healthbriefs
Flaxseed: a Natural Alternative to Cholesterol Drugs A
new study from Iowa State Universi- ty’s Nutrition and Wellness Research
Center may give men a way to combat high cholesterol without drugs—if they don’t mind sprinkling some flaxseed into their daily diet. In the study, researchers examined the effects of eating flaxseed lignans (natural plant chemicals found in flax- seed) on 90 people diagnosed with high cholesterol. The results showed that con- suming at least 150 milligrams per day
(about three tablespoons) decreased cholesterol in men by just under 10 percent over the three months of the study. They did not see similar results in women. Suzanne Hendrich, a professor of food science and human nutrition at the
university who led the study, notes that the flaxseed tablets used in the research are not available in the United States, but sprinkling ground flaxseed on cereal and other foods can provide ample cholesterol-lowering flaxseed lignans. Ground flaxseed will oxidize over time, she says, possibly affecting its flavor as well as omega-3 content, so keep it fresh.
Just Dance! S
eniors who regularly put on their danc- ing shoes benefit from more than just
having a good time. According to Univer- sity of Missouri-Columbia researchers, par- ticipation by older adults in dance-based therapy can improve both their balance and walking speed, key factors in reducing the risk of falls and injury. The researchers used a program called the Lebed Method, based on a combination of low-impact dance steps, choreographed to music. In the latest of a series of studies,
volunteers at an independent-living com- munity participated in 18 dance sessions over a two-month period. The seniors had so much fun that they continued dancing after the study concluded.
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Hartford County Edition
www.NaturallyHealthyCT.com
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