Natural Health Journals

By Joe Smulevitz, C.H., M.H.
Seniors who take certain dietary supplements may significantly improve their health resulting in reduced hospitalizations and physicians’ visits.

Currently soft drink companies are touting their products’ antioxidant qualities. But why add antioxidants?

If there is one thing that we humans have learned to do extremely well, it’s to disagree. This controversial attitude extends into all facets of our existence – politics, re…

Some nutrients widely believed to make your brain function better do just that–for a few hours. Caffeine is the most popular; people also use amino acids like phenylalanine, and herbs such as ephedra and guarana also provide a quick jolt of energy. However, they’re not likely to do anything for the long-term health of your [...]

A natural precursor to steroid hormones, pregnenolone in the body is converted into hormones such as DHEA, testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen. A rat study in 1992 indicating its effectiveness as a cognitive enhancer piqued the interest of smart-drug users, but no human studies have been completed to date. As with all other hormones, the long-term [...]

Produced in the adrenal gland, DHEA is the most abundant steroid hormone in the bloodstream. Proponents claim that it preserves youthfulness and prevents brain cell degeneration and that it has cognitive-enhancing effects as well. Sodhi warns agains using DHEA, as its long-term effects are not yet well understood. Natural medicine expert Andrew Weil, M.D., also [...]

WHAT IT IS Pyroglutamate is a naturally occurring amino acid found in the brain, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid.

WHAT IT IS This substance occurs naturally in the brain, and plays a key role in the synthesis of acetylcholine.

WHAT IT IS Phosphatidyl serine is a phospholipid, a form of fat found in every cell in the body, but especially abundant in the brain. PS is closely related to other phospholipids, such as phosphotidyl choline, and functions in much the same way.

WHAT IT IS The ginkgo tree, native to China and now found throughout the world, has been around longer than any other species of tree on the planet, for about 300 million years. You’ve probably seen the ginkgo, with its cloven fan-shaped leaves that turn bright yellow in autumn. Ginkgo leaves have been used as [...]

WHAT IT IS Docosahexaenoic acid is a polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid, an essential building block of brain tissue that is crucial for communication between neurons.

WHAT IT IS Choline is a precursor to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, essential for memory and cognition. Also, it is a phospholipid that helps promote neuronal membrane fluidity, which is important for communication between brain cells. One form of this fat, phosphatidyl choline, is the active ingredient in lecithin–an emulsifier commonly found in processed foods, and [...]

WHAT IT IS Acetyl-L-carnitine is a molecule found naturally throughout the body that helps to transport fats into the mitochondria, the tiny energy “factories” in all living cells. ALC is closely related to carnitine, a natural amino acid that is also available as a nutritional supplement (ALC is considered the more potent of the two); [...]

WHAT IT IS Bacopa monniera, more commonly known as the Brahmi plant (which means “Creator” in Sanskrit), is one of the most popular brain tonics in the pantheon of Ayurvedic remedies. In India, people of all ages have been taking bacopa for over 5,000 years.
REPORTED EFFECTS While ashwagandha is considered in India (like ginseng is [...]

WHAT IT IS Ginseng is another adaptogen, used for thousands of years throughout Asia, Europe, and America. There are many types of ginseng, but some herbalists and physicians suggest that Siberian ginseng may be the most potent type, and Siberian ginseng is thought to be especially effective for improving cognitive function.
REPORTED EFFECTS This herb is [...]

WHAT IT IS Also known as “Indian ginseng,” ashwagandha is the aromatic root of Withania somnifera, a tall branching shrub with pale yellow-green flowers, cultivated in India and North America.
REPORTED EFFECTS Ashwagandha is believed to nurture and clear the mind, calm and strengthen the nervous system, promote sound sleep, and rejuvenate tissues throughout the body. [...]

by Levenson, Cathy W
Low serum zinc levels have been linked to major depression. Furthermore, zinc treatment has been shown to have an antidepressant effect. With the hope of understanding the role of zinc in mood disorders, recent work has begun to explore possible mechanisms of zinc action on serotonin uptake in the brain.

No, we’re not pitchmen, for Starbucks, but if you’re looking for an energy boost in the gym, coffee can be a tempting workout partner. `There are numerous performance benefits [to caffeine],’ says Eric Sternlicht, Ph.D., a nutrition and exercise consultant (www.simplyfit.com) and the author of “Fuel Up”. `It increases the strength of muscle contractions, both [...]

Vitamin E may offer protection against cataracts an eye disease that’s the world’s leading cause of blindness. The results of a five-year study of 408 women by the USDA Nutrition Research Center at Tufts University suggest that taking vitamin E supplements for a decade or more may reduce progression of cataract development. Paul F. Jacques, [...]

What does Hoodia Gordonii and a healthy diet have to do with one another you ask?
The fact is that your only true advantage in achieving a happier, ill-free, and definitely longer life is your knowledge and conviction in the payback of a healthy diet. Not only will eating healthier make you more active and [...]

(ARA) – Findings from a nationwide clinical trial reported that high levels of antioxidants and zinc significantly reduce the risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and its associated vision loss.

Scientists found that people at high risk of developing advanced stages of AMD, a leading cause of vision loss, lowered their risk by about 25 [...]

One of the best ways that a person can benefit from a healthy diet and exercise routine is the addition of sports nutrition in the form of extra protein. Protein is found naturally in many of the foods we eat. But a person who exercises often should get one gram of protein per pound of [...]

In many cases, hair loss is attributed to a physical condition, such as Thyroid disease, or the lack of proper nutrition. Certain medications can also strip your body of vitamins and minerals that are essential for healthy hair production and growth. In these cases, the proper vitamin and mineral regimen can significantly reduce hair loss [...]

A source suggests that there may be a new way to help children who are subjected to the dangers of second hand tobacco smoke.

It has become apparent that childhood asthma could be prevented with the help of antioxidants such as beta-carotene, vitamin C, and Selenium. This is especially true in cases involving children who are [...]

In July of 1995, the United States Department of Agriculture officially published research information, which acknowledges Selenium as “an essential trace element known for its antioxidant prowess.”

In addition to this, the mineral has been recognized for its ability to lift the spirits, and prevent mood swings of those who take it as a nutritional supplement. [...]

According to a federally sponsored study, published by a Stanford University urologist, men with abnormally low levels of Selenium in their blood are four to five times more likely to develop prostate cancer. Selenium is a trace element that is supplied in certain foods and supplements.

The study suggests that making a point of eating Selenium-rich [...]

Over the past few years, Coral Calcium has received a lot of media attention as the widely preferred source of readily absorbable calcium. In 2003, a study was undertaken to compare and contrast the absorption of Ryukyuan Coral Calcium, as opposed to carbonate derived calcium.

Twelve normal subjects, including six men and six women, were selected [...]

A 2002 study reported, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation reported that a six-month regiment of taking folic acid, vitamin b12, and vitamin b6 can be instrumental in the prevention of recurring blocked arteries in coronary angioplasty patients.

The findings, which were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association are an extension of [...]

Ephedra and Ephedrine consumers are still under the assumption that the Ephedra ban is still in place. It probably comes as a great surprise that the ban on Ephedra, one of nature’s most powerful weight loss supplements, was lifted in April of 2005. A Utah Judge overturned the FDA’s decision. So why is it that [...]

I am Dr Patrick Flanagan, and this is the latest edition of my Dr Health Secrets newsletter.

Lately I have written about toxins in our water and food supply. This installment is about a toxin that got a lot of attention in Hollywood. This newsletter is about chromium 6 and its effects on your body.

Hollywood, Hollywood, [...]