Health Well News

A study published in July 2014 is showing promising tumor growth inhibition in mouse and human cell studies in the use of Alaskan Ginseng, or Oplopanax horridus. The compound oplopantriol A (OPT A) has been shown to suppress tumor growth and inhibit colorectal cancer cells.

There are also signs of the OPT A “significantly upregulated the expression of a cluster of genes, especially the tumor necrosis factor receptor family and caspase family, suggesting that the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptotic pathway plays a key role in OPT A induced apoptosis.”

Devils Club – Alaskan Ginseng
Oplopanax horridus

• roots can be cooked and eaten.
• young fleshy stems are edible when cooked.
• young leaves lack the stiff spines and can be eaten raw.
• berries are not edible.
• grows in moist areas that are shaded from the sun, in both foothill and montane regions.

warning: plant spines can cause infections or allergic reactions.

Zhang Z, Yu C, Zhang C-F, et al. Chemopreventive effects of oplopantriol A, a novel compound isolated from Oplopanax horridus, on colorectal cancer. Nutrients. 2014;6(7):2668–2680.

We are constantly being bombarded with reminders to exercise, stay fit, get lean, fit into that bikini! What about exercise for your mind?

Interesting in brain health is being conducted at Harvard University showing the effects of meditation on brain health. We know that the grey matter in our brains shrink over time. Research is now showing that 50 year olds that regularly meditate have similar grey matter to that of a 25 year old.

If exercising your mind could make you mentally 25 years younger, what would that mean?

As we age there are declines in learning, cognition, memory, and emotional regulation. All of these functions are influenced by our hippocampus and that is one of the first areas of the brain that start to suffer damage from inactivity.

Neurotransmitters are responsible for making us happy, sad, energetic, focused as well as having a role in our will-power and addictive natures. These areas become weaker and weaker as we age.

Both of these areas can be improved upon with mental exercises like focused meditation.

The amygdala is the center of the brain responsible for interpreting and managing stress. This area of the brain shrinks with age but can be strengthened just the same as increasing your muscle mass by hitting the gym.

If you could do one exercise that lowered your stress levels, improved your memory, made you feel happier, increased your will-power, and made you smarter, wouldn’t you do it?

The research at Harvard is showing that

…all it takes is 40 minutes per day. This may be an amount of time that you need to work up to. 40 minutes is not a lot of time when you really think about it. Instead of sitting around and watching TV late at night you could begin to unwind and participate in some meditation. It just may enhance sleep quality too.[1]

Meditation does not have to be a complicated activity.

Meditation Tips

Buddhists have long known the benefits meditation has on the body, mind and soul, which may be even more relevant today in our constantly connected, busy world. Only recently have scientific studies been able to delineate the effects it has on the brain, including stress reduction, improved attention and productivity, better memory and even increased creativity and feelings of compassion. [2]

1. Breathe. Mindful meditation is a practice in being aware. Set a timer for a short about of time – maybe just three minutes – and find a comfortable place to sit and not be disturbed. Focus on breathing in and breathing out. Maybe you want to count your breaths, maybe you want to repeat a phrase in your mind, it doesn’t matter.
2. Let go. Your mind will wander, especially in the beginning. That is a great indicator of how important meditation is for you. Every time you drift in though, just come back to counting your breath. No judgment.
3. Habit. Just as with every new activity we try it takes time and patience to develop competence. Create a habit of meditation every day for at least 21 days (it takes 21 days to create a habit). It will be difficult to see the benefits of meditation if it is done sporadically and infrequently. If you’re running short on time carve out 3-5 minutes, at least, to meditate.

There is benefit to even a small about of mindful meditation.

Studies show that lipids in eggs enhance bioavailability of carotenoids in vegetables.

What does that mean? All the wonderful nutrients you get from your colorful vegetables, including beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxathin, and lycopene, will all be more easily absorbed. The essential amino acids, unsaturated fatty acids, and B vitamins are all useful in increasing the nutritive value of vegetables!

In the study, 16 participants consumed a raw mixed-vegetable salad with no eggs, a salad with one and a half eggs, and a salad with three eggs at different times. All salads were served with three grams of canola oil. The second salad had 75 grams of scrambled whole eggs and the third 150 grams of scrambled whole eggs. The absorption of carotenoids was 3.8-fold higher when the salad included three eggs compared to no eggs.

Eating your veggies with healthy fats (avocado, eggs, grassfed butter, olive oil) will help fill you up, increase the absorption of your nutrients, and make those vegetables taste even better!

More information: “Effects of Egg Consumption on Carotenoid Absorption from Co-consumed, Raw Vegetables.” Am J Clin Nutr ajcn111062; First published online May 27, 2015. DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.115.111062