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More Evidence that Bergamot

Improves Cholesterol

One of the great natural cholesterol fighters that doesn’t get the attention it deserves is bergamot. Well, it just got some attention!

Bergamot gets more attention for its flavoring role in Earl Grey tea than it does for its medicinal value as a cholesterol fighter.

Bergamot demonstrates impressive results, having been shown to lower total cholesterol by 24%, the heart harmful LDL cholesterol by 28% and triglycerides by 25%. It can also raise the heart healthy HDL cholesterol by 26%.

A recent meta-analysis combined the data of five studies of bergamot and cholesterol. It found that bergamot significantly lowers total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, while significantly raising the good HDL cholesterol (Phytother Res. 2022 Dec;36(12):4409-4424).

Now, a new study adds to the evidence. This double-blind study included 50 people with moderately high cholesterol. Half were given a placebo, and half were given bergamot.

After 12 weeks, the people in the bergamot group had significant improvement in total cholesterol and in the heart healthy HDL cholesterol. Improvements in the heart harmful LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and apolipoprotein B were significantly greater than in the placebo group.

The authors say that the study “proved the hypo-lipidemic effect” of bergamot.

Phytother Res. September 2023;37(9):4185-4195

Berberine Helps Prevent Diabetes

This double-blind, placebo-controlled study gave 34 prediabetics either placebo or 500mg of berberine 3 times a day for 12 weeks.

Compared to placebo, there was a significant improvement of 21.01% in fasting glucose, 19.68% in fasting insulin, 22.15% in 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test, 15.17% in HbA1c (the most important marker of long-term blood sugar and diabetes control), and 33.39% in insulin resistance.

This study suggests that berberine can safely help prevent delay the progression of prediabetes to diabetes.

BMC Endocr Disord. 2023;23:190.

For Preventing Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer, Olive Oil is a Healthy Choice

Fats and oils are so confusing. We are always told that fat and oil are bad. But not all fats and oils are. This new study shows why choosing olive oil is a smart choice.

As the very healthy Mediterranean suggests, olive oil–especially extra virgin olive oil–is good for you. Now a huge new study helps explain why.

The study followed 22,892 people for 13.1 years. It found that, compared to people who consumed less that 1.5 tablespoons of olive oil a day, people who enjoyed more than 3 tablespoons a day were 20% less likely to die prematurely from any cause. They were 23% less likely to die from cancer and 25% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease.

This new study found that, independent of overall diet quality, eating more olive oil lowers your risk of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Eur J Clin Nutr. 2024 May 4. doi:10.1038/s41430-024-01442-8.

New Natural Help for

Neuropathy Caused by

Chemotherapy

Peripheral neuropathy is a common side effect of chemotherapy. A surprising new study suggests that this gentle herb can help.

One of the most common side effects of several kinds of chemotherapy drugs is peripheral neuropathy. Neuropathy can cause pain, tingling and numbness especially in the hands and feet.

In this double-blind study, people with neuropathy caused by their chemotherapy were given either the drug gabapentin with a placebo or gabapentin with 500mg of lemon balm extract twice a day.

Both groups improved, but the lemon balm group had a significantly greater reduction of pain. On the quality of life score, the lemon balm group also had greater improvement in diarrhea.

This is the first study to suggest that lemon balm can help prevent or treat peripheral neuropathy in people undergoing chemotherapy.

Int J Hematol Oncol Stem Cell Res. 2024 Apr 1;18(2):165–173

Herbal Cure for a Hangover?

While it’s never a good idea to drink too much, it’s good to know that there may be herbal help if you do.

Your body’s response to alcohol is to enlist the liver to break the ethanol into acetaldehyde. But acetaldehyde is more toxic than ethanol, and the result is a hangover. In moderation, the body can more or less handle further breaking down the acetaldehyde, but if you drink too much, you overwhelm your body and suffer the toxic hangover.

But a recent double-blind study found that a single dose of noni extract may help your body to rescue you. In the small study, 30 people were given either a placebo or 1 gram of noni extract before drinking alcohol.

The ones who took the noni reached peak alcohol concentration significantly faster, meaning that they were more efficiently processing the alcohol. Their blood acetaldehyde levels were also significantly lower 40 minutes after drinking and 12 hours after drinking. That’s good news, since it’s the acetaldehyde that causes the hangover.

The study found that noni extract significantly lowered acetaldehyde levels and the severity of hangover symptoms in people who were 36 years old or less, who drank more than 15 drinks a week and who had higher total hangover scores.

According to the researchers, this study suggests that noni extract “has the potential to improve hangover symptoms by decreasing alcohol and acetaldehyde levels.”

Food & Function. 2023;14(3):1750–60.

Can This Powerful Herb Actually

Reverse Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease?

Affecting 20%-30% of all adults in the world, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as the leading cause of chronic liver disease in the world. So, a safe, natural method of reversing it would help a lot of people. A new study says there is one!

If you have NAFLD, cholesterol and triglycerides are quietly building up in your liver tissue. Being insulin resistant and being overweight are key factors in the progression of NAFLD. This 24 week double-blind study put curcumin to the test against fatty liver. The study included 80 people with nonalcoholic simple fatty liver (NASFL). NASFL is the early stage of NAFLD when it still might be reversed. Each of them was given either a placebo or 500mg of curcumin a day. Compared to the placebo, curcumin significantly reduced liver fat. Importantly, considering the risk factors, curcumin also significantly reduced weight, BMI, triglycerides, fasting blood glucose and long term markers of long term blood sugar and diabetes control (HbA1c).

This study adds to the impressively growing body of research supporting the use of curcumin for NAFLD. Several studies have shown curcumin to reduce liver fat. One study found a 78.9% reduction in liver fat versus 27.5% on placebo

(Phytother Res. 2016;30(9):1540-8). Ultrasound studies have found improvement in the liver in 75% of people using curcumin compared to 4.7% of people given a placebo

(Drug Res. 2017;67(4):244-251).

AJCN. July 2024;120(1):66-79

Stressed Out & Tired?

Probiotics to the Rescue

If the gut microbiome is communicating with the brain, as is now known, can improving the gut microbiome improve mental health?

A new study has found that 8 weeks of probiotics “remodeled” the gut microbiome of people with sleep disturbance and mood symptoms and significantly improved their sleep quality, depression and anxiety.

Nutrients. 2023 Dec 8;15(24)

The Latest Proof that Garlic Improves Cholesterol

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the world. Cholesterol problems are a leading cause of cardiovascular disease. And cholesterol problems are on the rise because of bad diet. Is garlic powerful enough to help?

This meta-analysis of 21 controlled studies included over 1,600 people with cholesterol problems who were not taking cholesterol drugs.

It found that garlic significantly reduced total cholesterol, triglycerides and the bad LDL cholesterol while slightly but significantly increasing the good HDL cholesterol.

For total cholesterol and triglycerides, the effect was greatest for people over 50, suggesting that garlic may have an even greater effect as we age. For total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, garlic oil had an even greater effect than garlic

powder.

This large meta-analysis adds to the evidence that garlic improves cholesterol and can protect against cardiovascular disease.

J Health Popul Nutr. 2024 Aug 7;43(1):113.