News: June 2018

BLACK COHOSH RELIEVES SYMPTOMS OF MENOPAUSE

Hot flushes are a common symptom of the menopause and they can seriously affect quality of life. Black cohosh and evening primrose have long been known to help reduce their severity and now in a recent study[i] comparing the beneficial effects of black cohosh and evening primrose oil, black cohosh came out tops.

Although the research concluded that both black cohosh and primrose oil can be used as an effective alternative treatment for relieving the severity of hot flushes and improving of quality of life pre- and post-menopause, it seems that black cohosh has the upper hand, as it can reduce the number of hot flushes too.

EATING NUTS CAN HELP SUPPORT AGE-RELATED DISORDERS

Recent research from Imperial College London and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology[ii] has found that snacking on a handful of nuts a day (20g) could slash the risk of several age-related problems, including heart disease, cancer and diabetes, as well as lowering the risk of premature death by more than a fifth.

The reason? A plentiful supply of fibre, protein, ‘good’ fats and a wealth of antioxidants is the secret say the researchers. The study also found that eating more than 20g of nuts a day did not increase the health benefits.

SKIPPING BREAKFAST CAN EFFECT YOUR WEIGHT

Resist the current trend to skip breakfast. The reason? According to a US study[iii], missing that first meal of the day might not be so good for your waistline. In the study around 27 per cent of breakfast skippers were obese, compared with just 11 per cent of breakfast eaters. They also had an average waist circumference of 38”, almost 4” thicker than those who enjoyed breakfast, five to seven days a week.

DIABETES ALERT

With one in 10 men affected, diabetes is a growing male health worry. Help address ‘The Male Diabetes Crisis’ and learn how to avoid becoming a statistic by visiting the Men’s Health Forum Website . This year’s Men’s Health Week runs from June 11-17.

[i] www.ncbi.nim.gov/pubmed/29619387

[ii] https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/176317/handful-nuts-cuts-risk-wide-range/

[iii] Source: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-04/24/c_137132948.htm?linkId=50928032