Vegan and vegetarian diets are certainly trendy, with more people than ever before making the switch. While some people are choosing to go plant-based for environmental reasons, others are adopting these diets because of their health benefits. It’s hardly surprising, given studies have linked vegetarian and vegan diets to a lower body mass index (BMI) and […]
Many over-the-counter dietary supplement products – particularly those used for sexual enhancement and weight loss – are tainted with undisclosed pharmaceutical ingredients. That is the key finding of my recently published review in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. My assessment of the Food and Drug Administration’s Health Fraud Product Database turned up 1,068 unique dietary supplement products marketed between […]
Local police and fire personnel are one step closer to a boost in state supplemental pay after the Louisiana Senate Finance Committee approved a bill to make it happen. Committee members voted unanimously to approve Senate Bill 80, sponsored by Chair Rep. Mack White, R-Baton Rouge, to increase monthly state supplemental pay for local police and […]
A $1.67 billion supplemental budget document is headed to Gov. Charlie Baker. The Legislature passed the financial document for fiscal year 2022 late Thursday that would provide for investments in the state’s long-term COVID-19 response, housing and energy assistance, restaurant industry, and even relief for Ukrainian refugees. Senate President Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, said with the […]
Many people know of melatonin as the sleep hormone – and, indeed, that’s what most of the research on melatonin has focused on. However, melatonin is also an antioxidant, protecting cells from harmful “free radicals” that can damage DNA – and this includes protecting cells in the heart and blood vessels. Given that heart disease is the leading cause of death […]
I have been a doctor for over 20 years, 12 of which were dedicated exclusively to the practice of sleep medicine. Over the years, I have seen an enormous increase in the use of melatonin by my patients and their families. Although melatonin has helped many of my patients, there are some concerns that I […]
Vitamin D is important for maintaining health, as it has many roles in the human body. But there is more than one form of vitamin D, and recent research suggests that these forms may have different effects. So what are the different types of vitamin D, and is one really more beneficial than the other? Although […]
Colorado lawmakers on Thursday passed an $80 million supplemental budget package, sending the legislation to Gov. Jared Polis’s desk for final approval. The legislative items include funding for K-12 education, local firefighters, investments in health care for Native American communities, and relief funds for Boulder county communities impacted by the Marshall fire. “Budgets reflect priorities, […]
You’ve probably heard of probiotics – the “good bacteria” that can benefit our health. We consume them in an expanding variety of ways, often in foods marketed as being healthy. These bacteria can be contained in supplement capsules, yogurts, drinks or even snack bars. They work by helping prevent other, disease-causing bacteria from infecting our gut. They […]
More than two-thirds of Americans take dietary supplements. The vast majority of consumers – 84% – are confident the products are safe and effective. They should not be so trusting. I’m a professor of pharmacy practice at the University of Connecticut. As described in my new article in the Annals of Pharmacotherapy, consumers take real risks if they use diet […]
“The anti-aging MIRACLE.” “Strengthen your immune system.” “Lose weight fast.” These are some of the promises of autophagy, the silver bullet wellness influencers are saying is backed by Nobel-winning science. In many cases, influencers say the best way to boost autophagy – the body’s way of recycling molecules – is with a product available from […]
There was no tax relief for Washingtonians in Gov. Jay Inslee’s 2022 supplemental budget proposal that calls for more than $4 billion in increased spending. Washington state doesn’t have high taxes, Inslee said. He said the state faces multiple crises – the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, homelessness, salmon recovery – that make it a bad time to […]
