Vitamin C, Garlic and Omega-3s Deliver Optimal Health Benefits By Dr. Allen S. Josephs
| Vitamin C, Garlic and Omega-3s Deliver Optimal Health Benefits |
 By Dr. Allen S. Josephs |
 August 07, 2008 - Vitamin C, garlic and omega-3 essential fatty acids are in the news again for the numerous health benefits they offer. Recent studies demonstrate these benefits and validate the power these nutrients have in promoting health, well-being and overall quality of life. |
In the latest edition of the prestigious medical journal Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers conducted a prospective study1 evaluating the consumption of fruit and vegetables and the risk of developing elevated blood sugar. A total of almost 22,000 men and women between the ages of 40 to 75 years, at baseline, participated in the study. The baseline data was collected between 1993 to 1997, during which time the plasma vitamin C levels were determined, along with habitual intake of fruits and vegetables. These individuals were then followed for approximately twelve years. It was found that there was a strong inverse association between blood levels of vitamin C and the risk of developing elevated blood sugar.
Those men and women who had the highest intake of fruits and vegetables reduced their risk of developing elevated blood sugar by 22%, but when looking directly at plasma vitamin C levels, those with the highest plasma levels had a substantial 62% decrease risk of developing elevated blood sugar. The authors of the study concluded that higher plasma vitamin C levels and, to a lesser degree, fruit and vegetable intake, were associated with a substantially decreased risk of developing elevated blood sugar.
Garlic has been known for many beneficial effects, especially regarding immunity. There have also been reports of beneficial effects of garlic in helping to maintain healthy blood pressure. In the June 2008 edition of BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, a group of doctors from South Australia performed a Medline search2 of articles between 1955 and October 2007. There was a total of 25 randomized, placebo-controlled trials using garlic in regard to blood pressure. The authors noted that 11 of the 25 studies were suitable to do meta-analysis. It was found in all studies that there was an average decrease in systolic blood pressure of 4.6 mm in the garlic group compared to placebo.
In individuals with elevated blood pressure, the decrease in systolic pressure was on average 8.4 and 7.3 for diastolic blood pressure. Those studies used between 600 mg to 900 mg dosage providing the equivalent of 3.6 mg to 5.4 mg of garlic's active ingredient allicin.
The authors noted that by promoting healthy blood pressure, you will promote healthy cardiovascular and heart function. I also recall a study where garlic was studied some years ago in humans and the result was improved elasticity of the arteries, the equivalent of reversing a decade or more of aging.
There were two other interesting population studies. Both, as it turns out, were done on Asian populations. One was a recent study3 that was just published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Researchers compared blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids and the risk of developing unhealthy blood vessels among Japanese, white American and Japanese American men.
It was found that Japanese men with the lowest amount of unhealthy blood vessels also had two times higher blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids compared to white Americans or Japanese Americans. The lead author of the study indicated that, "This suggests that very high levels of omega-3 fatty acids have strong properties that may help prevent the build up of cholesterol in the arteries." It was further recommended that increasing fish intake to two times a week may have some strong positive effects on blood vessels.
Finally there was a study4 published in the July 2008 edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1,438 Chinese adults ages 55 and older were studied in a prospective fashion. At the outset of the study, all 1,438 were cognitively healthy. They were then re-evaluated one to two years later. Concomitantly, intake of various beverages including tea and coffee was calculated.
It was found that those individuals with the highest level of tea intake had a statistically significant decrease in cognitive decline compared to those with the lowest intake. It was found that black fermented and oolong (semi-fermented) teas were the predominant types consumed by this population. In contrast, no association between coffee intake and cognitive status was noted. The authors concluded that regular tea consumption was associated with lower risk of cognitive impairment and decline.
Another interesting week of articles. Although all of the items that were discussed in this week's newsletter are found in food, many times it is difficult, if not impossible, to consume the right amounts of these nutrients. In the study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, it appears that vitamin C blood levels were more important than the actual consumption of fruits and vegetables, suggesting other sources of vitamin C intake. Nutraceutical Sciences Institute® (NSI®) offers all of these products and a whole lot more at a tremendous value.
NSI offers a special form of vitamin C called Advan-C® which is clearly superior to ascorbic acid. It is gentle on the stomach and more absorbable than regular vitamin C. NSI offers 180 capsules of Advan-C with each capsule containing 500 mg of this special formulation along with citrus bioflavanoids and quercetin in excellent doses. This unique combination provides three nutrients proven to promote healthy heart/cardiovascular function and also provides powerful antioxidant protection for every cell in the body. The product is a great value at only $8.77. I love reading the reviews. With over 60 reviews, 98% of customers would recommend this product to a friend and the average rating is 4.8 out of 5 stars.
NSI offers a few different garlic products, including a product called Garlic Ultra. A two-capsule serving provides 600 mg of garlic with a minimum of 3% allicin, the active ingredient. We also offer odorless-garlic extract with red yeast rice, lecithin and, of course, many of our Synergy products contain garlic as well. If you read the customer reviews you will find customers having excellent results with promoting healthy cholesterol and blood pressure.
NSI also has excellent standardized tea supplements including green tea, one is a very unique product with green tea, resveratrol, vitamin C and grapeseed and a very novel Three Tea Antioxidant Formula containing standardized black, green and white teas. These tea products contain some of the most powerful antioxidants known to the human race including EGCG, polyphenols and catechins. Please don't forget Mega EFA® as your foundational omega-3 fatty acid supplement. I recommend two to four softgels of Mega EFA to my patients as it is far superior to other fish oil supplements. Mega EFA contains 1,200 mg of EPA and DHA per two softgel serving; this is double what other brands contain. Mega EFA is also molecularly distilled to provide pharmaceutical grade fish oil by removing the heavy metals and PCBs found is most fish consumed.
NSI also offers Mega EFA in a lemon flavored liquid or in a smaller easy to swallow softgel for those who have problems swallowing normal size fish oil softgels.
1. Harding A, Wareham NJ, Bingham SA, Khaw K, Luben R, Welch A and Forouhi NG, Plasma Vitamin C Level, Fruit and Vegetable Consumption, and the Risk of New-Onset Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Archives of Internal Medicine, 2008;168(14):1493-1499.
2. Ried K, Frank OR, Stocks NP, Fakler P and Sullivan T, Effect of garlic on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis, BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, June 16, 2008, 13doi:10.1186/1471-2261-8-13.
3. Sekikawa A, Curb JD, Ueshima H, et al, Marine-Derived n-3 Fatty Acids and Atherosclerosis in Japanese, Japanese-American, and White Men, Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2008; 52:417-424, doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2008.03.047.
4. Ng T, Feng L, Niti M, Kua E and Yap K, Tea consumption and cognitive impairment and decline in older Chinese adults, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 88, No. 1, 224-231, July 2008.
http://www.vitacost.com/newsletter/newsletter.cfm?nl=390&csrc=EM-FYH20080807:main
NSI also has excellent standardized tea supplements including green tea, one is a very unique product with green tea, resveratrol, vitamin C and grapeseed and a very novel Three Tea Antioxidant Formula containing standardized black, green and white teas. These tea products contain some of the most powerful antioxidants known to the human race including EGCG, polyphenols and catechins. Please don't forget Mega EFA® as your foundational omega-3 fatty acid supplement. I recommend two to four softgels of Mega EFA to my patients as it is far superior to other fish oil supplements. Mega EFA contains 1,200 mg of EPA and DHA per two softgel serving; this is double what other brands contain. Mega EFA is also molecularly distilled to provide pharmaceutical grade fish oil by removing the heavy metals and PCBs found is most fish consumed.
Reply to this