Study shows 100g of cranberries a day improves cardiovascular health

King's College London, March 22, 2022

A new clinical trial found daily consumption of cranberries for one month improved cardiovascular function in healthy men. The new study, published today in Food & Function, included 45 healthy men who consumed whole cranberry powder equivalent to 100g of fresh cranberries per day (9 g powder) or a placebo for one month. Those consuming cranberry had a significant improvement in flow-mediated dilation (FMD), which signals improvement of heart and blood vessel function. FMD is considered a sensitive biomarker of cardiovascular disease risk and measures how blood vessels widen when blood flow increases. Dr. Ana Rodriguez-Mateos, Senior Lecturer in Nutrition at the Department of Nutritional Sciences at King's College London and senior author of the study, says that "the increases in polyphenols and metabolites in the bloodstream and the related improvements in flow-mediated dilation after cranberry consumption emphasize the important role cranberries may play in cardiovascular disease prevention. The fact that these improvements in cardiovascular health were seen with an amount of cranberries that can be reasonably consumed daily makes cranberry an important fruit in the prevention of cardiovascular disease for the general public."

(NEXT)

Plant-based omega-3s may boost heart health, reduce risk of heart disease

Pennsylvania State University, March 22, 2022

People often think of salmon when they think of omega-3 fatty acids, but a new research review found that the major plant-based version of the nutrient, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), can benefit heart health and reduce the risk of heart disease for those who don't eat seafood. In a comprehensive literature review, the researchers found that consuming ALA that is found in plant-based foods like walnuts and flaxseeds was associated with a 10% lower risk of cardiovascular disease and a 20% reduced risk of fatal coronary heart disease. Jennifer Fleming, assistant teaching professor of nutrition at Penn State, said they also found evidence that for people who do eat seafood, they could get extra benefits from eating plant-based omega-3s.

(NEXT)

Research finds neighborhood green space tied to lower health care costs

Clemson University, March 22, 2022

A Clemson University faculty member has found that nature's benefits may include savings on health care costs. The research, published March 17, 2022 in Environment International, suggests health care systems may spend hundreds of dollars less per person per year on medical care for people living in neighborhoods with the most green space than they do on those living near areas with the least trees, shrubs and grass. Our study showed that across the whole range of neighborhoods there was a consistent pattern between living in areas with more green space and lower health care costs," Van Den Eeden said. "We believe the findings suggest that expenditures on medical care may be hundreds of dollars more each year for people living in neighborhoods with less green space."

(NEXT)

Using sound waves to break up kidney stones – First human study shows promising results

University of Washington School of Medicine, March 22, 2022

An innovative technique called burst wave lithotripsy (BWL) may provide an effective, more accessible alternative for noninvasive treatment of kidney stones, according to initial human studies reported in The Journal of Urology. Using focused ultrasound bursts to break up kidney stones, BWL provides a promising new approach to avoiding the high costs and healthcare burden of kidney stone treatment, according to the report by Jonathan Harper, MD, of University of Washington School of Medicine and colleagues. They write, "New BWL technology successfully fragmented stones of a variety of sizes, locations and densities to under two-millimeter fragments within 10 minutes with negligible tissue injury." In contrast to the shock waves used in ESWL, the BWL procedure uses "short harmonic bursts" of ultrasound energy – potentially allowing the stones to be broken up in a shorter procedure without the need for sedation or anesthesia. Pre-clinical studies supported the effectiveness of BWL in breaking up experimental stones of varying size and composition.

(NEXT)

Physical performance enhanced by beetroot 'superjuice' 

University of Washington, March 14, 2022 

Next time you're making your morning nutribullet with fruit and veg, adding some beetroot may well help to enhance your day's physical performance, according to scientists. The study measured the performance of six national-level male kayakers undertaking laboratory-based four-minute ergometer tests, and five international-level female kayakers competing in a field-based kayaking time trial after swallowing beetroot 'shots'. Dr Peeling says a 70mL beetroot supplement was effective in improving the task economy of the male kayakers—with a given work output able to be sustained for less of an oxygen cost. And using a double shot (140mL) among female participants during a 500 metre time-trial, resulted in a performance improvement of 1.7 per cent. It's the nitrate in beetroot juice that improves the efficiency of the cell's energy factory—the mitochondria—allowing the cell's energy currency 'ATP' to be spared during muscular activity, resulting in a decreased oxygen cost for a given task. He says they found consuming the juice two to three hours pre-race benefitted the athletes.

(Guest COMING UP NEXT:)

Dr. Jessica Rose