Q. Im thinking about taking a vitamin A supplement, but am confused by the...
If youre eating a balanced diet and have no special health concerns, you probably dont need extra vitamin A of any kind. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements of the National Institutes of Health, Vitamin A is available in multivitamins and as a stand-alone supplement, often in the form of retinyl acetate or retinyl palmitate [preformed vitamin A].
Q. You recently covered a new green tea study that focused on protecting brain...
A.Jeffrey Blumberg, PhD, director of Tufts HNRCA Antioxidants Research Laboratory, responds: It is not possible to determine the green tea cups/day equivalent in that particular study because the authors disclosed the dose only as 0.05% standardized green tea extract without describing the standard. However, two observational studies of green tea and cognitive performance, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2006 and 2008, identified those drinking two or more cups per day and…
Blueberries Found to Boost Blood-Vessel Function
A pair of randomized, controlled trials-considered the gold standard for scientific research-have linked eating blueberries to improved blood-vessel function. Jeremy Spencer, PhD, of the University of Reading in England, and colleagues reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: Our data suggest that consumption of blueberries at dietary intakes may have public health relevance in maintaining circulatory function.
New Reasons to Pick Fruit Over Juice
Choosing whole fruit rather than fruit juice might significantly reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new large study. And when it comes to picking fruit, some varieties-notably blueberries, grapes, apples and pears-are better than others in protecting you against diabetes.
Healthy Herbs Do More Than Just Spice Up Your Meals
Discover the nutritional benefits of these tasty plants.
Antioxidants Higher in Darker-Roasted Peanuts
Darker-roasted peanuts pack a greater antioxidant punch, according to Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists in North Carolina. The researchers measured antioxidant levels in peanuts roasted at 362 degrees from zero to 77 minutes. Longer, darker roasting was consistently associated with higher levels of both water- and oil-soluble antioxidants, which scientists attributed to greater concentrations of phenolic compounds and/or browning reaction products.
More Evidence Antioxidants in Food Help Protect Against Stroke
A diet rich in antioxidants, especially from fruits and vegetables, could help reduce your risk
Purple Tomato Packs Antioxidant Punch
A tomato of a different color may put more antioxidants on your plate
Green Tea Protects Brain Cells
A flurry of new studies is raising hope that green tea may someday be a potent weapon in the fight against Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia. Although the studies differ widely in technique, ranging from scan-ning peoples brains to forming Alzheimers plaques in a test tube, all focus on ways polyphenol compounds in green tea affect important areas of the brain.