Episode #2548
The Gary Null Show - 10-1-26
HEALTH NEWS Study Links High Polyphenol Intake to Reduced Risk of Short Telomeres Ashwagandha root extract on sexual health in healthy men What science says about ultraprocessed foods and the aging brain Study finds oral hormone replacement therapy increases venous thromboembolism risk Watercress Trial Reports Increases in Detoxification Byproducts Study Links High Polyphenol Intake to Reduced Risk of Short Telomeres University of Navarra (Spain), September 24 2026 (Natural News) A study has found that individuals with the highest dietary intake of polyphenols had a 52% lower risk of having short telomeres compared with those who consumed the least. Researchers from the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain, measured telomere length in samples from more than 1,700 adults in 2008 and again in 2015, according to the study. Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that safeguard DNA information inside cells. Shorter telomeres have been linked to an increased risk of age-related diseases including cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, some cancers and overall mortality, the study noted. The findings add to growing evidence that diet plays a role in cellular aging. Moderate coffee consumption of up to one cup per day was associated with a 26% lower risk of short telomeres compared with non-consumers, according to the researchers. Participants who ate four to five servings of fruit daily had a 29% lower risk of short telomeres compared with those who ate the least fruit. Overall, participants with the highest total polyphenol intake had a 52% lower risk of short telomeres. Other polyphenol-rich foods such as olive oil, red wine and vegetables did not show a statistically significant effect on telomere length in this study. A separate study found that higher blood levels of theobromine, a compound in cocoa, were associated with longer telomeres, specifically linked to theobromine rather than other cocoa or coffee metabolites. Previous work has also shown that walnuts, which contain polyphenols, can help preserve telomere length. The current study assessed overall polyphenol consumption through dietary questionnaires rather than measuring specific compounds in blood. Ashwagandha root extract on sexual health in healthy men Aman Hospital and Research Center (India), August 12 2026 (Front. Reproductive Health) Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is widely recognized in Ayurvedic medicine as a potent Rasayana and aphrodisiac herb, with preclinical studies demonstrating androgen-modulating, anxiolytic, and antioxidant properties that may enhance male reproductive physiology. The present study aimed to rigorously evaluate the efficacy and safety of a standardized Ashwagandha Root Extract (ARE) in improving sexual function in healthy adult men. A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial was conducted over 8 weeks in 76 healthy males aged 30–50 years. Participants were randomized (1:1) to receive either 300 mg ARE twice daily or a matched placebo. ARE supplementation resulted in statistically significant improvements across multiple domains of sexual function compared with placebo, including SDI-2 scores, SSEs, sexual desire, and overall IIEF outcomes. Semen analysis demonstrated a 36% increase in ejaculate volume, 38% improvement in total sperm count, and an 87% increase in total sperm motility after 8 weeks, with moderate to large effect sizes indicating clinically meaningful benefits. No adverse events or safety concerns were reported. What science says about ultraprocessed foods and the aging brain Louisiana State University, September 23 2026 (Eurekalert) The colorings, additives and preservatives added to food products, as well as food processing techniques, are a source of great concern because they are ubiquitous worldwide, yet the effects of these items on metabolic health are not fully understood. In addition, researchers are increasingly investigating how these dietary items may also affect the brain as people age. The review examines several ways diet could potentially influence the aging brain, including pathways involving metabolism, inflammation, vascular health and other biological processes. It also considers evidence connecting ultraprocessed food consumption with cognitive performance and dementia-related outcomes. The bottom line is that the data is concerning. Study finds oral hormone replacement therapy increases venous thromboembolism risk Steno Diabetes Centre Copenhagen, September 24 2026 (News-Medical) Current use of oral menopausal hormone therapy (commonly known as hormone replacement therapy or HRT) is associated with an increased risk of blood clots in legs / lungs regardless of dose or treatment duration, finds a large Danish study published by The BMJ . Researchers searched Danish health registry data for women aged 50-69 living in Denmark between 2003 and 2021 and diagnosed with a first venous thromboembolism, ischemic stroke, or heart attack (myocardial infarction). None of the women had a history of blood clots, cancer, liver disease, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, fertility treatment or surgery to remove ovaries (oophorectomy). Among women unexposed to hormone therapy, rates of venous thromboembolism, ischaemic stroke, and heart attack were 15.8, 20.3, and 13.0 per 10,000 person-years, respectively. Oral oestrogen therapy (alone or with progestin) was associated with one extra venous thromboembolism case per 1,055 women taking oral hormone therapy for one year, one extra stroke per 1,642, and one extra heart attack per 3,846. Oral therapy was consistently associated with increased venous thromboembolism risk, whereas increased stroke and heart attack risks were confined to those taking high-dose oral oestradiol (above 1 mg/day) for more than a year, rising with longer use. Watercress Trial Reports Increases in Detoxification Byproducts University of Minnesota, September 28 2026 (Natural News) A randomized crossover trial examined whether a watercress beverage affected urinary mercapturic acids, the byproducts produced when the body processes environmental toxins. Researchers recruited 188 participants with full compliance. Participants spent two weeks drinking the watercress beverage, then two weeks drinking a matched placebo, with a one-month break separating the two phases, according to the report. Detoxification byproducts for six separate environmental toxicants rose significantly during the watercress phase compared with the placebo phase. Two increases stood out clearly. Acrolein detoxification rose 65.6%, and benzene detoxification rose 37.3%, both reaching strong statistical significance, according to the report. Watercress contains a concentrated dose of a plant compound called phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), and researchers believe PEITC drives the entire effect. PEITC activates the glutathione detoxification pathway, one of the body's primary systems for neutralizing toxic compounds and flagging them for removal, the report stated.
