User Login
| Arthritis, Asthma, and Allergies |
 |
 |
|
Arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis tortures the lives of more than two million people in the United States. But a recent study of mice showed that the polyphenols in green tea may significantly reduce one's risk of getting the disease. In the study, 36 mice were injected with collagen, which induces arthritis in rodents. Half the mice were fed the human equivalent of four cups of green tea per day. Of the 18 who didn't receive the green tea, 17 developed arthritis. Of the 18 who did receive the green tea, only 8 developed arthritis, and even in those mice it was a milder form of the disease. Scientists believe it is the anti-inflammatory power of tea's polyphenols that achieves the effect. Arthritis is partially caused by free radicals attacking the joint membranes and lubricants, leading to inflammation, so neutralizing the free radicals prevents the inflammation from forming in the first place. Proanthocyanidin, the antioxidant in chocolate that may protect against Alzheimer's, may also reduce arthritis symptoms. Proanthocyanidin, which is also found in red wine, blocks the formation of enzymes in the body that cause inflammation. Asthma and Allergies For the same reasons that proanthocyanidin can reduce inflammation in arthritis sufferers, it can also reduce symptoms of asthma and allergies. Both conditions are caused by the body's immune system attacking invaders with histamines. Proanthocyanidins act as antihistamines, blocking the body's release of histamines. Cough Suppressant While all the studies mentioned so far involve chocolate's antioxidant compounds, researchers at the National Heart and Lung Institute in London are exploring a completely different healing aspect of chocolate. They tested the cough-relieving ability of theobromine, a stimulant found in chocolate, against codeine, the traditional ingredient in cough medicines. Theobromine was more effective. As the British newspaper The Express put it, "A bar of chocolate works better than a spoonful of medicine in treating a cough." The researchers are now trying to determine whether theobromine works by suppressing the cough itself or by clearing mucus from the lungs. So Chocolate reduces your risk of heart disease by what percent? Antioxidants have what effect on cancer? Too much research can be difficult to take in. So don't bother trying to keep it all in your headit's too stressful, among other things, and stress isn't good for your blood pressure! Scientists will be debating for years how good chocolate is for you; they no longer seriously question whether it's good for you. Forget the figures; just eat your chocolate, and relax. |
Discuss this item on the forums. (0 posts)