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Young, healthy adults exposed to ozone for two hours experience adverse changes in markers of inflammation, thrombosis, and heart rate variability. A number of previous studies have linked adverse respiratory effects with ozone exposure, and recent epidemiologic research suggests that this environmental pollutant also may contribute to cardiovascular disease risk and death. Robert B. Devlin, …
Omega-3 fatty acid supplements can lower inflammation in healthy, but overweight, middle-aged and older adults. Chronic inflammation is linked to numerous conditions, including coronary heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as the frailty and functional decline that can accompany aging. Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, from Ohio State University (Ohio, USA), and colleagues …
Eating tree nuts helps to lower body weight and body mass index, while improving cholesterol levels and markers of inflammation. Walnuts, almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, and pistachios are types of tree nuts, for which a number of previous studies have suggested a variety of health benefits. Carol O’Neil, from Louisiana …
Juices of blackcurrant, cranberry, and lingonberry help to reduce levels of inflammatory markers that may contribute to atherosclerosis. A growing body of scientific evidence supports the potential beneficial effects of berry compounds. Anne S. Kivimaki, from the University of Helsinki (Finland), and colleagues studied the effects of cranberry (Vaccinum oxycoccos), lingonberry (Vaccinum vitis idaca), and …
Heavily stressed muscles responded to massage therapy with a variety of biologic changes associated with reduced inflammation. Massage therapy has been widely used during physical rehabilitation to reduce pain and promote recovery of injured muscle, but the biologic basis of the benefits of massage have remained unclear. Mark A. Tarnopolsky, from McMaster University (Canada), and …
Certain strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cause white blood cells to produce very high levels of histamine, which in turn leads to inflammation, a hallmark symptom of asthma. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common bacterium found in soil, water, skin flora, and most man-made environments throughout the world. University of California/San Francisco (UCSF; California, USA) researchers have …
Levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation, decrease with increased blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids have undergone extensive studies with their potential anti-inflammatory effects. Jyrki Virtanen, from the University of Eastern Finland (Finland), and colleagues analyzed blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids, as well as C-reactive protein (CRP) – …
Insulin resistance is associated with inflammatory processes that lead to cortical atrophy and brain dysfunction. Whereas common complications of type-2 diabetes, including kidney disease, foot problems and vision problems, are generally well recognized, the disease’s impact on the brain is often overlooked. Vera Novak, from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Massachusetts, USA), and colleagues studied …
Consuming dried bilberries reduces inflammation in the gut, and helps with inflammatory bowel disease, in a laboratory animal model. Bilberries, closely related to the North American blueberry, are rich in anthocyanins, a potent antioxidant compound. Gerhard Rogler, from University Hospital of Zurich (Switzerland), and colleagues exposed lab mice to a chemical that induced inflammation in …
Among postmenopausal women, green tea and tai chi reduce markers of inflammation to exert a favorable effect on bone density. Green tea, which originates from the Orient, is brimming with polyphenol compounds, known for their potent antioxidant activity. Dozens of epidemiological (observational) studies have shown that people who consume the highest levels of green tea …