Turmeric, Coffee & Tea to Get Your ZZZs

By Paula Simpson, trusted genConnect expert –

Want to boost your liver health, reduce stroke risk, lose weight and just feel better about yourself? Read on:

Turmeric for Liver Health                    

Turmeric is a spice, commonly used in Asian food. Curcumin is the yellow-colored molecule derived from turmeric. The root of turmeric has long been used in traditional Asian medicine for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and improved vigor properties.

A new study included 60 adults with elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels (a liver enzyme that is produced in higher amounts when the liver is inflamed).

Participants were randomly assigned to take three grams daily of fermented turmeric powder or placebo for 12 weeks.

Compared to the control group, the turmeric group had significantly lower levels of ALT and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), a marker for liver damage.

Great News for Coffee & Green Tea Drinkers!

A recent large-scale study published in Stroke: Journal of American Heart Association proved that daily consumption of coffee and/or green tea can lower risk of stroke. The study asked over 83,000 (age 45 to 74 years,) Japanese adults about their green tea and coffee drinking habits and followed them for an average of 13 years. Here’s what they found out:

• Those who drank about one cup of coffee daily had a 20 percent lower risk of stroke
• Those who drank two to three cups of green tea daily had 14 percent lower risk and those who drank four cups had 20 percent lower risk of stroke
• A combination of coffee & green tea drinking reduced incidence by 32 percent

Researchers believe the potential protective role of green tea may come from catechins, a well-known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound touted for its health properties (including skin). For coffee, chlorogenic acid was believed to be the key chemical to offer this protective effect.

They concluded that regular action of drinking coffee and/or tea benefits the cardiovascular health by keeping blot clots from forming and supporting healthy circulation.

Sleep Less, Gain Weight  – Why You Should Be Getting Your ZZZs

Sleep deprivation is a beauty buster. But did you know lack of sleep might cause you to overeat? A recent study conducted at the University of Colorado Boulder provides additional data on how lack of sleep can affect your waistline.

Researchers found that those who slept 5 hours a night during a working week gained about 2 pounds more than those who slept about 7 to 8 hours per night. Those who were sleep deprived ate smaller breakfasts and snacked more throughout the day and into the evening.

This study coincides with previous ones on sleep deprivation and weight gain tempting these researchers to call out to weight management programs to include sleep promoting lifestyle guidelines for those attempting to lose weight.

To learn more about Paula Simpson and her beauty-from-within philosophy, visit her Web site, become a fan on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.

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