From supporting your liver with broccoli to the countless new nutritional studies on vitamin D, this week’s Nutrition News covers a broad range of research aimed at arming you with the latest information to keep you and your family healthy.
Read it all here.
The foods that can support liver health
There are many nutrients that offer liver support, and it is important to keep your liver healthy as it has many vital functions within the body; such as the filtration of the blood from metabolic products and toxic products, storing vitamin and minerals for energy production and the storage of some immune system cells. Without a healthy liver, the body can face many difficulties.
This WebMD presentation lists some of the best, and worst, foods for the liver. We’re all aware that processed foods, high in saturated fat are not good for us but this is amplified in the liver where saturated fat can make it harder for the liver to do its job and, overtime, this can lead to inflammation.
Foods that support the health of liver, however, include:
- Foods that are high in fibre, such as oats.
- Broccoli, where numerous studies have looked at its effects on the liver.
- Green Tea as a result of its antioxidant profile.
- Almonds, as a good source of vitamin E.
The latest nutritional studies on vitamin D
We’ve covered nutritional studies on vitamin D in previous Nutrition News articles, but this recent article from Natural Product Insider covers the full 22 studies that have been published since 2 April on vitamin D and its impact on immune support.
The focus on many of these observational studies has not just been the vitamin’s role in supporting a healthy immune system but also its correlation with the frequency of respiratory infections. Speaking of the studies, Paul Bergner of the North American Institute of Medical Herbalism, made clear that vitamin D is not a cure, saying, “Vitamin D is not a specific treatment for COVID-19, it is a treatment for vitamin D deficiency” and “Vitamin D deficiency is highly correlated to the frequency of respiratory infections in general. Vitamin D deficiency is also highly correlated to the intensity of cytokine storms. A vitamin D deficiency also correlates with poorer outcomes in intensive care units generally. A vitamin D deficiency correlates with most known co-morbidities, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes.”
It is important to note that these studies illustrate correlation and do not prove causation, therefore more research on vitamin D and its role in the health of the respiratory tract is needed. That being said, there is mounting evidence for the importance of vitamin D, which can obtained through sources such as sunlight exposure, oily fish, red meat, and food supplements, in the general maintenance of good health.
The health benefits of ginger
Ginger is a popular ingredient in a wide range of dishes but only a few people are aware that it also has a range of health benefits. As well as acting as support for the immune system, as covered in this Nutrition News article, ginger is thought to support a range of functions within the body.
This WebMD article covers the numerous health benefits, which include:
- It keeps your mouth healthy through its antibacterial properties
- It can help settle your stomach through potentially breaking up gas in the intestines.
- It may even help soothe sore muscles after exercise, potentially due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
Ginger also contains zinc, magnesium and chromium, which are vital minerals needed to keep the body healthy.
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Alison is Director and Founder of Metabolics who writes about Metabolics updates, events and natural healthcare. Her experience and passion for natural supplements and healthcare comes from her years of experience as a practising osteopath, having founded Metabolics in her search for high quality, natural products in her own work. Alison has been a qualified and practising Osteopath since 1981 and regularly gives seminars on a range of healthcare subjects to the wider practitioner community helping share her knowledge and experience.