SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine) is a natural compound produced by the body from amino acids. It is found in most body tissues and is linked to folic acid and vitamin B-12. Deficiencies of either of these nutrients may also lead to lower levels of SAMe, which may worsen...
Research Archive
Fainting spells in elderly: try B-12
If you feel faint when you stand up from a chair or bed, you may be low in vitamin B-12, according to new research. “Orthostatic hypotension” (OH) is a loss of blood pressure when standing up from a sitting or laying down position. Experienced by many older people,...
Beating bad breath and gum disease
If you notice people tend to step back when you speak, or if you often have a “bad taste” in your mouth, its likely that you have bad breath. In most cases, bad breath (or “halitosis”) is caused by odour-causing bacteria in the mouth. Impacted food, dry mouth, a...
Nutrition Notes: Cut colon cancer risk
A new blood test for colon cancer risk may be on the horizon that measures levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), which is produced by the liver during periods of acute inflammation. High levels of CRP in the blood are regarded as an inflammatory marker. They are also...
Ginger, B-6 two options for nausea
New research from South Australia has shown that there is more than hearsay to the notion that ginger helps to stop nausea in pregnancy. A recent trial of ginger as a treatment for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy has found that a dose of 1g of ginger a day does...
Melatonin can be key to good sleep
Research suggests that a good night’s sleep has tremendous positive impact on brain functions, metabolic processes and immune system function. However, as many as 50% of Canadian adults experience sleep problems. One reason may be insufficient production of melatonin,...
Moms can lower kids’ diabetes risk
Cod liver oil is an important source of vitamin D and the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which aid in the prevention of type 1 diabetes. At Ulleval University Hospital in Norway, researchers investigated...
The secret to pain-free aging?
As you age, will you be hobbling about with sore joints and muscles, or walking tall, strong and pain-free? According to two recent studies, that may depend on your intake of antioxidant nutrients. Researchers at Wake Forest University reviewed data from an existing...
Herbs effective for stress relief
Ginkgo is known to help increase circulation and improve oxygen delivery to the brain, while ginseng is known to help boost immunity and endurance, improve mental function and strengthen the adrenal glands. Researchers at the Central Drug Research Institute in...
The age of obesity: what you can do
It’s official: Canadians are getting bigger. Between 1985 and 2001, obesity rates increased from 7% to 14% among women and from 6% to 16% among men. The same report found that obesity rates among women increase with age, peaking between 55 and 59, then declining. This...