Nutrients ease stress, improve circulation & metabolism
Curcumin combination reduced cortisol
The adrenal glands produce the hormone cortisol in stressful situations, and obesity and metabolic syndrome can chronically elevate cortisol levels. In this study, 80 overweight adults, average age 54, with elevated fasting blood sugar levels, took a placebo or 200 mg of curcumin, 120 mg of phosphatidylserine, 480 mg of phosphatidylcholine, and 8 mg of piperine per day. Doctors also recommended lifestyle improvements to all.
After eight weeks, the placebo group saw improvements in triglyceride levels and in fasting blood sugar levels. Those taking the curcumin combination saw cortisol levels decline significantly, lower fasting insulin levels, a two-inch decrease in waist size, a 5mmHg decrease in systolic blood pressure, a 34 mg per deciliter of blood decrease in triglycerides, higher HDL cholesterol levels, and improvements in liver function and in fatty-liver index scores.
Discussing the findings, doctors said to their knowledge, this is the first study to report curcumin combined with phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine, and piperine reduced cortisol levels, and improved glucose factors and liver function in overweight adults with elevated fasting blood sugar levels.
Reference: European Journal of Nutrition; February, 2019, Published Online
Tart cherry, circulation, and metabolism
Tart cherry contains powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory anthocyanins and polyphenols, as well as fiber. In this study, 11 men and women, average age 49, with three of five factors in metabolic syndrome—including large waist size, high triglycerides, low levels of HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high fasting blood sugar levels—took a placebo or tart cherry juice concentrate or capsules equal to 90 to 110 whole tart cherries.
In three sessions separated by two weeks each, participants fasted for 10 hours the night before taking one of the three treatments at 7:00 a.m. the following morning. Compared to the placebo phases, two hours after taking either form of tart cherry, participants saw significantly lower insulin and systolic blood pressure levels.
Reference: Journal of Functional Foods; 2019, Vol. 57, 286-98
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