One of my goals in writing this blog is to present a wide variety of topics that address the health we see, the inner workings of the body that we often take for granted and the quality of life that we perceive. All three of these areas impact one another. That’s a basic tenet of natural medicine. Today’s update focuses on the external aspects of health (weight loss and wrinkles) and the internal battle for wellness (breast and prostate cancer). Approaching these issues in a proactive way will likely provide a psychological boost as well.

In January I highlighted some the benefits of white tea – “green tea’s younger brother”. The May 2009 issue of the journal Nutrition and Metabolism provides some tantalizing evidence that white tea may turn out to be a legitimate “fat burner”. (1)

German researchers performed a test tube study where they exposed human fat cells to a white tea extract. Exposure to white tea brought about two changes: 1) it decreased the production of new fat cells; and 2) it encouraged the existing fat cells to “break down the fat they contain”. Another important finding is that the white tea did not harm healthy cells.

I recently wrote a column entitled Skin Aging and Ellagic Acid, which focused on the beneficial effects of phytochemical-rich foods and supplements in promoting a healthier complexion. Just the other day I discovered two new studies on a different type of supplement that may also be helpful in improving the appearance and health of the skin. The studies took place in France and Japan.

The French study lasted for 12 weeks and included 47 women with ages ranging from 35-55. The Japanese leg of the study was an 8 week trial that included 33 women who were 40-60 years old. Both studies used a placebo as a means of comparison.

The treatment groups received 10 grams daily of hydrolyzed collagen, basically a form of collagen protein powder that mixes well in liquid. It’s unique because it contains a high proportion of an amino acid called hydroxyproline. This component of protein is believed to support the connective tissue that makes up the skin. The women in the studies exhibited a 28% increase in skin hydration and a 26-30% reduction in the appearance of wrinkles as compared to the placebo groups. These results were assessed by “dermophysiological” observation and by “self-assessment questionnaires”. (2)

In January 2009, I devoted a blog to natural ways of fighting back against prostate cancer (PC). One of the resources I mentioned was the use of pomegranate extract and juice. We now have additional information to support that option.

New study results were just presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association. The findings are based on a 6 year trial that involved 48 men who had undergone unsuccessful treatment for prostate cancer (either radiotherapy or surgery).

A portion of the men drank an 8 ounce glass of pomegranate juice on a daily basis. Those who stuck with this protocol demonstrated a decrease in prostate cancer progression as measured by a prolongation of PSA doubling time and a decline in median PSA slope.

Based on these encouraging results, the researchers now plan to conduct more studies using pomegranate as a preventive measure against PC. (3)

In the past I’ve warned about the danger that erratic blood sugar levels can pose to developing breast cancer (BC). In March of 2009, the British Journal of Cancer reported on something positive that postmenopausal women can do to protect themselves against BC.

Lignans are a variety of phytochemicals found predominantly in flax, pumpkin and sesame seeds and in some fruits and grains. They reportedly have an effect in altering both male and female hormonal status in a protective manner. In men, they are currently being investigated in the management of prostate cancer. In women, they’re of interest for a great many hormonally influenced conditions, such as hot flashes, osteoporosis and, of course, breast cancer.

Researchers examined the data collected from 23 population studies to determine if a diet rich in lignans does in fact protect against BC. Some of the results were inconclusive, but they did determine that postmenopausal women with the highest level of lignan consumption did experience a lower risk of breast cancer. (4)

The beauty of all this research is that you may decide to use white tea, hydrolyzed collagen, pomegranate and lignans for one specific purpose and find that they’re also helping with something else. All of these foods and supplements have been documented as having plenty of “side benefits”. In fact, the list just keeps on growing. That’s why I want to encourage you to check back regularly for updates on newly discovered benefits of these and other natural remedies.

Be well!

JP

• Breast and Prostate Cancer News
• Beating Prostate Cancer Naturally
• Aging Skin and Ellagic Acid
• Preventing Breast Cancer
• The Prostate Cancer Diet
• Herbs and Prostate Cancer
• Breast Cancer Protection
• Breast Cancer and Iron