Just as the largest number of North American women in history are reaching menopause, the medical “treatment of choice” is being called into question. One of the largest and best designed studies on the use of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) was recently abandoned...
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Take vitamin E for post-exercise pain
Vitamin E may be able to counter body damage from exercise, the Tufts University Health and Nutrition Letter has reported. Dr Jennifer Sacheck, an exercise physiologist, studied groups of physically active men and found that older people particularly, including very...
Devil’s claw quickly eases muscle pain
Devil’s claw is an herbal remedy commonly used to relieve the pain of arthritis. It has both analgesic (pain-relieving) and anti-inflammatory properties. In a recent clinical trial, German researchers gave devil’s claw extract to 130 patients with back pain. The...
Omega-3 and the healthy, happy brain
Omega-3 fatty acids are important components of nerve and brain cell membranes and have been highly touted to benefit conditions such as depression, schizophrenia and attention deficit disorder (ADD). In a new study, researchers from the KIRC in Israel looked at how...
Scientists eye new cholesterol treatment
People with high cholesterol who are looking for more natural options to bring levels down will be pleased to learn about Policosanol. This derivative of sugar cane wax is showing great success at lowering cholesterol levels in scientific trials. A recent trial at the...
Alzheimer’s risk lower with daily multi
Two recent studies have looked into the effects that vitamins and minerals may have on brain function including the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. In the first, Canadian researchers gave 96 men and women, 65 years or older, a placebo or a vitamin and mineral supplement...
EFAs boost learning: “Landmark study”
Food supplements can improve the abilities of children with learning difficulties, a study has shown. The major trial into the effects of essential fatty acids (EFAs) on concentration and learning levels has produced extremely encouraging results and has boosted the...
Lutein: For eyes only?
Over the past few years, studies have suggested that greater consumption of lutein, a “cousin” to beta-carotene that’s found in dark green, leafy vegetables, may protect against a leading cause of vision loss in the elderly. Research now suggests that lutein may offer...
Vitamin C: Protection during pregnancy
If you’re pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, you may want to look into your daily intake of vitamin C. According to a recent study, women with the lowest intakes of vitamin C are at greater risk for suffering a ruptured membrane and going into premature...
Leg veins improve with horse chestnut
Horse chestnut seed extract (HCSE) was put on the alternative therapy map in 1996 when a prominent study indicated that it could help address the swelling and discomfort of varicose veins. HCSE is believed to improve the function of the venous system by toning blood...