The most important thing to remember is that supplements are no substitute for a balanced diet. Even the best vitamin studies only show a partial reduction in the risk of disease. No supplement allows...
A well-balanced multivitamin supplement is usually better than several single supplements. Such supplements contain approximately 100 per cent to 300 per cent of the RDA for those vitamins and minerals which may have protective...
There are various types of supplements. Different preparations suit different people and it is a good idea to experiment with different types to find the best combination. Water solubilized fat soluble vitamins The oil...
Most vitamins are extracted from the food sources in which they naturally occur. For example, vitamin A is often extracted from fish liver oil. Vitamin B comes from yeast or liver, vitamin C from...
Data from the second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES II) suggest that almost 35 per cent of Americans between 18 and 74 years of age take vitamin and mineral supplements regularly. Other...
It is possible that nutrient deficiencies may result in cravings for certain foods; for example, potassium deficiency might result in a craving for bananas or potatoes; calcium deficiency might result in a craving for...
It is often difficult to link one vitamin with a particular disease except in severe cases where a deficiency results in well-documented physical symptoms. For example, bleeding gums are a sign of scurvy which...
The way food is prepared also affects its nutritional value. For example, fried chicken contains twice the calories of grilled chicken but the same amount of protein, vitamins and minerals. The way food is...
Ideas about what comprises healthy eating behaviour vary from one culture to another. For several generations, America has been a meat and milk country with the daily consumption of dairy products and beef seen...
In an effort to answer the question of how much people should aim to eat of the major nutrients, recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) were established by the Food and Nutrition Board of the US...
For every person who asks this question, the answer will be slightly different. Each one of us has different needs and different ways of meeting those needs – a unique combination of stress and...
Macronutrients provide energy and help maintain and repair the body. Oxygen Cells burn fuel for energy by combining it with oxygen. Water Your cells and organs depend on the involvement of water in all...
Hot, sunny weather and certain meds can be a bad mix You know the sun can give you a nasty sunburn and even cause heatstroke if you’re not careful. But you might not know...
Vitamins are substances which, in small amounts, are necessary to sustain life. They must be obtained from food as they are either not made in the body at all, or are not made in...
What can this do for patients with metastatic melanoma that couldn’t be done before? Dr. Rubin: Proleukin is now available for patients with metastatic melanoma. It was available to patients with other forms of...
A new prosthetic device has produced life-changing results for people with tumors in their legs. Six months ago, Mallory didn’t know if she would ever walk again. She had cancer in her leg bone....
When you think predator, snails probably don’t come to mind. But the venom from a cone snail is so strong it can paralyze a fish in seconds. Now, researchers think a synthetic form of...
During the fall and winter of her early 50s, Ms. “S” began noticing a feeling of pressure in her lower abdomen during sexual intercourse. She ascribed her sensations to ovarian sag because she had...
Typically, upon hearing that someone is depressed, our immediate assumption is that the depressed person is female. That connection is not surprising, since, statistically, the rate of depression in women is considered to be...
Do pesky bugs and insects make a beeline for your body as soon as your skin’s in sight? If you get nabbed, try some of these simple remedies for zapping sting and quelling itch:...
Can you describe the traditional scoliosis braces that are in existence right now? The traditional braces that exist now are all spin-offs of a brace that was developed in the 1940s, called the Milwaukee...
First of all, how do doctors generally treat rib fractures? Dr. Mayberry: Most physicians and the public, in general, believe rib fractures heal on their own within six to eight weeks. But, when I...
We all need oxygen to survive. Now doctors are using it in a new way to heal the heart after an attack, and it may even stop irreversible damage. When 51-year-old Mike had a...
For people with damaged corneas, the only treatment option used to be corneal transplants. However, for those who have damaged tissue around the cornea, there is a chance the transplanted cornea will be rejected....
What’s your advice for sun worshippers? Remember that the risk of skin cancer is real. No one is exempt, including people with dark skin. But you are at increased risk if you have fair...
Summer has officially arrived, which means backyard barbeques and weekend picnics. Put a fresh, healthy spin on these summer classics by modifying ingredients to bolster nutrition and reduce extra calories: Fried chicken. A finger-licking...
Understanding the problem Diverticular disease is a common condition that affects many people. It is believed to be caused by increased pressure in the colon. The colon weakens with age, and, in some people,...
Learn the common and lesser known men’s health risks… and how to prevent them: Heart disease. While it’s the # 1 killer of men and women, men are more susceptible earlier in life. To...
How can I minimize my exposure to radiation and reduce my cancer risk? Radiation has been in the news recently. As with other potential cancer-causing agents, the more you know, the better you can...
My teen and I are getting into power struggles. From my point of view, he’s been making a lot of bad decisions. What’s going on here? Is this behavior due to my parenting, his...