Men’ s Health: Natural health approaches for better prostate health
into astragalus indicates that the saponins within will help prevent fatty plaques forming in the arteries; it may help to reduce high cholesterol levels and even reduce blood pressure. It will relieve stress and the symptoms of a weakened heart, i. e. breathlessness and distress, reducing the potential for blood clots while also reducing the retention of salt and water. For stroke sufferers, astragalus can help preserve the function of the nerves and strengthen the artery walls. It may also help those who have chronic heart failure, reducing the potential for frequent episodes.
Adrenal Health Adrenal health is constantly under pressure in these stressful times, and astragalus has been proven to stimulate the adrenal glands that can help those with adrenal stress. This would be especially important for cancer patients as the adrenal glands are suppressed during their treatment.
Cancer In the 1970’ s, research into this herb confirmed that it aided the body’ s ability to fight against inflammation, viruses and bacteria; it can also protect liver functions. Cancer patients receiving chemotherapy were given astragalus along with their treatment and bone marrow growth was encouraged so that extra white blood cells were produced to combat any invading organisms. This naturally increased survival rates.
The Aging Process The aging process begins in the cells, and due to a chemical compound within this herb, the enzyme telomerase( hTERT) is turned on. This enzyme helps maintain and lengthen telomeres that are the protectors at the end of the DNA strands. This helps to prevent them from being damaged or from shortening due to wear and tear. In adults, telomerase is usually switched off and so by protecting DNA for longer, this can help slow down the aging process. Research indicates that there is a direct connection between the length of these telomeres and age-related diseases including cardiovascular diseases. In addition to protecting chromosomes from degradation, this herb contains unique and active polysaccharides and increases the rate of immune system replication known as macrophages.
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