Atherosclerosis, often called “hardening of the arteries” is an accumulation of  “junk” in the arteries, which become blocked and inhibit the flow of blood. The cause of atherosclerotic plaque build up is a complicated process, involving the retention of oxidized LDL cholesterol and other fibrous materials. Inflammation is a major player in the build up of plaque. Resveratrol can help relieve plaque and inhibit its formation by several different means:

Vasodilation and Artery Elasticity

Resveratrol stimulates the production of substances in the body, such as nitric oxide (NO), which make the arteries more elastic. The more flexible the arteries, the more they can withstand differences in blood pressure and even decrease blood pressure.

Oxidative Stress

Resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant, helps reduce oxidation of LDL cholesterol, which makes it less sticky and prone to developing into plaque.  Resveratrol also stimulates the body’s production of glutathione, a critical free-radical scavenger, which inhibits oxidation.

Anti-inflammatory activity

Inflammation is a major player in the buildup of plaque. The anti-inflammatory properties of resveratrol help it to reduce plaque development and keep the arteries flowing.

Suppression of Platelet Aggregation

One of the key players in atherosclerosis is the platelet, a blood cell that is important for clotting. Platelets adhere to injured arterial cells. The accumulate and can cause serious blockage. Resveratrol inhibits the buildup of platelets on the arterial walls.

With all this taken into account, it is probably a good idea to supplement your diet with a good source of resveratrol.

Fan et al. 2008. Beneficial Effects of Resveratrol on Atherosclerosis. J. Med. Food 11 (4).2008. 610-614.

We all probably know that the Mediterranean Diet, one of the healthiest around,  is rich in olive oil, fresh vegetables and red wine. But what does that mean for those of us, who are trying to live with this healthy meal plan? Here is the “standard” Mediterranean diet, adapted from Trichopoulou et al 2009.

Table 2 | Daily intakes (g/day and oz/day) of indicated dietary variables by sex. Values are median

* mostly olive oil

** mostly wine, taken with the meal

Trichopoulou A, et al. Anatomy of health effects of Mediterranean diet: Greek EPIC prospective cohort study. BMJ. 2009 Jun 23;338:b2337.

Most scientists agree that the components of red wine are significant players in the health aspects of the Mediterranean Diet. HerbaSway has concentrated the most important of them and developed the new, delicious Red Wine Alternative. Try it 2 - 3 times a day for best results.

Fibromyalgia is a common affliction in the United States, affecting over 5 million Americans. It is characterized by chronic muscle pain, fatigue, difficulty to concentrate and many more symptoms. Yet, the mechanics of the disease remain elusive and we do not know how or why it occurs.

However, one new study by Spanish researchers under the direction of M. Cordero have discovered a relationship between fibromyalgia and coenzyme Q10 in the cells. In fact, patients with fibromyalgia showed a dysfunctional distribution of coenzyme Q10 in the body: more was found in the blood than in the cells. This would indicate increased oxidative stress in the muscle cells and a possible role in the development of fibromyalgia.

The researchers found that supplementation with dietary coenzyme Q10 can in fact help relieve some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Cordero MD, et al. 2009. Coenzyme Q10 distribution in blood is altered in patients with fibromyalgia. Clin Biochem. 2009 May;42(7-8):732-5.

We at HerbaSway try to be as open, direct and honest as possible. For this reason, we have included the “with imported herbs” component to our labels. Not to would be misleading at the very least.

We use many herbal ingredients, which are not grown in the United States. These include green tea from China, chamomile from Europe, grape from France, açai from Brazil and pomegranate from Morocco. This list is much longer, of course.

As you can see, we purchase our extracts where they grow. This has several advantages for us:

• The ingredients are dried during the processing, eliminating the need for chemical preservatives;
• Dried extracts use less energy to transport than bulky raw materials, which contain large amounts of water;
• We can better control the purity and potency of the extracts.

Regardless of the country of origin, all raw materials undergo our rigorous quality control procedures. This begins with an identity test, includes pesticides, heavy metals, and microbiological contamination, potency and more. All these tests are performed by third party laboratories throughout the USA.

Although it has been widely accepted that green tea polyphenols, EGCG in particular, is effective in helping to prevent the transmission of the HIV virus, a new study from Hamburg, Germany (my old alma mater!) helps to substantiate this effect.

The human prostate produces a peptide that helps the virus find and attach to new victem cells.  The German studies showed that EGCG degrades the the peptide and reduces its ability to help the virus attach and fuse to human cells. This very preliminary study indicates that EGCG from green tea can possibly be used to supplement anti HIV programs. That is very exciting.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19451623?ordinalpos=1&itool=Email.EmailReport.Pubmed_ReportSelector.Pubmed_RVDocSum

CoQ10 comes in many forms. Most commonly found on the market is a capsule or tablet. The liquid forms of the product are in the minority. There are, however, major difference among the different types.

One recent study from Korea studied the bioabsorption of different capsules and tablets. They found that major differences in the amount of coQ10 in the blood stream occur among the different brands. This had primarily to do with the so-called dissolution rate, or the time it takes for a capsule or table to dissolve in the stomach and release its contents, making them available for absorption. Liquids, of course, do not need to dissolve and are immediately available for absorption.

Comparison of bioavailability of two ubidecarenone products in healthy Korean volunteers. Kang EY, Choi JW, Gwak HS, Chun IK. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2009 Mar;47(3):207-14.

On a personal note, I take HerbaSway’s Liquid CoQ10 straight from the pipette. I like the intense taste better than when it is dissolved in water. It is also not bad in milk, though.

Detoxification

Toxic substances enter out bodies through several venues: the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink, the medications we swallow and the chemicals we apply to our skin. In the course of normal metabolism, you body creates toxins from the chemicals it uses to do its job. The toxins enter your body by one means or another, are transported by blood and lymph throughout the body, and are either deposited in certain susceptible cells or chemically modified by, for example cells in the liver.

How Toxins Work; Why They Are Bad

The toxins can attack all cells in the body and have very different means of destruction. Some compete with natural bodily substances, interrupting the chain of communication. This can result in a disturbed metabolism, an imbalance in the system, with terrible consequences.  Examples are changes in hormonal balance, which can lead to certain kinds of cancer. Other examples are immunological disorders such as the development of allergies and autoimmune diseases.

Other toxins act by killing cells directly. This can occur when, for example, free radicals are released and damage the mitochondria, the microscopic parts of cells responsible for the production of energy. Without energy, metabolic processes shut down and the cells die. When enough cells have been lost, the tissue and finally the organs lose their functions and can die.

These mechanisms combine to gradually weaken the organism. The constant attack on our bodies from environmental toxins strains and weakens in particular the immune system. This opens the body to more successful infections by microorganisms, causes immunological problems, etc. In time, the system becomes so weakened that it crashes. Debilitating disease can ensue.

In other words, toxins contribute to the aging process, which can be observed both internally and externally. For example, heavy smokers suffer from advanced aging on the skin. This is in part due to the toxins and in particular the oxidative stressors that enter their bodies through the lungs.

The Liver To The Rescue

The Three Stages of Detoxification

The liver is the toxin clearing house of the body. In the initial phase of detoxification, the liver breaks down the toxic chemicals into less harmful forms. This process can, however, generate free-radicals, which can damage liver cells. In the absence of antioxidants, the free-radicals can actually destroy the mitochondria of liver cells causing their eventual death.

The second stage of detoxification, the conjugation pathway, consists of the fusing of the broken molecules of stage one with other substances. This lowers their toxicity even more and prepares them for the third stage, the passage through the liver and elimination from the body via the bowels or kidneys.

The prerequisite for this complicated procedure is a healthy, functioning liver.

We can help our livers by eating a well balanced diet and including some specific foods and supplements, which support liver function. Antioxidants are very important to minimize the cellular destruction from free-radicals. Milk thistle, medicinal mushrooms and other herbs helps support liver function. Other foods, which deliver active phytochemicals to support liver health are broccoli and cabbages, garlic and onions. Including large amounts of fiber in our diets can help the body rid itself of toxins after they have been degraded by the liver.