Tag Archives: berries

hawthorn-berry

Hawthorn Berry

Hawthorn is just a flowering shrub in the rose family, says the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (the NCCAM). Although native to northern Europe, today hawthorn is grown all around the world. Dry extracts are just one of many byproduct options of hawthorn, and the herb can be made into tablets or capsules, according to the NCCAM. While there are a wide variety of hawthorn berry benefits, I’ll be covering just the more commonly used ones in this article.

Heart Problems

The NCCAM states that scientific evidence supports the effectiveness of hawthorn use for mild heart issues. Based on Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, experts believe that hawthorn raises heart muscle contraction and heart rate.

High Blood Pressure

Substantial evidence supports the benefits of the herb, even though hawthorn hasn’t been studied specifically in individuals with hypertension. Studies indicate that hawthorn could be used safely by individuals with hypertension that will also be taking blood pressure medicines.

Angina

Angina, or chest pain because the heart is perhaps not getting enough oxygen-rich blood, may likewise be eased by hawthorn, based on the NCCAM’s studies.

Stress

Hawthorn tea is helpful for coping with nervousness. The chief symptoms of stress which hawthorn economically treats are heart palpitations along with chest tightness. AltMD.com describes that hawthorn may help with stress by decreasing the resistance of blood circulation inside your own body. To put it simply, it helps by lowering blood pressure levels along with tension.

Chest Pain

In a single study performed last year, 60 angina sufferers got 180 mg per day of hawthorn berry leaf-flower infusion as well as a placebo for three weeks. Persons who got hawthorn happened to experience increased blood circulation, and found that they were able to workout for prolonged levels of time without fighting with chest pain.

Atherosclerosis

Animal and lab studies illustrate this herb has antioxidant properties which help protect against the formation of plaques that lead to a medical condition referred to as atherosclerosis.

High Cholesterol

Research utilising rats shows that a hawthorn tincture (created from the berries) may possibly be considered an effective agent for the removal of LDL (“poor”) cholesterol from the bloodstream. The tincture of hawthorn berries also reduced the formation of cholesterol with-in the liver of rats who had been being supplied a diet high in cholesterol. There is still further research needed to see if the same effects occur in humans.

A Strong Antioxidant

Hawthorn is still another powerful antioxidant. There’s surely strong evidence to support that antioxidants trim the likelihood of heart attacks, strokes, in addition to deaths from heart disorders, yet this hasn’t been verified in studies. Antioxidants are generally viewed as being able to boost blood flow to the heart, as well as help the coronary arteries dilate.

Aids Against Insomnia

Hawthorn has been shown to help as a sleep aid, and boosts restful sleep. Its commonly found in teas for exactly this purpose, though fresh hawthorn tea is best.

Calorie Burning

Hawthorn berries may assist with the metabolic process of fat. Hawthorn vinegar also helps to reduce amounts of cholesterol in the body.

Hot Flashes

Hawthorn berries may help women who are currently experiencing menopause-associated hot flashes. The berries also help with aging ovaries.

Indigestion

Hawthorn was used in quite a few Chinese medicines to help with the retention of meals inside the belly. Hawthorn’s capabilities to break up fat also causes it to be useful for helping with indigestion that comes on as a result of eating greasy foods.

Prevent Liver Disease

Investigators are likewise beginning to investigate the effects of hawthorn berries when it comes to liver disease. Preliminary studies look to be encouraging, yet a lot more research is still needed to ascertain whether this treatment will be practical for persons dealing with liver issues.

Side Effects of Hawthorn Berry

Hawthorn probably will be safe for grown ups whenever utilised at recommended doses over the short term (up to 3 or 4 months). It’s not recognized whether hawthorn is relatively safe to make use of in the long term. The use of herbs is actually a time honored process of dealing with disorders together with building up the human body. Herbs, nevertheless, consist of parts which could cause negative effects as well as interact with several other herbs, supplements, and certain drugs.

The side effects of hawthorn are unusual, yet they might cause head aches, nausea, and possibly palpitations (a sense of a speeding heart).

Heart problems: Hawthorn can readily interact with numerous prescription medicines used to deal with cardiovascular issues. If you have a heart condition don’t make use of hawthorn without first consulting your primary care physician.

It is really significant to be sure and notice any sort of changes you might experience if you are using hawthorn. The taking of any new drug or herb should always be supervised by means of your physician. Negative results may include head-aches, migraines, vertigo, dizziness, and palpitations. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not make use of this herb.

 

Resveratrol

Resveratrol

Resveratrol is a member of a group of plant compounds called polyphenols. These compounds are thought to have antioxidant properties, protecting the body against the kind of damage linked to increased risk for conditions such as cancer and heart disease. Resveratrol is found in the skin of red grapes, but other sources include peanuts and berries.

Because resveratrol is thought to have so many health benefits, it’s not surprising that a number of manufacturers have tried to capitalize by selling resveratrol supplements. Most resveratrol capsules sold in the U.S. contain extracts from the Japanese and Chinese knotweed plant Polygonum cuspidatum. Other resveratrol supplements are made from red wine or red grape extracts.

Ads touting resveratrol supplements on the Internet promise purchasers everything from weight loss to a healthier, longer life. The question is, do resveratrol supplements really deliver on those promises, or are they nothing more than marketing hype?

Benefits of Resveratrol

Resveratrol has gained a lot of attention for its reported antiaging and disease-combating benefits. Early research, mostly done in test tubes and in animals, suggests that resveratrol might help protect the body against a number of diseases, including:

Heart disease. Resveratrol helps reduce inflammation, prevents the oxidation of LDL “bad” cholesterol, and makes it more difficult for platelets to stick together and form the clots that can lead to a heart attack.

Cancer. Resveratrol is thought to limit the spread of cancer cells and trigger the process of cancer cell death (apoptosis).

Alzheimer’s disease. Resveratrol may protect nerve cells from damage and the buildup of plaque that can lead to Alzheimer’s.

Diabetes . Resveratrol helps prevent insulin resistance, a condition in which the body becomes less sensitive to the effects of the blood sugar-lowering hormone, insulin. Insulin resistance is a precursor to diabetes.

Rodent studies suggest that resveratrol might even help against some of the effects of an unhealthy lifestyle and lead to increased longevity. Resveratrol-treated mice fed a high-calorie diet lived longer than similarly fed mice not given resveratrol. Resveratrol protected mice fed a high-calorie diet from obesity-related health problems by mimicking the effects of caloric restriction.

Resveratrol has also been linked to prevention of age-related problems such as heart disease and insulin resistance. Researchers believe that resveratrol activates the SIRT1 gene, a biological mechanism that seems to protect the body against the harmful effects of obesity and the diseases of aging.

Side Effects

Because there have been very few studies conducted on resveratrol in humans, doctors still can’t confirm any benefits, and they don’t know what effects these supplements might have on people over the long term. So far, studies have not discovered any severe side effects, even when resveratrol is taken in large doses. However, resveratrol supplements might interact with blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin and ibuprofen, increasing the risk for bleeding.

Like other supplements, resveratrol isn’t regulated by the FDA, so it’s difficult for consumers to know exactly what they’re getting when they buy a bottle, or whether the product is actually effective. There also isn’t any specific dosage recommendation, and dosages can vary from supplement to supplement.

The dosages in most resveratrol supplements are typically far lower than the amounts that have been shown beneficial in research studies. Most supplements contain 250 to 500 milligrams of resveratrol. To get the equivalent dose used in some animal studies, people would have to consume 2 grams of resveratrol (2,000 milligrams) or more a day.

The bottom line: Until more high-quality research is available, experts say they can’t recommend resveratrol supplements for antiaging or disease prevention.