Magnesium Supplementation and Blood Pressure At a Glance A recently published meta-analysis shows that higher dietary magnesium intake may be linked to lower blood pressure. Read more about this research below. It is well known that several dietary minerals are involved in the regulation of blood pressure. Excess sodium is known to increase the risk of hypertension in some individuals. Other data has shown that calcium, potassium, and magnesium can have the opposite effect and decrease blood pressure in some individuals. TheEuropean Journal of Clinical Nutritionrecently published an article where the researchers studied magnesium at several different dosages to analyze its effect on blood pressure. This meta-analysis involved 22 trials and included 1,173 people. Daily doses of magnesium ranged from 120 mg to 973 mg (average dose 410 mg), and with follow-up period ranging from 3 to 24 weeks. Although not every trial resulted in a significant reduction in blood pressure, the analysis resulted in an average reduction in systolic blood pressure of 3 to 4 mmHg and an average reduction of 2 to 3 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure. There was also a trend towards larger decreases in blood pressure when the subjects had a magnesium intake greater than 370 mg/day.These results are significant because high blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and reductions as little as 0.8 to 2 mmHg in systolic blood pressure have shown clinically significant results in reducing the risk of heart disease, heart failure, and stroke. L Kass, J Weekes, L Carpenter. Effect of magnesium supplementation on blood pressure: a meta-analysis. Feb 2012.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Doi:10.1038/ejcn.2012.4 Ask me about the Vitatlity Packs - ...read more
By EcoSense Products March 30, 2012
March 29, 2012 Soy Isoflavones and Hot Flashes At a Glance A new meta-analysis reveals that soy isoflavones can effectively reduce the symptoms and frequency of hot flashes, and that benefits increased when supplements were used for 4 weeks or longer. Read more about this research below. A recent meta-analysis published in the journalMenopausecompiled the results of 17 previous trials to determine the efficacy of using soybean isoflavones to alleviate the frequency and severity of hot flashes. Of the trials looked at 13 included data on hot flash frequency and 9 looked at severity. The duration of the studies ranged from 6 weeks to 12 months. The analysis revealed that the consumption of soy isoflavones reduced the occurrence of hot flashes by 20.6% compared to placebo. The soy isoflavones also reduced the severity of hot flashes by 26.2% compared to placebo. One trial that was analyzed stated that soy isoflavones benefits increase with time beyond 4 weeks, and another study recommended a supplementation period of at least 8 weeks. Based on the observed data this analysis agrees with recommendations, and observed an increase in the effect of soy isoflavones on hot flashes as the supplementation period increased.The study concludes stating that “the results of this systematic review and meta-analysis clearly justify health professionals recommending that women who do not want to use hormone therapy try isoflavones for the relief of menopause-related hot flashes.” Taku K, Melby MK, Kronenberg F, Kurzer MS, Messina M. Extracted or synthesized soybean isoflavones reduce menopausal hot flash frequency and severity: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Menopause(New York, N.Y.). 2012;19(7):1-15. ...read more
By EcoSense Products March 30, 2012
At a Glance Despite some recent conflicting evidence regarding folic acid intake and the risk of colorectal cancer, a new study with a large population and long follow-up confirms that higher folic acid intake is associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer. Read more about this research below. Previous research has indicated that high folate intake may be associated with a decreased risk of colorectal cancer. However, some recent evidence suggests that excessive folate supplementation may actually increase colorectal cancer risk in some individuals. In a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers sought to determine whether the mandatory folic acid fortification of grain products in the U.S. has had unintended negative consequences regarding cancer risk. Researchers examined the association between folate intake and colorectal cancer risk, including 8.5 y of postfortification follow-up. Scientists examined the association between folate intake and colorectal cancer in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study—a U.S. study that included 525,488 individuals aged 50–71 years. The study was initiated in 1995–1996 and included 8.5 years of post-fortification follow-up. Dietary, supplemental, and total folate intakes were calculated for the pre- and postfortification periods (before and after 1 July 1997). In the post-fortification analysis, a higher total folate intake was associated with a decreased colorectal cancer risk . In comparison to the low folate intake group (<200 μg/day), individuals with intakes in the highest group (>900 μg/day) had a 30% lower risk of colorectal cancer. When intakes were analyzed specifically from supplements, there was a 18% reduction in risk in the group with the highest intake. The group with the highest dietary intake also had a significant reduction in risk (19%). The relationship between folic acid intake and risk reduction was similar for the prefortification period. The researchers observed no significant differences between time periods (pre- and post-fortification). Although additional follow-up time may be necessary to fully assess the effect of folic acid fortification, in this large prospective study folate intake was associated with a significant decrease in colorectal cancer risk. Todd M. Gibson, et al Pre- and postfortification intake of folate and risk of colorectal cancer in a large prospective cohort study in the United States Am J Clin Nutr October 2011 vol. 94 no. 4 1053-1062 ...read more
By EcoSense Products October 25, 2011
Finding the best type of cosmetics for your skin tone can be quite challenging. There are many different types of cosmetics but not all are for the same type of skin tone. It is important to test your cosmetics before purchasing them to ensure you get the right shade for your skin tone. ...read more
Creating your own natural shampoo can be quite beneficial for your hair. When you make your own shampoo out of natural ingredients, you know exactly what you are putting on your hair. With just a few ingredients, you can easily make your very own natural shampoo at home. ...read more