https://nordictimes.com/health/lingonberries-juice-can-be-beneficial-for-oral-health/

Health

Lingonberry juice can be beneficial for oral health

Published 1 October 2024

– By Editorial Staff

lingonjuice

Lingonberries may be good for both the gut and the mouth, according to Finnish and Swedish researchers. Research shows that fermented lingonberry juice works well as a mouthwash and can also relieve inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Studies have shown that lingonberries are packed with goodness. They are full of antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, manganese and fibre. Studies have shown that cranberries can counteract the effects of fatty foods, helping to fight obesity. They are also said to be effective against urinary tract infections.

For the past 15 years, Finnish researcher Pirjo Pärnänen of the University of Helsinki has been studying the effects on oral health of using fermented lingonberry juice as a mouthwash. Clinical trials have shown that it can help with both gum bleeding and inflammation, as well as being effective against plaque.

Based on this research, Pärnänen has developed a special product that uses fermented lingonberry juice as a mouthwash. The mouthwash is completely free of additives and the fermentation process has reduced the amount of sugar in the lingonberries. Swallowing the mouthwash is also completely safe and beneficial to intestinal health.

Fermentation, in a nutshell, is the fermentation of food using lactic acid, for example. It has long been a natural way of preserving food, but some believe that fermenting food makes it healthier and easier for the body to absorb because of the probiotics that are produced.

Inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterised by excessive inflammation of the bowel lining. It includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, both of which cause symptoms such as diarrhoea, abdominal pain and blood in the stools. Both diseases can also cause oral symptoms, such as mouth ulcers or mucogingivitis, an inflammation of the lining of the mouth.

IBD is considered a chronic condition and the underlying causes are unclear.

In a study published in Nutrients, Pärnänen, together with researchers from Helsinki University Central Hospital, the University of Helsinki and Karolinska Institutet, reviewed existing studies on the prebiotic, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of fermented lingonberry juice and whether it can alleviate IBS.

The study looked at the relationship between the bacterial flora of the mouth and the risk of inflammatory bowel disease. The researchers suggest that oral health, which may benefit from the use of fermented cranberry juice, may indirectly benefit gut health by modifying the oral microbiome. This means that by improving oral health, fermented lingonberry juice may also help to balance the gut microbiota and reduce inflammation there.

At the same time, the researchers stress that more research is needed to investigate how the effects of lingonberries could potentially reduce inflammation in the gut and alleviate symptoms of IBD.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/health/tuna-to-be-made-less-toxic-with-new-packaging-method/

Health

Tuna to be made less toxic with new packaging method

Published yesterday 14:56

– By Editorial Staff

Photo: CanStockPhoto/Whitepointer

Tuna's high mercury levels have negative health effects for humans.

A new packaging containing the amino acid cysteine can reduce mercury levels in tuna, according to researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg. In the study, levels of the toxic substance dropped by up to 35%.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mercury is one of the ten most dangerous chemicals for humans. Seafood often contains mercury, and predatory fish such as tuna have particularly high levels. Exposure can damage the central nervous system, where children and fetuses are particularly vulnerable.

The Chalmers researchers investigated whether mercury levels in fish could be reduced by using “active packaging”. This means that the packaging material, such as a liquid in a can, interacts with the food. The technique has been used in the past to extend shelf life, but never to improve food safety.

Binding amino acid

In a previous study, researchers tested coating the inside of packaging with a layer of thiolated silica, a material with sulfur groups that bind strongly to mercury. However, the experiments failed because the mercury was too tightly bound in the fish tissue. So the researchers decided to add the amino acid cysteine instead.

– Knowing this, we decided to add an amino acid, cysteine, to an aqueous solution in which the fish meat can be stored. Our theory was that this would cause some of the mercury to be released from the meat and instead be bound in the solution and discarded. Further research on how to deal with the removed mercury is required in the future, says Przemysław Strachowski, a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Life Sciences at Chalmers at the time of the study, in a press release.

No extra production steps would be required with the new method. Photo: Towfiqu barbhuiya/Pexels

Reduced by 35 percent

The study, published in Global Challenges, shows that the amount of mercury removed increased as the surface area of the fish meat in contact with the cysteine solution increased. When the researchers tested ground tuna meat from ordinary cans, levels fell by 35%.

– The beauty of this type of packaging is that it is active while the product is on the shelf. No extra production steps would be needed if a method like this was used industrially, and the application of our results could increase the safety margin for fish consumption, says Strachowski.

Editorial Staff
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https://nordictimes.com/health/the-overlooked-health-benefits-of-cranberries/

Health

The overlooked health benefits of cranberries

Published 3 February 2025

– By Editorial Staff

Photo: Andrew Curtis/ CC BY-SA 2.0

Cranberries are packed with antioxidants, support good bacteria, and are known for aiding urinary tract health. Though often overlooked, they grow across most of Sweden and the northern hemisphere, making them more common than many realize.

Most people are familiar with cranberries and have probably tasted juice made from them, perhaps in a drink. Many people probably don’t think of cranberries when it’s time to pick them, but they are actually more common than you might think. Cranberries grow in bogs across much of Sweden, although they are less common on Öland and in the mountains.

Sweeter after frost

Cranberries thrive in moist soil and often grow on bogs. They persist over winter and can therefore be harvested for most of the year, with a harvest season that extends from September to March. Like rowan berries, they are tastier after being frost-bitten, as they otherwise have a more bitter taste. In spring, the berries also become slightly sweeter.

The berries grow close to the ground and are about the same size as American blueberries. There is also a species called the dwarf cranberry, which is sometimes considered a subspecies of cranberry. The two species are nutritionally similar, so it doesn’t matter if you pick the wrong one, according to Skogsskafferiet.

Health

Girls and women suffering from urinary tract infections (UTIs) have probably heard that cranberry juice can help, and it is a popular option that many women use successfully to prevent the infection.

A Finnish study had women with an increased susceptibility to UTIs drink cranberry and lingonberry juice daily to see if infections were reduced. The results showed an average reduction in UTIs of 20%. Cranberries and lingonberries are related and contain similar substances, such as pectin and vitamin C.

A meta-analysis published in 2024, which reviewed 20 studies on the topic, found that 18 of them linked cranberry juice to a 54% lower rate of UTIs compared to no treatment. In addition, cranberry juice use resulted in 59% lower antibiotic use. The conclusion was that cranberry juice can be an effective way to prevent UTIs while reducing the need for antibiotics, which is particularly important in the fight against increasing antibiotic resistance.

UTIs are caused by bacteria and mainly affect women and girls; there are indications that they can be caused by bacteria from both the gut and the vagina. A 2021 study investigated whether cranberries could alter the bacterial flora of both the gut and the vagina. The results showed that consuming cranberries increased the presence of beneficial bacteria and reduced some less beneficial bacteria. However, for the best effect, cranberry juice should be drunk unsweetened, as sugar can raise the pH and increase the risk of UTIs.

Cranberry juice in particular is said to contain some vitamins C and E, as well as magnesium and potassium, according to the medical website WebbMD. Furthermore, cranberries, like many other berries, also contain anthocyanins, which are a strong antioxidant. Since these antioxidants are mainly found in the peel, less of it is found in juice. The berry also contains the flavenoid myricetin, which is supposed to contain antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory components.

Note that you should not eat cranberries or drink cranberry juice if you are taking the blood-thinning drug Waran because substances in the berries counteract the effect of the drug.

Using the berries

Cranberries are similar in taste to lingonberries and are therefore best used in a similar way. They are ideal for making jams, jellies or juices, and thanks to their high content of benzoic acid, no additional preservatives are needed. During Thanksgiving, celebrated in Canada and the United States, cranberry sauce is a traditional part of the turkey dinner, similar to how lingonberry jam is used in Sweden.

Cranberries can be dried and mixed into muesli, for example. They can also be frozen just as they are.

For those who want to use cranberries in their diet for health reasons, such as preventing urinary tract infections, it is best to eat them plain or make an unsweetened drink. Cranberry drinks without sugar can be tart, but are much better for your body. Other tips include adding cranberries to smoothies, porridge or bread baking for a healthy and tasty variety.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/health/six-fold-increase-in-autism-diagnoses-among-swedish-girls/

Health

Six-fold increase in autism diagnoses among Swedish girls

Published 1 February 2025

– By Editorial Staff

Photo: Enrico Perini/Pexels

There are several theories as to why autism diagnoses have increased so exceptionally over the last 15 years.

Autism diagnoses are increasing significantly among girls, according to a survey by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare. Since 2010, the number of diagnoses has increased sixfold for girls aged 10-17 years.

Last year, around 155,000 people aged 2-64 had an autism diagnosis, representing 2% of the population. The number of people diagnosed has increased in all age groups and among both sexes over the past decade.

However, the increase has been greatest among girls, according to the survey. Since 2010, the number of diagnoses for girls aged 10-17 has increased sixfold.

Previously, it was perceived that young boys in particular were diagnosed more often than girls. Now, boys and girls are diagnosed with autism in equal proportions, and in some cases more often in girls.

Many hypotheses

According to the National Board of Health and Welfare, one possible explanation may be that girls have previously been under-diagnosed, as they often have a different symptom picture than boys. Increased knowledge of gender differences in diagnosis would also explain why more girls are now being diagnosed with autism, it says.

– Girls and women may have different symptoms than boys and may also be able to cope better with their difficulties. The degree of disability may also play a role, where those who receive an early diagnosis may have more severe symptoms, says Peter Salmi, project manager for the survey in a press release.

Others, such as Christopher Gillberg, professor of child and adolescent psychiatry, have pointed out that there is a risk that children and young people are overdiagnosed and argued that today fewer symptoms are required for an autism diagnosis to be made than in the past.

Editorial Staff
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https://nordictimes.com/health/chemical-levels-vary-widely-among-swedish-youth/

Health

Chemical levels vary widely among Swedish youth

Published 27 January 2025

– By Editorial Staff

Photo: RDNE Stock project/Pexels

Chemicals are found in products such as makeup and skincare.

Levels of chemicals in Swedish youth vary widely, according to a doctoral thesis from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). Factors such as gender, place of birth and place of residence have a major impact on levels.

Chemicals are becoming increasingly common in our environment and accumulate in the human body through constant exposure. Despite their ubiquity, knowledge of their health effects is still limited.

In his doctoral thesis, Sebastian Pineda investigated chemical levels in Swedish adolescents, their exposure to these substances and potential health risks. The samples were collected via the Swedish National Food Agency’s project Riksmaten Ungdom.

Pineda’s research focused on long-lived chemicals that can stay in the body for years, including harmful metals and organic pollutants such as chlorinated, brominated or fluorinated substances, such as PFAS chemicals. He also studied short-lived chemicals that leave the body quickly but are found in everyday products such as makeup, skincare and plastics.

Country of birth can influence

The results show that Swedish adolescents are exposed to a “chemical cocktail” similar to that observed in other highly industrialized countries, such as the United States. However, factors such as gender and place of birth play a crucial role in the levels of different substances.

Young people born in Sweden or other industrialized countries had higher levels of persistent chemicals compared to young people born in developing countries.

– More surprisingly, country of birth also had a clear impact on levels of substances that are excreted from the body quite quickly. However, in our data, there is no information on possible sources of exposure that could help us explain this, said Pineda in a press release.

At the same time, some exceptions were noted, such as a breakdown product of DDT and a component of lindane – two insecticides banned in Sweden. Young people born in developing countries had significantly higher levels of these substances compared to Swedish adolescents.

Different for girls and boys

The study revealed clear gender differences. For example, boys had higher levels of chromium, mercury and lead than girls. One possible explanation is that boys generally eat larger amounts of food and thus ingest more metals. Another explanation could be that older girls lose some chemicals through menstrual blood.

Girls generally had higher levels of chemicals found in makeup and skincare products, as well as higher levels of cadmium. In addition, the results showed that exposure to certain substances differs between northern and southern Sweden.

– Levels of these flame retardants and plastic chemicals were higher in young people in the north. We suspect that this is related to living conditions, as we know that the indoor environment is an important pathway for these substances, says Sebastian Pineda.

Chemical mixtures and the immune system

Pineda and his colleagues also investigated the potential impact of chemical mixtures on the immune system of adolescents in the context of vaccination. The study analyzed the link between exposure and antibody levels in the blood after vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTP), and measles and rubella (MR). However, the associations were considered weak and uncertain.

– The mixture exposures did not seem to be high enough to have a clear impact on the levels of antibodies against DTP and MMR, but my thesis is only a first investigation of possible chemical mixture effects on the complex immune system in adolescents, says Pineda.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Polaris of Enlightenment

Polaris of Enlightenment