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March 9, 2006 – The 3e The Canadian Society for Natural Health Products Research (NHPCS) conference, held in Toronto, highlighted the results of preliminary studies that hold promise for the therapeutic applications of certain NHPs. Here are a few.
Antioxidants, almonds! We knew they were filled with good fibers, we suspected that they allowed better control of blood sugar … Here almonds show antioxidant properties. In two small clinical studies (25 people in all), researcher Andrea Josse1 found that adding 60g of almonds to the diet reduced oxidative stress. In addition, she found that four hours after eating the almonds, the subjects still felt full!
A new source of omega-3. Do you know SALBA? Its name comes from the contraction of the Latin name Salvia hispanica alba. This seed is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. Cultivated and marketed in Latin America, this plant was presented by the Dr Vladimir Vuksan2 from the University of Toronto, which sees therapeutic applications. In a clinical study carried out on 20 people at high risk of diabetes, SALBA, taken in addition to drugs, reduced systolic pressure by 10 mmHg and subjects’ oxidative stress by 32%.
Squash seeds as a sleeping pill? The Dr Craig hudson3 found that squash seeds are very high in tryptophan, a neutral amino acid precursor of serotonin and melatonin. Capsule in combination with glucose, the extract improved the quality of sleep in 49 volunteers with insomnia. The effect was equivalent to a sleeping pill of comparable caliber.
Good or not, soy? According to Professor David Jenkins4 from the University of Toronto, soy, in dietary form, has a greater impact on cardiovascular health than suggested by the results of a recent study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). While soy protein only provides a modest 5% reduction in blood cholesterol levels, its consumption is accompanied by additional benefits which are cumulative. In fact, soy consumers would notably eat less meat, fewer grains and refined sugars, as well as more soluble fiber and phytosterols. David Jenkins points out that the overall impact of a daily consumption of 25 g per day of soya would help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disorders by 30%.
Ginseng and schizophrenia. In the light of an experiment conducted with 30 schizophrenics on medication, ginseng (Panaxquinoquefolium) improved the cognitive functions of patients, in addition to having reduced the body mass index (BMI) in half of them. According to the Dr Simon chiu5 from the University of Western Ontario, ginseng may also benefit people with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as those who are addicted to nicotine.
You can read the other news from the conference by consulting the index. |
Martin LaSalle – PasseportSanté.net
1. Andrea Josse is a researcher in the Department of Nutritional Sciences in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto.
2. Vladimir Vuksan is director of Risk Factor Modification Center at St-Michael’s Hospital and Associate Professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto.
3. Dr Craig Hudson is a psychiatrist. He is the founder of Biosential, a company that creates natural health products.
4. David Jenkins is Professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto.
5. Dr Simon Chiu is an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Western Ontario and is part of an institution’s research team on ginseng.