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Bet you’ve never thought of this one! Neither had science until now. A first of its kind study finds peppermint oil reduces blood pressure. High blood pressure is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease and death from cardiovascular disease. It is also one of the most in your control. One way to do it is diet: eating more fruit and vegetables has been definitively shown to lower high blood pressure. Another way is supplements. Until this new study, there has never been a

Kids are especially susceptible to respiratory infections. Tons of studies have established vitamin C’s ability to protect against respiratory infections in adults. But not much research has been done on vitamin C for kids. Until now. The common cold, sore throat, sinusitis, pneumonia and bronchitis are all respiratory infections. Because kids have immature immune systems, they are especially susceptible. 14% of all deaths in kids under 5 are due to pneumonia. This new study

80% of diabetics are affected by diabetic retinopathy. New research suggests that low levels of magnesium could be an important contributor to this important problem. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of preventable blindness. This new meta-analysis gives an important clue for how to prevent it. This meta-analysis of studies on magnesium and diabetic retinopathy included 17 studies of 1100 diabetics with diabetic retinopathy and 1132 diabetics without diabetic

This meta-analysis included 10 studies of aromatherapy on people over 60 who suffered from sleep disorders. All 10 studies showed a positive effect of aromatherapy on sleep. The combined meta-analysis revealed that the effect was significant compared to control groups. There was also significant benefit for anxiety and depression. The most commonly used aromatherapy was lavender, sometimes in combination with sweet orange and bergamot. Medicine (Baltimore). 2024 Dec 6;103(49)

This massive new study shows that two healthy, plant-based diets can help keep your brain healthy and young. Cognitive decline with aging follows a trajectory that starts with subjective cognitive decline and can progress as far as dementia and Alzheimer’s. Diet is emerging as a promising way to prevent that from happening. Two of the most promising are the Mediterranean diet and the MIND diet. They have a heavy focus on plant food in common. The Mediterranean diet leans on f

Hormonal changes at menopause lead to many well-known symptoms. A common, but less discussed one, is sexual function. A surprising solution may come from probiotics. Female Sexual Dysfunction encompasses changes in sexual desire, arousal, orgasm and pain. It is experienced by 68%-86.5% of menopausal women. Recent research has revealed surprising evidence that probiotics influence estrogen metabolism and can actually alleviate menopause symptoms without the adverse effects of

Sport and exercise are important. But strenuous exercise can damage and even injure your muscles. Muscle regeneration can be a slow process. New research is suggesting that a duo of B vitamins can speed it up. After muscle damage, muscle regeneration is driven by muscle stem cells. A just published double-blind, placebo-controlled study asked 39 men with an average age of 26.7 years to do a single session of damaging high intensity muscle contractions. It then gave them eithe

Nausea and vomiting are common problems of anesthesia from surgery, chemotherapy for cancer, and pregnancy. Whatever the cause, the research shows that peppermint essential oil can help. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter best known for preventing depression and insomnia. Less known is that there are serotonin receptors in your digestive tract. Even less known is that peppermint essential oil has been shown to block the serotonin receptors in your gastrointestinal tract that tri

Can something as simple as smelling thyme essential oil help people hospitalized with COVID? This open-label study included 140 people who were hospitalized for COVID. They all received conventional treatment, but half of them added thyme essential oil aromatherapy. 2mL of essential oil was applied to a cotton wick inside an inhaler stick. People in the aromatherapy group closed one nostril and inhaled 8 times through the other, 3 times a day for 5 days. The thyme aromatherap