This month, an article was published in Cell journal which stated that researchers may have found a pill that can provide some of the same benefits as exercise. Not surprisingly, this was all over the news as soon as the report was released. After all, wouldn’t it be easier to take a pill than go […]
Category Archives: Supplements
Iron in the Diet
What is the role of Iron in the body? One of the main roles of iron is to carry oxygen to the blood. When you don’t get enough iron in the diet, it can lead to iron deficiency anemia. Symptoms of this condition include low energy levels, headaches, irritability, shortness of breath and weight loss. […]
Should You Be Taking a Calcium Supplement?
The best way to meet your calcium needs is to include calcium-rich foods like low-fat dairy products, beans, almonds and green leafy vegetables in your diet on a regular basis. However, many Americans are not consuming enough calcium-rich foods to meet their estimated needs. In fact, Studies have found that over 85% of girls ages […]
Calcium and Bone Health
One of the most important interventions in preventing bone loss is to ensure that your calcium intake is adequate. The preferred method to meet your calcium needs is through food. The following foods are good sources of calcium: All dairy foods such as milk, cheese and yogurt Some legumes such as soy, navy, pinto, garbanzo […]
Plants Sterols and Stanols May Improve Cholesterol Levels
Did you know plants can improve your cholesterol? Sterols and stanols, which are components of plant membranes, structurally resemble cholesterol. In fact, their structures are so similar to cholesterol that our bodies can’t distinguish the difference. However, plant sterols and stanols are either not absorbed or minimally absorbed in the body. When they are present in sufficient quantities […]
Genistein and Bone Health: Risks and Benefits
Genistein, a type of photoestrogen, is used to treat osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. Some, but not all studies have found that genistein can improve bone mineral density in this demographic.1,2,3,4 It is often used as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) which has been found to increase the risk of endometrial and breast cancer. […]
Today Show talks about Vitamin D
On November 27th, I wrote about Vitamin D as it relates to bone health. In that post I went over the dietary requirements for Vitamin D, and had mentioned that there has been an increased prevalence of Vitamin D deficiencies in our country. This morning on the Today Show, there was a nice segment about […]