see latest reaserches on food (2008) part2

LATEST RESEARCHES ON NATURAL FOOD & NUTRITION

Fatty Acids Protect Lungs
Following a diet that includes high amounts of omega-3 and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may help improve lung function among people suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Published in the journal Chest (2005, vol.128: 3817-3827), the two-year Japanese study divided 64 patients with COPD into two groups, one of which received an omega-3 PUFA-rich diet, while the other ate a normal diet.

After 25 months, researchers discovered that levels of a certain marker for inflammation were much lower in the group eating the fatty acid enriched diet. Shortness of breath also decreased and the researchers observed an overall improvement in exercise tolerance.

Older Women Need Selenium Supplements
A team of researchers reported in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2006, vol.60: 85-91) that levels of selenium are low in older women and could be increased by taking supplements. The small study followed the diets of 178 German women with an average age of 63 for a three-day period. The research team took blood samples to determine the women’s antioxidant levels. Low serum alpha-tocopherol and selenium levels were highly prevalent.

Because high antioxidant intake, including selenium and alphatocopherol, has been shown to protect against chronic diseases, the researchers reasoned that women could benefit from additional antioxidant intake in the form of supplements.

More Evidence of Tea’s Cancer-Fighting Potential
Drinking at least two cups of tea every day may help reduce the risk of ovarian cancer, according to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine (2005, vol.165: 2683-2686). More than 61,000 Swedish women answered a questionnaire about their diets and were then tracked for an average of 15 years through 2004.

Those who reported drinking two or more cups of tea per day were 46 percent less likely to develop ovarian cancer than women who drank no tea. Drinking less than two cups also appeared to help, but to a lesser degree. The results were not broken out by tea type, but most of the women drank black tea. Both black and green tea contain polyphenols, substances thought to be responsible for blocking cell damage that can lead to cancer.