The Health Benefits of Coconut Water

Coconut water is the liquid part of the young coconut. When coconuts are immature, the endosperm or kernel is semisolid and jelly like. As the coconut matures, the endosperm becomes more solid and fibrous, developing into the firmer coconut meat with which we are familiar. As the coconut matures, the water inside is replaced by more coconut meat and air, so it best to harvest the water when the coconut is young.

Water from young immature coconuts offers a long and growing list of health benefits, distinct from the benefits of its counterpart, coconut oil. Coconut water is a powerhouse of natural electrolytes, vitamins, minerals trace elements, amino acids, enzymes, antioxidants and phytonutrients, and is low in sugar, but pleasantly sweet. It's great for post exercise rehydration, but also has anti-inflammatory properties, protects your heart and urinary tract, is a digestive tonic, improves your skin and eyes, supports good immune function, and can even help balance your blood glucose and insulin levels.

Coconut water is the richest dietary source of cytokinins, plant hormones that have anti-cancer, anti-aging, and anti-thrombolytic benefits in humans. Because coconut water is isotonic and sterile it is very similar to blood plasma and has been used intravenously in emerency situations for more than 60 years. Cytokinins found in coconut water have been found to exert an anti-aging effect on human cells and tissues. When human cells are exposed to cytokinins, aging slows down considerably. Cells treated with cytokinins don't undergo the normal degenerative changes. Researchers have suggested that if you consume a diet rich in cytokinins, you may experience anti-aging effects and have less risk for degenerative and age related diseases. Coconut water is the richest natural dietary source of cytokinins.

Cytokinins have also been found to have anti-thrombolytic properties so may lower your risk for blood clots. According to Dr. Bruce Fife, "In regulating cell growth, cytokinins prevent the mistakes that may lead to the development of cancer. Normal cells are kept healthy while cancerous cells are programmed to die, preventing them from growing and spreading. Subsequently, the anti-cancer effects of cytokinins have been well documented." High levels of mineral ions, especially potassium, in coconut water have been found to help prevent heart attacks. In one study 71 percent of people who drank coconut water experienced lower blood pressures.

Vitamin D3 Cuts Cancers by 60 Percent

Despite all the bad press linking sun exposure to skin cancer, there's no evidence at all to support it. There is, however, plenty of evidence to the contrary. Over the years, several studies have confirmed that appropriate sun exposure actually helps prevent skin cancer and other cancers as well. In fact, melanoma occurrence has been found to decrease with greater sun exposure, and can be increased by sunscreens.

There are two primary types of UV rays from sunlight, the vitamin D producing UVB rays and the skin damaging UVA light. Both UVA and UVB can cause tanning and burning, although UVB does so far more rapidly. UVA, however, penetrates your skin more deeply than UVB, and is the major factor in photoaging, wrinkles and skin cancers. The rising rates of melanoma documented over the last three decades are not due to sun exposure as often stated; researchers instead believe they are due to an increease in diagnoses of non-cancerous lesions classified, misleadingly, as "stage 1 melanoma". In other words non-cancerous lesions have now been classified as cancerous. This is the main reason that melanoma rates have tripled in the last 30 years. Exposure to sunlight, particularly UVB is protective against melanoma, or rather, the vitamin D3 your body produces in response to UVB radiation is protective. Optimizing your vitamin D3 levels through proper sun exposure or use of a safe tanning bed can reduce your risk of skin cancer and as many as 16 different types of cancer. The sun is your best source of vitamin D3 because when you expose your skin to sunshine, your skin synthesizes vitamin D3 sulfate. This form of vitamin D3 is water soluble and can travel freely in your bloodstream, unlike oral vitamin D3 supplements. Vitamin D3 is a steroid hormone that influences virtually every cell in your body, and is easily one of nature's most potent cancer fighters. So I want to stress again that if you are shunning all sun exposure, you are missing out on this natural cancer protection. Your organs can convert the vitamin D3 in your bloodstream into calcitriol, which is the hormonal or activated version of vitamin D3. Your organs then use it to repair damage, including damage from cancer cells and tumors. Vitamin D3 protective effect against cancer works in multiple ways, including: Increasing the self-destruction of mutated cells (which, if allowed to replicate, could lead to cancer). Reducing the spread and reproduction of cancer cells. Causing cells to become differentiated (cancer cells often lack differentation). Reducing the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones, which is a step in the transition of dormant tumors turning cancerous. This applies not only to skin cancer but other types of cancer as well. Theories linking vitamin D3 to certain cancers have been tested and confirmed in more than 200 epidemiological studies, and understanding of its physiological basis stems from more than 2,500 laboratory studies, according to epidemiologist Cedric Garland, professor of Family and Preventive Medicine at the UC San Diego School of Medicine. Some 600,000 cases of breast and colorectal cancers could be prevented each year if vitamin D3 levels among populations worldwide were increased, according to previous research by Dr Garland and colleagues. Optimizing your vitamin D3 levels could help you to prevent at least 16 different types of cancer including pancreatic, lung, ovarian, prostate, and skin cancers. Light-skinned women who had high amounts of long term sun exposure had half the risk of developing advanced breast cancer (cancer that spreads beyond your breast) as women with lower amounts of regular sun exposure, according to a study in the American Journal of Epidemiology. The best source of Vitamin D3 is the sun, so a person should get a reasonable amount of sun exposure such a walking, outdoor activities and gardening. However, if you are on a tight schedule or it is winter time, it is a good idea to take vitamin D3 supplements. Most research suggests adults need about 8,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D3 a day.

B Vitamins Slow Memory Loss

Daily supplements of B vitamins slow the decline in mental function in people with mild cognitive impairment, says a new clinical trial. A daily combination of folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12 was associated with a 30 percent reduction in levels of the amino acid homocysteine and improvements in a range of mental tests.

"One interpretation of the data is that lowing homocysteine concentrations by administering B vitamins slows brain atrophy, which in turn slows both cognitive and clinical decline," wrote researchers from the University of Oxford and the Unviersity of Oslo. "Such an interpretation is consistent with several studies showing that whole brain atrophy rate is strongly correlated with decline in various cognitive measures. Wasting in the brain, or atrophy, is a common symptom of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and can be an early warning to signs of dementia. One important factor determining the rate of atrophy appears to be raised concentations of the amino acid homocysteine. Previously, epidemiological studies have reported that high levels of homocyseine are associated with suspected or confirmed dementia. The farmingham study reported that people with homocysteine levels above 14 micromoles per liter of serum had twice the risk of dementia. Tissue and plasma concentrations of homocysteine are know to be determined by viamin B levels, as they are cofactors for enzymes involved in homocysteine metabolism. The new study investigated the links between vitamin B supplementation, homocysteine levels and cognitive function. The Vitacog study involved 266 people over the age of 70 with diagnosed mild cognitive impairment. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or a B vitamin supplement providing 0.8 mg per day of folic acid, 0.5 mg of vitamin B12 and 20 mg of vitamin B6 for two years. At the end of the study the researchers report that homocysteine levels decreased by an average of 30 percent in the B vitamin group compared with the placebo. In addition, executive mental function was stablized in the B vitamin group compared with the placebo. When the Oxford and Oslo based scientist looked specifically at people with high homocysteine levels (greater than 11.3 micromoles per liter) they found that vitamin B supplementation was associated with significant improvements in global cognition, episodic memory and semantic memory.

Advanced Cancers Linked to Low Vitamin D3 Levels

More than three-quarters of people with a variety of cancers have low levels of vitamin D3, and the lowest levels are associated with more advanced cancers, a new study suggests. High dose supplements increased vitamin D3 levels to normal.

The best way to get the right level of vitamin D3 is through exposure to sunlight. Make sure that you spend plenty of time out in the sun. The next best way to maintain proper vitamin D3 levels is to take vitamin D3 supplements which are very inexpensive. You can also get some vitamin D3 from foods such as fatty fish, milk and fortified cereals. Research in the laboratory suggests that vitamin D3 has anti-tumor properties, regulating genes involved in the multiplication and spread of cancer cells. For the study, the researchers collected blood samples from 160 men and women with cancer and measured their levels of vitamin D3. The most common diagnoses were breast, prostate, lung, thyroid, and colorectal cancers.

Vitamin K2 Lowers Prostate Cancer by 35 Percent

An increased intake of vitamin K2 may reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 35 percent, suggest results from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). The potential benefits of vitamin K2 were more pronounced for advanced prostate cancer, while vitamin K1 intake did not offer any prostate benefits, report the researchers from the German Cancer Research Center in Hiedelberg. The findings, based on data from the 11,319 men taking part in the EPIC Hiedelberg cohort, are published in the April, 2011, issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The study, by Katharina Nimptsch, Sabine Rohrmann and Jakob Linselsen, adds to an ever growing body of science supporting the potential health benefits of vitamin K2, most notable for bone and blood health, but also recently linked to improved skin health. The study has been welcomed by leading vitamin K researcher Cees Vermeer, PhD, from the VitaK and Cardiovascular Research Institute CARIM at the Unviersity of Maastricht, who said that the study was "high quality". "The anti-tumor effect of vitamin K2 has been suggested in several other (mainly Japanese) papers; in most cases these papers were based on smaller numbers, however. Also, in Japan it is usual to provide very high doses of the short-chain menaquinone-4 (45 mg/day or higher)," said Dr Vermeer. "The elegance of the Nimptsch paper is that the effect is found at nutritional doses of Vitamin K2," he added.

According to the European School of Oncology, over half a million new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed every year world wide, and the cancer is the direct cause of over 200,000 deaths. More worryingly, the incidence of the disease is increasing with a rise of 1.7 percent over 15 years. A food frequency questionnaire was used to assess habitual dietary intakes at the start of the study, with vitamin K intakes divided into phylloquinone (Vitamin K1) and menaquinones (vitamin K2) and total and advanced prostate cancer in the Heidelberg cohort of the European Prospective investigation into Cancer and Nutrition.

The researchers documented 268 incident cases of prostate cancer during the 8.6 years of follow-up. Of these 113 cases were classified as advanced prostate cancer. While no reduction in the risk of prostate cancer was observed for vitamin K1 (phylloquinone), an increased intake of all menaquinones (vitamin K2) was associaed with a 35 percent reduction in risk. Furthermore, a strong association was documented when they considered only advanced prostate cancer, with increased intake of vitamin K2 linked to a 63 percent reduction in risk.

While dietary sources of vitamin K2 include meat and femented food products like cheese and natto, Nimptsch and co-workers report that vitamin K2 from dairy had a stronger inverse association with advanced prostate cancer than did vitamin K2 from meat.

Diabetes May be Linked to Alzheimer's

Studies show that there is a greater dementia risk for people with diabetes and prediabetes. People with diabetes may be twice as likely to develop memory problems and dementia as they age, including Alzheimer's studies show. This risk also apprears to be hightened among people with prediabetes-people who are on the verge of developing diabetes. Exactly how diabetes and dementia are linked is not fully iunderstood. But the new findings add to growing evidence that what is good for our hearts may also be good for our brains.

An important study was published in Neurology. In the study, 1,017 people 60 and older were given a glucose tolerance test to see if they had diabetes or prediabetes. Researchers from Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan, followed the participants for around 11 years and then tested them for dementia. In that time, 232 people developed Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Forty one of 150 people with diabetes developed dementia. By contrast, 115 of the 559 people without diabetes developed dementia. An increased risk for dementia was also found in people with prediabetes.

Zoe Arvanitakis, MD, says many questions remain regarding the relationship between diabetes and dementia. Arvanitakis is a neurologist at the Alzheimer's Disease Center at Rush Unviersity Medical Center in Chicago. For starters, how are the two conditions linked? There are some plausible explanation, she says. Diabetes is known to increase stroke risk, and strokes can lead to mental problems and dementia. If you lower you risk for diabetes, might you prevent the onset of Alheimer's disease or other types of age-related dementia? It is too early to say that, but "food that is good for the heart is also good for the brain," Arvanitakis says. Some of the same heart healthy habits that help lower diabetes risk, such as getting regular exercise and not smoking, may also improve the health of your brain. "It's too premature to say if you prevent diabetes, you would not develop dementia," she says.

There are other things besides diabetes and prediabetes that may increase risk for dementia, such as family history. "The mechanism linking diabetes and dementia still needs to be sorted out," Arvanitakis says. "It is important to stay healthy and prevent vascular risk factors from getting out of hand, If you have diabetes, get your blood sugar under control." Heart disease and stroke risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity. Exercise regular and eat a balanced diet, too. "Hopefully, this will help in the long run, She says.

Rachel Witmer, PhD, says that it's not just diabetes and blood sugar abnormalities that may increase dementia risk either. She is a research scientist and epidemiologist at Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research in Oakland, California. Previous studies have shown that high cholesterol levels also raise a person's risk for developing Alzeheimer's disease and other types of dementia. "The silver lining to the cloud is that yes, vascular risk factors are also associated with dementia, but they are modifiable," she says. "You can change your cholesterol levels with exercise and diet." The same holds true for diabetes and prediabetes. "Understand that what is good for the heart is good for the brain and even though dementia shows up late in life, you need to start thinking about it sooner," Whitmer says.

The Spice Turmeric Fights Many Types of Cancer

The active substance in turmeric is curcumin. Curcumin also give turmeric its yellow orange color. Turmeric has been extensively researched and has been found to have many health applications. It is becoming increasingly popular as a supplement. Each 100 grams of turmeric contains three to five grams of curcumin. The ancient Chinese and Indian systems of medicine have recognized curcumin's beneficial properties for thousands of years. Curcumin is best know for its reduction of inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation is an underlying factor in many, if not most, chronic disease. This compound influences over 700 genes and more than 100 different pathways once it enters the cell.

A 2008 study in Cancer Prevention Research, found that curcumin inhibits breast cancer cell motility and invasion by directly inhibiting the function of alpha6beta4 integrin, which suggests it may serve as an effective therapeutic agent in tumors that overexpress alpha6beta4. (Alpha6beta4 is associated with cancer progression by contributing to apoptosis resistance and metastasis)

In 2009 a study in molecular Pharmacology found that curcumin inhibits pancreatic cancer cell growth and acts as a chemosensitizing agent. Other research from 2009 found that curcumin induces programmed cell death in lung cancer cells. A 2010 study concluded that curcumin has the potential to target cancer stem cells. A new study found that curcumin to be an effective agent against glioblastoma which is a fatal type of brain cancer. Curcumin appears safe for the treatment of all types of cancer.

IN INDIA WHERE TURMERIC IS WIDELY USED IN THE DIET, THE PREVALENCE OF FOUR COMMON U.S. CANCERS--COLON, BREAST, PROSTATE AND LUNG--IS 10 TIMES LOWER THAN IN THE UNITED STATES. Prostate cancer, which is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in U.S. men, is rare in India and this is attributed, in part, to the curcumin in turmeric.

Curcumin combats cancer in a number of different ways:

It Inhibits the proliferation of tumor cells.

It inhibits the transformation of normal cells to tumor cells.

It helps your body destroy mutated cancer cells so they cannot spread throughout your body.

It decreases inflammation.

It inhibits the synthesis of a protein thought to be instrumental in tumor formation.

It prevents the development of additional blood supply necessary for cancer cell growth.

What type of turneric is best? For use in cooking, choose a pure turmeric powder rather than a curry powder. At least one study has found that curry powders tend to contain very little curcumin, compared to turmeric powder.

There are no products commercially available for use against cancer, and you should know that not only are relatively high doses required, curcumin is also not absorbed very well. A typical anti-cancer dose can be as high as three grams of good bioavailable curcumin extract, three to four times daily.

One way to work around this is to make for yourself a microemulsion from curcumin powder. To do that, mix one tablespoon of the powder into 1-2 egg yolks, along with a teaspoon or two of melted coconut oil. Then, use a high-speed hand blender to emulsify the mixture.

Another way that you can use to increase absorption is to add one tablespoon of curcumin powder to a quart of boiling water. (It must be boiling when you add the powder as it will not work as well if you use cooler water.) After boiling it for 10 minutes you will have created a 12 percent solution, which you can drink once it has cooled. It is best to drink the solution within six hours as the curcumin will gradually fall out of solution.