Cranberries have long been hailed as a natural remedy for maintaining a healthy urinary tract. Now new research led by the University Of East Anglia (UK) suggests that they may help to improve memory and brain function, as well as lowering levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol. Recently published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition a 12 week study conducted in 60 healthy older adults aged 50 to 80 showed that people who ate the equivalent to a cup of fresh cranberries per day saw significant improvement in their memory of everyday events over the placebo group, as well as increased blood flow to three brain areas.
It was also observed in the study that there was significant decrease in LDL ‘Bad’ Cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is known to contribute to atherosclerosis -- the thickening or hardening of the arteries due to plaque build –up, suggesting neuroprotective potential in that cranberries can improve blood vessel health, including those in the brain. This is very encouraging, and the promising results offer a base to build on for further investigations into the use of cranberries for brain health. This gives hope for the future and the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia.
Glycine is an amino acid, one of the building blocks of protein. The body can produce glycine naturally from other amino acids and it can also be consumed through the diet by eating protein-rich foods such as meat, fish, beans, peas, lentils or dairy, or by taking supplements. So, what are the benefits...
Many of us like to use the New Year as an opportunity to take on a new challenge. Some of you may have been curious about the increasing media interest into veganism and encouraging people to adopt a more plant-based diet...
