The pharmacy researchers have shown that drinking green tea helps the action of important antibiotics in their fight against resistant superbugs, making them up to three times more effective.

Green tea is a very common beverage in Egypt, and it is quite likely that patients will drink green tea while taking antibiotics. The medical researchers wanted to find out if green tea would interfere with the action of the antibiotics, have no effect, or increase the medicines’ effects.

“We tested green tea in combination with antibiotics against 28 disease causing micro-organisms belonging to two different classes,” says Dr Mervat Kassem from the Faculty of Pharmacy at Alexandria University in Egypt. “In every single case green tea enhanced the bacteria-killing activity of the antibiotics. For example the killing effect of chloramphenicol was 99.99% better when taken with green tea than when taken on its own in some circumstances.”

Green tea also made 20% of drug-resistant bacteria susceptible to one of the cephalosporin antibiotics. These are important antibiotics that new drug resistant strains of bacteria have evolved to resist.

The results surprised the researchers, showing that in almost every case and for all types of antibiotics tested, drinking green tea at the same time as taking the medicines seemed to reduce the bacteria’s drug resistance, even in superbug strains, and increase the action of the antibiotics. In some cases, even a low concentration of green tea was effective.

“Our results show that we should consider more seriously the natural products we consume in our everyday life,” says Dr Kassem. “In the future, we will be looking at other natural herb products such as marjoram and thyme to see whether they also contain active compounds which can help in the battle against drug resistant bacteria”.

Where to buy Green Tea supplement.

Green Tea is accumilating some very positive clinical and secientific data, supplementing your diet with Green Tea may well be worth while after all!

Green Tea is availble in many forms and we have been lucky enough to find Green Tea in capsule form at powerful levels. Always be cautious when buying supplements, many websites these days offer Green Tea and other herbs in supplement form that in many cases are quite ineffective due to the lack of responsible material source and manufacturing. We opt for healthspark as there supplements are UK made to GMP standards. Healthspark again has recently introduced the strongest green tea capsule on the market. Healthspark uses an extract (20:1) and fills all its Green Tea capsules with 500mg of this potent 20:1 extract, it contains no fillers just Pure Green Tea extract in its highest possible strength.

Supplementing with milk thistle has a long history among Europeans who have used it to protect their livers from the effects of alcohol and environmental pollution. It is approved by the German Commission E Monographs to treat alcoholic cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, drug and alcohol induced liver damage, and other diseases such as acute viral hepatitis.

The milk thistle ingredient that most people believe to be responsible for its medicinal properties is the flavonoid complex called silymarin. Silymarin is found in the fruit of the milk thistle plant. Silymarin from milk thistle is also an extremely effective antioxidant, fighting the destructive processes of oxidation in the body. Studies suggest that silymarin can prevent free radicals from damaging liver cells.

Silymarin is also an active agent against cancer. Recent investigations and molecular studies have established the cancer chemopreventive role of silymarin in both in vivo and in vitro models.

According to a study published in the May 8, 2008 edition of Cancer Letter, silymarin modulates imbalance between cell survival and apoptosis. Apoptosis is the programmed death of cells. When cells do not die as programmed there is risk of tumor formation. Silymarin carries out its role by interfering with the expression of cell cycle regulators and proteins involved in apoptosis. In addition, silymarin shows anti-inflammatory as well as anti-metastatic activity. Further, the protective effects of silymarin and its major active constituent, silibinin, studied in various tissues, suggest a clinical application in cancer patients as an adjunct to established therapies, to prevent or reduce chemotherapy as well radiotherapy induced toxicity.

A study from the European Journal of Cancer, April, 2008 found that silibinin possesses cancer chemopreventive properties in rodent models of carcinogenesis. Researchers tested the hypothesis that silibinin, or silibinin formulated with phospholipids would delay tumor formation in mice with genetic models of prostate or intestinal malignancies respectively. Intervention with silibinin formulated with phospholipids reduced the size of well differentiated adenocarcinomas by 31%. Silibinin and silibinin formulated with phospholipids decreased the incidence of poorly differentiated carcinomas by 61% compared to mice on control diets. The silibinin formulation decreased plasma levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 by 36%.

Another study, from the March 15, 2008 Journal of Cancer Research investigated in vivo efficacy and associated biomarkers and mechanism of silibinin against human colorectal carcinoma xenograft growth. Mice implanted with the growth and treated with silibinin, showed tumor growth inhibition of 48% compared to controls. A combination of silibinin and phytosome resulted in decreased proliferation by 40%, increased apoptotic index by nearly double, and reduced micro-vessel density by 36% compared to controls.

How milk thistle works

Milk thistle, provides protection to liver cells by stabilizing and guarding the cell membranes. It alters the structure of the outer cell membrane so as to prevent the penetration of liver toxins into the interior cell. By reducing the rate at which the liver absorbs harmful substances, toxins are excreted through the kidneys before they are able to damage the liver. A dramatic example of this is the ability of milk thistle to block poisons from the deathcap mushroom, a notorious liver toxin.

In a study, physicians rated the results after a group of 49 patients with deathcap mushroom poisoning were given injections of silibinin (20 mg/kg daily). All of the treated patients survived, even though they were treated from 24 to 36 hours after their poisoning, when liver and kidney damage had already occurred. The usual death rate from deathcap poisoning is 30 to 40 percent of patients. In a similar manner, Milk thistle detoxifies chemicals that enter our bodies from environmental sources, alcohol consumption, heavy metals, medical treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation, and drugs.

Silymarin exerts its powerful antioxidant properties by combining and neutralizing harmful free radicals resulting from metabolic processes and from the process of detoxification. Silymarin also helps increase levels of glutathione and superoxide dismutase (SOD), two antioxidants made naturally in the body. Silymarin may increase the content of glutathione in the liver and intestines by as much as 50 percent. It also increases the activity of SOD in red and white blood cells. In the stomach and intestines, silymarin has a role in the treatment of inflammatory conditions such as colitis and ulcers.

Milk thistle helps repair damaged cells and generate new ones when needed. It accomplishes this by stimulating vital protein synthesis through the enzyme RNA polymerase I. Silibinin may be the agent of this process, functioning by imitating a steroid hormone. In a study, silybin increased protein synthesis by up to 25 to 30 percent compared to controls. This is important since protein is a basic building block of cell walls, cell structures, and the creation of enzymes vital to body processes. This ability of Milk thistle to promote regeneration is why it is a chosen treatment for chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and fatty liver.

Milk thistle for kidney disease, diabetes, and skin health

In the kidneys, silymarin concentrates in the cells to aid in repair and regeneration by increasing protein and nucleic acid synthesis by as much as 25 to 30 percent. It has been tested in animals for its ability to protect kidneys from damage due to drugs. Results of this research were promising for people taking chemotherapy.

The ability of milk thistle to improve liver function and regulate the utilization of insulin leads to improved control for diabetes. A study reported in the August, 2002 Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolism Journal noted that in patients with diabetes and associated chronic liver disease, plasma levels of glucose, insulin and triglycerides are high, lipid peroxidation is increased, and natural antioxidant reserves are low. Researchers hypothesized that better liver function could result in a better glucose and lipid metabolism.

A randomly selected group of 60 patients with diabetes caused by liver cirrhosis who were being treated with insulin were assigned to receive silymarin 600 mg/day or no treatment with silymarin for a period of 6 months. All the patients were receiving insulin therapy and had elevated endogenous insulin levels indicative of insulin resistance. Other criteria for inclusion in the study were age between 45 and 70, insulin therapy stable for at least 2 years, and liver cirrhosis determined by biopsy less than 4 years previously. Metabolic control, serum lipid levels and liver function was assessed throughout their treatment period.

Treatment with silymarin produced benefits in terms of control of diabetes, including significant reduction in daily and fasting blood glucose confirmed by urine glucose measurement, significant improvement in glycosylated hemoglobin values, and a significant drop in insulin requirement and fasting insulinemia. The status of the patients not treated with silymarin declined during the trial. The outcome in the silymarin recipients was significantly superior compared to the control group.

In the treated patients, the measured values of the end product of lipid peroxidation decreased significantly, from 2.2 umol/dl at baseline to 1.6 umo/dl 6 months later. In the control group, a slight increase in lipid peroxidation was observed over the 6 month period.

Researchers concluded that the clinical benefits of silymarin observed in the study probably involve restoration of the plasma membrane of the liver cells and an increase in insulin receptor sensitivity as a result of reduction in lipid peroxidation of liver cell membranes. Researchers noted the need to administer silymarin for longer periods of time in order to identify the end point of the biochemical amelioration caused by the silymarin treatment. All of the study participants chose to continue with silymarin following the 6 month study.

Along with moistening and soothing mucus membranes, Milk Thistle is effective at softening and moisturizing the skin, and it produces a noticeable glow and radiance to skin quality. Skin problems are quite responsive, particularly acne and eczema. Milk Thistle also aids in the healing of redness and inflammation of the skin.

Supplementing with milk thistle.

Silymarin is an extraordinarily useful herb in today’s world where the liver faces assault on a daily basis from environmental pollution, toxic medications and drugs, chemicalized food, and infectious organisms. There is evidence that even very small doses of milk thistle are effective as a preventative and may even offer some therapeutic value. At standard dosages, therapeutic results have been demonstrated.

Supplements are available as whole herb or as extract. According to the German Commission E Monographs, “Milk Thistle is an example of a preparation that is required to be in the standardized, concentrated form in order to fully convey the desired, in this case, hepatoprotectant, effects.” Others find that you can get an effective dose of silymarin by taking whole milk thistle seed three times a day. They believe that the whole herb offers a more balanced effect.

Milk thistle is safe for use on a long term basis. However, it may not always interact well with prescription drugs, as its detoxifying effect in the liver may render the prescription drug less effective. There is also some note of the ability of milk thistle to reduce the effects of oral contraceptives. In all Milk Thistle is a worthy choice but as with many supplements it is recommend that you consult a GP or Pharmacist prior to use. Try our partner in health’s new Milk Thistle Extract (5700mg) the strongest available.

Healthspark Milk Thistle Extract 35:1 163mg Providing 80% Silymarin 130.4mg. (Equivalent to 5700mg of Pure Milk Thistle).

The concentration of the formula, and the integrity of manufacturing make HealthSpark’s Krill Oil a vital supplement for a wide cross-section of the population

 

 

 

St Helier, Jersey (PRWEB) August 21, 2008 — UK online health store, HealthSpark is the first to the market with British manufactured Neptune Laboratories Krill Oil Extract capsules. The recent study from Finland demonstrating that eating oily fish can significantly reduce the risk of memory loss or suffering a stroke has made headlines, but Krill Oil is the ultimate concentration of fish oil owing to its ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorpance Capacity). Krill Oil’s ORAC is 48x higher than fish oil. Healthspark’s website www.healthspark.co.uk is the only retailer and wholesaler of the product.

Krill Oil, logically enough, comes from krill which are small, shrimp-like crustaceans that inhabit the world’s cold ocean areas, primarily the Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans. Healthspark is importing Krill oil Extract from the only patent holding Canadian company “Neptune Laboratories”, and formulating easy to swallow capsules full of this wonderful extract.

Like fish oil, Krill Oil is rich in vitamin E, vitamin D and canthaxanthin, which is like astaxanthin, and is a powerful anti-oxidant. It is the anti-oxidant potency of krill oil that is exciting researchers - when compared to fish oil its ORAC is 48x more potent than fish oil.

A number of studies have shown that Krill Oil is very effective in reducing LDL-cholesterol, raising HDL-cholesterol (as much as 44% in some cases), and lowering blood sugar levels. It has also been shown to be effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis pain and inflammation. A further study has demonstrated reduction in PMS any dysemnorrhea symptoms. It has also been shown to be effective in the treatment of adult ADHD. In all of these studies Krill Oil was double-blind tested against fish oil.

“I’m delighted HealthSpark has brought this unique formulation to market,” said Gerard Alexander (M.I.H.), a leading UK Medical Herbalist. “The concentration of the formula, and the integrity of manufacturing make HealthSpark’s Krill Oil a vital supplement for a wide cross-section of the population”

For additional information on HealthSpark, Krill Oil (or for a sample product), please contact Fabian Whittingham or visit http://www.healthspark.co.uk. HealthSpark is a registered trademark.

May 1, 2006— Coffee made out of green, unroasted coffee beans promotes weight loss, according to a new study on compounds that are naturally present in the beans.

The discovery mirrors earlier research on green tea, which was found to slightly increase metabolism and to speed up the body’s ability to burn fat. Green coffee appears to have a more potent effect.

“If a human consumes one kilogram per day of food (2.2 pounds) containing 10 grams (.35 ounce) of green coffee bean extract for 14 days, the increase in body weight may be suppressed by 35 percent,” said lead author Hiroshi Shimoda.

Shimoda, who is a scientist at the Oryza Oil & Fat Chemical Company, Limited, in Aichi, Japan, told Discovery News that consuming regular, roasted coffee will not lead to much, if any, direct weight loss.

He and his colleagues determined that there are two key types of compounds in unroasted coffee beans. The first is caffeine. The second is chlorogenic acid and its related compounds. Heating destroys the acids.

“Chlorogenic acid is stable and normal at room temperature, but it is unstable at high temperatures,” Shimoda explained. “Normally, coffee beans are roasted at a temperature of around 240 to 250° Celsius (464-482 degrees Fahrenheit). Roasting leads to decomposition of chlorogenic acid and forms brown aromatic Maillard reactants.”

He added that these fragrant chemicals give roasted coffee its characteristic flavor and aroma. Green coffee, by contrast, has no aroma and tastes slightly bitter.

For the study, Shimoda and his team fed test mice a diet that contained one percent green coffee bean extract. Some of the mice also received food in which only a small amount of caffeine or a small amount of chlorogenic acid was added.

Analysis of blood, weight and liver function in the mice revealed that caffeine and the acid alone had little effect. Together, however, the compounds reduced body weight by 35 percent when compared with a control group of mice that consumed no green coffee extract over the 13-day period.

The scientists believe caffeine releases fatty acids from fat stored in the body. The chlorogenic acid and its related compounds then, according to the researchers, help the liver to process these fatty acids more efficiently.

Findings were published in a recent edition of BioMed Central Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Shimoda said that, based on the study results, “we recommend supplementation of the extract to food for weight loss.”

Scientists at the University of Geneva, Switzerland, made a similar determination regarding green tea. Green tea is not usually roasted, so the catechin polyphenols in the tea that increase the rate of metabolism, along with caffeine, are not destroyed.

The level of caffeine is also low, with only about 30 milligrams per 6-ounce cup. Some people are sensitive to caffeine, which can increase heart rate and affect cardiovascular function.

Abdul Dulloo and his Swiss team, however, found that green tea only increases metabolism and fat burning by 4.5 percent. The researchers still suggested that green tea could serve as an aid to weight loss.

Supplementation with Green Tea and Green Coffee are becoming very popular to aid weight loss,although still in the early stages of consumer awareness we recommend use of Healthspark’s recently formulated and manufactured herbal food supplements in high extract forms made in the UK to GMP standards they are truly well priced and unrivaled for strength and effect.

Better Nutrition by James J. Gormley

Sida cordifolia–heart-shaped plant that actually helps the heart…and more

This thorny weed, related to the marsh mallow plant, called Sida cordifolia in Latin (with cordifolia referring to its heart-shaped leaves), is one of the most valuable botanicals in Ayurvedic Medicine, having been used by Hindu physicians since ancient times.

Other names for this astringent, tonic herb include: Khareti (Hind)); Country mallow; Marubakingojikuwa (Japanese); Kedong (Chinese); Ba-la (Tibetan); Kelulut pulih (Malaysian); and Arival (Tamil).

Used historically for its aphrodisiac effects, it is today brought to bear for spasmotic coughs and urinary infections. For fevers, the root has been mixed with ginger.

Traditionally, the plant has been used as an astringent, an antidote for scorpion stings and snake bites, and for: tuberculosis; chronic dysentery; rheumatism; gonorrhea; nervous, urinary, and cardiac diseases, A.A. Leslie Gunatilaka, and colleagues suggest in their paper that appeared in the Journal of Medicinal Plant Research (1980).

Non-human studies have pointed to this valuable weed’s antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. Test-tube studies, in fact, have shown anti-cancer activity against nasopharyngeal (nose and pharynx) carcinoma.

The plant figures prominently in rasayana medicines, being a rejuvenating tonic herb appropriate for a wide variety of Vata disorders. Its traditional use in Ayurvedic Medicine as a cardiac stimulant and bronchodilator (helping to open constricted airway passages leading to the lungs) has often been associated with helping those suffering from asthma.

Rasayanas, or rejuvenators, also “build immunity, well-being, and vitality for the entire system,” suggest Peter Anselmo and James S. Brooks, M.D., in their 1996 book, Ayurvedic Secrets to Longevity Total Health.

Although there are about seven to eight species of “Bala,” Sanskrit writers only mention five species under the name “pancha bale”: Sida acuta, S. cordifolia, Sida racemosa, Sida rhombifolia, and Sida rhomboidea.

S. cordifolia’s cardiac-function-rejuvenating effects have been attributed to the presence of natural ephedrine (or an ephedrine-like compound) in the aerial parts of the plant. Nevertheless, it also contains: fatty oil, phytosterol, potassium nitrate, resin, resin acids, and alkaloids (nitrogenous organic compounds) — the main alkaloid being asparagin.

Supplementation with Sida Cordifolia.

Sida Cordifolia is a plant native to Northeast Brazil. It has been used in folk medicine for the treatment of inflammation, asthma, bronchitis, and nasal congestion. Research suggest that it has hypoglycaemic (blood lowering properties), anti-inflammatory, and analgesic (pain relieving properties) properties. Because the leaves of Sida cordifolia contain small amounts of both ephedrine and pseudoephedrine many nutritional companies have included it as a weight loss product.

Sida Cordifolia is marketed world wide as a weight loss supplement and a energy increasing supplement due to its ephedrine type effects, commonly favoured for use by bodybuilders “Sida” is a big seller in the supplement industry with many large companies developing sporty type packaged Sida products for sale and use by the sporting public. NaturalHealthLibrary recommends Healthspark Sida Cordifloia as a favourable option, recently launch Healthspark Sida is a potent 400mg of 4:1 extract. Each Healthspark Sida capsule contains the equivalent to 1600mg of Pure Sida Cordifolia. It’s definitely one to look out for if your a serious “Sida” user!

Viapro pills work within half an hour and last for up to 24 hours. Whilst no prescription is needed, the manufacturers advise men with heart conditions or other medical complaints to seek their doctor’s advice before taking them.

The ingredients include maca root, from the high mountains of Peru, which has been used to increase libido by locals for centuries.

Also included is shilajit, meaning “rock warrior”, a mineral found in the Himalayas which contains calcium and zinc. The velvet from deer antlers is used as it contains amino acids thought to stimulate testosterone.

Clinical trials involving 47 subjects with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction appear to back up the claims.

The Viapro makers claim 91 per cent reported improved performance and 62 per cent claimed to have completely regained normal sexual function.

1. Avoid white carbohydrates

2. Eat the same few meals over and over again

3. Don’t drink calories

4. Take one day off per week

Hoodia Gordonii & CLA.

• Glucosamine is a precursor to a molecule called a glycosaminoglycan-this molecule is used in the formation and repair of cartilage. 
• Chondroitin is the most abundant glycosaminoglycan in cartilage and is responsible for the resiliency of cartilage.

Treatment with these joint supplements is based on the theory that oral consumption of glucosamine and chondroitin may increase the rate of formation of new cartilage by providing more of the necessary building blocks.

What are probiotics?
Probiotics are beneficial living bacteria necessary to human and animal health. For centuries they have been consumed in yogurt and other fermented dairy foods.

Probiotics have become a big seller in the supplement industry over recent years. Most formulations are complete with A-Z multi vitamins.

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigated whether consumption of a dietary supplement containing probiotic bacteria plus vitamins and minerals for at least three months in winter/spring affects the duration, frequency, and severity of symptoms of common cold and flu infections. The researchers also investigated whether the supplement affected cellular immunity.

The study included 477 healthy men and women who had not been vaccinated against influenza. The subjects were randomly assigned to receive either the probiotic multivitamin and mineral supplement or a placebo. Cellular immune response was determined in a number of the participants before and after supplementation.

The incidence of respiratory tract infections regarded as being virally induced was 13.6 percent lower in the supplement-treated group compared to the placebo group. During respiratory tract infection episodes, the subjects recorded common cold and influenza-like symptoms daily. All symptoms were reduced in the group taking the probiotic-vitamin-mineral supplement. Furthermore, the influenza symptom score dropped by 19 percent in the supplement-treated group. In addition, the number of days the supplement-treated group suffered from fever was 54 percent less than the placebo group. The duration of common cold iand flu infections was not affected by the supplement.

Levels of cells important to immunity such as leukocytes, monocytes, and lymphocytes, in particular T-lymphocytes including CD4+ and CD8+ cells, were significantly higher in the supplement group during the first 14 days of supplementation compared to the placebo group.

According to the researchers, “These data indicate that the intake of a dietary supplement containing probiotic bacteria plus vitamins and minerals during a period of at least three months in winter/spring may reduce the incidence and the severity of symptoms in common cold infections in otherwise healthy adults. This may be due to stimulated cellular immunity.”

Probiotics with complete A-Z 90 Tablets for only £10.99 are available at our trusted online vitamin and supplement store Healthspark Ltd.

ScienceDaily (Sep. 8, 2003) — NEW YORK, Sept. 7 — Black cohosh, a medicinal herb increasingly used by women as an alternative to estrogen replacement therapy, may reduce hot flashes by targeting serotonin receptors — some of the same receptors used by the brain to help regulate body temperature — according to a team of researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago. The finding, the first to demonstrate a possible mechanism of action for the herb other than estrogen, increases the likelihood that the herb is safe to use, they say.

The study was described today during a press briefing on hormone replacement therapy at the 226th national meeting of the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society. The study also will appear in the Sept. 10 print issue of the Society’s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Until now, many scientists thought that black cohosh (koh-hawsh) worked by targeting receptors for estrogen, the same hormone used in commercial hormone replacement medicine that has recently been associated with adverse side effects, including breast cancer and stroke.

“This study shows that black cohosh does not appear to be estrogenic whatsoever and, as a result, is less likely to pose some of the dangers associated with traditional estrogen replacement therapy,” says study leader Judy L. Bolton, Ph.D., a professor at the university’s College of Pharmacy. “We now have new clues to how it might work in the body.”

Although preliminary evidence of the herb’s efficacy in relieving hot flashes, night sweats and other symptoms of menopause is encouraging.

To determine whether black cohosh is estrogenic, the researchers used a group of rats whose ovaries had been removed. The rats were divided into different groups and each group was fed a different concentration of cohosh extract daily for two weeks. Extracts of the herb, either alone or in combination with synthetic estrogen, did not produce any changes in uterine weight or vaginal cell differentiation in the animals. This indicates that the herb has no estrogenic effects, the researchers say.

In accompanying lab studies, the researchers also demonstrated that the black cohosh extract is capable of binding to human serotonin receptors, including those that help regulate body temperature. Previous studies have shown that these receptors may play a role in regulating hot flashes. Antidepressant medications, which some people believe may help reduce hot flashes, also bind to the same receptors. The current study may help provide an explanation for this effect, Bolton says.

Researchers still do not know the specific chemical or chemicals in black cohosh that target the serotonin receptors. Nor do they know if the herb may target hot flashes via additional mechanisms. Further studies are underway to find answers to these questions, they say.

A Phase II clinical trial involving women with a high frequency of hot flashes is now underway at the university to determine whether black cohosh actually reduces the frequency and intensity of hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms. The women will either receive black cohosh, red clover, a placebo or estrogen replacement during the one-year trial, which is one of the largest and longest of its kind, according to Bolton. The trial is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Black cohosh is indigenous to North America and is used by many women to treat menopausal problems. Native Americans originally used it to treat a variety of ailments, including gynecological disorders and even depression. Interest in the herb has soared following the recent findings of the Women’s Health Initiative study, which showed that the health risks of estrogen replacement therapy, including breast cancer and stroke, might outweigh its benefits for some women. Black Cohosh is found in many vitamin and supplement online stores under the section women’s health.

Black Cohosh is used by many thousands of women worldwide and is available at our recommended vitamin and supplement online store Healthspark Ltd.