A study from researchers at Harvard and the University of Minnesota found that dietary flavonoids, such as those found in wine, chocolate, fruits, and vegetables, may protect the heart against the damaging effects of air pollution. Presented at a meeting of the American Heart Association, the observational study tracked 573 elderly men in the Boston area for 11 years. During periods of high smog, the men tended to experience reduced heart rate variability—which is associated with an increased risk of death from heart attacks and heart disease in older individuals. Air pollution had an even greater negative impact on the men who had a genetic variant that suppressed their bodies’ ability to detect foreign substances. Nevertheless, researchers discovered that the consumption of dietary flavonoids appeared to reduce the effects of smog on heart rate variability. While the results are encouraging, it’s important to remember that the study only found a link between flavonoids and increased protection against air pollution and additional clinical research is still needed to establish a cause-and-effect relationship. The results are also considered preliminary since they have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Source: WebMD

A rose bouquet is old hat: the next time you want to treat someone you love (including yourself!), check out the growing number of rose-infused and rose-scented products, formulated to help alleviate conditions like inflammation and stress. To get the scoop on this blooming market, the LA Times interviewed Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary, an integrative neurologist and expert in Ayurvedic medicine, as well as Danièle Ryman, an aromatherapist:

• Rosy skin care. Chaudhary recommends using pure rose water as a toner and rose oil as a moisturizer to gently refresh skin and reduce redness and inflammation.
• Flower-power foods. Rose hips, the fruit of the rose, are used in teas, jams, and supplements. Rose hips are a good source of vitamin C and some research has shown they may help boost the immune system. Other research has found that rose hips may promote heart health and, for those with walking limitations, increase knee joint mobility.
• Blooming love. “Perhaps the most legendary benefit of rose petals is its use as an aphrodisiac,” says Chaudhary. To harness these powers, she recommends dabbing rose essential oil on your skin or using it in an oil diffuser.
• Calming floral soak. Ryman suggests adding rose essential oil to a hot bath to calm feelings of anger, resentment, and jealously.
• Rose-filled cup. A bad day at the office may slip away with a sip of rose water, which, in Ayurvedic medicine, is believed to cool your temper, gut, and skin.

Source: LA Times

Spring showers bring more than just flowers. For some, spring brings seasonal allergies. Luckily, a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that a combination of certain probiotics (Lactobacillus gasseri KS-13, Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1, and Bifidobacterium longum MM-2) may have helped reduce allergy symptoms. The double-blind, randomized study took place during spring allergy season and included 173 people, aged 26 to 28, with self-reported seasonal allergies. Daily for eight weeks, the participants received either two probiotic capsules (containing 1.5 billion colony-forming units per capsule) or a placebo. Throughout the study, they answered the Mini Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (MRQLQ) to report on the frequency of their allergy symptoms, such as sneezing, nasal and eye irritation, runny nose, and others, as well as the impact of their allergy symptoms on quality of life. At the end of the study, participants who took the probiotics showed greater improvements in allergy-related quality of life as reported on the MRQLQ, compared with the placebo group.

This isn’t the first time probiotics have been linked with improvements in allergy symptoms. Previous research has found that the probiotic Lactobacillus salivarius may help reduce symptoms in children allergic to mold and dust. So, what’s the connection between beneficial gut bacteria and eye and nose irritation? Some research suggests that healthy gut bacteria can improve immune regulation and prevent immune cells from overreacting to allergens. However, this research is still in its early days.

Source: The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

When one hears the term “alternative protein source,” tofu, tempeh, and seitan are what typically come to mind. But the list doesn't end there: In an issue of Food Technology, Toni Tarver writes about several lesser known, but just as nutritious and palatable, alternative protein sources.

Algae are a diverse group of photosyntehetic organisms that are chiefly aquatic, contain chlorophyll, and generate oxygen—in fact, algae are responsible for nearly half of the photosynthesis that occurs on Earth. Algae are categorized into two forms: macroalgae and microalgae. Macroalgae are seaweeds and are visible to the naked eye and grow in oceans, lakes, rivers, and ponds. Microalgae are single-cell organisms that can only be seen with the aid of a microscope (unless they link together to form algal blooms), and mostly occur in fresh and marine water. Both micro- and macroalgae are nutrient dense with varying amounts of vitamins A, C, E, folate, calcium, iodine, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, carbohydrates, protein, and a variety of other nutrients. The protein content of macroalgae ranges from 3 to 50% and microalgae’s protein content is even higher, ranging up to 70%. Spirulina and Chlorella are examples of two popular algae supplements.

Among seaweeds, red seaweed tends to have the highest protein content; and the red species, nori, has the greatest amount: 100 grams of nori contains up to 50 grams of protein. Nori has an amino acid profile similar to that of peas or beans, contains a high amount of omega-3 fatty acids, and is a good source of vitamin B12. Nori is commonly used to wrap sushi rolls and dried nori is sold in sheets that can be either cut into strips to wrap rice and fish, or cut into small pieces to sprinkle on soup and noodle dishes.

Source: Institute of Food Technologists

Need to recover from a long day at the office? The Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing,” coined by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in 1982, could help. A form of meditation, Shinrin-yoku entails soaking in the scents, sights, and sounds of the forest to promote physiological and psychological health. Ben Page, a certified forest therapy guide and founder of Shinrin Yoku LA, explained to the Washington Post how it differs from other outdoor activities like nature walks, which are usually focused on education, and nature hikes, which are usually focused on destination: “A Shinrin-yoku walk’s objective is to give participants an opportunity to slow down, appreciate things that can only be seen or heard when one is moving slowly, and take a break from the stress of their daily lives.” The guided meditations led by Shinrin Yoku LA aim to help forest bathers open their senses and become more present. While the workshops provide guided and group meditations, Shinrin-yoku can also be a solo experience if that’s more your style.

The reported benefits of the practice are in line with research linking meditation to reduced blood pressure and stress. In other research, being in nature was shown to positively affect the mind: one study found that people who walked in nature, versus in an urban setting, had fewer ruminative thoughts—a risk factor for depression and other mental illnesses. The exact mechanisms of Shinrin-yoku are still unclear, but the growing number of forest bathers taking to the trees indicates that, for them, it provides peace of mind.

Source: Washington Post