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Saffron and probiotics improved sleep Saffron increased evening melatonin levels Melatonin is the hormone that controls the sleep-wake cycle, with the pineal gland producing and releasing melatonin at night. In this study, 120 adults who reported having insomnia and poor sleep, took a placebo, 14 mg or 28 mg of saffron, one hour before bed. Doctors used standard scales to measure sleep quality, mood, and biological factors. After 120 days, those taking saffron saw significant

Probiotics aid autism, colic, and crying Probiotics improved autism symptoms Those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have gut and digestive imbalances, and because of this, recent research has begun to focus on the role of non-psychiatric factors. This study included 112 boys and 19 girls, average age seven years, 86.3 percent with severe ASD Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scores of 5 or higher. Also, 39.7 percent had gastrointestinal symptoms, mostly constipation w

Large, long-term study confirms benefits This study followed 49,493 women and 27,842 men who had entered the original study between 1986 and 2002 at ages 30 to 55. Beginning in 2008 and continuing through 2014, doctors gathered a dozen food-frequency questionnaires to measure long-term average flavonoids in the diet. Those who consumed the highest amounts of total flavonoids—an average of about 600 mg per day—were 20 percent less likely to report cognitive decline than those

Vitamin K and flavonoids improve heart and circulatory health Vitamin K reduced hospitalizations in circulatory conditions Fats and cholesterols can build up on artery walls, reducing blood flow, in a type of heart condition called atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). In this study, doctors analyzed findings from a large trial covering 53,372 adult men and women over a 23-year period. Overall, those who got the highest amounts of vitamins K1 and K2 were 21 percent

Vitamin D, calcium reduce fracture in vegans Meat- and dairy-free vegan diets can provide all essential nutrients, and have many health benefits, but may lack key nutrients including vitamins B12 and D, calcium, iron, and zinc. Food manufacturers are beginning to fortify non-dairy beverages with calcium and vitamin D, but this is a relatively recent practice. In this study of hip fracture, doctors followed 34,542 non-Hispanic, white, men and peri- and post-menopausal women, a

Doctors believe chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also called myalgic encephalomyelitis, emerges after a viral infection and causes severe fatigue and cloudy thinking. In this study, 207 people with CFS took a placebo or 200 mg of CoQ10 plus 20 mg of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-hydrogen (NADH) per day. After 12 weeks, while the placebo group did not improve, those taking CoQ10 and NADH reported less cognitive and overall fatigue, better sleep quality, and health-related q

Avocado contains healthy monounsaturated fats, dietary fiber, carotenoids, and other metabolically beneficial nutrients. In this study, 105 overweight or obese adults, aged 25 to 45, ate a similar diet with or without avocado. Doctors explained there are two kinds of abdominal fat: subcutaneous, right below the skin, and deeper, visceral fat that surrounds organs and increases chances for diabetes. After 12 weeks, while there was no change in men, women who ate avocado had le

Nutrients preserve vision in aging Lutein, zeaxanthin improved night vision Driving at dusk and at night is difficult for many, especially older adults, as the useful field of view (UFOV)—the area visible without moving the head or eye—shrinks with age. Evidence suggests carotenoid pigments in the macula of the eye that support healthy vision may play a role. In this study, 33 men and women, average age 63, with 20/25 vision or better, took a placebo or two carotenoids: 7 mg