Eating Sesame Seeds Superior To Tylenol for Knee Arthritis

Posted: 12 Nov 2013 12:36 AM PST

A remarkable new study published in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases confirms that food is not only medicine, but sometimes superior to it. Medical researchers working out of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran, sought to investigate the effects of sesame seed supplementation on clinical signs and symptoms in patients with knee osteoarthritis.[i]

Knee osteoarthritis is a form of degenerative joint disease or degenerative arthritis localized in the knee, and causes a variety of symptoms including pain, swelling, abnormal bone growth (which can result in bone spurs), disfigured cartilage and loss of motion, and it affects as many as 12.1% of adults aged 60+, according to the CDC.[ii] Standard therapy involves the use of NSAID drugs, many of which have been linked both to internal bleeding and significantly increased risk of cardiac mortality, which is why the researchers sought out to look for "a complementary treatment to reduce complications and costs."

The study took fifty patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, and divided them into two 25-patient groups: a sesame group, receiving 40 grams/day of powdered sesame seeds, and a standard drug therapy group, receiving two 500 mg doses of Tylenol twice a day along with 500 mg of glucosamine once daily. After two months of treatment, 22 patients in the sesame intervention group and 23 patients in the control group completed the study.
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Detox Your Liver and Reduce Inflammation with Cumin

Posted: 12 Nov 2013 12:26 AM PST

Cumin, a key flavor in many Indian, Mexican and Middle Eastern dishes, is one of the most popular household spices around. Besides being a delicious addition to savory and sweet dishes, however, it has a lot of diverse and surprising health benefits.

The history of cumin dates back to ancient times. Keeping a bowl of cumin on the dinner table was a common ancient Greek custom, and many modern Moroccans still practice this tradition. Cumin is also mentioned in the Bible as a seasoning for bread and soup, and in the Middle Ages, cumin was the most ubiquitous spice to be found growing in the gardens of Medieval towns.

Ayurvedic medicine uses cumin as an overall wellness tonic, and to treat a large variety of ailments, as it is nutrient-rich, is thought to boost the metabolism and the function of the digestive system, and has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.

A 2002 study performed at Annamalai University in Tamil Nadu, India tested the effects of cumin extract on diabetic rats. Results linked the cumin extract with reducing pancreatic inflammatory markers, as well as reducing total cholesterol and triglycerides.

Cumin has been associated with having liver detoxification properties, as well as the ability to stimulate the production of digestive enzymes. Digestive enzymes help the body to break down food, and also aid the liver in ridding the body of toxins. The manner in which cumin is beneficial to the metabolism is linked to its property of increasing heat throughout the body, therefore aiding metabolic function.
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