USADA Plots Against Nutritional Supplements Possibly Containing Drugs
In an effort to raise public awareness of companies selling dietary supplements tainted with steroids and other drugs, the United States Anti-Doping Agency USADA has introduced its Supplement Safety Now initiative. Supplements TO GO.com is in full support of the measure to protect the consumer. Nick Bono, the GM of Supplements To Go.com states that his co. thanks every measure available to them to prevent any supplement that compliant from being sold on their website. This effort will only help with their goal.
With the support of national sport organizations, including the National Basketball Association, the National Football League, Major League Baseball, and the United States Olympic Committee, this online campaign aims to motivate Congress to take action against online and over-the-counter sales of tainted sports supplements with grassroots mobilization and media outreach efforts.
“13 million athletes fall under the umbrella of these member-based organizations,” said Travis Tygart, CEO of USADA, “That’s a group of constituents that we hope to mobilize to influence Congress to enact better legislation on this issue.”
Tygart went on to add that Supplement Safety Now will see future developments as the campaign continues.
Steve Mister, president and CEO of the Council for Responsible Nutrition ( Washington , DC ), released an official statement on USADA’s initiative the day it was launched. “CRN commends USADA and the other supporting organizations for today stepping forward in a united front to find ways to get these illegal products removed from the marketplace,” Mister said. “Where CRN can find common ground on the solutions, we look forward to potentially partnering with these organizations on Supplement Safety Now.”
NSF International also announced “full support” of the initiative in an official press release, stating, “This campaign will create increased awareness around this important public health issue and help safeguard consumers from taking steroids and other illegal or controlled substances in products that are marketed as ‘safe and legal’ dietary supplements.”
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Exercise may makes you smarter
A strong cardiovascular system in young adulthood may boost brainpower, making for better school grades and more overall success later in life, new research suggests.
Given that most doctors and laypeople know (or should know) the benefits of exercise and its impact on healthy bodies, the authors of a new study, appearing in this week's online issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, are hoping the findings can influence public policy.
Given that most doctors and laypeople know (or should know) the benefits of exercise and its impact on healthy bodies, the authors of a new study, appearing in this week's online issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, are hoping the findings can influence public policy.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Gut bacteria may explain some cases of obesity
Scientists say that the convention wisdom of diet, exercise, and genes don't explain every case of obesity. In fact, some obese people eat fewer calories than their slim peers, and even exercise and genes don't paint a clear picture of the cause. Now researchers say gut bacteria may play a part. A mouse study found that animals fed a typical Western-style diet grew more Firmicutes gut bacteria, while those fed a healthier diet developed more Bacteroidetes. Researchers aren't sure if the gut bacteria cause obesity, but they say the study may help them determine who is more prone to obesity later in life.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Probiotic Supplements Help Prevent H1N1?
Probiotics have long been shown to build the immune system. I'm living proof of this. Some probiotic supplements might help you avoid seasonal and swine flu, and limit the severity of H1N1 flu symptoms. I believe the biggest factor in preventing the flu is balanced diet, exercise and avoiding a change in rapid body temperature. I know there is research that shows the being cold does not make you sick. Here is my therory, I think that rapid changes in body temperature weekens your immune system, thereby allowing viruses or bacteria, that are always present, to spread through your body. I never get sick in the summer, but I used to get a cold every winter. I'm indoors all the time, summer and winter, so the therory that you are in doors more in the winter is BS. In Phoenix my windows are closed year round and it gets cold here. It is Oct now and the temp dropped to 40 degrees last night for 80 in the day.
Probiotics are key ingredients in many popular yogurt brands. They have been shown to be useful in treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and antibiotic diarrhea. New clinical evidence shows that certain probiotic supplements can boost our immune system's response to influenza and other viruses. Probiotics are an important adjunct to flu vaccines and may help people avoid influenza or reduce flu symptoms. I had to travel often and I seemed to be sick every time I traveled. My partner recommened iflora. This was 2 years ago and I have not a cold since then. My friend travels every week and has not had a cold in 5 years.
Overview Of Probiotics
There are some commonly practiced techniques to avoid the pathogens that cause illness -- hand washing, use of sanitizer gel, and cough/sneeze etiquette, for example. Probiotics supplements might provide the additional help families need this season as consumers, especially parents, look for natural ways to boost their immunity and stay healthy.
Probiotics are, in simple terms, friendly bacteria. The WebMD.com site says that probiotics help keep the intestinal flora in balance by reducing harmful bacteria. Probiotics can help relieve antibiotic-associated diarrhea, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and other digestive maladies. Probiotics are normally part of the digestive system, so they are considered safe under usual circumstances.
Most people might be exposed to probiotics by their availability in yogurt, but MayoClinic.com says that probiotic supplements contain much more of the active ingredient, counted in the billions of CFU, or colony forming units, and therefore are potentially more beneficial than yogurt alone.
Which Probiotic Supplements Are The Best?
There are several dozen strains of probiotic currently available, so it can be confusing when picking one to take. My choice is iFlora by Nutri-Helath.
Yogurt is a good source but you need to eat it daily. Consumers should look for either Bacillus coagulans (BC-30) or Lactobacillus GG. These two have years of scholarly research behind them. These bacteria have the ability to survive the acidic environment of the stomach to make it to the lower GI tract.
Probiotics are key ingredients in many popular yogurt brands. They have been shown to be useful in treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and antibiotic diarrhea. New clinical evidence shows that certain probiotic supplements can boost our immune system's response to influenza and other viruses. Probiotics are an important adjunct to flu vaccines and may help people avoid influenza or reduce flu symptoms. I had to travel often and I seemed to be sick every time I traveled. My partner recommened iflora. This was 2 years ago and I have not a cold since then. My friend travels every week and has not had a cold in 5 years.
Overview Of Probiotics
There are some commonly practiced techniques to avoid the pathogens that cause illness -- hand washing, use of sanitizer gel, and cough/sneeze etiquette, for example. Probiotics supplements might provide the additional help families need this season as consumers, especially parents, look for natural ways to boost their immunity and stay healthy.
Probiotics are, in simple terms, friendly bacteria. The WebMD.com site says that probiotics help keep the intestinal flora in balance by reducing harmful bacteria. Probiotics can help relieve antibiotic-associated diarrhea, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and other digestive maladies. Probiotics are normally part of the digestive system, so they are considered safe under usual circumstances.
Most people might be exposed to probiotics by their availability in yogurt, but MayoClinic.com says that probiotic supplements contain much more of the active ingredient, counted in the billions of CFU, or colony forming units, and therefore are potentially more beneficial than yogurt alone.
Which Probiotic Supplements Are The Best?
There are several dozen strains of probiotic currently available, so it can be confusing when picking one to take. My choice is iFlora by Nutri-Helath.
Yogurt is a good source but you need to eat it daily. Consumers should look for either Bacillus coagulans (BC-30) or Lactobacillus GG. These two have years of scholarly research behind them. These bacteria have the ability to survive the acidic environment of the stomach to make it to the lower GI tract.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Donald Trump, Nutrition Expert?
Does Donald Trump now think he’s a nutrition expert? Looks like The Donald’s next business venture is all about selling nutritional supplements and weight loss products. And he’s doing it through multilevel marketing (MLM). The new company is called The Trump Network and it’s officially being launched in November. He’s recruiting and “educating” distributors now to sell the so-called unique, cutting edge products that are described as “highly advanced, scientifically-proven health and wellness products, including customized testing and metabolic analysis, effective weight management solutions and vitamin and mineral supplements.” THE TRUMP NETWORK is a unique marketing opportunity, designed to make people healthier with customized vitamins and nutritional supplements, and to encourage individuals to become entrepreneurs and to take control of their financial well-being. The power of Trump’s name will likely make this nutritional Ponzi scheme a success for him but not many others. They’ll likely trust his nutrition advice, and the advice of the “trained” distributors, even if much of the information is not scientifically solid. I have no knowledge of what products he is selling and what the quality it is but I would have to imagine that he would not put his name on jun. He’s joining forces with a multilevel marketing company called Ideal Health that’s been around for 10+ years (and has had its share of FTC complaints). The “custom-made” nutritional supplements rely on what’s called a PrivaTest, which is an at-home urine test that claims to tell you what supplements your body needs every day. A urine analysis is not always a reliable measure of nutritional status and it certainly doesn’t do all the things that are described on Ideal Health’s web site. This misleading tactic for selling a customized nutritional supplement regimen was previously exposed in 2004. On the Trump Network site it says “thousands of The Trump Network’s consumers are convinced their Custom Essentials are boosting their cellular nutrition and giving them nutritional balance and optimal metabolic health. Join us.” The best thing to do is eat a balanced diet or go to your doctor for a physical exam. Schedule a consultation with a registered dietitian. That’s the best way to tell if your diet is inadequate in certain nutrients. And if your diet does fall short in nutrients, you certainly don’t need to buy over priced formulas, (Donald Trump Vitamins) These items can purchased for a lot less in any online drug store. If you want to lose weight, stick to real food and eat less. If you have no sef control use a appetite suppressor. This fad diet will cost you $1,325.00 to get started. That's seems expensive, just exercise, eat right and maybe take a diet pill to help you through the hard times.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Fight depression with the Mediterranean diet
People who followed the Mediterranean diet, an eating regimen that is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and nuts, were less likely to develop depression in a Spanish study.
"We are speaking of a relative reduction in risk of 42 percent to 51 percent," said study co-author Dr. Miguel A. Martinez-Gonzalez, chair of preventive medicine at the University of Navarra. "This is a strong association."
The Mediterranean diet usually is recommended to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular problems. This study, reported in the October issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry, is one of only a few to assess its effect on mental function.
The Spanish researchers followed more than 10,000 healthy adults who filled out questionnaires between 1999 and 2005. All were free of depression when the trial started. Their adherence to the Mediterranean diet was measured by looking at nine components, such as low intake of meat, moderate intake of alcohol and dairy products, and high intake of fruits, nuts, cereals, vegetables and fish.
After an average follow-up of 4.4 years, the overall incidence of depression for those who most followed the diet was 30 percent lower than for those who most ignored the dietary rules. Even lower rates of depression were associated with intake of specific elements of the Mediterranean diet, such as fruits, vegetables and olive oil.
There are several possible explanations for the reported protective effect, Martinez-Gonzales said. The Mediterranean diet improves the function of the endothelium, the delicate inner lining of blood vessels, which is involved in the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a molecule that is responsible for the growth and function of nerve cells, he said. "Dysfunction of BDNF is thought to be responsible for some depression cases," Martinez-Gonzalez said.
In addition, olive oil improves the binding of serotonin to its receptors "and serotonin is a key neurotransmitter in depression," he said. "In fact, Prozac acts by increasing the availability of serotonin in the brain."
And the omega-3 fatty acids found in some fish might help improve the function of the central nervous system, Martinez-Gonzalez said. "All these mechanisms may lead to an improved brain function and a greater resilience to better face the frustrations of every day, to control stress, and so on," he said.
But Martinez-Gonzalez does not recommend that people diagnosed with depression try to treat it by adopting this diet. "The Mediterranean diet might be ideal for the prevention of depression, but not for its treatment," he said. "For those patients who already have depression, the best thing they can do is to seek the proper medical treatment by a psychiatrist."
"It's not surprising to see these results," said Dr. David Mischoulon, an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. "They are what we would have expected to see on the basis of previous information. There is a very large body of work in the psychiatric literature saying that components of the Mediterranean diet when looked at separately have such an effect."
Mischoulon agreed that he would not recommend the diet as a treatment for existing depression. "A person in an episode of depression needs more direct and more targeted intervention," he said.
But the study adds one more reason for adopting the Mediterranean diet, Mischoulon said. "If you have a family history of depression and you are concerned about it, a diet like this probably would be a good place to start," he said.
"We are speaking of a relative reduction in risk of 42 percent to 51 percent," said study co-author Dr. Miguel A. Martinez-Gonzalez, chair of preventive medicine at the University of Navarra. "This is a strong association."
The Mediterranean diet usually is recommended to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular problems. This study, reported in the October issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry, is one of only a few to assess its effect on mental function.
The Spanish researchers followed more than 10,000 healthy adults who filled out questionnaires between 1999 and 2005. All were free of depression when the trial started. Their adherence to the Mediterranean diet was measured by looking at nine components, such as low intake of meat, moderate intake of alcohol and dairy products, and high intake of fruits, nuts, cereals, vegetables and fish.
After an average follow-up of 4.4 years, the overall incidence of depression for those who most followed the diet was 30 percent lower than for those who most ignored the dietary rules. Even lower rates of depression were associated with intake of specific elements of the Mediterranean diet, such as fruits, vegetables and olive oil.
There are several possible explanations for the reported protective effect, Martinez-Gonzales said. The Mediterranean diet improves the function of the endothelium, the delicate inner lining of blood vessels, which is involved in the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a molecule that is responsible for the growth and function of nerve cells, he said. "Dysfunction of BDNF is thought to be responsible for some depression cases," Martinez-Gonzalez said.
In addition, olive oil improves the binding of serotonin to its receptors "and serotonin is a key neurotransmitter in depression," he said. "In fact, Prozac acts by increasing the availability of serotonin in the brain."
And the omega-3 fatty acids found in some fish might help improve the function of the central nervous system, Martinez-Gonzalez said. "All these mechanisms may lead to an improved brain function and a greater resilience to better face the frustrations of every day, to control stress, and so on," he said.
But Martinez-Gonzalez does not recommend that people diagnosed with depression try to treat it by adopting this diet. "The Mediterranean diet might be ideal for the prevention of depression, but not for its treatment," he said. "For those patients who already have depression, the best thing they can do is to seek the proper medical treatment by a psychiatrist."
"It's not surprising to see these results," said Dr. David Mischoulon, an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. "They are what we would have expected to see on the basis of previous information. There is a very large body of work in the psychiatric literature saying that components of the Mediterranean diet when looked at separately have such an effect."
Mischoulon agreed that he would not recommend the diet as a treatment for existing depression. "A person in an episode of depression needs more direct and more targeted intervention," he said.
But the study adds one more reason for adopting the Mediterranean diet, Mischoulon said. "If you have a family history of depression and you are concerned about it, a diet like this probably would be a good place to start," he said.
BodyBuilding.com Sells Supplements That Contain Steroids
BodyBuilding.com Sells Supplements That Contain Steroids, Court Papers Say
Published: September 25, 2009
A nutrition company owned by the same company that owns the Atlanta Braves is selling steroids over the Internet, according to allegations in court papers unsealed Thursday.
The nutrition company, BodyBuilding.com, is selling dietary supplements that contain steroids and designer steroids, including a substance found in the raid on the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative in 2003, the court papers said.
Federal authorities unsealed a search warrant on Thursday after agents raided the headquarters and a warehouse of BodyBuilding.com in the Boise, Idaho, area. In 2008, Liberty Media purchased a controlling stake in BodyBuilding.com for over $100 million. Liberty Media bought the Braves from Time Warner in 2007. Among the other businesses in which Liberty Media has interests are QVC, Ticketmaster and DirectTV.
The raid was part of an ongoing effort by the Food and Drug Administration to target companies that are selling steroids as dietary supplements. Unlike drug makers, which must demonstrate that a drug is safe and effective before the agency approves it for sale to the public, dietary supplements are a largely self-regulating industry.
According to the documents, 26 of 31 products purchased by the Food and Drug Administration as part of the investigation tested positive for at least one steroid. Among the steroids found in the products were Madol, Tren, Superdrol, androstenedione, and Turinabol.
Federal agents uncovered Madol in 2003 when they searched a storage facility tied to Balco. In 1998, Mark McGwire said he used androstenedione when he broke the single season home run record. The federal government classified androstenedione as a controlled substance in 2005.
In July, the F.D.A. warned consumers not to use body-building products that are sold as nutritional supplements because they might contain steroids or steroidlike substances. The warning came in response to increased reports of medical problems in men — specifically acute liver injury and kidney failure — who had used supplements. Several days before the warning, federal agents in San Francisco executed search warrants at locations tied to American Cellular Labs that were said to be selling dietary supplements — including Mass Xtreme and Tren Xtreme — that contained steroids.
The F.D.A.’s investigations of supplements have caught the attention of members of Congress. Senator Arlen Specter, Democrat of Pennsylvania, has called a hearing on Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs titled “Body Building Products and Hidden Steroids: Enforcement Barriers.”
Published: September 25, 2009
A nutrition company owned by the same company that owns the Atlanta Braves is selling steroids over the Internet, according to allegations in court papers unsealed Thursday.
The nutrition company, BodyBuilding.com, is selling dietary supplements that contain steroids and designer steroids, including a substance found in the raid on the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative in 2003, the court papers said.
Federal authorities unsealed a search warrant on Thursday after agents raided the headquarters and a warehouse of BodyBuilding.com in the Boise, Idaho, area. In 2008, Liberty Media purchased a controlling stake in BodyBuilding.com for over $100 million. Liberty Media bought the Braves from Time Warner in 2007. Among the other businesses in which Liberty Media has interests are QVC, Ticketmaster and DirectTV.
The raid was part of an ongoing effort by the Food and Drug Administration to target companies that are selling steroids as dietary supplements. Unlike drug makers, which must demonstrate that a drug is safe and effective before the agency approves it for sale to the public, dietary supplements are a largely self-regulating industry.
According to the documents, 26 of 31 products purchased by the Food and Drug Administration as part of the investigation tested positive for at least one steroid. Among the steroids found in the products were Madol, Tren, Superdrol, androstenedione, and Turinabol.
Federal agents uncovered Madol in 2003 when they searched a storage facility tied to Balco. In 1998, Mark McGwire said he used androstenedione when he broke the single season home run record. The federal government classified androstenedione as a controlled substance in 2005.
In July, the F.D.A. warned consumers not to use body-building products that are sold as nutritional supplements because they might contain steroids or steroidlike substances. The warning came in response to increased reports of medical problems in men — specifically acute liver injury and kidney failure — who had used supplements. Several days before the warning, federal agents in San Francisco executed search warrants at locations tied to American Cellular Labs that were said to be selling dietary supplements — including Mass Xtreme and Tren Xtreme — that contained steroids.
The F.D.A.’s investigations of supplements have caught the attention of members of Congress. Senator Arlen Specter, Democrat of Pennsylvania, has called a hearing on Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs titled “Body Building Products and Hidden Steroids: Enforcement Barriers.”
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Folic Acid Before Pregnancy is Beneficial for Delivery Health
Folic Acid Before Pregnancy is Beneficial for Delivery Health
By Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS, May 26, 2009, abstracted from “Preconceptional Folate Supplementation and the Risk of Spontaneous Preterm Birth: A Cohort Study” in the 2009 issue of the Public Library of Science
Pre-term birth puts both the health of the baby and the mother at risk. In the newborn, pre-term birth increases the risk of health complications as well as lasting disabilities such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy, lung and gastrointestinal problems, vision and hearing loss, and even death (1). For the mother, pre-term birth increases the risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. Specifically, women who have delivered pregnancies before 37 weeks of pregnancy have a 300% increased risk of cardiovascular death (2).
More than a half million infants were born pre-term in 2004, the highest number reported since comparable national data on gestational age have been available (1981) (3). While some ways to help maintain pregnancy health have been found, including maintaining healthy cholesterol levels (4) and increasing omega-3 fat intake (5), a new study (6) has found that taking folic acid before pregnancy may help with a healthy pregnancy.
In the study, researchers conducted interviews with more than 34,000 women during the first three months of their pregnancy and asked them whether or not they had taken folic acid supplements before conception. They then followed the mothers through pregnancy and found that. compared to those who had not taken any folic acid supplements, those supplementing for more than a year had a 70% reduced risk of pre-term birth between 20 and 28 weeks of pregnancy and a 50% reduced risk of preterm birth between 28 and 32 weeks. There was no reduced risk beyond 32 weeks with supplementation.
For the researchers, folic acid supplementation before pregnancy “is associated with a 50%–70% reduction in the incidence of early spontaneous preterm birth.” Unfortunately, the researchers did not state what the average folic acid supplement dose was during the year before conception, but the current recommendation is 600 micrograms per day during pregnancy
By Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS, May 26, 2009, abstracted from “Preconceptional Folate Supplementation and the Risk of Spontaneous Preterm Birth: A Cohort Study” in the 2009 issue of the Public Library of Science
Pre-term birth puts both the health of the baby and the mother at risk. In the newborn, pre-term birth increases the risk of health complications as well as lasting disabilities such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy, lung and gastrointestinal problems, vision and hearing loss, and even death (1). For the mother, pre-term birth increases the risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. Specifically, women who have delivered pregnancies before 37 weeks of pregnancy have a 300% increased risk of cardiovascular death (2).
More than a half million infants were born pre-term in 2004, the highest number reported since comparable national data on gestational age have been available (1981) (3). While some ways to help maintain pregnancy health have been found, including maintaining healthy cholesterol levels (4) and increasing omega-3 fat intake (5), a new study (6) has found that taking folic acid before pregnancy may help with a healthy pregnancy.
In the study, researchers conducted interviews with more than 34,000 women during the first three months of their pregnancy and asked them whether or not they had taken folic acid supplements before conception. They then followed the mothers through pregnancy and found that. compared to those who had not taken any folic acid supplements, those supplementing for more than a year had a 70% reduced risk of pre-term birth between 20 and 28 weeks of pregnancy and a 50% reduced risk of preterm birth between 28 and 32 weeks. There was no reduced risk beyond 32 weeks with supplementation.
For the researchers, folic acid supplementation before pregnancy “is associated with a 50%–70% reduction in the incidence of early spontaneous preterm birth.” Unfortunately, the researchers did not state what the average folic acid supplement dose was during the year before conception, but the current recommendation is 600 micrograms per day during pregnancy
Tea Tree Gel Gets Rid of Head Lice
Tea Tree Gel Gets Rid of Head Lice The beginning of school can be new and exciting, but it is also the peak season for head lice.
Head lice occur most frequently in young children between 3 and 10 years old. In the U.S., approximately 6 to 12 million children undergo treatment for head lice per year. Head lice are spread through direct contact between an infected person and an uninfected person. Although there are prescription medications that are effective in treating head lice, you might be surprised to learn that one nontraditional treatment, tea tree gel, may be as good as or even better at killing head lice.
The most common method of killing head lice is to treat the scalp and hair with a medication, permethrin. It is very effective and has few side effects. However, there are increasing reports of head lice developing resistance to permethrin, and stronger chemicals come with more side effects. Many people are looking to nontraditional alternatives: eucalyptus oil, echinacea, tea tree oil and extracts from other herbs.
Are these nontraditional therapies effective, however, and how do they compare to permethrin?
These questions were addressed in a recent medical study comparing the effectiveness of a number of nontraditional therapies to the permethrin approach. This study (published in the medical journal Medical and Veterinary Entomology) was done in Australia where head lice is a serious problem. In some schools, up to 30 percent of children are affected and permethrin resistance is increasingly common. Using very stringent methods for evaluating head lice mortality, the researchers discovered that most of the nontraditional therapies were relatively ineffective, except for tea tree gel.
Surprisingly, in this study, tea tree gel actually was better at killing head lice than permethrin. Almost 100 percent of head lice were killed by tea tree gel compared with 82 percent with permethrin. There were no significant side effects reported by either tea tree gel or permethrin.
Tea tree gel comes from tea tree oil, derived from the leaves of the tea tree, a native of Australia. Tea tree oil has been used for centuries as a treatment for many conditions including sore throats, open wounds and skin diseases. Now we can add head lice.
Even though there are few side effects to permethrin, not everyone wants to use a pesticide on their children - especially if nontraditional therapies for the treatment of head lice are as effective. Therefore, this study is timely and important: Head lice are increasingly resistant to permethrin; tea tree gel actually kills head lice and may be more effective than permethrin.
I hope you and your family will never experience head lice, but if you do, it is good to know that there are effective nontraditional therapies.
Head lice occur most frequently in young children between 3 and 10 years old. In the U.S., approximately 6 to 12 million children undergo treatment for head lice per year. Head lice are spread through direct contact between an infected person and an uninfected person. Although there are prescription medications that are effective in treating head lice, you might be surprised to learn that one nontraditional treatment, tea tree gel, may be as good as or even better at killing head lice.
The most common method of killing head lice is to treat the scalp and hair with a medication, permethrin. It is very effective and has few side effects. However, there are increasing reports of head lice developing resistance to permethrin, and stronger chemicals come with more side effects. Many people are looking to nontraditional alternatives: eucalyptus oil, echinacea, tea tree oil and extracts from other herbs.
Are these nontraditional therapies effective, however, and how do they compare to permethrin?
These questions were addressed in a recent medical study comparing the effectiveness of a number of nontraditional therapies to the permethrin approach. This study (published in the medical journal Medical and Veterinary Entomology) was done in Australia where head lice is a serious problem. In some schools, up to 30 percent of children are affected and permethrin resistance is increasingly common. Using very stringent methods for evaluating head lice mortality, the researchers discovered that most of the nontraditional therapies were relatively ineffective, except for tea tree gel.
Surprisingly, in this study, tea tree gel actually was better at killing head lice than permethrin. Almost 100 percent of head lice were killed by tea tree gel compared with 82 percent with permethrin. There were no significant side effects reported by either tea tree gel or permethrin.
Tea tree gel comes from tea tree oil, derived from the leaves of the tea tree, a native of Australia. Tea tree oil has been used for centuries as a treatment for many conditions including sore throats, open wounds and skin diseases. Now we can add head lice.
Even though there are few side effects to permethrin, not everyone wants to use a pesticide on their children - especially if nontraditional therapies for the treatment of head lice are as effective. Therefore, this study is timely and important: Head lice are increasingly resistant to permethrin; tea tree gel actually kills head lice and may be more effective than permethrin.
I hope you and your family will never experience head lice, but if you do, it is good to know that there are effective nontraditional therapies.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Folic Acid Found to Help Mental Health
Migraine headaches are a dysfunction of the nerves and blood vessels in the brain and are characterized by nausea and vomiting, pain with exposure to light (photophobia) and sound (phonophobia) and severe recurrent headache (1). The International Headache Society has divided migraines into two types - migraine without aura* (75% of sufferers) and migraine with aura (25% of sufferers) (1). Migraine headaches affect 12% of Americans and cost our healthcare system $24 billion each year (2)
Although the exact cause of migraines is not known, there are natural ways to help treat migraine headaches, including Coenzyme Q10 (3) and butterbur extract (4). Now a new study (5) has found that folic acid may also help mental health.
Existing research suggests that homocysteine levels may contribute to migraines by disrupting blood vessel function (6). Building on these findings, 47 patients with migraine headaches with aura or a family history of migraine headaches with aura received either vitamin supplementation (2 mg of folic acid, 25 mg vitamin B6, and 400 micrograms of vitamin B12) or placebo for six months. The researchers kept a diary of the patients’ headache occurrences and took blood samples before and after the study to measure homocysteine levels.
By the end of six months, those in the vitamin group had an average decrease of 39% in homocysteine levels (4 micromoles/liter). This drop was double that of the placebo group, which experienced a 2 micromoles/liter drop. Those in the vitamin group also had a 50% drop in how often their migraines impaired their activity (dropping from 60% disability to 30% disability) compared to no reduction in the placebo group. Finally, there was a 75% decrease in migraine frequency compared to no decrease in the placebo group.
When analyzing the blood samples, the researchers noted that those with a certain gene defect that causes low levels of folic acid in the body (called an “MTHFR C677T polymorphism”)) experienced the greatest benefits from the vitamin supplementation. For the researchers, “This study provides some early evidence that lowering homocysteine through vitamin supplementation reduces migraine disability in a subgroup of patients.”
Although the exact cause of migraines is not known, there are natural ways to help treat migraine headaches, including Coenzyme Q10 (3) and butterbur extract (4). Now a new study (5) has found that folic acid may also help mental health.
Existing research suggests that homocysteine levels may contribute to migraines by disrupting blood vessel function (6). Building on these findings, 47 patients with migraine headaches with aura or a family history of migraine headaches with aura received either vitamin supplementation (2 mg of folic acid, 25 mg vitamin B6, and 400 micrograms of vitamin B12) or placebo for six months. The researchers kept a diary of the patients’ headache occurrences and took blood samples before and after the study to measure homocysteine levels.
By the end of six months, those in the vitamin group had an average decrease of 39% in homocysteine levels (4 micromoles/liter). This drop was double that of the placebo group, which experienced a 2 micromoles/liter drop. Those in the vitamin group also had a 50% drop in how often their migraines impaired their activity (dropping from 60% disability to 30% disability) compared to no reduction in the placebo group. Finally, there was a 75% decrease in migraine frequency compared to no decrease in the placebo group.
When analyzing the blood samples, the researchers noted that those with a certain gene defect that causes low levels of folic acid in the body (called an “MTHFR C677T polymorphism”)) experienced the greatest benefits from the vitamin supplementation. For the researchers, “This study provides some early evidence that lowering homocysteine through vitamin supplementation reduces migraine disability in a subgroup of patients.”
Monday, September 14, 2009
orthopedic procedure
Scheduling a prime daytime slot to undergo an orthopedic procedure may lower your risk of an unplanned follow-up surgery later on, a new study has found.
The study, published in the September issue of The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, found little difference otherwise for healing, recovery time and major complication rates between certain orthopedic surgeries done during the day (between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m.) and those done after hours (4 p.m. to 6 a.m.).
"Although everyone wants to be treated immediately, it may be in a patient's best interest to wait until morning. The reality is that the on-call night surgical team may not be well rested, as it is likely they had just finished a normal day shift," study lead author Dr. William M. Ricci, chief of the Orthopaedic Trauma Service at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, said in a news release issued by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
The study of 203 surgeries to repair either a fractured thigh or shin bone found a higher incidence of follow-up surgery to remove painful hardware (often a supportive rod called an intramedullary nail fixation that was placed to stabilize the broken bone) in the after-hours patients than the daytime patients -- 27 percent versus 3 percent, respectively.
"The results of the study suggest that the system is working fairly well and it is not always best to rush a patient to the OR in the middle of the night. Naturally, when the medical condition is emergent and time is a critical factor, immediate surgery should proceed regardless of time of day," Ricci said in the news release.
"For non-emergent fracture care, sufficient daytime resources should be made available to avoid unnecessary night-time surgery," he added.
The study, published in the September issue of The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, found little difference otherwise for healing, recovery time and major complication rates between certain orthopedic surgeries done during the day (between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m.) and those done after hours (4 p.m. to 6 a.m.).
"Although everyone wants to be treated immediately, it may be in a patient's best interest to wait until morning. The reality is that the on-call night surgical team may not be well rested, as it is likely they had just finished a normal day shift," study lead author Dr. William M. Ricci, chief of the Orthopaedic Trauma Service at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, said in a news release issued by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
The study of 203 surgeries to repair either a fractured thigh or shin bone found a higher incidence of follow-up surgery to remove painful hardware (often a supportive rod called an intramedullary nail fixation that was placed to stabilize the broken bone) in the after-hours patients than the daytime patients -- 27 percent versus 3 percent, respectively.
"The results of the study suggest that the system is working fairly well and it is not always best to rush a patient to the OR in the middle of the night. Naturally, when the medical condition is emergent and time is a critical factor, immediate surgery should proceed regardless of time of day," Ricci said in the news release.
"For non-emergent fracture care, sufficient daytime resources should be made available to avoid unnecessary night-time surgery," he added.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Real healthcare reform!
I just read a revolutionary article by David Goldhill in the September issue of The Atlantic, entitled “How American Health Care Killed My Father.”
In his appropriate indictment of mainstream, conventional healthcare (i.e., the healthcare business), Goldhill begins his call-to-action commentary by telling what happened to his 83-year-old father: from the time he entered a “well-regarded” New York City hospital with pneumonia, through his development of hospital-acquired sepsis 36 hours later, to his death five weeks later.
Nearly two years after his father’s death, Goldhill does not blame the doctors, or the nurses, nor any one person or institution. “There were no greedy pharmaceutical companies, evil health insurers, or other popular villains in his particular tragedy,” writes Goldhill.
Goldhill instead points to our “massively subsidized” healthcare system that is full of structural distortions and with incentives that “inexorably generate terrible and perverse results.” He notes that the biggest problem of all is the fact that consumers have been removed from their “irreplaceable role as the ultimate ensurer of value.”
In my July 2000 editorial in Better Nutrition magazine, “Escape From the E.R.,” I shared my own emergency room experience—-in my case not tragic, just demoralizing and disappointing—I talked about what I experienced as I made my way through two emergency rooms, triage, tests and waiting, a lot of waiting. I saw “victims of a world without a family doctor, statistics at the periphery of an HMO universe.”
I wrote, at the time, that my experience represented “the very worst and the very best of what's horribly wrong and allegedly right about mainstream medicine today. It's high-tech but ‘low-heart,’ the apex of empirical skill yet the nadir of compassionate medicine.”
As the healthcare reform debate looms and town hall forums ignite hope and conversation (and also some pessimism and shouting) across the land, what better time is there than now to take a look as some bills that were introduced in 2009 (in some cases re-introduced several years running) that warrant inclusion in the reform debate, pieces of legislation that have (in most cases) not attracted the level of Congressional interest or consumer awareness that they deserve:
H.R. 1869, title: “To require the President to call a White House Conference on Food and Nutrition”; introduced by Rep. James P. McGovern on April 2, 2009; cosponsors: 81. This conference’s goals would be to: end hunger; reduce food insecurity; coordinate government and community programs to improve nutrition; bring attention to the medical, developmental, educational, economic; and psychosocial impact of inadequate nutrition. See also related bill, H.R. 2297. Take away? This bill has real potential, provided (a) the focus is on optimal (best possible) nutrition and (b) the critical importance of supplements to maternal, infant, child and general nutrition is spotlighted.
H.R. 3263, title: “To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide that amounts paid for foods for special dietary uses, dietary supplements or medical foods shall be treated as medical expenses”; introduced by Rep. Dan Burton on July 20, 2009; cosponsors: 0. With the proposed name of “Tax Supplement Fairness Act,” this bill has the potential to do much good, especially in allowing tax deductions for dietary supplements, especially if the supplements serve a “special dietary use” or are considered “medical foods.” Take away: If this bill is broad or inclusive enough, many people will be helped. Concerns? If restricted to special dietary use or medically supervised diets, however, it could serve to medicalize food supplements and place the rationing of them under medical control.
H.R. 3406, title: “To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude from gross income amounts reimbursed by an individual’s employer for certain dietary supplements and meal replacement products”; introduced by Rep. Earl Blumenauer on July 30, 2009; cosponsors: 1. This bill would exempt the purchases of health-claim-backed dietary supplements (for example, calcium, folic acid, omega-3s, selenium and vitamin D) from gross personal incomes via Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). Take away: This is a great start and a good bill. Concerns? Hopefully the consumer take-away would not be that only supplements for which there is a health claim are effective, science-based or legitimate.
Gormley Take-Away: While it appears that, among these bills, some version of Congressman McGovern’s H.R. 1869 stands the best chance of gaining sufficient support for passage, it will be vital for us to make sure that our Congresspeople and Senators know that we will continue to support these bills and other similar legislation in 2010. Because, legislation that emphasizes nutrition and optimal wellness (especially pro-supplement bills such as these) and keeps more money in our pockets is what I would truly call healthcare reform!
In his appropriate indictment of mainstream, conventional healthcare (i.e., the healthcare business), Goldhill begins his call-to-action commentary by telling what happened to his 83-year-old father: from the time he entered a “well-regarded” New York City hospital with pneumonia, through his development of hospital-acquired sepsis 36 hours later, to his death five weeks later.
Nearly two years after his father’s death, Goldhill does not blame the doctors, or the nurses, nor any one person or institution. “There were no greedy pharmaceutical companies, evil health insurers, or other popular villains in his particular tragedy,” writes Goldhill.
Goldhill instead points to our “massively subsidized” healthcare system that is full of structural distortions and with incentives that “inexorably generate terrible and perverse results.” He notes that the biggest problem of all is the fact that consumers have been removed from their “irreplaceable role as the ultimate ensurer of value.”
In my July 2000 editorial in Better Nutrition magazine, “Escape From the E.R.,” I shared my own emergency room experience—-in my case not tragic, just demoralizing and disappointing—I talked about what I experienced as I made my way through two emergency rooms, triage, tests and waiting, a lot of waiting. I saw “victims of a world without a family doctor, statistics at the periphery of an HMO universe.”
I wrote, at the time, that my experience represented “the very worst and the very best of what's horribly wrong and allegedly right about mainstream medicine today. It's high-tech but ‘low-heart,’ the apex of empirical skill yet the nadir of compassionate medicine.”
As the healthcare reform debate looms and town hall forums ignite hope and conversation (and also some pessimism and shouting) across the land, what better time is there than now to take a look as some bills that were introduced in 2009 (in some cases re-introduced several years running) that warrant inclusion in the reform debate, pieces of legislation that have (in most cases) not attracted the level of Congressional interest or consumer awareness that they deserve:
H.R. 1869, title: “To require the President to call a White House Conference on Food and Nutrition”; introduced by Rep. James P. McGovern on April 2, 2009; cosponsors: 81. This conference’s goals would be to: end hunger; reduce food insecurity; coordinate government and community programs to improve nutrition; bring attention to the medical, developmental, educational, economic; and psychosocial impact of inadequate nutrition. See also related bill, H.R. 2297. Take away? This bill has real potential, provided (a) the focus is on optimal (best possible) nutrition and (b) the critical importance of supplements to maternal, infant, child and general nutrition is spotlighted.
H.R. 3263, title: “To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide that amounts paid for foods for special dietary uses, dietary supplements or medical foods shall be treated as medical expenses”; introduced by Rep. Dan Burton on July 20, 2009; cosponsors: 0. With the proposed name of “Tax Supplement Fairness Act,” this bill has the potential to do much good, especially in allowing tax deductions for dietary supplements, especially if the supplements serve a “special dietary use” or are considered “medical foods.” Take away: If this bill is broad or inclusive enough, many people will be helped. Concerns? If restricted to special dietary use or medically supervised diets, however, it could serve to medicalize food supplements and place the rationing of them under medical control.
H.R. 3406, title: “To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude from gross income amounts reimbursed by an individual’s employer for certain dietary supplements and meal replacement products”; introduced by Rep. Earl Blumenauer on July 30, 2009; cosponsors: 1. This bill would exempt the purchases of health-claim-backed dietary supplements (for example, calcium, folic acid, omega-3s, selenium and vitamin D) from gross personal incomes via Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). Take away: This is a great start and a good bill. Concerns? Hopefully the consumer take-away would not be that only supplements for which there is a health claim are effective, science-based or legitimate.
Gormley Take-Away: While it appears that, among these bills, some version of Congressman McGovern’s H.R. 1869 stands the best chance of gaining sufficient support for passage, it will be vital for us to make sure that our Congresspeople and Senators know that we will continue to support these bills and other similar legislation in 2010. Because, legislation that emphasizes nutrition and optimal wellness (especially pro-supplement bills such as these) and keeps more money in our pockets is what I would truly call healthcare reform!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Mediterranean-style diet is more effective
A low-carbohydrate, Mediterranean-style diet is more effective than a typical low-fat, calorie-restricted diet for diabetes management, according to a study released Monday.
Not only did the Mediterranean diet lead to greater weight loss, it also resulted in better blood sugar control, delayed the need for blood sugar-lowering medication, and improved some heart disease risk factors, the study team found.
Mediterranean-style eating generally means plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, limited amounts of red meat and processed foods, and a relatively high amount of fat from olive oil and nuts and few carbohydrates. A typical low-fat diet advises cutting down on all types of dietary fat.
Both Mediterranean and low fat diets are recommended for weight loss in overweight and obese patients with type 2 diabetes. However, there have been few direct, long-term studies comparing the two.
This led Dr. Dario Giugliano, from the Second University of Naples, Italy, and associates to randomly assign 215 type 2 diabetic patients to follow either a low carbohydrate, Mediterranean-style diet or a low-fat diet for four years.
Nutritionists and dietitians counseled both groups of patients in monthly sessions for the first year and bimonthly sessions for the next three years.
After four years, 44 percent of patients in the Mediterranean-style diet group required medication to lower their blood sugar compared to 70 percent in the low-fat diet group, the researchers report in the September 1st issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
After 1 year, patients in the Mediterranean diet group also experienced greater weight loss. The absolute difference in weight loss between the two groups was -2.0 kg (-4.4 lbs). The Mediterranean dieters also had trimmer waistlines.
In addition, significantly greater increases in "good" HDL-cholesterol levels and greater decreases in harmful blood fats called triglycerides were seen in the Mediterranean diet group and these heart-healthy benefits were maintained for the duration of the study.
These findings, the investigators conclude, "reinforce the message that benefits of lifestyle interventions should not be overlooked despite the drug-intensive style of medicine fueled by the current medical literature."
SOURCE: Annals of Internal Medicine, September 1, 2009.
Not only did the Mediterranean diet lead to greater weight loss, it also resulted in better blood sugar control, delayed the need for blood sugar-lowering medication, and improved some heart disease risk factors, the study team found.
Mediterranean-style eating generally means plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, limited amounts of red meat and processed foods, and a relatively high amount of fat from olive oil and nuts and few carbohydrates. A typical low-fat diet advises cutting down on all types of dietary fat.
Both Mediterranean and low fat diets are recommended for weight loss in overweight and obese patients with type 2 diabetes. However, there have been few direct, long-term studies comparing the two.
This led Dr. Dario Giugliano, from the Second University of Naples, Italy, and associates to randomly assign 215 type 2 diabetic patients to follow either a low carbohydrate, Mediterranean-style diet or a low-fat diet for four years.
Nutritionists and dietitians counseled both groups of patients in monthly sessions for the first year and bimonthly sessions for the next three years.
After four years, 44 percent of patients in the Mediterranean-style diet group required medication to lower their blood sugar compared to 70 percent in the low-fat diet group, the researchers report in the September 1st issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
After 1 year, patients in the Mediterranean diet group also experienced greater weight loss. The absolute difference in weight loss between the two groups was -2.0 kg (-4.4 lbs). The Mediterranean dieters also had trimmer waistlines.
In addition, significantly greater increases in "good" HDL-cholesterol levels and greater decreases in harmful blood fats called triglycerides were seen in the Mediterranean diet group and these heart-healthy benefits were maintained for the duration of the study.
These findings, the investigators conclude, "reinforce the message that benefits of lifestyle interventions should not be overlooked despite the drug-intensive style of medicine fueled by the current medical literature."
SOURCE: Annals of Internal Medicine, September 1, 2009.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Supplements To Go.com has the best prices.
If you have never used Supplements To Go.com I have bought prohormes, ephedra diet pills, protein, creatine, tanning lotions, Superdrol, 1AD and many other weight lifting products to help me with sports and competitions.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Luxury items on sale in tough economic times
Couture Budget.com has drastically cut prices on items due to recent economic troubles. Handbags, purses, jewelry and more at 90% off retail prices.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
http://www.destin-retreat.com is a great place for honey moon rentals
Wanting to stay in a vacation beach house, condo or town home in Destin Florida on the Gulf Coast? Then Destin-Retreat.com is your place for your Destin Vacations. We have a selection of 2 luxury Destin Florida Vacation homes, by us the owners and a penthouse condo in the Miramar Beach / Destin FL. area. We also have a 4 bedroom town house in Gulf Shores, Alabama with a possible 8 bedrooms to rent. You can view the complete listing, see the low costs, view our up to date calender, and book your week stay online here. Just click on the properties page and select your house or condo vacation rental. All of vacationing properties are only steps from the beach, and the pool.
Destin Beach is on the Gulf of Mexico in the panhandle of Florida, and is located between Panama City and Ft Walton Beach. It is a wonder vacation destination with rentals by owners. You are dealing directly with the owner and we will assure you get the best service at a great price.
Destin Florida Beach is one of the top 10 beaches in the country. With beautiful white sandy beaches, turquoise water, perfect weather, dozens of golf courses, and a endless list of restaurants. It doesn't stop there. There are family activities, like the Big Kahuna Water Park, jet skiing, shopping, fishing, boat rental, Dolphin viewing, plus more! The list goes on and on. View our slide shows and videos of all that Destin has to offer. Book your trip online today through our 100% secure site! Come once and you will be back in our Destin Florida Vacation Houses and condos. Summer, Fall, Winter or Spring break, we have the Florida gulf coast vacation rental on the Gulf Of Mexico for you.
Destin Beach is on the Gulf of Mexico in the panhandle of Florida, and is located between Panama City and Ft Walton Beach. It is a wonder vacation destination with rentals by owners. You are dealing directly with the owner and we will assure you get the best service at a great price.
Destin Florida Beach is one of the top 10 beaches in the country. With beautiful white sandy beaches, turquoise water, perfect weather, dozens of golf courses, and a endless list of restaurants. It doesn't stop there. There are family activities, like the Big Kahuna Water Park, jet skiing, shopping, fishing, boat rental, Dolphin viewing, plus more! The list goes on and on. View our slide shows and videos of all that Destin has to offer. Book your trip online today through our 100% secure site! Come once and you will be back in our Destin Florida Vacation Houses and condos. Summer, Fall, Winter or Spring break, we have the Florida gulf coast vacation rental on the Gulf Of Mexico for you.
http://www.destin-retreat.com is a great place for honey moon rentals
Wanting to stay in a vacation beach house, condo or town home in Destin Florida on the Gulf Coast? Then Destin-Retreat.com is your place for your Destin Vacations. We have a selection of 2 luxury Destin Florida Vacation homes, by us the owners and a penthouse condo in the Miramar Beach / Destin FL. area. We also have a 4 bedroom town house in Gulf Shores, Alabama with a possible 8 bedrooms to rent. You can view the complete listing, see the low costs, view our up to date calender, and book your week stay online here. Just click on the properties page and select your house or condo vacation rental. All of vacationing properties are only steps from the beach, and the pool.
Destin Beach is on the Gulf of Mexico in the panhandle of Florida, and is located between Panama City and Ft Walton Beach. It is a wonder vacation destination with rentals by owners. You are dealing directly with the owner and we will assure you get the best service at a great price.
Destin Florida Beach is one of the top 10 beaches in the country. With beautiful white sandy beaches, turquoise water, perfect weather, dozens of golf courses, and a endless list of restaurants. It doesn't stop there. There are family activities, like the Big Kahuna Water Park, jet skiing, shopping, fishing, boat rental, Dolphin viewing, plus more! The list goes on and on. View our slide shows and videos of all that Destin has to offer. Book your trip online today through our 100% secure site! Come once and you will be back in our Destin Florida Vacation Houses and condos. Summer, Fall, Winter or Spring break, we have the Florida gulf coast vacation rental on the Gulf Of Mexico for you.
Destin Beach is on the Gulf of Mexico in the panhandle of Florida, and is located between Panama City and Ft Walton Beach. It is a wonder vacation destination with rentals by owners. You are dealing directly with the owner and we will assure you get the best service at a great price.
Destin Florida Beach is one of the top 10 beaches in the country. With beautiful white sandy beaches, turquoise water, perfect weather, dozens of golf courses, and a endless list of restaurants. It doesn't stop there. There are family activities, like the Big Kahuna Water Park, jet skiing, shopping, fishing, boat rental, Dolphin viewing, plus more! The list goes on and on. View our slide shows and videos of all that Destin has to offer. Book your trip online today through our 100% secure site! Come once and you will be back in our Destin Florida Vacation Houses and condos. Summer, Fall, Winter or Spring break, we have the Florida gulf coast vacation rental on the Gulf Of Mexico for you.
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