Calming the Flame

[Guest guest]

" HSI - Jenny Thompson " <HSIResearch

HSI e-Alert - Calming the Flame

Tue, 23 Aug 2005 07:00:00 -0400

HSI e-Alert - Calming the Flame

 

Health Sciences Institute e-Alert

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August 23, 2005

 

 

 

Dear Reader,

 

Beta-cryptoxanthin may sound like an alien invader from a 1950s

science fiction movie, but it's actually not alien at all. In fact,

it's quite friendly. And if you regularly eat foods that contain this

carotenoid, you'll enjoy several healthy benefits.

 

According to new research from the UK, one of those benefits may

include the prevention of inflammation that triggers arthritis.

 

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Beta test

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First, a little biology...

 

A synovial joint is where two or more bones meet and are lubricated

with blood plasma filtered through a synovial membrane. Most of the

joints of the body are synovial, such as the hip, elbow and wrist.

Synovitis is an inflammation that prompts swelling of the synovial

membrane. And as you can imagine, it can be quite painful.

 

In this month's issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,

researchers at the University of Manchester report on an investigation

of the hypothesis that dietary carotenoids may be associated with a

lower risk of developing synovitis in two or more joint groups; what

they call inflammatory polyarthritis, which is a form of rheumatoid

arthritis. Previous studies have shown that certain carotenoids

contain antioxidants that can help prevent joint inflammation.

 

The Manchester team examined dietary diaries completed by more than

25,000 subjects. All of the subjects were followed up to identify new

cases of synovitis. Nearly 90 cases were reported. When the dietary

data was scrutinized for carotenoid intake and matched with synovitis

data, the researchers came up with these results:

 

* Average daily intake of beta-cryptoxanthin was 40 percent lower

in subjects who developed synovitis compared to those who did not

* Average daily intake of another carotenoid - zeaxanthin - was 20

percent lower in subjects who developed synovitis compared to those

who did not

* Subjects who consumed the most foods that contained both of

these carotenoids had a significantly lower risk of developing

inflammatory polyarthritis than subjects who consumed the least of the

two carotenoids

 

In their conclusion the authors noted that these findings parallel

earlier trials showing that, " a modest increase in beta-cryptoxanthin

intake, equivalent to one glass of freshly squeezed orange juice per

day, is associated with a reduced risk of developing inflammatory

disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. "

 

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Go to the garden

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In addition to protection against inflammatory polyarthritis, studies

show that beta-cryptoxanthin contributes to respiratory health.

According to a 2004 study, subjects with the highest intake of beta-c

had 30 percent lower risk of developing lung cancer compared to those

with the least intake.

 

As with other carotenoids, the best sources of beta-cryptoxanthin are

fruits (oranges, tangerines, watermelon, peaches, papaya, plums,

nectarines, and apricots) and vegetables (sweet red peppers, pumpkin,

squash, corn, carrots, cilantro and pickles).

 

And if you eat a good mix of all these foods you'll be getting a

variety of carotenoids, such as zeaxanthin, alpha carotene, lycopene,

lutein and others. And the key word here is " variety. " As Amanda Ross

noted in a recent issue of her Health e-Tips e-letter: " Based on the

results of numerous studies, it's becoming more and more clear that

carotenoids function similarly to the B-complex of vitamins in that

they're more powerful together than they are alone. Which is why a

rich diet with a full array of carotenoids may provide more health

benefits than isolating and supplementing with any one individually. "

 

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....and another thing

 

Here's something new: The media got one right for a change.

Unfortunately it was just a fleeting moment in one small corner of the

media. But still, I was surprised.

 

Earlier this month, newscasters and newspapers reported on a study

that found echinacea to have no beneficial effect on upper respiratory

infection. What amounted to a press release went out on the wires -

" Echinacea Fails! " - that sort of thing. The release was basically

read aloud by " reporters " who didn't ask any important questions,

like: Was the dosage high enough? (It wasn't). Was any effort made to

determine if echinacea improved immune system response? (There wasn't).

 

And so it went. And millions of people ended up getting the message

that echinacea is supposedly ineffective, without ever knowing that

the study was flawed.

 

But if you live in Baltimore, and if you had your television tuned to

WBAL-TV around 9:15 AM on Saturday morning a couple of weeks ago, then

you were treated to a realistic look at the details of this study.

 

The local news that morning featured a live interview with an

herbalist and teacher from Tai Sophia Institute for the Healing Arts,

located just west of Baltimore. Unfortunately I didn't catch her name,

and later in the day I couldn't find a word about the interview on the

WBAL web site. But it was refreshing to see someone on television set

the record straight.

 

And I picked up a useful tip for testing echinacea products.

 

The herbalist noted that echinacea produces a slight tingling

sensation on the tongue. Her suggestion: Open an echinacea supplement

capsule and tap some of the herb on your tongue. If it tingles, you

know you've got genuine echinacea.

 

To Your Good Health,

 

Jenny Thompson

 

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Sources:

 

" Dietary Beta-Cryptoxanthin and Inflammatory Polyarthritis: Results

from a Population-Based Prospective Study " American Journal of

Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 82, No. 2, August 2005, ajcn.org

" Citrus Carotenoid May Fight Polyarthritis " NutraIngredients, 8/9/05,

nutraingredients.com

" Don't Avoid the 'Noids " Amanda Ross, Health e-Tips, 5/12/05,

wrightnewsletter.com

 

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