Researchers Uncover Why Turmeric Helps Heal

(HealthDay News) -- Modern technology has revealed the ancient secret behind the healing power of turmeric, a spice regarded as "holy powder" in India.

Turmeric has been used for centuries to treat wounds, infections and other ailments. It's long been believed that curcumin -- the main ingredient in turmeric -- is responsible for its healing power, but it hasn't been known how curcumin works inside the body, explained researcher Ayyalusamy Ramamoorthy and colleagues. Read more...

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Is Broccoli Bad for the Thyroid?

Q: Is Broccoli Bad for the Thyroid?
I have low thyroid function and am being treated with thyroid hormone replacement. I've recently become concerned about eating cruciferous vegetables, which I understand can interfere with thyroid synthesis. Should I avoid them?

A: No, you should keep enjoying them. It is true that cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower contain natural chemicals called goitrogens (goiter producers) that can interfere with thyroid hormone synthesis. Other foods that contain these chemicals include corn, sweet potatoes, lima beans, turnips, peanuts, cassava (YUCA), canola oil and soybeans. Fortunately, the goitrogens in these foods are inactivated by cooking, even by light steaming, so there is no need to forego the valuable antioxidant and cancer- protective effects cruciferous vegetables afford. Read more...

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Smoking Exposure Now Linked to Colon, Breast Cancers

(HealthDay News) -- Add colorectal cancer to the list of malignancies caused by smoking, with a new study strengthening the link between the two.

And other studies are providing more bad news for people who haven't managed to quit: Two papers published in the December issue of Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a themed issue on tobacco, strengthen the case for the dangers of secondhand smoke for people exposed to fumes as children and as adults.

Inhaling those secondhand fumes may raise a woman's odds for breast cancer or a child's lifetime risk for lung malignancies, the studies found.

All of the findings, while grim, could be useful in the war against smoking, experts say. Read more...

Ayurtox for Body Detoxification

Benefits of Garlic

For thousands of years, garlic has been recognized for both its culinary qualities and a variety of medicinal properties. Garlic cloves, for example, were reportedly applied to the feet of smallpox victims as treatment for the disease.
In today’s more science-oriented world, research has shown garlic to have a host of positive health effects, including antiseptic qualities that have been credited to sulfur compounds in the cloves. The Chinese have long used garlic to reduce blood pressure and treat cardiovascular disease a few of the many medicinal effects under study in the U.S.
Despite a flurry of research on garlic in the 1990™s, much remains to be learned.
Scientific and medical research continues worldwide on the health properties of various forms of garlic and garlic supplements. Health benefits ascribed to garlic and garlic supplements include: Read more...

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Are Anti-Inflammatory Herbs Safe for the Heart?

Q: I have been using Zyflamend for joint pain for a couple of years because it contains naturally occurring ingredients, albeit in higher concentrations than can be found in their original sources. My question concerns the advisability of COX-2 inhibition in general (in light of the heart problems linked to Vioxx). Is there a risk in continuing to take Zyflamend?

A: Since the arthritis drug Vioxx was found to endanger the heart and was removed from the market in the fall of 2004, I've often been asked whether Zyflamend, a natural anti-inflammatory product I frequently recommend for joint pain and stiffness, presents a similar threat. Zyflamend, from New Chapter Inc., contains ginger, turmeric, green tea and other herbs that moderate the inflammation associated with arthritis. One of its components, by the way, is resveratrol, a component of red wine believed responsible for its heart protective effects. Read more...

Ayurveda Formula for Heart Care

Is Fasting Right for You?

Q: Is Fasting Right for You?
I started fasting once a week, but I had to give it up because I was getting severe headaches. Could you suggest anything I can do to prevent the headaches and continue fasting?

A: You don't say why you want to fast once a week. I have experimented with fasting one day a week as a useful physical and psychological discipline. Many people experience a clearer mental state and increased energy after a short-term fast. When I did my weekly one-day fasts, I consumed nothing but water or herb tea. The first thing I would ask is how much water you were drinking during your fast. You should be drinking at least eight 8- to 12-ounce glasses of water or unsweetened herbal tea. Drinking less than that might explain your headaches. Read more...

Ayurtox for Body Detoxification

Health Tip: Saying Yes to Yoga?

(HealthDay News) -- Yoga has become a very popular form of relaxation and exercise. But as with any physical activity, you can still injure yourself if you don't prepare and practice properly.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these suggestions to reduce your risk of injury from yoga:

Check with your doctor before beginning yoga to be sure it's safe for you.
Make sure your yoga studio offers qualified instructors. Always ask questions of your instructor if you're not sure how to perform a pose. Read more...

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