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Study doubting vitamin D bone benefits was poorly structured and unreliable, say experts

by Ronald G. Reichert, ND Since earning his doctorate in naturopathic medicine from Bastyr University in 1989, Dr Ronald Reichert has worked as an expert consultant to the natural health products industry. In addition to maintaining a private practice, he is an...

Natural Comfort: Red clover improves vaginal dryness

Results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial indicate that a standardized red clover supplement is a natural alternative for minimizing vaginal dryness in healthy, postmenopausal women. As women get older, the vagina becomes dry and overly delicate in response...

Finding Balance: Fish oils may help in psychiatric disorder

Women with borderline personality disorder (BPD) may benefit from taking fish oil supplements, according to a study published earlier this year in the American Journal of Psychiatry. There is growing evidence that omega-3 fatty acids, naturally found in cold water...

Eat Away Cholesterol: Diet as effective as drugs, say researchers

Researchers at the University of Toronto and St. Michael's Hospital have shown that a vegetarian diet composed of specific plant foods can lower cholesterol as effectively as a drug treatment. The study compared a diet of known cholesterol-lowering, vegetarian foods...

Brain Food? Fish, flax can reduce Alzheimer’s risk

Eating foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids (found in foods including fish, flaxseed and nuts) and weekly consumption of fish may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer disease (AD) later in life. According to the article published in the Archives of Neurology,...

Avoiding Asthma: Antioxidants, fruit and veggies are key

A review by researchers at the University of Southampton has revealed that there is substantial evidence to suggest that people who eat plenty of fruit and vegetables have a lower risk of poor respiratory health than those who eat unhealthier diets. The researchers...

A Gut Feeling: Vitamin C may protect against ulcer-causing bacteria

A new study has found that the lower the level of vitamin C in the blood, the more likely a person will become infected by Helicobacter pylori, the bacteria that can cause peptic ulcers and stomach cancer. “This is the largest study to look at the relationship between...

The New Natural? Regulations coming for Canadian health products

Minister of Health Anne McLellan recently announced the adoption of the Natural Health Products. Previously, natural health products (NHPs) have been sold as either drugs or foods under the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations, since there is no other category in which...

The Kefir Connection: Fermented milk products aid lactose intolerance

For lactose intolerant adults, drinking a fermented milk called kefir either eliminated or drastically reduced symptoms related to lactose intolerance. Researchers think that microbes in this ancient fermented milk product possess the enzyme that is necessary to...