Immunity Health News

The days of the peanut allergy may be numbered.

Researchers at Britain’s Institute of Food Research have identified a missing molecule — interleukin-12 – which may be responsible for preventing food allergies.

The dendritic cells of mice bred to be allergic to peanuts did not produce this molecule.

If an allergen such as a peanut were taken alongside the Interleukin-12, Dr Nicoletti said that the allergic reactions might be brought under control.

Read more.

Recent research out of Spain has shown that resistant starch gave pigs healthier bowels. No surprise there. But what did surprise them was a general decrease in the pigs’ white blood cell levels, in particular those of the leucocytes and lymphocytes in their blood. White blood cells are produced as a result of inflammation or disease, generally when the body is challenged.

The general down-regulation of leucocytes observed by the Spanish researchers suggests an overall beneficial effect, a generally more healthy body, according to immunology expert Lena Ohman at the Department of Internal Medicine, Göteborg University, Sweden.

Read the whole article.

I just happened to be eating from a small bag of jalapeno peppers — I asked the sandwich artist to put them on the side — when I came across this press release for a new product that infuses extracts of hot peppers into a nasal rinse.

These nasal rinses, also called neti pots, which are used to improve sinus health and allergy symptoms, have had a recent surge in popularity due to a televised demonstration on Oprah. (Look for the video link half way down the page.)

I can’t comment on the effectiveness of this product, but if it’s anything like the handful of jalapenos I just finished off…let’s just say I’m breathing free right now!

Well, we’re always on the lookout for that magical combination of just the right diet to make us live to 100. Here is just such a list, courtesy of realmuscleonline.com:

1. Garlic — for sulfur compounds which block enzymes that allow bad bacteria to take over otherwise healthy tissue.

2. Eggs — for zinc and iron (as well as protein and B vitamins) which are important for healthy immune function.

3. Mushrooms — which help in the production of white blood cells.

4. Green tea — full of those wonderful antioxidants and flavanoids.

5. Tomatoes — for vitamin C, beta carotene and folate.

In short, one omelet a day with a side of green tea ought to keep your engine running!

The evidence for and against echinacea’s effectiveness has probably left many consumers wondering whom to believe.

Now a new study, published Sunday in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases, is reporting that yes, echinacea does in fact boost the immune system to prevent and fight colds.

“We showed that patients who took echinacea could decrease the risk of developing a cold by 58 percent as well as decrease the duration of a cold by over a day and half,” said Dr. Craig Coleman of the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy.

And it is apparently even more effective when taken with Vitamin C.
Read the whole article.

Rose hips may provide an effective treatment for Rheumatoid arthritis, according to recent research.

Severely affected patients already being treated with conventional drugs experienced significant improvement after taking capsules of rose-hip powder for six months, a pilot study showed. More.

At the same time, research was presented at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology in Barcelona, Spain, suggesting that alcohol reduced the chances of developing R.a.:

The benefits were seen when a person drank three servings of alcohol a week and when there was [sic] ten units a week there was even more protection. More.

In ages past, one type of mead was made with rosehips. That might save you having to organize two drinks! here’s the recipe from beertown.org:

Rose Hip Mead, served at AHA Conference Herb and Spice Beer

Ingredients: for 3 gallons:*12 lb. Orange Blossom Honey*2 gallons spring water*1 T Dry malt extract*15 gm white wine yeast*3 lb dried rose hips in secondary*

Instructions: Heat must to 150F for 20 minutes. Chill. Pitch yeast. Ferment. Transfer to secondary on top of rose hips. rack to tertiary and top up. When clear, rack and bottle. Share with friends.

Here is an interesting blog post about the health claims of food companies, in particular those with products like yogourt claiming to have “probiotic” properties. In light of the increasing notoriety of probiotics, it’s not surprising that companies are trying to capitalize on the public’s buying trends, even if their claims may be misleading or fallacious.

This is why I’m such a big proponent of empirical testing as opposed to anecdotal or “traditional” evidence for product efficacy.

In a recent study, women who got most of their daily calcium from food had healthier bones than women whose calcium came mainly from supplemental tablets. Surprisingly, this was true even though the supplement takers had higher average calcium intake.

“Only about 35 percent of the calcium in most supplements ends up being absorbed by the body,” says senior author Reina Armamento-Villareal, M.D., assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Bone and Mineral Diseases and a bone specialist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. “Calcium from the diet is generally better absorbed, and this could be another reason that women who got a high percentage of calcium in their food had higher bone densities.”

Read it all.

A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds that seniors who take zinc supplements are at a significantly lower risk of infections, in part because of zinc’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, both of which improve immune function.

It should be noted that zinc inhibits copper absorption, and can cause anemia and bone-marrow suppression if taken long-term in large amounts without copper. People taking zinc more than a few weeks, with the exception of those with Wilson’s disease, should also take a copper supplement providing 2 or 3 mg per day.

Read the whole article.

I also note that the study appears to have been funded by Solgar, a vitamin manufacturer out of the UK. Hence the study’s constant reference not to zinc, but “Solgar zinc”.

The danger comes when there is a sudden demand for a certain product or ingredient, and suppliers looking to make a fast buck substitute cheaper ingredients for the real thing.

The rush floods the market with knock-off products, and the testing of these products only comes once there’s a problem reported. Of course, if the negative effects are less severe, they’ll probably go unreported.

Read more.