Healthy Library

Interesting, informative and easy-to-read. We've combed the latest research to bring you this extensive collection of articles. A great resource whether you're jump-starting an exercise routine or looking to improve your diet.

Research (79 Articles)

The Eyes Have It

Antioxidant supplements really can slow macular degeneration, the main cause of severe vision loss. By Chris Woolston, Special to The Times May 14, 2007 The product: Eye supplements are a hot topic of conversation in Kerry Beebe's optometry office in Brainerd, Minn., right up there with the weather and Frances McDormand trivia. "We field questions about vitamins multiple times a day," says Beebe, chairman of the Clinical Care Group for the American Optometric Assn. Patients mainly want to know if vitamins can help save them from macular degeneration, the leading cause of severe vision loss in America. About 13 million...

Spirulina (Spirulin), Green or Blue supplement?

Spirulina is the common name for human and animal food supplements produced primarily from two species of cyanobacteria: Arthrospira platensis, and Arthrospira maxima. It is cultivated around the world, and is used as a human dietary supplement, available in tablet, flake, and powder form. It is also used as a feed supplement in the aquaculture, aquarium, and poultry industries. It can be found in most lakes and ponds. It has been consumed for thousands of years by Mexican (Aztecs, Mayans), African, and Asian peoples. Spirulina is considered a complete source of protein because well over half of it consists of...

Pistachios Lower Cholesterol, Provide Antioxidants

Source: Penn State Date: May 1, 2007 Science Daily  A handful of pistachios may lower cholesterol and provide the antioxidants usually found in leafy green vegetables and brightly colored fruit, according to a team of researchers. Pistachios. (Credit: Photo by Scott Bauer; courtesy of USDA/Agricultural Research Service) "Pistachio amounts of 1.5 ounces and 3 ounces -- one to two handfuls -- reduced risk for cardiovascular disease by significantly reducing LDL cholesterol levels and the higher dose significantly reduced lipoprotein ratios," says Sarah K. Gebauer, graduate student in integrative biosciences, Penn State, to attendees at the Experimental Biology meeting April...

Antioxidants for Pain Relief in Chronic Pancreatitis

By Jeff Minerd, Contributing Writer, MedPage Today Reviewed by Zalman S. Agus, MD; Emeritus Professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. May 24, 2007 WASHINGTON, May 24 -- Vitamins C and E and other antioxidants may be an option for managing abdominal pain in patients suffering from chronic pancreatitis, according to a study presented here. One-third (33%) of patients with chronic pancreatitis reported no pain after six months of antioxidant therapy, compared with only 13% of patients in a placebo group (P=0.009), reported Payal Bhardwaj, M.D., of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, at the...

Fight Bursitis With Vitamins and Over-the-Counter Products

By David Cowley | Published 03/23/2007 Bursitis is an inflammation of the bursea, the small enclosed sac containing the lubricating fluid between muscles, tendons and movable joints that must slide over each other. There are approximately 160 of the bursea sacs throughout the human body and they function to provide a cushion at the point where a muscle or tendon slides across the bone thus reducing friction between two moving surfaces making movement painless. Bursitis is primarily caused by excessive use or abuse of the structures. The area involved becomes painful, tender, and if it is close to the...

Recommended Daily Intake of Vitamins

Vitamins Recommended daily intake Vitamins informational pages Over dosage (mg or µg/d) Biotin(B-complex) 30 µg Biotin in food and as a supplement No information found Folate(B-complex) 400 µg Folate in food and as a supplement Doses larger than 400 µg may cause anaemia and may mask symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency Vitamin A 600 µg Vitamin A in food and as a supplement Extremely high doses (>9000 mg) can cause dry, scaly skin, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, bone and joint pains and headaches Vitamin B1 (thiamin) 1,4 mg Vitamin B1 in food and as a supplement No...

The ABC's of Vitamins

Chris Swingle Staff writer (May 23, 2007)  Are vitamins a sound investment in your health, a waste of money or potentially hazardous? The answer from physicians, registered dietitians and clinical studies: It depends on who you are, what you take and how much. Any vitamins  like any medication  should be reviewed with your health care provider and be appropriate for your diet and your medical and family history. Our bodies need small amounts of 13 certain micronutrients, from vitamin A to vitamin K, most of which the body can't make on its own. (One exception is vitamin...

Algae Can Lower Blood Pressure

Scientists have found far lower doses of algae than of fish oils - the best known source of omega-3 - are needed for a beneficial effect. A study carried out at King's College London found omega-3 derived from algae lowered blood pressure and could ultimately reduce the risk of heart disease. The small study, published in the Journal of Nutrition, followed 38 men and women aged 40 to 65 for three months. They took either a dummy pill or a purified oil rich in the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The DHA was extracted from the marine algae crypthecodinium...

Can Vitamins Cure Acne?

There are a number of vitamins and minerals that can be used to improve the look and condition of your skin. The mineral zinc, and vitamins A, C, and E, and B-complex vitamins like vitamin B6 are often used to support acne treatment, as these vitamins are very important for the health of your skin. Eating foods that are rich in sulphur may also be helpful as sulphur helps to cure acne. Garlic and onions both contain a good supply of sulphur. Your health care provider may also recommend that you avoid eating sugar, fried foods, or foods that have...

New Research on Cancer-Fighting Foods & Supplements

New Research on Cancer-Fighting Foods & SupplementsSource: American Chemical Society Date: March 26, 2007 Science Daily  Researchers worldwide are discovering a cornucopia of compounds in foods and dietary supplements that show promise for preventing cancer. Here is a summary of research papers on this topic that were presented during a one-day symposium, "Natural Products, Diets and Cancer Prevention," on Sunday, March 25, at the 233rd national meeting of the American Chemical Society. Black raspberries show promise for preventing cancer of the esophagus, colon Using animal models (rodents) of cancer development, researchers at Ohio State University showed that animals whose...

Study Shows Vitamins Very Effective Against Loud Noise

Tuesday, April 10, 2007Guinea pigs exposed to a loud, continuous noise may show the way for a nutrient treatment to reduce hearing loss. A University of Michigan study on guinea pigs showed that a combination of high doses of vitamins A, C and E, along with magnesium, was very effective at preventing hearing damage from loud noises. One group of the animals was given a dose an hour before being subjected to a 120-decibel-level noise (about the same as a jet engine at takeoff) for five hours. The guinea pigs then received the same dose daily for five days afterward,...

Dog Care: How to Choose Healthy Dog Food

by Gerry RestriveraApril 10, 2007Feeding your dog is not an easy thing to do, if you consider your dog as part of your family, you will take into consideration your dogs health and choose healthy dog food to prolong your canine friends life.Dog food must contain balance proportions of nutrients needed for growth and development. For your dog to remain healthy, choose healthy dog food with nutrients like protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, fats and minerals. Too much or too little nutrients will put your dogs health in danger. Commercially available dog foods are usually processed with a lot of preservatives so...

Boosting Brain Power: Can You Make Yourself Smarter?

By Beth Anne Piehl Special to the News-ReviewAs old as herbs in China, coffee in Arabia and NoDoz pills on college campuses, people have looked for ways to stimulate mental awareness and boost their brainpower.Nutritional supplements, word games, online IQ tests and fitness regimens can all feed the brain the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function optimally. You can, in fact, make yourself smarter.Dr. Roger Gietzen, a neurologist in Petoskey, said the same suggestions for building mental acuity may help prevent Alzheimer's disease and dementia as well.The key is staying mentally active, whether you're a Baby Boomer or just...

Pet Talk Vitamin Supplements

Pets can require vitamin supplements just like their owners, but some extra care might be needed before you start dishing out a lot of pills, says Dr. John Bauer, veterinary nutritionist at Texas A&M. The size of the animal, its age, its lifestyle and other factors may play roles in determining vitamin use. "In general terms, if the food you give your pet has a label that says 'complete and balanced nutrition,' the pet is probably okay as far as getting the proper amount of vitamins," says Bauer. "Under most circumstances, there may not be a need to give them...

Vitamins for Hearing Loss

By Miranda HittiReviewed by Louise Chang, M.D.©2007 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved.(WebMD) Taken together, magnesium and vitamins A, C, and E may help protect the ears from noise-induced hearing loss. So say scientists including Colleen Le Prell, Ph.D., of the University of Michigan's Kresge Hearing Research Institute. So far, Le Prell's team has only tested the nutrient mixture against noise-induced hearing loss in guinea pigs. But the results of those guinea pig tests provide a "compelling rationale for human trials," the researchers write. Their report appears in Free Radical Biology & Medicine. The researchers studied four groups of male guinea...

Ironing Out Memory Loss

by Chris PatilNeurodegeneration is often thought of as irreversible: Once neurons are damaged (or dead), one expects the decrease in function to be permanent. Granted, there is evidence that neuronal stem cells persist in adult brains, raising the possibility that functional could be reversed as the brain regenerates  but as the rate of damage accumulates with aging, such replenishment will inevitably fall behind. Hence, we tend to think of declining mental function as a one-way trip.Recent findings, however, suggest that functional losses in the brain can indeed be reversed. The work of Bruce Ames and co-workers, for example, has...

Essential Fatty Acids and the Brain

Many of us are puzzled by the phenomenal increase in the number of children who have ADD, ADHD, learning struggles, and problems with behavior. We have seen a threefold increase in the use of Ritalin and antidepressants in children. As a consultant to public schools, private schools and homeschool parents, I have seen this dramatic increase in bright, wonderful, struggling children. Many educators and parents are wondering why we are seeing this population grow so rapidly. Maybe you have been wondering about this, too. Several research projects in the...

Improving your Memory with Lecithin

Does your memory seem fuzzy at times? Do you have difficulty remembering faces, facts, dates, or numbers? Do you experience memory lapses when your mind seems to be blank? The cause could be traced to a nutritional deficiency. Your brain, like the rest of your body organs, requires a specific set of nutrients in order to function the way it should. From research we now understand the role of essential fatty acids such as fish oil, in improving brain function, particularly in children who experience problems with ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia, and Dyspraxia. ...

Vitamins for Hair Loss

Human body, a machine that require energy to function. This source of energy is the food we take. The nutritious food provides required energy and is helpful for growth, repair of hair and reproduction too. A balanced diet is necessary for supplying adequate amounts of nutrients, minerals and vitamins to the body .lack of a proper diet often results in hair loss. Hence, hair loss can be treated by intake of dietary supplements, like minerals and vitamins, especially the B Vitamins (B5, B6, and niacin), Biotin, Inositol and Folic Acid. It has been proved that ample intake of vitamins counters...

Study Suggests Sex Related To Skin Cancer

The following is a transcript of a report by medical editor Marilyn Brooks that first aired March 29, 2007, on WTAE Channel 4 Action News at 5 p.m. As weather conditions continue to stay warm, people are bound to hear warnings about skin cancer that come around this time of year, because skin cancer cases continue to climb. But could sex have anything to do with skin cancer?Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common skin cancer after basal cell. There are about 200,000 new cases in the U.S. every year, and scientists said sex might determine the...

Vitamins And Minerals Might Prevent Hearing Loss

March 29, 2007 1:22 p.m. ESTScience Daily  Soldiers exposed to the deafening din of battle have little defense against hearing loss, and are often reluctant to wear protective gear like ear plugs that could make them less able to react to danger. But what if a nutritious daily "candy bar" could prevent much of that potential damage to their hearing? In a new study in animals, University of Michigan researchers report that a combination of high doses of vitamins A, C, and E and magnesium, taken one hour before noise exposure and continued as a once-daily treatment for five...

Antioxidant Power

Thursday , March 22, 2007By Dr. Manny AlvarezJust about everywhere you look, you find someone touting the benefits of antioxidants. These compounds have come center stage because of their purported ability to protect the human body from diseases like cancer and cardiovascular disease. But exactly what are antioxidants and are they really as potent a preventative as some scientists suggest?To understand what an antioxidant does, it is necessary to backtrack a bit and look at the relationship between cells and molecules. The cells in the human body are made up of many different kinds of molecules. Each molecule contains a...

Study Citing Antioxidant Vitamin Risks Based On Flawed Methodology, Experts Argue

Source: Oregon State University Date: March 1, 2007 Science Daily — A study recently published on possible health risks of antioxidant supplements is based on flawed methodology and ignores the broad totality of evidence that comes to largely opposite conclusions, say experts from the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University.The research, which was published in this week’s edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association, concluded that antioxidant supplements such as vitamins A and E may “significantly increase mortality,” and that there was no evidence for any positive effect of vitamin C in the reduction of mortality rates.However,...

Supplement Helps Paralysed Boy

A boy paralysed from the neck down for five years is regaining movement thanks to a nutritonal supplement. Timothy Bingham's condition was so rare that it was dubbed 'Bingham's syndrome'. The breakthrough came when Timothy, now 10, was referred to doctors at Great Ormond Street who found he was lacking a vital amino acid, L-serine. Timothy from Cheltenham has been taking L-serine since October. He can now talk and move his arms. Problems first occurred when Timothy was two, when a flu-like illness left him temporarily unable to walk. Three years later, he suffered another bout of flu and lost...

Cocoa 'Vitamin' Health Benefits Could Outshine Penicillin

The health benefits of epicatechin, a compound found in cocoa, are so striking that it may rival penicillin and anaesthesia in terms of importance to public health, reports Marina Murphy in Chemistry & Industry, the magazine of the SCI. Norman Hollenberg, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, told C&I that epicatechin is so important that it should be considered a vitamin. Hollenberg has spent years studying the benefits of cocoa drinking on the Kuna people in Panama. He found that the risk of 4 of the 5 most common killer diseases: stroke, heart failure, cancer and diabetes, is reduced...

Antioxidant Study: The Real Truth About Supplements

Kenneth Williams, NewsMax.comThursday, March 1, 2007 "Antioxidants Tied to Death Risk" screamed the headline across the news wires. This, after the Center for Clinical Intervention Research at Denmark's Copenhagen University Hospital reviewed 68 studies on nearly a quarter-million people and "found" that synthetic supplements – not fruits and vegetables in everyday diets – increase one's risk of death."The review did not pinpoint any biochemical mechanism that may be behind the increased death risk. It may be that ‘by eliminating free radicals from our organism, we interfere with some essential defensive mechanisms,' the study concluded," Reuters reports.The report says that beta...

TODAY Show Weighs in on the Antioxidant Study

By Joy BauerTODAY nutritionistUpdated: 10:53 a.m. CT March 21, 2007Two weeks ago, the Journal of the American Medical Association published a study that not only questioned the efficacy of antioxidant supplements, but also their safety. TODAY nutritionist Joy Bauer breaks down the results and how you can take the right vitamins safely.How can people make sense of this disturbing new information?First — it’s not actually new information; this was a meta-analysis, so it combined the results of several already-published studies (68 studies were included in this review). The objective of this study was to assess the effect of beta-carotene, selenium,...

Herbs for Hair Loss

Important Herbs for Hair Loss Ayurvedic Herbs Chinese Herbs AloeArnicaBirchBurdockCatmintChamomileHorsetailLicoriceMarigoldNettlesParsleyRosemarySageSouthernwoodStinging nettle Brahmi Jatamamsi Dashamoola Bhringaraj Psoralea seeds Mulberries Oyster Herbal remedies increase circulation, disinfect the scalp and stimulate hair growth. Rinse your hair with apple cider vinegar and sage tea. This helps hair grow. Catmint or chamomile infusions used as a final rinse can help with itchiness, a source of hair loss.Aloe, nettles, stinging nettle, birch leaves and watercress are excellent blood and skin cleaners. Drink 1 tbsp. of juice of...

Purple grape juice contains high level of antioxidants

Author : Anne Roberts Purple grape juice is full of anti-oxidants and could be a better way to start off the day than a glass of orange juice, according to a new study. The details of the study are published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry.Researchers at the Human Nutrition group at Glasgow University examined the benefits of various fruit juices and tabulated the amount of anti-oxidants contained in them. The presence of other chemicals was also analyzed.Grape, apple and cranberry juices were found to contain the highest amount of beneficial chemicals. Purple grape juice made with...

The Vitamin Risk: Eight Tips for Buying Safer Pills

A new study reveals that many brands of vitamins may be ineffective or unsafe. To help consumers, a top expert on vitamin therapy offers tips on how to buy better, safer vitamins.Aventura, FL (PRWeb) February 6, 2007 -- Buying vitamins is supposed to lead to better health - but a new study says just the opposite. According to a new report by ConsumerLab.com, 11 out of 21 brands of vitamins tested did not meet quality standards - which means they contained too much or too little of a vitamin, could not be absorbed by the body or, worse, contained toxic...

Veggies for Enlarged Prostate

Feb. 14, 2007 -- Enlarged prostates appear to be less common among men who eat lots of vegetables, a new study shows.Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is common in older men. With BPH, the prostate becomes enlarged. The condition is not cancerous, but it can hamper urine's flow. The exact cause of BPH isn't known. "Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that a diet rich in vegetables may reduce the occurrence of BPH," write the study's researchers. They included Sabine Rohrmann, PhD, MPH, of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Md.The study appears in The American...

Vitamins for Diabetes

by Tom AlterVitamins are essential to sustain life and we need to take the required amounts from our daily foods or dietary supplements. The benefits they provide help people feel more energetic, and assist the body in its regular functions.As a diabetic patient is not able to get all the required nutrition from diet because of impaired functioning of the system, some vitamins may be required to take along with the regular medication. But, before taking any vitamin supplements, it is important to check with a doctor for what affect it may have upon diabetes. Some of the essential vitamins...

Vitamin B-6: A Forgotten Nutrient

By Tom Nuckels |Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is a widely overlooked vitamin, but it is involved in more bodily functions than almost any other single nutrient. It is important for both physical and mental health. It is beneficial if you suffer from water retention and necessary for the production of hydrochloric acid and the absorption of fats and protein. Pyridoxine also aids the body's balancing of sodium and potassium, and it is necessary for the formation of hemoglobin and thus required for the formation of red blood cells.Vitamin B6 is required by the nervous system and is required for normal...

Chromium Picolinate is More Beneficial in Diabetes Care Than Other Forms of Chromium Related News

Nutrition 21, Inc. has reported that a peer reviewed analysis on chromium picolinate was published in the current edition of Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics. The analysis confirms that chromium picolinate is effective in improving glycemic control and normalizing lipid levels in people with type 2 diabetes. The review, which analyzed research on chromium picolinate, supports the consistent beneficial effects of chromium picolinate and refutes a previous review that analyzed efficacy after combining results from all types of supplemental chromium."The main messages are that all forms of chromium are not equivalent, and that higher doses of chromium picolinate are required for...

Amid Controversy, FDA Says Food from Cloned Animals Is Safe

By Jeremy Appleton, ND, CNSHealthnotes Newswire (February 15, 2007)—The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that meat and milk from clones of adult cattle, pigs, and goats, and their offspring, are as safe to eat as food from conventionally bred animals. When the agency formally approves food from cloned animals, which is expected later this year, it will require no special labeling. Consumer advocacy groups have expressed concern regarding the ethics of animal cloning, the accuracy of the FDA’s safety findings, and the public’s right to know the source of its food products. “Based on FDA’s analysis of...

Study Shows Dermal Filler Appears to Rebuild Skin Structure

By Simon Pitman2/21/2007 - Scientists say that new research points towards evidence that dermal fillers may help to partially restore the structure of sun-damaged skin, due to its collagen stimulating properties.Collagen has long been a target for anti-aging treatments as maintaining levels is known to help maintain the skin's structure, consequently helping to keep wrinkles at bay.One of the most popular anti-aging treatments aimed at replenishing collagen has proved to be dermal fillers, often based on hyaluronic acid, which has proved very popular with individuals looking for non-invasive anti-aging solutions that have a tangible effect.Hyaluronic acid is a compound that...

Daily Communications to Physicians and Pharmacists that Reduce Serious Adverse Drug Reactions

COLUMBIA, MD - Feb. 21, 2007 - Resolution Health, Inc. (RHI), a leading provider of targeted member and physician messaging services based on analysis of patient-centric data, today announced the launch of RxSafety Alerts, a state-of-the-art drug-safety program that alerts physicians on a daily basis about potentially dangerous drug-drug and drug-disease interactions, as well as about abnormal lab results that may indicate a need to adjust drug use and dosing. RxSafety Alerts, which is offered to health plans and large employers, analyzes nightly prescription drug claim feeds from PBMs in conjunction with historical medical service and prescription drug claims, as...

Dietary Herbal Supplements Guide

Author: Peter Rapport Herbal Supplements: What are They and What Do They Do?Are you thinking about adding herbal dietery supplements to your diet to improve the quality of your nutrition? If so, it is good that you are taking the time to read about them. It is important so you can make informed decisions about whether herbal supplements are a sound health choice for you.Many people know they do not eat a balanced, nutritious diet and fear for their health. They feel that adding dietary or herbal supplements to their daily eating regimen will add what they need to their...

The Great influence of Vitamin B to the Nervous System

In order for a person to actually have a healthy well-being, one must always remember to have an adequate daily intake of the prescribed vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that your body needs in order for it to stay healthy and fit.Unfortunately, due to stress and the increasingly fast-paced environment that we’re often subjected to, it’s quite easy to neglect one’s body, most importantly one’s health. It is actually alarming how a lot of people just seem to not actually mind the damage that they’re bringing to their bodies. However, obesity and heart failure is starting to cause a big...

Gentic Links for Autism

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - STANFORD, Calif. - Feb. 18, Today, Nature Genetics published the largest-ever study on the genetics of autism. The research is the fruit of an international autism genetics consortium, called the Autism Genome Project. The consortium, which was funded by the nonprofit group Autism Speaks and by the National Institutes of Health, brings together more than 120 scientists from more than 50 institutions in 19 countries to share data and expertise to identify genes responsible for susceptibility to autism. Recently the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital joined forces to form an autism working group...

More Daughters May Signal Prostate Cancer Risk

Author: Karen BarrowMedically Reviewed On: January 10, 2007Being the father of many daughters is certainly a blessing, but it may also be a sign that dad is at a greater risk for developing prostate cancer than other men, say researchers. In a new study, researchers from Columbia University have found that fathering girls may be in indication of a heightened risk for prostate cancer. This risk, they believe, is caused by a defect on a man’s Y chromosome which raises his risk of prostate cancer while inhibiting his ability to have sons. Prostate cancer is the most common form of...

Pycnogenol® Delays Glucose Absorption 190 Times More Potently than Prescription Medication

2007-02-08 - Natural Health Science Inc., (NHS) (February 7, 2007) - Hoboken, NJ - A new study to be published in an upcoming edition of the journal of Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice reveals that French maritime pine tree extract known as Pycnogenol® (pic-noj-en-all) delays the uptake of glucose from a meal 190 times more than prescription medications, preventing the typical high-glucose peak in the blood stream after a meal. The study revealed the pine bark is more potent for suppressing carbohydrate absorption in diabetes than synthetic prescription alpha-glucosidase inhibitors such as Precose®. "Diabetes mellitus type II is a...

100% Juices Found as Beneficial to Health as Fruits and Vegetables

When it comes to some of today’s health issues, 100 percent fruit and vegetable juices do help reduce risk factors related to certain diseases. This conclusion is the result of a European study designed to question traditional thinking that 100 percent juices play a less significant role in reducing risk for both cancer and cardiovascular disease than whole fruits and vegetables. Juices are comparable in their ability to reduce risk compared to their whole fruit/vegetable counterparts say several researchers in the United Kingdom who conducted the literature review. The researchers analyzed a variety of studies that looked at risk reduction...

New Website Offers Consumers Unbiased, Personalized Guidance on Health Supplements

PogoHealth.com Is the First Independent, One-Stop Resource to Match Science-Based Supplement Information to the Health Profiles and Lifestyles of Individual Consumers DURHAM, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Health startup PogoHealth, Inc. today announced the first comprehensive online service offering users independent, individualized, science-based guidance on health supplements, including such practical tools as personalized shopping lists, reports for personal physicians, and advisories on supplement interactions with prescription drugs. PogoHealth.com is available now and offers free and subscription services for healthcare professionals as well as consumers. "PogoHealth is bringing sense and safety to health supplements one person at a time," says Alicia Paladin, PogoHealth chief executive...

The Supreme Healing Power of Aloe Vera

by Jenifer Hunt Cleopatra and Alexander the Great had more in common than their high-profile jobs and “type A” personalities. It’s believed they both appreciated the healing properties of the aloe vera plant long before modern science began proving its benefits.Aloe vera (L.) Burm ., a member of the lily family, is a spiky, succulent perennial plant indigenous to Africa. It has long been regarded as one of nature’s most useful healers. Ancient records reveal the plant was used medicinally in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. Egyptians referred to aloe vera as “the plant of immortality” and used it...

Memory Loss Linked to Overweight

Wednesday, January 24, 2007By Gabe Mirkin, M.D.How could excess weight cause memory loss? Full fat cells produce proteins called cytokines that turn on your immunity to cause inflammation that damages tissue throughout your body, including your brain. Researchers at Toulouse University Hospital in France tested people first in 1996 and again five years later. During that period, overweight people lost far more of their ability to recall words than their thinner counterparts. (Neurology, October 2006).Your immunity is supposed to protect you from infections. When a germ gets into your body, your immunity produces white blood cells and proteins called antibodies...

New Studies Show Chromium May Help Diabetes, Cholesterol, and Heart Disease

Harvard Men’s Health WatchBOSTON — Most of us think of chromium as the shiny metal in the bumpers of cars. Chrome bumpers are long gone, but the metal plays a crucial role in human health, reports the January 2007 issue of Harvard Men’s Health Watch. Chromium and cholesterol. In rats, chromium deficiency leads to high cholesterol levels. In humans, the results have been contradictory. With such scattered scientific information, it’s too early to recommend chromium supplements for cholesterol. But there may be an exception to that rule when it comes to low HDL (good) cholesterol. The best ways to boost...

Supplements: Sorting Fact from Fiction

Take a Multivitamin Every Day, Expert SaysJan. 7, 2007 — - The news is filled with stories about the benefits of vitamins -- this one helps prevent prostate cancer, that one helps curtail diabetes. But with 29,000 dietary supplement products on the market, it's hard to keep track of what helps whom -- and how much it actually does for you. Dr. Andrew Weil, an integrated medicine specialist and author of the bestselling "Healthy Aging," shared his tips on what supplements people should be taking every day.The MultivitaminPeople should take a daily multivitamin. The body needs these vitamins every day....

Plum Research Bears Fruit

Edmund BurkeJanuary 06, 2007 11:00pmA SUPER plum that could stave off cancer and heart disease is being developed by Queensland scientists.The plum is ripening in the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries research centre at Stanthorpe on the Granite Belt. It has up to seven times the amount of cancer-fighting antioxidants as other plums and is one of a range of "super" fruits and vegetables.Scientists believe antioxidants may protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules, known as free radicals, which can lead to cancer."It has as many antioxidants as a glass of good red wine but none of...

Spicy Food Can Fight Cancer: Study

Thursday, January 11, 2007It almost sounds too good to be true - a chemical that can kill cancer cells with little or no harmful side effects - and even more so if you love spicy food.Researchers in the United Kingdom have found that capsaicin, which is found in hot peppers, can cause cancer cells to self-destruct. The common compound found in the foods that make you sweat attacks the bad cells without harming any of the good surrounding tissues.The findings were published in the journal of Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications.Scientists at the University of Nottingham in England and in...

Prebiotics may Reduce Artery Hardening, Boost Heart Health

By David Liu - foodconsumer.orgJan 4, 2007 - 7:50:47 AMDietary supplementation of prebiotics such as inulin and oligofructose reduced the buildup of fatty plague on the arteries, which can result in atherosclerosis and heart disease, according to a new study. The study found that levels of tryacylglycerol were significantly lower in mice fed a diet with long chain inulin or an oligofructose-enriched inulin compared to those fed a diet without prebiotics added. Additionally, atherosclerotic plague was reduced by 30 percent in the study groups. Atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries is a major cause for cardiovascular disease, which...

Fish Oil Might Prevent Alzheimer's Disease

By Kimberly Beauchamp, NDOnce thought to be part of the normal aging process, Alzheimer’s is now recognized as a brain-damaging disease. Since people who eat more fish seem to suffer from Alzheimer’s less frequently, a Swedish research team hypothesized that omega-3 fatty acids found in fish might help improve symptoms in people who have the disease. Fish oil is rich in DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which is also the dominant omega-3 fatty acid in brain tissue. In test tube studies, DHA stimulates the growth of nerve cell branches, which is associated with improved brain function. In the first study of its...

KU Researcher Seeks Cure for Alcoholism

by Gretchen Wieland, Tuesday, November 14, 2006A dietary supplement could prevent alcoholism in people who have a genetic propensity toward alcohol abuse, according to preliminary findings by a KU researcher.Ann Manzardo, research assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral science, said research showed a link between a deficiency in thiamine — a B complex vitamin — and alcoholism.Individuals with white matter damage may have impaired judgment when using alcohol and may be less able to stop themselves from drinking too much. -Ann Manzardo, research assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral scienceShe is currently testing whether Benfotiamine, a dietary supplement that activates...

Link Between Vitamin C and Fat Oxidation

Link Between Vitamin C and Fat OxidationA small study conducted by researchers at Arizona State University found that low blood levels of vitamin C were associated with decreased fat oxidation - the burning of fat for fuel. "Free-living individuals with marginal vitamin C status oxidized 25% less fat per kg body weight during a 60-minute treadmill walk as compared to individuals with adequate vitamin C status."They site a possible mechanism: Vitamin C is used by the body to make carnitine, and carnitine is necessary for fat oxidation.They also found that the less fat participants oxidized, the greater their fatigue, leading...

Pine Bark Extract Cuts Oedema

Daily supplements of the French maritime pine bark extract, Pycnogenol, could reduce oedema, a typical side-effect of antihypertensive medications, by 36 percent in patients taking these medications, says a new study. According to lead researcher of the study, Dr Gianni Belcaro, from the G D’annunzio University in Italy, more than 35 percent of patients taking antihypertensive medications are believed to suffer from oedema as a side-effect. This happens because the antihypertensive medications cause blood vessels to dilate, which allows easier blood flow and thus lowers blood pressure. “The larger the blood vessel diameter, the easier blood will flow with less...

Probiotic Bacterias Boost Immunity

Contrary to popular belief, not all bacterial “bugs” are bad. Healthy people normally have trillions of friendly bacteria living within their intestinal tracts. These beneficial bacteria are busy changing the intestinal environment and keeping bad bacteria from gaining a foothold that could lead to disease. Maintaining a healthy balance between helpful and harmful bacteria is important and can be influenced by diet. ARS scientists are now using the pig as an experimental model to study potential beneficial effects when helpful bacteria are added to the diet. Called “probiotics,” these living microorganisms, when added to foods in sufficient numbers, can benefit...

Vitamin K2 Shown to Reverse Arterial Calcification

Vitamin K2 Shown to Reverse Arterial CalcificationPL Thomas & Company (PLT) of Morristown, NJ and Natto Pharma, Norway today announced new findings for Vitamin K2 with significant potential benefits for cardiovascular health. In the study, scientists at the Cardiovascular Research Institute (CARIM) and VitaK, Maastricht University, The Netherlands, demonstrated a reversal of induced arterial calcification in an animal model. The study is available on the website of the high ranked journal Blood under the First Edition Papers section. The study will be published in the regular print and online issues of Blood in early 2007.Arterial calcification is an important independent...

Skin Care Combo – Skincare and Vitamins

Skin Care Combo – Skincare and VitaminsSacramento, CA, December 29, 2006 --(PR.COM)-- Skin care can always use a helping hand to work better for each individual person. Skincare-News.com’s latest article, “Your Skin Care Combo Meal – Part 1: What Vitamins can Do for You,” shows readers how beneficial these little capsules can be. Vitamins go beyond the ones you took as a child and understanding exactly what they do will help you decide if they are right for you: Vitamins are organic substances made by plants or animals that fall into two categories: fat-soluble and water-soluble. As the name suggests,...

Supplement Demand is Up, Growth of Industry Also Has Attracted Attention from FDA

Thursday, 12/21/06 By MIKE ORGAN, Staff Writer, Tenneassean.comThe Christmas rush is nothing compared to the shopping blitz that next week will hit stores specializing in vitamins, proteins and other supplements designed to benefit physical workouts.With new year's resolutions will come a booming demand for any type of enhancement designed to assist those wanting to firm up, trim down, or just get into better shape."Our business will double or triple after the new year," said Steve Reece, co-owner of American Nutritional Wholesalers in Hermitage. "People have become very dependent on these types of items to help them in whatever type of...

Folic Acid May Slow Memory Decline

Dec. 12, 2006 12:00 AM Question: Can folic acid prevent Alzheimer's disease? I heard that folic acid improves memory.Answer: New findings do suggest that folic acid may slow the declines in memory that can occur with age. Dutch researchers recently presented compelling evidence from a three-year study that included 818 adults between the ages of 50 and 70, none of whom was having any memory problems. During the study, the participants took either a placebo or 800 micrograms of folic acid (twice the amount recommended for women of childbearing age to protect against birth defects). Results showed that those who...

Hypothyroidism and Virgin Coconut Oil

Hypothyroidism and Virgin Coconut OilCoconut oil offers much promise today to sufferers of hypothyroidism and slow metabolism. It is a known fact that the fatty acid chains in coconut oil, known as medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) or medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), offer wonderful health benefits and are no where found more abundantly in nature outside coconut oil. For the hypothyroid sufferer the MCTs rev up the body's sluggish metabolism and promote weight loss as well. There are many side effects of a sluggish thyroid gland and the resulting slower metabolism. First of all, it effects your energy level greatly,...

Fish Oil Improves Behaviour

Fish oil test shows improvements in behaviourNORWICH, UK: Results of a study on the impact of diet and eye q(TM) fish oil supplements on pupils at Eaton Hall Special School in Norwich were published on October 31 and indicated a marked improvement in behaviour. Twenty-eight pupils aged 10-16 at the Norfolk County Council special school in Norwich completed the six-month open plan study, which saw them being given a healthy and balanced diet alongside the eye q(TM) fish oil supplement on a daily basis, between January and June this year. Eaton Hall in Norwich is Norfolk County Council's specialist school...

Barley Reduces Risk of Heart Disease

FDA Approves Health Claim on Barley for Heart Disease By Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS, May 23, 2006, abstracted from FDA Finalizes Health Claim Associating Consumptionof Barley Products with Reduction of Risk of Coronary Heart Disease posted May 19, 2006 on the FDA Website. As it is now clear that diet contributes in substantial ways to the development of diseases and that modification of diet can contribute to their prevention,1 the Food and Drug Administration has started to intensify its involvement in the role of food in disease prevention by placing "Qualified Health Claims" (QHC) on such foods. Qualified Health Claims...

Inulin Found to Increase Bone Health

Beyond Digestive Health: Inulin Found to Increase Bone HealthBY GREG ARNOLD, DC, CSCS, September 26, 2006, abstracted from "Fructooligosaccharides improve bone mass and biomechanical properties in rats" in the August 2006 issueof Nutrition Research. Inulin is a sugar found in plants that has been found to enhance digestive health.1 It elicits these health benefits on the digestive system by helping stimulate the growth of "good bacteria" in the digestive tract, enhance fat digestion by increasing bile release by the liver, and increase the bulk of stools.2 But new research3 has started to focus on the ability of inulin to positively...

What are Goitrogens?

What are goitrogens and in which foods are they found? Introduction Goitrogens are naturally-occurring substances that can interfere with function of the thyroid gland. Goitrogens get their name from the term "goiter," which means an enlargement of the thyroid gland. If the thyroid gland is having difficulty making thyroid hormone, it may enlarge as a way of trying to compensate for this inadequate hormone production. "Goitrogens," like circumstances that cause goiter, cause difficulty for the thyroid in making its hormone. Foods that contain goitrogens There are two general categories of foods that have been associated with disrupted thyroid hormone production...

Turmeric Supplements

Turmeric supplements show promise in treating arthritis 2006-10-30 - Arthritis & Rheumatism (November 2006) More than 40 percent of arthritis sufferers in the U.S. report using complementary and alternative medicine, including dietary supplements, and the use of alternative remedies has increased since the FDA issued health warnings about anti-inflammatory drugs such as Celebrex. However, the effectiveness of many supplement ingredients has not been adequately studied. To complicate the matter, over-the-counter supplements are not regulated in the same way as drugs and their composition can vary widely. A new study published in the November 2006 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism (http://www.interscience.wiley.com/journal/arthritis)...

Thyroid (Hypothyroidism)

Thyroid (Hypothyroidism)Hypothyroidism or low thyroid hormone is a common condition in North America, particularly Canada and the upper U.S. states where levels of sunlight are low for much of the year, and soil mineral depletion is common. Low thyroid function affects approximately 20-25 percent of the female population and about 10 percent of males. An additional 30 percent of persons over the age of 35 may also have sub-clinical or mild hypothyroidism whereby their thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is within normal range, but they have many of the symptoms of low thyroid. The thyroid secretes two hormones T3 and T4...

Lutein: Good for your Skin

New Study Demonstrates Dietary Supplement Lutein Increases Skin Hydration, Elasticity and Lipid LevelsKemin Health, L.C.September 12, 2006 Des Moines, Iowa, September 12, 2006 - Highlights from a new clinical study presented today at the "Beyond Beauty Paris" conference in France provide compelling evidence that lutein, a dietary nutrient available as a supplement and long-known for its effectiveness in promoting eye health, also provides specific skin health benefits. These include increasing the hydration, elasticity and superficial lipids of the skin, while decreasing the oxidation - a process that causes degradation - of those beneficial skin lipids. Topline results of the study,...

Strategies To Preserve Brain Health

NIH Seeks Strategies To Preserve Brain Health September 25, 2006 With the rapid aging of the population, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is intensifying the search for strategies to preserve brain health as people grow older. The effort moved an important step forward with a report by an expert panel to the NIH, suggesting a number of promising avenues for maintaining or enhancing cognitive and emotional function. Specifically, the group said, education, cardiovascular health, physical activity, psychosocial factors and genetics appear to be associated with brain health with age, and research aimed at directly testing the effectiveness of interventions...

Study Discredits BMJ on Omega-3

New Study Discredits Faulty BMJ Study on Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Proposes New Risk Factor for Heart Disease By Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS,September 26, 2006Abstracted from Cardiovascular benefits of omega-3 fatty acids published online ahead of print in Cardiovascular Research. Perhaps no other supplement has been touted to benefit the heart more than omega-3 fatty acids (O3FA). With a health claim issued by the Food & Drug Administration finding "consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease",1 research seemed to be nearly bulletproof that O3FA's significantly benefited the heart. But a study...

Pycnogenol Found to Help Diabetics

Pycnogenol Found Again to Help DiabeticsBy Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS,October 3, 2006, Abstracted from Improvement of Diabetic Microangiopathy With Pycnogenol: A Prospective, Controlled Study in the August/September 2006 issue of Angiology. Blood vessel damage, also known as diabetic microangiopathy has been recognized for more than 20 years as the number 1 cause of death in diabetics. This condition causes death in 85% of diabetics, compared to only 5% due to blood sugar control problems.1 Manifesting in the form of kidney damage, heart disease, blindness, and leg ulcers, finding ways to control diabetic microangiopathy and the $126 million annual cost diabetes2...

Q&A: NCAA Proposition 99-72

Q&A Supplement Review regarding NCAA Proposition 99-72The following information was written by Aaron Shelley, MSS, PSN, SSC, SFT, who serves on the CSCCa Certification Executive Board of Directors-Nutrition, and who is also a Sports Nutritionist at Texas Tech University. It will appear in the NCAA News. Aaron Shelley, MSS, SPN, SSC, CFT Director of Sports Nutrition, Texas Tech University CSCCa Board of Directors-Nutrition. Q. What is the NCAA trying to accomplish with 99-72?A. The intent of the proposal was to identify permissible categories of nutritional supplements, reflecting a philosophy that proper nutrition based on sound scientific principles is one of...

Red Wine Offsets High Calorie Diet

Red Wine May Offset Effects Of High Calorie DietNovember 1, 2006 Red wine and red grapes contain a chemical, called resveratrol that can offset some of the effects of gluttony, say researchers from the National Institute on Aging, Harvard Medical School, USA. Resveratrol does not seem to be able to get rid of the obesity, but it can lower glucose levels, help your liver and improve your heart. You can read about this study in the journal Nature. Studies had already indicated that resveratrol slows down the aging process in some non-mammalian animals. In this study, the scientists wanted to...

Silymarin May Help with Diabetes

Silymarin may help sugar-control in people with type II diabetes Phytotherapy ResearchOctober 30, 2006Research news published in the journal Phytotherapy ResearchDiabetes is a growing health problem. Giving antioxidants is recognised as one way of helping people with diabetes to control their blood sugar levels.The herbal medicine extracted from seeds of the Milk Thistle, Silybum marianum (silymarin) is known to have antioxidant properties and research published this week in Phytotherapy Research shows that this extract can help people significantly lower the amount of sugar bound to haemoglobin in blood, as well as reducing fasting blood sugar levels.Silymarin contains a number of...

Herbal Medicine Helps Angina Patients

Herbal Medicine Helps Angina PatientsSome Evidence Shows Chinese Herbal Medicine Helps Angina PatientsOctober 31, 2006An herbal medicine used to treat cardiovascular diseases in China may improve symptoms of chest pain when used in conjunction with traditional treatments, according to a new systematic review. In several studies included in the review, taking tongxinluo improved angina patients' electrocardiogram results. Overall, though, the review did not provide solid evidence that the medicine routinely benefits cardiac patients with angina. "Tongxinluo is one of the most successful traditional Chinese medicines on the market in China," said lead author Wu Taixiang. Tongxinluo, widely used in parts...

Women Unaware of Key Nutrients

Women Unaware of Key NutrientsSurvey Finds Most Women Unaware of Key Nutrients, Especially Fish Oil, for NewbornsBy Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS, September 19, 2006, abstracted from "Most Women Unaware of Key Nutrient Needed for Babies' Brain, Heart and Eye Development During Pregnancy" posted on the Society for Women's Health Research Website September 14, 2006. www.womenshealthresearch.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=6097 When it comes to helping ensure the health of the newborn baby, research has consistently pointed to "The Big 3" nutrients as essential: CALCIUM WITH VITAMIN D The most recent recommendations by the Institute of Medicine is to supplement 1,000 of calcium and 200 IU...

Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005

Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005OVERVIEW Americans tend to be relatively inactive. In 2002, 25 percent of adult Americans did not participate in any leisure time physical activities in the past month,9 and in 2003, 38 percent of students in grades 9 to 12 viewed television 3 or more hours per day.10 Regular physical activity and physical fitness make important contributions to one's health, sense of well-being, and maintenance of a healthy body weight. Physical activity is defined as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles resulting in energy expenditure (http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/terms/index.htm). In contrast, physical fitness is a multi-component trait related to...

Cell Phone Use Linked To Tumors

Cell Phone Use Linked To TumorsExtensive Cell Phone Use Linked To Brain Tumors, Swedish Study BY CHRISTIAN NORDQVISTEditor: Medical News TodayArticle URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/healthnews.php?newsid=4076401 Apr 2006 According to a Swedish study, if you spend many years using your cell phone for at least an hour a day your risk of developing a brain tumor is 240% higher than a person who never uses one. The results of this study go against another recent one carried out in the UK and published in January, 2006, which indicated that cell phone use is safe for humans. The researchers found that even the location...

Cell Phone Use Linked to Tumors

Extensive Cell Phone Use Linked To Brain Tumors, Swedish Study BY CHRISTIAN NORDQVISTEditor: Medical News TodayArticle URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/healthnews.php?newsid=4076401 Apr 2006 According to a Swedish study, if you spend many years using your cell phone for at least an hour a day your risk of developing a brain tumor is 240% higher than a person who never uses one. The results of this study go against another recent one carried out in the UK and published in January, 2006, which indicated that cell phone use is safe for humans. The researchers found that even the location of the tumor, for extensive...




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