One Minute Nutrition Research Roundup

The research studies of today form the basis for the supplements we’ll be buying tomorrow.  So we’re always looking at what’s coming over the horizon. A periodic search of PubMed and other databases takes a long time but always reveals some surprising (and unsurprising) trends and developments in the fields of nutrition and health.  So we’ve summarized some interesting recent findings into a One Minute Research Roundup. Got a minute? Get caught up on what may be coming down the nutrition pike.

• Spirulina is already well-known as a nutritious green superfood. Many people find it to be energizing and claims have been made about it being alkalizing and detoxifying.  Two newly-discovered properties of spirulina are reducing symptoms of allergic rhinitis and (attention bodybuilders) increasing protein synthesis.

• Long-term incense use raises the risk of at least one type of lung cancer. Not terribly surprising since many other types of smoke have been found to do that, everything from cigarettes to combustible mosquito coils.  But this is probably not good news for the researchers investigating incense as a drug delivery method, which is actually a very old idea.

Heavy incense use can raise risk of lung cancer.

• Yet another study that refutes the notion that exercise is merely a vanity-driven lifestyle choice. Another clear link between colon cancer risk and physical activity level is established.

• A lower-sodium high-potassium diet promotes a better mood? Yes. It’s also probably the best diet if you have or are at risk for high blood pressure.

• Speaking of being in a better mood, if you’re dealing with a lot of anxiety, you may want to cut out the sweets, especially if you’re female.  This study showed higher anxiety scores in women who consumed the highest levels of sweets and red meats. Lowest levels were found in vegetarian women.

Higher intakes of sweets are associated with higher anxiety levels in women.

• Yet another good reason to take fish oil: The long chain omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil have been shown to reduce hunger after a meal, making it less likely for an individual to overeat.