Based on the hypoglycemia and hypolipidemia of mulberry leaf extract
and its extracts, we investigated the effect of a novel formula, Sang
Tong Jian (STJ), from mulberry leaf on rats with diabetic nephropathy
(DN).
The DN rats were induced by a long-term high-fat diet and a single streptozotocin injection.
STJ
was introduced for 12 weeks from the presence of hyperglycemia. The
fasting blood glucose of DN rats was determined at weeks 5, 7, 9, and 11
respectively. The serum GSP, GHb and lipid profiles were analyzed by
using a colorimetric method and ELISA kits. The kidney function of DN
rats was demonstrated through the analysis of urine creatinine, urine
albumin, serum urea nitrogen, serum creatinine and the creatinine
clearance rate.
The H-E (haematoxylin and eosin) and PAS
(Periodic Acid-Schiff) staining were adopted to exhibit the morphology
of the kidney. The TGF-β1 and p-smad2/3, smad2/3, collagen IV, connexin
43 and E-cadherin were assayed via immunohistochemistry and western
blot.
STJ significantly decreased the fasting blood glucose (p
< 0.01) and the glycation end product (p < 0.05), and regulated
dyslipidemia. Inhibition of the thickening of the glomerular basement
membrane and amelioration of the kidney function were shown in
STJ-treated DN rats. Moreover, STJ decreased the levels of TGF-β1,
collagen IV, connexin 43 and activation of smad2/3 (p < 0.01), and
enhanced E-cadherin (p < 0.01) in the kidney of DN rats.
12
Week administration of STJ improved the metabolic parameters associated
with blood glucose and lipid and inhibited the TGF-β1 signaling pathway,
which positively contributed to the amelioration of chronic diabetic
kidney disease.
2015年12月30日星期三
2015年12月27日星期日
Uses For Organic Fruit Powder
A few years ago a caterer from CNN called wanting to order some organic fruit powder from us. We were already selling our freeze dried fruit at that point, but this was a specific request not for the fruit, but for the powder.
When a caterer from CNN calls wanting to buy fruit powder, what do you do? You sell fruit powder! Now we can’t keep fruit powder in stock. As soon as it comes in, it’s gone again. (Don’t worry though: with just a couple clicks you can be added to our waiting list so you’ll be the first to know when it’s available.)
So why is our fruit powder so popular? Well, for several reasons, actually. Chefs, like that caterer from CNN, love fruit powder because it imparts amazing, fruit-rich flavor, and it doesn’t weigh desserts down with extra moisture. You can achieve amazing culinary results with fruit powder that you simply can’t with fresh fruit. But that’s not the only reason.
Saves Time
To make your own fruit powder, you need special equipment and / or a lot of time to spare. Dehydrating fruit takes time and requires the use of a dehydrator, which can be a costly investment. Alternatively, you can set your oven on low and bake fresh fruit for hours on end in order to dehydrate it, but this isn’t a very energy efficient way to go. In either case, prepping the fruit can be time consuming: not only do you have to wash, peel, and in some cases, de-seed fruit, but, in order to dehydrate, you need to cut it up into small pieces. In sum: freeze dried fruit can end up saving you time and money.
Packs a Punch
Freeze dried organic fruit powder packs a punch of flavor, as well as valuable vitamins and minerals. Look for fruit powder that doesn’t have any added sugar or preservatives, so you can get all the natural goodness from fruit and berries without unnecessary additives.
Always in Season
Who says you can’t enjoy sweet strawberries in the dead of winter? With freeze dried fruit powder, even sunny, tropical fruits are always in season. In powder form, it’s lightweight and ready to use by the spoonful for whatever fresh flavor you’re craving, anytime of year.
Natural Food Coloring
Have you ever read the ingredients on artificial coloring? It may make your iced cookies or cakes look vibrant and eye-catching, but artificial food coloring is anything but natural. With freeze dried fruit powder you can decorate cakes, cupcakes, and more with bright, beautiful colors the natural way. Go ahead and just fold it into your buttercream frosting – it’s that easy! (Just sift out the bits – you can sprinkle those atop your dessert for a decorative effect.)
Natural Flavoring
Freeze dried fruit powder can be added for a tang of sweetness without the need for artificial sweeteners. Substitute it in low-calorie, low-fat recipes calling for artificial sweeteners, for a healthier alternative that tastes naturally delicious.
Need more convincing that organic fruit powder is the way to go? Here are some tips for how you can use fruit powder to make your day more delicious and bright. Have some ideas for using fruit powder that you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments.
When a caterer from CNN calls wanting to buy fruit powder, what do you do? You sell fruit powder! Now we can’t keep fruit powder in stock. As soon as it comes in, it’s gone again. (Don’t worry though: with just a couple clicks you can be added to our waiting list so you’ll be the first to know when it’s available.)
So why is our fruit powder so popular? Well, for several reasons, actually. Chefs, like that caterer from CNN, love fruit powder because it imparts amazing, fruit-rich flavor, and it doesn’t weigh desserts down with extra moisture. You can achieve amazing culinary results with fruit powder that you simply can’t with fresh fruit. But that’s not the only reason.
Saves Time
To make your own fruit powder, you need special equipment and / or a lot of time to spare. Dehydrating fruit takes time and requires the use of a dehydrator, which can be a costly investment. Alternatively, you can set your oven on low and bake fresh fruit for hours on end in order to dehydrate it, but this isn’t a very energy efficient way to go. In either case, prepping the fruit can be time consuming: not only do you have to wash, peel, and in some cases, de-seed fruit, but, in order to dehydrate, you need to cut it up into small pieces. In sum: freeze dried fruit can end up saving you time and money.
Packs a Punch
Freeze dried organic fruit powder packs a punch of flavor, as well as valuable vitamins and minerals. Look for fruit powder that doesn’t have any added sugar or preservatives, so you can get all the natural goodness from fruit and berries without unnecessary additives.
Always in Season
Who says you can’t enjoy sweet strawberries in the dead of winter? With freeze dried fruit powder, even sunny, tropical fruits are always in season. In powder form, it’s lightweight and ready to use by the spoonful for whatever fresh flavor you’re craving, anytime of year.
Natural Food Coloring
Have you ever read the ingredients on artificial coloring? It may make your iced cookies or cakes look vibrant and eye-catching, but artificial food coloring is anything but natural. With freeze dried fruit powder you can decorate cakes, cupcakes, and more with bright, beautiful colors the natural way. Go ahead and just fold it into your buttercream frosting – it’s that easy! (Just sift out the bits – you can sprinkle those atop your dessert for a decorative effect.)
Natural Flavoring
Freeze dried fruit powder can be added for a tang of sweetness without the need for artificial sweeteners. Substitute it in low-calorie, low-fat recipes calling for artificial sweeteners, for a healthier alternative that tastes naturally delicious.
Need more convincing that organic fruit powder is the way to go? Here are some tips for how you can use fruit powder to make your day more delicious and bright. Have some ideas for using fruit powder that you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments.
2015年12月24日星期四
Could Switching to Organic Fruit and Veg Could Double Sperm Count
Pesticides on organic fruit powder may be damaging sperm counts and men should consider going organic if they want to have children, scientists have suggested.
Although eating large amounts of fruit and vegetables might seem the healthy option, Harvard researchers found that those containing high levels of pesticides may have a damaging impact on semen quality and quantity.
Strawberries, apples, pears, peppers and spinach are just some of the crops which are intensively sprayed by farmers to eradicate pests and boost production.
The study found that men who ate at least one and half portions of fruit and vegetables containing high levels of pesticide residue had sperm counts which were 49 per cent lower than usual. Their semen quality was also reduced by 32 per cent.
However those who ate large quantities of fruit and vegetables with little or no residue saw their sperm quality increase by 37 per cent.
"These findings should not discourage the consumption of fruit and vegetables in general,” said Jorge Chavarro, Assistant Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston
“In fact, we found that total intake of fruit and vegetables was completely unrelated to semen quality.
“This suggests that implementing strategies specifically targeted at avoiding pesticide residues, such as consuming organically-grown produce or avoiding produce known to have large amounts of residues, may be the way to go."
However the researchers say that the results could be skewed by the fact that men attending the clinic had fertility problems.
Prof Allan Pacey, Professor of Andrology at the University of Sheffield, said: “This is a very interesting paper that raises the possibility that pesticide residues in our food may be a contributory factor in male infertility, at least in some men.
“There is also no evidence at present that switching to organic fruit powder will improve semen quality, although it will obviously do no harm.
“But I hope that this paper will encourage other studies to take place in this area, so that we might be able to answer the question once and for all.”
Dr Jackson Kirkman-Brown, Science Lead, at Birmingham Women's Fertility Centre, added: “The paper highlights a growing body of evidence that diet can affect male fertility and sperm quality.
“Men wishing to optimise their sperm quality should still eat a healthy balanced diet until more data is available.”
Prof Sheena Lewis, Professor of Reproductive Medicine at Queen's University Belfast, said men suffering from fertility problems could be more vulenrable to pesticides.
Organic fruit powder was published in the journal Human Reproduction.
Although eating large amounts of fruit and vegetables might seem the healthy option, Harvard researchers found that those containing high levels of pesticides may have a damaging impact on semen quality and quantity.
Strawberries, apples, pears, peppers and spinach are just some of the crops which are intensively sprayed by farmers to eradicate pests and boost production.
The study found that men who ate at least one and half portions of fruit and vegetables containing high levels of pesticide residue had sperm counts which were 49 per cent lower than usual. Their semen quality was also reduced by 32 per cent.
However those who ate large quantities of fruit and vegetables with little or no residue saw their sperm quality increase by 37 per cent.
"These findings should not discourage the consumption of fruit and vegetables in general,” said Jorge Chavarro, Assistant Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston
“In fact, we found that total intake of fruit and vegetables was completely unrelated to semen quality.
“This suggests that implementing strategies specifically targeted at avoiding pesticide residues, such as consuming organically-grown produce or avoiding produce known to have large amounts of residues, may be the way to go."
However the researchers say that the results could be skewed by the fact that men attending the clinic had fertility problems.
Prof Allan Pacey, Professor of Andrology at the University of Sheffield, said: “This is a very interesting paper that raises the possibility that pesticide residues in our food may be a contributory factor in male infertility, at least in some men.
“There is also no evidence at present that switching to organic fruit powder will improve semen quality, although it will obviously do no harm.
“But I hope that this paper will encourage other studies to take place in this area, so that we might be able to answer the question once and for all.”
Dr Jackson Kirkman-Brown, Science Lead, at Birmingham Women's Fertility Centre, added: “The paper highlights a growing body of evidence that diet can affect male fertility and sperm quality.
“Men wishing to optimise their sperm quality should still eat a healthy balanced diet until more data is available.”
Prof Sheena Lewis, Professor of Reproductive Medicine at Queen's University Belfast, said men suffering from fertility problems could be more vulenrable to pesticides.
Organic fruit powder was published in the journal Human Reproduction.
2015年12月23日星期三
Health Benefits of the Mulberry Leaf
In China, Mulberry Leaves have been treasured as an herbal medicine since ancient times. China’s oldest book of remedies, “Huang Di Ba Shi Yi Nan Jing” or “The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of the Difficulties”, a book devoted to Chinese Medical Practice is the bible for all herbal medicine and records the plant’s first use. It refers to the dry Mulberry leaf tea, “Sang ye cha” or godly hermits’ tea, “Qian cheng de yin shi cha” as a miracle remedy, an immortality medicine. Stating it was used as a cure for coughs, nutritional fortification and paralysis. Interesting enough the Chinese character for Mulberry Tree is ?. The symbol means “tree for the silk worm”. It also has the same meaning in Japanese.
The implication of this Asiatic linguistic symbol referencing the Mulberry tree can be found in the advent of the contemporary textile industry. For example, in 1848 the Mulberry tree was introduced in Hawaii in connection with silkworm production. Its leaves were cultivated as a food source for raising silkworms and the epistemology of this Chinese character is no less significant.
Active Ingredient in Mulberry Leaves , the mulberry leaf extract have some obvious benefits for humans. They contain various minerals and extracts, such as beta-carotene, GABA-1, amino acids, carotenoids, flavonoids, chlorophyll, vitamin C, B1, B2, B6, A and they are rich in fiber.
From this you can see Mulberry is very fortified with minerals and due to the high levels of active ingredients it has prompted a bevy of research. For example the leaves contain six times more calcium than green tea, 25 times more than milk and 40 times more than cabbage. With respect to iron it contains 2.5 times more than green tea and 10 times more than spinach.
In addition, Mulberry leaves are a great source of fiber. They contain the same level of fiber as burdock roots and osmunda (“zenmai” in Japanese). The ingestion ratio of the leaves’ fiber is 8 soluble to 45 insoluble. Furthermore, in 100g of Mulberry dried leaves you can find 230mg of gamma-amino acid, which is believed to lower blood pressure. 100g of the leaves also contains 46mg of sitosterol which controls the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines, while the same amount of green tea provides 14mg of sitosterol. Because of the high source of mineral content Mulberry leaves are expected to become a super food material in the near future with preventative effects against adult diseases such as hypertension.
What Is DNJ (1-Deoxynojirimycin)?Of particularly interest is an ingredient called 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) presumably it can only be found in mulberry leaf extract. The chemical structure of 1-deoxynojirimycin is very similar to glucose. If the oxygen portion in the chemical structure of glucose were to be replaced with nitrogen, the composition would be exactly the same as the chemical makeup of DNJ. For this reason DNJ inhibits disaccharides (alpha-glucosidase) and can reduce the intestinal absorption of the amount in the body essentially helping to stabilize the level of sugar in the blood.
Plainly speaking the intake of disaccharides, (alpha-glucosidase / sugar) is immediately dissolved and broken down and absorbed by the body. But if DNJ is introduced into the body and because of its similarities to glucose, the DNJ preferentially gets absorbed. During the process, the excess glucose moves to the colon without being broken down into monosaccharide and does not get absorbed into the blood. Instead it gets discharged. In effect this maximizes the body’s absorption of any remaining nutrition because disaccharides tend to displace or inhibit the body’s ability to absorb needed nutrients. This is why mulberry leaf extract particularly the substrate DNJ is now highly recognized as a promising herb which may help controls carbohydrate absorption.
The implication of this Asiatic linguistic symbol referencing the Mulberry tree can be found in the advent of the contemporary textile industry. For example, in 1848 the Mulberry tree was introduced in Hawaii in connection with silkworm production. Its leaves were cultivated as a food source for raising silkworms and the epistemology of this Chinese character is no less significant.
Active Ingredient in Mulberry Leaves , the mulberry leaf extract have some obvious benefits for humans. They contain various minerals and extracts, such as beta-carotene, GABA-1, amino acids, carotenoids, flavonoids, chlorophyll, vitamin C, B1, B2, B6, A and they are rich in fiber.
From this you can see Mulberry is very fortified with minerals and due to the high levels of active ingredients it has prompted a bevy of research. For example the leaves contain six times more calcium than green tea, 25 times more than milk and 40 times more than cabbage. With respect to iron it contains 2.5 times more than green tea and 10 times more than spinach.
In addition, Mulberry leaves are a great source of fiber. They contain the same level of fiber as burdock roots and osmunda (“zenmai” in Japanese). The ingestion ratio of the leaves’ fiber is 8 soluble to 45 insoluble. Furthermore, in 100g of Mulberry dried leaves you can find 230mg of gamma-amino acid, which is believed to lower blood pressure. 100g of the leaves also contains 46mg of sitosterol which controls the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines, while the same amount of green tea provides 14mg of sitosterol. Because of the high source of mineral content Mulberry leaves are expected to become a super food material in the near future with preventative effects against adult diseases such as hypertension.
What Is DNJ (1-Deoxynojirimycin)?Of particularly interest is an ingredient called 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) presumably it can only be found in mulberry leaf extract. The chemical structure of 1-deoxynojirimycin is very similar to glucose. If the oxygen portion in the chemical structure of glucose were to be replaced with nitrogen, the composition would be exactly the same as the chemical makeup of DNJ. For this reason DNJ inhibits disaccharides (alpha-glucosidase) and can reduce the intestinal absorption of the amount in the body essentially helping to stabilize the level of sugar in the blood.
Plainly speaking the intake of disaccharides, (alpha-glucosidase / sugar) is immediately dissolved and broken down and absorbed by the body. But if DNJ is introduced into the body and because of its similarities to glucose, the DNJ preferentially gets absorbed. During the process, the excess glucose moves to the colon without being broken down into monosaccharide and does not get absorbed into the blood. Instead it gets discharged. In effect this maximizes the body’s absorption of any remaining nutrition because disaccharides tend to displace or inhibit the body’s ability to absorb needed nutrients. This is why mulberry leaf extract particularly the substrate DNJ is now highly recognized as a promising herb which may help controls carbohydrate absorption.
2015年12月17日星期四
Mulberry Leaf Makes You Have a Good Skincare Effect
Mulberry leaves of mulberry plants Sankoh. Chinese medicine believes that mulberry leaves of bitter, sweet, cold, with scattered wind in addition to heat, Liver eyesight. However, recent studies have shown that mulberry leaf extract has a good skin care effect, especially for facial acne, brown spots with good effect.
Acne, commonly known as acne, is common in young people an inflammatory skin disease. Young men and women after puberty, increased levels of sex hormone, to promote sebaceous gland hypertrophy, an increase in sebaceous glands, resulting in deposition of sebum, clogging the hair follicles, increased sebum can not be discharged on the formation of acne. Production of acne, although mainly due to changes in endocrine puberty, the male hormone than female hormone secretion caused by the relative increase. However, the high-fat, high sugar diet-induced long-term constipation is an important cause of acne. Chinese medicine, over-eating greasy spicy food, stomach heat to raw wet, evils acne affects the skin is raw. Because the efficacy of mulberry leaves with detoxification, mulberry leaf decoction of the trial was two hundred fifty-eight cases of acne, its effective 80% of more than nine. The specific method is to take fresh mulberry leaf extract fifty grams per day, taking three times Jianshui generally effective fifteen days. Also with the amount of fresh mulberry leaves, pounded, apply acne to a daily thirty minutes, also achieved satisfactory results.
As for the treatment of facial brown spots mulberry leaves, the specific method is: use commercially available five hundred grams of mulberry leaves, cooked by steam sterilization, removal of impurities, dry spare. Fifteen grams per day, made after tea with boiling water, and even served thirty days for a course of treatment. Experts believe that taking the mulberry leaves so brown spots on the skin have a good effect may be related to the improvement of the secretory function of the body. Meanwhile, according to pharmacological studies have shown that mulberry leaves are rich in flavonoids Intuit, phenols, amino acids, organic acids, carotene, vitamins and many essential trace elements, which is to improve and regulate the metabolism of skin tissue, especially inhibition of pigmentation the occurrence and development have a positive effect. If the mulberry leaf dextrose, extract its active ingredients and additives by adding concentrated beauty as a cosmetic cream, while long-term topical and oral, will undoubtedly face brown spots will have better results.
Thus, do not underestimate the mulberry leaf extract, both economical and convenient, in fact, the rare beauty medicine. There are brown spots and facial acne patients may wish to try, usually without side effects.
2015年12月14日星期一
Mulberry Leaf Recipes on Herbal Remedies
The Chinese Materia Medica believes that it is bitter and sweet in flavor and cold in nature. It goes to meridians of lung and liver. Common functions are dispelling wind and heat, clearing lung heat, and improving eyesight. Primary mulberry leaf uses and indications include wind-heat cold, beginning stage of wind-warm syndrome, fever and headache, sweating and aversion to wind, cough and chest pain, dry cough but with no phlegm due to lung dryness, dry throat and thirst, wind-heat and liver-yang flaming syndrome, and red, painful, and swollen eyes. Recommended mulberry leaf extract dosage is from 4.5 to 9 grams in decoction. Besides, it can be still used in the forms of mulberry leaf supplement, powder, tea, oil, juice, extract, pills, etc.
1) Sang Xing Tang (mulberry leaf extract and apricot seed decoction) from Wen Bing Tiao Bian (Detailed Analysis of Warm Diseases). It is combined with Xing Ren (apricot seed), Sha Shen (Glehnia), Xiang Bei Mu (Fritillaria Bulb), Xiang Chi (Fermented Soy), etc. to clear dryness-heat and moisten lung to arrest cough.
2) Sang Ju Yin from Wen Bing Tiao Bian. It is formulated with apricot, Lian Qiao (Forsythia), Bo He (Mint Herb), Ju Hua (Chrysanthemum Morifolium), etc. to cure Tai-yin wind-warm syndrome, cough only, mild fever, and slight thirst.
3) Sang Ma Wan from Yi Ji Bao Jian (Precious Mirror for the Advancement of Medicine). It is coupled with Hei Zhi Ma (Black sesame seeds) to heal deficient liver-yin, cloudy vision, chronic cough, scaly dry skin, and paralysis.
4) Du Sheng San from Sheng Ji Zong Lu (Complete Record of Holy Benevolence). It is matched with La Cha (literally wax tea) and She Xiang (musk) for spitting blood.
1) Sang Xing Tang (mulberry leaf extract and apricot seed decoction) from Wen Bing Tiao Bian (Detailed Analysis of Warm Diseases). It is combined with Xing Ren (apricot seed), Sha Shen (Glehnia), Xiang Bei Mu (Fritillaria Bulb), Xiang Chi (Fermented Soy), etc. to clear dryness-heat and moisten lung to arrest cough.
2) Sang Ju Yin from Wen Bing Tiao Bian. It is formulated with apricot, Lian Qiao (Forsythia), Bo He (Mint Herb), Ju Hua (Chrysanthemum Morifolium), etc. to cure Tai-yin wind-warm syndrome, cough only, mild fever, and slight thirst.
3) Sang Ma Wan from Yi Ji Bao Jian (Precious Mirror for the Advancement of Medicine). It is coupled with Hei Zhi Ma (Black sesame seeds) to heal deficient liver-yin, cloudy vision, chronic cough, scaly dry skin, and paralysis.
4) Du Sheng San from Sheng Ji Zong Lu (Complete Record of Holy Benevolence). It is matched with La Cha (literally wax tea) and She Xiang (musk) for spitting blood.
2015年12月13日星期日
Medicinal Uses of the Mulberry Species
Beyond its use in sericulture, the Mulberry tree and its various parts have been used for an array of human products. As previously mentioned, the berries can be eaten raw or cooked to make jams or jellies as well as implemented into assorted dishes. They can be processed to make a sweet vinegar or wine. Its wood is known to be hard and heavy which contributes to its long-lasting value (Rafinesque, 1839). The wood can be used for making various sporting instruments or boating materials (Moore). Not only are the leaves a primary source for the silk worm (Bombyx mori), they also can be a nutritious food for farm animals around the world. It is considered preferred feeding for “mini-livestock,” such as guinea pigs and birds (Sánchez).
The exterior of the tree is more than just a pleasant ornamental mulberry leaf extract. The tree wards off most pests, as the sap is known to be quite bitter, yet another reason why it can function as a decorative tree near one’s home (Cobb, 1833). It was noted that Native Americans used the fibrous bark of the red mulberry in making many items such as baskets and ropes (Rafinesque, 1839).
Medicinally, the tree has been studied and found to produce health benefits for animals and humans. In terms of ethno pharmacological evidence, there are also reports from indigenous cultures around the world using the berries for health benefits. For example, some Native American tribes were known to use the red mulberry bark for digestive health (Stone, 2009).
The berries have been studied and found to have antioxidant properties. The berries also seem to have positive and potential effects in inhibiting the production of fat and protein containing plaque in one’s arteries (Katsube, 2006). Some research indicates the berries’ great effect of stimulating one’s immune response by activating one’s macrophage activity.
The leaves of the white mulberry in particular have been extensively studied for useful properties in medicine. They can be ingested to help cure a sore throat (Moore). There has even been research on a specific chemical compound within the leaves that may induce cell death for some types of cancer cells (Deepa M, 2012). All in all, the white mulberry leaf extract has shown to be very useful for human health, and its remedial properties have yet to be fully understood.
2015年12月10日星期四
Organic Fruit Powder for Toddler
Have you ever tasted jarred baby food? It isn’t that good. So why feed it to your little one?
That was the quandary facing new mom Caroline Freedman when she was pregnant with her first child. She couldn’t believe that nothing had changed since she had been a baby, and moms everywhere were still feeding their new babies the jarred stuff. Sure, some moms have opted to make their own baby food but there was still no other option out there for ready-made food. Often discussing the quandary with her pal, Lauren McCullough, in their happy hour conversations after work, (Freedman worked in mergers and acquisitions at Dell, McCullough as a culinary arts teacher at the Texas School for the Deaf) the two decided to turn the idea into a reality.
Freedman knew that organic fruit powder, as opposed to cooking them, keeps them healthier, locking in essential phytochemicals (plant chemicals that help fight off disease) and nutrients. “When you don’t expose food to heat,” McCullough explained on a recent phone call with MNN, “you maintain more of the food’s freshness and flavor.” They took that concept to Freedman’s condo, where they tried to dehydrate a sweet potato in Freedman’s oven. Needless to say, the experiment was a less-than-rousing success. “We just expected it to magically dehydrate into powder,” McCullough recalls with a laugh. “What we got was basically a sweet potato fruit roll up.” Yummy, yes, but not what they were going for.
With that, Freedman and McCullough turned to the experts – after doing extensive research, they enlisted the help of a few organic farms across the country that specialize in drying produce and set to work. And so NurturMe was born.
Another thing that’s unique about NurturMe singles? “You can actually mix our fruit and vegetable powder with breastmilk or formula,” says McCullough, packing them with even more nutrients. And another plus: For moms struggling to get their mac-and-cheese loving toddler to eat their veggies, you can mix the powder into your kids’ favorite meals to give them a nutritional boost.
McCullough and Freedman credit their mentors in the Austin community with helping them get off the ground. “Austin is a growing mecca of natural products,” says McCullough. “There were so many cool people that were willing to support and help us, telling us that it was possible.” Indeed, Whole Foods started out in Austin and the company was one of the first to give McCullough and Freedman a shot at selling their products. Today, you can find organic fruit powder in retailers like Whole Foods, Target and Babies R Us, and online at Amazon and Diapers.com.
Thanks to Freedman and McCullough’s ingenuity and perseverance, NurturMe has quickly gone from a failed sweet potato experiment to an award-winning line of organic baby foods, generating buzz across the country, all while giving moms and babies a great reason to feel good about feeding time.
That was the quandary facing new mom Caroline Freedman when she was pregnant with her first child. She couldn’t believe that nothing had changed since she had been a baby, and moms everywhere were still feeding their new babies the jarred stuff. Sure, some moms have opted to make their own baby food but there was still no other option out there for ready-made food. Often discussing the quandary with her pal, Lauren McCullough, in their happy hour conversations after work, (Freedman worked in mergers and acquisitions at Dell, McCullough as a culinary arts teacher at the Texas School for the Deaf) the two decided to turn the idea into a reality.
Freedman knew that organic fruit powder, as opposed to cooking them, keeps them healthier, locking in essential phytochemicals (plant chemicals that help fight off disease) and nutrients. “When you don’t expose food to heat,” McCullough explained on a recent phone call with MNN, “you maintain more of the food’s freshness and flavor.” They took that concept to Freedman’s condo, where they tried to dehydrate a sweet potato in Freedman’s oven. Needless to say, the experiment was a less-than-rousing success. “We just expected it to magically dehydrate into powder,” McCullough recalls with a laugh. “What we got was basically a sweet potato fruit roll up.” Yummy, yes, but not what they were going for.
With that, Freedman and McCullough turned to the experts – after doing extensive research, they enlisted the help of a few organic farms across the country that specialize in drying produce and set to work. And so NurturMe was born.
Another thing that’s unique about NurturMe singles? “You can actually mix our fruit and vegetable powder with breastmilk or formula,” says McCullough, packing them with even more nutrients. And another plus: For moms struggling to get their mac-and-cheese loving toddler to eat their veggies, you can mix the powder into your kids’ favorite meals to give them a nutritional boost.
McCullough and Freedman credit their mentors in the Austin community with helping them get off the ground. “Austin is a growing mecca of natural products,” says McCullough. “There were so many cool people that were willing to support and help us, telling us that it was possible.” Indeed, Whole Foods started out in Austin and the company was one of the first to give McCullough and Freedman a shot at selling their products. Today, you can find organic fruit powder in retailers like Whole Foods, Target and Babies R Us, and online at Amazon and Diapers.com.
Thanks to Freedman and McCullough’s ingenuity and perseverance, NurturMe has quickly gone from a failed sweet potato experiment to an award-winning line of organic baby foods, generating buzz across the country, all while giving moms and babies a great reason to feel good about feeding time.
Can Mulberry Leaf Extract Used for Weight Loss
I don’t normally read the freebie newspapers in Toronto as their content is the journalistic equivalent of the lead in the Toronto water supply: both slowly sap your intellect away.
But I ride public transit and those papers are littered everywhere, rolling around the TTC. So against my better judgment I picked up the paper on May 20, skipped past the article from the “holistic nutritionist” (a topic for another day) and stumbled across this advertisement:
“The Man Who Made the Whole Town Lose Weight”
Impressive headline. Reading further it turns out that “Johnny Petterson”, a local health food store owner in Alesund, Norway, had started selling mulberry leaf extract leaf tablets to his customers, and they lost weight – after only 10 days. According to the advertising copy, Johnny has helped over 1500 customers lose weight. Apparently this product is for sale at major pharmacies in Canada. So it’s time to do a bit of digging into this scientific breakthrough unearthed by a health food store owner.
Here’s excerpts from the ad (here is a similar PDF) – and my comments.
“When blood sugar is stable, sugar cravings disappear” – This statement is contradicted by the American Heart Association, which summarizes the evidence as, “We don’t really know enough about all the factors that cause specific food cravings.”
“I studied the effects of mulberries on blood sugar, insulin and fat burning” – There is one very small trial that evaluated mulberry leaf extract on blood sugar levels and observed that it reduced the initial increase in blood sugar after eating sugar. There is one unblinded evaluation of an ingredient extracted from mulberry leaves (1-deoxynojirimycin) that suggests it may slow the rise in blood sugar after a meal. But there is no data to demonstrate that mulberry has any influence on “fat burning” or, most importantly, weight. The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, the most credible and evidence-based summary of information on “natural” products, has almost no information on this item – because no evidence has been published that meets its strict quality requirements.
“Mulberry leaves lead to lower insulin secretion, which makes you able to burn stored fat better and also reduce fat storage from excess calories” – The very preliminary evidence that exists does suggest that mulberry leaves may have some sort of biological effect. The active ingredient may be the chemical 1-deoxynojirimycin, which appears to be an alphi (α)-glucosidase inhibitor. It may act to blunt the spike in blood sugar after a meal, by interfering with carbohydrate absorption. The prescription diabetes drug acarbose (Prandase/Glucobay) is also an α-glucosidase inhibitor, so this ingredient from mulberry may have a similar effect.
The terms “burn stored fat better” is clinically meaningless. There is no evidence that mulberry reduces fat storage.
“Taking mulberry leaves, my customers changed to a healthier diet without even noticing it” – Wait, didn’t he just say that the mulberry affects insulin secretion? How did diet come into the picture? If it’s affecting insulin levels, why is the diet changing? Based on the very preliminary research with mulberry leaves, all we can propose is that mulberry leaves might affect how quickly sugars are absorbed. There is no evidence that this will have any impact on dietary choices. Further, this has not been observed with prescription drugs with the same action.
“We now know from clinical studies how mulberry leaf extract regulate blood sugar levels.” Ummm, no we don’t. Where’s the randomized clinical trials in human subjects that demonstrate this product is safe and effective?
The website makes even more questionable claims:
“You will experience that you ar no longer as tempted by foods and especially sugar. You will more easily stay on a healthy diet. Gradually you will lose weight (especially abdominal) and any retained water.” Again, there is absolutely no published evidence that the product will do this. No references are provided.
“Mulberry leaves contain phytosterols, which are cholesterol-lowering agents. While most studies have been done on mulberry’s effect on blood sugar, the studies found that serum cholesterol levels also dropped by about 12% on average.” Yet again, there is no persuasive evidence to demonstrate this is the case. Another unsubstantiated, unreferenced claim.
“Mulberry is safe and natural. But do not use mulberry during pregnancy or when breastfeeding” There is zero published evidence that demonstrates short-term or long-term mulberry leaf consumption is safe. No research has been conducted to determine what its side effects are. Based on the very preliminary evidence noted above, mulberry could potentially be dangerous if consumed by diabetics. Most importantly, studies have been done with mulberry leaves, or isolated ingredients. There is no published information or research with Mulberry zuccarin to demonstrate that it has the same effects.
Bottom Line
This is an interesting product. Mulberry leaves do seem to have some sort of biological activity and may contain chemicals that could be useful in the treatment of diabetes. But to claim that this product is a diabetes treatment is premature. Not enough information is known about the risk, benefits, or even what an appropriate dose might be. Moreover, if it actually works, this supplement could put diabetics at risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). So instead, the product is marketed as a weight loss support supplement – a completely unsubstantiated claim. There is no published to demonstrate that mulberry will help with short-term or long-term weight loss.
If mulberry leaf extract was considered a drug product, there is zero likelihood it would be currently permitted for sale in Canada, the US, or any other jurisdiction. Why? Because with drugs, conclusive evidence of efficacy and safety is required before sale is allowed. But call it a natural health product, and all the barrier to sale disappear. It seems any manufacturer can take a unevaluated product, make unsubstantiated health claims, provide no direct evidence of safety or efficacy, and yet secure shelf space in pharmacies. As for Canadians, Heath Canada’s Natural Health Products Directorate is missing in action (again) – failing to regulate health products, and failing to protect the health and safety of Canadians.
But I ride public transit and those papers are littered everywhere, rolling around the TTC. So against my better judgment I picked up the paper on May 20, skipped past the article from the “holistic nutritionist” (a topic for another day) and stumbled across this advertisement:
“The Man Who Made the Whole Town Lose Weight”
Impressive headline. Reading further it turns out that “Johnny Petterson”, a local health food store owner in Alesund, Norway, had started selling mulberry leaf extract leaf tablets to his customers, and they lost weight – after only 10 days. According to the advertising copy, Johnny has helped over 1500 customers lose weight. Apparently this product is for sale at major pharmacies in Canada. So it’s time to do a bit of digging into this scientific breakthrough unearthed by a health food store owner.
Here’s excerpts from the ad (here is a similar PDF) – and my comments.
“When blood sugar is stable, sugar cravings disappear” – This statement is contradicted by the American Heart Association, which summarizes the evidence as, “We don’t really know enough about all the factors that cause specific food cravings.”
“I studied the effects of mulberries on blood sugar, insulin and fat burning” – There is one very small trial that evaluated mulberry leaf extract on blood sugar levels and observed that it reduced the initial increase in blood sugar after eating sugar. There is one unblinded evaluation of an ingredient extracted from mulberry leaves (1-deoxynojirimycin) that suggests it may slow the rise in blood sugar after a meal. But there is no data to demonstrate that mulberry has any influence on “fat burning” or, most importantly, weight. The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, the most credible and evidence-based summary of information on “natural” products, has almost no information on this item – because no evidence has been published that meets its strict quality requirements.
“Mulberry leaves lead to lower insulin secretion, which makes you able to burn stored fat better and also reduce fat storage from excess calories” – The very preliminary evidence that exists does suggest that mulberry leaves may have some sort of biological effect. The active ingredient may be the chemical 1-deoxynojirimycin, which appears to be an alphi (α)-glucosidase inhibitor. It may act to blunt the spike in blood sugar after a meal, by interfering with carbohydrate absorption. The prescription diabetes drug acarbose (Prandase/Glucobay) is also an α-glucosidase inhibitor, so this ingredient from mulberry may have a similar effect.
The terms “burn stored fat better” is clinically meaningless. There is no evidence that mulberry reduces fat storage.
“Taking mulberry leaves, my customers changed to a healthier diet without even noticing it” – Wait, didn’t he just say that the mulberry affects insulin secretion? How did diet come into the picture? If it’s affecting insulin levels, why is the diet changing? Based on the very preliminary research with mulberry leaves, all we can propose is that mulberry leaves might affect how quickly sugars are absorbed. There is no evidence that this will have any impact on dietary choices. Further, this has not been observed with prescription drugs with the same action.
“We now know from clinical studies how mulberry leaf extract regulate blood sugar levels.” Ummm, no we don’t. Where’s the randomized clinical trials in human subjects that demonstrate this product is safe and effective?
The website makes even more questionable claims:
“You will experience that you ar no longer as tempted by foods and especially sugar. You will more easily stay on a healthy diet. Gradually you will lose weight (especially abdominal) and any retained water.” Again, there is absolutely no published evidence that the product will do this. No references are provided.
“Mulberry leaves contain phytosterols, which are cholesterol-lowering agents. While most studies have been done on mulberry’s effect on blood sugar, the studies found that serum cholesterol levels also dropped by about 12% on average.” Yet again, there is no persuasive evidence to demonstrate this is the case. Another unsubstantiated, unreferenced claim.
“Mulberry is safe and natural. But do not use mulberry during pregnancy or when breastfeeding” There is zero published evidence that demonstrates short-term or long-term mulberry leaf consumption is safe. No research has been conducted to determine what its side effects are. Based on the very preliminary evidence noted above, mulberry could potentially be dangerous if consumed by diabetics. Most importantly, studies have been done with mulberry leaves, or isolated ingredients. There is no published information or research with Mulberry zuccarin to demonstrate that it has the same effects.
Bottom Line
This is an interesting product. Mulberry leaves do seem to have some sort of biological activity and may contain chemicals that could be useful in the treatment of diabetes. But to claim that this product is a diabetes treatment is premature. Not enough information is known about the risk, benefits, or even what an appropriate dose might be. Moreover, if it actually works, this supplement could put diabetics at risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). So instead, the product is marketed as a weight loss support supplement – a completely unsubstantiated claim. There is no published to demonstrate that mulberry will help with short-term or long-term weight loss.
If mulberry leaf extract was considered a drug product, there is zero likelihood it would be currently permitted for sale in Canada, the US, or any other jurisdiction. Why? Because with drugs, conclusive evidence of efficacy and safety is required before sale is allowed. But call it a natural health product, and all the barrier to sale disappear. It seems any manufacturer can take a unevaluated product, make unsubstantiated health claims, provide no direct evidence of safety or efficacy, and yet secure shelf space in pharmacies. As for Canadians, Heath Canada’s Natural Health Products Directorate is missing in action (again) – failing to regulate health products, and failing to protect the health and safety of Canadians.
2015年12月3日星期四
The Possible Benefits of Cinnamon in Managing Diabetes
It’s fine to sprinkle cinnamon powder on your oatmeal or use it in baking. Go
ahead and enjoy it if you like its taste. But if you hope that it will
help you manage your diabetes, you might want to pause before you head
to your spice rack.
It's not yet clear if cinnamon is good for diabetes. Research findings
have been mixed, and the American Diabetes Association dismisses
cinnamon’s use in diabetes treatment.
Several small studies have linked cinnamon to better blood sugar levels.
Some of this work shows it may curb blood sugar by lowering insulin
resistance.
In one study, volunteers ate from 1 to 6 grams of cinnamon for 40 days.
(One gram of ground cinnamon powder is about half a teaspoon.) The researchers
found that cinnamon cut cholesterol by about 18% and blood sugar levels
by 24%. But in other studies, the spice did not lower blood sugar or
cholesterol levels.
Is Cinnamon Safe for People With Diabetes?
Unless you have liver damage, it should be OK for you to enjoy it in
food. If you do have liver problems, be careful, because large amounts
of cinnamon may make them worse.
If you are considering cinnamon supplements, talk with your doctor
first, especially if you take any medication. Also, look for brands
labeled with a quality seal. These include the NSF International, US
Pharmacopeia, or Consumerlab seal. This helps assure that the supplement
actually has the ingredients stated on the label and doesn't have any
contaminants or potentially harmful ingredients.
Unlike medications, supplement makers don't have to prove their products
are safe or effective. But the FDA can order a supplement off the market
if it proves it's unsafe.
Does Cinnamon Interact With Other Herbs or Drugs?
Use caution if you also take other supplements that lower blood sugar
levels, including:
Alpha lipoic acid
Bitter melon
Chromium
Devil's claw
Fenugreek
Garlic
Horse chestnut
Panax
Siberian ginseng
Psyllium
The same holds true with diabetes medications. If you and your doctor
decide it's OK for you to try cinnamon powder, pay close attention to your
blood sugar levels. Tell your doctor if your levels fall too low.
Taking cinnamon with drugs that affect the liver may make liver problems
more likely.
ahead and enjoy it if you like its taste. But if you hope that it will
help you manage your diabetes, you might want to pause before you head
to your spice rack.
It's not yet clear if cinnamon is good for diabetes. Research findings
have been mixed, and the American Diabetes Association dismisses
cinnamon’s use in diabetes treatment.
Several small studies have linked cinnamon to better blood sugar levels.
Some of this work shows it may curb blood sugar by lowering insulin
resistance.
In one study, volunteers ate from 1 to 6 grams of cinnamon for 40 days.
(One gram of ground cinnamon powder is about half a teaspoon.) The researchers
found that cinnamon cut cholesterol by about 18% and blood sugar levels
by 24%. But in other studies, the spice did not lower blood sugar or
cholesterol levels.
Is Cinnamon Safe for People With Diabetes?
Unless you have liver damage, it should be OK for you to enjoy it in
food. If you do have liver problems, be careful, because large amounts
of cinnamon may make them worse.
If you are considering cinnamon supplements, talk with your doctor
first, especially if you take any medication. Also, look for brands
labeled with a quality seal. These include the NSF International, US
Pharmacopeia, or Consumerlab seal. This helps assure that the supplement
actually has the ingredients stated on the label and doesn't have any
contaminants or potentially harmful ingredients.
Unlike medications, supplement makers don't have to prove their products
are safe or effective. But the FDA can order a supplement off the market
if it proves it's unsafe.
Does Cinnamon Interact With Other Herbs or Drugs?
Use caution if you also take other supplements that lower blood sugar
levels, including:
Alpha lipoic acid
Bitter melon
Chromium
Devil's claw
Fenugreek
Garlic
Horse chestnut
Panax
Siberian ginseng
Psyllium
The same holds true with diabetes medications. If you and your doctor
decide it's OK for you to try cinnamon powder, pay close attention to your
blood sugar levels. Tell your doctor if your levels fall too low.
Taking cinnamon with drugs that affect the liver may make liver problems
more likely.
6 Health Benefits of Mulberry Leaf Extract
Mulberry leaf extract is delicious and nutritious, people all over the world enjoy it. Mulberry leaf extracts are a product of the Morus alba tree. Its leaves, which also contain nutrients and are even used as food for silkworms, are thin, glossy and light green; the fruit, like grapes, is red or white and grows in bunches called “drupes.”
1. Source of Antioxidants
Antioxidants help lessen the damage caused by free radicals and the entire mulberry plant- leaves, stems, and fruit, contains antioxidants. [1] [2] One antioxidant in particular, resveratrol, has gotten much attention. Research published by the University of Texas Health Science Center credits resveratrol for positive effects on age and longevity. [3]
2. Immune System Support
Mulberries contain alkaloids that activate macrophages. Macrophages are white blood cells that stimulate the immune system, putting it on high active alert against health threats. [4]
3. Supports Healthy Blood Sugar
More formal research is appropriate, but mulberry leaf extract is thought to contain compounds that support balanced blood sugar levels. [5] Traditional medicine in China, Trinidad and Tobago have all used mulberry leaves to promote balanced blood sugar levels. [6] [7]
4. Healthy Food!
Dried mulberries are a great source of protein, vitamin C and K, fiber, and iron. Best of all, they’re available in health food stores everywhere! Enjoy them as a great snack all by themselves or add them to your favorite trail mix. If you live in a warm climate and are lucky enough to have mulberry trees nearby, you can enjoy the fruit fresh off the tree. Not as tasty as the fruit, even the leaves contain protein, fiber, and nutrients! [8]
5. Resists Redness
Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine have used mulberry as a remedy for swelling and redness. [9] A recent Romanian study discovered that a curcumin and mulberry leaf combination may be a new lead into natural remedies for this sort of irritation. [10]
6. Brain Protection?
Do mulberry leaf extract offer anything to the brain? Researchers at Khon Kaen University in Thailand set out to answer that question by evaluating the effect of mulberry on male rats with memory impairment and brain damage. Although further investigation is required before mulberries can be declared a cognitive enhancer and neuroprotectant, rats that consumed mulberries had better memories and less oxidative stress.
1. Source of Antioxidants
Antioxidants help lessen the damage caused by free radicals and the entire mulberry plant- leaves, stems, and fruit, contains antioxidants. [1] [2] One antioxidant in particular, resveratrol, has gotten much attention. Research published by the University of Texas Health Science Center credits resveratrol for positive effects on age and longevity. [3]
2. Immune System Support
Mulberries contain alkaloids that activate macrophages. Macrophages are white blood cells that stimulate the immune system, putting it on high active alert against health threats. [4]
3. Supports Healthy Blood Sugar
More formal research is appropriate, but mulberry leaf extract is thought to contain compounds that support balanced blood sugar levels. [5] Traditional medicine in China, Trinidad and Tobago have all used mulberry leaves to promote balanced blood sugar levels. [6] [7]
4. Healthy Food!
Dried mulberries are a great source of protein, vitamin C and K, fiber, and iron. Best of all, they’re available in health food stores everywhere! Enjoy them as a great snack all by themselves or add them to your favorite trail mix. If you live in a warm climate and are lucky enough to have mulberry trees nearby, you can enjoy the fruit fresh off the tree. Not as tasty as the fruit, even the leaves contain protein, fiber, and nutrients! [8]
5. Resists Redness
Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine have used mulberry as a remedy for swelling and redness. [9] A recent Romanian study discovered that a curcumin and mulberry leaf combination may be a new lead into natural remedies for this sort of irritation. [10]
6. Brain Protection?
Do mulberry leaf extract offer anything to the brain? Researchers at Khon Kaen University in Thailand set out to answer that question by evaluating the effect of mulberry on male rats with memory impairment and brain damage. Although further investigation is required before mulberries can be declared a cognitive enhancer and neuroprotectant, rats that consumed mulberries had better memories and less oxidative stress.
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