Juicy news On Monday I told you about new research showing that cranberry juice can protect your teeth from plaque buildup. But cranberry isn't the only juice in the news lately. Apparently, drinking a glass of tomato juice a day is also a good idea. Researchers in Italy say that the antioxidants in tomato juice could lower markers of inflammation in the body by more than 30 percent. And since inflammation is linked to hardening of the artery walls and other cardiovascular diseases, keeping inflammation down is a natural way to protect your heart. In the University of Milan study, 26 healthy young adults were asked to drink one glass of commercially available tomato juice per day in addition to their regular diets. The researchers found that the inflammatory mediator TNF-alpha, a marker for inflammation, dropped by 34 percent after six weeks. Tomato extract contains lycopene, beta-carotene, vitamin E, and other phytonutrients. In addition to reducing inflammation, regular consumption of tomatoes and tomato-based products has been linked to lowered blood pressure, and it may even bolster immune function.
Chipping away at the gallstone myth
Q: Are there any natural cures for dissolving gallstones so that I can put an end to my gallbladder attacks once and for all? JVW: You may be surprised to learn that gallstones are almost never the cause of gallbladder attacks. I know conventional medicine likes to lay the blame on gallstones, and doctors rush patients into surgery at the slightest hint of gallbladder trouble. But this surgery is almost entirely preventable -- without using medications, vitamins, minerals, or herbs. The technique is simple, and it works nearly every time: Don't consume anything you're allergic to. You should work with a physician skilled and knowledgeable in nutritional and natural medicine to determine what your allergies might be. Eliminating them from your diet should eliminate your gallbladder trouble.
What is a...gallstone?
A gallstone is primarily hardened cholesterol. The stones, which can grow as large as a golf ball, form in the gallbladder and occasionally in the bile ducts.
Source:
"Effect of a tomato-based drink on markers of inflammation, immunomodulation, and oxidative stress," Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2006; 54(7): 2,563-2,566
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