Healthy Fun Facts!

Fact #1:
Why are all dumb blonde jokes one-liners?

So men can remember them.
Low levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) -- the "good" cholesterol -- in middle age may increase the risk of memory loss and lead to dementia later in life, researchers have recently reported. "Memory problems are key in the diagnosis of dementia," said Archana Singh-Manoux, Ph.D., lead author of the study and Senior Research Fellow with the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research (INSERM, France) and the University College London in England. "We found that a low level of HDL may be a risk factor for memory loss in late midlife. This suggests that low HDL cholesterol might also be a risk factor for dementia."

DFH carries several products that may help with supporting healthy lipid balance such as our Chromium Synergy.

Source: Low HDL Cholesterol Is a Risk Factor for Deficit and Decline in Memory in Midlife. The Whitehall II Study.

Fact #2:
I’m nuts for almonds.
Recently published work by the Institute of Food Research has identified potential prebiotic properties of almonds that could help improve our digestive health by increasing levels of beneficial gut bacteria. The study found that finely ground almonds significantly increased the levels of certain beneficial gut bacteria. This effect was not seen when the fat content was removed from the almond preparation, suggesting that the beneficial bacteria use the almond lipid for growth, and this is the basis for the prebiotic effect of almonds.

DFH’s Chocolate flavor and Vanilla Almond PaleoBars contain almond butter and FOS to help insure GI health.

Source: Investigation of the potential prebiotic properties of almond (Amygdalus communis L.) seeds.

Fact #3:
The key to breast health may be in your head…
Low melatonin levels are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women, according to a prospective case-control study. The researchers found that women with the lowest levels of melatonin had a statistically significantly higher incidence of breast cancer than those with the highest levels.

To learn more about hormones, hormone testing and subsequent therapies, please click here to listen to Wednesday’s Clinical Rounds discussion with Dr. Dan Gleason.

Source: Urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin levels and risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

Fact #4:
…or it may be in your glass.
Resveratrol, the polyphenol found in grape skins and seeds and in wine, was found to have aromatase inhibitory qualities in breast cancer cell lines. In past studies, resveratrol, which has a structural similarity to estrogen, has shown agonistic and antagonistic properties on estrogen receptors. Here, resveratrol demonstrated aromatase inhibition at both the enzyme and mRNA levels.

This is one of the many reasons DFH included resveratrol in our FemGuard + Balance product designed to not only balance hormones but help to ward off estrogen- dependent cancers. DFH’s Resveratrol Synergy contains 200 mg of resveratrol per capsule and also contains 200 mg. of quercetin per capsule.

Source: The red wine polyphenol resveratrol displays bilevel inhibition on aromatase in breast cancer cells.

Fact #5:
You may want to add some EGCg to your cardiovascular protocol.
A study found that the consumption of green tea rapidly improves the function of (endothelial) cells lining the circulatory system; endothelial dysfunction is a key event in the progression of atherosclerosis. The study was a randomised trial involving the diameter measurement (dilatation) of the brachial artery of healthy volunteers on three separate occasions - after taking green tea, caffeine, and hot water (for a placebo effect). The measurements were taken at 30, 90 and 120 minutes after consumption.

Results showed that endothelium-dependent brachial artery dilatation increased significantly after drinking green tea, with a peak increase of 3.9 per cent 30 minutes after consumption.

Source: The acute effect of green tea consumption on endothelial function in healthy individuals.