Stick To Wild Salmon Unless Heart Disease Is A Risk Factor, Risk-Benefit Analysis Of Farmed And Wild Fish Shows

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/12/051226100222.htm

On the one hand, farmed salmon has more heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids than wild salmon. On the other hand, it also tends to have much higher levels of chemical contaminants that are known to cause cancer, memory impairment and neurobehavioral changes in children. What's a consumer to do?
In general, a new study shows that the net benefits of eating wild Pacific salmon outweigh those of eating farmed Atlantic salmon, when the risks of chemical contaminants are considered, although there are important regional differences.
Those are the conclusions of Barbara Knuth, Cornell professor of natural resources who specializes in risk management associated with chemical contaminants in fish, and Steven Schwager, Cornell associate professor of biological statistics and computational biology and an expert in sampling design and statistical analysis of comparative data. The two have co-authored a benefit-risk analysis of eating farmed versus wild salmon in the Journal of Nutrition (November, Vol. 135).
"None of us [study authors] argues that the benefits of salmon are not real. But the dirty little secret is that there are risks," said Schwager, noting that even taking into account the risks, the benefits of salmon may be particularly worthwhile for some groups.
"For a middle-aged guy who has had a coronary and doesn't want to have another one, the risks from pollutants are minor ones, and the omega-3 benefits him in a way that far outstrips the relatively minor risks of the pollutants," he said. "But for people who are young -- and they're at risk of lifetime accumulation of pollutants that are carcinogenic -- or pregnant women -- with the risks of birth defects and IQ diminution and other kinds of damage to the fetus -- those risks are great enough that they outweigh the benefits."
Knuth added: "Because we found regional differences in contaminants in farmed salmon, with Chilean salmon showing the lowest levels and European (particularly Scottish) farmed salmon showing the highest levels, careful consumers with a history of heart disease could choose farmed salmon from Chile for their high omega-3 content and relatively lower level of contaminants." She noted that farmed salmon from North America would be a better second choice than European farmed salmon.
The researchers' benefit-risk analysis showed that consumers should not eat farmed fish from Scotland, Norway and eastern Canada more than three times a year; farmed fish from Maine, western Canada and Washington state no more than three to six times a year; and farmed fish from Chile no more than about six times a year. Wild chum salmon can be consumed safely as often as once a week, pink salmon, Sockeye and Coho about twice a month and Chinook just under once a month.
In a study published last spring (Environmental Health Perspectives, May 2005), the research team reported that the levels of chlorinated pesticides, dioxins, PCBs and other contaminants are up to 10 times greater in farm-raised salmon than in wild Pacific salmon, and that salmon farmed in Europe are more contaminated than salmon from South and North American farms.
The team also published a study this fall (Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 39:8622) that found that farmed salmon, on average, contain roughly two to three times more beneficial fatty acids than wild salmon, presumably because of the differences in the diet on which the fish are raised.
"Our results also support the need for policy and regulatory efforts to limit pollution of our waters and clean up pollution that has occurred, and thus ultimately reduce the risk side of this equation by reducing the potential for human exposure to these contaminants," said Knuth, adding that the country of origin of fish sold should be clearly labeled so consumers can make informed decisions.
Other co-authors of the risk-benefit study include lead author Jeffrey Foran, University of Illinois-Chicago; David Carpenter, University at Albany; David Good, Indiana University; and Coreen Hamilton, AXYS Analytical Services Ltd., British Columbia, Canada. The study was funded by the Environmental Division of the Pew Charitable Trusts.
Editor's Note: The original news release can be found here.

'No evidence' hangover cures work With the festive season in full flow, researchers reveal what many may have suspected - hangover cures do not work.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4552142.stm

A team from the Peninsula Medical School found "no compelling evidence" that a range of herbal and conventional treatments were effective.
Hangovers account for about £2bn in lost wages in Britain each year, mainly due to sickness absence.
Writing in the British Medical Journal, the researchers say only abstinence or moderation can really stop hangovers.
The only thing you can do with a hangover is let your body heal itself and learn the lesson that nature's telling you Professor Edzard Ernst, Penninsula Medical School
The team looked at existing research into potential cures, or preventative measures.
But they could only find eight robust studies to examine.
'Enjoyable research'
The trials looked at eight different agents: propranolol (a beta-blocking drug), tropisetron (drug for nausea and vertigo), tolfenamic acid (a painkiller from the same family as aspirin and ibuprofen), fructose or glucose, and the dietary supplements borage, artichoke, prickly pear, and a yeast based product.
OTHER (UNPROVEN) HANGOVER CURES
Banana
'Hair of the dog'
Milkshake
Charcoal tablets
Cabbage
Eggs
Writing in the BMJ, they said: "The paucity of trials is in stark contrast to the plethora of 'hangover cures' marketed on the internet.
"Our findings show no compelling evidence to suggest that any intervention is effective for preventing or treating alcohol hangover."
But they said "encouraging findings" existed for borage, the yeast product and tolfenamic acid.
The researchers, led by Max Pittler, said: "Our findings show no compelling evidence to suggest that any complementary or conventional intervention is effective for treating or preventing the alcohol hangover."
They add: "The most effective way to avoid the symptoms of alcohol-induced hangover is thus to practise abstinence or moderation."
Edzard Ernst, professor of complementary medicine at the Peninsula Medical School, said: "We carried out our own - quite enjoyable - study to see if artichoke extract was an effective hangover cure.
"It may have been fun to do, but the results were terrifically disappointing. We looked at other research into over-the-counter and herbal remedies which are on offer.
"But they didn't work. And the only thing you can do with a hangover is let your body heal itself and learn the lesson that nature's telling you; don't do it again or do it in moderation."
Women are advised to drink no more than three units a day, while the limit for men is four.

Americans Embrace Acupuncture's Healing PowerNew science backs up the benefits of a 2,500-year-old treatment.

http://www.healthcentral.com/newsdetail/408/529848.html

By E.J. MundellHealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Dec. 22 (HealthDay News) -- According to practitioners of traditional Chinese acupuncture, inserting a tiny needle into the little toe can help heal eye problems because the toe and eyes are connected via the same "meridian."
Not surprisingly, Western experts cast their own jaundiced eye upon such a claim -- until a recent high-tech imaging study supported the ancient theory.
"Those researchers found that on functional [real-time] MRI, activity in the visual cortex in the brain was actually stimulated by this acupuncture occurring in the toe," said Dr. Lixing Lao, a licensed acupuncturist who is also fully trained in Western medicine.
Lao, an associate professor at the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, said those findings are just one of many instances where modern science is proving the efficacy of a millennia-old technique.
And that information is giving American patients new confidence in trying out acupuncture for themselves, he said.
"Before, more patients were rather skeptical," Lao said. "Now, not only patients want to see me, but also doctors say, 'Hey, I want to make an appointment.' There's been a big change."
That change came in large part from a 1997 National Institutes of Health consensus statement based on an expert panel's comprehensive review of the literature. The panel concluded acupuncture to be an acceptable treatment for the relief of a wide variety of conditions, either when used in conjunction with regular medical treatment or as an acceptable alternative therapy. The conditions listed by the NIH panel included asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, headache, lower back pain, menstrual cramps, myofascial (muscle) pain, osteoarthritis, tennis elbow and even stroke rehabilitation.
Some of the studies -- including a recent report finding acupuncture effective against lower back pain -- came from Lao's center at the University of Maryland.
How does acupuncture work? "People are still trying to figure that out," Lao said, but there are a few key theories:
Endorphin release. "Acupuncture may trigger the brain to release these chemicals," Lao said. "They're endogenous opiates -- similar to [pain-relieving] narcotics, but all natural."
Better circulation. "People have talked about a 'peripheral' effect to acupuncture," Lao said, "stimulating the dilation of blood vessels in local areas. That would improve circulation and metabolism locally."
Anti-inflammatory effects. According to Lao, pain often originates in inflamed tissues. Acupuncture appears to lower inflammation by reducing levels of a pro-inflammatory hormone, cortisol.
Changes in heart rate. "Studies are showing that acupuncture changes areas of the brain linked to the heart, modifying heart rate through the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems," Lao said.
He stressed that acupuncture does not always bring about the same level of pain relief or symptom relief as modern pharmaceuticals. On the other hand, he said, "it has no side effects," meaning that it can be used safely over the long term.
According to Lao, the biggest difference between drugs and acupuncture lies in their underlying mechanism of action. "Acupuncture isn't just about symptom management -- it's also addressing fundamental problems, the underlying cause [of the problem]," he said. "It's more about stimulation, as opposed to the suppressive effects of drugs."
Of course, acupuncture involves needles -- a source of fear for many people. "Lots of people think 'Oh, it's like a hypodermic needle,'" Lao said. But he pointed out that the average acupuncture needle is much thinner, equivalent to the diameter of a human hair. "Lots of patients won't feel it at all, others may feel just a tiny sting," he said.
In the United States, all accredited acupuncturists now use one-time-only disposal needles, so needle safety is a non-issue.
But Lao said it's important to look for that accreditation when choosing a practitioner.
"About 40 states have now passed laws to monitor the practice of acupuncture," he said, with these laws mandating anywhere from 2,000 to 5,000 hours of training before licenses are granted. Most acupuncturists have to pass a state board exam. The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine also certifies experienced acupuncturists throughout the country.
Proper regulation makes sense for a discipline that deserves to be taken as seriously as any other medical field, Lao said. He believes there's more and more evidence that "acupuncture helps the body respond to every system that's not working. So whatever you're looking at, you're going to see some change."
More information
To learn more about acupuncture, head to the National Library of Medicine (www.nlm.nih.gov ).

Interventions for preventing or treating alcohol hangover: systematic review of randomised controlled trials

http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/331/7531/1515

Trans Fat Will Soon Appear On Nutrition Labels
New Rule Prompts Changes By Some Manufacturers

http://www.channeloklahoma.com/health/5616345/detail.html?rss=okl&psp=news

UPDATED: 9:59 am CST December 23, 2005
BOSTON -- Starting Jan. 1, manufacturers will be required to list trans fat on food labels. But some companies have yet to comply with the new regulations.
Trans fat is fat -- and not the good kind, reported WCVB-TV in Boston.
"It increases your risk for coronary heart disease. It raises your risk for LDH cholesterol, which is the bad cholesterol," said Elisa Margolius, a registered dietitian at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton, Mass.
But unlike saturated fat, trans fat has not been a Food and Drug Administration requirement for nutrition labels. That is about to change.
"As of Jan. 1, any packaged food that does not have trans fatty acid labeling should not be sold," said Alice Lichtenstein, a scientist at Tufts University.
Trans fats are created when manufacturers add hydrogen to vegetable oils to increase a food's shelf life and stabilize flavor. They are usually listed in the ingredients as partially hydrogenated oils and are most often found in packaged cookies, some margarine and anything fried.
"The products you really do want to stay away from are the commercial products -- such as the crackers, the vegetable shortening and the cookies, which do have a lot of trans fats in them," Margolius said.
Trans fats also occur naturally in meat and dairy products. Most research encourages avoiding trans fats as much as possible. But even with the new labeling, that can be tricky. Some products that claim to have zero trans fats still list partially hydrogenated oil in the ingredients.
"What that means is either there's no trans fat or there's up to .49 grams, or a little under half a gram, of trans fat per serving in that product," Lichtenstein said.
Less than half a gram of trans fat is not considered a major problem. The FDA estimates that Americans take in almost 6 grams of trans fats per day.
But dietitians agreed that less is better, especially when you sit down with a box of crackers or cookies and eat more than one serving.
"The leading research is indicating to decrease your amount as much as possible and just stay away from it," Margolius said.
Because of the new requirement, some products have changed the way they're made to cut down on trans fat levels.
For now, check the nutrition label and the ingredients for trans fats or the words "hydrogenated oil." Experts said that if you should check dietary supplements, too, to see if they have trans fat.

Yoga may soothe chronic back pain

http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/diet.fitness/12/20/yoga.back.reut/index.html?section=cnn_latest

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) -- People plagued by chronic lower backaches may find some relief in yoga class, researchers reported Monday.
Their study of 101 adults with persistent low back pain found that a gentle yoga class seemed to be a better alternative to either general exercise or a self-help book. Though people in the exercise class eventually improved to a similar degree as their yoga-practicing counterparts, yoga class brought quicker results.
It's possible that yoga's benefits for both the body and mind explain the effects on lower back pain, the study's lead author, Dr. Karen J. Sherman, told Reuters Health.
She stressed, though, that the study participants took a slower-moving form of yoga that was designed for people with lower back problems. Vigorous styles of yoga that include more-advanced poses could potentially make chronic back pain worse.
Sherman, a researcher at the Group Health Cooperative in Seattle, and her colleagues report the findings in the Annals of Internal Medicine this week.
It's estimated that 14 million Americans practice yoga, often as a way to treat chronic aches and pains. But, in the Western medical literature at least, there have been no published studies on the effects of yoga on chronic back pain, Sherman said.
To look at the question, she and her colleagues randomly assigned 101 adults to take either 12 weeks of yoga class or 12 weeks of a standard therapeutic exercise class, or to follow the advice of a self-care book.
The yoga class was conducted in what's known as the viniyoga style, which goes by the philosophy that poses should be adapted to the individual's needs. The instructor was experienced in therapeutic yoga, and the class was limited to basic poses that would not put too much strain on the back, Sherman explained.
After 12 weeks, the yoga practitioners reported better back function than their peers in either of the other two groups. After another three months, those in the exercise group had improved to a similar degree as the yogis.
The findings don't clearly show whether yoga or standard, therapy-focused exercise is better for low back pain, Sherman said. But, she added, given the choice, "I'd pick yoga."
She pointed to one difference between the yoga practitioners and other two groups that remained over the long haul: At the last evaluation, the yogis were using less than half the amount of pain medication their peers were.
Why this is, and why yoga showed a quicker benefit for low back pain, is an open question. But Sherman speculated that yoga's "mind and body effects" are at work.
Viniyoga, like other forms of yoga, focuses on coordinating movement with the breath and focusing the mind. It's possible, according to Sherman, that yoga allowed the back pain sufferers to become more aware of their habitual movements and postures that may have been contributing to their back problems in the first place.
Certain back problems, like spinal disc injuries, might not respond well to yoga, Sherman noted. But most people, she added, have "non-specific" back pain involving muscles, soft tissue and nerves, and for them, therapeutic yoga could be worth a try.

Common Alternative Treatment For Liver Disease Is Found To Be Ineffective

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/12/051219235348.htm

Results of high-quality randomized clinical trials have determined that milk thistle extract, a widely used alternative medication, may not have any significant influence on the course of patients with alcoholic liver disease or hepatitis B or C liver disease. These findings are published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology.
According to the previous studies, milk thistle extracts have been shown to possess properties that protect against various hepatotoxins, including the prevention of lipid perioxidation, which is frequent in all stages of liver damage in alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver disease.
"The ironic fact is," notes Christian Gluud of the Copenhagen Trial Unit, Center for Clinical Intervention Research at the Copenhagen University Hospital, "that even though milk thistle and milk thistle extracts have been widely examined, we are still not in a situation where we can exclude a potential beneficial or harmful effect."
In this study, researchers aimed to determine the exact benefits or harm in using milk thistle to treat affected patients. Over 900 patients with the aforementioned types of liver disease were studied in these trials over a period of six months, in groups treated with milk thistle versus placebo treatment. No significant effects were observed on mortality or complication of the disease. Further, milk thistle was not associated with any significant risk of adverse events.
"It would be logical to stop the use of milk thistle products, not to reimburse any use, to stop the information that milk thistle products may be used, and to support further trials," adds Gluud.

###
This article is published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology.
Christian Gluud, MD, Dr. Med. Sci., is a specialist in hepatology, gastroenterology, and internal medicine. He has written more than 300 peer-reviewed journal articles, most of them dealing with interventions for patients with liver diseases.
About The American Journal of Gastroenterology The American Journal of Gastroenterology, the official publication of the American College of Gastroenterology, is THE clinical journal for all practicing gastroenterologists, hepatologists and GI endoscopists. With an impact factor of 4.716, it is the authoritative clinical source in the field of gastroenterology. With a broad-based, rigorous, interdisciplinary approach, the journal presents the latest important information in the field of gastroenterology including original manuscripts, meta-analyses and reviews, health economic papers, debates and consensus statements of clinical relevance in gastroenterology. The reports will highlight new observations and original research, results with innovative treatments and all other topics relevant to clinical gastroenterology. Case reports highlighting disease mechanisms or particularly important clinical observations and letters on articles published in the Journal are included.

THAT INSATIABLE HUNGER FOR THAT MAGIC diet pill
Experts say the Internet is flooded with great pretenders

http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ny-hscov4557945dec20,0,7836612.story?page=2&coll=ny-health-headlines

THE WASHINGTON POST
December 20, 2005If you haven't heard of hoodia or green tea extract, you haven't been checking your e-mail or spending much time on the Web. Since the Food and Drug Administration last year banned ephedra, the long-standing leader among supplements promoted to help people lose weight, hoodia and green tree extract have taken a high profile among the products being offered to fill the void. E-mail blasts promoting them are sent to millions of addresses, and Web sites promoting them are ubiquitous online.With two-thirds of U.S. adults overweight or obese and many of them unhappy about it, Americans' hunger for diet supplements is nothing new. And little science has been done to prove that heavily promoted products are effective or even safe. Still, sales are huge. These herbal products offer the promise of a natural remedy for weight loss, and they're available without a prescription.Together, over-the-counter weight-loss products - which also include bitter orange, chitosan, guar gum, L-carnitine and dozens more - account for nearly $2 billion in annual sales in the United States, according to the Nutrition Business Journal.What continues to cast a shadow on weight-loss supplements is that few have been subjected to the type of research drug companies must supply before a new medication can enter the market. That's because the government only loosely regulates weight-loss supplements.Little pre-market scrutinyWhen Congress enacted the Dietary Supplements Health and Education Act in 1994, it gave dietary supplements a pass on undergoing this kind of pre-market scrutiny."Most people aren't really aware that the dietary supplement bottle on the shelf is not regulated the same way as other products next to it," said Robert Saper, director of Integrative Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine.Despite worries over safety, a study of dietary supplements conducted by researchers from the National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements and the University of Alabama and published this year in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found few reported complications from use of these products for weight loss. But the team also noted that there is "a paucity of evidence" of safety.Information on effectiveness also is lacking. "Inconclusive at present," as Johanna Dwyer, Paul M. Coates and David Allison described it in the journal study.'No magic pill'The trade associations that represent dietary supplements say the findings from that study need to be put into context. When used with diet and exercise, "even approved weight-loss drugs have only been shown to be useful for a very moderate increase in weight loss, about a pound a month," said Michael McGuffin, president of the American Herbal Products Association, which represents growers, manufacturers and retailers of herbal products. "Consumers think there is a magic pill out there. But there is no magic pill."The successful formula for weight loss, he continued, "goes like this: diet, exercise and possibly some support from a dietary supplement. The idea that a dietary supplement will help you lose 15 pounds to get into that old dress for the party is not there in the supplement world, and it's not there in the drug world, either." That reality doesn't stop manufacturers from introducing new weight-loss products or hopeful consumers from buying them. Hoodia - properly, hoodia gordonii - is one of the newest items on the shelf.Hoodia from AfricaHoodia's appeal shows how the lure of a quick fix can help "the market overtake the science," noted physician Tod Cooperman, president of ConsumerLab.com, which tests dietary supplements and other products.Made from a succulent plant that grows in South Africa and Namibia, hoodia is a purported appetite suppressant said to help indigenous tribes make long treks through the Kalahari desert with little food.Hoodia gained national attention when it was featured on CBS' "60 Minutes" in 2004.Hoodia supplements now can be purchased at GNC and other stores, starting at $19 per bottle. What consumers actually get for their money is uncertain: There are no established scientific standards to measure the quality of hoodia products, says Cooperman, so his company hasn't been able to test them for purity or content. The botanical is so rare that some experts question whether there's enough available to supply all the products said to contain it.Does it work? There's no evidence to say. The electronic database at the Office of Dietary Supplements contains no peer-reviewed human studies of the supplement. One of only two of the data base's citations for hoodia is a paper titled "Stranger in Habits and Flowers: Succulents," published in Germany with no references. The other is a small study of rats, published in 2004 in the journal Brain Research. Scientists reported that injections of hoodia into rat brains increased production of adenosine triphosphate, a substance key to cell energy production.Bottles sold everywhereThe lack of research hasn't dented the hoodia hype machine, however. Bottles of hoodia can be found everywhere, from Costco to some pharmacies. Blast e-mails that appear to be written by satisfied users tout the product's effectiveness and link to sites selling the product online. Perhaps the best example of how much hoodia has become part of the cultural fabric is its use by cast members of the hit television series "Desperate Housewives."Aside from safety and effectiveness, what worries some experts most about weight-loss supplements is their purity. "If a product says that it contains 200 micrograms of chromium picolinate, is there indeed 200 micrograms in that capsule?" asks Boston University's Saper. "And are there any trace contaminants, such as heavy metals, pesticides or residues of other pharmaceuticals?"When ConsumerLab recently tested a supplement that contains chromium, it reported that it found traces of hexavalent chromium, the same compound that led to a $333 million settlement made famous by the Julia Roberts movie "Erin Brockovich." (The makers dispute the ConsumerLab finding and have had their product retested by another lab, which did not find the contaminant. ConsumerLab says that it stands by its findings.) Through testing, ConsumerLab also has discovered that some weight-loss supplements contain far more of their active ingredients than their labels indicate.High caffeine content"Some have unbelievable amounts of caffeine-like substances that are equivalent to drinking 30 cans of cola per day or 12 medium cups of coffee," Cooperman said. "That should be of concern to people, because once you go over 300 milligrams of caffeine per day, you can have cardiovascular effects and insomnia." An eight-ounce cup of coffee has about 95 milligrams of caffeine.Some nutrition experts also express concern about side effects from a handful of products. Among them: bitter orange, which can spike blood pressure in some users, much as ephedra does. Gastrointestinal problems also have been reported by some who have taken chitosan (extracted from crustaceans), guar gum (a food thickener) and spirulina (a blue-green algae). A paper published in the journal American Family Physician last year by researchers at Boston and Harvard universities advised doctors to discourage patients from using any products containing ephedra, guar gum, chitosan or spirulina."They probably also say, 'Eat no ice cream,' either, right?" said McGuffin of the herbal products association. But he notes adequate product labeling is the manufacturer's responsibility and it's the consumer's responsibility to use the product accordingly. For consumers determined to use weight-loss supplements despite the unknowns, Cooperman has this advice: "Stick with single-ingredient products. Often marketers will say that you will get some great synergy by mixing ingredients, but it's a safer bet to go with a single-ingredient product to see if it works. And stay away from products that have proprietary blends. That's where you don't know what the exact ingredients are." LEARN MORE ABOUT

SUPPLEMENTS
Find more information on dietary supplements for weight loss at:
The Federal Trade Commission's "Red Flag Reference Guide for Bogus Weight Loss Claim Detection" at www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/ buspubs/ redflag.pdf, and "Should You Believe These Amazing Claims?" at www.ftc.gov/bcp/ conline/edcams/waistline/index.html.The Food and Drug Administration, www.fda.gov.The Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health, at http:// ods.od. nih.gov. Search the office's free online database at http://grande.nal .usda.govi/ibids/ index.php.

NEED LAST-MINUTE gift suggestions? Here are health-minded books for folks on your list who like to read:

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/12/20/Floridian/Healthline.shtml

- Tell Me What to Eat if I Have Headaches and Migraines, by Elaine Magee (Career Press, 2005). This book includes nutrition strategies for a variety of headaches plus 21 recipes that may help ease your aching head.
- Diabetes-Free Kids, by Sheri Colberg and Mary Friesz (Avery/Penguin Group, 2005). This book combines proven strategies for physical activity with common-sense eating guidelines.
- Cooking Healthy Across America, American Dietetic Association (2005). Features 350 healthful recipes from various regions of the United States. Nutrition information and cooking tips are provided for each recipe.
- How to Live with a Nut Allergy, by Dr. Chad Oh (McGraw-Hill, 2005). The author of this book is the chief of allergy/immunology at the UCLA School of Medicine. Timely, accurate and practical advice for parents of children and others with allergies to nuts.
- Your Child's Weight: Helping Without Harming, by Ellyn Satter (Kelcy Press, 2005). This book focuses on how to "provide rather than deprive" and on what children need to know to make healthful decisions about food and manage their weight.
- The DASH Diet Action Plan, by Marla Heller, a registered dietitian (Amidon Press, 2005). Based on clinically proven nutrition techniques to lower blood pressure, this book features a month of menus at fixed calorie levels.
BY THE NUMBERS: CAESAREANS:
- 29.1 Percentage of all U.S. births performed by caesarean section in 2004
- 27.5 Percentage in 2003
- 20.7 Percentage in 1996
Source: The National Center for Health Statistics
BY THE NUMBERS: BODY IMAGE
- 70 Percentage of women who said women are more tolerant of their overweight husbands than vice versa
- 26 Percentage who said they have the greatest desire to lose weight when they see a photo of themselves
- 19 Percentage who felt that way when trying on clothes in a dressing room
- 15 Percentage who did so while putting on a bathing suit
- 3 Percentage who did so when getting into bed with their husbands
Source: Nationwide telephone survey of 1,000 adults, conducted for Ladies' Home Journal by International Communications Research

PRE-NATAL CAREPaying attention to nutrition keeps gestational diabetes in check

http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/living/13447130.htm

By BARBARA QUINNKnight Ridder Newspapers
When mom’s blood sugars get too high during pregnancy, her body shuttles it to baby, who has no choice but to store it as fat. At birth, these infants can weigh 9 pounds or more, making them more apt to become obese and to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.
’Tis the season for pregnant women to cry in my office. Most are happy to be pregnant, yet fearful about the tidings that they have gestational diabetes — abnormal levels of glucose (blood sugar) first identified during pregnancy.
When mom’s blood sugars get too high during pregnancy, her body shuttles it to baby, who has no choice but to store it as fat. At birth, these infants can weigh 9 pounds or more, making them more apt to become obese and to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.
Fear not. Besides the fact that Christmas cookies may be off the wish list, most women can control gestational diabetes and have healthy bouncing babies of normal weight. Here’s how:
• Don’t blame yourself. Gestational diabetes is not caused by overdosing on candy canes. Rather, it’s a condition aggravated by the changing hormones of pregnancy.
• Consult with a registered dietitian. You’ll need a wise man (or woman) to guide you through the intricacies of counting carbohydrates and spacing meals.
• Deck the halls with small meals and snacks. Pregnancy requires the same nutrients whether you have gestational diabetes or not. Just not in big doses.
• Control carbohydrates. Sugars and starches in fruit, bread, pasta and figgy pudding are the main culprits of high blood sugars if you eat too much at one time. Each of these foods contains about 15 grams of carbohydrate: one small apple, orange or pear, 8 ounces of milk, one slice of bread, one-third cup of pasta or rice. Most women with gestational diabetes need to aim for not more than 30 to 45 grams of carbohydrates per meal or snack.
• Gain weight slowly. If you started your pregnancy at a normal weight, expect to gain 25 to 35 pounds throughout your pregnancy. Overweight women need to gain less. And try not to pack on the whole 25 pounds during the last two weeks of December.
• Eat your vegetables. Broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes and other vegetables are very low in carbohydrates and provide much-needed nutrients for pregnancy.
• Pass the nuts, please. Protein foods such as nuts and low fat cheese give growing babies a nutritional punch and do not raise blood sugar levels.
• Test those blood sugars. Most women with gestational diabetes need to check their blood glucose levels four or more times a day throughout their pregnancy. Tight blood sugar control is the key to a happy birth day.
• Take a walk. Unless your doctor advises against it, exercise helps keep blood sugar levels normal. No sit-ups, please.
• Follow-up post-partum. Six weeks or more after your little one has entered the world, start nagging your doctor to order a blood glucose test. It’s the only way to know if the diabetes you had during pregnancy went away.
• Plan future pregnancies carefully. Women with a history of gestational diabetes are at increased risk of having diabetes in the future.

Health crisis turns ex-hospital CEO to natural medicine

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002675404_katz10e.html?syndication=rss

By Sonia KrishnanSeattle Times Eastside bureau
Three years ago, Treuman Katz got some troubling news: At 60, he was on his way to becoming a diabetic.
Katz, CEO of Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center at the time, could have relied on the region's top specialists. Instead, the man who had spent nearly 40 years running two of the country's pre-eminent hospitals reached out to a naturopathic doctor.
He took herbal supplements, changed his diet, started yoga and hired a naturopathic trainer. Soon, his blood sugar dropped and he began to feel healthier than he had in years, he said.
"The body and spirit are inextricably tied together in natural medicine," he said. "You don't hear that in Western medicine. It's always just about the body."
Such comments might raise eyebrows coming from someone like Katz. This is, after all, a man who has been enveloped in the world of conventional medicine since birth. Katz headed Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for nearly a decade, and was the nation's longest-running CEO of a children's hospital — 26 years — before retiring in September at 63.
Katz acknowledges that integrating natural and conventional medicine can be a tough sell in America's prescription-happy culture. But he's convinced that merging both is vital to the future of the health-care industry.
Bastyr UniversityYear opened: 1978
Student population: 31 in 1978; about 1,150 now
Location: On 51 acres in Kenmore adjacent to St. Edward State Park. The school bought the land from the Seattle Catholic Archdiocese last month with plans for a $200 million expansion, including more academic buildings and 350 housing units.
Annual budget: $26 million for the 2005-06 fiscal year
Major degrees offered: Doctorate in naturopathic medicine; master's and doctorate in acupuncture and Oriental medicine; bachelor and master of science in nutrition
For more information on Bastyr University, go to www.bastyr.edu
So much so that days before he left Children's, Katz joined the board of trustees at Bastyr University in Kenmore, one of the largest and arguably most prestigious naturopathic schools in the country. He also will serve on an advisory board of a new holistic athletic club in Bellevue, where he lives.
"My objective is not to convert," Katz said. "But the bottom line is that the cost of health care is staggering because we're not taking care of underlying issues."
"Little Doc"
Katz never planned on becoming a voice for integrative medicine. The son of a pediatrician, he grew up in Long Beach, Calif., with the expectation he would follow in his father's path.
"I was called 'Little Doc' at the barber shop," he said.
It wasn't meant to be. As a student in the 1960s at the University of California, Berkeley, Katz discovered he was more drawn to the administrative side of health care.
"Hospitals are like a microcosm of society," he said. "It's every issue you can think of under one place."
At Cedars-Sinai in the 1970s, he oversaw a glamorous hospital frequented by the rich and famous, but in time grew weary of their self-indulgence, he said.
"I had to tell Elizabeth Taylor that she couldn't have violin players in her room. Then I had to tell Zsa Zsa Gabor she couldn't bring in her dogs because it was against public health code."
He arrived at Children's to elevate a struggling hospital into a "national star." Longtime colleagues credit Katz with transforming a financially unstable center into one of the country's top-ranked pediatric institutions.
As Katz focused on getting the hospital in shape, his own health took a back seat. He rarely exercised, and because he was always slim, he paid little attention to his diet, he said.
That changed after he met his second wife, Sue Ellen, in the early '90s. She was a big supporter of holistic medicine and saw a naturopathic doctor.
But Katz wasn't into it. "I came from a family where the two words that were anathema were 'chiropractor' and 'osteopathy,' " he said, referring to a branch of medicine based on the belief that the body has an innate ability to heal itself.
When they started dating, Katz took Sue Ellen on a tour of Children's. She had some questions.
"What's happening with prevention?" she asked. "Is there anything in the works for your MDs to be working with naturopathic physicians?"
"We're not really geared in that direction," he replied.
"I think you should be," she said.
It wasn't until Katz faced his own health crisis that her words sank in. In 1994, five months after their marriage, Katz underwent heart-bypass surgery — one main artery was 90 percent blocked.
He emerged from the experience with a far more open mind about preventive therapies and the value of proactive vs. "reactive" health care, he said.
"I looked at my own personal health, and I looked at these young kids [at Children's]," he said. "Why did all these kids have to be hospitalized? And what could we do about it?"
Noticing a trend
That opportunity came five years ago, when Katz and his medical staff started to notice an intriguing trend: More than half of their patients were using natural medicine but not telling their doctors. Therapies ranged from herbal supplements to acupuncture.
What Katz saw reflected a nationwide boom in the natural-medicine industry. A 2002 study of 31,000 adults by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 55 percent used alternative therapies to complement conventional treatments. In Western Washington, more than 70 percent of cancer patients used everything from herbal supplements to massage therapy to naturopathic doctors to enhance their health, according to a study published in 2002 by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
"I had to ask myself, 'What are we doing to help families who believe in this?' " Katz said.
Most medical providers are unfamiliar with naturopathy, said Rich Molteni, Children's medical director.
"If we wanted to be traditionalists and bury our heads in the sand, we could have," he said. "But there was a risk that natural medicine added to traditional pharmaceuticals could produce adverse effects."
So Katz organized a small group of physicians to visit Bastyr to start connecting NDs — naturopathic doctors — and MDs, Molteni said.
Brown-bag lunches with Bastyr naturopaths followed. The hospital put together a group to study how herbs could affect drugs. It hired two anesthesiologists/acupuncturists and will work with Bastyr to bring on a chiropractor, a naturopathic doctor and a traditional Chinese-medicine practitioner within the next year or two.
Bridging the divide
Some call Katz a pioneer.
"Treuman Katz was bold, and he wasn't afraid to venture out," said Daniel K. Church, president of Bastyr. "He has also deeply integrated [natural medicine] in his own life. Because of that, Children's is ahead of the curve. But there is a real movement behind him. Where good medicine is practiced, it is invariably a combination of all medicine."
Bastyr officials hope Katz's presence on the board will help bridge the divide between the natural and conventional-medicine communities. The timing seems right: The university is planning a $200 million expansion at its Kenmore campus and has $1.1 million in federal research under way.
Hospitals can't afford to waste time when it comes to prevention, Katz said, citing childhood diabetes.
"We literally have an epidemic. [Children] are eating junk, getting fat and getting diabetes. As an advocate for kids' health, you want to keep them out of the hospital. Prevention ... that's the gift."
Katz is setting an example. He works out twice a week at the Bellevue Athletic Club with his trainer, a Bastyr graduate. Additional yoga classes have increased his core flexibility, and Chinese herbs combined with a healthier diet keep his glucose levels in check.
His body fat has dropped to 14 percent, and his neck, back and hip pain have disappeared, he said.
Katz now blends both spheres of care into his personal life. When he gets advice from a medical doctor, he bounces it off his naturopathic physician. Once, he went to his sports-medicine doctor with his naturopathic trainer in tow, he said.
Katz knows skeptics are out there, but he's undeterred. The turnaround in his health has yielded precious dividends, he said.
"Many support [natural medicine], and frankly, others are suspicious," he said. "But I feel energized, vital. If Eastern medicine and Western medicine become more acquainted with each other, it can bring something greater to the health-care field."
Sonia Krishnan: 206-515-5546 or skrishnan@seattletimes.com

Fat hits the fire: US food companies zap adverts on children's television
Report piles on pressure over marketing of low-nutrition products. Some firms have already taken the hint.

http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/article332256.ece

By Jill Ferguson
Published: 11 December 2005
An official report linking the growing problem of child obesity to food industry marketing has forced manufacturers to re-evaluate how they target children as consumers.
Last week, the US Institute of Medicine (IoM) published a study on the influence of the US's $10bn (£6bn) a year food advertising industry - and that's just the bit aimed at children - which experts say may prove as important as the Surgeon General's report on smoking. This landmark release in 1964 led to the demise of Joe Camel as the "friendly" face of the tobacco industry.
The IoM, part of the National Academies of Science, found that US food and beverage advertising was certainly money well spent. There was a clear link between marketing and children requesting and eating "high-calorie, low-nutrient products". The study also found a "strong" statistical link between ad viewing and obesity - echoing the conclusions of studies done in the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
If corporations don't self-regulate more effectively - shifting the emphasis towards healthy foods -- then the IoM recommends that Congress does it for them. This includes only allowing the use of perky cartoon characters for "products that support healthful diets".
It is a similar story in Europe. As part of a broader investigation into obesity, the European Union's Health Commissioner, Markos Kyprianou, has threatened to introduce EU legislation if there are "no signs of progress" from companies. The UK Government has asked Ofcom, the broadcasting watchdog, to look into food advertising to children, with one key issue being the use of celebrities in marketing.
According to the International Obesity Task Force, around 155 million children globally are obese. Closer to home, the EU estimates that 25 per cent of children across the union are seriously overweight, with an estimated 22 per cent in the UK.
Seeing the writing on the wall, many food and beverage companies are already making changes - generally "welcoming" the various reports, and labelling the findings as "consistent" with their own moves towards more responsible advertising.
In January 2005, global food giant Kraft took a radical step in its marketing to young Americans. Under the "sensible solution" strategy, products that do not meet nutritional benchmarks are no longer advertised in youth media. This means that many of Kraft's high-profile brands - such as Oreo biscuits - are not now pushed directly at children.
"Kraft isn't stopping adver- tising to children - it's the mix of advertising that's changed, with a focus on more nutritious foods," said Mark Berlind, Kraft's vice-president of corporate and government affairs. He acknowledges that the cartoon characters on packaging remain an issue for some consumers.
McDonald's is taking a different tack and has actually increased its marketing on children's television. However, the new ads are more about branding and the promotion of physical activity.
Making change is also good for business, with a clear consumer push for healthier eating options. According to the US Grocery Manufacturers' Association (GMA), almost all their members have improved the "nutrition" profile of their products since 2001, and more than half are making changes to package sizes.
"It's not a backlash, it's a terrific business opportunity. Companies that can provide consumers with the better nutrition that they want, combined with great taste and convenience, will really win in the market place," said Mr Berlind.
Kraft products that sport the company's nutrition flag are outselling its other products by up to four times.
Companies that haven't spotted this health trend are missing out. One of the factors dragging on Coca-Cola's share price is the group's slowness in reacting to consumer preference for water and fruit juice products. This is being pushed from the very top, with the Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzen- egger, passing legislation to ban the sale of all carbonated soft drinks in schools across the state.
Unilever, which owns one of the US's largest food groups, says it does not actively market any of its products to children.
An official report linking the growing problem of child obesity to food industry marketing has forced manufacturers to re-evaluate how they target children as consumers.
Last week, the US Institute of Medicine (IoM) published a study on the influence of the US's $10bn (£6bn) a year food advertising industry - and that's just the bit aimed at children - which experts say may prove as important as the Surgeon General's report on smoking. This landmark release in 1964 led to the demise of Joe Camel as the "friendly" face of the tobacco industry.
The IoM, part of the National Academies of Science, found that US food and beverage advertising was certainly money well spent. There was a clear link between marketing and children requesting and eating "high-calorie, low-nutrient products". The study also found a "strong" statistical link between ad viewing and obesity - echoing the conclusions of studies done in the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
If corporations don't self-regulate more effectively - shifting the emphasis towards healthy foods -- then the IoM recommends that Congress does it for them. This includes only allowing the use of perky cartoon characters for "products that support healthful diets".
It is a similar story in Europe. As part of a broader investigation into obesity, the European Union's Health Commissioner, Markos Kyprianou, has threatened to introduce EU legislation if there are "no signs of progress" from companies. The UK Government has asked Ofcom, the broadcasting watchdog, to look into food advertising to children, with one key issue being the use of celebrities in marketing.
According to the International Obesity Task Force, around 155 million children globally are obese. Closer to home, the EU estimates that 25 per cent of children across the union are seriously overweight, with an estimated 22 per cent in the UK.
Seeing the writing on the wall, many food and beverage companies are already making changes - generally "welcoming" the various reports, and labelling the findings as "consistent" with their own moves towards more responsible advertising.
In January 2005, global food giant Kraft took a radical step in its marketing to young Americans. Under the "sensible solution" strategy, products that do not meet nutritional benchmarks are no longer advertised in youth media. This means that many of Kraft's high-profile brands - such as Oreo biscuits - are not now pushed directly at children.
"Kraft isn't stopping adver- tising to children - it's the mix of advertising that's changed, with a focus on more nutritious foods," said Mark Berlind, Kraft's vice-president of corporate and government affairs. He acknowledges that the cartoon characters on packaging remain an issue for some consumers.
McDonald's is taking a different tack and has actually increased its marketing on children's television. However, the new ads are more about branding and the promotion of physical activity.
Making change is also good for business, with a clear consumer push for healthier eating options. According to the US Grocery Manufacturers' Association (GMA), almost all their members have improved the "nutrition" profile of their products since 2001, and more than half are making changes to package sizes.
"It's not a backlash, it's a terrific business opportunity. Companies that can provide consumers with the better nutrition that they want, combined with great taste and convenience, will really win in the market place," said Mr Berlind.
Kraft products that sport the company's nutrition flag are outselling its other products by up to four times.
Companies that haven't spotted this health trend are missing out. One of the factors dragging on Coca-Cola's share price is the group's slowness in reacting to consumer preference for water and fruit juice products. This is being pushed from the very top, with the Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzen- egger, passing legislation to ban the sale of all carbonated soft drinks in schools across the state.
Unilever, which owns one of the US's largest food groups, says it does not actively market any of its products to children.

Nutrients for the skin

http://thestar.com.my/health/story.asp?file=/2005/12/11/health/12750431&sec=health

AS we grow older, the skin tends to lose its elasticity, becomes dry and fine lines and age spots are inevitable. New skin cells are constantly forming to replace the old and damaged ones. This renewal process continues throughout life, but the ability of the skin to retain moisture and elasticity diminishes with age. Not only that, production of sebum that inhibits evaporation also diminishes as skin ages.
Age spots are little brown spots that often appear on the back of the hands. They are also known as liver spots, which are superficial collections of skin pigment called melanin that have accumulated within the top layer of the skin. They do not indicate disease but can be unsightly for many. Most people develop them as they get older. Many complementary health practitioners believe that age spots are signs that cells are full of accumulated waste.
Other factors that promote unhealthy skin include poor diet and nutrition, exposure to harsh soaps, exposure to the sun, dry, windy climate, excessive alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking. Hormonal changes, especially the drop in oestrogen that follow menopause, can also cause skin dryness.
Skin cells have special agents for combating free radicals and repairing skin damage. These free-radical fighters are called antioxidants. Recent research suggests that antioxidants may play an important role in preventing or delaying the onset of degenerative diseases, thereby slowing the effects of ageing.
Beta-carotene is a great asset to the skin. Vitamin C is essential in the making of collagen and connective tissues to firm the skin. Vitamin E has been shown to slow down the ageing of the tissues.
On the other hand, the mineral zinc is important for the normal function of the sebaceous glands to ensure smoothness of the skin and promote scar-healing.
All these vitamins and minerals can be found in a variety of foods such as fresh vegetables and fruits, whole-grains, seeds and nuts and lean meat. Alternatively, an anti-free radical formula with a combination of beta-carotene, vitamin C, E and minerals such as zinc and organic selenium may be beneficial.
Optimal function of the liver may reduce toxin accumulation in the body, which in excess, lead to skin problems such as blemishes, skin allergies and other skin problems such as psoriasis. A main focus of naturopathic detoxification routines is improving liver function with targeted food and herbal medicines. Herbalists hold milk thistle and dandelion in high regard. Human and animal studies show that dandelion increases bile flow, improving liver congestion, bile duct inflammation and gallstones.
Silymarin is a potent antioxidant found in milk thistle. It helps regenerate new liver cells and aids the detoxification process.
Another nutrient of value is the essential fatty acid, omega-6 fatty acid. This essential fatty acid, which provides the active gamma linolenic acid (GLA), can be found from food sources such as plant oils (flaxseed and evening primrose oil). Essential fatty acids are needed for the formation of the lipid layer of the skin and to ensure that the integrity of cell membranes remains intact. Daily supplementation helps improve smoothness and softness of the skin.

References:1. Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements: The Essential Guide for Improving Your Health Naturally. MT Murray, Prima Publishing. 1996.2. Krause’s Food, Nutrition & Diet Therapy 10th Ed., LK Mahan & S. Escott-Stump, WB Saunders Company. 20003. Get Well: An A-Z of Natural Medicine for Everyday Illness. Russell Setright. Atrand Pty Ltd. 19934. Evening Primrose Oil: How it’s Amazing Nutrients Promote Health Relief from Problems Including Acne, Arthritis and Heart Disease. Richard A. Passwater. Keats Publishing Inc. 1981.

This article is courtesy of Biolife. For more information, e-mail starhealth@thestar.com.my. The information provided is for educational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this column. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.

Experts Urge Less Focus on Antioxidants
By J.M. HIRSCH, Associated Press WriterSun Dec 11, 6:15 PM ET
Tired of trying to keep track of all the so-called superfoods you're supposed to eat?
You know, oregano that packs 42 times more antioxidants than apples, cooked tomatoes that may prevent prostate cancer, and chocolate and wine that may or may not be health foods?
Then here's the good news — you can stop trying.
Leading researchers say all those breathless headlines, food packaging claims and seemingly contradictory studies about what antioxidants can and can't do have fostered a faulty silver bullet mind-set that can hinder health more than help.
Instead, experts advise focusing on balance, moderation and variety, and leaving the phytochemicals, flavanols and phenolic acids to scientists.
Researcher Jeffrey Blumberg acknowledges that "doesn't seem to be a very sexy message. People would rather be told there is a superfood, a term I hate because in fact there is no such thing."
Foods labeled as antioxidant-rich — everything from bottled tea to bags of frozen berries — have become a $526 million industry that continues to grow.
Even foods that otherwise have seen sales slump are getting a boost from antioxidant claims, says Phil Lempert, a food industry analyst and editor of SupermarketGuru.com. Sales of blueberry preserves, for example, are up, though overall jam sales are down.
"It's clear that regardless of whether or not people understand what 'rich in antioxidants' means, it is certainly a logo or a stamp that says 'Buy me! I'm going to help you live forever,'" Lempert says.
Maybe. Maybe not. Experts aren't suggesting antioxidants aren't important or that people shouldn't eat foods that contain them. Instead, they're saying not enough is known about how they work to justify focusing one's diet on any particular antioxidant or food.
It's all about quashing free radicals, harmful chemicals produced by the body and found in the environment that damage cells. That damage has been linked to a host of chronic conditions, from heart problems to cancer, even aging.
Diets rich in antioxidants — which are in countless foods — seem to minimize this damage. What's not clear is whether that benefit is due to the antioxidants themselves or to the overall diet and the way the antioxidants and other nutrients in it interact.
The evidence increasingly suggests the latter, says Howard Sesso, a professor of medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. That means eating patterns make a difference, but probably not eating particular foods or taking supplements.
Diets rich in beta carotene, for example, have been found to help prevent heart disease and cancer, but studies of beta carotene supplements alone have been mostly disappointing. And there is little evidence that one antioxidant is better than another.
Also unknown is whether quantity counts. Manufacturers brag about the amount of antioxidants in their products, but studies have yet to establish that more is better, or whether the body can even absorb the amounts contained in most foods.
Blumberg, a scientist at Tufts University's Friedman School of Nutrition, worries that the hype about antioxidants creates a false sense of security. Eating a daily handful of almonds — believed good for heart health — won't make up for a diet otherwise laden with saturated fat and cholesterol.
So how should people work antioxidants into their diets? Think big picture.
Healthy diets are like healthy investment portfolios — diversified, says John Erdman Jr., a professor of internal medicine at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Eating a variety of produce and whole grains ensures the best mix of all nutrients.
There's probably not much harm in eating a lot of blueberries, but that can't be said of all antioxidant-rich foods. The calories in fruit juice and alcohol, for example, add up quickly and obesity negates the benefits of even the healthiest foods.
Even people trying to address specific health problems would do better to eat a broad mix of foods than to tailor their diets around certain ingredients, the experts say.
"When people get prostate cancer, all of the sudden they make all the changes in their diet," Erdman says. "We don't even know if those changes make a difference then. But we know that if people eat that diet before getting cancer, you don't tend to get it."
Consumers also must be critical of companies' health claims about antioxidants, many of which are unregulated and unsupported by science. And studies often are funded by the industries that benefit when products are dubbed superfoods.
Bottom line — eat a balanced diet and don't get hung up on the particulars.

Noven ADD drug patch criticized by FDA regulator

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/miamiherald/business/national/13307403.htm?source=rss&channel=miamiherald_national

A staff physician with the Food and Drug Administration says a medicated patch made by Noven Pharmaceuticals may pose harm to children.BY KERRY DOOLEY YOUNGBloomberg News
Noven Pharmaceuticals' application for the first drug patch to treat attention deficit disorder shouldn't be cleared for U.S. sales because it may harm children, a regulator said Thursday.
The patch can cause insomnia and tics and may stunt growth, said the regulator, Robert Levin, a staff physician with the Food and Drug Administration. Miami-based Noven's shares fell as much as 23 percent after Levin said his agency should reject the patch, which contains generic Ritalin, or methylphenidate.
An outside panel meeting today may nonetheless recommend that the FDA approve the patch, said Ira Loss, an analyst with Washington Analysis, who advises institutional investors. A senior agency official also said the patch may be a welcome alternative to pills for some of the 2 million U.S. children with the disorder, which makes it hard for them to concentrate.
''It's going through despite the objections of the reviewer,'' Loss said Thursday in a telephone interview. ``If the side effects are a problem, you can take the patch off. When you take the pills, you are stuck until the medication wears off.''
The committee, which includes doctors who treat children with attention deficit disorder, will meet in Gaithersburg, Maryland, outside Washington.
Levin's comments were part of a staff review before the meeting.
One obstacle to approval is growing agency concern over drug patches, analysts say. The FDA issued warnings this year about cases of users receiving excess doses of birth control and pain medicines.
''The current FDA environment for patches is less than optimal given recent problems,'' said Scott Henry, an Oppenheimer & Co. analyst in Boston, in a Nov. 29 report.
Noven shares fell $2.34, or 17 percent, to $11.17 in Nasdaq Stock Market composite trading. Shares are down 25 percent this year.
The FDA in April 2003 rejected Noven's initial request to approve the patch. The agency then had concerns about insomnia, loss of appetite and weight and potential slowing of growth for children using the Noven patch.
Noven and its partner, Shire Plc, based in Basingstoke, England, have since presented two studies. Neither was ''significantly more acceptable than'' previous research, Levin said.
Thomas Laughren, head of Levin's division, was more positive.
''The patch formulation may offer some advantages over existing oral formulations, e.g., ease of administration for those who have difficulty with pill-taking, lack of interaction with food intake, and an ability to terminate the effects by removal of the patch,'' Laughren said in his memo.
If approved, the Noven patch will have a hard time competing against pills, said Andrew Adesman, chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Schneider Children's Hospital in Lake Success, New York.
Children may take off their patches, reducing the amount of medicine they get, Adesman said in a telephone interview Wednesday. Doctors and parents won't be able to keep children from sharing patches.
Doctors say the introduction of Johnson & Johnson's Concerta, a once-daily form of the drug, in 2000 already has made it easier for children to go about their school day without interruption.
''It made those lines that formed around the nurse's office at lunch time a thing of the past,'' said Lawrence Diller, a psychiatrist in Walnut Creek, California, and author of Running on Ritalin and Should I Medicate My Child?
The FDA in September stopped reviewing a Noven application for a generic version of Johnson & Johnson's Duragesic patch, which delivers the painkiller fentanyl. The agency had concerns about the higher drug content in the Noven version.

Healthcare: The Alternative Med Ed Challenge

http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/319900/healthcare_the_alternative_med_ed_challenge/index.html?source=r_health#

The market for alternative therapy is on the rise, but PR is needed to educate consumers, healthcare workers and government, argues Suzy Bashford.
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is one of the fastest growing health sectors in the UK.
Researcher Mintel valued the market at pounds 147m in 2004, a 44 per cent increase on 1999's valuation - and this growth is not expected to slow. But it is an industry crying out for PR expertise.
Amid the strong consumer demand for CAM - the prime buyers are middle-aged, AB women seeking more natural healthcare treatments - there is also widespread confusion, lack of knowledge, and doubt about the efficacy and safety of the products.
Fear of the unknown
In Mintel's survey, 29 per cent of consumers said insufficient knowledge of CAM was a main reason for not trying products, while 11 per cent were worried about the possible side effects. Nineteen per cent said they would only trust clinically proven medicines.
Lack of knowledge of CAM is not confined to consumers. GPs, who have not been given official guidelines on herbal and other alternative therapies, are under increasing patient pressure to prescribe - or at least recommend - them. And pharmacies are under similar pressure to supply the products.
The CAM market is one ripe for PR exploitation, with multiple audiences seeking different information. So, how is this challenge being met?
CASE STUDY: BACH FLOWER REMEDIES
GCI Healthcare, which works with conventional and complementary medicine brands, believes PR has an important educational role to play in the CAM market. According to account director Andrew Stevens, the challenge is reaching non-health-aware audiences.
Getting coverage in national media can be difficult without hard clinical data. As a result, Stevens devotes much time to media relations. The message is that complementary medicine should not be judged via the same framework used for conventional treatments, because results vary depending on the patient.
GCI handles consumer and corporate PR for Nelsons, the UK's largest manufacturer of natural medicines, with a large portfolio of homeopathic treatments.
Its focus is on homeopathy, with a brief to position the company as an expert in the field. One of its brands, Bach Flower Remedies, has benefited from celebrity endorsement from users such as Jennifer Aniston, Liz Hurley and rock band Kaiser Chiefs.
However, Nelsons wanted to run a campaign that promoted it as an everyday product to combat stress, rather than an exclusive celebrity treatment.
'We had to do something to bring the brand down to a level that everyone could relate to. The problem was that the topic of stress has been done to death so we had to find an exciting angle on it,' says Stevens.
GCI commissioned a survey that quizzed 3,000 Londoners about their attitude to stress, finding that one in five were too busy at work to take a proper lunch break. In June, the agency set up an event in London's Soho Square (pictured) that called on workers to relax. Called 'Rescue your missing lunch hour', it gave the public the opportunity to take advantage of stress-relieving techniques such as Indian head massages and Tai Chi. Bananas were handed out to provide sustenance, and a Nelsons consultant was on site for advice.
Stevens says: 'The purpose was not so much to generate coverage but to give a positive experience.'
1. PR TO CONSUMERS
With such a ripe opportunity to change consumer opinion, surely many PR agencies are salivating at the prospect of getting their hands on a CAM account? Well, not all of them.
Liz Shanahan, MD of Sante Communications, whose clients include Roche, GlaxoSmithKline, GE Healthcare and Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals says: 'There is no evidence to convince me that many of these products really work. Until I see that, it is not an area I will go near. I don't think it is ethical to give people false hopes.' She cites homeopathy and Chinese medicine as areas the agency would particularly avoid.
Unsurprisingly, there are plenty of counter-opinions. Jerome Burne, who contributes CAM articles to The Times and is researching a book about drug alternatives, says it is a subject in which Times readers are interested.
'Drugs companies take the line that 'our stuff is tested and anything alternative is rubbish',' he claims. He adds that bullyboy tactics, such as threatening to pull ad spend from magazines deemed critical of Big Pharma, prevent an open debate on the relative merits of CAM and pharma firms' established products.
But the PR budgets of pharmaceuticals dwarf those of firms operating in the alternative health sector - a market teeming with small manufacturers.
It is often the case that only the bigger CAM brands can afford to hire PR agencies.
Homeopathy brand Nelsons retains GCI Healthcare for comms (see box).
GCI account director Andrew Stevens argues CAM cannot be dismissed for its inability to satisfy research methods designed for orthodox medicine.
He says the PR industry must recognise the rise of CAM, especially as publications want to devote more space to it.
'To write off CAM when there are 12 million users in the UK is rather narrow minded,' he says. 'Our job is to make sure people are aware of CAM and where they can get it.'
Understand your medicine
PROs must tread carefully and avoid overstating the benefits of products.
Phrases such as 'miracle cure' are particularly frowned upon by the sceptical, while many practitioners prefer the term 'complementary' to 'alternative'.
Tracey Hollom, associate director of Pegasus Public Relations, which promotes food supplements and herbal medicine, says: 'We place great importance on supplying journalists with clinical research data, as well as access to experts, customer testimonials and first- hand experience. It takes a long time to explain the benefits to journalists; that is why we prefer one-to-one briefings.'
But journalist Sarah Ewing, who writes for Natural Health & Well- being, Essentials and Healthy, says PROs who know this field well are rare.
'Many PROs who approach me know little about healthcare and less about complementary medicine,' she says. 'There is a minority that takes understanding of the products seriously, and I'm more inclined to feature these PROs' products.'
2. PR TO GPS AND PHARMACIES, AND THE ROLE OF THE NHS
Persuading healthcare professionals of the benefits of complementary medicine is crucial in the promotion of alternatives to consumers. According to Mintel, over a third of people (37 per cent) would like doctors and pharmacists to recommend more use of alternative medicine. A study by Sheffield University, meanwhile, shows that almost half of all GPs in England already give their patients access to some form of complementary therapy.
The extent to which CAM is prescribed and sold varies from doctor to doctor and pharmacist to pharmacist, and largely depends on healthcare workers' personal predisposition to alternative medicine - something that astute PR could influence.
Nevertheless, no clear guidance has yet been issued to the medical profession from either government or the major trade bodies, such as the British Medical Association (BMA) and the General Medical Council (GMC).
'A more coherent, considered approach to communications is needed,' says Kim Lavely, chief executive of The Prince of Wales's Foundation for Integrated Health. 'We want the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the Department of Health to take a clearer line.'
But she adds: 'There are signs of this happening. A white paper, for example, is being published this month on taking a more integrated approach to CAM.'
Janet Groves, chairman of natural remedy maker GR Lane Health Products, believes the best way to ensure consistent messaging is to integrate the study of CAM into the training of medical professionals.
But it is difficult to gauge the importance of PR in educating the industry: neither the NHS, GMC nor BMA press offices could provide any information on the extent to which healthcare professionals are targeted with CAM-related PR material.
Most PROs are focusing their efforts on consumers - hoping that public demand will effectively force the medical profession to take note. But targeting healthcare professionals is not totally overlooked. MRA PR account director Mark Smith, who works on vitamin and herbal supplement maker Health Aid, says trade titles such as Chemist & Druggist are important channels. 'It is necessary to target these titles because their readers are selling our products. Pharmacists want to find out what products are available, so we tend to be as factual as possible.'
Government approval
The NHS has been slow to embrace CAM at a national level. But after overwhelming consumer interest, government has been forced to recognise the role of alternative medicine alongside conventional drugs (see box).
As well as supplying consumers with more information on complementary therapies, and developing national guidelines for practitioners, the DoH is also tackling the thorny issue of research. 'It is important that, as more people turn to these therapies, a solid evidence base for CAM is developed,' says Jonathan Carroll, DoH media officer for quality, public health and care services. 'That is why we have provided nearly pounds 3m to develop CAM researchers.'
Another important development is the EU Directive on Traditional Medicinal Use, which became UK law in October. As part of this legislation, over-the-counter herbal medicine must meet specific safety and quality standards. There are also moves afoot to further regulate acupuncture and herbal medicine by developing legally binding standards for training and practice. Osteopathy and chiropractic care are also regulated, and other strands of complementary health are likely to follow suit.
All this should pave the way to greater uptake of CAM within the NHS, and improve its credibility in the eyes of the medical profession.
3. THE IMAGE OF CAM
Groups representing CAM are well aware that their industry has a serious image problem and that they need to use PR more effectively. Some, such as the British Complementary Medicine Association, are introducing PR budgets into their strategies for the first time next year. But the fact that there are so many associations vying for attention, often with different messages, is not helping to raise credibility. BMA head of media relations Linda Millington says: 'There is often a plethora of associations within a therapy, but in many instances neither patients nor health professionals are confident in the efficacy and safety of their procedures.'
Reaching consumers
The Faculty of Homeopathy chairman Sally Penrose is currently reviewing its PR strategy. She says she would like to be more proactive in terms of consumer and regional press relations.
The faculty's main campaigning issues mirror those of other bodies in the sector: to increase the availability of treatment via the NHS, to position homeopathy as a therapy that works, and to influence debate about how to measure the effectiveness of CAM.
Penrose, who has an in-house communications officer and uses a PR consultant for project work, says: 'Homeopathy attracts polarised, often hostile comments in the press, and we are constantly seeking to correct inaccurate statements and misunderstandings. While homeopathy attracts a lot of media attention, we don't have the funds available to outsource PR to a large agency.'
This is a common complaint. The Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine, for example, enlisted the help of Furner Communications this year following a spate of bad press, but this was only on a temporary basis (see box).
An association that does retain an agency is the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC), which has worked with agency Republic for over three years.
Republic's focus has been on consumer press, providing case studies of where acupuncture has worked particularly effectively. 'It has always been a challenge to communicate the benefits of acupuncture: fear of the unknown and the odd false horror story along the way have meant that consumers and media are sceptical,' says account manager Jo Wilmot.
Celebrities have been a godsend in securing high-profile, positive coverage.
Gwyneth Paltrow's use of acupuncture in particular has enabled Republic to generate significant editorial space in the glossies. Last year Paltrow attended a New York film premiere in a backless dress that exposed circular marks on her flesh: the result of acupuncture treatment known as cupping. Wilmot says: 'It was being positioned as a cranky celebrity treatment, so we used the story to challenge that preconception and explain to people that it is a medical treatment that consumers can't just have on demand. We also used it to stress the importance of seeing a registered practitioner.' The Paltrow story gave BAcC a mention in broadcast media such as BBC Breakfast, as well as widespread print coverage. A press release explained the cupping treatment and offered journalists the chance to try it for themselves. 'The coverage was phenomenal. Initially it had been quite negative, but in the end it was positive,' says Wilmot.
Republic now has its sights on the largely untapped male and older consumer market. Last year it ran a campaign about sports injuries, in which the England rugby team's acupuncturist discussed the benefits of the therapy. Media were invited to witness players being treated, resulting in coverage in papers such as the Daily Express, as well as sports titles including Rugby World. 'There's still a lot of work to be done in getting men more interested in health and thinking about alternatives,' adds Wilmot.
Homeopathy, meanwhile, has also benefited from endorsements, including those of Sir Paul McCartney and Victoria and David Beckham.
Going mainstream
Good Relations account director Julia Farish found the media similarly receptive to CAM during a three-month project for The Shiatsu Society (shiatsu is similar to chiropractice). The brief was to raise awareness of this year's European Shiatsu Week, particularly among 18 to 45-year-old women.
The agency linked up with GMTV's Dr Hilary Jones who conducted a series of radio interviews. Farish organised press launches, sourced case studies and invited journalists to experience shiatsu. 'We wanted to talk to journalists directly and get them to try it out,' she says.
'A lot of them didn't even know that it's a treatment one has while fully clothed and does not include anything that might make you feel uncomfortable.'
Coverage was achieved on radio station BBC Wales and in London's Evening Standard, The Times and Good Housekeeping magazine.
On the back of the success of this campaign, The Shiatsu Society has appointed Good Relations to work on another three-month project to highlight the benefits of the treatment.
The Foundation for Integrated Health's Lavely says such case studies prove that PR has a central role to play in CAM, in terms of targeting consumers and influencing policy makers.
'There's a tremendous role for PR,' she says. 'It can help encourage the move to a stronger regulatory framework and get the message across that an integrated approach is a mainstream one, not flaky or fringe-like.
There's still a lot to do, but we certainly expect to have a lot more influence in future.'
GOVERNMENT WAKES UP TO CONSUMER DEMAND
- The DoH has committed three years' funding to the Foundation for Integrated Health (FIH) to develop regulatory guidelines for certain alternative practitioners.
- FIH commissioned economist Christopher Smallwood to study the role of CAM in the NHS. He concluded there should be more complementary therapies available and called for NICE to further investigate the gap in provision.
- FIH recently published 'Complementary Healthcare: A Guide for Patients' on behalf of the DoH, explaining the potential benefits of alternative therapies.
- The DoH has provided nearly pounds 3m to develop CAM researchers.
- The DoH has also provided pounds 324,000 for three qualitative research projects on CAM in the care of patients with cancer.
- The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has set up a Herbal Medicines Advisory Committee, which analyses safety and provides practitioners with information about results.
ALTERNATIVE TRADE BODIES AND THEIR PR
Name The Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine Number of members 200 (acupuncturists and herbalists)
Main issues campaigned on Herb safety and efficacy; the need to consult practitioners listed on the register
PR status Furner Communications on a project basis
Name National Institute of Medical Herbalists Number of members 725 (registered herbalists)
Main issues campaigned on The need for better labelling of products, better research and greater access to information; the need to consult a registered practitioner; raising awareness of the therapy; Herbal Medicine Awareness Week
PR status Handled in-house and via an independent PR consultant
Name The British Acupuncture Council Number of members 2,600 (professional acupuncturists who have a minimum of five years' training)
Main issues campaigned on The need to consult council-registered practitioners; dispelling misperceptions that acupuncture is only about pain management and needles; positioning the council as a leading voice in the field
PR status Retains Republic and has a part-time in-house PR manager
Name The Shiatsu Society
Number of members 2,000 (a third are registered practitioners, others include students and teachers)
Main issues campaigned on Encouraging consumers to consider shiatsu instead of conventional medicine for conditions such as stress and back ache; raising awareness of shiatsu and the society's role and events
PR status Hired Good Relations in July.
Story from REDORBIT NEWS:http://www.redorbit.com/news/display/?id=319900Published: 2005/12/03 00:00:08 CST

'Terrors of the Table: The Curious History of Nutrition,' by Walter Gratzer

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/04/books/review/04stern.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1133737368-/r70sRFrW73etdrNSbwCJw

Something We Ate?
Review by JANE AND MICHAEL STERN
AGREED: Good health depends on a good diet. But which good diet? Experts and pretenders have offered countless schemes for salubrity, from the cabbage regime propounded by Cato the Elder to the chopped-meat-and-water plan of the 19th-century physician John Salisbury (whose name lives on via the Salisbury steak). Formal theorizing began in the second century, when Galen codified nutrition as a matter of correctly balanced humors. By the first millennium, the Byzantine Dietary Calendar advised sipping aromatic wine in January to avert the dangers of sweet phlegm; in 19th-century America, the phony physician Sylvester Graham and, later, the cereal guru John Harvey Kellogg inspired corn-flake crusades based on the proposition that constipation causes death. Our own bookshelves hold such off-the-wall 20th-century treatises as "Man Alive: You're Half Dead! (How to Eat Your Way to Glowing Health and Stay There)" and a pamphlet titled "Woman 80 Never Tired Eats and Sleeps Well," which turned upside down and around is labeled "What Causes Gas on the Stomach?"
To eat is basic instinct; how to do it correctly worries humans more than sex. So "Terrors of the Table" is a perfect title for this story of nutritional doctrine's tyranny up to modern times when, in Walter Gratzer's words, fear of cholesterol has "supplanted the Devil as the roaring lion who walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." Gratzer, a biophysicist at King's College, London, who previously put a human face on science in "Eurekas and Euphorias: The Oxford Book of Scientific Anecdotes," reels out a historical pageant of science and pseudoscience teeming with remarkable characters who have advanced (and retarded) knowledge about what makes humans thrive.
The faddists on soapboxes are especially amusing, including vegetarians who denounce eating meat as ungodly and an anti-vegetarian cleric who answers that God attached white tails to rabbits to make them easier targets. Gratzer asserts that fashion, not science, rules contemporary diet advice, and he enjoys eviscerating the "gruesome" Duke rice diet, the "probably dangerous" Scarsdale diet and the "grossly unbalanced" Atkins diet.
"The history of nutritional science is full of fascination and drama," he writes, a point borne out by various accounts of forced hunger during World War II. A Nazi program to euthanize children deemed unworthy of living was carried out in hospital buildings called hungerhäuser, where a diet of potatoes, turnips and cabbage was designed to cause death in three months. In 1940, when the Germans decided to eradicate the Jewish population of Warsaw by starvation. Dr. Israel Milejkowski and a group of ghetto physicians conducted research on the effects of malnutrition, figuring that some good might come of their suffering. "It was . . . the first study of the kind ever made," Gratzer notes. Some of the papers were smuggled to a non-Jewish professor, who buried them until after liberation.
Learning exactly what happens when people starve was crucial in the progress of nutritional science because it focused on sickness caused not by pathogens but by what was missing from the diet. Since Galen, disease had been blamed on something bad invading the body and putting it out of balance. The paradigm shift occurred after it became unavoidably clear that the lack of essential nutrients could also be at fault. Even well into the 19th century, when it was already known that citrus fruits and vegetables prevented scurvy, conventional wisdom asserted they were effective because they contained an antidote to bad air and unwholesome food. "The notion that they contained a constituent essential for health," Gratzer writes, "lay beyond the reach of man's imagination."
Nowhere was the stubborn resistance to this idea more apparent than in the insufferably slow recognition of what caused pellagra. Known as a disease of squalor and poverty, it was widespread during and after the Civil War in the southern United States, where the mortality rate among those suffering from it was 40 percent. Some blamed insect bites; others were convinced it was a contagious disease brought into the country by Italian immigrants. When the epidemiologist Joseph Goldberger went south in 1915 and noted that in asylums holding pellagra sufferers none of the staff members were affected, he concluded that it could not be infectious. On the other hand, the employees ate well while inmates were fed fatback and cornbread. To see if inadequate nutrition was the culprit, Goldberger served balanced meals to children in two orphanages where, after only a few weeks, pellagra disappeared.
The logical conclusion - that pellagra resulted from a deficient diet (specifically, lack of nicatinic acid) - was obscured by the prevalence of eugenics, whose proponents contended that the institutions where Goldberger conducted his studies held inferior people who were especially susceptible to disease. "Willful obduracy," Gratzer calls the resistance, going on to describe Goldberger's outrageous strategy to put the infection theory to rest: "filth parties."
At a pellagra hospital in Spartansburg, S.C., Goldberger and seven others "injected themselves with blood from severely affected victims . . . rubbed secretions from their mucous sores into their nose and mouth, and after three days swallowed pellets consisting of the urine, feces and skin scabs from several diseased subjects." None contracted pellagra. But despite these irrefutable findings, little was done initially to improve the diets of the poor. The disease finally began to disappear in the 1930's, thanks in part to federal soup kitchens and the introduction of enriched flour.
Goldberger's audacity, and the pig-headedness of those who refused to believe him, are vivid evidence of Gratzer's promise that the history of nutritional dogma "encompasses every virtue, defect and foible of human nature."
Jane and Michael Stern are the authors of the restaurant guide "Roadfood" and the cookbooks "Square Meals" and "Blue Plate Specials and Blue Ribbon Chefs."

Herbs that de-liver

http://thestar.com.my/health/story.asp?file=/2005/12/4/health/12750238&sec=health

Sunday December 4, 2005

Sometimes called the master chemist of the body, the liver, known as Yakrit in Ayurveda, has many important roles. For instance, according to Ayurveda the liver is responsible for converting clear plasma (Rasa Dhatu) to blood (Rakta Dhatu). It is the liver’s task to scrutinise and identify toxins in the plasma and filter them so they don’t enter the blood.
Liver is the seat of Pitta and hence any violation in terms of food and habits will affect liver, which invariably leads to Pitta disorders.
One of the common problems encountered is jaundice, known as Kamala. When someone with anaemia exposes himself to excess hot and spicy foods, with lots of fat and allergenic ingredients, liver function is affected. If this stage is left untreated, it may result in advanced state of liver dysfunction called Kumbha kamala.

Cichorium intybusstimulates the production of bile and empties the gall bladder, and thus acts as a cholagogue (an agent that promotes the flow of bile into the intestine).In advanced stages of the disease, the liver tends to enlarge and cause imbalances in blood and kapha. This results in obstructive liver disorders described in Ayurveda as yakritdalyudara. This condition is characterised by mild fever, loss of appetite, and can result in anaemia.
Ayurveda describes several formulas containing herbs that are important to support the liver. These are more targeted for liver health and function, and also focus more on balancing the liver enzymes and their activities.
Amongst the herbs and their combinations, Triphala, a blend of three fruits, Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) and Neem (Azadirachta indica), will help to overcome the problem of jaundice.
Similarly, Trikatu helps to overcome indigestion, Haridra (Curcuma longa) and Amalaki (Emblica officinalis) act as antioxidants and help to support the liver enzymes. Also Kasani(Cichorium intybus) is helpful in various liver conditions.
Bhumyamalaki (Phyllanthus amarus) is known to be an effective antiviral and is useful in hepatitis B, and Katuki (Picrorrhiza kurroa) has been found to support the liver and help shield it from infectious viruses.
Kasani/Chicory (Cichorium intybus
Popularly known as Chicory, Cichorium intybus possesses liver protective properties. This plant, with attractive light blue flowers, had been used as a potherb by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans.
It stimulates the production of bile and empties the gall bladder, and thus acts as a cholagogue (an agent that promotes the flow of bile into the intestine). These actions make it an herb of choice in cases of biliary insufficiency.
The extract of chicory has been shown to have potent free radical scavenging activity1. Further, the herb has been shown to have antimicrobial properties as well. In fact, studies show that chicory has antimicrobial activity against Salmonella typhi, a common pathogenic microorganism of the gastrointestinal tract2.
What’s more, chicory is also a prebiotic, a natural substance that enhances the growth of good bacteria in the intestine.
Many studies have demonstrated the liver-protective actions of chicory. Extracts of the herb were found to normalise the increased levels of liver enzymes in livers damaged by chemicals.
Biranjasipha/Yarrow (Achillea millefolium
The 100 or so species of yarrows to which Achillea millefolium belongs to are herbaceous perennials and are native to Europe and Asia. Achillea millefolium is used in Brazilian folk medicine to treat infectious diseases and in traditional medicine, yarrow has been used as a “strengthening bitter tonic”, astringent and has carminative, digestive and antispasmodic properties.
A decoction of the herb is known to provide relief from chronic colic. The extract of the herb has been used to treat hepatitis in the elderly3.
Radish (Raphanus sativus
Radishes are moderately high in Vitamin C and contain properties that appear to be beneficial for colds, flu, fever, cough, respiratory problems and digestive disorders. Radish is a native of southern Asia and has been used for medicinal purposes by the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and Chinese.
Radish stimulates the appetite and the digestion. The juice of the black radish is drunk to counter gassy indigestion and constipation. Black radish juice has a tonic and laxative action on the intestines, and indirectly stimulates the flow of bile. Consuming radish generally results in improved digestion, but some people are sensitive to its acridity and strong action. In China, radish is eaten to relieve abdominal distention.
Numerous studies have also documented the potent antioxidant effect of radish4.
Pippali/ English long pepper (Piper longum
Piper longum is a slender aromatic climber with perennial woody roots. The fruits are used for diseases of the respiratory tract, for example, cough, bronchitis and asthma.
It is also known as a counter-irritant and analgesic when applied locally for muscular pains and inflammation and as general tonic and hematinic. It is known to enhance the bioavailability of food and drugs as well as being a carminative.
Various studies have demonstrated the antioxidant potential of Piper longum.
Solanum nigrum or Black night shade has been found to be effective in the treatment of cirrhosis and is also credited with emollient, diuretic, antiseptic and laxative properties.
The extract of the dried fruits were found to normalise the increased levels of liver enzymes due to chemical-induced liver damage5.
A healthy liver is a sign of good life. Adopting healthy lifestyle habits such as regular exercise, consuming a liver-healthy diet and weight loss can go a long way in keeping your liver healthy.
References:
1. Schaffer S, Schmitt-Schillig S, Muller WE, Eckert GPAntioxidant properties of Mediterranean food plant extracts: geographical differences. J Physiol Pharmacol. 2005 Mar;56 Suppl 1:115-24.
2. Rani P, Khullar N. Antimicrobial evaluation of some medicinal plants for their anti-enteric potential against multi-drug resistant Salmonella typhi. Phytother Res. 2004 Aug;18(8):670-3.
3. Harnyk TP. [The use of preparations of plant origin in treating and rehabilitating elderly patients with chronic hepatitis] Lik Sprava. 1999 Oct-Dec;(7-8):168-70.
4. Lugasi A, Blazovics A, Hagymasi K, Kocsis I, Kery A. Antioxidant effect of squeezed juice from black radish (Raphanus sativus L. var niger) in alimentary hyperlipidaemia in rats. Phytother Res. 2005 Jul;19(7):587-91.
5. Raju K, Anbuganapathi G, Gokulakrishnan V, Rajkapoor B, Jayakar B, Manian S. Effect of dried fruits of Solanum nigrum LINN against CCl4-induced hepatic damage in rats. Biol Pharm Bull. 2003 Nov;26(11):1618-9.
The above article is contributed by Himalaya Herbal Healthcare. For more information e-mail starhealth@thestar.com.my. The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely that of the author’s. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to such information. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.