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Prunes good for bone health says report

Recent research from San Diego State University’s School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences reports that eating prunes daily has a protective effect on bone health in men over 50. 

This study is the first of its kind to examine the beneficial prune effect on bones in men. It is estimated that two million men are battling osteoporosis and another 16.1 million men have low bone mass, or osteopenia (Wright et al.). Despite these statistics, bone disease in men is often overlooked.

“We’ve already seen significant evidence that prunes have a positive effect on bone health in women, so it’s particularly exciting to find that prunes can also play a beneficial role in men’s bone health. We look forward to continuing to study the "prune effect" on bone and other health outcomes in men,” said lead researcher Professor Shirin Hooshmand, PhD, RD, School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University.

In this randomised-controlled clinical study, 57 healthy men aged 50-79 years old were assigned to either consume 100 grams of prunes every day or no prunes for 12 months. At the conclusion of one year, the prune consumers showed significant decreases in biomarkers of bone breakdown, while no changes were observed in the control group (Hooshmand, et al. 2021). The study authors also reported the men who ate prunes showed improvements in bone geometry indicating greater bone strength.

Historically, research has focused on osteoporosis and bone health in women, already indicating a favourable bone response to prunes specifically among postmenopausal women. Several studies have suggested that eating 50 to 100 grams of prunes every day could lead to increased bone mass and decreased bone breakdown (Arjmandi et al., 2002; Hooshmand et al., 2011, 2014, 2016). Moreover, a recent case study published in the Bone Reports earlier this year reported that total bone mineral density increased in a postmenopausal woman with osteopenia after she consumed 50 grams of prunes daily for 16 months (Strock, et al, 2021).

Registered dietitian and California Prune Board consultant, Jo Travers, explains: “Bones act as reservoirs for minerals that have many other uses throughout the body, and when these minerals get low, bone is broken down in order to release these reserves. Getting the minerals out of bone is a very quick process, but putting them back is much slower, leading to an overall net loss of bone mineral density.”

Jo, who also authored the book, The Bone-Strength Plan, continues: “Prunes contain some of the key minerals involved in bone health such as vitamin K and manganese. By consuming enough of these minerals in our diets we can negate the need to dip into reserves in the first place, protecting bone mineral density and even allowing new bone growth.”

While San Diego State University’s newest research is an exciting addition to existing prune-focused literature, more investigations into the effect of prunes on human bone health are currently underway. An upcoming study from Pennsylvania State University examines how consuming different amounts of prunes affects health outcomes in postmenopausal women over a one-year period. The study not only explores the impact of prunes on bone health, but it will also look at the prune-effect on inflammation and gut health.

The men’s bone study by Hooshmand, et al., can be found here https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/jmf.2021.0080

(EDITOR: Prunes are dried plums. Would eating plums have the same impact?)

NOTE: This report was funded by the California Prune Board.)

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Make your life a sea breeze with Beurer

You will soon be able to enjoy breathing air that is fresher, cleaner, healthier and free of germs, all due to Beuer's new Maremed sea air simulator. 

Imagine! All the health and well-being benefits of the sea air, plus the ability to remove 99% of bacteria and viruses from your home.

Beurer, has launched a new product which is aimed helping calm your mind and relaxing your body by way of improved breathing. 

The new Maremed MK-500 sea air simulator uses air filtering and sea salt nebulising to bring you a natural marine climate within your own property. 

It allows you to enjoy the natural sense of well-being that the sea air evokes. 

And it will assist you to breathe deeper, with lower levels of toxins and bacteria, and it can also help relieve allergy symptoms for a number of sufferers. 

As it cleverly includes a special UVC lamp in its filter, the unit removes 99% of bacteria and viruses, helping keep your home virtually germ-free.

It's unique in that it can mimic the coastal natural air quality. It cleans, mineralises, sterilises, ionises, and humidifies the air. It's designed to use its own exclusive sea salt mixture which includes in excess of  65 trace elements, which it turns into a special fine mist to enrich the air and recreate the biodynamics of the seaside.

A winner in the German Design Awards 2021, Maremed is already recognised for its outstanding design innovation.

To learn more please visit: www.beurer.com.

You can buy it at Stress no more and Amazon, at £349.99.

Need to check your blood pressure? Beurer will help you

Having your blood pressure tested can be a fraught task, at least for some people.

Sometimes it's not possible to get to see the Doctor or the practice nurse when you need your blood pressure tested.

And for some people there is the problem of "white coat syndrome" when the mere sight of a Doctor or nurse will cause a rise in blood pressure. A problem if the blood pressure results are required to establish what blood pressure medications you require.

But this is where Beurer's BM 28 home blood pressure monitor comes into it's own.

Did you know it’s Blood Pressure UK’s ‘Know Your Numbers Week’ (6th-12th September), the UK’s biggest blood pressure testing and awareness event?

This year, UK adults will be encouraged to check their blood pressure levels at home. And health and well-being specialist, Beurer, has the perfect at home solution.

Each September, Blood Pressure UK works hard takes find adults with undiagnosed and, therefore, uncontrolled high blood pressure. 

Unfortunately due to COVID  the normal community ‘Pressure Stations’ aren't possible, so people with undiagnosed high blood pressure can't get their high blood pressure identified.

In order to address this issue Blood Pressure UK is calling on people to get home testing during Know Your Numbers week. 

Beurer has a range of easy-to-use home blood pressure monitors, like their Beurer BM 28. And you don't even need medical training to use it.

The BM 28 by Beurer is a good looking and compact upper arm blood pressure monitor designed for simple home use. 

Designed in German it has the added advantage of being certified for medical use so users can be confident that it will provide accurate readings and it's endorsed by the European Society of Hypertension.

Not only does it measure your blood pressure and pulse rate, it also gives you an  arrhythmia detection to alert you to possible heart rhythm irregularities. 

Beurer’s blood pressure monitors also features a patented resting indicator. This unique technology checks the users state of rest to ensure they're calm and relaxed, thus ensuring  an accurate measurement. Say goodbye to "white coat syndrome!"

Readings are taken automatically using a comfortable cuff and are shown on a large backlit LCD, plus (and this is very useful) the date and time for future reference and a risk evaluation against the internationally recognised World Health Organization (WHO) blood pressure chart.

The Beurer BM 28 blood pressure monitor is available from Health and Care, RRP £32.99.

Health & Care

Qu-Chi – The Sell-out Hayfever Band Loved by Celebrities

The Qu-Chi Hayfever Band is becoming a cult product amongst hay fever sufferers. 

Last year Jodie Marsh, the popular English media personality, bodybuilder, columnist and model declared the band as ‘Amazing’. Both she and her husband, songwriter and musician Billy Collins, created a bit of a stir by posting pictures of themselves wearing the bands on Instagram. 

As a result, Qu-Chi sold out in only three hours! 

This popular product developed by leading acupuncturist Andrew Broch, is now back for 2021 and is destined to be on everyone’s wish list as the hay fever season progresses…

The Qu-Chi Hayfever Band, which has appeared on countless celebrities’ arms, is rapidly becoming a fashion statement. Last year it was the top selling product in its sector on Amazon, achieving No.1 best seller in the acupressure category, whilst celebrating its 7th year as an Amazon best seller.

So what makes it the must-have product for sufferers? It could be because it’s a stylish, fuss-free product without any side effects, it’s also drug-free and feedback suggests it works for roughly 85% of people. 

It's also guaranteed to not have been tested on animals, so is vegan friendly. 

It’s also popular because it helps those who haven't had good results with antihistamines. 

As Jodie Marsh says, "... It really WORKS! This isn't an advert, I'm not being paid to say this. I'm honestly over the moon that I've found something that actually works.  Antihistamine were doing nothing for me! These bands are insane! Billy now has one too! Thank you @hayfever band for giving me my life back!"

The Qu-Chi Hayfever Band works by applying pressure to the LI-11 acupoint which is located on the elbow, known as Quchi. 

Acupuncturists believe stimulation of this point pulls energy away from the head, nose, face and throat. Physical pressure is applied to acupuncture points with the aim of clearing blockages, thereby relieving symptoms related to the nose and throat. Pressure may be applied by hand, by elbow, or with various devices, such as the Qu-Chi Hayfever Band.

The band sits at the elbow and gently exerts pressure on the Li-11 acupuncture point via a small button and can be worn once symptoms begin. If sufferers need an extra boost, they can press the button to give extra stimulation to the pressure point. Because its drug free it can be used at work, when exercising, at school, day and night, and in conjunction with medication. And it’s environmentally friendly too as it can be used daily many times and can be washed.

The Qu-Chi Hayfever Band® retails at £12.99 and is available in adult and children’s sizes and a range of colours from pharmacies in the UK and Ireland, online at www.hayfever.blog,  www.healthcare4all.co.uk and Amazon and on 0113 350 5432.

Can't "fix" your hay fever? Try creating a first aid kit

With pollen counts forecast to be high, many people will suffer from hay fever for the first time this year. “Many hay fever sufferers will tell you that nothing works,” says famous airborne allergens expert Max Wiseberg, “or that some remedies help, but nothing does the whole job.  Or things help one year, but don’t work the following year. And it’s true for so many people. Sadly, there is no cure for hay fever but once you understand more about how remedies work, you’ll see that creating your own hay fever first aid kit, following the rules carefully, is a really good idea”

“Pharmaceutical remedies are generally based on either antihistamines or steroid nasal sprays,” says Max, “whilst natural remedies are based on physical preventative measures, immune boosters or natural antihistamines. The interesting thing about this is that many of these remedies can be complementary to each other.  So if one helps, but doesn’t do the whole job, you may be able to try other remedies at the same time and get a better result.  In other words, you can create your own, bespoke hay fever first aid kit that suits your specific needs.”

“However, there are rules: Do NOT take two antihistamines together, never take two steroid nasal sprays together, and consult your pharmacist or doctor about it if you are already taking another medication. I suggest your ideal hay fever first aid kit will consist of one or more natural products, only one antihistamine, only one nasal spray and eye drops.”

“There are a great range of natural products for hay fever on the market, here are just a few; you’ll find more in your local health store, pharmacy or online. Allergen barrier balms, such as HayMax (www.haymax.biz), work by trapping allergens before they enter the body through the nose and eyes. HayMax has been proven to trap over one third of pollen grains [1], and is drug free, organic, and natural, meaning it is suitable for everyone, including children and pregnant and breast-feeding women.”

“You can also buy natural eye drops which contain a herb called Euphrasia (more commonly known as Eyebright). This relieves inflammation and swelling and is thought to be a helpful allergy relief remedy. Butterbur is a herbal extract believed to have an antihistamine-like effect on hay fever symptoms, and is widely available in capsules. 

"Quercetin is thought to limit the release of histamine. As well as being found naturally in many foods, it can also be taken in a capsule. Turmeric, commonly used in Middle Eastern and Asian cuisine, is a spice containing curcumin, which has been found to have anti-allergy properties. Most often used in dried form, it can also be bought fresh and is available in tablet and capsule form.”

“Antihistamines are a very common hay fever remedy. When we get hay fever our body reacts to the allergen and produces too many histamines which trigger the unpleasant symptoms.  Antihistamines do exactly what it says on the box; they anti the histamine. However, histamines also help keep us alert, attentive and awake. This is why antihistamines can cause drowsiness. There are different types of antihistamines so if one doesn’t work, you can try another – look for the active ingredient on the box.  They are best taken at least one month before the hay fever season starts. It’s just that lots of people never know exactly when that will be!”

“Nasal sprays target congestion and stuffiness as well as other symptoms of hay fever because the medicine is targeted directly to the nose, which is the main entrance for allergens to enter the body. An additional benefit of this is that very little of the active ingredients get any further than the nose, reducing the chance of experiencing side effects. Steroid nasal sprays work by fighting inflammation and mucus production, reducing the allergic reaction of your nasal tissues to the inhaled allergen. Very few side effects are associated with steroid nasal sprays. Again, check the active ingredient; if one doesn’t work for you, you might find another works better”

“Eye drops work in one of three ways to reduce your allergic reaction to pollen. Some stop the histamine release, some are anti-inflammatory and others block the inflammation caused by histamine. They can bring relief to itchy eyes and help stop watery or streaming eyes.”