Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Too much belly fat can lead to issues such as chronic inflammation, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and more. The good news is that there are healthy ways to help your body lose that fat. Learn about how exercise can help in part 1 of this episode.
As we age, we begin to lose our muscle. This can impact our strength, posture and more. Fortunately, there is a powerful nutrient called fish oil that can help protect and promote muscle health.
Invite Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Amanda Williams, MPH
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Did you know that this is the time of year that normally the Cherry Festival is being held in Michigan? This is something that is very near and dear to my heart, being that I am a Michiganer! Today, I am excited to speak with you about all of the benefits that cherries can offer, especially tart cherry extract. Let’s get started!
The FDA and Cherry Claims
Back in 2007, the FDA sent out warning letters to cherry growers throughout the country telling them to stop making health claims about the benefits of cherries, knowing that cherries are packed with anthocyanins and other compounds that naturally help to support a healthy inflammatory process in the body. So, cherry growers throughout the country (especially in Traver City, Michigan) have known this and have always promoted the medicinal benefits that goes along with the consumption of cherries. But between the years of 2001 and 2010, the FDA approved over 200 different therapeutic drugs, which later on were found to have side effects (over 30% of them). Interestingly enough, it is my opinion that many of these drugs are still available on the market. Yet, the cherry industry was attacked.
Utilization of Tart Cherry Extract
Anthocyanins are a flavonoid, which are very powerful nutrients that are responsible for giving berries that deep red color. But tart cherries are superior when we look at the medicinal benefits because it is yielding other powerful antioxidants. Tart cherries are ranked among the highest foods in terms of their antioxidant content. This is why cherries have been researched so heavily.
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There is tons of research out there on the benefits of cherries. When we look at muscle health for example, researchers have found (in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial ) that when marathon runners were given tart cherry extract that their interleukin 6 and c reactive protein levels decreased significantly. These are major markers for inflammation in the body.†
Tart Cherry Extract has also been studied for its joint health benefit. Evidence has shown that the powerful polyphenols and Anthocyanins within the tart cherry can provide a lot of support when it comes to the health of the joints. A study performed at Baylor Research Institute found that, when researchers gave tart cherry extract to patients who had osteoarthritis within the knee for eight weeks, half of the subjects showed significant improvement in their reports of pain and the functionality of the joint itself.†
Thank you for tuning in to the Invite Health Podcast. You can find all of our episodes for free wherever you listen to podcasts or by visiting www.invitehealth.com/podcast. Make sure you subscribe and leave us a review! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at Invite Health today. We’ll see you next time on another episode of the Invite Health Podcast.
Questions about tart cherry extract? Leave a comment below for Amanda Williams, MPH!
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Maintaining strong and toned muscles are very important; not just for the sake of vanity and for attracting admiring looks, but the health of muscles translates to real health and vitality. While a great deal has been made of strong bones, not enough attention is paid to the health of muscles mass other than for ‘decorative’ purposes. Just as there is a name given to the condition of loss of bone mass (osteoporosis) so is there a name for the loss of muscle mass (sarcopenia).
Sarcopenia (from Greek, sarx, “flesh” and penia, “poverty”) is the degenerative loss of skeletal muscle mass, quality, and strength associated with aging. It starts to become apparent after the age of 40 and progresses annually (0.5 to 1% loss per year after the age of 50), generally accelerating after the age of about 75. Progressive sarcopenia is a good predictor of many illnesses, physical and mental, as well as premature mortality. Sarcopenia and osteoporosis are directly related conditions, one often following the other. Muscles generate the mechanical stress to keep our bones healthy. When muscles are used less frequently, as in the elderly and in ‘couch potatoes’, it can exacerbate the problem of osteoporosis and lead to a decline in health. It is evident that the top priority to maintain good health involves maintaining muscle health.
There is no single cause of sarcopenia. Sarcopenia can be a result of many different factors that arise as a natural part of aging, like – Continue Reading >>