Flax: Planting the Seeds for Better Cognition

Simple flaxseed oil could improve cognition and daily living in seniors, according to this exciting new study.

This 12 week double-blind study gave either 3.7g of flaxseed oil or a corn oil placebo to 60 adults between the ages of 65 and 80 who had no cognitive impairment.

The results showed that verbal fluency scores improved significantly more in the flaxseed oil group, indicating a significant improvement in executive function.

Verbal fluency declines with age and can interfere with conversation. Equally importantly, improvement on the verbal fluency test measures improvement in executive function, which includes the ability to make plans, set goals and adjust while performing actions. Improvement in executive function translates into improvement in daily living and quality of life. Verbal fluency is also a factor in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

This study suggests that something as safe and simple as taking flaxseed oil can improve cognition, executive function, social interaction and life satisfaction and maybe even protect against Alzheimer’s.

Nutrients 2023;15(6):1499

 

Reversing Hair Loss Naturally

As many as 70% of men will experience hair loss from androgenetic alopecia, the most common cause of balding. The safe, simple supplement from nature can help put a stop to that!.

There are several pharmaceutical solutions to the androgenic alopecia that causes hair loss in men. But most men don’t stick with them because of the side effects. Topical minoxidil can cause scaling and itching on the scalp, and oral finasteride decreases libido and sperm volume while commonly causing erectile dysfunction.

Nature may offer an alternative that is effective with none of those safety drawbacks: simple pumpkin seed oil.

At the end of 24 weeks, the men on the pumpkin seed oil rated their improvement and satisfaction significantly higher than the men on the placebo. And with good reason. Photographs analyzed by investigators revealed that hair growth was significantly better in the pumpkin seed group. In the placebo group 28.2% had gotten worse after 24 weeks compared to only 2.7% in the pumpkin seed group. 7.7% of the placebo group improved their hair growth compared to 44.1% in the pumpkin seed group. These results show a significant benefit to pumpkin seed oil.

After 24 weeks, there was a 40% increase in hair count for men taking pumpkin seed oil but only a 10% increase in the placebo group: again, a significant difference.

This study shows that pumpkin seed oil may be a safe, simple, effective way for men to reverse balding.

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014;2014:549721.

 

Magnesium Prevents Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are incredibly common and incredibly painful. New research suggests that getting more magnesium can help you prevent them.

Approximately 10% of all people in Canada and the States will experience the pain of a kidney stone in their lifetime. But there may be a simple solution.

A large new study compared the dietary magnesium intake of 19,271 people, including 1,878 of them who regularly formed kidney stones. It found that the people who got the most magnesium in their diet were strongly and significantly less likely to form kidney stones.

Several studies have also shown that supplementing magnesium can prevent the recurrence of kidney stones (Am J Clin Nutr 1967;20(5)393-99; J Urol 1974;112:509-12; Scand J Urol Nephrol 1980;53:125-30; Urol Res 1981;9:157-60; J Am Coll Nutr 1982;1:179-85; Clin Sci 1982;62:17-19.

When using supplements, the best form of magnesium may be magnesium citrate. And adding B6 makes it work even better (Am J Clin Nutr 1967;20(5)393-9; J Am Soc Nephrol 1999;10:840-5.

R I Med J. 2023 Dec 1;106(11):20-25.