Tag Archives: insomnia menopause

Study Finds “Beauty Sleep” Really Does Help Attractiveness

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Source: The British Medical Journal

If you want to look attractive and healthy, the best thing you can do is get a good night’s sleep, finds research on the website of the British Medical Journal.

For the first time, say the authors, there is scientific backing for the concept of beauty sleep.  The study, led by John Axelsson from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, investigated the relationship between sleep and perceptions of attractiveness and health. The authors believe this research is important in today’s 24 hour society with the number of people suffering from sleep disorders and disturbed sleep on the rise.

Twenty-three participants between the ages of 18 to 31 took part in the study. They were photographed between 2pm and 3pm on two occasions, once after normal sleep and once after being deprived of sleep. Smokers were excluded from the research and no alcohol was allowed for two days prior to the experiment.

The photographs were taken in a well-lit room and the distance to the camera was fixed. During both photography sessions participants wore no make-up, had their hair loose (combed back if they had long hair) and underwent similar cleaning or shaving procedures. They were asked to have a relaxed, neutral facial expression for both photos.

Sixty-five observers, who were blinded to the sleep status of the subjects, rated the photographs for attractiveness and whether the individuals looked healthy/unhealthy or tired/not tired.

The observers judged the faces of sleep-deprived participants as less healthy, less attractive and more tired.  The authors conclude that the facial signals of sleep deprived people affect facial appearance and judgments of attractiveness, health and tiredness.

Comment from the blog author Nutrition Breakthroughs:

To preserve your “Beauty Sleep” and attractiveness at those times when you’re experiencing insomnia or sleeplessness, try taking some natural minerals to soothe you to sleep.  A popular example of this is Sleep Minerals II from http://www.NutritionBreakthroughs.com.  It contains highly absorbable forms of calcium and magnesium, the best minerals for sleeplessness and insomnia, as well as for heart health, restless legs syndrome, bone strength and menopause insomnia.

The formula also includes vitamin D and zinc and is delivered in a softgel form with healthy carrier oils, making it more quickly absorbable than tablets or capsules and providing a deeper, longer-lasting sleep.

Richard P. of Parkville, Maryland says: “The Sleep Minerals are making quite a difference.  I was regularly waking up at around 3:00 a.m. and after a few days use my sleep improved quite a lot. I wake up once a night to go to the bathroom, but the great thing is, I then fall back asleep and sleep several more hours.  This has been a great improvement.”

To learn more about Sleep Minerals II, visit https://www.nutritionbreakthroughs.com/sleep-minerals-ii-effective-natural-sleep-aid-for-insomnia-nutrition-breakthroughs/

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Source: The British Medical Journal: http://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c6614

Hot Flash Remedies: Research on Vitamin C and Minerals

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One natural remedy proven in a research study to relieve hot flashes may come as a surprise to some, as it is such a well-known, widely used vitamin with many benefits.

It’s the famous vitamin C.  The study was called “Non-Hormonal Control of Vaso-Motor Flushing in Menopausal Patients”, published in the journal: “Chicago Medicine.”

Vasomotor refers to the nerves and muscles causing blood vessels to constrict (narrow) or dilate (open). Extensive research indicates that vitamin C strengthens blood vessel membranes and acts as a potent antioxidant.  Antioxidants protect our tissues from deterioration and may help slow the aging process.

In the vitamin C study, a total of 94 patients were studied, all of who had reached menopause.  They were given 200 milligrams of vitamin C and 200 milligrams of bioflavonoids six times daily.  Bioflavonoids are the substance contained in the white material in the inside of orange peels.  Therefore each subject received 1200 mg of both the bioflavonoids and vitamin C each day.

The results were that  67% of the subjects reported complete relief from hot flashes and 21% reported partial relief, giving this combination an overall 88% success rate.

Mineral deficiency can also be a factor in contributing to menopause symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats.  The pioneering nutritionist Adelle Davis writes of this in her book “Let’s Eat Right to Keep Fit”.

Davis says, “The amount of calcium in a woman’s blood parallels the activity of the ovaries. During the menopause, the lack of ovarian hormones can cause severe calcium deficiency symptoms to occur, including irritability, hot flashes, night sweats, leg cramps, and insomnia. These problems can be easily overcome if the intakes of calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D are all generously increased and are well absorbed.”

Jobee Knight, a nutritional researcher and founder of NutritionBreakthroughs.com in Clearwater, Florida, is someone who fought her own menopausal battle against sleeplessness and insomnia. She decided to put her background to use by searching out effective natural insomnia remedies for relaxation and deeper sleep.

The result was Sleep Minerals II, a natural sleep aid that contains highly absorbable forms of calcium and magnesium, combined with vitamin D and zinc. The ingredients are formulated in a softgel and mixed with healthy oils, making them more quickly absorbable than tablets or capsules and providing a deeper, longer-lasting sleep.

Anita L. of New Caney, Texas says: “I was having hot flashes every 30 minutes to an hour through the night and was so miserable. After about two weeks of taking the Sleep Minerals, I noticed an incredible difference with my sleep. I have much less interruption from flashes, I’m sleeping much better and I’m a lot more comfortable.”

For more information on Sleep Minerals II, visit visit this web page

Study Shows Flax Seed a Remedy for Hot Flashes

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remedy for hot flashesStudy Shows Flax Seed a Remedy for Hot Flashes

The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) reports that an estimated 6,000 US women reach menopause each day, which translates to over 2 million women every year.

Hot flashes and night sweats are a frequent symptom of menopause.  Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) drugs can provide some relief for hot flashes, but at a considerable price.

The Women’s Health Initiative study, which followed 16,608 women being given hormone replacement therapy (HRT), discovered a high risk of breast cancer, coronary heart disease and stroke from the use of these drugs.

As a result, more and more women today are seeking the use of natural remedies for menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, migraine headaches, anxiety, fatigue, and insomnia.

A hot flash, also called hot flush, is a sudden feeling of warmth and often a breakout of sweating in the upper half of the body. When these occur at night, they are called night sweats.  Hot flashes are caused by a reduced function in the body’s temperature regulation, which is brought about by changing hormone levels.

When estrogen in women, or testosterone in men is depleted, a rapid increase in skin temperature can occur due to dilatation (widening) of the skin blood vessels — and it can become frequent.  This process of blood vessel dilation is the body’s way to release the heat.

One natural remedy for hot flashes has been making headlines lately. Mayo Clinic breast health specialist Sandhya Pruthi, M.D., recently conducted a study on crushed flaxseed. The 29 participants in Mayo’s clinical trial were women with hot flashes who did not want to take estrogen because they perceived they had an increased risk of breast cancer.

Flaxseed was selected by Dr. Pruthi’s team as it is a phytoestrogen (plant-based estrogen source). The women were given six weeks of flaxseed therapy, consisting of 40 grams (one and a half ounces) of crushed flaxseed eaten daily. Study participants were asked questions that were translated into their individual hot flash scores.

The result was that their frequency of hot flashes decreased fifty percent.  There was also an average fifty-seven percent decrease in the overall hot flash scores for the women who completed the trial.  Participants also reported good improvements in mood, joint and muscle pain, chills, and sweating. This was a significant benefit to their health and quality of life.

Dr. Pruthi said: “We are quite pleased with the improvements noted by these women in their quality of life. Not only does flaxseed seem to alleviate hot flashes, but it appears to have overall health and psychological benefits as well.”

Other natural remedies for hot flashes are the well-known relaxing minerals, calcium and magnesium.  Regarding mineral deficiency at the time of menopause, nutritionist Adelle Davis says, “The amount of calcium in a woman’s blood parallels the activity of the ovaries.  During the menopause, the lack of ovarian hormones (estrogen and progesterone) can cause severe calcium deficiency symptoms to occur, including irritability, hot flashes, night sweats, leg cramps, and insomnia. These problems can be easily overcome if the intakes of calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D are all generously increased and are well absorbed.”

One insomnia remedy increasing in popularity among menopausal women is Sleep Minerals II from Nutrition Breakthroughs.  This natural sleep aid contains highly absorbable forms of calcium and magnesium, the best minerals for sleeplessness and insomnia, as well as for heart health, restless legs syndrome, bone strength, and menopause insomnia.

The formula also includes vitamin D and zinc and is delivered in a softgel form with healthy carrier oils, making it more quickly and fully assimilated than tablets or capsules and providing a deeper, longer-lasting sleep.

Anita L. of New Caney, Texas says: “I was having hot flashes every 30 minutes to an hour through the night and was so miserable.  After about two weeks of taking the Sleep Minerals, I noticed an incredible difference with my sleep.  I have much less interruption from flashes, I’m sleeping much better, and I’m a lot more comfortable.”

For more information on Sleep Minerals II visit this link.

Sleep Minerals II Reviews, Effective Insomnia Remedy

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Greetings to you,

If you or someone you know has an interest in natural sleep remedies that actually work, and would like to avoid addictive sleep medications, than this news is for you.

Sleep Minerals II is one of the most effective all-natural insomnia remedies.  It is the original drug-free calcium and magnesium formula for better sleep. It calms sleeplessness and helps you to relax, fall asleep and sleep deeper.

It also helps you get back to sleep in the middle of the night and is a proven remedy for restless leg syndrome, menopause insomnia, teenage insomnia, prevention of osteoporosis, and correction of calcium and magnesium deficiencies.

Sleep Minerals II comes in a softgel form with healthy oils, which makes it more fully and rapidly absorbable than tablets or capsules.

Here are some recent Sleep Minerals II reviews:

Good product
By catgirl

“I’ve been using this for more than 6 months now. My sleep is definitely improved. It’s not like cold medicine that knocks me out; it’s not a “magic bullet,” but it works as advertised—my muscles are more relaxed and so I sleep better. I’ve gone from insomnia that changed my lifestyle to sleeping enough to have a normal life. Definitely worth a try if sleep is an issue for you.”

For more information on Sleep Minerals II reviews visit https://www.nutritionbreakthroughs.com/sleep-minerals-ii-effective-natural-sleep-aid-for-insomnia-nutrition-breakthroughs/

I can’t believe it works for me….
By “Healthy in Ohio”

“I’m a 54 yr old menopausal woman. I usually fall asleep right away, but after 3 to 4 hours I wake up, wide awake and can not go back to sleep. I’ve been struggling with sleeplessness for my entire adult life. But it’s gotten to the place where it’s nightly now instead of a couple of times a week like it used to be. I’ve gone for probably a year or so with no more then 3 or 4 hours of sleep.  It even keeps me from being able to have a job. I just can’t function on 3 hrs of sleep, night after night.

I will not use prescription drugs that could be addictive. However I’ve tried all types of natural sleep remedies in addition to melatonin, B12 & 5HTP.  Nothing worked for me until I got Sleep Minerals 11. I still can’t believe it.  I’ve only been taking them for 5 nights. But the past 3 nights I slept all night long and woke up after 7 hours. I NEVER EVER EVER DO THAT!!! It has to be these minerals.

I also had restless leg syndrome really badly every night. I just couldn’t keep my legs still or sit still. And these minerals completely took it away. I’m only taking one of the mineral capsules a night. I lay the other one up on my headboard to take if I wake up, but so far, I’ve not awakened to take it. SO THANKFUL FOR THIS PRODUCT!!”

For more information on Sleep Minerals II visit https://www.nutritionbreakthroughs.com/sleep-minerals-ii-effective-natural-sleep-aid-for-insomnia-nutrition-breakthroughs/

Sleeping better
By L.S.

“Works for me!!!!! After a year of waking up between 1 and 3 in the a.m., (for the past year), I’m now sleeping better. The product information says if you wake up, take another gel cap. If I’m unable to fall back to sleep, I follow the instructions and fall back to sleep. Lately, I’m finding that I’m waking up less in the middle of the night or if I wake up, I fall right back to sleep without having to take an additional gel cap. I also find this product doesn’t cause you to wake up feeling lethargic, I find I wake up with good energy. So glad I found this product.”

For more information on Sleep Minerals II visit https://www.nutritionbreakthroughs.com/sleep-minerals-ii-effective-natural-sleep-aid-for-insomnia-nutrition-breakthroughs/

Bone health: Beyond calcium and vitamin D

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bone healthBy: Jay Cao, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Human Nutrition Research Center

You probably know that women after menopause are more likely than men to lose bone and develop osteoporosis, a disease in which bones become porous and easy to break.

That’s because women after menopause produce less estrogen, a hormone that helps prevent bone loss.

In the United States, about 10 million people, 80 percent of them women, aged 50 or older have osteoporosis. There are about 1.5 million people who suffer an osteoporotic-related fracture each year. Osteoporosis is responsible for more than $17 billion in direct annual health care expenditures.

Build healthy bones early

Bone is a living tissue that is constantly built and broken down throughout a person’s lifetime. The speed of building and breaking down determines bone mass. Bone mass is like a bank account in which balance is determined by deposits and withdraws.

During the first two decades of women’s lives, bone formation outpaces breakdown, and bone grows in length and width. Women reach their peak bone mass, or maximum bone strength and density, before the age of 40 years. In general, women with higher peak bone mass achieved before menopause will be at lower risk for developing osteoporosis later in life.

Because almost half of the adult bone mass is acquired during the growth spurt before puberty, maximizing the peak bone mass in early life is crucial for the prevention of osteoporosis.

Although peak bone mass is strongly influenced by genetic factors that we cannot change, there are many other factors that we can modify to increase bone size and strength — such as nutrition, physical activity, and other lifestyle factors.

Calcium and vitamin D

Adequate calcium and vitamin D intakes are vital for normal bone development throughout womens’ lives. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body. Vitamin D is essential for intestinal calcium absorption by the body.

Vitamin D can be synthesized by the skin after exposure to ultraviolet light in sunlight. The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine recommends adult women should take 1,200 milligrams of calcium a day and 400 IU vitamin D/day. Women older than age 70 years should take 600 IU vitamin D/day.

Fortified cereals and juices and dairy products like milk and yogurt are excellent sources of calcium. Good sources of vitamin D include fatty fish, salmon, or fortified orange juice and cereal.

Other dietary factors

Despite many years of research on the roles of calcium and vitamin D in bone health, we still haven’t been able to prevent osteoporosis. Now, we know many other dietary factors may have equal or more important roles affecting calcium absorption, bone formation and bone resorption as calcium and vitamin D.

For example, inadequate magnesium intake affects calcium metabolism, resulting decreased bone strength and volume. Iron may help bone formation. Zinc is also necessary to bone structure. People with low protein intake usually have low intestinal calcium absorption and low bone mass. Antioxidants in foods can reduce bone loss, increase bone formation, and improve bone quality.

And being obese is bad for your bones — the key to getting enough nutrients necessary for healthy bones is to eat balanced foods.

Physical activity

As with many other health disorders such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension and chronic heart disease, physical activity, especially weight-bearing activity, increases your bone mass and reduces your risk of osteoporosis. No matter how old you are, or whether you are male or female, weight-bearing activity increases bone density.

Women especially should engage in at least 30 minutes physical activity per day, as recommended by MyPyramid, a program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Among the many activities to consider are walking, jogging, running, stair-climbing, dancing, and swimming.

No matter what kind of physical activity you choose and how much physical activity you perform, as long as you are active physically, you are helping your bones.

You can visit the website at MyPyramid.gov for physical activity and dietary recommendations to improve your quality of life. These recommendations should also help you build healthy bones.

Comment from the blog author Nutrition Breakthroughs:  Calcium, magnesium and vitamin D have many beneficial roles in the body. Calcium strengthens bones, improves heart and stomach health, calms our nerves and muscles, and helps with sleeplessness and insomnia.

Magnesium is a co-factor in bone health, it helps remedy migraines, and it also supports healthy blood pressure.  Calcium Supplements should be balanced and contain twice as much calcium as magnesium.

Sleep Minerals II from Nutrition Breakthroughs is an effective sleep remedy for insomnia that contains absorbable forms of calcium and magnesium in a softgel, as well as Vitamin D and zinc.

Lyn K. of Los Angeles, CA. says: “Not only do I sleep much sounder with Sleep Minerals II, it seems to fill in a missing link in my health.  I feel stabilized and I’m carried through my day with a stability from the sound rest.  Also my heart and eyes feel healthier and stronger.”

For more information, visit the Sleep Minerals II page.

via ars.usda.gov

Migraines, Sleeplessness, Heart Attacks – Magnesium?

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magnesium benefitsBy Forrest H. Nielsen, U.S. Dept of Agriculture, Human Nutrition Research Center

Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral element in the human body, following calcium, sodium and potassium. Magnesium enables many biochemical reactions necessary for life. However, much attention has been directed recently towards another role of this element: The movement of (small particles) of calcium and potassium, as well as (other) molecules across nerve cell membranes….

These roles are important for nerve conduction, muscle contraction, blood vessel relaxation and tensing and thus blood pressure, and a normal heart beat. Epidemiological (studies of populations) findings and supplementation trials show that people’s magnesium status is associated with the severity and frequency of migraine headaches, some forms of heart attacks, high blood pressure, sleep disorders and mood disturbances. Carefully controlled human studies at the Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center and elsewhere are being done to conclusively show that inadequate magnesium intake can result in these maladies.

For instance, in studies on women past menopause at the Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, we found that a low magnesium diet resulted in heart rhythm changes, which were halted by a diet providing about 300 mg of magnesium daily. In a much more severe form, some of these changes in heart rhythm or beat can result in heart muscle contractions that do not move blood throughout the body and lead to death. So magnesium is definitely needed for a healthy heart.

The same studies also showed that a diet inadequate in magnesium caused changes in brain waves–electrical activity in the brain–when women were at rest. Other researchers have found in both human and animal studies that magnesium deficiency results in sleep disturbances, such as agitated sleep and frequent periods of awakenings. This has been related to changes in electrical activity in the brain. It looks like magnesium is important for a good night sleep.

Studies show that about half of migraine headache sufferers have a low amount of ionized (particles of) magnesium in the blood, which suggests a low magnesium status. And magnesium supplementation reduces the number and duration of migraines, including menstrual migraines, in some people. The findings suggest that too little magnesium can worsen the suffering from migraine headaches.

The Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences recently provided new recommended intakes for magnesium. The Dietary Reference Intake, or DRI, is the new term for Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). For magnesium, the DRI is 400 milligrams per day for men aged 19 to 30 years, and 420 milligrams per day for males over age 30. The DRI is 310 milligrams per day for women aged 19 to 30 years and 320 milligrams per day for women over age 30.

Dietary surveys show that the diet of many Americans does not consistently provide the DRI for magnesium. Older people are especially prone to consuming a diet inadequate in magnesium. Good sources of magnesium are leafy vegetables, nuts, skim milk and whole grains.

Comment from the blog author Nutrition Breakthroughs:

Chronic insomnia is one of the main symptoms of magnesium deficiency. Sleep in magnesium deficiency is usually agitated with frequent nighttime awakenings.  On the other hand, a high magnesium diet has been found to be associated with deeper, less interrupted sleep. This was proven in a study done by James Penland at the Human Nutrition Research Center in North Dakota. The study was titled “Effects of trace element nutrition on sleep patterns in adult women.”

Sleep Minerals II is a natural sleep remedy from Nutrition Breakthroughs that contains highly absorbable forms of calcium and magnesium, the best minerals for sleeplessness and insomnia, as well as for heart health, restless legs syndrome, bone strength and menopause insomnia.  The formula also includes vitamin D and zinc and is delivered in a softgel form with healthy carrier oils, making it more fully absorbable and fastger-acting than tablets or capsules.  The oils help the ingredients to provide a deeper, longer-lasting sleep.

Valerie H. of Santa Clarita, California says: “I had such severe menopause insomnia it took me hours to fall asleep even though I was extremely tired.  My legs also had crawling and tingling feelings at night. I got the Sleep Minerals and after a few days, it started to work really well. I fall asleep now within 20 minutes and no more restless legs.”

For more information, visit Sleep Minerals II page.

Source: Human Nutrition Research Center: https://www.ars.usda.gov/news-events/news-archive/

Reviews of Sleep Minerals II from Nutrition Breakthroughs

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Sleep Minerals II is one of the most effective all-natural insomnia remedies.  It’s the original drug-free calcium and magnesium formula for better sleep. It calms sleeplessness and helps you to relax, fall asleep, and sleep deeper.

The ingredients are formulated in a softgel with healthy oils, making them more quickly absorbable than tablets or capsules and providing a deeper, longer-lasting sleep.  Sleep Minerals II is also  a proven remedy for restless leg syndrome, menopause insomnia, teenage insomnia, stomach health, strong bones, and correction of calcium and magnesium deficiencies

Alex R. of Ramseur, North Carolina says: “Sleep Minerals II has been a blessing for me.  It has given me the opportunity to withdraw from a highly addictive sleep medication over time, and has allowed me to sleep while going through this most difficult ordeal.  What’s great about it is it doesn’t lose its effectiveness, which is something that happens with sleep medications.  I am most thankful for this product.”

Kimberly B. of Troy Michigan says: “I have been taking Sleep Minerals II for about a month now.  I have tried everything out there and this supplement is amazing.  I have suffered with insomnia for two and a half years and have had restless leg syndrome my entire life.  This is the first relief I’ve ever had…it’s gone for a month now.”

Anne and Bob B. of El Dorado Hills, California says: “We find the Sleep Minerals very helpful for my husbands restless leg syndrome. He does not do well on many medications and the drug the doctor prescribed for this was full of bad side effects. Out of pure desperation, I researched the internet and came up with an article about Sleep Minerals II and decided to try them. They have been wonderful.  Bob continues to sleep much better and with very little, if any, movement in his legs.”

Richard P. of Parkville, Maryland says: “The Sleep Minerals are making quite a difference.  I was regularly waking at around 3:00 a.m. and after a few days use of taking two, my sleep improved quite a lot.  I wake once a night to go to the bathroom, but the great thing is, I then fall back asleep and sleep several more hours.  This has been a great improvement.”

Anita L. of New Caney, Texas says: “I was having hot flashes every 30 minutes to an hour through the night and was so miserable.  After about two weeks of taking the Sleep Minerals, I noticed an incredible difference with my sleep.  I have much less interruption from flashes, I’m sleeping much better and I’m a lot more comfortable.”

Valerie H. of Santa Clarita, California says: “I had such severe menopause insomnia it took me hours to fall asleep even though I was extremely tired.  My legs also had crawling and tingling feelings at night. I got the Sleep Minerals and after several days, it started to work really well. I fall asleep now within 20 minutes and no more restless legs.”

L.R.C. of Massachusetts says:  “I had become dependent on sleeping drugs and couldn’t sleep without them. Now I take the Sleep Minerals before bed and I can sleep through the whole night without drugs. I’m also able to easily fall back to sleep if I do have to get up.  Another benefit is it helps alleviate my chronic fatigue and aches and pains.”

For more information on Sleep Minerals II click here.

Healthy Colors of Your Diet (Purple, Red and Yellow fruits and veggies)

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By Matthew Picklo,  Human Nutrition Research Center

Have you thought about the many colors of our foods?  They catch our eye and add so much to the appeal of our meals – particularly fruits and vegetables.  Research shows that the colors of our foods may also be related to the health benefits they provide.

The pigments that give plant foods their vibrant colors are of value to the plants themselves, as well as to those who consume them.  These colorful fruit and vegetable pigments also serve to attract feeding animals who later help distribute the plants’ seeds.

Plant pigments have long been of interest to food chemists who have studied their contributions to the visual appeal of foods.  In recent years, there also has been an explosion of interest in the health potentials of the pigments that are responsible for food colors.

There are several types of pigments in foods.  One group is the “anthocyanins”, a term derived from the Greek words for “flower” and “blue”.  Anthocyanins are present in many fruits including cherries, blueberries, blackberries, and cranberries.  They also are found in colored grains such as purple corn, red rice, black rice, purple carrots and blue potatoes.

One of the richest sources of anthocyanins is the chokecherry.  Black rice, which has a purple-black bran, also has very high levels of anthocyanins. In ancient China, it was known as “forbidden rice”, as it and was only eaten by the nobility.  Anthocyanins appear to protect plant tissues from damage by ultraviolet light.  They may also be anti-microbial.

Laboratory studies suggest that the anthocyanins in foods benefit health by reducing inflammation and preventing oxidative damage to cells, a process associated with diabetes and cardiovascular disease.  Studies have shown this for anthocyanin-rich fruit juices, and scientists are now asking whether some anthocyanins may be more useful than others, and how they function in the body.

Another group of plant pigments are the carotenoids – a large group of more than 600 compounds that give vegetables and fruits their yellow, orange and red colors. Some familiar sources include tomatoes, carrots, yellow squash and spinach.  The most common carotenoids are beta-carotene, lycopene and lutein.

Beta-carotene is related chemically to vitamin A, which is essential for vision and functions in maintaining healthy bones, immune function and may other vital functions.  In fact, the body can convert beta-carotene to vitamin A.  Spinach, carrots, orange juice and cantaloupe are particularly good sources of beta-carotene.

Lycopene is present in tomatoes, tomato sauce and tomato juice.  It is of current interest in cancer research, as studies have associated reduced prostate cancer risk for men with relatively high blood levels of lycopene.

Lutein is accumulated by the key visual area of the retina called the macula where it is thought to protect against potentially damaging effects of light.  It is thought that lutein may reduce the risk of macular degeneration, which is a major cause of visual impairment in people aged fifty years and older.

Good sources of lutein include green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, and turnips greens.  USDA scientists have found that eggs can be an important source of lutein.

Understanding how diet and physical activity can prevent disease and promote health is central to the research mission of the USDA Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, or GFHNRC. This includes better understanding of the health roles of anthocyanins and carotenoids.

More information to help you make healthful and colorful food choices can be found at MyPyramid.gov.
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Comments from the blog author: When deciding what to eat, seek out brightly colored fruits and vegetables for greater health. Good eating leads to good health for all parts of your body, including your heart and brain, and leads to higher levels of energy during the day and better, deeper sleep at night.

This article is provided to you by Nutrition Breakthroughs, maker of the effective sleep remedy for insomnia “Sleep Minerals II”. Sleep Minerals II contains highly absorbable forms of magnesium, calcium and Vitamin D, provided in a softgel with healthy oils.  This form makes it far more absorbable than tablets.  If you or someone you care about would like to get better, deeper sleep, click here to learn more.

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Article Source: http://www.ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?docid=21735

Six Tips to Fall Asleep and Stay Asleep

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magnesium insomniaSome people as they approach middle age may find it more difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep during the night.

This may be due to the decline of hormones in the body, such as estrogen in women or testosterone in men.

They can fall asleep okay and the first part of their night is fine, but at around 2:00 or 3:00 a.m., some find themselves habitually awake and unable to get back to sleep.  Here are some sleep tips that may help:

1.    Use a black eye mask to cover your eyes and use earplugs to keep the noise out.  A dark, cool room is most ideal to help the body produce melatonin, the hormone produced by the brain which helps to regulate sleep and wake cycles.

2.    Get some sunlight by taking a walk during the day.  Being out in the sun will also set your wake-sleep cycle in a good way.  Additionally, the exercise and body movement helps with a better, more restful sleep at night.

3.    If headaches or tension are keeping you up, try using some magnesium.  One German study found that 42 percent of the people taking magnesium reduced the duration and intensity of their migraine headaches.

4.    For women that experience hot flashes and night sweats during the night, take some extra steps to keep yourself and your bedroom cool at night.  Wear lighter bedclothes, use less blankets, and you can also use a slightly damp washcloth on your forehead or neck.

5.    Calcium is directly related to our cycles of sleep, therefore highly absorbable calcium and magnesium supplements are effective.  The pioneering nutritionist Adelle Davis advises that during pre-menopause or menopause, the lack of estrogen and progesterone can cause severe calcium deficiency symptoms to occur such as irritability, leg cramps, insomnia, hot flashes and night sweats.

6.    It can work well for some people to take a calcium and magnesium supplement before bed.  These minerals are natural relaxants that can carry one through the night better, and with less sleep interruptions.   Softgels that use natural oils mixed with the minerals are more fully absorbed.  These should have a 2 to 1 calcium to magnesium ratio (twice as much calcium as magnesium).

An example of an effective mineral-based insomnia remedy is Sleep Minerals II by Nutrition Breakthroughs.  This natural sleep aid contains absorbable forms of calcium and magnesium, the best minerals for sleep and insomnia, heart health, restless legs syndrome, bone strength, and menopause insomnia.  The formula is delivered in a softgel form with healthy carrier oils, making it more quickly absorbable than tablets or capsules and providing a deeper, longer-lasting sleep.

Richard P. of Parkville, Maryland says: “The Sleep Minerals are making quite a difference.  I was regularly waking up at around3:00 a.m.and after a few days use my sleep improved quite a lot. I wake up once a night to go to the bathroom, but the great thing is, I then fall back asleep and sleep several more hours.  This has been a great improvement.”

For more information on Sleep Minerals II click here

FDA Requires Lower Doses of Certain Sleep Drugs

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sleep drugsFDA Requires Lower Doses of Certain Sleep Drugs

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced it is requiring users of the insomnia drug Ambien and its generic counterparts (all drugs containing the active ingredient zolpidem), to take a lower recommended dose of these medications.

They are particularly aiming this toward women, as the drug stays in their system much longer than with men.  Women at the time of menopause frequently have sleep problems and insomnia, and may turn to sleep medications.

Ellis Unger, M.D., director of the Office of Drug Evaluation in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research said: “Over the years FDA has received spontaneous adverse event reports of driving impairment and motor vehicle accidents associated with zolpidem, but these reports lacked the information necessary to fully understand whether and how zolpidem affected people’s mental alertness and ability to drive.”

“Recently, data from clinical trials and other types of studies have become available, which allowed FDA to better characterize the risk of next-morning impairment.”

Nature has provided us with some natural remedies and relaxants that have stood the test of time.  Regarding mineral deficiency as we age and at the time of menopause, the pioneering nutritionist Adelle Davis says,

“The amount of calcium in a woman’s blood parallels the activity of the ovaries. During the menopause, the lack of ovarian hormones (estrogen and progesterone) can cause severe calcium deficiency symptoms to occur, including irritability, hot flashes, night sweats, leg cramps, and insomnia. These problems can be easily overcome if the intakes of calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D are all generously increased and are well absorbed.”

One natural sleep aid gaining in popularity is Sleep Minerals II from Nutrition Breakthroughs.  It contains highly absorbable forms of calcium and magnesium, the best minerals for sleeplessness and insomnia, as well as for restless leg syndrome, bone strength, aches and pains, and menopause insomnia.

The formula also includes vitamin D and zinc and is delivered in a softgel form with healthy carrier oils, making the minerals more quickly assimilated than tablets or capsules.  The softgel formulation provides a deeper, longer-lasting sleep and is an effective alternative to medications.

A. R. of Ramseur, North Carolina says: “Sleep Minerals II has been a blessing for me.  It has given me the opportunity to withdraw from a highly addictive sleep medication over time, and has allowed me to sleep while going through this most difficult ordeal.  What’s great about it is it doesn’t lose its effectiveness, which is something that happens with sleep medications.  I am most thankful for this product.”

For more information, visit the Sleep Minerals II page.