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The importance of colour when
it comes to your health
If you're shopping and you see a fruit or vegetable with an attractive
colour - don't hesitate - buy it and eat it. It's going to be good for
you. This is all about the importance of getting a high dietary intake
of carotenoids
These organic plant pigments have not only been shown to help control
inflammation, but a steady intake of certain carotenoids also helps reduce
the risk of age-related macular degeneration.
Now a new study demonstrates how carotenoid supplements may protect lymphocyte
cells (key immunes system cells) from the type of DNA damage that sets
the stage for the development of cancer and other chronic diseases.
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Save that DNA
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US researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA-Human Nutrition Research Center
on Aging teamed up with scientists at the Tufts University School of
Medicine to measure the effect of carotenoid supplements on lymphocytes.
Nearly 40 healthy postmenopausal women over the age of 50 (all non- smokers)
were divided into five groups to receive either a placebo or one of these
daily supplement regimens:
* Beta-carotene, lutein and lycopene (4 mg of each carotenoid)
* Beta-carotene only (12 mg)
* Lutein only (12 mg)
* Lycopene only (12 mg)
Blood samples were assessed for carotenoid concentrations throughout
the eight-week test period. The condition of lymphocyte DNA for each
subject was determined with a common technique for detecting DNA damage
known as "comet assay."
Results were striking. All four of the supplement groups showed significantly
lower DNA damage compared to damage levels recorded at the outset of
the study, but the placebo group showed no significant change in DNA
damage. In the mixed supplement group and the beta- carotene group, DNA
damage was reduced after just 15 days.
Writing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the researchers
note that the supplement levels used to produce DNA protection can be
achieved through diet alone.
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Full spectrum
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Beta-carotene (a precursor of vitamin A) is abundant in carrots, dark
green leafy vegetables, colourful orange vegetables and fruits such as
pumpkins, squash, sweet potatoes, peaches, apricots, cantaloupes and
mangoes.
Lutein has been shown to support vision health and helps prevent age
related macular degeneration. Good sources of lutein include spinach,
eggs, broccoli, carrots, tomatoes, oranges, lettuce and celery.
Lycopene (found mostly in tomatoes and watermelon) is a powerful antioxidant
that promotes heart health and has been shown to reduce the risk of prostate
cancer.
If you eat a good mix of all these foods you'll be getting a variety
of carotenoids, including zeaxanthin, alpha carotene and others. And
the key word here is "variety." 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.
Agora Lifestyles Ltd
25 May 2007
Vitamins, minerals, herbs - available
online with direct delivery to your door (UK and Europe only)
 Womenswear
and Menswear Trends
All the themes, key points, colours, accessories
are discussed in detail in our print-ready fashion trends' articles,
which include photos for each of the themes, taken straight from the
designer catwalk shows.We have engaged the services of a top fashion
journalist who also happens to be a qualified image consultant and trainer.
Between us we have done the hard work for you - attended the designer
fashion shows, written the trends' reports, collected the photos from
the catwalks, designed and created the articles that are ready and waiting
for you to print on your own computer.
Available
to buy online today
Image
professionals should
take a look at our comprehensive professional
fashion trends' packages for this and previous seasons for
both womenswear and menswear which contain professionally-produced trends
reports, print-ready handouts to give to your clients to save you time,
a plethora of fabulous photos straight from the catwalks all notated
with designer names, printable versions of slides from the season's designer
catwalk shows, and more.
Free colour advice If
you're not sure which of this season's fashion colours will make YOU
look gorgeous, then try our free tonal
colour advisor  which
will give you immediate information about the best colours for you.
Would you like more colour in your wardrobe? If so, check out these colourful
tops that you can buy ALL YEAR ROUND |
Cure your cough by eating chocolate!
As if you needed another excuse....
New research from Imperial College in London suggests that eating chocolate
may be better at curing coughs than anything you can pick up from your
pharmacist.
Theobromine, an ingredient in cocoa, is said to be the active ingredient
which, in experiments, was found to be a third more effective than codeine,
regarded as the best available cough medicine. Theobromine appears to
suppress the activity of the vagus nerve, which is responsible for causing
coughing.
Agora Lifestyles Ltd
29 Nov 2004
Beat jet lag with a ballpoint pen!
Thinking of escaping the cold this Christmas? Here are 7 ways to ensure
your flight is stress-free:
* To avoid jet lag at the other end of your journey, massage the ball
of your big toe with the blunt end of a ballpoint pen. This simple form
of acupressure concentrates on a point that enlivens the body and lifts
tiredness.
* Make sure you drink regularly on your flight to avoid dehydration,
and keep your salt levels up by eating salted nuts or crisps.
* Ease swollen and cramped feet on the journey with a golf ball. Slip
your shoes off and roll the ball under each foot. It acts as a mini-massage,
keeping the blood circulating and ironing out all those little kinks.
* Travelling with a baby? To help them have a comfortable descent, give
them a dummy or bottle to suck on. It’ll stop their ears from popping.
* Remember, if a long flight is usually hell for you, it can be even
worse for the kids. So make sure there’s plenty of distraction at
hand. Keep toys, games, books and comics close to hand. A great idea
is to leave them loose around your hand luggage, so everything is quickly
accessible.
* To ease red and irritable eyes when flying, just pop a slice of cucumber
over each eye and take a nap.
* Once you arrive, try to avoid wearing sunglasses so that your eyes
can adjust to the local strength of sunshine. This is meant to help you
avoid jet lag.
Agora Lifestyles Ltd
15 Nov 2004
A plant once used as a source for blue dye
could one day help fight cancer
Woad, once commonly cultivated in Europe, has been found to be an abundant
source for the anti-cancer compound glucobrassicon (GBS). Researchers
at the University of Bologna, Italy, have been studying woad in order
to assess whether the plant could be useful as a large, cheap source
of the cancer- fighting biochemical. Previous research has linked GBS
to anti-tumour activity in breast cancer. But the lack of a sufficient
source of GBS has so far hindered additional research.
The Italian investigators were able to stimulate the GBS in woad by damaging
the leaves of young plants. Leaf injury can cause the plant to produce
even more GBS, enabling investigators to purify the compound and further
research into this promising weapon against cancer.
What is...woad?
A member of the same plant family as broccoli and cauliflower, woad was
used as a source of blue dye in ancient times. Neolithic warriors used
the dye to paint their faces, making them look terrifying in battle.
The flowering plant is a rich source of glucobrassicon, possessing
more than 20 times the amount contained in broccoli. Damaging young
leaves
of the plant can produce up to 65 times as much glucobrassicon.
"Ancient dye source studied for anti-cancer compounds," Nutraingredients.com:europe,
August 14, 2006
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