health briefs

Two Cups of Tea May Avert Early Death

A few cups of black tea a day might help to avoid an early death, a study published in Annals of Internal Medicine suggests. Among nearly half a million adults ranging from 40 to 69 years old, those that consumed two or more cups of tea a day saw a modest, but lower risk for all causes of mortality over a median follow-up of more than 11 years. Participants of the large cohort study, called UK Biobank, self-reported tea intake from 2006 to 2010, while researchers noted mortality from all causes, including cardiovascular disease, ischemic heart disease, stroke and respiratory disease. The researchers concluded that drinking more than two cups of tea per day can be part of a healthy diet.

Different Fibers Produce Different Results

Although high-fiber diets reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular disease, the latest research from Stanford University indicates that not all fibers are equal in their effect on different species of probiotics in the intestines. Arabinoxylan, which is common in whole grains, was found to reduce cholesterol naturally and was easier to digest than long-chain inulin, which is found in onions, chicory root and Jerusalem artichokes. Commonly used for weight-loss products, inulin was linked to a modest decrease in inflammation markers and an increase in Bifidobacterium, a “good” gut microbe; however, at high doses it increased inflammation and raised the possibility of liver damage.

Glycine and NAC May Delay Aging

A new clinical trial by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, in Houston, found that a combination of N-acetyl cysteine and glycine (GlyNAC) boosted glutathione—often referred to as the body’s master antioxidant—and improved or reversed many signs of aging. Twenty-four older adults and 12 young adults were studied. The older group was randomized to receive either GlyNAC or a placebo for 16 weeks, and the younger adults received GlyNAC for two weeks.

Participants were studied before, after two weeks and after 16 weeks of supplementation to assess glutathione concentrations, oxidative stress, mitochondrial fatty-acid oxidation, molecular regulators of energy metabolism, inflammation, endothelial function, insulin resistance, aging hallmarks, gait speed, muscle strength, walking (via a six-minute test), body composition and blood pressure. Supplementing with GlyNAC in the older adults was found to improve or correct these markers. Researchers concluded that this nutritional supplementation was a safe, well-tolerated and effective method for improving or reversing multiple, age-associated abnormalities to promote health in aging adults.

For a free 15-minute consultation with Judith A. Swack, PhD: go to: HBLU.org or 781-444-6940

Multiple Benefits for Early Rising Active Seniors

Older adults that consistently get up early and stay active throughout the day are happier and perform better on cognitive tests than those with irregular activity patterns, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh. The researchers studied 1,800 adults 65 or older and divided them into four subgroups of activity patterns: earlier rising/robust, shorter activity duration/less modellable, shorter active periods/very weak and later activity offset/very weak. Both groups with weak rhythms had twofold odds of clinically significant depression symptoms and cognitive performance deficits. As we age, disruption in activity patterns may be common. More research is needed into why earlier and robust patterns appear to be protective and whether modifying disrupted patterns improves health outcomes.