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New Study Highlights Protective Effects of Zinc
The connection between zinc deficiency and susceptibility to bacterial infection has long been known, but the exact mechanisms by which zinc provides protection remained elusive. That was until Professor Christopher McDevitt of the University of Melbourne led a research study that uncovered the link between dietary zinc intake and protection against Streptococcus pneumoniae. The study…
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Soothe the Central Nervous System with L-Theanine
L-theanine, also known as L-γ-glutamylethylamide and N⁵-ethyl-L-glutamine is a non-protein amino acid that’s naturally occurring in some plants and fungus. Theanine is the name given to L-theanine when it is used as a food supplement, which is permitted in many international locations. Most famously L-theanine was found to be an active ingredient in green tea…
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Newly Discovered Metronome Neuron Cells
A recent study carried out by Brown University neuroscientists discovered new metronome neuron cells in the brain. This exciting discovery may shed light on the brain’s long-hypothesized internal clock and possible methods to increase sensitivity in the brain. The metronome neuron cells oscillate at approximately 40 cycles per second, which makes them “gamma waves” or…
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Healthy Brainwaves to Increase GABA
How our brains function is more complex than ever imagined. For a long time, the brain was thought to be compartmentalized, specialized and fixed. In fact, in the 1970’s a group of neuroscientists set out to prove that was the case. Interestingly neuroplasticity was discovered while trying to prove quite the opposite. The truth is,…
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Relax with Passionflower
Passiflora caerulea, also known as blue passionflower, is one of the most vigorous and tender members the passionflower genus Passiflora. Native to South America, its traditional use has been as an anxiolytic. According to the American Botanical Council, the components of the fruit and flower that confer therapeutic benefits include maltol, chrysin, coumarin derivatives, flavonoids…
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Top 4 Herbs That Promote a Good Night’s Sleep
We’re experiencing a worldwide lack of sleep. With people’s busy lives, sleep is not often a top priority and life can easily become overwhelming. Japan has the worst national average with just 5 hours and 59 minutes spent in bed. This statistic doesn’t take into account their propensity to take a quick “inemuri” in the…
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L-Theanine Assists the Transition From Waking to Sleeping
The physiological process of falling asleep does not happen “in a moment.” It is a gradual transition that involves moving from an alert mental state, characterized by beta brain waves, to a relaxed one, signified by alpha brain waves, until finally entering the theta waves of light sleep. Several human clinical studies have shown that…
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STRESS: THE GOOD, BAD AND UGLY
Stress is a condition that many (if not all) people encounter at least once in their life. Whether it’s because of school, work, or relationship, stress can take a toll on your mental, emotional, and even physical health. Although it can be tempting to simply ignore stress and go on with your life like it’s…
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Create Calm with Adaptogens
At some point in our lives, we all experience some degree of anxiety or stress. It seems almost inevitable. Because stress can be at the root of many health issues, its management or alleviation is critical. Intuitively, people know that being in a calm state is the best foundation for a healthy life and, throughout…