Linoleic acid and oleic acid are oils found in avocado, and can assist in lowering cholesterol levels.

People with high cholesterol who ate an  avocado rich diet for 7 days had a significant reduction in triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL   cholesterol, as well as  a considerable increase in HDL cholesterol.

Research has shown that the Chinese herbal remedy Triptergium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF), which is used to alleviate joint pain and reduce inflammation, functions as effectively as the standard drug treatment methotrexate, which is typically prescribed to deal with the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

It was also found that a combination of the herbal remedy and methotrexate was far better than treatment with only methotrexate.

TwHF is made use of in Chinese medicine for treatment of joint pain, inflammation and swelling, and is approved in China for treating rheumatoid arthritis.

For the study, 207 individuals having active rheumatoid arthritis were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: methotrexate 12.5 mg once weekly; or TwHF 20 mg 3 times each day; or the 2 combined for the duration of 24 weeks.

The scientists wished to discover which of these methods would adequately relieve rheumatoid arthritis symptoms to achieve an ACR 50 (measure defined by the American College of Rheumatology) response.

This means a 50 percent improvement in the amount of swollen or tender joints as well as other criteria which includes disability, joint pain, and the physician’s assessment of rheumatoid arthritis severity.

The majority of the individuals finished the 24 weeks of the study. The amount of individuals reaching ACR 50 was nearly 46.5 percent in individuals given methotrexate alone; 55 percent in individuals given TwHF alone; and less than 77 percent in those given both.

The occurrence or kind of side effects suffered in the different treatment groups was negligible.

More than three hundred compounds have been discovered in TwHF, which includes diterpenoids that can suppress genes which control inflammation.

An extract of the root has also been researched for its potential for treating autoimmune diseases and certain cancers.

The researchers caution that that the dose of methotrexate made use of in the study is lower than that normally administered to rheumatoid arthritis patients in the West, and that 24 weeks is not long enough to assess disease progression.

Regular exercise can be a non-pharmaceutical solution to improve sleep quality.

Researchers report that people experienced improved quality of sleep and also felt a lot more alert in the day if they exercised a minimum of150 minutes per week.

Research has revealed that not only does coconut oil not increase body fat, it actually reduces white fat stores.

Because the medium-chain fats in coconut oil are absorbed easily and used as a source of energy preferentially, metabolic rate is increased.

Blueberries are an amazing supply of antioxidants.

Blueberries are a great source of vitamin C, a good source of vitamin E, riboflavin, and manganese, as well as soluble and fiber insoluble.

Bananas are loaded with nutrients, especially potassium.

The usefulness of potassium-rich foods  in lowering blood pressure has been well researched.

Scientists have shown that ginger reduces pregnancy associated vomiting and nausea.

Ginger also prevents and treats  motion sickness.

A study has shown that freeze-dried strawberries may be an alternative to meds for preventing esophageal cancer.

The study concluded that 6 months of strawberry consumption is a safer and easier alternative.

The fat in coconut is nearly all the immune boosting medium chain saturated fat.

The flesh of a coconut consists of around 50% water and about 35% coconut oil, 10% carbohydrates, and 3.5% protein.

Adolescent alcohol consumption could increase risk of breast cancer in individuals with a family history.

Researchers looked at adolescent and childhood risk factors for benign breast disease in girls having a breast cancer family history. Benign breast disease is a known breast cancer risk factor, and can result in breast pain or breast lumps. There was a significant link between amount of alcohol consumption and further increased risk of getting benign breast disease as young women in adolescent girls having a family history of breast cancer.

The researchers analyzed information from the Growing Up Today Study, which includes Females aged 9 to 15 years old completed questionnaires over a period of 11 years, providing details regarding age at first menstrual period, alcohol consumption, body mass index and height.

The individuals, who were 18 to 27 years at the time of the final 2 surveys, reported whether having ever had a benign breast disease diagnosis. This diagnosis was reported by a total of 67, while another 6,741 reported no diagnosis. Mothers of participants also reported their own breast cancer and benign breast disease cases, as well as breast cancer in their mothers and sisters.

Young women whose aunts or mothers had breast cancer were more than two times as likely to have a benign breast disease diagnosis in comparison to young women without a family history. Young women with mothers who had benign breast disease also saw their own risk almost double. Even more important, in adolescent girls with an aunt, mother, or grandmother having breast cancer, the higher the girls’ alcohol consumption, the more likely they were as young women to get benign breast disease. Likewise for girls with mothers who had benign breast disease. These results are consistent with prior studies in older women which showed that drinking increases breast cancer risk.