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Insightful perspectives and sage advice from Dr. Jonathan Selzer, lead research scientist at HerbaSway. This is the place to stay current with the latest developments in dietary and nutritional supplements. Feel free to join the discussion to share your own opinions and experiences!

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Chocolate Reduces Mortality (and saves lives)

September 25th, 2009
by drselzer

This is the best news since the French Paradox showed us how healthy it is to drink red wine!

Researchers from Sweden followed the survival rate of people, who had already suffered a heart attack. Some ate chocolate; some did not. Eight years of chocolate or eight years of deprivation. The result was a clear correlation with chocolate consumption and survival. Those, who endulged in chocolate delights suffered fewer deaths due to heart attacks than those, who at best could only watch.

This is one of the first studies, which so closely correlates the health benefits of chocolate with real health benefits in people. Of course, more research is required to corroborate these findings and delve further into the mechanism, by which it works.

Janszky I, Mukamal KJ, et al. 2009. Chocolate consumption and mortality following a first acute myocardial infarction: the Stockholm Heart Epidemiology Program. J Intern Med. 2009 Sep;266(3):248-57

Kudzu and Alcoholism

September 3rd, 2009
by drselzer

Alcoholism is a devastating disease that cripples not only the alcoholic but also the alcoholic’s family. Although there is no really safe “cure”, there are many ways to deal with it. Most are complicated, expensive and suffer low compliance. Relapsing is very common even in those, who are trying to recover.

Kudzu root has been used for thousands of years by generations of Asian physicians to treat alcoholism. Kudzu contains daidzen, an isoflavone polyphenol that reduces the craving for alcohol.

Suppression of Heavy Drinking and Alcohol Seeking by a Selective ALDH-2 Inhibitor. Arolfo MP, et al. 2009. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2009 Aug 10.

Previous studies have shown that kudzu also helps to break down the alcohol in the blood, helping to avoid the woes of a hangover.

Daidzin, an antioxidant isoflavonoid, decreases blood alcohol levels and shortens sleep time induced by ethanol intoxication. Xie CI,et al. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 1994 Dec;18(6):1443-7.

Still, you should never drive after drinking: with or without Kudzu.

HerbaSlim is Back

September 1st, 2009
by drselzer

After a long absence, our old friend HerbaSlim is back in town. The reformulation did him well, and he is better than ever.

We’ve taken 9 of the most effective ingredients for promoting weight loss and combined them into a synergistic blend, called HerbaSlim. These ingredients can be grouped into three main categories: appetite suppressive, thermogenic and carb blocking.

Appetite suppressing substance provide you with a feeling of satiety. You do not feel hunger as much. These include Garcinia cambogia and Ural licorice, both are included in the new HerbaSlim formula. If you are less hungry, you will not eat as much and this will help you to lose weight.

Thermogenesis is the metabolic process, in which fats and carbohydrates are broken down, releasing energy. If you break them down, they will not contribute to fat in your body and will not cause weight gain. These ingredients in HerbaSlim include L-carnitine, bitter orange, green tea and ginger.

Carb blockers prevent the absorption of carbs from food. They interfere with the digestive enzymes, so that food is not fully broken down. If the particles are not small enough, they will not be absorbed into the blood. If not absorbed, they will not contribute to body fat and weight gain. The same holds true with fats in the diet. Green tea has both carbohydrate and fat blocking properties.

Other ingredients, which do not fit into the above categories, include

apple cider vinegar, an old fold remedy for weight loss and improved digestion;
elderberry, which works as a catalyst for the other ingredients, making them more effective;
chromium picolinate, which is critical for maintaining optimum glucose metabolism, which in turn is closely tied to the development of fat in the body.
ginger also helps aid healthy digestion, which is important for proper weight control.

As always, any weight loss aid must be combined with proper exercise and diet for best results.

For more information about HerbaSlim, click here. or call me at (203) 269-6991 and ask for Dr. Selzer.