Folic acid is a water-soluble B vitamin that has been shown to play an important role in DNA synthesis and repair. Previous studies have shown that a low intake of folic acid may be associated with an increased risk of breast and colorectal cancer, especially among...
women
Menopause Memory Trial: Herbs to be put to the test
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago are investigating whether hormone therapy and two herbal products can lessen memory and other cognitive problems experienced by menopausal women. "Decline in mental skills and difficulty remembering things, finding...
Lycopene: Antioxidant linked to lower heart disease in women
According to a study in this month's American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, women with the highest plasma levels of the antioxidant lycopene had a 34% reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), compared to women with lower plasma levels of the nutrient. The study...
Lycopene: why women should care
Lycopene, a potent antioxidant found in tomatoes, pink grapefruit and apricots, has earned a reputation for its role in the prevention of certain cancers, particularly prostate cancer. Now women may be taking an interest in lycopene, especially those at risk for...
Sage helps menopause and memory
Menopausal symptoms include hot flashes, insomnia, night sweating, dizziness, headaches and palpitations. These symptoms reflect the body’s efforts to adapt to estrogen deprivation. In a study at the Universita degli Studi-Siena in Italy, researchers studied the...
Improve mental function with iron
Young women who took iron significantly improved their attention, short-term and long-term memory, and their performance on cognitive tasks, even though many were not considered anemic when the study began, according to researchers at Penn State University. The study...
Start on calcium young: studies
For women, adolescence is a critical time for building bone mass. In fact, some researchers believe osteoporosis may be prevented or delayed by maximizing bone mass during adolescence. At Ramam Medical Center in Israel, a study found calcium supplementation during the...
Older women need calcium and D
Deficiencies in calcium and vitamin D are common in older individuals, particularly those who live in nursing homes. These deficiencies increase the risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures. Recent studies show supplementation can decrease this risk and provide...
Soy isoflavones: a menopause must?
In the last decade, soy has received tremendous attention as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy because of its rich supply of isoflavones — compounds that can positively affect both menopausal symptoms and bone loss. A research review by scientists at the...
Say goodbye to yeast infections
Vaginal yeast infections are among the most common reasons women seek medical attention. Properly termed candidal vaginitis, the condition is caused by an overgrowth of a species of fungus called candida albicans in and around the genitals. (While men can and do have...