Vitamins & Supplements

Higher intake of magnesium was associated with a lower risk for diabetes, particularly in people with diets too high in low-quality carbohydrates or low in fiber, according to a study in Diabetes Care.

If you Google natural remedies for high cholesterol you will get millions of hits. As you scroll through them, youll see that what natural means is in the eye of the beholder. For many people, natural means dietary supplements or superfoods thought to have special cholesterol-fighting properties. But in the end, based on good-quality science, the natural remedy for high cholesterol is sustained lifestyle change.

Vitamin K is an essential fat-soluble nutrient found in leafy green vegetables, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. It plays a key role in the bodys system for controlling bleeding. Now, Tufts HNRCA scientists are exploring vitamin Ks potential role in keeping joint cartilage healthy.

How many times have you heard the message that Americans-particularly older adults-need adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D for bone health? Major fractures of the hip or spine, often as the result of a fall, can send people to hospitals and nursing homes and raise the risk of disability and death. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends daily intake of 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams (mg) of calcium and 600 to 800 international units (IU) of vitamin D, depending on age.

The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology have released an update to guidelines that redefines high blood pressure (hypertension) and makes recommendations on how doctors should treat it. The guidelines lower the threshold at which a person would be diagnosed with hypertension. Under the new standard, its estimated that 46% of American adults can now be diagnosed, or about 100 million people. The guidelines set a lower bar for what will be considered hypertension. Though voluntary, the guidelines are likely to influence how some doctors advise and treat their patients.

Q. Ive read online that vitamin K2 can help preserve bone strength and might lower risk for heart disease. What is vitamin K2 and should I get more of it?

Q. Some creams, dietary supplements and even teas say they can protect or rejuvenate the skin. Is there anything to this at all?

Q. Colon cancer runs in my family, so I want to do everything I can to lower my risk. Ive heard that taking extra calcium can help. Is this true?

Some purveyors of dietary supplements claim that all you need to do is pop some vitamin B12 every day to obtain brain support, brain protection, and cognitive power.

You have probably heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. In part, this is because some research suggests that eating a daily breakfast may help you to maintain a healthy weight or, if you are overweight, lose some pounds and keep them off. The research is not definitive on the question of breakfast and weight control, but breakfast has another important potential benefit.