Research dated April 30, 2007 from the University of Michigan reveals some exciting news about the tart cherry and heart health. What was most interesting about the research was the study was conducted not on the tart cherry fruit itself, but tart cherry powder.
In most cases, to manufacture the powder the entire cherry is used, including the skin and the flesh of the fruit. Cherry powder can also be defined as a cherry neutraceutical.
According to the Foundation of Innovation in Medicine, which created the term "neutraceutical", the definition is:
"any substance that may be considered a food or part of a food that provides health benefits, including the prevention of treatment of disease."
The results from the study were revealed during the Experimental Biology 2007 meeting in Washington D.C.. Although the study was conducted on rats, the results were so promising the University of Michigan indicated they will soon conduct clinical trials on humans.
An Overview of the Cherry Powder Study
Antioxidant-rich cherries may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome can greatly increase the risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and stroke.
Two test groups of rats were fed whole cherry powder (made from the whole fruit). The cherry powder equated to either 1 percent or 10 percent of their daily diets for a period of 90 days. Another study group had no cherry powder added to their diet. However, the amounts of carbohydrates and calories where kept constant during the study, thus providing baseline.
The results of the study showed that the cherry-enriched diet had experienced additional health benefits when compared to the results of the non-cherry diet group. The researchers found the rats fed very little amounts of tart cherry powder benefited from modest amounts of tart cherry powder. Some of the results included the cherry-enriched diets lowered insulin, triglycerides and total cholesterol levels. These are some of the factors linked to metabolic syndrome. In addition, oxidative damage and increased blood capacity were also shown in the study.
Where to Find Cherry Powder
Tart cherry powder is not the easiest product to find. However, with a little diligence you can also incorporate cherry powder into your diet. One source of 100% natural tart cherry powder is from Fruit Advantage www.fruitadvantage.com The company is America's leading Super Fruit supplement brand. It not only sells tart cherry powder in capsules, but a number of different super fruit supplements and products.
The Fruit Advantage Tart Cherry super fruit supplement delivers 1200mg of tart cherry per serving. This means each daily serving delivers over 3 lbs. of the specific antioxidant benefits of tart cherries in a convenient, easy-to-swallow capsule. In addition, the product is gluten free, kosher and tests free of pesticides, fillers and additives. To learn more or order Fruit Advantage Tart Cherry contact the contact company toll-free at 1-877-746-7477 or visit www.fruitadvantage.com
(1) Cherry-enriched diets reduce metabolic syndrome and oxidative stress in lean Dahl-SS rats. Experimental Biology 2007 225.8, Seymour EM, Singer AAM, Bennink MR, Bolling SF. Presented in minisymposium 225, Dietary Bioactive Compounds: Chronic Disease Risk Reduction.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Cholesterol Leading To Heart Diseases
LDL refers to a combination of low-density lipoprotein and cholesterol. The liver produces cholesterol to perform a number of important cellular functions, however when our body produces more than we need, our health can seriously suffer. Low-density lipoproteins bind with the cholesterol and carry it throughout the body in the bloodstream. When they bind with too much, we can end up with high bad cholesterol levels. LDL is often referred to as the 'unhealthy' or 'bad' cholesterol because it tends to stick to the walls of our arteries. This can lead to arteriosclerosis cardiovascular disease. The build up on the walls of blood vessels and arteries is also known as plaque.
As the plaque thickens over time, blood flow is reduced and blood pressure is increased, which can lead to a number of potential problems including heart disease. If bits of plaque come away from the walls and begin to flow through the blood vessels they can clot other sections of the narrowed artery. This can cause the onset of a stroke or a heart attack. High cholesterol levels are therefore very significant and need to be taken seriously.
You can lower your levels by eating a balanced, natural diet devoid of processed, trans-fatty, and sugary foods and drinks, and engaging in daily aerobic exercise that is strenuous but not too strenuous. Including fatty fish such as salmon or tuna or omega-3 fatty acid supplements can also help to lower levels. It is also very important to drink an adequate amount of pure water in order to unclog your arteries. Avoid margarine and use only small amounts of butter or no butter at all. If you are purchasing a sandwich and they ask if you want butter, it is important to clarify if they are talking about real butter or margarine. A lot of people do not differentiate between them and use the words interchangeably. Poly-unsaturated vegetable oils should not be used for cooking since they become trans-fats under high heat. Virgin olive oil is the safest choice. Simply by making these simple changes can improve your levels and reduce serious health risks.
Cigarette smoking also raises cholesterol levels in the blood. If you smoke, you will gain limited benefit from exercise and dietary change until you quit smoking. Once you stop smoking, your cholesterol levels will begin to drop, even more so if you eat healthy and exercise daily.
Minimizing negative stress where possible and managing it when necessary are also important aspects of maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. High stress levels have been found to increase 'bad' cholesterol levels whereas being in a calm and positive state of mind can lower them.
High LDL cholesterol does not need to become a health crisis. It is reversible if you are willing to take the steps mentioned here. Keeping those levels down is important for cardiovascular health. By eating right, exercising regularly, minimizing stress and not smoking you will be able to achieve and maintain healthy cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
As the plaque thickens over time, blood flow is reduced and blood pressure is increased, which can lead to a number of potential problems including heart disease. If bits of plaque come away from the walls and begin to flow through the blood vessels they can clot other sections of the narrowed artery. This can cause the onset of a stroke or a heart attack. High cholesterol levels are therefore very significant and need to be taken seriously.
You can lower your levels by eating a balanced, natural diet devoid of processed, trans-fatty, and sugary foods and drinks, and engaging in daily aerobic exercise that is strenuous but not too strenuous. Including fatty fish such as salmon or tuna or omega-3 fatty acid supplements can also help to lower levels. It is also very important to drink an adequate amount of pure water in order to unclog your arteries. Avoid margarine and use only small amounts of butter or no butter at all. If you are purchasing a sandwich and they ask if you want butter, it is important to clarify if they are talking about real butter or margarine. A lot of people do not differentiate between them and use the words interchangeably. Poly-unsaturated vegetable oils should not be used for cooking since they become trans-fats under high heat. Virgin olive oil is the safest choice. Simply by making these simple changes can improve your levels and reduce serious health risks.
Cigarette smoking also raises cholesterol levels in the blood. If you smoke, you will gain limited benefit from exercise and dietary change until you quit smoking. Once you stop smoking, your cholesterol levels will begin to drop, even more so if you eat healthy and exercise daily.
Minimizing negative stress where possible and managing it when necessary are also important aspects of maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. High stress levels have been found to increase 'bad' cholesterol levels whereas being in a calm and positive state of mind can lower them.
High LDL cholesterol does not need to become a health crisis. It is reversible if you are willing to take the steps mentioned here. Keeping those levels down is important for cardiovascular health. By eating right, exercising regularly, minimizing stress and not smoking you will be able to achieve and maintain healthy cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
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