VitPower Health Solutions

Everyone knows that vitamins and minerals "from A to Zinc" are important for good health... Now, a new research study in the August 2009 issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology suggests that Zinc may be pointing the way to new therapeutic targets for fighting infections. Specifically, scientists from Florida found that Zinc not only supports healthy immune function, but increases activation of the cells (T cells) responsible for destroying viruses and bacteria. "Previous studies have shown that Zinc supplementation significantly reduces the duration and severity of childhood diarrhea, lower respiratory infections, and incidence of malaria in Zinc-deficient children," noted the director of the Center for Nutritional Sciences within the Food Science and Human Nutrition Department at the University of Florida. Age-related declines in immune function have also been related to zinc deficiency in the elderly. Scientists administered either a zinc supplement or a place

...As Well As Providing Other Protective-Health Benefits... An extract from extra-virgin olive oil may stimulate the function of mitochondria in cells, and prevent diseases associated with dysfunction like diabetes and obesity, according to a new study. Results of a cell study indicate that hydroxytyrosol may influence gene expression, which would influence mitochondrial function. The mitochondria are the 'power plants' of the cell, generating chemical energy by producing adenosince triphosphate (ATP), the body's energy currency. The researchers investigated effects of hydroxytyrosol that stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis and promote mitochondrial function in fat cells. "Because mitochondrial loss and dysfunction are closely related with obesity and diabetes, these results suggest that supplement with olive oil (source of hydroxytyrosol) may have beneficial effects on preventing obesity and diabetes," the researchers explained. The results are published in

Increased intakes of antioxidant anthocyanins from berries may improve levels of HDL and LDL cholesterol, according to results of an important new human study. Consumption of berry-derived anthocyanin supplements resulted in a 13.7 per cent increase in levels of HDL cholesterol, and a 13.6 per cent reduction in levels LDL cholesterol, according to findings published online ahead of print in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Chinese scientists from Sun Yat-Sen University randomly assigned 120 people aged between 40 and 65 with abnormal blood lipid levels (dyslipidemia) to receive either a daily dose of 320 mg of anthocyanins or placebo for 12 weeks. The study builds on earlier results, which showed beneficial effects of the natural antioxidant compounds on lipid levels. High cholesterol levels have a long association with many diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease (CVD). Study Details... Using a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial design, the Chinese res

It is important to understand what biological mechanisms contribute to an individual's capacity to be resilient under conditions of extreme stress, such as those regularly experienced by soldiers, police, and firefighters. Researchers from Yale University and the VA National Center for PTSD have worked closely with collaborators at the Special Forces Underwater Warfare Operations Center to study special operations soldiers enrolled in the military Combat Diver Qualification Course (CDQC). Dehydroepiandrosterone, commonly known as DHEA, is a hormone that is secreted by the adrenal gland in response to stress. Although medical scientists have known for over a decade that DHEA provides beneficial, anti-stress effects in animals, they did not know until now whether this was also true for humans. The scientists completed psychological and hormone assessments on a group of soldiers the day before they began the month-long CDQC, and immediately after their final pass/fail exam engaged in

Researchers in Japan are reporting new evidence that the ordinary vinegar, a staple in oil-and-vinegar salad dressings, pickles, and other foods, may live up to its age-old reputation in folk medicine as a health promoter. They are reporting new evidence that vinegar can help prevent accumulation of body fat and weight gain. Vinegar has also been used as a folk medicine since ancient times. People have used it for a range of ills. Modern scientific research now suggests that ACETIC ACID, the main component of vinegar, may help control blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and fat accumulation. Their new study showed that laboratory mice fed a high-fat diet and given Acetic Acid developed significantly less body fat (up to 10 percent less) than other mice. Most significantly, the new research adds evidence to the belief that Acetic Acid fights fat by turning on genes for fatty acid oxidation enzymes. The genes produce specific proteins involved in breaking down fats, thus suppressing body

Help Stimulate The Body's Natural Growth Hormone Levels To Assist Efficient Fat Metabolizing and Muscle Building With Amino Acids... Key Nutrient Factors Including Specific Amino Acids And Vitamins Are Recommended. Here's How Natural GHF (Growth Hormone Factors) Releaser Nutritional Therapy Works For the past 3 decades, nutrition researchers have been exploring the ability of high natural GHF Releaser doses of specific nutrients to restore Human Growth Hormone to youthful levels. It has been shown that while GHFis adequately produced by the pituitary, its secretion from this gland is diminished with age. However, nutrition experts have found that certain amino acids and vitamins B6 and Niacin (Niacinamide) can help stimulate the natural release of GHF from the pituitary in many people. Unfortunately, as we grow older, we suffer major declines in the hormones we need to stay fit. One of the most important is "growth hormone."GHF, often called human growth hormone nut

You've Heard About It, You've Read About It... ACAI BERRY High-Potency Complex Concentrate The #1 Superfood For Anti-Aging, Natural Detox and Weight Loss! ACAI BERRY Extract (from Pulp, Puree & Juice) Now Available In Easy-To-Take High-Potency Capsules. The remarkable health benefits of the Acai Berry have been recently featured in the national media, including: CBS News, Newsweek Magazine, Los Angeles Times, The Today Show and on The Oprah Winfrey Show, helping to stimulate and continue to build enormous demand for this extraordinarily powerful, nutritious super food. In addition, many of the world's leading health and nutrition experts now call Acai Berry "Nature's Most Perfect Food" because the exceptionally high levels of naturally-occurring Omega-3, Omega-6 & Omega-9 essential fatty acids are rarely found in any other fruit source. It's an excellent source of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Niacin and other B Complex factors, as well as Potassium, Ca

Growing in fertile areas of the Himalayas, Gotu Kola is regarded as one of the most important rejuvenative herbs in Ayurvedic Medicine. It is said to fortify the immune system, and to strengthen the adrenal glands. It has been used as a nutritive, purifying tonic for helping maintain healthy skin. Gotu Kola is often confused with Kola nut. Due to this confusion, some people assume the rejuvenating properties of Gotu Kola are due to the stimulating effects of caffeine contained in Kola Nut. In fact, Gotu Kola is not related to Kola Nut and contains no caffeine. Gotu Kola is a rejuvenative nervine recommended for nervous disorders and as a brain tonic to aid mental functioning and memory. It has also been used to promote restful sleep. It strengthens the adrenal glands while cleansing the blood to treat skin impurities. It is said to help combat stress, energize mental powers, increase libido and improve reflexes. Ayurvedic herbal medicine practitioners believe it energizes the centra

A Combination of Antioxidant Supplements and Resistance Training May Protect Against Bone Loss in Postmenopausal Women, Suggests a New Study From Canada. Women receiving a combination of vitamins C and E, along with regular exercise did not experience any bone loss during a six-month period, while women receiving placebo did experience detrimental bone loss, according to findings published in Osteoporosis International. "These results are interesting because this is the first study to examine the combination of these interventions in healthy elderly women suggesting another effective strategy to delay age-related BMD loss," wrote the researchers from the University of Sherbrooke. "Further research is needed to determine appropriate recommendations for this population especially since nutrition and exercise are two effective and accessible strategies towards health maintenance in the aging population," they added. Osteoporosis is characterized by low bone mass, wh

Previous studies have found that postmenopausal women who have taken a combined estrogen and progestin hormone replacement therapy have increased their risk of developing progestin-accelerated breast tumors. Now, University of Missouri researchers have found that curcumin, a popular Indian spice derived from the turmeric root, could reduce the cancer risk for women after exposure to hormone replacement therapy. Approximately 6 million women in the United States use hormone replacement therapy to treat the symptoms of menopause; This exposure to progestin will predispose a large number of post-menopausal women to future development of breast cancer. The results of a new study show that women could potentially take curcumin to protect themselves from developing progestin-accelerated tumors. In the study, researchers found that curcumin delayed the first appearance, decreased incidence and reduced multiplicity of progestin-accelerated tumors in an animal model. Curcumin also prevented the

A Meta-Analysis of Walnuts by Harvard Scientists Has Found Diets Rich in Walnuts Can Significantly Reduce Cholesterol Levels, Supporting Growing Evidence to Suggest These Popular Nuts Can Improve Healthy Blood Lipid Ratios. However the scientists suggested that larger and longer-term trials are needed to observe the effects of eating walnuts, rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, on cardiovascular risk and weight management. Their analysis joins an ever- expanding body of science that has linked nut consumption - including almonds and macadamias - to improvements in cardiovascular health. Coronary heart disease places a significant financial burden throughout the world, more and more each year. Governments, scientists and the food industry continue to invest time and money in pinpointing potential dietary solutions that could improve cardiovascular health. Published in a recent issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition , Harvard researchers conducted the meta-analysis to

UCLA scientists and colleagues from UC Riverside and the Human BioMolecular Research Institute have found that vitamin D, together with a natural compound found in turmeric spice called curcumin, may help stimulate the immune system to clear the brain of amyloid beta, which forms the plaques considered the hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. The early research findings, which appear in the July issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, may lead to new approaches in preventing and treating Alzheimer's by utilizing the property of vitamin D, both alone and together with curcumin to boost the immune system in protecting the brain against amyloid beta. Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for bone and immune system health; its main source is sunshine, and it is synthesized through the skin. Deficiencies may occur during winter months or in those who spend a lot of time indoors, such as Alzheimer's patients. "We hope that vitamin D3 and curcumin, both naturally occurring

INCREASED BLOOD LEVELS of The Omega-3 Fatty Acids EPA and DHA are Linked to Lower Incidence of Obesity, Suggesting a Role For Fish Oils in Weight Management. New findings reported in the British Journal of Nutrition indicate that overweight and obese people have blood levels of Omega-3 fatty acids typically lower than people with a healthy weight. This study suggests that Omega-3 from fish oils may play an important role in weight status and abdominal adiposity , noted the researchers from the University of Newcastle of the Nutrition Society of Australia. Previous studies have reported Omega-3 in protective benefits against obesity, and the new study adds to this growing body of evidence. A considerable number of studies already support the benefits of the Omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for cardiovascular health, and cognitive health. Other areas of potential for the fatty acids include mood and behaviour, eye health, cancer risk reductio

THE CONSUMPTION of Soy Products Could Decrease The Risk of Lung Disease and Breathlessness, According To a New Study From Japan. Published in the open access journal Respiratory Research, the study looked at around 300 patients diagnosed with lung disease, and measured their reported soy food intake. "Soy consumption was found to be positively correlated with lung function and inversely associated with the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The epidemiological evidence also indicated an inverse association between total soy intake and breathlessness," wrote the researchers from Japan and Australia. The study was conducted on 278 Japanese patients aged 50-75, who had been diagnosed with COPD within the past four years. Another 340 participants recruited from the general Japanese population were used as a control group. All participants were tested for respiratory function. Food consumption and lifestyle characteristics were determined based on structured que

INCREASED INTAKES of Whole Grains, and Bran in Particular, May Reduce The Incidence of Hypertension In Men, According to Important New Findings. Data from over 30,000 men participating in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study indicated that increased intakes of whole grains are associated with a 19 per cent lower incidence of hypertension. The research from Harvard School of Public Health, report the findings online in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. "These findings have implications for future dietary guidelines and prevention of hypertension," they reported. High blood pressure (hypertension), defined as having a systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) greater than 140 and 90 mmHg, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) - a disease that causes almost 50 per cent of deaths in modern society. While the potential heart health benefits of whole grains have been reported before, the Harvard researchers note that no studies have reported if the