Depressed women often experience increased symptoms of depression during pregnancy. Antidepressant drugs are commonly prescribed for depression. However, antidepressant medications are not recommended during pregnancy because they may harm the developing fetus. Now research reports that acupuncture may provide a safe alternative in treating depression during pregnancy. Traditional Chinese acupuncture employs needles to move the vital life force (called chi). The study, presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) in...Read More
13
Depressed women often experience increased symptoms of depression during pregnancy. Antidepressant drugs are commonly prescribed for depression. However, antidepressant medications are not recommended during pregnancy because they may harm the developing fetus. Now research reports that acupuncture may provide a safe alternative in treating depression during pregnancy. Traditional Chinese acupuncture employs needles to move the vital life force (called chi). The study, presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) in...Read More
Green tea is rich in polyphenol antioxidant catechins such as EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate). Previous studies suggest that green tea may help prevent cancer, cardiovascular disease, inflammation, obesity and other chronic diseases. Now research reports that green tea EGCG may reduce fibroid growth. Fibroid tumors, called uterine leiomyoma, are benign uterine growths that commonly affect women. The study, published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, investigated the effect of EGCG on rat leiomyoma (ELT3) cells in...Read More
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a naturally occurring nutrient that boosts cellular energy production in the mitochondria, the cell's energy powerhouse. Now research reports that CoQ10 deficiency may be linked to patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). ME/CFS is characterized by persistent fatigue and inflammatory and nervous system symptoms. The study, published in Neuroendocrinology Letters, investigated the role of CoQ10 in patients with ME/CFS. Researchers at Maes Clinics in Antwerp, Belgium analyzed plasma CoQ10 levels...Read More
On February 12, 2010 the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released their latest situation update on the H1N1 swine flu. The CDC reports that most key flu indicators remain the same. However, flu indicators suggest that people continue to be infected by the H1N1 flu. "We don't seem to be seeing the disappearance of this virus," says CDC official, Dr. Anne Schuchat, in a news report. For the fourth week in a...Read More
Chronic gum disease, known as periodontitis, is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, type-2 diabetes and tooth loss. Gum disease is caused by an abnormal inflammatory-immune response to bacterial plaque formation in the tissue surrounding the teeth. Now research reports that high omega 3 DHA levels may decrease the risk of gum disease. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil consist of biologically active EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). Fish oil...Read More
New infections are often a complication of antibiotic therapy. Scientists have been searching for evidence of why this occurs. It is known that probiotics such as acidophilus and bacillus are beneficial bacteria found in the intestinal flora. Now research reports that good bacteria in the gut keep immunity primed to fight infections. This discovery may explain why probiotic therapy may combat infection and the negative effects of antibiotics. The study, published in Nature Medicine, investigated...Read More
On February 9, 2010 First Lady Michelle Obama announced the Let's Move campaign to fight childhood obesity at the White House in Washington, DC. Mrs. Obama was joined by members of the President's cabinet, Members of Congress and participants involved in the campaign. President Obama launched the campaign by signing a Presidential Memorandum creating a Task Force on Childhood Obesity. The growing obesity epidemic has become one of the nation's top public-health concerns. According to...Read More
The sales of herbal medicines and homeopathic remedies have been exponentially growing in the UK. The main consumers have been women over 35 years old. Now the market research firm Mintel has estimated that the alternative medicine markets will be worth approximately $421 million by 2012. Complementary and alternative therapies such as traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, herbs, yoga, acupuncture and massage have grown 18 percent since 2007 and were worth E213 million in 2009. ...Read More
Research suggests that nutritional deficiencies may aggravate asthma. Approximately 50 percent of Americans are vitamin D deficient. Now a new study reports that low levels of vitamin D are linked with increased risk of asthma. Researchers suggest that vitamin D supplementation may lower asthma severity and improve steroid treatment response. The study, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, investigated the relationship between vitamin D and asthma. Researchers from National Jewish...Read More
Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil have been shown to decrease the risk of heart disease, mood disorders and certain cancers. Omega-3s consist of biologically active EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). DHA comprises between 30 to 50 percent of the fatty acid content of the brain. Now for the first time research reports that fish oil may reduce the progression of psychotic disorder in high risk individuals. This included patients having mild...Read More
Low levels of vitamin B6 have been associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Inflammation is associated with many chronic conditions including heart disease, metabolic diseases (such as diabetes), and aging. C-reactive protein (CRP) is an amino acid that, when elevated in the blood, is a marker for inflammation. Oxidative stress marker 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), is associated with heart disease risk. Now research reports that high levels of vitamin B6 is linked with low levels...Read More
Regular exercise is known to promote brain health and function. However, the mechanism in which exercise improves brain function is unknown. Now research reports that exercise improved memory in mice. The researchers believe this was due to the mice growing more new brain cells in the memory area of the brain. These results may have important implications for human brain research. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, investigated the reasons...Read More
South Korean researchers announced the identification of an herbal substance used in Traditional Oriental Medicine (TOM) that can treat the Type-A H1N1 flu virus. The scientific team is based at the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine's Center for Herbal Medicine Improvement Research in Daejeon, South Korea. The researchers suggest that this discovery may create drug therapies to prevent and treat flu viruses like H1N1 in about three years. The scientists developed the drug known as...Read More
Depressed women often experience increased symptoms of depression during pregnancy. Antidepressant drugs are commonly prescribed for depression. However, antidepressant medications are not recommended during pregnancy because they may harm the developing fetus. Now research reports that acupuncture may provide a safe alternative in treating depression during pregnancy. Traditional Chinese acupuncture employs needles to move the vital life force (called chi). The study, presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) in...Read More
A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2005;82(2):406-412) examines the effect of Vitamin A (which is often deficient in young African children) in the treatment of anemia in young children with malaria.Read More
Green tea is rich in polyphenol antioxidant catechins such as EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate). Previous studies suggest that green tea may help prevent cancer, cardiovascular disease, inflammation, obesity and other chronic diseases. Now research reports that green tea EGCG may reduce fibroid growth. Fibroid tumors, called uterine leiomyoma, are benign uterine growths that commonly affect women. The study, published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, investigated the effect of EGCG on rat leiomyoma (ELT3) cells in...Read More
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a naturally occurring nutrient that boosts cellular energy production in the mitochondria, the cell's energy powerhouse. Now research reports that CoQ10 deficiency may be linked to patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). ME/CFS is characterized by persistent fatigue and inflammatory and nervous system symptoms. The study, published in Neuroendocrinology Letters, investigated the role of CoQ10 in patients with ME/CFS. Researchers at Maes Clinics in Antwerp, Belgium analyzed plasma CoQ10 levels...Read More
On February 12, 2010 the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released their latest situation update on the H1N1 swine flu. The CDC reports that most key flu indicators remain the same. However, flu indicators suggest that people continue to be infected by the H1N1 flu. "We don't seem to be seeing the disappearance of this virus," says CDC official, Dr. Anne Schuchat, in a news report. For the fourth week in a...Read More
In the August 2005 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2005;82(2):442-450) a research paper summarizes the findings from the ongoing NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) study in relation to markers of B vitamin levels before and after folate fortification.Read More
A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2005;82(2):451-455) shows that higher dietary intakes of B-cryptoxanthin is associated with decreased risk of developing inflammatory polyarthritis. B-cryptoxanthin is a carotenoid that has also shown a protective effect against developing RA in the large Iowa Women's Health Study.Read More
Chronic gum disease, known as periodontitis, is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, type-2 diabetes and tooth loss. Gum disease is caused by an abnormal inflammatory-immune response to bacterial plaque formation in the tissue surrounding the teeth. Now research reports that high omega 3 DHA levels may decrease the risk of gum disease. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil consist of biologically active EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). Fish oil...Read More
New infections are often a complication of antibiotic therapy. Scientists have been searching for evidence of why this occurs. It is known that probiotics such as acidophilus and bacillus are beneficial bacteria found in the intestinal flora. Now research reports that good bacteria in the gut keep immunity primed to fight infections. This discovery may explain why probiotic therapy may combat infection and the negative effects of antibiotics. The study, published in Nature Medicine, investigated...Read More
On February 9, 2010 First Lady Michelle Obama announced the Let's Move campaign to fight childhood obesity at the White House in Washington, DC. Mrs. Obama was joined by members of the President's cabinet, Members of Congress and participants involved in the campaign. President Obama launched the campaign by signing a Presidential Memorandum creating a Task Force on Childhood Obesity. The growing obesity epidemic has become one of the nation's top public-health concerns. According to...Read More
A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2004;79(2):326-333) demonstrates that supplementation of isoflavones in peri- and postmenopausal women slows down bone loss, exerting a protective effect especially in the lumbar spine.Read More
The sales of herbal medicines and homeopathic remedies have been exponentially growing in the UK. The main consumers have been women over 35 years old. Now the market research firm Mintel has estimated that the alternative medicine markets will be worth approximately $421 million by 2012. Complementary and alternative therapies such as traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, herbs, yoga, acupuncture and massage have grown 18 percent since 2007 and were worth E213 million in 2009. ...Read More
A new clinical study shows that a specific form of folic acid may be superior for widespread supplementation, as it would be less likely to mask a vitamin B12 deficiency that could be present.Read More
A clinical study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2004;79(3):444-450) demonstrated that giving additional zinc to children with shigellosis (a type of infectious diarrhea) increased levels of a particular type of immune cell associated with fighting the infection.Read More
Research suggests that nutritional deficiencies may aggravate asthma. Approximately 50 percent of Americans are vitamin D deficient. Now a new study reports that low levels of vitamin D are linked with increased risk of asthma. Researchers suggest that vitamin D supplementation may lower asthma severity and improve steroid treatment response. The study, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, investigated the relationship between vitamin D and asthma. Researchers from National Jewish...Read More
Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil have been shown to decrease the risk of heart disease, mood disorders and certain cancers. Omega-3s consist of biologically active EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). DHA comprises between 30 to 50 percent of the fatty acid content of the brain. Now for the first time research reports that fish oil may reduce the progression of psychotic disorder in high risk individuals. This included patients having mild...Read More
A clinical study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2004;79(3):437-443) demonstrated that when tissues are deficient in iron, even when there is not anemia (measured by hemoglobin or hematocrit levels), the capacity for endurance in exercise is diminished.Read More
Low levels of vitamin B6 have been associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Inflammation is associated with many chronic conditions including heart disease, metabolic diseases (such as diabetes), and aging. C-reactive protein (CRP) is an amino acid that, when elevated in the blood, is a marker for inflammation. Oxidative stress marker 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), is associated with heart disease risk. Now research reports that high levels of vitamin B6 is linked with low levels...Read More
Regular exercise is known to promote brain health and function. However, the mechanism in which exercise improves brain function is unknown. Now research reports that exercise improved memory in mice. The researchers believe this was due to the mice growing more new brain cells in the memory area of the brain. These results may have important implications for human brain research. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, investigated the reasons...Read More
South Korean researchers announced the identification of an herbal substance used in Traditional Oriental Medicine (TOM) that can treat the Type-A H1N1 flu virus. The scientific team is based at the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine's Center for Herbal Medicine Improvement Research in Daejeon, South Korea. The researchers suggest that this discovery may create drug therapies to prevent and treat flu viruses like H1N1 in about three years. The scientists developed the drug known as...Read More
