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Vision Quest: Aging with Good Eyesight

An interview with Dr Mahmood Piraee, PhD By Jason Sebeslav Dr. Mahmood Piraee is a pharmacist with a PhD in molecular and cellular biology from Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada. He has over 20 years of experience in natural products drug discovery and...

Beyond Blemish: options for acne

The most common type of acne (acne vulgaris) is an inflammatory condition of the sebaceous glands of the skin. The red, elevated areas (pimples) occur most often on the face, neck and back, in teenagers and, to a lesser extent, in adults. While there is no “cure” for...

Vegetarian Nutrition Notes

Recent statistics reveal that about 4% of all Canadians eat a vegetarian diet. According to Dietitians of Canada, a well-planned vegetarian diet can be a healthy alternative to standard meat-based eating styles for all age groups. While the traditional “food pyramid”...

B-vitamin beating kids’ cancer

A Canadian research team has shown that folic acid food fortification has resulted in a 60% reduction in neuroblastoma, a deadly childhood cancer. “Our research indicates that this is the first pediatric cancer that can be prevented through maternal diet,” said Dr...

Soy isoflavones reduce breast cancer risk

In a public health study in Japan, researchers found that regular consumption of soy isoflavones could reduce the likelihood of breast cancer. The researchers at the National Cancer Center Research Institute in Tokyo followed a group of 21,852 Japanese women, aged 40...

CoQ10 may help the troubled brain

Coenzyme Q10 is a nutrient found in all living things, including humans. Produced by the body, CoQ10 works with enzymes to produce metabolic reactions, and is essential for energy production. CoQ10 is also a potent antioxidant — so potent that it is widely used in...

Fatigued? Fight back with rhodiola

Throughout Europe and Asia, the plant Rhodiola rosea is well-known and used by practitioners of traditional medicine. Its name is becoming more recognized in North America because rhodiola is used to combat the effects of stress and fatigue. Since rhodiola is believed...

Drug side effect eased with vitamins

Many neurological disorders such as schizophrenia are treated with anti-psychotic medications. While these medications may help the symptoms of the disorder, long-term use has been known to cause tardive dyskinesia. Repeated involuntary movements throughout the body...

CLA: Can one pill really do all this?

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a slightly altered form of the omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid. It occurs naturally in dairy products and meats from grass-fed animals such as beef and lamb. However, changes in animal feeding practices and antibiotic use over the...

Low B-12 in seniors common and risky

It is estimated that up to 15% of those over age 60 have varying degrees of B-12 deficiency. The longer their deficiency goes undetected, the longer their brains and nervous systems will undergo progressive deterioration, culminating in a greater risk for the...

Ginkgo boosts brain function and more

Ginkgo contains two potent compounds — terpene lactones and flavone glycosides — which make blood platelets less sticky and combat free radical damage. Ginkgo is commonly used as an antioxidant to help improve circulation and brain function. At the Department of...