Not only do they look pretty, they're good for your health too
Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without the twinkling beauty of bedecked pine trees bringing festive cheer into our homes. But apart from looking pretty, could there be more to the humble Christmas tree than meets the eye?
Pine trees, in particular those which grow along the sandy coast of Southern France, have been found to be extremely rich in health boosting anti-oxidants.
For over 35 years, scientists across the world have been researching an extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree called Pycnogenol and found it to very beneficial for a number of common health complaints.
So, just what exactly are the benefits?
A new double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in the journal Nutrition Research shows that Pycnogenol naturally reduces osteoarthritis knee pain and improved physical function by 52 percent in patients suffering from OA.
Another recent study has shown that Prelox, a proprietary blend of L’Arginine and Pycnogenol can restore men’s sexual performance in just one month, including erectile function, stamina, staying power, control and pleasure. The two active ingredients, L-Arginine and Pycnogenol are well documented for their respective aphrodisiac and circulation-boosting qualities.
Hands and feet can feel can quickly feel cold in winter, especially if you have poor circulation. Pycnogenol stimulates the production of nitric oxide to relax blood vessels and improve blood flow helping to support a better circulation.
All that Christmas shopping, turkey stuffing and present wrapping can leave you feeling hot and bothered, especially if you’re entering the menopause.
A study to be published in a forthcoming edition of the Scandinavian Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology reveals that Pycnogenol reduces “climacteric symptoms” such as hot flashes, depression, panic attacks, cholesterol and other common symptoms associated with women entering the peri-menopause. The results suggest Pycnogenol may serve as an alternative treatment to estrogen replacement therapy, which is the most common remedy of menopausal symptoms.
Pycnogenol is £12.95 for 60 tablets and available from healthspan.co.uk.