Almonds May Boost Immune Function, Reduce Inflammation
By Linda on Nov 16, 2009 in Food
Linda’s comment: FINALLY, they are acknowledging that Almonds may boost your immune function and reduce inflammation. The alternative arena has known this for years. Almond milk is delicious. Buddy Butter, which is an Almond butter that tastes like Jiff peanut butter.
From Reuters Health Information http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/703037
By Megan Rauscher
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) May 19 – Almonds have the potential to boost immune health and reduce inflammation, according to research reported Tuesday at the 109th annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in Philadelphia.
Almonds, study presenter Dr. Giuseppina Mandalari told Reuters Health, may have a “helpful impact on the treatment of infective and chronic diseases. Almond skins can modulate the complex cytokine network during an immunological response and positively act as novel antiviral agents.”
Dr. Mandalari, from the Institute of Food Research, Norwich, UK, and colleagues evaluated the effects of natural and blanched almond skins on the release of cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) either infected or not infected with herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2).
The study was funded by the Almond Board of California.
The addition of natural almond skins to PBMC resulted in a “significant decrease in HSV-2 replication, whereas other extracts did not significantly influence the replication of the virus,” they report in a meeting abstract.
Almond skins also boosted production of several pro-inflammatory cytokines including interferon (IFN)-alpha, IFN-gamma, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and interleukin-12 (IL-12). Moreover, IL-10 and IL-4, representative of Th2 responses, were also detected.
“It is well known that efficient elimination of a viral infection requires a pro-inflammatory host response and the development of type 1 immunity, characterized by activation of mononuclear cells and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, the scientists explain.
“Our data suggest that almond skins may improve the immune surveillance of PBMC towards viral infection, both by triggering the Th1 and stimulating Th2 subset. This could represent a new strategy towards the Th1/Th2 balance,” they conclude.
“If the study can be repeated in humans, it offers promise for preventing chronic inflammation and boosting immune function,” Dr. Mandalari said.
