Monthly Archive: June 2010

Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital Heart Disease

In 1 in 100 births, an infant is born with a defect or malformation of the heart, called congenital heart disease. This birth defect needs to be carefully monitored: Some cases require surgery, while...

Ginseng

Ginseng

Several types of plants are referred to as ginseng: Both American and Asian ginsengs belong to the genus Panax, while Siberian ginseng, or Eleutherococcus senticosus, is a different species in the same family. All...

Iron Supplements

Iron Supplements

Iron is essential to many proteins and enzymes your body uses to maintain good health. It is also necessary for the delivery of oxygen to your cells and the regulation of cell growth. For...

DHA and Omega-3 Fatty Acids

DHA and Omega-3 Fatty Acids

The term healthy fat may sound too good to be true, but that’s exactly what docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and other omega-3 fatty acids are. They are monounsaturated, which means they are room temperature –...

Bone Age

Bone Age

Most parents can imagine how a child will look as an adult, based on what traits run in their families. But there’s a true crystal ball when it comes to height: a bone age...

Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s Disease

In his 2000 autobiography Lucky Man, the actor Michael J. Fox describes his battle with Parkinson’s disease (PD) as a “Jekyll-and-Hyde melodrama” that cycles between times when his medication is working and times when...

Acne

Acne

Every year, Americans spend more than $100 million on over-the-counter products to treat acne. That’s because this skin ailment is a frustrating and unsightly condition that affects about 85 percent of teenager and young...

Skin Cancer

Skin Cancer

A glowing, tanned complexion seems healthy, but when achieved through unprotected exposure to the sun, it an be dangerous or even deadly. That’s because changes in skin color, such as tans and sunburns, may...

Fiber

Fiber

Dietary fiber is an important component of a healthy diet. It is recommended that men under the age of 50 eat at least 38 grams of fiber daily and women under 50 eat at...

Mediterranean Diet

Mediterranean Diet

A Mediterranean diet is generally rich in olive oil, grains, fruits, nuts, vegetables, and fish. It also includes a moderate amount of red wine and restricts meats, high-fat dairy products, and other types of...

Cholesterol and Fats

Cholesterol and Fats

Cholesterol Cholesterol is a waxy, fatlike substance that occurs naturally in your body and is made by your liver. Your body uses cholesterol for various functions, including protecting nerves, making tissues, and producing hormones....

Folic Acid

Folic Acid

Folic acid is a B vitamin that is essential for helping your body make new cells. It is found in its natural form (called folate) in many foods, including leafy green vegetables, fruits, dried...

Chiropractic

Chiropractic

Chiropractic is an alternative form of medicine based on the theory that adjustments to the spine can treat health problems and improve general well-being. Studies have shown chiropractic to be effective in easing lower-back...

Protein

Protein

Protein is an essential nutrient for building and maintaining the bones, muscles, and skin. We get protein in our diets from meat, dairy products, nuts, grains, and beans. The protein you obtain from meat...

White Blood Cells

White Blood Cells

Without white blood cells (WBCs), or leukocytes, we would be defenseless against sickness and disease. These cells play a critical role in the immune system, fighting off the viruses, bacteria, toxins, and other foreign...

Amino acids

Amino acids

Amino acids are the basic units that combine to form proteins. When you eat foods that contain protein, the digestive juices in your stomach and intestines break down the protein into amino acids. Then...

Vitamin C

Vitamin C

Vitamin C, which is also called ascorbic acid, is a vitamin that your body requires for good health. Your body uses it to form collagen in bones, cartilage, muscle, and blood vessels and to...

Vitamin C and Scurvy

Vitamin C and Scurvy

Scurvy, a fatal vitamin C deficiency that ravaged the British navy in the eighteenth century, caused extensive suffering and death for sailors at sea. But one valuable thing did come out of the epidemic:...

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is a nutrient that your body requires for optimal health. It’s needed to make red blood cells, to help your nervous system work properly, and to synthesize DNA, which is the genetic...

Natural Sweeteners

Natural Sweeteners

These days, sugar is public enemy number one, blamed for the epidemics of obesity, type 2 diabetes and more. But does sugar deserve its unfavorable reputation? And even if it does, who wants to...

Turmeric

Turmeric

What do Worcestershire sauce, mustard and Middle Eastern cuisine have in common? All feature turmeric, the yellow, peppery spice commonly associated with Indian curries. And new research suggests that turmeric may be good for...

Pomegranate

Pomegranate

Pomegranates have been grown in the Middle East since ancient times. They have also been cultivated in the Mediterranean region, Europe, Asia, Africa and India. The pomegranate tree was introduced to California in the...

Goji Berry

Goji Berry

The power of the goji berry is no secret in China, where the berry has been used for its many healing properties for thousands of years. According to the Ben Cao Gang Mu, a...

Superfruits

Superfruits

Everyone should eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Scientific evidence reveals that fruits and vegetables, which are rich sources of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other phytonutrients, can help prevent disease and boost...

Vitamin D Help on Disease Prevention

Vitamin D Help on Disease Prevention

Can vitamin D help with the symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS)? Will vitamin D supplementation delay the progression of MS in someone who has MS? Patients with multiple sclerosis are often vitamin D deficient....

Vitamin D for Pregnancy and Newborns

Vitamin D for Pregnancy and Newborns

Consult Your Doctor BEFORE taking any recommended Vitamin D on your own. What are the recommendations for vitamin D during pregnancy? It is recommended that all pregnant women take the prenatal vitamins that contain...

What does vitamin D toxicity look like?

What does vitamin D toxicity look like?

Vitamin D toxicity is often difficult to diagnose. The diagnosis is made based on the blood biochemistries that include elevated blood calcium (usually above 10.4 milligrams per deciliter) along with a markedly elevated level...