MORINGA

The Moringa (moringa oleifera) is a commonly found tree growing throughout tropical Africa and Asia. It is another of those "super plants" for which there are quite dramatic claims, but in this case the people of these regions have voted with their stomachs, because Moringa products are growing in popularity and gaining ground even outside the village, where most poor people have recognized that almost all the tree's parts can be used beneficially either as food or medicine. Among other products, the leaves and fruits (in pods) can be consumed fresh as a protein and vitamin rich vegetable and the oil can be used as a healing ointment or even as a cosmetic or for cooking. In powder form (usually in capsules) the leaves are becoming an important dietary supplement. My partner, Thanyatorn Sawangjareanwat, makes the powder capsules by hand from leaves from trees grown on her land in Thailand. It's a time consuming process, including gathering and drying the leaves, removing stems and other debris, grinding the powder (currently in a coffee grinder!) and filling the capsules. She provides capsules to family members and to monks in the local Buddhist temple and swears that since taking the capsules a chronic knee injury (from marathon running) has disappeared. More information about Moringa (pronounced "maroom" in Thai) can be found at the Moringa News Network at http://moringanews.org (from which the picture above was copied - thanks for this photo to Dr Armelle de Saint Sauveur, founder of Moringa News Network).

POMEGRANATE JUICE - NOT SUCH A SIMPLE CURE

My good friend and supplements guru gave me a heads up about pomegranate juice. He’s just experienced some issues with prostate cancer and orders the juice every time we dine together. According to Wikipedia, “Studies indicate that pomegranate juice reduces arterial plaque, reduces systolic blood pressure, and reduces LDL cholesterol” One 250 ml (8.45 oz) glass of pomegranate juice provides approximately 50% of an adult's recommended daily allowance (RDA) of the vitamins A, C and E. Pomegranate juice provides 100% RDA of folic acid and a substantial amount of potassium and niacin. Wiki also gives the scientific journal references that support the claims for help with prostate cancer. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomegranate_juice

But be warned: there is also evidence that with some medications the juice can be dangerous. A 48-year-old man was taking ezetimibe (trade name Zetia) 10 mg a day and rosuvastatin (trade name Crestor) 5 mg every other day for 17 months. Both medications are used to treat high cholesterol. He began drinking pomegranate juice (200 ml twice weekly) and three weeks later, was admitted to emergency with thigh pain and an elevated serum creatine kinase level. Both are symptoms of rhabdomyolysis, a serious condition that causes the breakdown of muscle fibers and may lead to kidney failure. Rosuvastatin belongs to a group of medicines called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, or ‘statins’. Grapefruit juice is known to increase the risk of statin-induced myopathy, but up until now, there was little information about whether pomegranate juice might also increase the risk. Pomegranate juice and grapefuit juice, are both known to block enzyme systems in the intestines. By inhibiting these enzymes, the juices may increase blood levels of many medications.

For more information on drug interactions look at http://altmedicine.about.com/od/druginteractions/a/pom_interaction.html

Bottom line: nothing is free. Before you take the magic cure, make sure you read what there is on the Net and when in doubt, ask the doctor.

A NEW SUPER FRUIT TO TACKLE CANCER?

Sea Buckthorn is a thorny shrub known to the Romans who fed the protein-rich leaves to horses and to the Chinese who have used it medicinally for 12 centuries. The sea-buckthorns (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) are deciduous shrubs, often used ornamentally, with beautiful grey leaves, sharp thorns and shiny orange berries. They are found in cool upland locations particularly in the Himalayas, but also in Europe and North America. Sea-buckthorn berries are multi-purposed, edible and nutritious. They are rich in a variety of antioxidant chemicals (vitamins C and E; several carotenoids, including beta-carotene (pro-vitamin A); flavonoids; certain enzymes, and other substances). The claim is that the extract from the seed (once the berry pulp is removed) will tackle prostate and breast cancers. Bioactive oil has also been obtained from the young branches and leaves and has been incorporated into an ointment for treating a wide variety of skin damage,including burns, bedsores, eczema, and radiation injury. A true superfruit, perhaps? We will be researching the subject in the context of work being done in Pakistan by our associated company, FoodWorks www.foodworksasia.blogspot.com

There are a number of source links where you can get more information

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seabuckthorn
http://seabuckthorn.com/sbtscience.htm
International Centre for Research and Training on Sea Buckthorn, http://www.icrts.org/china.htm