 |
|
|
|
August 2007 Newsletter
by Beth Ley, Ph.D.
www.blpublications.com
NHL Ministries
IN THE NEWS
|
Pumpkin Extract May Protect Against Diabetes
An extract from pumpkin (Cucurbita ficifolia) may improve blood
glucose levels in diabetics, and exert antioxidant effects, suggests
an animal study from China.
If the research, by scientists from the East China Normal
University, can be reproduced in humans, then feeding on a pumpkin
extract may promote regeneration of damaged pancreatic cells in
diabetic rats, boosting levels of insulin-producing beta cells and
insulin in the blood.
"The present study provides substantial evidence to demonstrate the
glucose lowering action of pumpkin extract as well as its role as
antioxidant agent and thus reveals a mechanism for its
cytoprotective action," wrote authors Tao Xia and Qin Wang in the
Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture.
"Perhaps this is the first report showing the antioxidant role of
pumpkin extract and suggesting its utility in the control of
diabetes," added the authors.
The rats used in this study modelled type-1 diabetes, but the
researchers believe the pumpkin extract may also play a role in
type-2 diabetes. Type-1 diabetes occurs when people are not able to
produce any insulin after the cells in the pancreas have been
damaged, thought to be an autoimmune response.
"Pumpkin extract is potentially a very good product for pre-diabetic
persons, as well as those who have already developed diabetes," lead
author Tao Xia from told Chemistry & Industry magazine.
The mechanism behind the potential benefits was proposed to be due
to both antioxidants and D-chiro-inositol, a molecule that mediates
insulin activity. Boosting insulin levels has the effect of lowering
blood sugar levels, which reduces levels of oxidative oxygen species
that damage beta-cell membranes, preventing further damage and
allowing for some regeneration.
Sources: Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture
Volume 87, Issue 9, Pages 1753-1757 "Hypoglycaemic role of Cucurbita
ficifolia (Cucurbitaceae) fruit extract in streptozotocin-induced
diabetic rats" Authors: Tao Xia and Qin Wang
Chemistry & Industry
9 July 2007, Page 9 "Eating pumpkins helps diabetics"
Author: L. Richards
Probiotics may help against stomach ulcers
People with stomach ulcers may benefit from probiotics to speed up
recovery, suggest results from an animal study from Hong Kong.
The report, published in the European Journal of Pharmacology,
looked at the effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, one of the most
extensively studied strains of probiotics, on gastric ulcer induced
in rats.
"In this study, we demonstrate for the first time that a probiotic
strain L. rhamnosus GG is capable of accelerating gastric ulcer
healing," wrote lead author Emily Lama from the University of Hong
Kong.
Stomach or peptic ulcers are a small hole or erosion in the
gastrointestinal tract. Most stomach ulcers are caused by
Helicobacter pylori bacteria, with some studies already showing that
probiotics may have benefits against these types of bacteria.
According to statistics from the US National Digestive Diseases
Information Clearinghouse, peptic ulcers affect 14.5 million
Americans.
The new research, if it can be reproduced in humans, suggests that
probiotics may also offer benefits for people already suffering from
stomach ulcers. The research showed that the probiotics successfully
colonised in the stomach lining, especially around the ulcer and
suggested that the probiotics influenced protein expression in the
stomach wall cells, which led to increases in the formation of new
blood cells and increased healing of the ulcer.
Source: European Journal of Pharmacology (Elsevier)
Volume 565, Issues 1-3, Pages 171-179
"Probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG enhances gastric ulcer healing
in rats"
Authors: Emily K.Y. Lama, L. Yua, H.P.S. Wonga, W.K.K. Wuc, V.Y.
Shina, E.K.K. Taia, W.H.L. Soa, P.C.Y. Woob and C.H. Cho
High GI Diet Linked to Poor Eye Health
Eating a diet with a high glycemic index (sugar, white flour and
processed foods) may increase the risk of developing advanced
age-related macular degeneration (AMD), says a new study from Tufts
University. Writing in the current issue of the American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition, adds to earlier studies that reported a diet
with high GI increased the risk of early AMD.
"Men and women who consumed diets with a higher glycemic index than
average for their gender and age-group were at greater risk of
developing advanced AMD," said corresponding author Allen Taylor.
"The severity of AMD increased with increasing dietary glycemic
index."
AMD affects the central part of the retina called the macula, which
controls fine vision, leaving sufferers with only limited sight. AMD
affects over 30m people worldwide, and is the leading cause of
blindness in people over 50.
Taylor and co-workers report that consumption of a diet with a
glycemic index above that of the average for the sex (77.9 for
women, 79.3 for men) was associated with a 49% increase in
advanced AMD risk.
"Our findings suggest that 20% of the cases of advanced AMD might
have been prevented if those individuals had consumed a diet
with a glycemic index below the average for their age and gender,"
he added.
The glycaemic index measures how quickly certain foods release
carbohydrates into the body, which then raise consumers' blood
glucose levels. High GI foods cause blood sugar levels to rise more
rapidly.
The interest in the GI of foods and the digestibility of
carbohydrates has increased considerably in recent years. A number
of studies suggest that a low GI and slowly digestible carbohydrates
can contribute to the prevention of obesity and diabetes.
"Our results support our hypothesis that dietary glycemic index,
which has been related to the risk of diabetes, is also associated
with the risk and severity of AMD," said Taylor. The researchers
suggested that reduction of dietary glycemic index may be a
relatively simply way of reducing the risk of AMD.
Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
July 2007, Volume 8, Number 1, Pages 180-188
"Association between dietary glycemic index and age-related macular
degeneration in nondiabetic participants in the Age-Related Eye
Disease Study."
Authors: C.-J. Chiu, R.C. Milton, G. Gensler, A. Taylor
For a list of foods and their Glycemic Index rating go here:
Glycemic Index
DID YOU KNOW:
“Eating daily small amounts of dark chocolate lowers blood
pressure”: If you’re worried about high blood pressure, you may
want to add dark chocolate to your diet.
A new study suggests that eating daily, small amounts of
dark chocolate can help lower some people’s blood pressure.
Researchers at University Hospital of Cologne, Germany, studied 44
otherwise healthy people with high blood pressure for 18 weeks. Half
the people got about a quarter-ounce of daily dark chocolate, half
got the same amount of daily white chocolate. No one gained weight,
but only the dark-chocolate eaters saw their blood pressure come down.
On average, systolic blood pressure, the upper number, came down by
almost three units, and the diastolic blood pressure, or bottom
number decreased by almost two units. The researchers say their
study provides sufficient evidence to recommend low amounts of dark
chocolate as an addition to a healthy diet.
JAMA Advisory July 3, 2007
|
IN BETH'S KITCHEN
Energizing Green Spinach Smoothie
serves 2
Option 1:
Fresh spinach
1/2 large papaya, mango
or 1 nectarine or peach
1 handful of parsley,
mint or cilantro
(I used mint, of course
(my favorite),
from my herb garden)
1 banana
The freshly squeezed juice of
2 oranges or 1/4 cup
frozen concentrate with a
splash of water of some ice cubes.
Option 2:
Fresh spinach - large handful
1 handful mint and/or cilantro
(yes, I used mint)
1 small avacado
1 Apple or about 1 and 1/2 cups
honeydew melon cubes
1/2 cup orange juice
couple of ice cubes
Splash of Lime juice
Directions:
To make it, fill your blender about halfway with fresh spinach.
Add your fruit, your greens (and dandelion root if you've got it).
Add at least one banana. Pour in fresh-squeezed orange juice, or use
the "fresh frozen" type and add some water until the blender is
about 3/4 full. Then blend until smooth.
You can also add a tablespoon of Spirulina, wheat grass or barley
grass powder
|
|
|
|
SCRIPTURE
|
Jeremiah 29:13
Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye search for me with all
your heart.
|
|
|
|
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FEATURED BOOKS
SPEWED:
How To Cast Out LukeWarm Christianity through Fasting and a Fasted
Lifestyle... plus Wisdom in Fasting.
by Beth Ley, Ph.D.
230 pages, $15.95 US
Increase Your Appetite For GOD, Not the World... Holiness
What are you hungry for? What is your focus in life? Are you caught
up in worldly desires or would you sincerely like to enhance your
relationship with God and increase the power of the Holy Spirit
working in you?
Enhance your relationship and committment level to God through
fasting. The more we decrease the desires of the flesh, the more the Holy Spirit can rise up in us.
Enhance your relationship and committment level to God through
fasting. The more we decrease the desires of the flesh, the more the
Holy Spirit can rise up in us.
Fasting helps purge out the strongholds in our life so we can be pure
and holy for the Lord.
Find out the practical aspects of fasting, how to protect your health
and much more! We must use WISDOM in fasting! Nutritionist Beth Ley,
Ph.D., explains HOW to do this!
Fasting is an awesome way to express your love for God. Stir up your
hunger for God so He can be the supreme hunger of your heart!
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I
will spew thee out of my mouth. Rev 3:16
GOD hates the hippocritical “religious” because this is a false
representation of Him and His true character!
PhytoNutrients
Revised and Updated for 2007
by Beth Ley, Ph.D.
58 pages, $5.95 US
See Dr. Beth on webTV
PhytoNutrients: Medicinal Nutrients Found in Foods.
Find out WHY everyone always tells you to eat your fruits and
veggies - and what other foods are the "healthiest" to eat.
ORDER [click here]
| |
|
|
|
|
FEATURED SUPPLEMENTS
SEQUEL NATURALS CHLORELLA
When you are looking for a
multi-vitamin/mineral supplement...
Choose one that
God created, not Man!! Chlorella (green algae created
by God) contains at least 400 different nutrients
including chlophyll, nature's nutrient of detox!
300 tablet count bottle
(500mg)
Suggested Retail: $34.00 US
ORDER [click here]
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NUTRITION COUNSELING
with Dr. Beth now available in TWIN CITIES.
Two locations available:
In Golden Valley, call 763-391-7636
In Savage, call 952-746-4404
For more info click here
| |
|
|
QUESTIONS and ANSWERS
Q and A:
Send in your questions... there's a good chance
other's would like to hear the answer too.
contact us by e-mail at
bley@blpublications.com | |
|
|
|
| |
|
