Emma Sutherland Research Archives - Page 11 of 12

The Benefits of Eating Your Greens!

When preparing our food for a meal, we don’t always think about the health benefits we may be receiving from each mouthful. There have been numerous studies conducted on different green vegetables and what medicinal properties they hold, here my top 5 green vegetables:

Asparagus – Just one cup of asparagus contains 65% of your daily folate requirements therefore giving you enormous amounts of energy!!

Broccoli – This particular vegetable goes with absolutely every meal so there is no reason not to eat broccoli. Broccoli has the highest amount of the isothiocyanates and according to a study conducted at U.C Santa Barbara, a compound of isothiocyanates called sulforaphane works in a similar way to anti-cancer drugs by inhibiting proliferation of human tumor cells. Therefore broccoli has been shown to contain cancer-fighting compounds!!

Avocado – By far, this is my number #1 sexy food. Avocados are full of essential fatty acids and are great for anti ageing, fertility, cancer and low libido.

Kale – High in vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin K. Kale is such a therapeutic food and a powerful antioxidant – it will keep you looking and feeling fabulous! It also promotes the breakdown of toxins in the liver so a perfect addition to any detox.

Sea Vegetables – Packed full of nutrients and minerals like iron, iodine, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, manganese and magnesium. A small study was conducted on 32 men with hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol) over a 12 week period. Each person consumed 150ml of kale juice daily and at the end of the study, it was concluded that kale juice favorably influenced serum lipid profiles and antioxidant systems, and hence contribute to reduce the risks of coronary artery disease in […]

By admin|October 25th, 2011|Detox, Health & Wellbeing, Nutrition, Research, Sustainable and Green|0 Comments

What Are Sea Vegetables?

These interesting sea creatures are packed full of nutrients and minerals like iron, iodine, calcium, Vitamin A,B,C, manganese and magnesium. Sea Vegetables are great for your teeth, bones, hair, skin and nails and help to keep your thyroid in good health. Research has investigated the cholesterol lowering properties as well as positive effects on cancer prevention.

You may be thinking that they are going to taste like seaweed fresh from the sea but they really don’t have a strong taste especially once you add them to your food.

Different types of sea vegetables.

Kombu: Looks like a long stick of seaweed and is highly alkaline. When added to water it becomes soft so add it to soups, brown rice and quinoa.

Nori: Sheets of nori is what is wrapped around nori rolls. You can use these sheets by adding your own ingredients to them and rolling up or otherwise tear the nori into strips and add to salads, rice dishes, vegies and soups.

Arame: This a species of kelp and can also be added as a garnish to dishes or eaten on its on own with some tamari and ginger.

Wakame: Soak wakame in water before adding to salads or add it in the last couple of minutes to your cooking. Wakame has probably the strongest taste out of all the varieties but super delicious!

Start experimenting with sea vegetable today!

By admin|October 17th, 2011|Detox, Health & Wellbeing, Nutrition, Research|0 Comments

Andrographis and its Benefits in the Common Cold

With the constant change in weather, it’s no wonder the common cold is still lurking around! The herb Andrographis paniculata is in my top 10 of effective therapeutic herbal medicines. It is incredibly powerful as an immune enhancer and is effective against viruses, bacteria and parasites. At the initial signs of a cold, it is one of the first herbs that I think of and I have seen it literally stop a cold from taking hold. Andrographis is an Indian herb and is also known as “The King of Bitters” and it must the strongest tasting herb in my dispensary. That is why I often use it in tablet form as most patients really don’t appreciate its taste!

This lovely piece of research came from a systematic review, which means that the researchers summarise the results from all the controlled trials completed to date on Andrographis. They concluded that Andrographis is an effective treatment for the common cold. I educate patients to think of this herb as part of their first aide box – keep a bottle in the cupboard and at the first signs of a cold start on an acute dose and nip it in the bud!

Andrographis paniculata in the symptomatic treatment of uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection: systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Poolsup N, Suthisisang C, Prathanturarug S, Asawamekin A, Chanchareon U.

Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Silpakorn University, Nakhon-Pathom, Thailand. nalinee@email.pharm.su.ac.th

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of Andrographis paniculata in the symptomatic treatment of uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection. METHODS: Systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Mean difference in the reduction in symptom severity scores between treatment and control groups was calculated to obtain an overall […]

By admin|August 16th, 2011|Health & Wellbeing, Naturopathy, Research|0 Comments

Link Between Abdominal Fat and Breast Cancer

Do you need more motivation do lose that tummy fat? Well new research from a Harvard study suggests that excess fat around your tummy is linked to breast cancer that is not oestrogen dominant. Women who carry more fat around their organs are more likely to develop insulin issues and it appears that insulin may be the link between abdominal fat and premenstrual breast cancer!

Premenopausal women who carry excess fat around their abdomen or have a large waist relative to their hip size may face a higher risk for breast cancer that is estrogen receptor (ER)-negative, new research reveals.

The research team noted that such body fat distribution was linked more strongly to the risk for developing this particular type of cancer than it was to a risk for ER-positive breast cancer.

Body fat distribution of this kind was not associated with an increased risk for breast cancer generally, according to the study, published Dec. 15 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer means that the cancer lacks receptors for the female hormone estrogen, so the hormone does not stimulate the cancer to grow.

The research team, led by Holly R. Harris of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, pointed out that prior research had suggested that body fat composition (as indicated by body mass index, or BMI) has a complex relationship with cancer risk.

For example, having a higher BMI has previously been linked to a rise in the risk for postmenopausal breast cancer, but not premenopausal breast cancer.

On the other hand, the researchers said that premenopausal women who carry excess fat that wraps around organs in the abdominal region are more likely to develop the pre-diabetic condition […]

By admin|August 10th, 2011|Health & Wellbeing, Research|0 Comments

How to prepare for surgery…

Our bodies have incredible ways of healing themselves however it’s important to prepare yourself for surgery with herbs, nutrients and lifestyle choices to maximise the quickest recovery time.

First and foremost you need to build up your immune system to discourage any infections post surgery! Eating nutritious food and maintaining a healthy, balanced lifestyle will help with healing and reduce inflammation.

Pre & post surgery tips:

Eat antioxidant rich food: Organic fruit & vegetables (especially orange coloured), berries, legumes, seeds, broad beans, soybeans, oats, corn, kale, peppers, parsley, ginger.

Vitamin C: This nutrient has a huge list of health benefits and should be a staple in every household! Vitamin C is an antioxidant, maintains connective tissue, helps with brain and nerve function, stimulates the immune system and research suggests that it has the ability to assist in wound healing.

Zinc: A trace element that is an essential cofactor for many chemical reactions. Zinc protects cell membranes from oxidative stress therefore is an antioxidant as well as an important nutrient for growth and development, immune responses and reproduction. Research into zinc has found that it improves wound healing therefore it should be part of your pre/post surgery care.

Bromelain: A mixture of proteolytic enzymes that are found in pineapples! It has been used for centuries to treat inflammation and swelling associated with surgery. Studies into bromelain have found it is an effective way to help heal wounds, burns and physical injuries.

Arnica: Take arnica homoeopathically pre and post surgery to assist with swelling and bruising as well as help the body deal with the trauma and shock of the surgery. One study using 227 patients in 3 separate trials, measured the outcome of homoeopathic arnica vs. placebo on postoperative swelling and pain. […]

By admin|July 12th, 2011|Health & Wellbeing, Naturopathy, Nutrition, Research|0 Comments

Acupuncture May Help Relieve The Symptoms Of PCOS.

Acupuncture and exercise may help women better handle the symptoms and risks that come with hormone imbalances caused by certain ovarian cysts, Swedish researchers report.

About one in 10 women of reproductive age have polycystic ovarian syndrome, a condition that can start in the teen years and cause irregular menstrual cycles and infertility. Small immature cysts on the ovaries disrupt hormone production, causing excessive secretion of testosterone, the male sex hormone. In addition to infertility, it can increase a woman’s odds of becoming obese and developing type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease, the study authors explained.

While the syndrome’s cause remains mysterious, researchers believe it is linked to a highly active sympathetic nervous system, part of the body’s internal controls that regulate several functions one cannot willingly manage, such as how wide one’s pupils dilate.

In the study, women with polycystic ovarian syndrome were separated into three groups: one group received regular electro-acupuncture, in which weak electric current is sent through the needles; another group was given heart-rate monitors and told to exercise three or more times per week; the last group was given no additional treatment or instructions. After a four-month period, women in the acupuncture and exercise groups ended up with lower sympathetic nervous system activity, though the acupuncture group received additional benefits, the researchers found.

“Those who received acupuncture found that their menstruation became more normal. We could also see that their levels of testosterone became significantly lower, and this is an important observation, since elevated testosterone levels are closely connected with the increased activity in the sympathetic nervous system of women,” study author Elisabet Stener-Victorin, an associate professor who has led the research at the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, […]

By admin|July 5th, 2011|Fertility, Health & Wellbeing, Preconception & Pregnancy, Research|0 Comments

BPA and Men: A Bad Match

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is an industry chemical used to make polycarbonate plastic resins, epoxy resins and other products. New evidence suggests that BPA can cause sexual dysfunction in men, especially those exposed to high levels at work. Investigators from Kaiser Permanente’s Division of Research in Oakland, CA, who reviewed the health records of 550 factory workers in China found that those who worked with BPA were four times more likely to report some type of sexual dysfunction than were men in the factory who didn’t work with the chemical.

This is not the first study to link BPA to harm in humans. Other research has demonstrated developmental changes in animals exposed to the chemical. In the new study, 15.5% of men exposed to BPA reported erectile dysfunctionmore than half the time compared to only 4.4% of men who weren’t exposed to BPA. In addition, 13.9% of the men exposed to BPA complained of difficulty ejaculating compared to 2.5% of men who weren’t exposed. However, the BPA levels in question were about 50 times what the average individual experiences. Don’t look for any change in policies pertaining to BPA as a result of this study. More evidence from other human studies will be needed to determine what levels, if any, of BPA are safe for humans.

Until we know more about any human health risks, I recommend avoiding plastics containing BPA. Substitute those made with polypropylene (#5 PP), high-density polyethylene (#2 HDPE), and low-density polyethylene (#4 LDPE). You can also reduce your exposure by buying foods and beverages frozen or packed in glass jars or bottles instead of cans lined with an epoxy containing BPA.

Click here for more information on diet and erectile dysfunction.

By admin|June 8th, 2011|Health & Wellbeing, Men's Health, Research|0 Comments

What the Hell Is In Your Body Products and Why are They Legal?

Bio Oil is a topical product that is marketed as a “specialist skincare product that helps improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks and uneven skin tone.” It is the number 1 selling scar and stretch mark product in Australia and is the most recommended product for scars and stretch marks by pharmacists.

But did you know what Bio Oil’s ingredients are and how they affect your health? The Environmental Working Groups’ Skin Deep Database (http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/) scores Bio Oil a 7 which is “high hazard” and it scores high for health concerns for its ingredients for developmental and reproductive toxicity. Ironic when so many pregnant women use Bio Oil to unknowingly rub harmful chemicals into their skin.

My concerns are the top 4 listed ingredients:

Paraffinum liquidum(mineral oil)
Triisononanon
Cetearyl ethyl hexanoate
Isopropyl myristate

Isopropyl myristate causes irritation to the skin, lungs and eyes.

Triisononanon enhances skin absorption of the product it’s in.

Mineral oil is associated with allergies and may cause organ system toxicity and is derived from petroleum.

Bio Oil also contains fragrance and fragrances are associated with allergies, dermatitis and potential effects of the reproductive system especially if phthalates are involved in the mix. The preservative use is butylated hydroxytoluene which has strong evidence to show developmental effects at high doses in animal studies.

The problem is that we absorb all of these chemicals and bioaccumulate them. The levels build in our bodies as we continue to store them, mainly in fat cells and bones.

When a woman is pregnant, the unborn child becomes a natural detoxifier for her – the baby “downloads” chemicals and heavy metals. Proof of this has been shown in various studies. What you put on your body and in your body has a profound effect on your health […]

By admin|May 31st, 2011|Health & Wellbeing, Naturopathy, Preconception & Pregnancy, Research, Uncategorized|0 Comments

My Interview With RioLife…

After carefully researching RioLife Acai, I decided to give them a call and meet up with founding partner, Andrew Cameron. Here is my interview with him. I can’t wait to start my Acai Challenge!
How did you fall in love with Acai?
I first fell in love with Acai through my travels on the beaches of Rio De Janeiro where it is eaten religiously, local friends (carioca’s, as they call themselves) of mine said it was the best thing on the planet and after adjusting to its unique taste I simply couldn’t get enough of the stuff, eating it every day after a surf or a long day in the sun I just felt my body responding so well to this amazing fruit. You could see how the health and energy obtained from Acai blended so well with the Brazilian culture and seemed crazy that we didn’t eat this in Australia. It wasn’t until I got back to Australia in 2005 I realised all of the amazing health properties of this fruit, it’s no wonder I felt so good from eating it.
Teaming up with friends Andrew Maciver who discovered Acai in California and Jeremy Liddle who ran juice bars in Singapore we got together after travelling the world and RioLife evolved. We had seen the love for Acai in Brazil and also all over California where Oprah herself named it as the number 1 Superfood for antiageing back in 2004, it made complete sense to bring this great fruit into the diets of Australian’s. RioLife today is the most established Australian Acai brand in the country and merging with NuFruits in 2007 gave us great strength to the company. Nufruits specialising in all […]

By admin|May 4th, 2011|Detox, Health & Wellbeing, Naturopathy, Nutrition, Research, Sustainable and Green|0 Comments

Kale: A Powerful Cancer Preventative

When I think of kale, I visualise a powerful and strong cancer fighting food. Kale is one of the most important foods for cancer prevention and it belongs in the Cabbage family. Other members of this family include broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower and cabbage. The two most prominent health benefits of eating these foods are that they can help prevent cancer and they are highly anti -inflammatory.
Research shows women who eat kale reduce their susceptibility to cancer at a variety of organ sites but especially the breast. This is due to the active compound glucosinolate which is converted into cancer fighting isothiocyanates. The researchers concluded that foods high in these compounds should be part of a cancer protective diet.
Recent researchers have looked into the role of isothiocyanates and inflammation. It appears that dietary sources of these powerful health promoting compounds such as kale can modify and actively inhibit a key step in inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, obesity and heart disease.
Kale in particular is high in vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin K. If you eat 100 grams of kale you will be loaded with twice the RDI for vitamin A, 2 ½ times the RDI for vitamin C and a huge 10 times the RDI for vitamin K. Remember that vitamins A and C are wonderful antioxidants and keep us looking fabulous both on the inside and outside. Now that is an incredibly therapeutic food! Kale is a perfect detox food as it is high in substances that strongly promote the breakdown of toxins within the liver.
Kale is available from the middle of winter to early spring and look to buy the smaller varieties as they have a sweeter flavour than the larger […]

By admin|April 30th, 2011|Health & Wellbeing, Nutrition, Research|0 Comments

Previous 9 101112 Next

Research