Mangosteen Fruit Juice May Reduce Inflamtion & Wieght

A proprietary Mangosteen juice for the reduction of inflammation: A randomized, double-blind, Placebo-controlled, dose finding study.

Study accessed on the Nutrition Journal Web site at http://www.nutritionj.com, among other places like http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/

Study was conducted by Medicus Research, a respected and reputable clinical research organization located in California. Medicus Research was founded and is directed by Dr. Jay Udani, M.D.

The purpose of this dose finding pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy of multiple dosages of XanGo® Juice compared with placebo. Medicus Research monitored the improvement of inflammation and antioxidant levels in obese patients with a confirmed history of inflammation.

This study is the first, but not the last, double-blind, placebo-controlled peer reviewed, and published human clinical study on XanGo Juice. In this study, researchers showed a significant reduction of C-reactive protein, which strengthens our claim that XanGo Juice supports a healthy cardiovascular system. This study also showed data supporting a healthy metabolism through moderate reduction in BMI.

Additional studies are needed to confirm the findings and further probe a possible dose-dependent effect. However, this first human clinical trial points to exciting avenues for XanGo Juice’s use in the maintenance of heart health and other conditions that may be connected to inflammation.

C-Reactive Protein or CRP is produced in the liver and is a general indication of inflammation in the body. A more sensitive CRP test, called a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) assay, is available to determine a person’s risk for heart disease. Many consider a high CRP level to be a risk factor for heart disease and diabetes, among other conditions.

This study was conducted in a reputable, third party clinical research house. The study was funded by a company called XanGo. The study’s findings are leading to larger, more in-depth human clinical trials on XanGo Juice, being conducted by internationally respected and acclaimed institutions.

Consumers should read the press release on xango.com as well as the actual study on Nutrition Journal’s Web site. The study’s results speak for themselves.

Take action now. Visit: Mangosteen Juice

Mediterranean, low fat, and low carbohydrate diets help

Three diets - Mediterranean, low-fat and low-carbohydrate - are equally effective in helping reverse blocked arteries, say Israeli researchers.

The study of 140 people, reported in the journal Circulation, found diet could reduce the fatty build up in arteries.

The Ben-Gurion University team found that by the end of the two-year study, the arterial wall had been cut by 5%.

Experts said the study was interesting, but diet was not a "magic bullet".

Atherosclerosis is a progressive condition in which the arteries thicken with fatty deposits, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Ten to 15 years ago, it was thought that fatty build-up in the arteries was irreversible, but since then drugs trials have shown that it is possible for fatty deposits to be cut.

"This study shows you can do something to reduce plaque build-up, even without pills," Dr Knight said.

"It sends an effective message from a public health perspective."

However, he warned that the scale of reduction in the volume of artery walls was relatively small and that changing diet, although helpful, was "no magic bullet".

Resveratrol - From the Grape

TUESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Chinese researchers have outlined the molecular chain of activity that makes resveratrol, a chemical found in the skin of red grapes

and in red wine, a promising candidate for treatment of diabetes and other conditions.

The study focused on how resveratrol improved the sensitivity of mice to insulin, an effect that could lead to new treatments for type 2 diabetes, in which human cells lose their sensitivity to insulin.

And U.S. experts said the chemical's effect on a number of different tissues could eventually lead to such dreamed-of medications as an effective diet pill.

The study, by researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shanghai, showed that resveratrol activates an enzyme called SIRT1. This enzyme, in turn, suppresses the activity of a molecule called PTP1B, which ordinarily works to decrease insulin activity. SIRT1 levels were reduced in the animals' insulin-resistant cells. Increasing SIRT1 activity with resveratrol improved insulin sensitivity by acting on PTP1B.

The study is published in the October issue of Cell Metabolism.

"When you suppress PTP1B, insulin activity improves," said Young-Bum Kim, an assistant professor of medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, one author of an accompanying editorial in the journal.

"SIRT1 has a variety of functions in the body," Kim said. "Now we can move on to other tissues, such as the brain. It is possible that regulating the hypothalamus with SIRT1 can prevent diet-induced obesity."

That is clearly a long-term goal, said Janice M. Zabolotny, an instructor in medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess, and the other author of the editorial.

"But it can make animals want less food and lower body weight," she said. "By activating SIRT1, you could block the expression of PTP1B and get the same hopeful benefit."

But clearly, "further studies are needed by other researchers and on different tissues in animals," Zabolotny said.

One striking finding was that much lower levels of resveratrol than in previous trials were able to increase the animals' sensitivity to insulin.

"This paper is different from previous reports in that lower doses were effective," Zabolotny said. "The reason for the difference is unclear."

A statement by Qiwei Zhai, lead author of the report, recommended caution to resveratrol enthusiasts, noting that those who have been drinking red wine might "think about drinking less."

Previous studies had indicated that a human would have to drink about 120 liters of red wine in a day to get the benefit seen in animals. The new results reduce that amount to a still-substantial three liters.

"An even better option may be to find other natural foods enriched with resveratrol or foods supplemented with resveratrol," Zhai said.

Don't Eat Those Fries

Don’t eat those fries, by Chris Freytag



Everybody loves all-American french fries, but the kind we love are not always the healthiest choice! It my be easy to order that side of fries when you are eating out or take some fries to go at your favorite fast food restaurant when you are getting something for your kids, but if you want to control your weight you probably want to think again. A medium fries at McDonald’s is 390 calories, which may not seem “soooo” bad, but it’s 19 g of fat. And Burger King has 480 calories and 23 g of fat in a medium order of fries!

Don’t get me wrong…I am not totally shunning french fries. I am part of that crowd that occasionally gets a craving for some savory fries. And honestly, fries seem to go so well with a lot of the things we are all grilling this summer…think burgers, shish-kabobs, BBQ chicken, etc. But, I have a great answer for you. As an alternative, TRY my homemade fries! They are delicious, will kill that craving and potatoes actually have nutritious value to them! They are perfect for a side dish for anything you are making this summer and I sometimes do them on the grill.

Here’s the recipe (It’s easy!)

Ingredients:
* Potatoes - (depending on how many you are feeding - about a half to whole per person)
* Extra-virgin olive oil or canola oil, Sea salt & black pepper
** optional spice ideas: cinnamon, cumin or curry powder

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Wash potatoes and cut into long slices or wedges. (I keep the skin on).
Brush with olive oil, and shake on salt, and desired spices on both sides.
Bake on baking sheet until brown and crispy, about 40 minutes, flip them over once or twice.

As an alternative, grill on non-stick tin-foil.

And, if you are feeling more adventurous, try sweet potato fries. These are my favorite. You’ll get an added boost of beta-carotene and they are absolutely delicious!

Diet According to the Zone Diet -

Interesting eating by SueK24, forum in Prevention Magazine

My diet is eaten according to Zone guidelines and rules, and, as much as possible, is organic food or food raised without hormones, pesticides, drugs, etc. It is basically composed of lean protein, lots of fresh veggies, fresh fruit, primarily monounsaturated fats, and little to no grains to speak of. This translates in actual food to things egg whites, soy, fish and seafood, some chicken and turkey, and a huge variety of veggies. I eat very little dairy, mostly yogurt now and then. Most of my veggies are either eaten raw or lightly cooked. A small bowl of steel cut oats now and then is about the only grain I eat.

I go very light on the higher glycemic index/glycemic load fruits and veggies, treating them as condiments. This category contains things such as anything in the potato family, corn, most winter squashes and starchy veggies, most root veggies, some legumes, peas, tropical fruit, raisins and other dried fruit, bananas, melons, and grains. Berries (strawberries, blueberries, black berries, and raspberries) make up half or more of the fruit I eat.

This is a sample of the of the many veggies I eat: various colors and types of peppers, celery, cucumbers, cabbage, bok choi, navy beans, eggplant, leeks broccoli, cauliflower, greens of all kinds, onions, mushrooms tomatoes, summer squashes, turnip, fennel, black beans, chick peas, kidney beans, lentils, kohlrabi, spaghetti squash, green beans, yellow beans, brussel sprouts, jicama, and radishes. Besides berries, most of the fruit I eat is as follows: apples, cherries, oranges grapefruit, lemons, limes, kiwi, plums, apricots, peaches, nectarines and grapes. My primary sources of monounsaturated fat are organic extra virgin olive oil, non-irradiated almonds, avocados, almond oil and macadamia nuts.

Daily I try to include certain foods known either for their and/or anti-aging properties, things such as extra virgin olive oil, toasted sesame oil, garlic, turmeric, ginger and aloe vera. I also take a daily anti-oxidant rich multi vitamin and mineral supplement, a liquid polyphenol supplement with a high ORAC rating, and an ultra-refined fish oil concentrate, one which has attained the IFOS?s 5 star rating to assure its potency and purity; that?s purity re heavy metals, and chemicals (you can google IFOS, International Fish Oil Standards, from more details). Additional spices and condiments I try to eat frequently are cinnamon, raw cacao powder, curry (because it contains turmeric), parsley, basil, miso, chili peppers and lemons.

Mangosteen - Its like ice cream

BMangosteen