Cocoa Compounds Boost Blood Flow to Muscles

Studies support the cardiovascular benefits of taking in cocoa flavonols. Narelle M. Berry, from the University of South Australia in Adelaide, and colleagues studied 21 overweight men and women, aged 54 to 59, body mass index of 31 to 36 kilograms per square meter. Each participant was assigned to have single servings of either a high-flavonol (701 milligrams) or a low-flavonol (22 milligrams) cocoa beverage followed by 10 minutes of cycling at 75 percent of age-predicted maximum heart rate. Two hours after the subjects drank the cocoa, the team measured endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilatation, a parameter that can modify blood pressure responsiveness to exercise. In the subjects who had the high-flavonol beverage, blood pressure was 14 percent lower than in those who had the low-flavonol drink. The researchers conclude that “by facilitating vasodilation and attenuating exercise-induced increases in [blood pressure], cocoa flavonols may decrease cardiovascular risk and enhance the cardiovascular benefits of moderate-intensity exercise in at-risk individuals.”`

Berry, N., et al. (2010). Impact of cocoa flavonol consumption on blood pressure responsiveness to exercise. Br J Nutr. In press.

Garlic May Counter
Key Cancer Process

Nitrosation is a cellular process in which substances in foods and water are converted into cancer-causing compounds. Earl H. Harrison, from Ohio State University, and colleagues developed a new urine test that measures compounds related to cancer risk while detecting the levels of N-nitrosoproline and N-acetyl-S-allylcysteine, compounds abundantly present in garlic. The team found that the greater the markers of garlic compounds, the less strongly they found the marker for cancer risk. Writing that “3 to 5 grams of garlic supplements inhibited [Nitrosoproline] NPRO [excretion],” a key marker of nitrosation, the researchers observe that “allyl sulfur compounds found in garlic may inhibit nitrosation in humans.”

Cope, K., et al. (2009). A gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method for the quantitation of N-nitrosoproline and N-acetyl-S-allylcysteine in human urine: Application to a study of the effects of garlic consumption on nitrosation. Anal Biochem. 394(2):243-248.

—Dr. Bob Goldman
www.WorldHealth.net

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Dr. Robert M. Goldman MD, PhD, DO, FAASP has spearheaded the development of numerous international medical organizations and corporations. Dr. Goldman has served as a Senior Fellow at the Lincoln Filene Center, Tufts University; as an Affiliate at the Philosophy of Education Research Center, Graduate School of Education, Harvard University, He is Clinical Consultant, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korea Medical University; and Professor, Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Central America Health Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine. Dr. Goldman holds the positions of Visiting Professor, Udayana University School of Medicine, Indonesia; Visiting Professor, Huazhong University of Science & Technology Tong Ji Medical School, China; Visiting Professor, The Wuhan Institute of Science & Technology, China; Visiting Professor at Hainan Medical College, China; and Visiting Professor, School of Anti-Aging, Aesthetics and Regenerative Medicine, UCSI University, Malaysia. Dr. Goldman is a Fellow of the American Academy of Sports Physicians and a Board Diplomat in Sports Medicine and Board Certified in Anti-Aging Medicine. Dr. Goldman is a Fellow of the American Academy of Sports Physicians and a Board Diplomat in Sports Medicine and Board Certified in Anti-Aging Medicine. He has overseen cooperative research agreement development programs in conjunction with such prominent institutions as the American National Red Cross, the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Department of Defense, and the FDA’s Center for Devices & Radiological Health.

Dr Goldman was awarded the 2012 LifeTime Achievement Award in Medicine &Science. Dr. Goldman is the recipient of the ‘Gold Medal for Science, the Grand Prize for Medicine, the Humanitarian Award, and the Business Development Award. He received honors from Minister of Sports and government Health officials of numerous nations. In 2001, Excellency Juan Antonio Samaranch awarded Dr. Goldman the International Olympic Committee Tribute Diploma for contributions to the development of sport & Olympism.

In addition, Dr. Goldman is a black belt in karate, Chinese weapons expert, and world champion athlete with over 20 world strength records, he has been listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. Some of his past performance records include 13,500 consecutive situps and 321 consecutive handstand pushups. Dr. Goldman was an All-College athlete in four sports, a three time winner of the John F. Kennedy (JFK) Physical Fitness Award, was voted Athlete of the Year, was the recipient of the Champions Award, and was inducted into the World Hall of Fame of Physical Fitness. Dr. Goldman was awarded the Healthy American Fitness Leader Award from the President’s Council on Physical Fitness & Sports and U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Goldman is Chairman of the International Medical Commission overseeing sports medicine committees in over 184 nations. He has served as a Special Advisor to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness & Sports. He is founder and international President Emeritis of the National Academy of Sports Medicine and the cofounder and Chairman of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M). Dr. Goldman visits an average of 20 countries annually to promote brain research and sports medicine programs.