Sault Naturopath

A couple of studies that came out recently made me think about vitamin research, its implications and the role of the media in those implications.

You probably saw the headline (or something similar) “Vitamin E Raises Prostate Cancer Risk,” as a front page story in many newspapers online and offline. Here is a brief overview of the study these headlines refer to:  Read more...

• 35 000 men were randomized into one of four groups:
  • those taking just selenium (200 μg/d from L-selenomethionine)
  • those taking just vitamin E (400 IU/d of all rac-α-tocopheryl acetate)
  • those taking both selenium and vitamin E

We all want to know how to prevent cancer. A recent paper in the journal of Current Pharmaceutical Design reviewed 25 studies on olive oil consumption and cancer. The researchers calculated a 5-fold difference in risk between subjects consuming mainly olive oil compared to those consuming mainly butter. A 40% decreased risk of breast cancer was seen in those consuming the greatest amounts of olive oil compared to those consuming the lowest amounts.

The findings were not only positive for breast cancer, but also upper digestive tract (stomach, esophageal), respiratory tract (lung) cancers, and “possibly colorectal and other cancer sites.”  Read more...

Issues with sleep in children are actually very common. More than more than 2/3 of all children have some kind of temporary sleep problem during childhood, and most adolescents do not get enough sleep. The transition from summer to school year can be particularly stressful – all the emotions and new challenges that go along with that – so this can exacerbate problems of sleep in children even further.  Read more...