Hormone-replacement Therapy: Could Estrogen Have Saved 50,000 Lives?

Government panel: Hormone therapy ‘not recommended’

But actually the practice of medicine is consumed in the prevailing current in our culture. (MORE: U.S. Panel Warns Hormone-Replacement Therapy Is Too Risky ) And as is the case with any scientific finding, not everyone in the medical community is convinced that the 50,000 women would have lived had they taken estrogen therapy. But most experts agree that the results should start a serious discussion about how to communicate public-health messages so they are applied to the right populations in the correct way. What makes it a challenge is that there is not a simple set of evidence.
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STORY HIGHLIGHTS Task force: Menopausal women should not use hormone therapy to prevent chronic disease Recommendation doesn’t apply to women under 50 managing menopausal symptoms Don’t undergo therapy if you don’t have symptoms of menopause, task force says (CNN) — The task force that sparked controversy with its breast cancer screening recommendations a few years ago — and PSA prostate-cancer screening pronouncements last week — is weighing in on hormone replacement therapy. But this time the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations are remarkable for their lack of controversy. The group says menopausal women should not use hormone therapy — estrogen either alone or combined with progestin — primarily to prevent chronic disease. “In the face of pretty good evidence, the balance of potential benefits and potential harms leads us not to recommend the use of these therapies,” said Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, a task force member.
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Do Older Adults Need Vitamins, Supplements?

Truth Squad: Supplements for Eye Health

“A lot of money is wasted in providing unnecessary supplements to millions of people who don’t need them,” says Donald B. McCormick, PhD, an Emory professor emeritus of biochemistry and the graduate program in nutrition and health sciences at Emory. He challenges what he says is a widely held belief that the older people get, the more vitamins and mineral supplements they need. The scientific backup for that doesnt exist, he says. “We know too little to suggest there is a greater need in the elderly for most of these vitamins and minerals.” “A supplement does not cure the aging process,” he says.
For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/news/20121130/older-adults-vitamins-supplements

Supplements Still No Magic Bullet for Eye Health However, there is no evidence from this study to suggest that taking nutritional supplements can prevent people who currently do not have vision problems from getting AMD in the future, said Dr. Emily Chew, deputy director of the Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Research at the National Eye Institute, and a lead researcher in the AREDS study. According to the study, 50 milligrams daily of beta carotene, 500 milligrams daily of vitamin C, 400 international units of vitamin E, and 80 milligrams of zinc were found to be effective doses of each supplement. In general, many eye health experts may recommend supplements only for those who already experience specific types of vision loss, said Dr.
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ESSAY; When ‘Health’ Supplements May Do Harm

I did not mention that I was a physician specializing in the prevention of heart disease, or that there were relatively few measures proven to reduce heart disease risk. But so many patients had brought in bags of supplements and ”vitamins,” convinced of their cardiovascular benefits, that I wanted to see how these products were being marketed. In the self-described ”health” store, the sales clerk asked a few questions about my cholesterol, blood pressure, exercise habits, etc. Then she showed me over half a dozen products, from $8 to $36 apiece, and assured me that they would address a variety of health risks. These products included a pill that was supposed to improve my circulation and another that would supposedly boost my ”metabolism.” Another was listed as an herbal ”vascular health” pill, with a long list of plant species names, none of them familiar. Most products had labels containing descriptions of vague medical benefits, like ”for cardiovascular health,” with a notation that the Food and Drug Administration had not evaluated these claims. I asked the clerk about proof that these pills worked and about risks when taking these various agents together.
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Cleanse Your Digestive System The Easy Way By Eating Kitchari

As with soup, vegetables can be added to the mix as long as they’re dosha-compatible, making kitchari a versatile dish that’s open to improvisation. Whether looking to clean your digestive system out after years of abuse or just looking for a new tasty dish to liven up your meal rotation, cook up some kitchari for a complete food that will fill you up without weighing you down. Kitchari 1 cup white basmati rice 1 cup split mung beans 1 tablespoon ghee 1 /4 teaspoon cumin seeds 1 /4 teaspoon brown mustard seeds 1 /4 teaspoon turmeric 1 /4 teaspoon rock salt or sea salt 4 cups water 1. Rinse the rice and mung beans until the water is clear. 2.
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Digestion Foods: The Best And Worst Foods For Your Digestive System

WORST: Foods High In Saturated Fat Fatty foods can induce heartburn and diarrhea due to poor absorption of fat, Bechtold says. King adds that you can tell if your diet contains too many high-fat foods because your stool will float to the top of the toilet. This is a sign that you might want to cut back on the saturated fat. WORST: Alcohol Alcohol also relaxes the esophageal sphincter, which can then trigger acid reflux, King says. Bechtold adds that it can induce inflammation in the stomach.
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Our ‘gutsy’ digestive system

However, should your gut fail to work properly, many other things in your life can follow suit. For instance: A negative impact on oneas quality of life (ranging from a restraint on work and activity, and increased financial burden), Increased chances of getting cancer, and Subsequent increased risk of mortality. Hello, friendly bacteria! Your gut is also home to trillions of bacteria known as gut microflora. It is also home to 70-80% of your bodyas immune system, so reseeding your gut with healthy (or friendly) bacteria such as Lactobacillus spp. is important for the prevention of virtually all sorts of disease, from normal coughs and colds to cancer.
For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.thestar.com.my/health/story.asp?file=/2013/6/16/health/13222425&sec=health