Published June 3, 2010

Is your fatigue and weight gain due to low levels
of this hormone?

In last week’s health alert, I showed you why women who are going through menopause – or have gone through menopause must take melatonin. But this anti-aging hormone isn’t just for women. Men need it too.

I told you last week about a study where researchers found just how powerful melatonin is for women. In that study, the researchers wanted to know if low melatonin levels affect your thyroid hormone levels. Lower thyroid levels lead to increased weight gain and decreased energy levels. They also result in high cholesterol and a shorter life span.

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Published June 2, 2010

This memory formula also lowers blood pressure
and prevents diabetes

If you have diabetes and metabolic syndrome, you’re at a significantly higher risk of having high blood pressure and other symptoms of heart disease. As you may know, metabolic syndrome (or pre-diabetes) means your body has become resistant to the glucose-lowering effects of insulin. So when your blood sugar goes up, your pancreas has to work overtime to make more insulin. And excess increases your risk of aging, cancer, hypertension, and death. That’s why I call insulin (when in excess) the hormone of aging and death. One of my favorite nutrients just might help out this problem.

A research team from Italy found that an infusion of acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) quickly improves insulin sensitivity in type-2 diabetics. So, they decided to find out if oral ALC did the same.

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Published May 28, 2010

Another tasty way to lower your blood pressure

I’ve told you in the past that I have one dietary indulgence. It’s dark chocolate. And if you like it too, then you probably won’t have to worry about high blood pressure.

That’s right. New research confirms the health benefits of chocolate. In a study of 19,357 people in middle age, those eating about 7.5 grams (or more) a day of dark chocolate had lower blood pressure. In fact, dark chocolate actively lowers blood pressure by about 1 mm for both systolic and diastolic.

But it gets even better. Those in the top quartile of consumption had even greater protection. These dark chocolate lovers had a 39% reduction in their risk of heart attack and stroke!

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