Here is yet another reason why white tea is a healthy alternative to coffee.  Research has shown that white tea extract can actually prevent the formation of new adipocytes (fat cells).  If that wasn’t enough, the extract from white tea was also able to break down fat from fat cells, a process known as lipolysis.  When researchers cultured the pre-adipocytes (immature fat cells) with white tea, they found that the formation of adipocytes (mature fat cells) was greatly reduced.  The white tea acts at the genetic level, decreasing  the expression of genes that are involved in the formation of new fat cells. 1

White tea originates from the same plant as green tea, Camilli sinensis, but it is processed differently and undergoes less oxidation. It is because of this, white tea contains a greater amount of catechins, such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which are antioxidants.  For more on white tea and skin.

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I’ve made a quick grocery list of supplements that I take, the reading list that in part made me decide to take them, and distilled the information down to a few quick bullet points.

Much of the research is, perhaps, more relevant to women who are, or may be pregnant or nursing in years to come. Enjoy!

1. Folic acid

• Folic acid supplementation early in conception and during pregnancy could prevent up to 70% of cases of spina bifida, a relatively common birth defect involving improper closer of the embryonic neural tubes. ¹

• Folic acid helps prevent damaging effects from in utero exposure to bisphenol A, which has become notorious for it’s nearly ubiquitous presence in the environment — with one recent study even finding that 9 out of 10 babies tested had bisphenol A already present in their systems. ^2,3

• Pregnant women exposed to hairspray have a two-to-three fold risk of having a son with a genital defect. Folic acid supplementation during the first three weeks of pregnancy decreases this risk by 36%.¹⁶

• Folic acid supplementation during pregnancy decreases the incidence of congenital heart defects.⁴

• Folate supplements for at least one year before conception was associated with a 70% reduction in spontaneous premature birth between 20 and 28 weeks.⁵

• Mothers supplementing with folic acid during pregnancy, significantly reduced the mortality risk of their children through age 7.⁶

2. Omega-3

• High consumption of fish (omega-3) during pregnancy results in children having better neurological function, including higher IQ and better hand-eye coordination. ⁷

• Omega-3 taken during the last months of pregnancy boosts an infant’s sensory, cognitive, and motor development.⁸

• Mothers who eat foods rich in omega-3 during pregnancy and while nursing, may dramatically reduce risk of daughters‘ developing breast cancer later in life.⁹

• Children whose mothers with asthma ate oil fish during pregnancy, were 71% less likely to develop asthma on average;the more oily fish a woman ate, the less likely her child was to develop asthma.¹⁰

3. Vitamin D – Careful: Narrow threshold. Toxic at high-doses.

• Vitamin D deficiency early in pregnancy is associated with a five-fold increased risk of preeclampsia, a condition indicated by high-blood-pressure and excessive levels of protein in the urine.¹¹

• Vitamin D deficiency has been found to increase the likelihood of bacterial vaginosis, which is a common cause of preterm delivery.¹²

• Mothers that had a high intake of vitamin D during pregnancy were 45% less likely to have a daughter with multiple sclerosis.¹³

4. Zinc – Careful: Narrow threshold. Toxic at high-doses.

• Fetal zinc deficiency may explain some of the birth defects and neurodevelopmental abnormalities associated with alcohol exposure. New rodent findings are the first to show that dietary zinc supplements throughout pregnancy can reduce some alcohol-related birth defects.¹⁴

5. Multivitamin

• Women who take multivitamins during pregnancy can cut their children’s risk of the tumor by 30 percent to 40 percent.¹⁵

Okay, suggesting a multivitamin isn’t exactly rocket science, but in some cases (though perhaps not all) it probably at least covers a lot of the needs of the other vitamins.

This shouldn’t have to be said but: this isn’t medical advice. Some of these vitamins have a toxic limit. Consult the Linus Pauling Institute website for recommended daily allowance information, and certainly consult your physician before making any big changes.

New research from UCSF shows that omega-3 fatty acids can slow the aging process.  Patients with coronary heart disease that high higher blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA, had an associated lower rate of telomere shortening (JAMA. 2010 Jan 20;303(3):250-7).  Telomeres are structures at the end of chromosomes that protect the DNA from degrading.  Telomeres progressively shorten as we age and, therefore, are a biological marker for aging.

It is well known that consumption of omega-3 fatty acids decreases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, mainly by lowering triglyceride levels.  But could it be possible that omega-3 fatty acids may delay the aging process and this, in part, is why it reduces the risk of age-associated diseases?  The association between omega-3 fatty acids and telomere length seem to indicate it might be possible.

Click here for more on omega-3 fish oil benefits

Coconut Oil Will Kill Acne Bacteria

50% of coconut oil consists of lauric acid, a medium chain fatty acid. Lauric acid has very potent anti-bacterial activity against the acne-causing bacteria propionbacterium acnes (P. acnes).  Propionbacterium acnes plays a substantial role in the pathogenesis of acne.  The bacteria P. acnes takes residence in the sebaceous glands of the facial skin and feeds on sebum that is secreted by the sebaceous glands. Propionbacterium acnes cause an inflammatory response, resulting in the production of many pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL1-alpha, and lead to chronic, inflammatory acne.

Lauric acid has exhibited very strong anti-microbial activity against propionbacterium acnes. Lauric acid inhibits P. acnes bacterial growth and is 15 times more potent at killing propionbacterium acnes than benzoyl peroxide.  Many acne sufferers use benzoyl peroxide to treat acne but experience substantial negative side effects such as redness and dry skin  due to the toxicity of benzoyl peroxide.  Lauric acid does not have any toxic side effects and will not cause redness or dry skin. In addition, topical application of lauric acid, has been shown to decrease P. acnes bacterial growth and reduce swelling and inflammation.  Since coconut oil is 50% lauric acid, topical application of coconut oil has enormous therapeutic potential for the treatment of acne by killing the acne-promoting bacteria, propionbacterium acnes, therefore, terminating the inflammatory response that propagates chronic inflammatory acne.

Coconut Oil: Hormonal Acne Cures

Coconut oil inhibits the production of androgens, which are a major cause of hormonal acne.   5-alpha-dihydrotestosterone (5-alpha-DHT) is a potent androgen that regulates the production of sebum, a mixture of lipids in the sebaceous glands of the facial skin.  Testosterone is converted into 5-alpha-dihydrotestosterone (5-alpha-DHT) by the enzyme 5-alpha reductase.  5-alpha-dihydrotestosterone stimulates sebum production, providing an ideal environment for propionbacterium acnes to grow and proliferate.  Androgens, specifically,  5-alpha-DHT, also regulate follicular hyperkeratinization seen in acne. Hyperkeratinization means there is an overabundance of keratin being produced in the skin.  This results in adherence of dead skin cells together, which, consequently, do not detach from the skin’s surface normally. This leads to clogging of the skin’s pores and instigates the formation of a comedone (acne lesion).  There is substantial evidence that the activity of the 5-alpha reductase enzyme is considerably higher in acne-prone areas compared to non acne-prone areas.

Several studies provide evidence that lauric acid inhibits 5-alpha reductase activity, and blocks the conversion of testosterone into 5-alpha-dihydrotestosterone. Another study found that  lauric acid inhibited the activity of  5-alpha reductase by 50%.  Since lauric acid is an effective inhibitor of 5-alpha reductase, it has natural anti-androgenic activity and can be used therapeautically to treat hormonal acne. Inhibition of 5-alpha reductase with coconut oil would result in less androgen production, dramatically reduced sebum production, decreased propionbacterium acnes proliferation, decreased inflammation, and a reduction in keratinocyte proliferation, all of which are implicated as major causes of acne.

For a complete reference list click here: Coconut Oil Acne Cure

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I ran across a “roaccutane and accutane action” group which consists of individuals who claim either they themselves, or their family members have suffered from the use of accutane — and perhaps more bizarrely, they claim that some of them have suffered psychological side effects.

Without having taken the time to personally read through each entry on their website individually I thought I’d post their page summarizing the “research” of the topic at hand:

http://www.accutaneaction.com/Studies/index.html

We all know that just 15 minutes of sunlight a day is enough to enable our bodies to make adequate levels of vitamin D.  What you may not know is that the skin production of vitamin D can be dampened by several different factors and can cause vitamin D deficiency.

Factor # 1: Sunscreen: In order for the skin to make vitamin D, it requires UVB rays from the sun.  For this reason, sunscreens that block UVB radiation also inhibit your skin from making vitamin D.  This is an important factor to keep in mind, especially because sunscreen protects us from the sun’s damaging effects, including pre-mature skin aging and skin cancer.

Factor #2: Skin Color: The degree of skin pigmentation also affects how well the skin can make vitamin D from the sun.  The darker the skin color, the more difficult it is for your skin to make vitamin D.  This is because skin pigmentation is a natural sunscreen that filters out UVB radiation, which is necessary for vitamin D synthesis.

Factor #3: Body Fat: Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means is gets stored in your body fat.  The more fat you have, the more vitamin D is deposited in the fat stores, which means less vitamin D makes its way into your circulation, this is called decreased bioavailability. Vitamin D deficiency is strongly correlated with obesity and many studies have shown that there is decreased bioavailability of vitamin D in obese people.

Factor #4: Age: Aging also decreases the skin’s ability to make vitamin D from the sun.  Studies have shown that a 70 year old person makes 4 times less vitamin D from the sun than a 20 year old.  Recognition of this difference is extremely important for elderly who spend an insignificant amount of time in the sun, and solely depend on sun exposure for their vitamin D nutritional requirements.

Although our bodies are capable of producing plenty of vitamin D from the sun, the aforementioned factors influence the efficiency of vitamin D synthesis by our skin.  It is important to understand that vitamin D attained through dietary sources is not influenced by any of these factors.  The FDA daily requirement of vitamin D is only 400IU, however, several studies contest this dosage and recommend a higher daily intake.  The National Institute of Medicine recommends 2,000 IU a day for healthy adults. Due to the fat-solubilty of vitamin D, doses higher than 10,000 IU daily may be toxic unless prescribed by a physician.

For a more complete list on vitamin D sources, supplementation, and toxicity

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These statements and/or products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not medical advice, if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician.

It seems a bit counter-intuitive that fat could actually aid in weight loss. But it’s true, coconut oil promotes weight loss and I’m going to tell you how. Let’s start by going over some of the basics that you likely learned in college biochemistry, if you took it, but may have have forgotten. Fats and oils are composed of fatty acids. There are really two different ways to characterize fatty acids. The first method is based on saturation, and is probably the one you are most familiar with. Most of you are acquainted with saturated or unsaturated fats and oils. The second way to classify a fatty acid is based on size or length of the fatty acid. There are short chain fatty acids (SCFA), medium chain fatty acids (MCFA), and long chain fatty acids (LCFA). Short chain fatty acids (SCFA) contain less than 6 carbon atoms, medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) have between 6-12 carbons, and long chain fatty acids (LCFA) have 14 or more carbon atoms. The reason fats are classified based on their length is because the size of the carbon chain influences the chemical and physical properties of the fatty acid.

Most of the fats and oils that you eat come from either plant or animal sources, all of which are composed of long chain fatty acids (LCFA). In fact, probably more than 98% of the dietary fat that humans consume is composed of LCFA. Coconut oil is really unique because it is primarily composed of medium chain fatty acids (MCFA), with lauric acid constituting approximately 47% of coconut oil. Here is where it gets important: medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) are metabolized very differently from long chain fatty acids (LCFA). First, I’ll explain how most dietary fats consisting of long chain fatty acids are digested and metabolized. Then I’ll inform you how medium chain fatty acids found in coconut oil are digested and metabolized, pointing out the significance in the major differences.

Medium Chain Triglycerides Benefits

Long chain fatty acids (LCFA) found in plant and animal fat are not easily absorbed by the GI tract and require pancreatic enzymes and bile salts to break them down so that they can be absorbed by the intestine. Next, the long chain fatty acids are packaged into chylomicrons, which are lipoproteins that transport lipids throughout the body. The lipoproteins are transported through the lymphatic system then circulate through the bloodstream, where they deliver fat components to a variety of tissues, including adipose, cardiac and skeletal tissue. After the lipoproteins have uploaded their triglyceride components to these tissues, the left over lipoproteins are transported to the liver, where they are imported into the mitochondria of liver cells, using the carnitine palmitoyl transferase (CPT) machinery, and are finally oxidized for energy use (Life Sciences 62 (14): 1203-1215). This is how all saturated fat, unsaturated fat, and cholesterol that consists of long chain fatty acids (all of your dietary fat) is transported throughout the body.

In contrast, medium chain fatty acids found in coconut oil are absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) with ease, they do not require any pancreatic enzymes to break them down, which means less work for your pancreas. Next, medium chain fatty acids are transported to the portal blood stream, directly to the liver, where they go directly into mitochondria independent of the carnitine palmitoyl transferase, and are immediately oxidized for energy. Medium chain fatty acids from coconut oil do not get packaged into lipoproteins, and do not get transported to a variety of tissues and are not stored as body fat, they go directly to the liver and are metabolized for energy (Life Sciences 62 (14): 1203-1215). The bottom line is that medium chain fatty acids from coconut oil produces almost exclusively energy, whereas, long chain fatty acids found in all other dietary fats produce body fat (and some energy).

Coconut Oil Boosts Energy

Because the medium chain fatty acids found in coconut oil are easily and rapidly transported into the mitochondria, unlike long chain fatty acids, they are immediately used for energy, resulting in a burst of energy and thermogenesis, which, subsequently, increases metabolism. Several animal studies and clinical studies have proven that ingestion of coconut oil increases metabolism and decreases body fat both in animal studies performed on mice, and humans. Rats that were fed a diet consisting of medium chain fatty acids had less subcutaneous fat, a visibly evident decrease in body fat, increased metabolism and increased thermogenesis (Lipids 22 (6): 442-444). The energy burst that is produced by medium chain fatty acids is also important for athletic endurance. In one study, researchers tested the physical endurance of mice that were fed medium chain fatty acids vs. those fed a diet high in long chain fatty acids for six weeks. The mice were subjected to a swimming endurance test, where they had to swim against a current, every other day. The mice that were fed medium chain fatty acids continually performed better then the others and displayed a much higher physical endurance (Journal of Nutrition 125 (3):531-9). These studies in mice provide us with evidence that medium chain fatty acids increase metabolism and promote the loss of fat while providing a burst of energy that increases physical endurance. Yes, this boost in energy means you feel less lethargic, and can help you feel less tired as you perform daily activities.

Coconut Oil Decreases Body Fat

Numerous studies have shown that coconut oil clearly has an effect in men and women very analogous to what has been demonstrated in other mammalian animal models: it increases metabolism and decreases overall body fat. For example, healthy men and women were administered either medium chain fatty acids or long chain fatty acids in addition to a diet similar in fat, protein, and carbohydrates for 12 weeks. Throughout the 12 weeks, individuals that took medium chain fatty acids had significantly less body weight and, specifically, body fat (The Journal of Nutrition 131 (11): 2853-2859). Studies have also shown that medium chain fatty acids also increase the oxidation of long chain fatty acids that are already in your body, tucked away in your lovehandles (International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders: Journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity 24 (9): 1158-1166). Similar to the animal studies, medium chain fatty acids also boost energy production by increasing thermogenesis, which speeds up metabolism in humans as well (Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental 38 (7): 641-648). In another study, people with high triglyceride levels were given medium chain fatty acids for eight weeks. In addition to decreasing body fat, their triglyceride levels were lowered by 14.5% (European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 63 (7): 879-886).

So just a quick refresher for those of you that lost focus:

• Coconut oil is metabolized by a different process than long chain fatty acids altogether, this process expedites use as energy instead of storage.

• Because the body has to preferentially burn the fat off, it ramps up the metabolism by increasing thermogenesis.

• This ramping up of the metabolism then proceeds to not only burn off coconut oil, but long chain fatty acids pre-existing the consumption of coconut oil.

• These effects have been demonstrated both in animal studies, and more importantly, human studies as well.

To reap the medium chain triglyceride benefits you simply need to change the type of oil you use to cook with to coconut oil.  If you’re worried about the coconut taste, you can buy expeller pressed coconut oil, which has no coconut smell or flavor and is great for cooking.  Also, because coconut oil is made up of  medium chain fatty acids, it is a solid at temperatures below 76°F.

Next time you reach for a cup of coffee, you may want to grab a cup of white tea instead.  New research from Kingston University in London shows white tea helps reduce age-related wrinkles.  The researchers tested the health properties of 21 different plant and herb extracts and found that white tea, by far, had the most potent anti-oxidant properties.  White tea comes from the same plant as green tea, Camilli sinensis, but it is processed differently and undergoes less oxidation. For this reason, white tea has a higher content of catechins, which are anti-oxidants.

A series of tests were performed, testing the ability of the plant extracts to protect the structural integrity of the skin, specifically elastin and collagen activity.  Both elastin and collagen are important components of connective tissue that are responsible for the elasticity and strength of skin, and thus it’s propensity to produce wrinkles. In addition to the skin, elastin is also a very important structural component of the arteries, lungs, and ligaments. The degradation of these proteins leads to wrinkles associated with age.  The proteins that break down collagen and elastin are known as collagenases and elastases, respectively.  Collagenases and elastases are also associated with inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

The results were astounding.  White tea inhibited the activity of collagenase by 89% and elastase by 87%. White tea also had high anti-oxidant activity and was able to inhibit the formation of free radicals by 88%.  The potent anti-collagenase and anti-elastase activity is attributed to the high concentration of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in white tea. EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant and has many therapeutic properties, including anti-cancer.

In a related study, scientists from Case Medical Center in Clevland, OH found that white tea protects against the UV damaging effects of the sun as well.  White tea was found to guard Langerhans cells from cell death.  Langerhans cells are immune cells that are located in the outer layer of the epidermis and are the first to recognize foreign substances, such as, microbes and cancerous proteins. However, because of their location they are extremely sensitive to UV radiation.

White tea extract was topically applied to an area on the patient’s skin and subsequently exposed to artificial sunlight. The white tea was able to preserve the Langerhans cells, which still retained their immune function. Additionally, the white tea prevented the DNA damage that typically occurs with UV radiation. Again, the high anti-oxidant activity in white tea is thought to play a role in the protection against UV damage.

It is important to recognize that the same process of oxidative stress in skin cells by UV radiation also promotes skin cancer and age-related wrinkles. Younger skin is able to resist oxidative stress better than aged skin and both of these studies provide evidence that white tea is capable of building the skin’s resistance against factors that cause the skin to age.

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See larger image Davidson's Tea Bulk, Silver Needles, 16-Ounce Bag (Grocery) List Price: $59.26 USD New From: $45.58 In Stock Release date June 21, 2007.

Silver Needle (aka. Yin Zhen) Premium Loose Leaf White Tea (4 oz.) (Misc.) New From: $22.99 In Stock

See larger image Origins A Perfect World White Tea Skin Guardian - 1.7 oz. (Health and Beauty) List Price: $49.50 USD New From: $45.99 In Stock

See larger image Origins A Perfect World Antioxidant Moisturizer with White Tea - 50ml/1.7oz (Health and Beauty) List Price: $61.88 USD

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New Research published in the Journal of Behavioral Neuroscience found more evidence that  docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish and microalgae, is brain food.  The positive neurological benefits of omega-3 fatty acids are not terribly surprising because DHA makes up over 90% of the omega-3 fatty acids in the brain and is responsible for maintaining the cell-nerve membranes.

The research indicates that omega-3 helps the nervous system avoid sensory overload.  The authors concluded that omega-3 deficiency, particularly DHA , reduces the brain’s ability to handle sensory input. Moreover, even a small decrease in “brain DHA”  can lead to losses in brain function.

These findings have potential therapeutic applications because they  link omega-3 deficiency to difficulty in information-processing.  Defects in sensorimotor function are the hallmark of many diseases of the nervous system found in people with schizophrenia, bipolar, OCD, ADHD, and Huntington’s disease.

From Eurekalert:

“The micro-algae grew faster at a higher CO2 concentration, exactly as the researchers had expected. Yet this growth was also associated with a change in the composition of the algae. The algae cultured at a higher CO2 concentration contained relatively more carbon and relatively less phosphorous. This meant a reduction in the nutritional value [...]“

Make sure to read beyond the excerpt… This post is specifically talking about environmental effects (via altered composition), and has nothing to do with omega-3 content.