Anti-fungus: Lavender oil could be the next thing to combat Athlete’s foot, says a study. According to research published in the Journal of Medical Microbiology, the essential oil shows a potent anti-fungal effect against strains of fungi responsible for common skin and nail infections. The oil was tested against a range of pathogenic fungi and was found to kill a range of skin-pathogenic strains known as dermatophytes – which cause Athlete’s foot, ringworm and hair and nail infections – as well as various species of Candida. Lavender plants are already used widely in the food and perfume industries, and previous studies indicate they also have sedative, antispasmodic, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Read More…
Exercise: Want more efficient muscles? Eat your spinach, says a new study. According to research published in Cell Metabolism, nitrate, a compound found in vegetables and especially in green leaves, helps healthy people consume less oxygen while exercising. This happens because the nitrate in vegetables mixes with friendly bacteria in the mouth and forms nitric oxide, which in turn helps the cardiovascular system by opening up our blood vessels to lower blood pressure. The study says that, in addition to this benefit, the nitrates make mitochondria – the powerhouses of the cell - more efficient. Interestingly, the researchers say that since the benefits of nitrates depend on friendly bacteria in the mouth, mouthwashes are not good if you want this system to work because they kill good and bad bacteria. Read More…
