crumbled and brewed for many, many hours or even days, this way you are sure all the active ingredients are extracted. It can be rather tedious and there are other simpler ways of taking it, such as a supplement, powder or liquid form.
Research is still continuing on the amazing health benefits of chaga mushroom, there is still so much more to learn. More and more people are becoming aware of it and this is great especially for those of you who may be suffering from an illness.
By including the chaga mushroom into your diet, you will beat the aging process by drinking the highest antioxidant drink and forever be looking younger.
What makes Siberian chaga so good is its unusual amounts of superoxide dismutase (SOD), it contains way more than co-enzyme Q10, vitamin C, vitamin E, pycnogenol, blueberries and any other antioxidant food or drink you can think of.
Chaga is actually a type of mushroom, which grows on the trunk of a tree, usually the Birch tree. It looks like burnt charcoal and is very prevalent in Russia where it grows in Siberia on the black birch trees. It does not look like the traditional mushroom we are used too.
It has been used since the 1500’s to treat many ailments and today its many healing properties are being discovered in the Western world.
Throughout the centuries Chaga has been referred to as the ‘gift from god’ or ‘mushroom of immortality’.
Drinking Chaga tea is a fantastic anti aging drink and many women will consume this tea to help maintain skins elasticity and promote healthy skin.
There have been some studies on the amount of antioxidants we should consume on a daily basis to help fight aging. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has come up with a method called the ORAC scale (Oxygen Radical Absorbent Capacity), in other words this is the strength any given food or drink will help your body fight free radicals. The higher the ORAC score, obviously the more free radicals you will destroy in your body.
The daily recommendation is between 4 to 13 ORAC units daily; unless you exercise a lot then you should up the recommended units as your body increases free radicals when you do physical exercise. You will need to increase that level also if you drink or smoke a lot.
This is where Chaga comes into it, because it has been discovered to possess the highest ORAC score compared to any other food or drink, such as blueberries, vitamin E, acai berry juice, goji berry’s and juice.
Chaga is full of minerals, amino acids, betulinic acid (BA) a good blood cleanser, saponins aid absorption of minerals and phytonutrients needed to sustain human life and prevent disease.
Chaga is so high in antioxidants this is all you would need to take each day.
Health Benefits of Chaga:
- Strengthen the immune system.
- Help fight infections.
- Eliminate toxins.
- Relieve stomach pain.
- May lower high blood pressure.
- Relieve viral infections.
- Treatment for diabetes.
- Now being recognised as a treatment for HIV.
The chaga mushroom has traditionally been taken as a tea. The mushroom is usually crumbled and brewed for many, many hours or even days, this way you are sure all the active ingredients are extracted. It can be rather tedious and there are other simpler ways of taking it, such as a supplement, powder or liquid form.
Research is still continuing on the amazing health benefits of chaga mushroom, there is still so much more to learn. More and more people are becoming aware of it and this is great especially for those of you who may be suffering from an illness.
By including the chaga mushroom into your diet, you will beat the aging process by drinking the highest antioxidant drink and forever be looking younger.
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