Healthnotes Newswire (August 30, 2007)—Women may lower their risk of developing a serious pregnancy-related complication called preeclampsia by taking calcium supplements.
Preeclampsia, a condition that can develop during the second half of pregnancy, is characterized by high blood pressure, protein in the urine, and swelling of the extremities that doesn’t go away. Regular prenatal care can help detect the condition so that it may be treated early to avoid adverse effects on mother and baby.
Healthnotes Newswire (August 9, 2007)—Nearly 10,000 children under age 15 are diagnosed with cancer every year in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute. But a new study published in Clinical Pharmacology&Therapeutics suggests that taking multivitamins containing folic acid during pregnancy may help prevent the most common childhood cancers including leukemia (cancer of the blood stream and/or bone marrow), brain tumors, and neuroblastoma (tumors that grow in the nervous system).
Healthnotes Newswire (August 2, 2007)—Research published over the past few decades suggests that taking selenium supplements can help prevent heart disease and certain types of cancer. And while selenium is known to be toxic when taken in large amounts, the general consensus has been that moderate doses of this mineral, such as 200 mcg per day, do not cause adverse effects.
Q: I have heard mixed reviews about juice cleansing as a form of detoxification, and I am thinking about trying a cleanse. What do you think about this?
A: I am a big fan of detoxification. Even if we stop polluting our world right now, we will be dealing with the past damage for decades to come. I believe that the healthiest people in this millennium will be those who are the best detoxifiers. This is why I am totally against juice fasting and fasting in general for detoxification. The body detoxifies in two phases. In the first phase the body releases the toxins from the tissues where they are stored. In the second phase the body eliminates these toxins through the sweat, feces and urine.
Q: I was on antidepressants (SSRIs) for a few years, but I feel like I am ready to go off of them. This is my idea, and I haven’t spoken to my doctor about this yet. Throughout my time taking the antidepressants I have gained weight. I think this is a side effect of the pills I was taking. Along with the weight gain, my most bothersome side effects were abdominal pain and loss of sexual interest. What do you recommend I do when weaning of the pills to ensure that I will balance back to my weight prior to taking these drugs?
A: Congratulations on your progress! This is definitely something that you will want to discuss with your doctor and do under his supervision. As you have discovered, SSRIs have some tough side effects including weight gain, apathy, low sex drive and insomnia. Some of the side effects may be more difficult to deal with than the initial mood disorder.
I recently read an article in the June 4, 2007 issue of Time magazine called Buyer Beware: Taking an herbal supplement can sometimes do more harm than it does good. With the huge market of consumers in this space, it's pretty scary that so many people are putting things into their bodies that they know nothing about. Taking any medication or supplement without consulting your doctor first (even if it is over the counter) should be common practice, even if it does say "natural" on the product. Hey, we all know about those naturally occurring but deathly poisonous mushrooms. We wouldn't eat those if we knew the consequences, would we?
What’s the appropriate Cancer Prevention Supplement routine for you?
High doses of vitamin D can reduce the risk of developing some common cancers (including breast cancer) by as much as 50%, according to a recent US research paper in The Archives of Internal Medicine.
The suggested dose is one thousand milligrams of calcium and 200 to 600 units of vitamin D a day.
When you think of Herbs and Brain, take your mind out of the visions of a smoky cannabis club and think cognitive support. The brain is our most important organ and, like other organs, responds to herbs to heal and restore it.
Brain expert Daniel Amen, Author of Making a Good Brain Great, concludes what’s good for the heart is good for the brain. Aside from taking herbs for your brain, general wellness measures, such as regular exercise, sleep, stress-reduction and a diet rich in antioxidants and moderate in saturated fats will help improve cognitive and other functions. You’ll also find that improvements in brain function will improve other areas of your life, such as athletic and sexual performance.
