Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Bel Marra Health Reports on a New Study Revealing Positive Health Benefits of Nicotine


Toronto, ON (PRWEB) May 28, 2013

Bel Marra Health, who offers high-quality, specially formulated vitamins and nutritional supplements, reports on a new study that found that foods that naturally produce nicotine may decrease the risk of Parkinsons disease.


As Bel Marra Health reports in its article, (http://www.belmarrahealth.com/brain-function/can-nicotine-prevent-parkinsons-disease/), fierce anti-smoking campaigns have been sweeping across North America in the past twenty years. As a result, many people are aware of the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine. However, a new study has recently shown that nicotine could have some positive effects on our health as well.


Nicotine is a chemical produced in the roots and leaves of plants in the nightshade family (such as eggplants, potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, cauliflower, etc), acting as a natural insecticide to protect the plants from scavenging insects. In humans, nicotine acts a stimulant and an addiction-forming chemical in tobacco. "Nicotine addiction has historically been one of the hardest addictions to break," says the American Heart Association, and is blamed for mass increases of cardiovascular disease, strokes and cancer.


However, while smoking nicotine cigarettes has definitely been established as something negative to good health, a study recently published in the Annuals of Neurology has shown that perhaps we should have been eating it instead. The research found that eating foods from nicotine-producing plants (known as Solanceae) could lend significant protection against developing debilitating diseases such as Parkinsons disease.


Parkinsons disease is a neurodegenerative brain disorder that slowly progresses in most individuals, resulting from a loss of brain cells that produce dopamine. While there are many symptoms of Parkinsons disease, there are four main motor symptoms associated with the disease, including: shaking (tremor) at rest, slow movement (bradykinesia), stiffness of the trunk, upper and/or lower limbs, and trouble with balance (postural instability).


Parkinsons disease is not fatal; however, major complicated arise from this disease, and sufferers find it difficult to perform regular, every-day activities. At the present time, there is no cure for Parkinsons disease. In the meantime, researchers continue to look for ways of managing symptoms, as well as preventative strategies that can protect people from developing this debilitating disease.


Previous research has already shown promise regarding the association between tobacco and reduced incidences of Parkinsons disease. However, these studies were not able to pinpoint whether this relationship is due to actual nicotine, or whether it is due to another tobacco component. The newest study set out to discover the specific effects of nicotine containing foods, such as peppers, tomatoes and potatoes, on the development of Parkinsons disease.


Susan Searless Nielson, PhD., and her colleagues looked at 490 newly diagnosed patients with Parkinsons disease and 644 neurologically healthy individuals. The participants were given questionnaires that investigated their self-reported consumption of peppers, tomatoes, tomato juice, and potatoes during adulthood. Other factors such as consumption of other vegetables, age, sex, race, tobacco use and caffeine use were also controlled for.


The results showed that individuals who consumed a lot of nicotine containing foods had a significantly lower risk of developing Parkinsons disease. The same relationship was not seen when all vegetable sources were combined. The relationship was even more significant when looking at how pepper consumption affected Parkinsons disease.


It's also interesting to note that the researchers found that the protective effects of nicotine foods were seen mainly in men and women who had little or no history of smoking.


While more research is needed to understand the implications from this study more fully, it opens up hopeful doors towards future dietary and natural preventative measures that can be developed in the face of this debilitating disease.


(SOURCE: Wiley (2013, May 9). Could eating peppers prevent Parkinson's? Dietary nicotine may hold protective key. ScienceDaily.)


Bel Marra Health is the maker of The Smart Pill, a high-quality nutritional supplement that supplies the brain with nutrients designed to help improve memory, support clearer thinking and concentration, and sustain a healthy mood. All ingredients are backed with scientific evidence. Every product is tested for safety, quality, and purity at every stage of the manufacturing process. Furthermore, Bel Marra Health products are produced only in Health Canada approved facilities, going the extra mile to ensure that our health-conscious customers are getting top quality products. For more information on Bel Marra Health visit http://www.belmarrahealth.com or call 1-866-531-0466.









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