Running is a great workout, and it comes with all of the heart-strengthening benefits of aerobic exercise. But doing it for long distances�like in a marathon�may come with unintended health consequences. A small new study finds that marathon runners can experience short-term kidney injury after the race.
In the study, published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases, researchers took blood and urine samples from 22 people who ran the 2015 Hartford Marathon, and looked for evidence of kidney injury. The researchers reported that based on the markers they observed in the samples, 82% of the runners had evidence of stage 1 acute kidney injury after the race. The problem appeared to be short-term, and most people�s kidneys returned to normal within 24 to 48 hours.
Still, the researchers say that their findings underline the fact that running a marathon is a stressful event for the body, and that some people may want to be extra vigilant. �We knew we would find something, but I was surprised by the level [of injury],� says study author Dr. Chirag Parikh, a professor of medicine at Yale University. �It�s comparable to what I see in hospitals.�
More research is needed, but Parikh says that people who have no risk factors for kidney disease probably don�t need to worry. People with diabetes or high blood pressure, or people who are older, may want to work closely with trainers and doctors to keep an eye on their kidney health if they�re running marathons.
Though the researchers did not determine how exactly running a marathon can temporarily hurt kidneys, Parikh says the damage may be due to less blood flow to the kidneys, high core body temperature and dehydration. It�s still unknown whether this short-lived kidney injury can cause cumulative damage, or if some people may not recover in the short-term.
The study is not the first to find that marathons can come with health risks. While it�s clear that getting exercise is important, research suggests that more isn�t always better. A 2015 review published in the journal Current Sports Medicine Reports found that while runners in the study lived longer than non-runners, men and women gained the lifesaving benefits of running if they ran at slow or moderate speeds for about one to two hours a week. Among the runners, the people who ran the most had worse survival rates than people who ran less.
Parikh says that his study did not identify who might be at a higher risk, but notes that people over age 40 are increasingly signing up for marathons, and may want to take more precautions. Today, people 40 and older make up nearly 50% of marathon finishers in the U.S., compared to 1980 when this age group made up just 26%.
�Is there a right amount of distance for each person?� says Parikh. �Like everything else, there might be a balance of the benefits and risks. People can find the right distance for them and train their body.�
Our very own Andres Acosta made his way across the Borderland this week, taking in the most interesting games and shooting the action. Check out his work in this week�s �Story in Many Pics�
It�s easy to get a quick sugar fix from foods that might be lying around (hello, blueberry muffins in the office kitchenette). Chances are, though, that you’re already eating way too much sugar; the average person takes in 22 teaspoons of�sugar daily�more than three times the amount suggested by the American Heart Association. A growing body of research links the sweet stuff to high cholesterol and blood pressure, increased risk for cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, and�of course�excess weight gain. Plus, a sweet treat can cause a blood sugar spike and crash, leaving you feeling sluggish, moody, and hungry (again).
Reach For A Piece Of Fruit Instead
You’ll be satisfied�we promise. �When you craving something cold, creamy and sweet, think healthier options like frozen bananas, grapes, organic fruit purees, or homemade frozen yogurt pops,� suggests Natalia Levey, certified health and nutrition coach and author of Cravings Boss. Low-fat Greek or plain yogurt with some fruit on top is another nutrient-packed option. �The yogurt provides calcium which is good for your bones and the berries are packed with immune boosting antioxidants,� says Keri Gans, RD, New York City-based nutritionist and author of The Small Change Diet
An Estimated 86 Million Americans Are At Risk For Type 2 Diabetes
But nearly 90 percent of them don�t know it.
Doctors say adhering to a Mediterranean diet may help to reverse your risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes.
The Mediterranean diet, which is especially popular from Spain and Italy to Greece and the Middle East, largely focuses on seasonal fruits and vegetables.
�It�s dark leafy greens, freshly foraged greens in all different varieties� like kale and collards and spinach and chard,� said Dahlia Shaaban, founder of Washington, D.C.-based Live Deliciously.
The majority of foods in a Mediterranean diet do come from plants, but Shaaban says to go for fish or lean proteins twice per week. Salmon and tuna, for example, contain Omega 3 Fatty Acids which promote heart and brain health.
�So you can think of crowding out your plate with more plant-based foods, then enjoying meat here and there,� explained Shaaban.
Beans, Nuts & Whole Grains Are Everyday Staples In A Mediterranean Meal
�The grain is something you can hold onto,� said Shaaban. �Brown rice, farro, wide rice, quinoa, bulgur or cracked wheat. The most common beans you find in the Mediterranean are:�lentils, chickpeas, fava beans, black eyed peas.�
The American Diabetes Association suggests using olive oil to cook instead of butter or margarine. That can help to lower cholesterol levels. And when it comes to seasoning, herbs, spices and citrus juice are better options than salt.
Finally, limit alcohol and sugar�and you�ve got the perfect blend of health-conscious choices for people managing diabetes.
�It�s not just a diet, it�s a lifestyle,� said Shaaban.
The heat in the drinks can dramatically reduce the effects of tablets
It can even kill the �friendly� bacteria in probiotic foods such as yoghurts
Around 46 per cent of British adults take daily vitamin supplements
�
In these health-conscious times, millions of us wash down a vitamin pill as part of our breakfast routine.
But it seems we may be wasting our time. Researchers claim swallowing vitamin supplements with tea or coffee can wipe out all the good they do.
The heat in the drinks can dramatically reduce the effects of tablets, and even kill the �friendly� bacteria in probiotic foods such as yoghurts, experts said.
Researchers Claim Swallowing Vitamin Supplements With Tea Or Coffee Can Wipe Out All The Good They Do
A University of East Anglia study found that hot drinks and food such as porridge inhibit the absorption of iron by up to 73 per cent. Around 46 per cent of British adults take daily vitamin supplements, and 70 per cent of those who do take them with breakfast.
Now experts suggest waiting at least an hour before consuming hot food or drink after taking tablets.
Dr Sarah Brewer, a GP and medical nutritionist, said: �I don�t advise taking probiotics, vitamin or mineral supplements with tea or coffee.
These drinks contain compounds which, although beneficial at other times, also bind iron and other minerals to reduce their absorption.
�In fact, coffee can reduce iron absorption by up to 80 per cent if drunk within an hour of a meal. Very hot drinks can also inactivate some vitamins, and kill live probiotic bacteria.�
Dr Sarah Brewer, a GP and medical nutritionist, said: �I don�t advise taking probiotics, vitamin or mineral supplements with tea or coffee’
To ensure beneficial bacteria survive, Glenn Gibson, professor of food microbiology at the University of Reading, advises washing down supplements with water or milk. Breakfast is still the best time to take pills, as the gut has rested overnight and is therefore more receptive, he added.
Research by supplement company Healthspan also found that, among potential buyers of probiotics, few were aware of the alleged benefits of taking them during and after a course of antibiotics. While antibiotics kill the bacteria that cause infections, they can also destroy good bacteria in our bodies.
Arthur Ouwehand, professor in applied microbiology at the University of Turku, Finland, claimed: �It�s important to begin taking probiotics from the moment you start antibiotics and continue for a few weeks after finishing the course.�
The owner of a Houston health clinic pled guilty to insurance fraud after billing for medical services � often provided to injured employees � despite having no licensed medical staff at the clinic. Instead, investigators found that the clinic was using foreign medical students to provide care.
Rosemary Phelan, the owner of Rose�s Houston Healthcare Clinic, entered a guilty plea in Harris County Court and was sentenced to seven years deferred adjudication and ordered to pay $88,000 in restitution.
A joint investigation by the Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers� Compensation and Texas Mutual Insurance Company revealed that Phelan�s clinic had no licensed medical providers on staff yet continued to accept patients. She would then file fraudulent workers� compensation claims to collect from insurers.
According to investigators, the clinic had a licensed doctor on staff at one time. When that doctor left in 2012, Phelan began hiring foreign medical students to act as doctors and treat patients.
Workers� Compensation Commissioner Ryan Brannan said this case was particularly egregious. �Someone filing false claims is bad enough,� he said. �But this scam put people�s health at risk. It�s unconscionable.�
Phelan submitted $166,843 in fraudulent workers� compensation claims, representing more than 50 injured employees, claiming they had been treated by the clinic�s previous doctor.
Phelan pled guilty to second degree insurance fraud and a felony charge of practicing medicine without a license. The investigation found that her clinic was supplying narcotics to patients using the credentials of doctors and physician assistants who no longer worked at the clinic without their knowledge.
You can report suspected cases of insurance fraud to TDI-DWC by calling the Consumer Help Line at 1-800-252-3439 or by visiting�www.tdi.texas.gov/fraud/report.html.�
For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
Additional Topics: Neck Pain and Auto Injury
During an automobile accident, the body is exposed to a sheer force from the impact which causes the head and neck to abruptly jerk back-and-forth in relation to the rest of the body, which remains stationary in the car seat. Due to this motion, it’s common for the neck to suffer from whiplash, a painful injury which leads to neck pain as well as other symptoms.
The calming poses and meditation of yoga may be just what the doctor ordered when it comes to beating depression, new research suggests.
Researchers found that weekly sessions of yoga and deep breathing exercises helped ease symptoms of the common condition. They believe the practice may be an alternative or complementary therapy for tough-to-treat cases of depression.
The intervention seemed helpful for “people who are not on antidepressants and in those who have been on a stable dose of antidepressants [but] have not achieved a resolution of their symptoms,” study lead author Dr. Chris Streeter said in a news release from Boston Medical Center. He’s a psychiatrist at the hospital and an associate professor of psychiatry and neurology at Boston University.
Major depression is common and often persistent and disabling, Streeters’ team noted. Up to 40 percent of people taking medication for this form of depression won’t see their depression go away, according to the researchers.
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Studies Have Shown The Ancient Practice Of Yoga May Help
The Mechanism Of Action Is Similar To Other Exercise Techniques
These Activate The Release Of ‘Feel Good’ Brain Chemicals explains Dr. Alan Manevitz, a clinical psychiatrist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, who reviewed the new findings.
He added that exercise, especially yoga, may also “reduce immune system chemicals that can worsen depression.”
Then there’s yoga’s meditative quality, as well, Manevitz said.
“It has been demonstrated that ‘mindful’ movement — conscious awareness — has a much more beneficial impact on the central nervous system,” he said.
But would this bear out in a rigorous study? To find out, Streeter’s team tracked outcomes for 30 people with major depressive disorder. All were randomly assigned to partake in either a “high-dose” or “low-dose” yoga intervention. The high-dose group had three 90-minute yoga classes each week along with home practice, while the low-dose group engaged in two 90-minute yoga sessions each week in addition to home practice.
The Participants Practiced Lyengar Yoga,
A Method That Focuses On Detail, Precision & Alignment In Posture And Breath Control.
The study found that both groups had significant reductions in their depression symptoms. Those who took three weekly yoga classes had fewer depressive symptoms than those in the “low-dose” group, but Streeter’s team said even two classes a week was still very effective in improving people’s mood.
Streeter noted that this intervention targets a different neurochemical pathway in the body than mood-altering medications, suggesting that yoga may provide a new, side effect-free avenue for treatment.
For his part, Manevitz called the study “practical and well-designed.” He believes the findings support yoga as a treatment “that can help the millions of people suffering from major depressive disorders around the world.”
Dr. Victor Fornari is a psychiatrist at Zucker Hillside Hospital in Glen Oaks, N.Y. He agreed that the new study “supports the use of yoga for the treatment of depression… Yoga, like regular exercise, is good for most people for health maintenance as well as to treat what ails them.”
The study was published March 3 in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
SOURCE: Alan Manevitz, M.D., clinical psychiatrist, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City; Victor Fornari, M.D., psychiatrist, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, N.Y.; Boston University Medical Center, news release, March 3, 2017
News stories are written and provided by HealthDay and do not reflect federal policy, the views of MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Many people enjoy spending quality time in the comfort of their own homes. As a matter of fact, a majority of Americans devote up to 90 percent of their time indoors but unfortunately, this may actually be causing more harm than good. According to a 2009 research study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, the average household contains over 500 toxic chemicals.
Further evidence from this study and several others also determined that the indoor air of a home and/or apartment is as much as 5 times more polluted than outdoor air. Some of these indoor pollutants can even be up to 100 times greater than outdoor pollutant levels. The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, has announced that poor indoor air quality is one of the leading risks to public health.
The indoor air we often breathe in can be a dangerous combination of cleaning chemicals, air fresheners, insecticides and pesticides as well as plastics and furnishings. With so many questionable pollutants swirling in the air around our homes, “you definitely may need to take any measure, whenever possible, to lower your exposure to these unhealthy chemicals,” stated Phil Brown, PhD, director of the Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute at Northeastern University in Boston.
In addition, reducing contact with these pollutants and chemicals can bring about some helpful benefits. Depending on the individual’s sensitivities, they may experience fewer allergy and asthma symptoms as well as less frequent headaches and skin irritations. According to Phil Brown, you may even lower your risk of developing infertility and cancer.
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How to Improve Indoor Air Quality
While others would advice you to get rid of carpeting and trash old furniture, environmental health experts have found low-effort, high-impact ways to substantially decrease a household’s toxic indoor air load, ultimately boosting your overall health and wellness. The following have been ranked and listed from easiest to most difficult tasks for improving your indoor air quality. Trying a couple or more of these can really help cleanse the air of your home:
Avoid starting your car’s ignition while it’s still in the garage. Carbon monoxide fumes emitted from car exhaust have almost the same specific gravity as that of air. Because of this, carbon monoxide is able to rapidly travel along air currents and right into your home. Make sure to point your car exhaust out towards the garage door and always open the garage door first before starting your car’s ignition.
Leave your shoes at the door. Leaving footwear behind at the door can prevent a variety of toxic chemicals from being tracked into your home, including road sealants, pesticides and lead dust, to name a few.
Crack the windows. Increase ventilation by opening a few windows for at least 5 to 10 minutes per day, making sure to particularly open those found on opposite sides of the house to encourage cross circulation. Windows can be left open for longer periods of time if the weather permits.
Bring a part of nature inside your home. Along with the Associated Landscape Contractors of America, or ALCA, NASA conducted a research study regarding the benefits of plants on indoor air quality. They reported that household plants were capable of removing up to 87 percent of indoor air pollutants in approximately 24 hours. Its recommended to utilize about 15 to 18 considerably sized houseplants in 6 to 8 inch diameter containers for an 1,800 square-foot house to benefit from the air cleansing capabilities of plants indoors. Below are some examples of houseplants you can use:
Air Purifying Houseplants (Pet Owners Beware: these are poisonous to cats and dogs)
The Feston Rose plant (Lantana): eliminates formaldehyde
Devil�s Ivy (pothos, golden pothos): eliminates formaldehyde
English Ivy: eliminates benzene, trichloroethylene and formaldehyde
Snake plant: best for filtering formaldehyde, ammonia and xylene
Rubber plant: eliminates VOCs, bioeffluents
Dracaena (corn plant): eliminates formaldehyde
Peace Lily: removes VOCs, formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, toluene and xylene.
Detoxifying Plants (Safe for cats and dogs)
Areca Palm: removes toluene and xylene
Money Tree Plant: filters benzene, formaldehyde, toluene and xylene
Spider plant: removes formaldehyde, benzene, carbon monoxide, toluene and xylene (safe for pets)
Bamboo Palm: removes formaldehyde, xylene and toluene
Variegated Wax Plant: filters benzene and formaldehyde
Liriope (lily turf): filters ammonia, formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene
Boston Fern: removes formaldehyde, xylene and toluene
Dwarf Date Palm: eliminates xylene, toluene and formaldehyde
Phalaenopsis (moth orchids): remove xylene and toluene
Gerber Daisey: removes trichloroethylene (dry cleaning chemical), and benzene
African Violets: removes formaldehyde, xylene and toluene
Avoid using toxic cleaning chemicals. Most commercial cleaning supplies can drastically increase VOC, or volatile organic compound, levels in your home. VOCs found in these products have been associated with asthma, headaches, neurological disorders and cancer. The Environmental Working Group, or EWG, has an extensive list on household cleaning products, ranging from lowest to highest toxicities.
Do not use non-stick cookware, such as Teflon and Calphalon. According to the EWG, non-stick pots and pans can emit toxic fumes within 2 to 5 minutes when heated on a stove top. Safer alternatives to these include stainless steel and cast iron cookware.
Toss out the dryer sheets. Most dryer sheets can actually coat clothes with chemicals like quaternary ammonium compounds, many of which have been linked to the development of asthma, as well as acetone found in nail polish remover. Plus, without the extra chemical cover, your towels will be much more absorbent than they were before ditching the dryer sheets.
Cleanse your dry cleaning. Make sure to remove the bags and air out your clothes in the garage or outside for a day or two to remove some of the solvent, called perchloroethylene, which can adhere to the fibers of your dry cleaning. Inhaling this chemical can trigger eye irritation and vision problems, headaches, dizziness and respiratory complications, according to the Environmental Working Group. You could also go to a green cleaner. Simply make sure they use liquid carbon dioxide or the wet-cleaning method, since other eco-alternative can be just as toxic.
Eliminate other possible volatile organic compounds or VOCs. Exchange your vinyl shower curtain out for one made of cotton, nylon, polyester, EVA or PEVA plastic. In a 2008 research study, vinyl curtains were found to release approximately 108 volatile organic compounds. These chemicals can become gaseous at room temperature, resulting in symptoms of nausea, dizziness, headaches, and eye or throat irritation. These can also be found in a majority of paints. Make sure to look for cans labeled with low or zero VOCs.
Pass on the pesticides. Coming in contact with some pesticides can be harmful to your well-being. Some formulations may lead to eye, skin and nerve damage, causing symptoms of nausea and headaches. Instead, try switching to natural agents in order to get rid of those pesky pests. Diatomaceous earth can be used to kill ants and flees, cedarcide can be used to kill fleas and boric acid can be used to kill cockroaches, ants and termines.
Avoid using plastic containers and never expose them to heat. Although plastic containers and/or water bottles are reported to be BPA free, there are still numerous other chemicals found within the plastic containers. Bisphenol A, or BPA, was replaced with bisphenol S, or BPS, however, Scientific American has determined that this compound is even more toxic than its predecessor, which affects our hormones. In addition, chemicals from plastic containers are more likely to leach out when heated in a microwave or when they’re left in a hot car. Exposure to acidic and oily foods can also cause chemicals in plastics to seep out of the containers.
What is in Your Indoor Air?
According to the American Lung Association, some of the most common pollutants and chemicals found in your indoor air at home and/or apartment can include: asbestos; bacteria and viruses; paint products; carbon monoxide; cleaning supplies; formaldehyde; lead; mold; radon; residential wood burning; and tobacco smoke. These contaminants can cause various health risks, such as: headache; dizziness; weakness; nausea; anxiety; cancer; heart disease; stroke; asthma and respiratory diseases.
If your home has carpeting, furniture and commercial household cleaners, you can assume you have some degree of indoor air pollution. The American Lung Association developed these questions to help you determine sources of your chemical pollution in your home or apartment.
Do you permit smoking indoors?
Is your house/apartment carpeted?
Can you see or smell mold?
Does the humidity of your home regularly rise above 50%?
Do you have an attached garage?
Do you store paints, solvents, gas containers, lawn mowers in your garage, basement, home?
Do you use air fresheners?
Do you use pesticides in or around your home?
Do you have your home tested for Radon?
Chance are you have answered yes to one or more of these questions. Start taking steps to clean up the air in your home. It�s the single best thing you can do for yourself, children, family and pets. Your body will thank you.
For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
By Dr. Alex Jimenez
Additional Topics: What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic care is an well-known, alternative treatment option utilized to prevent, diagnose and treat a variety of injuries and conditions associated with the spine, primarily subluxations or spinal misalignments. Chiropractic focuses on restoring and maintaining the overall health and wellness of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. Through the use of spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, a chiropractor, or doctor of chiropractic, can carefully re-align the spine, improving a patient�s strength, mobility and flexibility.
Meditation and other forms of mental training are becoming more and more popular each year. The rise of the number of practitioners is undeniable proof about the importance of this mental exercise. The term is mostly associated with religious connotations, but the truth is, contrary to popular belief, this practice is very helpful and should be done on a daily basis. You should even start making this a hobby the moment you realize the various benefits it could bring to your health. Here are the six proven mental health benefits of meditation that you need to know:
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Gives Mental Strength & Emotional Intelligence
Meditating by itself is a very helpful therapy for people whose aim is to better one�s self-judgment. The act of meditating is geared towards a better understanding of the different factors that constitutes to a person�s life and existence. Constantly doing the practice have been proven to improve mental strength as well as emotional intelligence. As a result, a person becomes sharper and wiser regarding decision making.
Improves Cognition Power
Another important reason why meditation should be part of your daily routine is its ability to improve cognition power. As we all know, a lot of disorders, or better yet, the highly anticipated ones is not due to aging but is due to the deterioration of the brain�s mental prowess including that of cognition. This fact is fairly evident to monks or hermits, these individuals often meditate a lot which is why they remain sharp despite old age.
Regulates Mood & Anxiety Disorders
One of the best things about meditation is the fact that it often leads to mind and self-control. The better judgment gained out of constant meditation often regulates mood and improves various forms of anxiety disorders. The awareness of one�s self and the strengthening of the brain�s cognition power is very helpful in regulating a person�s mood and in turn, will reduce anxiety disorders. If you are a person who�s mood swings are becoming frequent than usual, you better start meditating as early as today.
Decreases Stress &�Anxiety
Stress and anxiety are closely related to a person�s ability to regulate his mood as well as factors like anxiety disorders. When one is meditating, he is brought to a different state of mind, a state where he becomes free of any stress, anxiety, and corrosion. Constantly doing it will help the person become more vigilant, will see things differently and will be able to respond to different situations accordingly. This is because, when one engages on meditation, self-knowledge is increased. Hence, a person becomes more capable of defeating or reducing stress as well as anxiety.
In relation, certain drugs have been developed to aid an individual and simulate the same results. Smart drugs as how they are called in the market are supplements that enhance the brain�s power to perform at its peak. Hence, be sure to check out helpful nootropics information when available as these drugs are becoming more effective on today�s generation of users.
Improves Mood & Psychological Well-Being
A person�s psychological well-being is pretty much a result of the person�s ability to manage stress and all forms of anxiety on a daily basis. One�s existence is a constant battle to defeat every possible factor that would impede the brain�s state and mental health to be in its best shape. It is, therefore, important to regularly practice meditation as this has been proven to improve a person�s mood and the overall psychological well-being.
Reduces Panic Disorder Symptoms
Lastly, meditation is also helpful in reducing the symptoms of panic disorder. Once a person�s self-awareness is heightened, he becomes more and more capable of facing all sorts of challenges in life. In medical terminology, panic disorder is the frequent experience of fear without any tangible reason or cause. A person�s brain is so powerful that it can read between the lines, predict outcomes, as well as calculate solutions. When a person�s mental state is not stable, panic disorder comes in and attacks the vulnerable victim.
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About the Author:�Anna Brecken is a writer for�NootropicNation. She has extensive knowledge of Nootropics. She also writes for several other supplement and brain enhancement websites.
Astaxanthin, a red pigment found mostly in marine life, can switch on a variation of the FOXO3 gene, which protects against aging, say scientists from the University of Hawaii.
“All of us have the FOXO3 gene, which protects against aging in humans,” said Bradley Willcox, M.D. “But about one in three persons carry a version of the FOXO3 gene that is associated with longevity.
“By activating the FOXO3 gene common in all humans, we can make it act like the ‘longevity’ version. Through this research, we have shown that astaxanthin ‘activates’ the FOXO3 gene,” said Willcox.
In the study, mice were fed either normal food or food containing a low or high dose of an astaxanthin compound called CDX that was developed by Cardax, a Honolulu-based life sciences company.
The animals that received the higher amount of astaxanthin showed a significant increase in the activation of the FOXO3 gene in their heart tissue.
“We found a nearly 90 percent increase in the activation of the FOXO3 ‘Longevity Gene’ in the mice fed the higher dose of the astaxanthin compound,” said Richard Allsopp, Ph.D.
The researchers hope further research will confirm astaxanthin’s role in helping alleviate the effects of aging in humans.
Astaxanthin is a red pigment found mostly in marine life and is responsible for giving salmon, lobster, and other animals their reddish coloring. Studies have found that astaxanthin has a powerful ability to neutralize the free radicals in the body that cause aging by damaging cells. Laboratory studies have found that astaxanthin has 6,000 times the ability of vitamin C and 550 times the power of vitamin E to combat oxidative damage.
Astaxanthin is most abundant in wild Pacific sockeye salmon with 3.2 milligrams in a 3-ounce serving. Farmed rainbow trout comes in second at 2.1 milligrams in a 3-ounce serving. Other natural sources include algae, lobster, crawfish, and krill.
IFM's Find A Practitioner tool is the largest referral network in Functional Medicine, created to help patients locate Functional Medicine practitioners anywhere in the world. IFM Certified Practitioners are listed first in the search results, given their extensive education in Functional Medicine
