
How basil could help prevent cancer, diabetes and heart disease
The herb contains beneficial nutrients and compounds, including antioxidants, that may help prevent chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis.
Research indicates that basil possesses antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and some varieties may even contribute to improved mental health.
Studies have shown basil's potential in cancer prevention, with findings suggesting it can inhibit the growth of human colon cancer cells and support immune health.
While beneficial, caution is advised as basil can interact with certain medications, potentially thinning blood or excessively lowering blood sugar and pressure; consulting a healthcare provider is recommended, especially for supplements.
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Aug 20 (Reuters) - This is an excerpt of the Health Rounds newsletter, where we present latest medical studies on Tuesdays and Thursdays. To receive the full newsletter in your inbox for free sign up here. Researchers are a step closer to learning how congenital kidney defects develop in the fetus and how they might be prevented, a new report shows. For the first time, they can watch miniature human fetal kidneys develop in test tubes over periods that simulate the course of a pregnancy. So-called kidney organoids have been grown in test tubes before, but only starting with pluripotent stem cells – immature cells found in early embryos that can differentiate into any cell type in the body but without the tissue-specific characteristics that would allow them to perform an organ's specialized functions. In contrast, the new organoids are grown in test tubes using the same fetal progenitor stem cells that are destined to develop into human kidneys. 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Researchers performed hearing tests in nearly 3,000 volunteers without dementia who were at least 60 years old. Over the next 20 years, the researchers saw a 61% lower risk for eventual dementia among those with newly diagnosed hearing loss who started wearing hearing aids before age 70, compared to participants diagnosed with hearing impairment at a similar age who did not get hearing aids, they reported in JAMA Neurology, opens new tab. Hearing aid use did not appear to protect against dementia in people diagnosed with a hearing problem after age 70, however. 'Only 17% of individuals with moderate to severe hearing loss use hearing aids,' the researchers noted. 'Our study underscores the importance of early intervention' to reduce the risk of dementia associated with hearing loss, they concluded. To receive the full newsletter in your inbox for free sign up here.