By Isaac Eliaz, MD, LAc, MS
Minerals are essential micronutrients required in small amounts for the body to function properly. Untreated mineral deficiencies can cause serious health problems including endocrine (hormone) imbalances, osteoporosis and anemia. Different minerals play a primary role at different stages of life. For example, menstruating women often need extra iron until they hit menopause and then they can cross iron off their list, as it contributes to oxidative damage in the body. Another example is that women typically develop bone density during the first 35 years of life, creating a specific mineral reserve that forms the foundation for bone health during the postmenopausal years, when bone density tends to decline.
By Kerry Bone, BSc (hons), Dipl. Phyto.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a progressive, benign growth of the prostate gland that gradually narrows the urethra. The clamping effect eventually obstructs the flow of urine. As a result, the bladder fails to empty completely. Urine remaining in the bladder stagnates, leaving the patient vulnerable to infections, bladder stones and kidney damage. The poor bladder capacity can cause frequent urination, especially at night. Therefore, associated with BPH is a set of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). However, there is not always an exact correlation between the size of the prostate and the degree of LUTS, suggesting that other urodynamic factors are also involved.
By James P. Meschino, DC, MS
A review of the experimental and clinical studies pertaining to the health benefits of probiotics appeared in the journal Nutrition Reviews in July 2011. Over the years, there have been many claims and theories about the health benefits of probiotics. The article by Taylor Wallace and fellow researchers is most helpful in bringing practitioners up to date as to the evidence-based use of probiotics, particularly with respect to their potential application in clinical practice. Let's review the clinically relevant points brought forward by Wallace, et al., as a means to help practitioners incorporate safe, responsible and effective probiotic recommendations into their daily practice.
Other Recent Nutritional Articles
A Pyramid Is Replaced by a Plate
G. Douglas Andersen, DC, DACBSP, CCN
Prostate Cancer: The Argument for Conservative Care
Van Merkle, DC, CCN, DCBCN, DABCI
Understanding Drug-Nutrient Interactions: An Overview
Brandon Blood, DC and Todd Mexico, DC
Resveratrol: What Is an Effective Clinical Dose?
Kerry Bone, BSc (hons), Dipl. Phyto.
Changing the Pain-Relief Mindset: Dietary Alternatives to NSAIDs
David Seaman, DC, MS, DABCN
Feverfew and Migraine: Background and Clinical Evidence
Kerry Bone, BSc (hons), Dipl. Phyto.
Lisinopril: Common Drug-Nutrient Interactions
Brandon Blood, DC and Todd Mexico, DC
A Silent Case of Hemochromotosis
Van Merkle, DC, CCN, DCBCN, DABCI
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