Tip for Cold and Flu Season

As I flew home from LA, I realized that we are into flu and cold season. One of the things you can do for yourself and those in your family to help prevent spread and further infection, is to thoroughly clean your tooth brushes. You can actually put your tooth brush in the dishwasher and it will be sanitized. Now I would recommend that you check before you put the electric tooth brush in, but certainly standard tooth brushes can be put directly into the dishwasher.

Chocolate and your health

Eating chocolate or cocoa can actually be good for you. But before you run out and buy a box of chocolates, read on. Pure cocoa has a positive effect on blood pressure and glucose metabolism. The problem is that most people eat processed cocoa which contains hydrogenated fats, sugar, milk fats and diary cream. The actual amount of cocoa in these products is usually less than 20%, so you have lost whatever effect the cocoa might have had is gone.

Raw cocoa is not the yummy flavor that we think of as chocolate. It can have a bitter taste to it. So if you're going to eat raw cocoa you might want to mix it with berries to make it more palatable.

Anthocyanins and Inflammation

In any inflammatory process, enzymes are released that damage connective tissue. Anthocyanins neutralize enzymes that destroy connective tissue. Because they are powerful antioxidants, they prevent oxidants that get released when connective tissue is damaged. Anthocyanins also help repair proteins in the blood vessel walls, so that the vessels stop leaking and producing enzymes that cause the damage.

Due to their anti-inflammatory effect, anthocyanins also help to decrease allergic reactions. The exact effect on histamine and serotonin is not known.

Anthocyanins have also been found to inhibit the growth factor receptor in cancer cells.

Fruits that contain the highest and best types of anthocyanins are bilberry, blueberry, sweet cherries, cranberries and peaches.

Anthocyanins and Diabetes continued

Another effect of anthocyanins in blood vessels is that they relax the vessels. This relaxation of the blood vessels may assist in decreasing the mortality related to cardiovascular disease. It may also have some effect on blood pressure.

One of the things that also contains anthocyanins is red wine. You may have heard that red wine is good in moderation for cardiovascular disease in all individuals. The presence of anthocyanins in red wine is thought to be the reason why.

Tomorrow I will talk a little more about how anthocyanins work to reduce inflammation.

Diabetes and Anthocyanins Continued

Yesterday I spoke about these potent antioxidants. Anthocyanins not only help to stabilize the capillary walls, but they assist in making larger blood vessels stronger and have less atherogenesis. A more common term for this is "hardening of the arteries." In diabetics because of the damage caused by high blood sugars which make the blood vessels inflamed, the migration of white cells to the area occurs. There is also oxidation the low density lipoproteins (LDL) which result in plaques in the vessels. Oxidation of a plaque can make it break loose from the vessel wall and send it to one of the coronary arteries where it becomes lodged and causes a blockage of blood flow. You know this as a heart attack.

Anthocyanins interrupt this process by decreasing the inflammation of the vessels and also helps to prevent oxdation of the plaque that may already be there. So eating those cherries, berries, beets and red cabbage can assist you in preventing damage to your vessels.

I'll talk more about cnthocyanins tomorrow.

Diabetes and Anthocyanins

You're probably wondering what anthocyanins are and where or how do I get them. First of all, anthocyanins are very potent antioxidant flavonoids. You can find them in purple cabbage, beets, cherries, raspberries, blueberries, purple plums and purple grapes. They are responsible for the bright colors you see in theses fruits and vegetables.

Because anthocyanins are very potent antioxidants, they have a strong anti-inflamatory effect. This is particularly helpful in diabetics because of the problems caused by having high blood sugars which causes oxidative damage in the blood vessels. The oxidative damage caused can result in leaking of the microvascular vessels. This is how diabetics lose their vision. The vessels in the eyes begin to leak from oxidative damage from the elevated blood sugar. Anthocyanins help by stabilizing the capillary membrain so that leakage does not occur.

I'll cover more on this tomorrow.

Buckwheat in Type II Diabetes

One of the components of buckwheat is d-chiro-inositol. D-chiro-inositol is in our cell membranes and it helps the receptor sites respond to the components they are suppose to respond to. What this means for the diabetic, is that the insulin receptor sites will be enhanced by d-chiro-inositol. This enhancement allows insulin to more freely join to the receptor site allowing sugar from the blood into the cell. This in turn decreases blood sugar levels.

There is also some research ongoing to see if cholesterol levels can be reduced by d-chiro-inositol. In addition, women with polycystic ovary syndrome may find that it will assist them in getting pregnant. If there are those of you that would like more information about polycytic ovary syndrome, please send me an email and I can give you more information.

Cinnamon and Diabetes

There have been several studies done in diabetics using cinnamon. Using 1 Gram of cinnamon a day can actually decrease blood glucose levels. It does not cure diabetes, but the studies have shown that cinnamon does decrease blood glucose levels and may be helpful in diabetics who are out of control. Additionally, it can't hurt those who are not out of control.

Keep in mind that if you are going to use cinnamon, this does not mean mixing it with sugar to make it more palatable!