If You're Over 50 Consider Calcium Supplements

A Science Daily article entitled Case For Daily Calcium Pill Strengthened cites a study conducted by researchers from the University of Western Sydney in Australia which supports the belief that those over 50 who take calcium supplements have less bone fractures and better health. Long term intake of both calcium and Vitamin D supplements was linked to a reduction of fractures among the elderly by as much as 25%.

Associate Researcher Dr Benjamin Tang, revealed that decreased reduction in bone density in the elderly is clearly supported by the evidence as is reduced rates of bone fracture. Dr. Tang compared calcium supplements to such preventative medications as aspirin and statins which have been used to reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks. He also likened the persistence in taking calcium supplements to an investment yielding dividends years into the future. Benefits of the supplements directly correlate to age. The greater the age the more positive are the effects.

An optimal daily dosage of 1200 mg of calcium and 800 international units of Vitamin D was cited in the linked article. As Dr. Tang points out another advantage of calcium supplements is price. They are relatively cheap and the impact compared to the cost well justifies their useage.

An Unexpected Effect of Pectin

A Science Daily article entitled Common Component Of Fruits, Vegetables Kills Prostate Cancer Cells reveals that, according to results of a University of Georgia study, a very common component of fruits and vegetables known as pectin, kills prostate cancer cells. While pectin is naturally found in fruits it is also an important component of prepared foods like jams and jellies.

Exposing prostate cancer cells to pectin in the controlled setting of a lab reduced the cancer cells by as much as 40%. Pectin seemed to trigger a cellular process known as apoptosis or cellular suicide. Encouragingly enough pectin killed cells that have been difficult to treat with medications currently used. Another bit of good news was the observance that pectin did not induce apoptosis for non-cancerous cells.

This study adds to a growing list of health benefits associated with pectin. They include:

* lower cholesterol levels (in humans)
* lower glucose levels (in humans)
* reduced metastasis and prevention of lung and colon tumors (rats and cell cultures)
* induced apoptosis in colon cancer cells

Pectin is a complex molecule able to bind to multiple cell sites enabling a variety of cellular responses. Pectin supplements are not being advised at this point. However, by eating enough fruits and vegetables one can obtain an ample amount in the diet. Eating more of these food groups has been advised for some time now.

The research cited in this article was the work of Debra Mohnen and her colleagues at the University of Georgia. Vijay Kumar, who is chief of research and development at the VA Medical Center located in Augusta, Georgia, was also involved.

Go for the Bright Colors

A Science Daily article entitled Compounds That Color Fruits And Veggies May Protect Against Colon Cancer, provides details about a linkage already known to nutritionists. Richly colored fruits and vegetables are good for you. The reason? Compounds known as anthocyanins which account for red, purple and blue found in these foods. There is now scientific data supporting the belief that anthocyanins slow the growth of colon cancer cells. The reason colon cells, as opposed to other cell types, are specially protected may lie in the fact that anthocyanins travel through the gastrointestinal tract but are not greatly absorbed into the bloodstream.

Monica Giusti, the lead author of a related study and an assistant professor of food science at Ohio State University, explained the findings. Researchers found that slightly altered anthocyanin molecules showed significant anti-cancer activity. Anthocyanins also come in many varieties and there will be much more information about them resulting from future research projects. Researchers used anthocyanin extract from different plants to test their relative potency in reducing cancer cell growth. Purple corn was found to be the most potent with chokeberry and bilberry extracts close runners up. Another piece of encouraging news was that purple corn and chokeberry pigments were found to kill 20 per cent of cancer cells while completely stopping the growth of others. Esophageal and colon cancer tumors may also be reduced by black raspberries according to other Ohio State researchers.

Anthocyanins have already been used as food dyes but research suggests that replacing synthetic dyes with them would make much sense from a health perspective.