Broccoli, long hailed as a symbol of healthy eating, is back in the nutrition spotlight — and for good reason. From aiding weight loss to boosting immunity and digestion, this humble green vegetable has proven itself to be one of the most powerful allies in a balanced diet. Recent renewed interest in broccoli’s health benefits is shining a fresh light on its scientific credentials and everyday value.
Bone health
Osteoporosis and Heart Disease in Older Adults: New Study Findings
A new study looked at how problems with blood vessels might be linked to weaker bones in older people. Scientists wanted to see if the same things that cause heart problems also cause bones to get weaker, or if blood vessel issues directly make bones fragile as people age.
Researchers studied 1,391 people from the Framingham Heart Study. They measured blood flow, blood pressure, and used special scans to look at bone density and structure.
Vitamin D and estradiol help guard against heart disease, stroke, and diabetes in postmenopausal women
Vitamin D and estrogen have already shown well-documented results in improving bone health in women. A new study from China suggests that this same combination
Sunlight may help to reduce blood pressure
Here comes the sun to lower your blood pressure – Exposing skin to sunlight may help to reduce blood pressure and thus cut the risk of heart attack and stroke, a study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology suggests. Research carried out at the Universities of Southampton and Edinburgh shows that sunlight alters levels of the small messenger molecule, nitric oxide (NO) in the skin and blood, reducing blood pressure.
Vitamin D therapy does not improve heart disease risk
Vitamin D Therapy Does Not Improve Certain Cardiac Measures for Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease – Patients with chronic kidney disease who received the vitamin D compound paricalcitol for up to 48 weeks did not show improvement on measures of cardiac structure, function, or left ventricular mass, compared to patients who received placebo.
Fair skin people may need vitamin D supplements
Pale people may need vitamin D supplements — Fair-skinned people may need extra vitamin D in their diet – Researchers at the University of Leeds, funded by Cancer Research UK, suggest that people with very pale skin may be unable to spend enough time in the sun to make the amount of vitamin D the body needs – while also avoiding sunburn.
HIV infected at higher risk for bone fractures
Research suggests HIV-infected patients at higher risk for bone fractures — Study compared fracture rates among HIV patients with general US population – Low bone mineral density in HIV-infected patients is common and raises concerns about increased risks of fracture, revealed by researchers.
Drugs for epilepsy increases fracture risk in older
Anti-Epileptic Drugs Associated With Increased Risk of Fracture in Older Adults – Most anti-epileptic drugs are associated with an increased risk of non-traumatic fracture in individuals 50 years of age and older, revealed by researchers in a study published in the Archives of Neurology.
Fat mass helps build bone mass in girls
New research suggests fat mass helps build bone mass in girls — Excessive reduction of fat mass in girls may increase risk of osteoporosis in later life – According to a new study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM), fat mass is important in increasing bone size and thickness, but this effect appears to be stronger in girls than boys.
US children low in vitamin D
Millions of US children low in vitamin D — Study shows increased risk of bone and heart disease. – Seven out of ten U.S. children have low levels of vitamin D, raising their risk of bone and heart disease, according to a study of over 6,000 children by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University.
Vitamin D levels linked to asthma severity
Vitamin D levels linked to asthma severity. New research provides evidence for a link between vitamin D insufficiency and asthma severity. – Serum levels of vitamin D in more than 600 Costa Rican children were inversely linked to several indicators of allergy and asthma severity, including hospitalizations for asthma, use of inhaled steroids and total IgE levels.
Osteoporosis drug boost bone’s healing process
Scientists discover way to jumpstart bone’s healing process. In-body stem cell therapy has enormous potential for bone injuries. – Osteoporosis drug teriparatide or Forteo can boost bodies’ bone stem cell production to the point that adults’ bones appear to have the ability to heal at a rate typically seen when they were young kids, revealed by researchers.