Cooking oil temperatures; More news on Amazon supplements; Restless leg Syndrome and a new study on a potential useful supplement
Oils and Smoke Points
Avoid high omega-6 oils, which are often rancid and oxidized and contribute to inflammation. This includes canola, soy, grapeseed, and vegetable oils.
Instead, use the cooking options below.
Low Temperature (up to 250 degrees F)
EVOO (my personal preference for raw and lightly cooked dishes is Olea Estates)
Butter
Walnut oil
Medium Temperature (up to 375 degrees F)
Coconut (refined up to 400, but unrefined up to 350)
Lard (370)
Duck fat (up to 375)
High Temperature
Macadamia nut (up to 390)
Tea seed oil (485) This is also called Camellia oil. (Arette Organic Tea Seed oil can be purchased via Amazon)
Rice bran oil (490)
Avocado (520) (Cal Pure is the only brand I know of that is authentic)
Beef tallow (up to 420)
More problems with supplements sold on Amazon
Photo by Andy Holmes on Unsplash The link below leads to an article that indicates the turmeric and curcumin products tested had high heavy metal content or did not contain the stated ingredient amounts. I am not familiar with the brands they tested from Amazon.
This is a reminder to stick with reputable brands and a trusted source such as your small local health food store (I know very few exist anymore) or directly from the manufacturer. For professional brands, source from a professional. We cannot sell these products to third-party sites like Amazon, so buyer beware!
Source
https://nowfoods.ca/press_release/now-tests-curcumin-turmeric-extract-sold-by-amazon/
New study on Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)
It may take time to determine what causes RLS. Some main culprits are a sedentary lifestyle, excessive exercise, running, low iron, low magnesium, and aging.
There is anecdotal evidence that getting up and going for a walk and supplementing with iron, calcium, or magnesium helps. However, this will depend on your root cause.
This small study by Belcaro et al. (2022) examined Pycnogenol and the most effective dose for RLS. They found that taking 150 mg of Pycnogenol for 4 weeks reduced RLS signs and symptoms.
This is a high dose. Most OTC bottles of Pycnogenol contain less than 100 mg. A bottle may only last a couple of weeks at this high dose. Still, if you struggle with RLS and it prevents you from getting a good night's sleep, trying this high dose for 4 weeks and monitoring your signs and symptoms may be worth it.
Pycnogenol comes from the pine bark of maritime pine tree that grows along the coast of southwest France. Its many uses are due to the unique combination of procyanidins, bioflavonoids, and phenolic acids.
Only some herbs have the advantage of many clinical trials and studies, but Pycnogenol has over 160 clinical trials and 420 scientific studies on its active ingredients. Most of the studies have been on the benefits of cardiovascular health and blood pressure/hypertension.
The safety of Pycnogenol is based on 91 human clinical studies involving 6,845 people. Studies used doses ranging from 30 to 450 mg, with the most common doses between 30 and 200 mg daily.
Due to its astringent quality, it should be taken with food or after a meal. Astringent herbs can cause some GI symptoms in sensitive people. Pycnogenol is not recommended for pregnant women; this is just a general precaution and not based on data.
Sources
Belcaro, G., Rohdewald, P., Cesarone, M. R., Scipione, C., Scipione, V., Cornelli, U., Luzzi, R., Cotellese, R., Dugall, M., Hosoi, M., Corsi, M., & Feragalli, B. (2022). Restless legs syndrome: prevention with Pycnogenol® and improvement of the venoarteriolar response. Panminerva medica, 64(2), 253–258. https://doi.org/10.23736/S0031-0808.20.04046-
https://www.pycnogenol.com/home/
http://abc.herbalgram.org/site/DocServeer/Pycnog_FullMono012019-final-FULL.pdf?docID=8983