In the search for sources of excess sodium, sometimes the saltiest culprits are the least expected foods. After all, when someone tears into a bag of salt-and-vinegar potato chips, they have probably already factored a relative sodium wallop into the bargain. Far less likely, though, do they expect to soak up as much as half a day’s sodium from, say, a single cup of chili.
Resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene), a natural polyphenolic compound produced by plants, is found in the skin of red grapes and in other fruits, and it can also be produced by chemical synthesis. Resveratrol’s benefits are the subject of numerous animal and human studies. Animal studies have shown anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-aggregatory, hypoglycemic and other beneficial cardiovascular effects have been reported, as has blood pressure reduction.
A one-year, double-blind, controlled clinical study suggests cacao flavonoids and soy isoflavones can significantly improve biomarkers of CVD risk in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes. The trial, conducted by Peter J. Curtis, Ph.D., et al, funded by a U.K.-based Charity, Diabetes UJK, and supported by Frutarom Ltd., Israel, and cocoa and chocolate processor Barry Callebaut Inc., was published February 2012 in Diabetes Care.
Algatechnologies, Israel, a manufacturer of natural astaxanthin, has collaborated with Novel Creation, Israel, to develop Maximum Red Alga, a unique liquid dietary supplement of natural astaxanthin using AstaPure™ 10% astaxanthin oleoresin as its main active ingredient. Maximum Red Alga liquid supplement is produced and marketed by Novel Creation and will be launched in the U.S. and Europe in 2012.
Stevia has been long cultivated as a sweetener. The extracts of the leaves, steviol glycosides, are responsible for its sweet characteristics; the main two steviol glycosides are stevioside and rebaudioside A (reb A).
This two-article series focuses on the different nutritional stages of a consumer’s life. Part I, this article, provides an overview of nutrition needs during the stages of pregnancy, infancy and childhood. For Part 2, focusing on teenagers, Baby Boomers and seniors, please see link in article.