| Scientists say that women planning on having children and adults who are at high risk of heart attack, should take folic acid supplements. What are the recommended doses, and which foods are highest in folic acid?
The CDC suggests 400 meg daily for those two groups of people. The highest meg is found in lentils at 179 meg per half cup and fortified breakfast cereals, which have 146 to 177 meg per half cup. Spinach has 131 meg per half cup, orange juice 109 meg per cup, artichokes 95 meg per cup. Green peas, broccoli, corn, and so on are all beneficial. Usually, natural sources are recommended. |
| In Europe these supplements are considered black market products. However, many Europeans acquire them from American friends. Even though they can be found in health food stores in the U.S., they are under-the-counter products in Canadian stores.
80. What does DHEA stand for?
It stands for dehydroepiandrosterone, which is called the mother hormone. It has been a "hot" supplement for the last couple of years.
81. What is DHEA?
DHEA is dehydroepiandrosterone. It is a plant derivative of a hormone from the Mexican wild yam. |
| These nutraceuticals are available as supplements.
123. What are the flavonoids in wild blueberries?
They are anthocyanins. These flavonoids are the blue pigment material in the fruit. This is an antioxidant that has been credited with improving eyesight, slowing the effects of aging and memory loss, and improving circulation.
124. What is Pycnogenol®?
This is a supplement containing more than forty water-soluble antioxidants It is a complex of antioxidant flavonoids obtained from the bark of French maritime pine trees. |
Gary Null, Ph.D.
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 Organic sources of isoflavones, which include soybeans, peanuts, lentils, green peas, split peas, and beans, have demonstrated their equality to prescription hormonal supplements without the adverse side effects.
Exercise
As with so many conditions, exercise will make a positive difference with PMS. Research has shown that regular participation in aerobic exercise can prevent negative mood swings, alleviate cramps, reduce fluid retention, and limit sugar cravings. For maximum results, exercise should be performed three or four times per week. |
| Some doctors, with the idea that PMS is due to an imbalance of the hormone progesterone and estrogen, prescribe progesterone supplements. Although this treatment may adjust the hormonal levels of the body, it does not address the true origin of the problem.
Alternative practitioners provide another perspective on remedying the imbalance. They explain that excessive quantities of estrogen in the body may be a product of liver malfunction, a condition that can be effectively treated by limiting the intake of estrogen-rich foods in the diet and by improving the woman's exercise habits. |
| Sinclair recommends the following supplements for fighting sinusitis infections: vitamin C—500 mg every two hours; beta-carotene—up to 50,000 IU three times a day; zinc lozenges or zinc picolinate; coenzyme Q10; and quercetin.
Herbs
When a fever is present it is helpful to drink peppermint or elderberry flower tea. For building immunity, echinacea, goldenseal, and chaparral can be taken in tincture, capsule, or tea form. The best time to take these antibiotic herbs is when symptoms first appear. As many as four to six capsules can be taken at first (less if they cause a digestive upset). |
| Recommended supplements include vitamin C, beta-carotene, zinc, coenzyme Q10, and quercetin.
Antibiotic herbal teas may be helpful.
Symptomatic relief from sinusitis can be eased through moist heat packs, steam inhalation, and nasal irrigation.
Massaging areas of the foot, using the principles of reflexology, can provide relief of sinusitis.
See also: Allergies, Headaches.
Skin Cancer
In the United States, skin cancers are the leading type of malignant disease. Forty to 50 percent of all people develop the condition at least once by the time they are 65. |
Grace Ross Lewis
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 These are probably dietary supplements that the FDA no longer oversees.
4. When does a soap become a cosmetic?
If the manufacturer makes a cosmetic claim on the label, such as "moisturizing" or "deodorizing", the product must meet all FDA requirements for a cosmetic and the label must list all ingredients.
5. When does soap become a drug?
If the manufacturer makes a claim that the soap has antidandruff, antibacterial, antiperspirant, or antiacne action, the product is a drug, and the label must list all active ingredients as is required for all drug products. |
The Complete Book of Alternative NutritionSelene Y. Craig, Jennifer Haigh, Sari Harrar and the Editors of PREVENTION Magazine Health Books
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| But if you're taking antibiotics or hormone therapy or have trouble with yeast infections, you may benefit from supplements."
Wanted: Dead or Alive
Scientists have traditionally thought that acidophilus cultures were like mob informants: They can't do anyone any good if they're dead. More recently, however, there's been a change of thought.
"Studies have found that if you take between 5 and 20 billion 'killed' acidophilus a day, you can prevent the adhesion of a number of disease-causing bacteria to your intestinal tract," says Dr. Halpern. "So killed acidophilus may be as useful as yogurt. |
| Tuna against Tumors
Aside from taking the punch out of our nation's number one killer— heart disease—fish oil supplements may help take on another public health enemy. There's some evidence that fish oil might be able to help prevent two kinds of cancer—colon and breast—according to two studies.
In one study, researchers selected people with a history of colorectal polyps (precancerous growths) to find out how they responded to supplementation with fish oil. The study showed that doses of as little as 2. |
Gary Null, Ph.D.
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 Impact of Lactobacillus Acidophilus supplements on the Human Oropharyngeal and Intestinal Microflora," Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Disease, 19(5), 1987, p. 531-537.
In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 60 women with bacterial vaginosis received treatment with lyophilized Lactobacillus acidophilus. Results showed that 16 of the 28 women receiving the treatment had normal vaginal wet smear readings relative to 0 of the 29 controls. Results also found that bacteriocides were eliminated from the vagina in 12 of 16 women following treatment.
—A. Hallen, et al., |
Michael T. Murray, N.D., Joseph E. Pizzorno, N.D.
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 Although many nutritional supplements are effective in improving health, for the long term it is absolutely essential that attention be devoted to developing a positive mental attitude, a regular exercise program, and a healthful diet.
The key functions of nutrients such as vitamins and minerals in the human body revolve around their role as essential components in enzymes and coenzymes. Enzymes are molecules involved in speeding up chemical reactions necessary for human bodily function. Coenzymes are molecules that help the enzymes in their chemical reactions. |
| Add to this the growing popularity of nutritional supplements and herbal products, and it becomes obvious that there is an emerging trend toward the use of natural medicine. It appears that the concepts and philosophy of naturopathic medicine will persist and be a major part of medicine in the future.
The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patient in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease. |
The Complete Book of Alternative NutritionSelene Y. Craig, Jennifer Haigh, Sari Harrar and the Editors of PREVENTION Magazine Health Books
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| Ginkgo
One of the hottest-selling supplements in Europe is an ancient staple from Chinese medicine called ginkgo, an extract of the pretty, fan-shaped leaves of the Asian ginkgo biloba tree. Fans of these little fans say that the extract can relieve many ailments that time inflicts on us, particularly the ills caused by decreased blood flow to all parts of the body, including the brain and extremities. Among the problems that ginkgo is said to cure are short-term memory loss, vertigo (dizziness), hearing loss and the ringing in the ears known as tinnitus. |
Michael T. Murray, N.D., Joseph E. Pizzorno, N.D.
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| There is a growing body of knowledge that supports the use of whole foods and nutritional supplements in the maintenance of health and the treatment of disease.
Botanical Medicine
Plants have been used as medicines since antiquity. Naturopathic physicians are professionally trained herbalists; they know both the historical uses of plants and their modern pharmacological mechanisms.
Homeopathy
The term "homeopathy" is derived from the Greek words homeos, meaning similar, and pathos, meaning disease. |
The Complete Book of Alternative NutritionSelene Y. Craig, Jennifer Haigh, Sari Harrar and the Editors of PREVENTION Magazine Health Books
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| While that doesn't give you license to go on a Godiva binge for the sake of getting your choline, this fat-gluing action seems to help lower both cholesterol and blood pressure in people taking lecithin supplements, say researchers.
"I don't advocate that everyone start mixing lecithin into their orange juice in the morning, but there is evidence that choline causes cholesterol to emulsify," says Dr. Janson. "This may help reduce the negative effect of high cholesterol," he adds. In other words, once the cholesterol is gathered up, the body can flush it before it sticks to the artery walls. |
| More Head and Chest Protection
Still, the effectiveness of fish oil supplements continues to intrigue researchers. Although more work needs to be done, scientists are studying fish oil's effectiveness in making heart attacks less severe. And they're asking some other questions as well. Will fish oil reduce the rate of restenosis—the renarrowing of the heart arteries—among people who have had angioplasty? Will it alleviate angina, the chest pain caused by heart disease? Can it reduce the risk of stroke? |
Gary Null, Ph.D.
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| Results found that children receiving supplements had a lower overall morbidity than controls and that diarrhea in HIV-infected children was significantly reduced.
—A. Coutsoudis, et al., "The Effects of Vitamin A Supplementation on the Morbidity of
Children Born to HIV-infected Women," American Journal of Public Health, 85(8 Pt 1), August 1995, p. 1076-1081.
This study looked at the effects of vitamin A plasma levels on immunologic status and clinical outcome in patients infected with HIV-1. |
| Results of this meta-analysis involving 19 clinical trials found that oral potassium supplements significantly lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Results indicated that such effects were greatest in patients with high blood pressure.
—F.P. Cappuccio & G.A. MacGregor, "Does Potassium Supplementation Lower Blood Pressure? A Meta-analysis of Published Trials," Journal of Hypertension, 9(5), May 1991, p. 465-473. |
| Effect of Oral Folic Acid supplements on Zinc, Copper, and Iron Absorption and Excretion," American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 39(4), April 1984, p. 535-539.
¦ GLUTATHIONE
Aging
This study examined the association between blood glutathione levels and a host of biomedical/ psychological traits among a group of 33 elderly subjects. Results showed significant positive associations between glutathione levels and fewer number of illnesses, higher levels of self-rated health, lower cholesterol lower body mass index, and lower blood pressures. |
Grace Ross Lewis
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| This is the reason a person must check with a physician before taking supplements.
6. From where is melatonin derived?
It is derived from an amino acid called tryptophan. Melatonin does influence serotonin and dopamine, neurochemicals in the brain.
7. What are amino acids?
These are the building blocks of protein. There are twenty considered necessary for our health, and eight of these must be obtained through the diet.
8. What is astragalus?
This is a plant that grows in the western U.S. It is also called locoweed and milk vetch. |
Arthur C. Upton, M.D.
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| It is used in some dietary supplements and as a nonapproved treatment for cystic fibrosis.
Selenium is widely used in the manufacture of electronic equipment, glass, ceramics, and pigment. It is used as an alloy with stainless steel, copper, and other steels; to vulcanize rubber; and in pesticide and fungicide preparations. |
the Editors of PREVENTION Magazine Health Books
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 Studies suggest that taking 500 milligrams of vitamin C supplements twice a day helps reduce the size of some bedsores by as much as 84 percent," Dr. Wang-Cheng says. Before taking vitamin C therapy, however, get your doctor's approval.
Bed-Wetting when to see your doctor
• Bed-wetting persists almost nightly after the age of seven.
• Urination is painful.
• Bed-wetting is accompanied by loud snoring.
What Your Symptom Is Telling You
It's not the kids' fault, plain and simple. They're not doing it to make Mom wash the sheets every day. |
James Braly M.D. and Ron Hoggan M.A.
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 I managed to increase my iron by taking supplements and eating high-iron foods, but as soon as I went off supplemental iron, my anemia recurred.
In the mid-1980s I began to lose weight, going from 125 to under 110 pounds (at a height of five feet, six inches), and I felt increasingly fatigued. My fatigue and inability to concentrate contributed to my having withdrawn from two doctoral programs. Since the early 1990s, I complained of increasingly severe lower back pain, leading to a referral to an endocrinologist. I had developed premature osteoporosis. |
| We must get these fats from our diets or supplements.
Eight amino acids are equally essential to human health and must come from our food supply. Some essential vitamins are abundantly available in animal products, such as vitamin B12, yet they are not found in other food sources, including gluten cereals. We humans are members of a very select animal group. Guinea pigs and humans are the only mammals that cannot synthesize their own vitamin C. Hence we are also the only animals at risk of developing scurvy. Cereal grains contain very little of this health-promoting vitamin. |
Bill Gottlieb
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 Miller recommends that you see a naturopath, a chiropractor, a licensed nutritionist with experience in alternative diets and the use of supplements, or an alternative-minded M.D. to help guide you to the best health-restoring diet, one that will help you prevent not only cavities but other degenerative diseases as well.
"You can brush and floss until your arms fall off," he says. "But if you have tooth decay, there is a deeper, whole-body problem—an imbalance in your biochemistry—that is causing it. You must deal with that problem, not just receive fillings and other types of dental care. |
| You can't just take a few pills every day, whether they're prescription drugs or natural supplements, and go along with life," he says. "You must focus on the reality that your brain has
PROFESSIONAL CARE
Caution; You should use the alternative remedies discussed in this chapter only as part of a treatment program that is guided and monitored by a qualified medical doctor in partnership with a qualified alternative practitioner, both of whom are experienced in caring for your condition. |
| IRON SUPPLEMENTS: The Right Kind
Unlike ferrous sulfate, forms of iron called ferrous gluconate, iron gluconate, and iron picolinate are easy for the body to digest and absorb, says Dr. Hanley. They're also less likely to irritate the stomach. Women of childbearing age, who lose blood every month through menstruation, should get 15 milligrams a day. After menopause, most women do not need supplemental iron, Dr. Hanley says. Men need 10 milligrams a day.
IRON-RICH FOODS: The Best Sources
The iron found in plant foods is called non-heme iron. |
| You can take these supplements indefinitely as part of your high-nutrient diet, but never use them as an excuse to continue poor eating habits, says Dr. Lark.
Keep in mind that herbal treatments should be used by women who have a menstrual flow that's somewhat heavier than usual, says Dr. Lark. Women who have excessive blood flow need to see a doctor.
Dr. Lark recommends the following herbs in tincture form. Begin with one-quarter to one-half dropper and slowly work up to a full dropper if you need it. You may find that you feel best with slightly more or less of certain herbs, she says. |
| Effective supplements for Easing Angina
Heart disease has you in its grip—and it's squeezing. That's what a bout of angina feels like: A pressurelike pain in your chest, perhaps flaring to your left shoulder blade and arm, neck, jaws, or back. The pain tends to be more constant for men, while women may experience chest discomfort that comes and goes or have shortness of breath.
Angina occurs when the heart muscle temporarily doesn't get enough blood and oxygen. |
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