Previous research has shown that increased oxidative stress and impaired antioxidant defense contribute to the progression of type-2 diabetes. Additionally, diabetic patients have been shown to have reduced levels of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10).

Based on this knowledge, researchers from Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Iran set out to determine the effect of CoQ10 supplementation on the glycemic control and lipid profiles of type-2 diabetics. They found that the supplement improved glycemic control and total and LDL cholesterol levels, but had no effects on triglycerides or HDL cholesterol.

Participants in the study included 64 type-2 diabetics who were given either 200 mg CoQ10 or a placebo daily over the course of 12 weeks. The researchers took fasting blood samples and also measured levels of fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol.

In addition to the effects on glycemic control and cholesterol mentioned above, the researchers also noted lower levels of HbA1c. HbA1c is a form of hemoglobin that is used to measure average blood glucose levels over time.

These results suggest that type-2 diabetics may be able to improve glycemic control and cholesterol levels by taking supplements of CoQ10.

The study was published in the June 2013 issues of the journal Minerva Gastroenterologica e Dietologica.

CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant that fuels the pumping of blood to and from the heart, and protects cells from being damaged and destroyed. Previous studies have linked CoQ10 with improved cognitive health and reversing the effects of aging.

After the age of 20 our bodies become less capable of naturally producing CoQ10. If you want to increase your CoQ10 intake, try adding oily fish, organ meats such as liver and hearts, and whole grains to your diet. You might also consider a high quality, high potency supplement. Be sure to choose a supplement that is made with ubiquinol rather than ubiquinone.

People with type-1 diabetes have trouble producing their own insulin, and many eventually lose the ability altogether. A recent study suggests that eating foods rich in branched-chain amino acids such as leucine and long chain omega-3s may help young diabetics continue producing some of their own insulin for longer.

Participants in the study included 1,316 participants ranging in age from 2 to 20 who had been diagnosed with type-1 diabetes. Over the course of two years, the researchers followed their dietary intake in order to determine its effect on insulin production.

The researchers found that eating foods packed with omega-3s and leucine was positively associated with higher production of insulin for a longer period of time. Being able to produce at least some of their own insulin may help diabetics reduce the risk of some diabetes complications.

Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill conducted the study. It was published in the July 2013 issue of Diabetes Care.

Omega-3s have been linked to a number of health benefits, including alleviating arthritis pain, better moods, improved joint mobility, helping with age related macular degeneration, and aiding your immune system.

Because omega-3 fatty-acids are not found naturally in the human body, it is especially important to make sure that they are a part of your daily diet. Oily, dark fish such as tuna and salmon are high in DHA and EPA omega-3s.

Leucine is an essential amino acid that cannot be manufactured in the body. It helps protein molecules form, creates new muscle, and helps with the regulation of blood sugar levels. Foods rich in leucine include soybeans, lentils, beef, peanuts, salmon, eggs and milk.

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, commonly called dry eye, is often a chronic condition that can result in irritated, gritty, scratchy or burning eyes, excess watering and blurred vision. A recent study suggests that combining omega-3s with omega-6 fatty acids and other important nutrients may help combat dry eye.

Participants in the study included 38 post-menopausal women with moderate to severe dry eye. Over the course of six months, half of the group took a supplement consisting of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA – a form of omega-6), omega-3s, antioxidants, and other nutrients. The other half of the group took a placebo.

At the conclusion of the study, the supplement group reported improvements in irritation symptoms, ocular surface inflammation, and corneal surface smoothness. Ocular surface inflammation is one of the main factors that causes dry eye, and roughness in the corneal surface leads to distorted vision.

The placebo group, on the other hand, showed worsened symptoms by the end of the trial.

Researchers from Eastern Virginia Medical School conducted the study. It was published online ahead of print on July 23, 2013, in Cornea.

Omega-3s have been linked to a number of health benefits, including alleviating arthritis pain, better moods, improved joint mobility, helping with age related macular degeneration, and aiding your immune system.

Because omega-3 fatty-acids are not found naturally in the human body, it is especially important to make sure that they are a part of your daily diet. Oily, dark fish such as tuna and salmon are high in DHA and EPA omega-3s.

Salmonella is a bacteria that, when introduced to our food sources, can result in serious bacterial infections. A study has been released suggesting that the probiotic E. coli Nissle may help combat Salmonella by consuming the iron that the harmful bacteria needs to thrive.

To test their hypothesis that E. coli Nissle would essentially starve out Salmonella, the researchers conducted both in vitro growth analysis and animal studies that modeled Salmonella infections in the human body.

They found that introducing the probiotic reduced levels of Salmonella in both models by consuming the available iron.

The researchers noted that, while this study focused specifically on Salmonella, their findings suggest that other probiotics may have a similar effect on other harmful bacteria.

Researchers from the University of California at Irvine conducted the study. It was published on July 17, 2013, in Cell Host & Microbe.

While probiotics are best known for their positive effects on gut health, they have also been shown to help aid in weight loss, prevent recurring yeast infections, boost the immune system and reduce the risk of chronic disease.

You can get more probiotics by eating certain foods such as yogurt, milk and sauerkraut. For many people, taking a high quality supplement is an easier approach. If you choose this option, be sure it is packaged to block light, air and moisture which can easily kill probiotics.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Americans. While there are many factors than can contribute to heart problems, a recent study suggests that taking a supplement of resveratrol, pterostilbene, niacin, quercetin, and delta-tocotrienol may reduce markers of inflammation, LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels, and triglycerides, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease.

Resveratrol is an antioxidant most commonly found in red wine, pterostilbene is an antioxidant found in blueberries, niacin is a form of vitamin B, quercetin is a power flavonoid, and delta-tocotrienol is one of the eight forms of vitamin E.

Participants in the study included a group of healthy mature adults and a group of individuals of all ages with high cholesterol. The researchers performed two double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled cross-over trials in which half of each group took a placebo and the other half took the supplement (100 mg delta-tocotrienol, niacin, resveratrol, pterostilbene and 200 mg quercetin) over the course of four weeks.

At the conclusion of the trial, the researchers noted lower levels of nitric oxide, markers of inflammation, and reduced lipid levels in the individuals with high cholesterol who had taken the supplement. They also found that the supplement group had lower levels of gamma-glytamyl-transferase (gamma-GT), which is a predictor for non-fatal myocardial infarction and fatal coronary heart disease.

Researchers from the University of Missouri conducted the study. It was published in the May 2013 issue of Journal of Clinical & Experimental Cardiology.

Antioxidants are essential for good health because they combat free radicals, which break down cells in your body and can lead to heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes.
Vitamin E intake is associated with lower cholesterol, healthier skin, maintaining a proper hormonal balance, and preventing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

B vitamins have been linked to numerous health benefits, including reducing breast cancer risk, nervous system function, red blood cell formation, and hormone function. Studies have also suggested that B vitamins may reduce the risk of stroke, hearing loss, and birth defects.

The best way to increase your intake of all of these essential nutrients is through consuming a varied, healthy diet with high levels of fruits and vegetables. If you think you’re not getting enough from diet alone, however, you may want to consider some high-quality supplements.

Good oral hygiene is important for more than just good breath – previous studies have found that mouth diseases are directly linked to heart disease, stroke, and osteoporosis. While brushing and flossing regularly can help you keep your mouth in good order, a recent study has found that probiotic supplements may help oral health in general and may slow the development of caries in particular.

Caries is the destruction of bone structure and in the mouth are most commonly known as cavities.

This meta-analysis included 23 randomized clinical trials, four of which were deemed “excellent quality,” nine of which were deemed “good quality,” and 10 of which were considered “poor quality.”

Some of the probiotic strains included in the study were Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. Lactis BB-12, B. longum, B. animalis subsp. Lactis DN 173010, Lactobacillus brevis, L. rhamnosus, L. acidophilus La-5, L reuteri, and Saccharomyces cereviasae.

After examining the data, the researchers found that two thirds of the selected studies showed that probiotic supplementation reduced the amount of mutans streptococci (MS) in the mouth. MS is the main bacteria associated with tooth decay because it binds to teeth and then converts to sugar, which subsequently eats away the enamel.

The researchers were also interested, however, in how probiotics affected mouth health apart from their effect on MS, as preliminary research suggests that other bacteria may also contribute to the development of cavities.

They found that, while some studies suggest that probiotics may have a positive effect in fighting cavities apart from their affect on MS, there is not enough research at this moment to declare a definitive correlation. They suggest that more research should be conducted in this field to determine the exact effect of probiotics on the development of cavities, due to the fact that the current research is encouraging.

Researchers from the WHO Collaborating Centre of Milan for Epidemiology and Community Dentistry at the University of Milan in Italy conducted the study. It was published on July 5, 2013, in the journal Nutrient.

Beyond oral health, probiotics have been shown to help aid in weight loss, improve digestion, prevent recurring yeast infections, boost the immune system and reduce the risk of chronic disease.

You can get more probiotics by eating certain foods such as yogurt, milk and sauerkraut. For many people, taking a high quality supplement is an easier approach. If you choose this option, be sure it is packaged to block light, air and moisture which can easily kill probiotics.

We all know the negative effects of drinking too much alcohol, but did you know that having a couple beers in the evening may actually improve your heart health? That’s according to a recently released study from Greek researchers, which suggests that drinking beer may improve endothelial function and aortic stiffness.

Participants in the study included 17 healthy, non-smoking men with an average age of 28.5 and an average weight of 77.5 kg. The men consumed one of three drinks, with at least a week between each one. They were: 400 mL of beer and 400 mL of water, 800 mL of dealcoholized beer, or 67 mL of vodka and 733 mL of water.

The researchers noted that aortic stiffness was reduced by about the same amount by all three drinks. However, only the beer seemed to result in improved endothelial function, with a 1.33% average improvement.

Wave reflections – another biomarker of cardiovascular disease – were reduced by 9.1% in the beer group, 8.5% in the vodka group, and 2.8% in the dealcoholized beer group.

The researchers hypothesized that the alcohol and the non-alcoholic components of the drinks worked together to create the positive heart health benefits seen here.

Researchers from Harokopio University, Athens Medical School, and Hellenic Institute of Nutrition in Greece conducted the study. It was published online ahead of print on July 1, 2013, in the journal Nutrition.

While this study suggests that drinking beer may be good for your heart, the benefits associated with beer disappear with high consumption. Therefore, beer should be consumed in moderation and combined with healthy foods.

Previous studies have linked beer with raising HDL (or “good”) blood pressure, protecting against type 2 diabetes, and preventing dementia. Researchers believe that these positive health benefits are a result of the vitamins, minerals, and alcohol present in beer.

Water makes up about 60% of our bodies and some studies say that up to 75% of Americans are dehydrated. That fact could mean serious repercussions for brain performance, as a study has recently been released suggesting that even mild dehydration may lead to noticeably shorter reaction times.

Participants in the study included 34 adults who had nothing to eat or drink overnight. They were tested on two mornings for memory, attention, learning, and reaction time. On one morning they were given a cereal bar and 500ml of water before the tests and on the other morning they were given only a cereal bar.

The researchers tested the participant’s reaction times on both mornings and found that on the morning that the participants did not drink water they had a 14% lower reaction time when compared with the morning they did drink water.

An unexpected result, however, was that performance on the complex-rule-learning task was worse after drinking water, but only in the individuals who had reported especially high thirst after the night without water. In the other participants, with lower levels of thirst, the results were the same.

Researchers from the University of East London and the University of Westminister, London, conducted the study. It was published on July 16, 2013, in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.

Stay hydrated throughout the summer by making sure you drink at least eight glasses of water daily. If you have trouble remembering to drink water, consider buying a reusable water bottle that you can keep with you at all times.

Vitamin D has been linked with bone density for years, with multiple studies pointing out that low vitamin D levels may lead to osteoporosis. New technology, however, has allowed researchers to discover that vitamin D deficiency may also increase the speed at which bones age and increase brittleness and the risk of bone fracture.

The researchers in this study examined bone samples from 15 individuals who were vitamin D deficient and 15 who were not. They then utilized state-of-the-art technology to determine levels of bone mineralization both on the surface of the bone and inside the bone.

Proper mineralization of bone is essential to ensure adequate bone hardness and strength.

In this study, the researchers uncovered a surprising paradox: the surface of the bones of vitamin D deficient people had less mineralization but the interior bone had more mineralization.

This resulted in accelerated aging of the bones, and researchers determined that those in the vitamin D deficient group had up to a 31% increase in bone cracks.

A joint team of researchers from the University Medical Center Hamburg in Germany and the University of California, Berkeley conducted this study. It was published in the July 2013 issue of Science Translational Medicine.

Previous studies have shown that vitamin D may improve kidney health, reduce the risk of skin cancer, combat diabetes, and improve age related eye degeneration.

Vitamin D can be found in milk, fortified cereals, fish, and eggs. Our body also process vitamin D from the sun (which is where the nickname “sunshine vitamin” comes from) but our bodies have a harder time processing it as we age. A high quality vitamin D supplement is always a good option if you feel that you’re not getting enough through diet and sun.

Both obesity and diabetes are associated with consuming more calories that your body can burn. With both of these conditions on the rise across the world, researchers are racing to find ways to treatments. Recently, an animal study has been released suggesting that taking a probiotic supplement may defend against weight gain and insulin resistance.

Over the course of eight weeks, the researchers fed lab mice either a low or high-fat diet with or without probiotics. The probiotic supplement consisted of eight different strains of probiotics: Bifidobacterium breve, B. longum, B. infantis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. plantarum, L. paracasei, L. bulgaricus, and Streptococcus thermophiles.

At the conclusion of the study, they noted that the high-fat diet mice that were also given probiotics had the same level of suppressed weight gain as the low-fat diet mice without probiotics.

The researchers believe that this lower level of weight gain was due to the metabolic effects of the supplement resulting in less food intake by the probiotic group.

The high-fat, probiotic group also had smaller fat cell size, lower blood glucose levels, less fat deposition in their cells, improved glucose, and improved insulin tolerance when compared with the high-fat, no-probiotic mice.

Additionally, the probiotic mice showed lower levels of inflammatory markers that are usually associated with obesity and insulin resistance, when compared with the no-probiotic mice.

When the researchers looked even closer, they found that the probiotic group had higher levels of butyrates, which are short-chain fatty acids that “feed” on prebiotics. Butyrates are essential because they act as “food” for cells lining the inside of the colon.

They also produce GLP-1, which is gut hormone essential for regulating glucose. The researchers noted an increase in GLP-1 that was directly correlated with the increase in butyrates.

Researchers from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the NIH conducted the study. It was published online ahead of print on July 8, 2013, in The Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Probiotics are most commonly linked to improving digestion and gut health, but they have also been shown to have other health benefits, including weight loss, a stronger immune system, and a reduced risk of chronic disease.

Probiotics can be found naturally in many foods, such as yogurt, milk and sauerkraut. You may also consider taking a high quality supplement but make sure it is packaged to block light, air and moisture, which can easily kill probiotics.