11 supplements to consider...

A followup to my Consumer Reports blog about potentially harmful supplements.  To their credit they did have a list of 11 supplements worth taking.  The original article can be found here.

Here are their recommendations :

CALCIUM

Effective in combination with vitamin D in preventing and treating bone loss and osteoporosis.   Calcium can decrease the effectiveness of certain antibiotics, osteoporosis drugs, and thyroid drugs.

FISH OIL

(EPA/DHA, omega-3 fatty acids, PUFA) Effective for reducing triglyceride levels. Likely effective for decreasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and progression of hardening of the arteries in people with existing heart disease.  Might increase the effect of blood-thinning drugs and high blood pressure medications. 

GLUCOSAMINE SULFATE 

Likely effective treatment for reducing symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee. Might also help slow progression of osteoarthritis. Might increase the blood-thinning effect of warfarin and cause bruising and bleeding.

LACTOBACILLUS

(acidophilus, acidophilus lactobacillus, probiotics) Possibly effective for preventing diarrhea while taking antibiotics. Gas. People with poor immune function should check with their doctor first. 

PSYLLIUM

Effective as a bulk laxative for reducing constipation or softening stools. Likely effective for lowering cholesterol in people with mild to moderately high cholesterol. 

PYGEUM
(African plum tree, African prune, Prunus africana) Likely effective for reducing symptoms of an enlarged prostate.

SAMe
(ademetionine, adenosylmethionine, S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine, sammy) Likely effective in reducing symptoms of major depression, reducing pain, and improving functioning in people with osteoarthritis. 

ST. JOHN'S WORT
Likely effective for improving symptoms of some forms of depression.

VITAMIN D
(Cholecalciferol, vitamin D3, ergocalciferol, vitamin D2) Likely effective when taken with calcium to help prevent osteoporosis.

Happy Halloween Everyone...

I found this interesting post / chart of the time line behind Halloweens history and I thought I'd pass it along.

Link
It may be as old as 800 BC when the Celts would wear masks to ward off evil spirits.
Amazingly Halloween has become a 6.9 Billion dollar industry.

Possibly Dangerous Supplements

A recent edition of Consumer Reports had a section on ‘The 12 Most Dangerous Supplements’  that I found interesting.  Here is a brief summary for anyone interested.  Honestly, half of them I am not familiar with whatsoever.

 NAME (also known as) 

ACONITE
(aconiti tuber, aconitum, radix aconiti) Aconite is the most common cause of severe herbal poisoning in Hong Kong.

BITTER ORANGE
(aurantii fructus, Citrus aurantium, zhi shi) Possibly unsafe. Contains synephrine, which is similar to ephedrine, banned by the FDA in 2004. Risks might be higher when taken with herbs that contain caffeine.

 CHAPARRAL
(creosote bush, Larrea divaricata, larreastat) The FDA advises people not to take chaparral.

 COLLOIDAL SILVER
(ionic silver, native silver, Silver in suspending agent) The FDA advised consumers about the risk of discoloration on Oct. 6, 2009.

COLTSFOOT
(coughwort, farfarae folium leaf, foalswort)

COMFREY
(blackwort, common comfrey, slippery root) The FDA advised manufacturers to remove comfrey products from the market in July 2001.

 COUNTRY MALLOW
(heartleaf, Sida cordifolia, silky white mallow) Possible dangers linked with its ephedrine alkaloids banned by the FDA in 2004.

 GERMANIUM
(Ge, Ge-132, germanium-132) The FDA warned in 1993 that it was linked to serious adverse events.

GREATER CELANDINE
(celandine, chelidonii herba, Chelidonium majus)

KAVA
(awa, Piper methysticum, kava-kava) The FDA issued a warning to consumers in March 2002. Banned in Germany, Canada, and Switzerland.

LOBELIA
(asthma weed, Lobelia inflata, pukeweed, vomit wort) The FDA warned in 1993 that it was linked to serious adverse events.

YOHIMBE
(yohimbine, Corynanthe yohimbi, Corynanthe johimbi) Possibly unsafe for use without medical supervision because it contains a prescription drug, yohimbine. The FDA warned in 1993 that reports of serious adverse events were under investigation.

The article can be viewed here.

Vacations are fun, but traveling is a pain in the neck!

Actually, traveling can be an even bigger pain in the back.

First of all there is the physical stress and strain of lifting bags, dragging them through the parking lots and airport, carrying all those over-stuffed carry-ons.

But the number one complaint by plain, train and automobile travelers—when describing the onset of their back pain—is sitting for too long. Airplanes and even trains advertise that their seats were ergonomically designed by specialists to properly support to low back and neck during travel. But I know the one's I sit in feel horrible. And it's not only me... people complain about them all the time, and their continuous pain gives them fair reason.

Luckily, the pain associated with travel can be greatly reduced, and in many cases avoided, with these simple tips:

• ·  Only pack what is absolutely necessary for your carry on. To avoid the neck and shoulder strain of lugging these around, and of trying to place them into and remove them from the overhead compartment, the lighter the better.
• ·  The poor seating designs of most travel vehicles cause back pain due to incorrect support of the spine, and forward pitching of the shoulders. To avoid this, try using a small pillow and place it behind your low back or neck for support. Seated posture is so important for preventing strain to the spine, and pain to the neck, shoulders and low back that by whatever means... find and use a support.
• ·  Be sure to remain well hydrated during your travel time. One of the most basic, yet common, causes of muscle pain is dehydration. Not having enough fluid in the body to keep the body cool, the blood moving, the muscles supple and the tendons relaxed. Not only must you drink plenty of water, but you should also avoid (or at least limit) coffee, tea and soda during travel, as these all worsen dehydration.
• ·  If you are taking a long drive, train ride or flight, try to get up and move around every hour or so. Simply standing up for a few minutes and doing some light stretching, twisting or bending will help keep you limber, relaxed and the blood moving in and out of the muscles. And when the blood does not move or moves too slowly, the muscles and tendons become tight and painful!
• ·  And lastly, be sure that when lifting bags, holding children and reaching for items that you plant your feet flat for support and bend from the knees. Incorrect lifting or over-reaching for items is one of the most common causes of back pain... and one of the easiest to avoid.

 If you will be traveling across multiple time zones, you may want to look into taking a nutritional supplement called Melatonin.   Taking the recommended dosage before bedtime can help 'reset' your biological clock and reduce the effects of 'jet lag' 

Travel does not have to be as stressful or painful as many of us make it out to be. If we plan well, execute well and take care of our bodies while in transit... the trip will be painless. And what better way to relax on vacation or arrive on business after travel, than stress free, hydrated, supple and... pain free!  Happy travels.