A
Healthy Take
Another reason to
whip up a curry
Besides being appealing to the palate of
many, researchers are finding that curries that contain turmeric might clean
up the kinds of plaque in the brain found in Alzheimer�s sufferers.
Researchers from the
University
of
Southern California
and Veterans Affairs of Greater Los Angeles found that the chemical curcumin,
found in turmeric,
possibly enhances the natural immune
system. Curcumin is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant
properties.
Blood samples were taken from study
participants, who were both Alzheimer�s sufferers and healthy patients.
From the blood, researchers isolated cells called microphages. These cells
travel through the body and brain and gobble up waste products, specifically
amyloid beta, which forms plaques in the brain. Then the researchers treated
the microphages with a drug derived from curcumin � and afterward
introduced the waste products (amyloid beta). Half
of the Alzheimer�s sufferers showed an
increased �ingestion� of the waste products. This could signify that
curcumin is boosting the immune system. The healthy patients in the study
showed no change after the curcumin was introduced.
Drinking coffee � moderate use shows many
possible benefits
If you love having your cup of joe in the morning, a piece in
Harvard�s Women�s Health Watch says you should go ahead and indulge �
as long as you keep your consumption to a moderate level. Here are some of
the benefits and drawbacks to drinking coffee according to the newsletter:
 |
The risk for type 2 diabetes is
lower among coffee drinkers than those who don�t drink it. |
|
Coffee may reduce the risk for
developing gallstones. |
|
Coffee may reduce the risk for
developing colon cancer. |
|
Coffee might improve cognitive
functioning. |
|
Coffee may reduce the risk for liver
damage in people at high risk for liver disease. |
|
Coffee may reduce the risk for
Parkinson�s disease. |
|
Coffee may improve endurance
performance in long-duration physical activities. |
|
Coffee can help you stay alert �
especially when you�re suffering from sleep deprivation. |
|
Caffeine does have a modest
cardiovascular effect, such as increased heart rate, blood pressure and
occasional irregular heartbeat. It�s best to avoid heavy consumption
of coffee to avoid any negative effects. |
How much fruit juice is one
serving?
According to the American Institute for
Cancer Research, one serving of 100 percent fruit juice is six ounces.
Nutritionists say that juice can be a great way to
get many of the vitamins, minerals and
phytochemicals we need. However, if you�re looking to boost your fiber
intake and you�re watching your calorie intake, juice might not be your
best option. Why? Because you�re not going to get fiber from your juice,
and you�ll likely still be hungry when you�re done drinking it. Experts
recommend that only one or two servings of fruit a day should come from
juice. Instead, eating whole fruits is recommended. Consumers also need to
be careful when consuming juices, because many are actually �cocktails,�
which mean they are not 100 percent juice; they may also be called �juice
beverages.� Also, many fruit labels refer to a serving as eight ounces
instead of six ounces.
