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Regular consumption of pomegranate juice (PJ, 石榴汁) may have an effect on the quality and mobility of sperm, reported by a new research study lead by Gaffari Turk from Firat University in Turkey and also published in Clinical Nutrition.

The lead researcher says, “”The results of this study demonstrated, for the first time, that daily consumption of PJ for seven weeks caused increased spermatogenic cell density, epididymal sperm concentration, sperm motility and decreased abnormal sperm rate related with decreased lipid peroxidation in male rats.”

For seven weeks, Turk’s research team conducted tests on 28 male Wistar rats by dividing them into four groups and allowed them to drink 1 mL of distilled water, 0.75 mL of water and 0.25 mL of PJ, 0.50 mL of water and 0.50 mL of PJ, and 1 mL of PJ daily for seven weeks.

The experiment suggested that PJ consumption can reduce the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA, 丙二醛), which are a reactive carbonyl compound and end product of lipid oxidation. The effect of drinking PJ with respect to water decreased MDA levels by 48.5% in the serum and 63.5% in the sperm in the tests on rats.

“Spermatozoa are especially susceptible to peroxidative damage because of the high concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids which are involved in regulation of sperm maturation, [and] spermatogenesis,” explained the researchers.

They also pointed out that only a high concentration of PJ had a significant impact on sperm abnormalities, compared to PJ and water mixtures.

However, further study is needed to determine whether PJ has the same effect on humans, and the level of PJ concentration required to decrease human sperm abnormalities.

The current market has been increasingly confident on the health benefits of PJ as commercial advertisers are promoting PJ as improving heart health, prevent prostate cancer and reduce the chance of arthritis.

Source: Clinical Nutrition (Elsevier)

“Effects of pomegranate juice consumption on sperm quality, spermatogenic cell density, antioxidant activity and testosterone level in male rats”

Authors: G. Turk, M. Sonmez, M. Aydin, A. Yuce, S. Gur, M. Yuksel, E.H. Aksu, H. Aksoy

Herbal Medicine antioxidant, arthritis, cancer, lipid peroxidation, pomegranate, serum, sperm

Royal jelly (蜂王漿) is the milky white or yellowish paste-like secreted from the heads of the worker bee that is used to feed the queen bee and bee larvae. The royal jelly is known to have a large source of amino acids, proteins, vitamins, minerals and other bioactive substances. Plus, it contains a rare unsaturated fatty acid known as 10-Hydroxy-2-Decenoic Acid (10-HDA), which is good for its bactericidal and anti-aging effect.

1. Scavenging extra free radicals

Too many free radicals in our body can cause tissue and vascular damage, thereby speeding up our aging process. Royal jelly contains an enzyme called Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) that protects our cell by scavenging for free radicals. Being rich in vitamin A, C, E and selenium, zinc, copper, manganese, magnesium and other trace elements, SOD is the natural anti-oxidant with its ability to eliminate the extra free radicals accumulated during metabolism. In short, prolonged use of royal jelly makes us live longer.

2. Strengthen our immune system

As we grow older, we lose our vitality and get infected with diseases often due to a weakened immune system. In this respect, royal jelly contains the royal jelly acid, taurine, vitamins and other trace elements that can restore our immune system.

3. Sexual stimulant

Pharcological researches suggest that royal jelly has properties that can stimulate sexual activity and increase adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). It is benefitial for both maintaining a healthy lifestyle and intimacy.

4. Controlling lipofuscin

Our organs gradually accumulates a substance called lipofuscin that triggers cell degeneration and weakens bodily functions. Royal jelly can tremendously reduce our lipid peroxidation (LPO) and lipofuscin accumulation in myocardial cells. At the same time, it contains large quantities of active substances that can excrete lipofuscin from our body.

5. The role of nucleic acid

Royal jelly also contains nucleic acid, which is the core component of a human body; without nucleic acid our body would not function at all. A shortage of nucleic acid can affect the rate of cell division, causing an insufficient supply of cells. This in turn reduces protein synthesis, causing body injury, disease, aging and even death.

6. Maintains nutritional balance

We all probably know by now that nutritional balance is the key success factor of staying healthy. The royal jelly is a provider of the basic nutritional substances that our body needs, regulates our physiological function and metabolism, strengthens our immune system and prevents many of the aging diseases. These are all important factors of staying alive and preventy many diseases common to many elderly people.

Herbal Medicine acth, antioxidant, bactericidal, bee, copper, free radical, hda, honey, hormone, immunity, lipid peroxidation, lipofuscin, lpo, magnesium, manganese, metabolism, myocardial cell, royal jelly, selenium, sexual stimulant, sod, superoxide, taurine, trace element, vitamin, zinc

The importance of regulating blood sugar is clear: stabilizing blood sugar can prevent many health problems, one of the most obvious being diabetes, which is often a result of years of unstable blood sugar. Fortunately, for most of us it is within our power to take control of our blood sugar levels by remaining active and making the right food choices and also by drinking camomile tea (甘菊茶).

Camomile tea has long been prized for its ability to calm and relax, making it a favored tea for bedtime, but now a recent study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry shows camomile may serve another purpose: regulating blood sugar.

Camomile tea lowers blood glucose in research study

At the University of Toyama in Japan and at the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research in the United Kingdom, researchers studied the effect of camomile tea on diabetic rats. Half of the rats were given a dose of camomile extract for three weeks. Another set of diabetic rats was given a normal diet with no addition of camomile.

The study observed that when camomile was given to the rats, a lesser amount of glucose was turned into sorbitol (a sugar alcohol). Excess sorbitol can cause damage to kidneys, eyes and nerve cells. The enzymes primarily responsible for this kind of damage in diabetics were also inhibited in the camomile rats. The rats who were fed camomile extract also showed an overall decrease in blood glucose compared to the other rats.

The authors of the study stated there is a clear link between the daily consumption of camomile tea and preventing the progression of diabetes and hyperglycemia. As usual there are those who say more research needs to be done to determine just how effective this treatment can be, but to anyone searching for a natural way of regulating blood sugar, the results of this study are more than enough encouragement to start drinking camomile tea.

Maintain regular blood sugar levels to stay healthy

Camomile tea’s benefits aren’t only for those with diabetes. For diabetics, stabilizing blood sugar is crucial for good health, but the truth is even people without diabetes can benefit from maintaining normal blood sugar levels. Blood sugar swings are associated with fatigue, sugar cravings and insulin resistance, among other symptoms. Taking measures to regulate blood sugar can actually prevent the onset of diabetes in healthy individuals, and it will also help you feel more energetic and maintain a healthy weight.

Of course, if you’re considering drinking camomile tea solely to regulate your blood sugar, keep in mind it’s a healthy addition to an overall lifestyle that naturallly contributes to healthy blood sugar. Other steps which should be included in this lifestyle are regular exercise, eating balanced meals, avoiding refined foods and getting plenty of sleep.

Herbal Medicine blood, camomile, diabete, enzyme, glucose, grassland, hyperglycemia, institute, insulin, kidney, sorbitol, tea, toyama, univeristy