Latest news with #BennyAntony
Montreal Gazette
25-05-2025
- Health
- Montreal Gazette
Fitness: Yoga pays hOMage to your knees
Maybe it's the age group I hang with, but sore knees are a constant complaint. For some the ache is persistent. Others find going up or down stairs the most challenging. And we all agree aging knees make getting down and off the floor more challenging then it used to be. But perhaps the worst thing about sore, stiff knees is it affects the enjoyment of day-to-day life, including keeping you from doing the things you love. How do you get some life back in your knees? Physical activity if often touted as a good option, but there's little consensus on what type of exercise is best. Strength training is a popular choice mainly because of its ability to strengthen the supporting structures around the joint. Added stability puts less stress on the knee, which usually translates into less pain. Also important is stretching, which can improve range of motion and reduce stiffness, making it easier to perform the movements of everyday life. But how do stretching and strength training compare when it comes to improvements in knee pain, function and stiffness? Should you spend more time in the weight room or on a yoga mat? An article published in the JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) Network Open reported on a study gauging the efficacy of both interventions in a group of 117 Australians (32 men, 85 women) with knee osteoarthritis. 'Multiple international clinical practice guidelines recommend strengthening exercise for the management of knee and hip osteoarthritis, however, to our knowledge, no studies have directly compared yoga with an evidence-based strengthening exercise program,' said lead author, Benny Antony. The study subjects were randomly placed in either a yoga or strength-training program, both of which lasted 24 weeks. The first half of the study featured two group-based instructor-led sessions per week and one home-based session. The last 12-weeks included three home-based sessions per week without the resources of a trained instructor. The strength training protocol focused primarily on lower body exercises delivered by physiotherapists in a circuit format. The yoga was led by trained professionals who put the study subjects through a series of poses, breathing, meditation and relaxation exercises. Check-ins were performed at the end of 12 and 24 weeks. Halfway through the study, both the yoga and strength training groups reported less pain and improved function with no significant difference between the two groups. At the end of 24 weeks, yoga proved slightly more effective than strength training at reducing pain and joint stiffness and improving function and quality of life. It also offered an added benefit not usually associated with strength training. 'The observed reduction in depression in the yoga group over 12 weeks shows the potential mental health benefits of yoga compared with strengthening exercise, as depression is a common comorbidity in knee osteoarthritis and yoga may be well-suited for patients with both conditions,' Antony said. That's great news for anyone who finds strength training too challenging to be done solo or has limited access to strength-training equipment and or the space it requires. Yoga needs little equipment beyond a mat and is easily performed in small spaces. There are plenty of on-line yoga classes, many of which can be accessed for free or for a nominal fee, making it both affordable and accessible. In fact, adherence to the home-based program offered in the last 12-weeks of the study was better among the yoga group than the strength-training group, which the study suggests could be partly responsible for the superior results among the yogis. Affordability, accessibility and autonomy are three important elements when it comes to long-term adherence. Yoga is often seen as less challenging than strength training, both in intensity and technical elements. But the most important finding of this study isn't that one form of exercise outperformed the other, but that both options offered similar positive results. That means anyone who prefers the weight room over a yoga mat can be assured their efforts will result in healthier knees that function with less pain. The same goes for yoga lovers, who would rather perform a series of sun salutations than multiple sets of lunges or squats. And then there's the mind-body connection that clearly made a difference among knee pain sufferers. The meditative aspect of yoga offers an often under-appreciated benefit to quality of life that, in this study at least, had a positive effect. But again, it would be unduly limiting to view these results as an either-or equation. It could be that the best results come from combining yoga and strength training as complementary not competing options. There's value in mixing things up, especially when it comes to knees that have endured years of wear and tear. 'Overall, these findings suggest that integrating yoga as an alternative or complementary exercise option in clinical practice may help in managing knee pain,' Antony said.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Arjuna's High Efficacy Ashwagandha Extract Gets Health Canada Endorsement
New recognition greenlights Arjuna's Shoden® health claims for reducing stress and aiding sleep KOCHI, India, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Nutraceutical pioneers Arjuna Natural Pvt. Ltd., announces that its Shoden® ashwagandha extract has been approved as a Natural Health Product (NHP) by Health Canada. This official endorsement affirms the botanical composition's safety and efficacy, and validates it as a trusted, high-quality product in the Canadian natural health market. A Natural Product Number from Health Canada is globally regarded as the gold standard in natural health-product certification. To attain such, a product must undergo a rigorous pre-market review process involving testing the ingredient for purity and potency and evaluating published scientific research and clinical studies on the product. These measures ensure that natural dietary supplements meet stringent quality standards before they are licensed. Shoden® is a highly bioactive extract of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), distinguished by its standardization to more than 35% withanolide glycosides (as measured by HPLC), the key active compounds in the adaptogenic. Also called Indian Ginseng, the botanical dynamo is noted for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties and is considered a 'rasayana' a rejuvenating herb in traditional Ayurvedic medicine due to its studied capacity to enhance overall resilience and vitality. "Our potent ashwagandha extract of the whole plant is derived from carefully chosen and validated sources using a proprietary extraction process," says Benny Antony, PhD, Joint Managing Director for Arjuna Natural. for Arjuna Natural. "This ensures exceptional absorption and maximum utilization of the full spectrum of withanolide compounds, even at an unusually low dose of 60-120mg. Shoden® holds a string of 23 patents for its unique formulation and manufacturing methods." Approved to wear health benefits label "Troublingly, there are numerous unregulated ashwagandha extracts on the market that are failing to deliver what they promise," asserts Antony. "This recognition by Health Canada confirms Shoden® as a reliable, scientifically backed source of the extract that delivers the distinct wellness benefits of ashwagandha. It underscores Arjuna Natural's commitment to supplying regulatory compliant, high-quality ingredients that consumers in Canada and internationally can trust." Earning this new seal empowers Arjuna to make authorized health claims for its prized ashwagandha extract, potentially opening new doors. It also will allow supplement manufacturers to make label recommendations pertaining to Shoden®'s specific health benefits on their end products. These include: Helps improve sleep onset, duration, and quality when used over time. Helps increase resistance to stress and reduce symptoms of mild anxiety in individuals with a history of chronic stress. Helps reduce the symptoms of stress when used over time. May be used in herbal medicine as an adaptogen to help increase energy and resistance to stress over time (e.g., in case of mental and physical fatigue related to stress). Helps promote healthy testosterone production in males. Helps reduce cortisol, a biomarker of physical stress, when used over time. 23 patents and 11 clinical studies strong Shoden® boasts the backing of no fewer than 11 clinical studies and 4 animal studies, supporting its positive role in alleviating stress and anxiety and improving sleep quality, even at low doses. The studies have linked its stress-relieving effects to its ability to regulate the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, reducing the stress hormone cortisol and increasing GABA neurotransmitters for relaxation. Another clinical study highlights its immunomodulating benefits, demonstrating natural improvements in immune cell markers, including natural killer and T-cell activity, all suggesting potential for reducing infection risks and boosting immunity. Importantly, a pharmacokinetics evaluation of the highly standardized and purified Shoden® formulation in blood serum samples revealed exceptional bioavailability of the beneficial withanolides. Moreover, acute and subchronic toxicity studies on animals have proven excellent safety credentials. "We are excited to bring Shoden® to the Canadian nutraceutical space and look forward to collaborating with researchers and product developers, not only in Canada but internationally, helping them to create innovative solutions for stress management and overall well-being," adds Antony. "The US, and countries in Europe and Asia view Health Canada approval as a highly reliable benchmark for quality, which will fast-track Shoden®'s expansion into those markets." Shoden® is available in three doses and in multiple supplement formats, including pills, capsules, and powders. With the rising popularity of functional foods, its low -dosing capabilities allow it to be integrated seamlessly into food and beverage applications, including soft drinks, energy shots and other sports nutritional products. About Arjuna Natural For more than a quarter of a century Arjuna Natural has been India's leading manufacturer of standardized spice and botanical extracts for food supplement industries. Established in 1989, the company is, dedicated to eco-friendly and sustainable practices and has grown rapidly, serving customers in 70 countries. Arjuna has an advanced research facility that works in collaboration with international universities on phytochemistry, pharmacokinetics, formulation, development, and pre-clinical and toxicity research. Arjuna Natural's facilities comply with the highest world standards, are GMP-certified, and have ISO, NSF, Star-K kosher, and halal certification. For further information, please contact:Company contact Arjuna Natural Pvt Benny Antony, PhD Joint Managing Director Email: sales@ Website: Twitter: @ArjunaExtracts Press Contact:NutriPRLiat SimhaTel: +972-9-9742893E-mail: liat@ Website: Photo: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Arjuna Natural Ltd. Sign in to access your portfolio
