Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health, in Boston studied dietary, lifestyle, and metabolic risk factors.
Toping the list were smoking and high blood pressure. Continue reading Causes of death in the United States
Monthly Archives: April 2009
Consumer Alert: Libimax
 The ingredients are listed here.
But, oops. Nature & Health Co. forgot to mention it also contains tadalafil (Cialis), a prescription drug used to treat impotence (aka erectile dysfunction). Continue reading Consumer Alert: Libimax
Do fatty acid supplements prevent allergic disease?
 Probably not, according to researchers at the University of Edinburgh, in the UK. Continue reading Do fatty acid supplements prevent allergic disease?
Best websites for black cohosh info
 It’s nice when people appreciate your work.
Bessed is a new website that lists the best of this, that, and other things. Here’s their list of the 6 best websites for information about black cohosh. Continue reading Best websites for black cohosh info
Consumer Alert: Turmeric supplements
 The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has recalled 2 brands of anti-inflammatory turmeric food supplements contaminated with nimesulide.
The products are called Fortodol and Miradin. Continue reading Consumer Alert: Turmeric supplements
The limits of choice in selecting healthy meals
Simply “adding 1 or 2 healthy items to a menu is essentially the worst thing you can do,” according to researchers from Duke University, in Durham, North Carolina in a press release.
What are the implications for school food programs? Continue reading The limits of choice in selecting healthy meals
Caution on folic acid food fortification
Folate depletion is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer.
But research from the University of Chile, in Santiago suggests, “A folate fortification program could be associated with an additional risk of colon cancer.” Continue reading Caution on folic acid food fortification
Stop testing Chinese and homeopathic treatments
 For these healing disciplines where the interaction between therapist and patient are so closely entwined and it’s difficult to show consistent benefit over sham or placebo, I propose we stop testing these treatments.
We would do better to test the therapists. Continue reading Stop testing Chinese and homeopathic treatments
Qigong therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee
The benefit depends on the therapist, according to this study from the UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway, New Jersey. Continue reading Qigong therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee
TENS for pain relief in labor
Despite limited evidence, this Cochrane review concludes that women should have the choice of using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) during labor. Continue reading TENS for pain relief in labor
Music therapy for patients with heart disease?
Some changes are reported.
But from a practical perspective, the benefits of music are unclear, according to this Cochrane review. Continue reading Music therapy for patients with heart disease?
Is homeopathy compatible with cancer therapy?
This Cochrane review evaluated homeopathic medicines used to prevent or treat side effects of cancer treatments. Continue reading Is homeopathy compatible with cancer therapy?
Steroid-sparing nasal irrigation for allergic rhinitis?
Jala Neti (saline nasal irrigation) involves using a special “neti pot” filled with warm, slightly salted water.
Researchers from Nanjing Medical University, in China report, “It permitted the use of less topical steroids for controlling allergic rhinitis in children.” Continue reading Steroid-sparing nasal irrigation for allergic rhinitis?
Distinguishing between reiki and therapeutic touch
Actually, it’s not that easy to do.
Several years ago, Dr. Pamela Potter was supervising Reiki volunteers at Yale-New Haven Hospital in Connecticut as a doctoral candidate in the School of Nursing.
She’s qualified, if anyone is, to distinguish between these two disciplines.
Continue reading Distinguishing between reiki and therapeutic touch
Marijuana and the risk of COPD
Researchers from Canada and the US studied the effects of marijuana and tobacco on the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Continue reading Marijuana and the risk of COPD
Treating chronic fatigue syndrome with probiotics
 This study by researchers at the University of Toronto focused on the management of anxiety. Continue reading Treating chronic fatigue syndrome with probiotics
Using the Internet to improve diabetes control
Giving people with type 2 diabetes the opportunity to manage their care through the Internet improved long-term blood sugar control, according to this study by researchers at the University of Washington, in Seattle. Continue reading Using the Internet to improve diabetes control
Walnuts vs fatty fish for cardiovascular protection
 Walnuts are a plant source of omega-3, while fatty fish is (you guessed it) a marine source of omega-3.
Here’s a comparison of their effects on cholesterol, and a practical application of walnuts to expand the food supply and create functional foods. Continue reading Walnuts vs fatty fish for cardiovascular protection
A pithy review of omega-3 fatty acids
 Dr. Eric Chan and Dr. Leslie Cho from the Cleveland Clinic, in Ohio waste no words in an excellent review. Continue reading A pithy review of omega-3 fatty acids
Soy isoflavones and depression during menopause
Researchers from Paraiba Federal University, in Brazil evaluated the effect of soy isoflavones extract on depressive symptoms in women with climacteric syndrome (menopause). Continue reading Soy isoflavones and depression during menopause