Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett is a health psychologist and a board certified lactation consultant from the University of New Hampshire in Durham. Her work focuses on family violence and perinatal health.
Here are her thoughts on postpartum depression. Continue reading Why new mums get depressed and what to do about it
Researchers from the University of Western Sydney in Australia reviewed 40 years of research that compared calcium with or without vitamin D in older adults.
They looked at the ultimate outcome of treatment — fracture rate associated with osteoporotic bone loss. Continue reading Preventing fractures in older people
Garlic (Allium sativum) is one of the most commonly used supplements.
But based on the results of this review by Professor Ernst at the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth in the UK, it’s most useful to simply season food. Continue reading Garlic: What’s it good for?
The National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition has summarized the recommendations from official groups, worldwide. Their website should be essential reading for pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, and women thinking of becoming pregnant.
Let’s summarize their summary recommendations. Continue reading Summarizing seafood recommendations during pregnancy
HealthNotes Newswire reports on the new physical activity guidelines for adults 65 years and older, and adults 50 to 64 with chronic medical conditions.
Here are highlights from The American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association recommendations. Continue reading New activity guidelines for seniors
Exposure to a familiar odor was associated with less crying. Continue reading The effect of a familiar odor on newborns during an uncomfortable procedure
Here’s more evidence that the health of your offspring is influenced by what mom eats while pregnant.
This study appears to support a growing body of science that has linked diet to asthma. Continue reading Benefits of eating apples and fish during pregnancy
Results from the Invecchiare in Chianti (InCHIANTI) Study indicate that low selenium blood levels are independently associated with poor skeletal muscle strength — at least in Tuscany.
But should older people take selenium supplements? Continue reading Selenium and muscle strength in older adults
Relatively high doses of omega 3-rich fish oil supplements during the second half of pregnancy appear safe and beneficial to the baby.
Continue reading Potential benefits of fish oil supplements given to pregnant mums
Let’s see what the Cochrane Collaboration reveals. Continue reading Is there any justification to take high doses of vitamin C?
In 2003, Professor Edzard Ernst writing on the Cochrane Collaboration website concluded, “Compared with placebo, kava extract is an effective symptomatic treatment for anxiety although, at present, the size of the effect seems small.” Continue reading A critical review of herbals to treat anxiety and depression
It’s associated with a significant reduction in the rate of neural-tube defects (eg, spina bifida) in Canada. Continue reading Benefits of folic acid fortification in Canada
Yes, according to Dr. Timothy McCall who is an editor on Yoga Journal.
Even though you doctor probably doesn’t know much about yoga, there are some safety issues that deserve discussion.
Continue reading Should you tell your doctor you practice yoga?
During the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology Annual Meeting in Lyon, France, researchers from Cardiff University reported that women who used complementary therapies while undergoing invitro fertilization (IVF) were 30% less likely to become pregnant than those who used IVF alone. Continue reading Prof. Ernst comes to the defense of CAM
A survey of midwifes in the United States revealed that 45% used black cohosh to induce labor. The preparation is called “mother’s cordial? or “partus preparatus.” In addition to black cohosh, it contains squaw vine (Mitchella ripens), raspberry (Rubus idaeus), blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides), and false unicorn (Chamaelirium luteum).
What do we know about using black cohosh safely during pregnancy? Continue reading Black cohosh use during pregnancy
I received some emails promoting Nature Made CholestOff. It contains plant extracts called phytonutrients, specifically phytosterols and phytostanols. They work by reducing the absorption of LDL “bad” cholesterol and total cholesterol from the intestines.
The ad emphasizes a 24% reduction in LDL cholesterol when combined with diet and exercise. However… Continue reading CholestOff reduces cholesterol, but not as much as advertised
Necrotizing enterocolitis is a serious intestinal disorder. It affects 7% to 15% of very low-birth-weight (less than 1500-gram; 3.3 pound) infants. Death occurs in about 12 per 100,000 affected babies.
A review published in The Lancet concludes, “Probiotics might reduce the risk.” Although important questions remain. Continue reading Probiotics effective in infants with enterocolitis
For infants who must be feed using nutrition injected directly into a large blood vessel, the development of liver disease is a life-threatening long-term complication.
The condition is called parenteral nutrition associated liver disease (PNALD), and a study presented during the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies reports that injecting fish-oil based omega-3 lipids is safe and effective treatment. Continue reading Preventing liver disease in infants getting parenteral nutrition
Ms. Jennifer Rheingans is a nurse educator for pediatrics at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Florida. In the Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing she reviews nonpharmacological therapies as a potential source of assistance for children with symptoms due to cancer treatment.
Symptoms and CAM options are listed below. Continue reading CAM options for symptom management in children with cancer
“Several studies have pointed to vitamin E as possibly protective against … dementia,” according to Dr. Neil Buckholtz who is head of the Dementias of Aging Branch at the National Institute on Aging. “The only way this association can really be tested is through clinical studies and trials.”
Now, one of those studies is published. Continue reading Negative news on vitamin E supplements and memory loss