Q: I keep reading that adding milk to tea interferes with its antioxidant activity....
Answer:Jeffrey Blumberg, PhD, director of Tufts HNRCA Antioxidants Research Laboratory, replies, I am unaware of any studies that have examined the effect of soy milk on the antioxidant activity of tea. However, the basic premise of this interaction is that the protein (mostly casein) in milk binds to the tea flavonoids, particularly the catechins, and thus inhibits their antioxidant capacity as well as bioavailability. As soy milk also contains substantial protein (albeit not casein), a…
Q: I enjoy Indian food very much and it appears very healthy, with many...
Answer :Ghee-clarified butter, with the milk solids removed-is made by heating unsalted butter to separate the milk solids from the pure butterfat. Although practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine in India claim that ghee has special health properties, some experts argue that the prevalence of ghee in Indian cuisine is actually a contributor to the high rates of heart disease in that country. In any case, Alice H. Lichtenstein, DSc, director of the Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory at…
Q: Your Special Report on aspartame and high-fructose corn syrup (September Healthletter) made me...
Answer :In fact, regular table sugar (sucrose) isnt so different from high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which contains either 55% or 42% fructose plus other sugars, primarily glucose. Table sugar is 50% fructose and 50% glucose. Both table sugar and HFCS contain four calories per gram, so if youre counting calories you should limit both sweeteners. …
Q: In your June 2007 newsletter you reported the recommended AREDS antioxidants combination to...
Answer :Copper is an essential mineral with an established Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of 900 micrograms (0.9 milligrams) per day for adults and a Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) of 10,000 micrograms (10 milligrams) daily. (The UL is the maximum daily intake of a nutrient that is likely to pose no risks of adverse health affects for almost all individuals.) According to Jeffrey Blumberg, PhD, director of the Antioxidants Research Laboratory at Tufts Jean Mayer…
Q: Xango is a liquid fruit product made from mangosteen and other fruits. Are...
Answer :Known as the queen of fruits, the exotic mangosteen originates in Southeast Asia, where its used in traditional medicine to treat diarrhea, wounds and skin infections. Numerous companies have been promoting the health benefits of juices and supplements made from mangosteen as well as acai, aronia, camu camu, chasteberry, wolfberry and other exotic fruits. Mangosteen fruit is high in organic compounds called xanthones as well as alpha- and gamma-mangostins; various in vitro (test tube)…
Q: What is the latest health information on Krill Oil? I hear good things...
Answer :Krill are tiny shrimp-like crustaceans that whales feed upon. Its true that krill oil contains the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, which have been associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and age-related macular degeneration, relief for rheumatoid arthritis and possibly even protection against cognitive decline and Alzheimers disease. (See our Special Report on omega-3s in the July 2007 Healthletter.) But krill-oil pills may actually be lower in omega-3s than regular fish-oil capsules. …
Q: I have heard that decaffeinated coffee promotes arthritis. Is this true?
Answer :Earlier research did suggest an association between decaffeinated coffee consumption and increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the less-common form of arthritis (as opposed to osteoarthritis). A 2004 study of some 75,000 participants in the long-running Nurses Health Study, however, concluded that there is no link between either decaffeinated or regular coffee consumption and increased RA risk. According to the lead investigator, Elizabeth W. Karlson, MD, of Harvard Medical School, the data supporting the…
Q: I have read that when buying bread and cereals, one should look for...
Answer :Whole wheat is one type of whole grain, which simply means any grain that retains the entire kernel-bran, germ and endosperm. White flour and bread are made from only the endosperm of the wheat, and contain only a quarter of the fiber of whole-wheat products. In Canada, however, cautions Cynthia Harriman, director of food and nutrition strategies for the Whole Grains Council www.wholegrainscouncil. org, whole wheat can be missing up to 5% of the whole…
Q: Ive heard a lot about arthritis sufferers consuming ginger to reduce inflammation and...
Answer :Although ginger seems to be effective against nausea and vomiting, especially that related to pregnancy, the jury is still out on the medicinal use of this popular cooking ingredient against arthritis symptoms. One 2005 study did show anti-inflammatory effects for ginger. But a 2007 review of the medical literature concluded that the results on ginger for the treatment of arthritis are mixed. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), which is currently…
Q: In your November 2007 issue, you said that experts prescribe strength training for...
Answer :An excellent starting point is the Growing Stronger: Strength Training for Older Adults program, developed by experts at Tufts and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Growing Stronger is an exercise program based upon sound scientific research involving exercises that have been shown to increase the strength of your muscles, maintain the integrity of your bones, and improve your balance, coordination and mobility. At the Web site growingstronger.nutrition.tufts.edu you can jump right into…