Herbs and Supplements
Natural News
Feb 19, 2012 12:22AM
Feb 18, 2012 08:06PM
No Blood Pressure Spike From Sweets
Consuming fructose for more than a week does not cause humans' blood pressure to rise according to a new study.
Feb 18, 2012 02:06PM
Think About Your Drink to Lose Weight
Aching to knock off four or five pounds pretty quickly and easily? Consider how many calories you might be drinking each day.
Feb 18, 2012 11:16AM
Arsenic and Organic-Laced Foods
While organic brown rice syrup may sound like a healthier alternative to high fructose corn syrup, the "organic" sweetener could lead to more inorganic arsenic - a carcinogen - in your body.
Feb 18, 2012 09:24AM
Muscling Through Cancer-Related Fatigue
The end of the battle against cancer can be difficult to witness, with the wasting away of the human body and the whittling away of energy. The strength to carry on, it turns out, comes from within the body.
Feb 17, 2012 10:40AM
A lot of the symptoms and behaviors of pediatric attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) comes from food and diet. Doctors already know that food additives play a role in the disorder.
Feb 16, 2012 09:46PM
A Pregnant Woman's Best Friend
Gaining too much extra weight while pregnant can cause problems for mother and baby alike. One solution might be to bring in a third party - a dog.
Feb 16, 2012 07:28PM
Teen Girls can Safely Lose Weight
There is hope for the nearly one-third of overweight or obese teenage girls in the U.S. - a properly focused intervention program can help them lose weight and live healthier.
Feb 15, 2012 09:31PM
Is Ginger Safe for Expectant Mothers?
Though ginger may be popular and effective for stopping nausea and vomiting, that doesn’t mean it’s good for morning sickness – it could be dangerous for some pregnant women.
Feb 15, 2012 02:16PM
Nutrition Improves Quality of Life
Cancer affects everything in a person's life, including what and how they eat. The disease and its treatments can actually lead to malnutrition. New research suggests that addressing this issue can have a significant impact.
Feb 14, 2012 05:29AM
Breasts Battle Childhood Obesity
Children born to women with diabetes are more likely to be obese, but one way moms can reduce this risk is to breastfeed their babies. And the pattern is true for non-diabetics too.
Herbs And Supplements Video
Are herbal supplements safe?
Herbal supplements are regulated by the FDA, but not as drugs or as foods. They fall under a category called dietary supplements. The rules for dietary supplements are as follows:- Manufacturers don't have to seek FDA approval before putting dietary supplements on the market. In addition, companies can claim that products address a nutrient deficiency, support health or are linked to body functions, if they have supporting research, and they include a disclaimer that the FDA hasn't evaluated the claim.
- Manufacturers must follow good manufacturing practices (GMPs) to ensure that supplements are processed consistently and meet quality standards. GMPs are intended to keep the wrong ingredients and contaminants, such as pesticides and lead, out of supplements, as well as make sure that the right ingredients are included in appropriate amounts.
- Once a dietary supplement is on the market, the FDA is responsible for monitoring its safety. If the FDA finds a product to be unsafe, it can take action against the manufacturer or distributor or both, and may issue a warning or require that the product be removed from the market.
- These regulations provide consumers with the assurance that herbal supplements meet certain quality standards and that the FDA can intervene to remove dangerous products from the market. The rules do not, however, guarantee that herbal supplements are safe for anyone to use. Because many supplements contain active ingredients that have strong effects in the body, these products can pose unexpected risks. For example, taking a combination of herbal supplements or using supplements together with prescribed medications could lead to harmful, even life-threatening results. For this reason, it's important to talk with your doctor before using herbal supplements.
How do you know what's in an herbal supplement?
The FDA requires that the following information be included on the labels of all herbal supplements:- The name of the herbal supplement
- The name and address of manufacturer or distributor
- A complete list of ingredients — either in the Supplement Facts panel or listed beneath it
- Serving size, amount and active ingredient
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