Remember being told about the virtues of porridge when you were a sceptical child? Well those stories appear to be even more true than your parents and teachers may have predicted. New research is finding that the mighty oat could actually lower cholesterol and clean the arteries while delivering other powerful heart-protective qualities.
The article below is by LAURA DONNELLY for the Irish Independent.
Fans of porridge have long claimed that it gives them the best start to the day – but scientists say there is evidence that it could also have a special ingredient that actively cleans the arteries, protecting against cancer and heart disease.
A meeting of researchers says there is growing evidence that a bioactive compound contained only in oats may possess protective antioxidant properties.
Oats are the breakfast of choice for many athletes and dieters, who find the high fibre levels give them energy for longer. The combination of fibre, vitamins and minerals in whole grains has also been linked to a reduced risk of diseases.
One particular fibre found only in oats – called beta-glucan – has already been credited with lowering cholesterol.
But scientists at the annual conference of the American Chemical Society in Dallas, Texas, yesterday said there was growing evidence that the benefits of oats do not just come from the fibre.
Researchers said studies suggested that a bioactive compound called avenanthramide could stop fat forming in the arteries, causing heart attacks and strokes.
Dr Shengmin Sang, from the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, said: “While the data to support the importance of oat beta-glucan remains, these studies reveal that the heart health benefit of eating oats may go beyond fibre. As the scientific investigators dig deeper, we have discovered that the bioactive compounds found in oats may provide additional cardio-protective benefits.”
CRUCIAL
Fat formation in the arteries can become a condition called atherosclerosis in which the arteries become clogged. This can lead to organ damage or blood clots that result in heart attacks or strokes.
Previous studies have suggested that the fibre contained in porridge can reduce cholesterol levels by as much as 23pc.
Studies on children have suggested the traditional breakfast dish can help to keep obesity at bay. Youngsters who eat oats regularly are 50pc less likely to be overweight, one study of 10,000 children found.
Oats can reduce high blood pressure, which is closely linked to stroke and heart disease. They are also a source of vitamin B1 (thiamin) which is crucial for the nervous system, and folic acid, which is essential for healthy foetal development.
In an attempt to increase folic acid levels, pregnancy advisers have joined doctors in urging the British government to fortify flour with the acid to cut the number of babies developing defects such as spina bifida.
The British Pregnancy Advisory Service has also said it is time recommendations to fortify flour with the vitamin were implemented in the UK.
Here at Dunphy Medical we’re stocking up on Chlorella, Vitamin C and Omega Oils with added Vitamin D to stay healthy amid winter’s bugs and flus.
Vitamin B is a perennial favourite and Toki is keeping our skin supple and youthful despite any harsh winter winds.
To discover our range of health products click on the Products tab at the top of this website’s homepage or just follow this link https://dunphymedicalcarrigaline.com/products/. All health supplements can be purchased online via PayPal or directly with a cheque or postal order. Purchases will then be delivered to your door by return mail, there’s no need to even leave the house!
In celebration of Mothers Day this Sunday 30th March, we are celebrating all things feminine with a video from the inspirational TedTalks, and some information on the benefits of Vitamin B for women of all ages.
TEDxFiDiWomen – Alisa Vitti – Loving Your Lady Parts as a Path to Success, Power & Global Change
Vitamin B
Many people take a vitamin B complex to increase energy, enhance mood, improve memory and focus, and stimulate the immune system, however B vitamins may be particularly important for women for a number of reasons. B vitamins can help alleviate PMS symptoms, and women taking the contraceptive pill may particularly want to watch their B vitamin intake as there is an established link between contraceptive pill use and depleted vitamin B6.
A vitamin B complex is a dietary supplement that contains all eight of the B vitamins: B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6, B7 (biotin), B9 (folate), B12. Also found naturally in a number foods, B vitamins help the body to produce energy and form red blood cells.
Health Benefits of B Vitamins
Each B vitamin is essential for specific bodily functions:
B1 and B2 are important for healthy functioning of the muscles, nerves, and heart
B3 helps regulate the nervous and digestive systems
B5 and B12 are required for normal growth and development
B6 supports the immune system and aids the body in breaking down protein
B7 is involved in the production of hormones
B9 helps cells make and maintain DNA
Studies show that taking supplements containing certain B vitamins may benefit your health. For instance:
B1 may help prevent kidney disease in people with type 2 diabetes and reduce risk of cataracts
B2 may prevent migraines; B3 may lower cholesterol levels
B6 may protect against heart disease, relieve PMS symptoms, and alleviate pregnancy-related nausea
B9 may help prevent breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and pancreatic cancer. B9 (folate) can also decrease the risk of birth defects when taken by pregnant women
B12 may lower cervical cancer risk and reduce levels of homocysteine (an amino acid thought to contribute to heart disease when it occurs at elevated levels)
Why Do People Take B Complex Supplements?
Proponents claim that vitamin B complex supplements can help with a variety of health conditions, including:
Anxiety
Depression
Fatigue
Heart Disease
Premenstrual Syndrome
Skin Problems
Food Sources of B Vitamins
cereals and whole grains (a source of B1, B2, and B3)
green leafy vegetables (a source of B2 and B9)
eggs (a source of B7 and B12)
chicken (a source of B3, B6, and B12)
citrus fruits (a source of B9)
nuts (a source of B3 and B9)
kidney beans (a source of B1 and B2)
bananas (a source of B6 and B7)
Vitamin B5 is found in almost all foods.
When Should You Take a B Complex Supplement?
If you’re not getting enough B vitamins from your diet, taking a B complex supplement may be beneficial. Deficiency in B vitamins can cause a number of symptoms, including tiredness, anemia, loss of appetite, depression, abdominal pain, muscle cramps, hair loss, and eczema.
Consult your health care provider to find out whether a B complex supplement is right for you.
The B Complex we currently stock is Douglas Lab’s Tri-B-100.
Tri-B-100
Energy and stress control
DESCRIPTION
Tri-B-100 provided by Douglas Laboratories® is a six
to eight hour timed release formulation of all the B
vitamins as well as several other important dietary
components metabolically associated with the B
FUNCTIONS
As coenzymes, the B vitamins are essential
components in most major metabolic reactions. As
water-soluble substances, B vitamins are not
generally stored in the body in any appreciable
amounts (with the exception of vitamin B-12).
Therefore, the body needs an adequate supply of B
vitamins on a daily basis.
Vitamin B-1 (thiamin), vitamin B-2 (riboflavin), and
niacinamide are all essential coenzymes in energy
production. Thiamin is required for the energetics of
the glycolytic and Citric Acid Cycle reactions.
Thiamin is also related to nerve impulse
transmission. Riboflavin is a component of
coenzymes FAD and FMN, which are intermediates
in many redox reactions, including energy production
and cellular respiration reactions. Niacin is a
component of the coenzymes NAD and NADP,
which are also integral components of energy
production reactions.
Vitamin B-6 dependent enzymes are required for the
biosynthesis of many neurotransmitters, including
serotonin, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. Vitamin
B-6, a coenzyme in amino acid metabolism, is also
necessary for the processing of homocysteine and the
conversion of tryptophan into niacin.
Folic acid together with vitamin B-12 serves as a
methyl donor for biosynthetic reactions, including the
conversion of homocysteine to methionine.
Optimum metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and
fats depends upon adequate levels of biotin and
pantothenic acid. Biotin is essential for many
metabolic carboxylation reactions, while pantothenic
acid, as part of Coenzyme A, is essential to energy
production via the Citric Acid Cycle.
While not truly vitamins, choline, inositol, and paraaminobenzoic
acid are important, related nutrients to
B vitamins. Choline serves not only as a methyl
donor for homocysteine metabolism following
conversion to betaine, but also as a structural
component of cellular membranes as
phosphatidylcholine and of the neurotransmitter
acetylcholine. Inositol aids in the cellular response to
hormonal signals, serves as a source of arachidonic
Chang TY, Chou KJ, Tseng CF, Chung HM, Fang HC, Hung YM, Wu MJ, Tzeng HM, Lind CC, Lu KC. “Effects of folic acid and vitamin B complex on serum C-reactive protein and albumin levels in stable hemodialysis patients.” Curr Med Res Opin. 2007 Aug;23(8):1879-86.
Clarke R, Lewington S, Sherliker P, Armitage J. “Effects of B-vitamins on plasma homocysteine concentrations and on risk of cardiovascular disease and dementia.” Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2007 Jan;10(1):32-9.
Galan P, Kesse-Guyot E, Czernichow S, Briancon S, Blacher J, Hercberg S; SU.FOL.OM3 Collaborative Group. “Effects of B vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids on cardiovascular diseases: a randomised placebo controlled trial.” BMJ. 2010 Nov 29;341:c6273. doi: 10.1136/bmj.c6273.
Instead of giving in to tired old ‘Oirish’ stereotypes and consuming triple our body weight in alcohol in honour of St. Paddy, at Dunphy Medical we are increasing our consumption of chlorella, a green algae derived superfood packed with vitamins, minerals and protein. The name Chlorella is taken from the Greek chloros, meaning green, so it is the perfect accompaniment to St. Patricks Day celebrations! Chlorella is renowned for its detoxifying qualities making it even more suited for Paddy’s day consumption by many revellers around 17th March!
“Chlorella, a single-celled fresh-water algae, is one of the most heavily researched algae in the world. It’s often referred to as a near-perfect food as research through the years have identified an astounding range of health benefits. While being well known for its ability to detoxify your body by binding to toxins and carrying them out of your system, that’s certainly not all it’s good for.” (www.mercola.com)
Chlorella’s health benefits include:
Repairing nerve tissues
Increasing your energy levels
Enhancing your immune system
Normalizing your blood sugar
Improving digestion
Normalizing your blood pressure
Promoting healthy pH levels in your gut, which in turn helps good bacteria to thrive
Removing potentially toxic metals from your body
Enhancing your ability to focus and concentrate
Eliminating bad breath
Chlorella can also be of benefit to vegetarians and vegans looking for proteins and B vitamins from a non-animal source. About 60 percent of it is protein, and because it contains all the essential amino acids your body needs, it’s considered to be a “complete protein.”
Abram Hoffer PhD, RNCP, President Orthomolecular Vitamin Information Centre speaks about treating mental health concerns with nutrients. This alternative therapy employs vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to create optimum nutritional content for the body, as well as the right environment and equilibrium. Like most alternative medicine techniques, orthomolecular medicine targets a wide range of conditions. [depression, bipolar, adhd, schizophrenia, add, addiction, alcoholism, drug addiction…]
Orthomolecular medicine was developed by Linus Pauling, Ph.D., winner of two Nobel prizes, in 1968. It is designed to enable individuals to reach the apex of health and the peak of their performance by utilizing only naturally occurring substances (e.g. vitamins, minerals, enzymes, trace elements, co-enzymes). The proper balance of these substances in the body is the key to reaching physical, mental, and emotional health and stability. Orthomolecular medicine can be used therapeutically to treat diseases such as cancer and AIDS, or preventatively to impede the progress of degenerative disease and aging. When all is said and done, however, the main objective of orthomolecular medicine is to help the patient reach an optimal level of health; his or her self-esteem will probably improve in the process.
Although orthomolecular medicine did not fully develop into a therapy until the late 1960’s when Pauling coined the term “orthomolecular,” the premise behind this practice originated in the 1920’s, when vitamins and minerals were first used to treat illnesses unrelated to nutrient deficiency. It was discovered that vitamin A could prevent childhood deaths from infectious illness, and that heart arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) could be stopped by dosages of magnesium. Hard scientific evidence supporting nutritional therapy did not emerge, however, until the 1950’s, when Abram Hoffer, M.D., and Humphrey Osmond, M.D., began treating schizophrenics with high doses of vitamin B3 (niacin). As a consequence of their studies, it was revealed that niacin, in combination with other medical treatments, could double the number of recoveries in a one-year period.
Eventually, it was determined that malnutrition and consumption of refined, empty-calorie foods such as white bread and pastries and overconsumption of sugar could yield disease and psychiatric disorders. It became apparent that a person’s diet was an overwhelmingly integral part of his or her health and well-being. Further studies showed that decreased intake of dietary fiber, bran, minerals, and complex carbohydrates was prevalent in patients with certain forms of mental illness, accompanied by a loss of vitamins and an increase in dietary fat.
Biochemical individual is a main principle of orthomolecular medicine. This principle was elucidated by Roger J. Williams, Ph.D. This principle is quite simple: every living organism is unique! Furthermore, each individual requires different relative amounts of nutrients for his or her satisfaction and optimal level of health. The government sets a minimum recommended daily allowance (RDA) which is supposed to be adequate for all individuals. However, many may need to exceed the RDA as well as the recommended 2,000 calorie diet in order to prevent severe deficiency disease. Thus, RDA values are not perfect guidelines for everyone. Several studies have proven the existence of biochemical individuality. For example, studies of guinea pigs showed a twentyfold variation in their requirement for vitamin C. A study conducted with human subjects revealed that children have varying needs for vitamin B6.
Dunphy Medical Carrigaline 