PCOS - Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Support Blog

By Susan Mudd
dLife

http://www.dlife.com

We’ve all been told to eat our veggies — especially the dark green ones — since we were little babes in high chairs. But ask people exactly why these plants are so good for us, and you’ll get vague answers like “helps prevent cancer” or “fiber is good for you.” Here’s something you can sink your teeth into: Some vegetables may protect and even reverse the damaging effects of diabetes on the heart, according to a report in Diabetes News.

Researchers at the University of Warwick in England isolated a phytochemical called sulforaphane, which is found in cruciferous vegetables, and tested its effects on human cells. (Cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and leafy greens.) When they tested sulforaphane on blood vessel cells that were damaged from diabetes, they found a 73 percent reduction in the activity of a free radical called Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), which at high levels is very damaging.

The researchers also found that sulforaphane activates a protein that protects cells and tissues by increasing antioxidant activity and supporting the liver’s ability to detoxify free radicals. When the liver is healthy and able to handle the detoxification and elimination of free radicals, the immune system can better do its work, including protecting us from the kind of cell mutations that can lead to cancer.

Researchers caution, of course, that experimenting with blood cells incubated in a laboratory environment can not necessarily be extrapolated to what would happen in the human body. But these are promising findings. The next step is to find a sample population in which to study the effects of increased dietary intake of sulforaphane-rich foods.

Free radicals such as ROS are one of the causes of damaged blood vessels in diabetes. As the body attempts to repair the blood vessels, plaques form and blood vessel walls begin to narrow, resulting in both high blood pressure and the condition known as atherosclerosis. The arteries to the brain and heart are also affected, setting the stage for heart attack or stroke. People with diabetes are five times more likely to die from a cardiovascular event than those without diabetes.

So stock up on cruciferous veggies — and consider expanding your usual repertoire. Broccoli sprouts, which are very young germinations of broccoli seeds (similar in appearance to bean sprouts) may be the best choice, as they are packed with enzymes that help to increase levels of sulforaphane in the body. Lightly steaming or quickly sautéing vegetables are the best ways to cook them to guarantee that they retain their nutrients, so those heart healthy benefits will be passed on to you.
SOURCES:

1 – Mayo Clinic. Nutrition-Wise: Fascinating connection between broccoli and reversal of diabetes complications. (Accessed August 28, 2008.)

2 – Xue, Mingzhan, Qingwen Qian, Adaikalakoteswari Antonysunil, Naila Rabbani, Roya Babaei-Jadidi, and Paul J. Thornalley. Activation of NF-E2-related factor-2 reverses biochemical dysfunction of endothelial cells induced by hyperglycemia linked to vascular disease. Diabetes News, August 2008. (Accessed August 25, 2008).

ABCNEWS.COM/Health
September 11, 2008

Researchers Say Diet Healthy, But Strict Adherence May Be Necessary

 
LONDON (Reuters) - Sticking strictly to a Mediterranean diet rich in fruits and vegetables offers substantial protection against cancer, heart disease and other major chronic illnesses, Italian researchers said on Friday.

People who did this had a 9 percent drop in death from heart disease, a 13 percent reduction in incidence of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease and a 6 percent reduction in cancer compared to those who were not as diligent, their study found.

“These results seem to be clinically relevant for public health, particularly for encouraging a Mediterranean-like dietary pattern for primary prevention of major chronic diseases,” wrote Francesco Sofi, a clinical nutrition researcher, and colleagues at the University of Florence.

The traditional Mediterranean diet is full of vegetables, fish and healthy fats such as olive oil, and low in red meat, dairy products and alcohol.

Sofi and his team reviewed 12 international studies which included more than 1.5 million people whose eating habits and health were tracked for follow-up periods of three to 18 years.

The researchers also developed an “adherence” score to rate how well people followed the Mediterranean diet, a tool they said doctors could use to help improve people’s health and encourage them to eat better.

“The adherence score…could be an effective preventative tool for reducing the risk of mortality and morbidity in the general population,” they wrote.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Diet/wireStory?id=5784043

by Sheryl Walters
Naturalnews.com
June 9, 2008

The benefits of yoga are increasingly well known. Deep relaxation and a strong body are continually proven results of a regular yoga practice.

Now a recent study in Channai, India has shown that a yoga practice is fantastic for treating metabolic syndrome x. It can actually reverse the clinical and biochemical changes associated with this aging syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome is one of the biggest causes of premature aging and heart disease. It is a combination of medical disorders that increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. It affects a large number of people, and prevalence increases with age. Some studies estimate the prevalence in the USA to be up to 25% of the population.

Metabolic syndrome is also known as metabolic syndrome X, syndrome X, insulin resistance syndrome.

It is a catch all phrase that describes a pre-diabetic state that includes symptoms such as:

* Fasting hyperglycemia — diabetes type 2 or impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, or insulin resistance

* High blood pressure

* Central obesity (also known as visceral, male-pattern or apple-shaped adiposity), overweight with fat deposits mainly around the waist

* Decreased HDL (Bad) cholesterol

* Elevated triglycerides

This can result in a multitude of problems including fatigue, depression, diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and liver disease.

Dr. R.P. Agrawal, of the SP Medical College, Bikaner, India, and colleagues evaluated the beneficial effects of yoga and meditation in 101 adults who showed symptoms of metabolic syndrome. In the study, 55 adults received three months of regular yoga including standard stress management yoga poses and a form of transcendental meditation daily. During that time they continued to receive their standard care.

The results show that yoga is anti-aging, lowers blood pressure, and is beneficial for treating metabolic syndrome x. Waist circumference, blood sugar, and triglycerides were significantly lower, and “good” HDL cholesterol levels were higher in the yoga group as compared to controls.

Yoga has been known to balance the endocrine system and hormones for centuries. Now it is also being recognized as a way to balance blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of diseases brought on by a classically western diet.

To continue reading:

http://www.naturalnews.com/023394.html

Insulite Laboratories’ Weekly Health Support Message
May 6, 2008

A new study claims to have cracked the mystery of why eating garlic can help keep the heart healthy.
 
The key ingredient is allicin, which is broken down into the foul-smelling sulfur compounds which, unfortunately, taint breath. These compounds react with red blood cells and produce hydrogen sulphide which relaxes the blood vessels and keeps blood flowing easily.
 
Hydrogen sulphide generates a smell of rotten eggs and is used to make stink bombs. But in low concentrations it plays a vital role in helping cells to communicate with each other.
 
And within the blood vessels it stimulates the cells that form the lining to relax, causing the vessels to dilate. This, in turn, reduces blood pressure, allowing the blood to carry more oxygen to essential organs and reducing pressure on the heart.
 
A research team from Birmingham’s University of Alabama bathed rat blood vessels in a bath containing juice from crushed garlic. They soon saw striking results, with tension within the vessels reduced by 72%.
 
The researchers also found that red blood cells exposed to minute amounts of juice extracted from supermarket garlic immediately began emitting hydrogen sulphide.
 
Lead researcher Dr David Kraus said: “Our results suggest garlic in the diet is a very good thing. Certainly in areas where garlic consumption is high, such as the Mediterranean and the Far East, there is a low incidence of cardiovascular disease.”
 
A balanced, nutritious diet, which includes a modicum of garlic, combined with a regular exercise regime can help reverse an underlying cause of excess weight and obesity, namely the imbalance of blood glucose and insulin called Insulin Resistance. By reversing this latter condition, you can facilitate weight loss.
 
If left unchecked, obesity can also lead to the cluster of increased risks for heart disease called Metabolic Syndrome (Syndrome X) as well as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) - a leading cause of menstrual irregularity and infertility, acne and other skin conditions, excess facial hair and female hair loss. Overweight women do not have a monopoly on PCOS, however. Up to 50% of PCOS sufferers may be females who are of normal weight or even lean.
 
Overweight men are at greater risk of prostate cancer. Insulin Resistance-linked weight problems are also associated in both sexes with Type 2 Diabetes. Before the onset of this latter condition, however, most people develop reversible Pre-Diabetes, a condition in which blood sugar levels are elevated beyond normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes.
 
If ignored, Pre-Diabetes may lead to the Type 2 variety, which can only be managed for the rest of a person’s life. Many Diabetics require daily injections of insulin.
 
Type 2 Diabetes severely increases the risk of blindness, amputation and kidney disease, as well as a heart attack or stroke. Some 90% of people with Type 2 also suffer from excess weight or obesity.
 
 
 www.insulitelabs.com