Red wine consumption decreases cardiovascular risk

Although red wine contains a number of naturally occurring antioxidants, research from Spain indicates that resveratrol found in red wine may help protect against cardiovascular disease in high-risk subjects. 

In a study conducted at the University of Barcelona in Spain, researchers evaluated the association between red wine consumption and cardiovascular disease in 1,000 subjects. It was found that higher levels of red wine consumption were associated with improvements in HDL, triglycerides and heart rate. In addition, improvements were observed in fasting blood glucose and triglyceride levels as well as heart rate.

In another study in Spain involving 75 stable coronary artery disease patients who were already receiving standard statin therapy, it was found that subjects receiving grape extract with resveratrol showed an increase in anti-inflammatory serum adiponectin levels and a decrease in inflammatory thrombogenic plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1.

Meanwhile, at the University of Pécs Medical School in Hungaria, researchers evaluated the effects of 10 mg per day of resveratrol for three months in 40 patients with stable coronary artery disease who had already suffered at least one myocardial infarction.

After three months, patients receiving resveratrol showed significant improvement in left ventricular diastolic function, endothelial function and serum LDL levels. In addition, the unfavorable changes in red blood cell deformability and platelet aggregation were not observed. The study authors concluded that their findings suggest “resveratrol intake via red wine consumption might help decrease cardiovascular risk factors.”

The origins of pleasure

Psychologist Paul Bloom said our pleasure or pain is affected by our beliefs about hidden essences. For example, how the food you are eating tastes to you will depend critically on what you think you are eating.

 "The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven."
 

Natural anti-inflammatory agents proved effective against Arthritis pain

In an observational study conducted in eight rheumatology centers in the U.S., it was found that a combination of devil's claw, turmeric and bromelain can provide effective relief for both acute and chronic osteoarthritis pain.

Then, what are devil's claw, turmeric and bromelain?

They are all herbs.

Devil’s  claw. or called Harpagophytum, is used for “hardening of the arteries" (atherosclerosis), arthritis, gout, muscle pain (myalgia), back pain, tendonitis, chest pain, gastrointestinal (GI) upset or heart burn, fever and migraine headache. It is also used for difficulties in childbirth, menstrual problems, allergic reactions, loss of appetite, and kidney and bladder disease. 

In particular, it appears to decrease pain from a kind of arthritis called osteoarthritis.  Some evidence suggests that it works about as well as diacerhein (a slow-acting drug for osteoarthritis) for improving osteoarthritis pain in the hip and knee after 16 weeks of treatment. This is because it contains harpagoside and iridoid glycosides. Taking it orally seems also to lessen low-back pain.

Turmeric comes from the root of the Curcuma longa plant and has long been used as a powerful anti-inflammatory in both the Chinese and Indian systems of medicine. Its yellow or orange pigment, called curcumin, is thought to be the primary pharmacological agent in turmeric. Clinical studies have substantiated that curcumin also exerts very powerful antioxidant effects. As an antioxidant, curcumin is able to neutralize free radicals, chemicals that can travel through the body and cause great amounts of damage to healthy cells and cell membranes. This is important in many diseases, such as cancers and arthritis. 

Free radicals are responsible for Arthritis’ painful joint inflammation and eventual damage to the joints. Turmeric's combination of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects explains why many people with joint disease find relief when they use the spice regularly. 

In a recent study of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, curcumin was compared to phenylbutazone and produced comparable improvements in shortened duration of morning stiffness, lengthened walking time and reduced joint swelling.

Bromelain is a mixture of enzymes found naturally in the juice and stems of pineapples. Often, it is marketed as a natural anti-inflammatory for arthritis. It may help with mild pain associated with osteoarthritis.

A combination of these anti-inflammatory botanical extracts was found to provide relief for osteoarthritis sufferers. The study found that pain scores decreased from 69.1 to 42.1 for the acute pain patients and from 68.0 to 37.8 for the chronic pain patients.

The study authors concluded: “Considering its excellent tolerance profile, the tested complex of three plant extracts with anti-inflammatory properties may be a valuable and safe alternative in patients suffering from degenerative joint diseases.”