Healthy Trends for August 2017
From curry to tennis to backpacking, here are healthy trends you should know about.
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Curry Spice Extract Reverses Bone Loss
Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, the yellow spice used in curry, is known as an anti-inflammatory for pain control and prevention of age-related inflammatory diseases. And now, an Italian study has found that it may also help reverse bone loss. Researchers compared the effects of a curcumin supplement with no supplement in a group of 57 people with osteopenia, the medical term for low bone density. To monitor effects, they tested bone in the heel, a finger, and the upper jaw, and found that daily curcumin supplements increased bone density in all three areas after 12 weeks, without any side
effects. The study, published in the European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, used Meriva, a patented form of curcumin found in a variety of supplement brands.
10 Healthy Reasons to Play Tennis
A friendly game of tennis isn’t just an enjoyable way to spend time with friends and make new acquaintances. Studies show that a weekly or more frequent game delivers significant health benefits, including:
- A healthier heart
- Lower body fat
- Stronger bones
- Less stress
- Less anxiety
- Less depression
- Better coordination
- Improved agility
- Healthier cholesterol
- Improved brain power
If there’s a racket in the back of your closet, maybe it’s time to dust it off and start polishing your swing.
Backpacking Burns 511 Calories Per Hour
That’s how many calories per hour backpacking burns, on average, for a 160-pound person (almost as much as running 5 miles in an hour: 606 calories). Backpacking vacation can easily jump-start a weight-loss journey.
Organic Food Sales Grown 14x Faster
Sales of organic food are growing 14 times as fast as sales of food overall, according to a report by the Organic Trade Association. Still, organic food makes up just 5.3 percent of total U.S. food sales.
Astaxanthin Helps the Heart
A study of runners has found that astaxanthin, a nutrient found in microscopic algae, helps the heart to work more efficiently. In particular, researchers in Utah found that at the level of effort common in long-distance runners, the heart beats a little slower than usual, indicating it isn’t working as hard to support the effort. In the study, which was published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, runners took 12 mg of astaxanthin daily for 8 weeks. Researchers suggest that the supplement may also be helpful for non-athletes, as a “cardiotonic” for an ailing heart.