In recent years more than a few studies suggest that the single most important lifestyle factor in determining good health may be physical activity. It can lower your risk of the leading causes of death and increase your chances of staying active and independent well into your “golden years.”

Regular exercise can help you:

1. Stay mentally sharp. Exercise helps keep blood vessels throughout the body (including the brain) healthy and helps reduce the risk of stroke. Physical activity can also help prevent or slow age-related cognitive decline or dementia.

2. Prevent cardiovascular disease. Exercise benefits heart health in the following ways:

• Raises “good” HDL cholesterol and reduces “bad” LDL cholesterol and triglycerides
• Burns body fat which helps maintain a healthy weight
• Lowers blood sugar levels

And it’s never too late to start exercising—even after a heart attack. Studies show that exercise-based rehabilitation following a heart attack can reduce the likelihood of dying from heart disease by one-third.

3. Lower your risk of cancer. Exercise may reduce your risk of certain forms of cancer including colon, breast and lung cancer.

4. Stable blood sugar levels. Getting regular physical activity doesn’t just help maintain a healthy weight; it also increases sensitivity to insulin which can help stabilize blood sugar levels. This can help people with diabetes better manage their condition or help prevent those at risk for diabetes from developing the disease. One study found that only two-and-a-half hours of brisk walking a week cut the risk of diabetes by 30%.

5. Stay strong and independent. Weight-bearing exercise (walking, running, lifting weights) helps keep bones, muscles and joints strong and healthy. Taken together this means that you can stay active, enjoy life and maintain your independence.

How Much is Enough?

As a general goal, include at least 30 minutes of physical activity in your daily routine — and if you can do more, even better.

If you haven’t been active for awhile, be sure to start slow and discuss any health concerns with your doctor before beginning an exercise routine.

Sources:

Mayo Clinic

Harvard Medical School

Early studies indicate that an experimental cancer drug is effective is spurring the body’s own immune system to shrink tumors in patients for whom other therapies have failed.

The drug acts on a protein called PD-L1 that sits on the surface of cancer cells. This protein makes the cancer “invisible” to the immune system which would otherwise attack the cancer.

When the drug binds to the protein, the immune system can “see” and destroy the cancer cells.

In a recent pilot study of 140 patients with various types of cancer, 29 patients (21%) had significant tumor shrinkage after 3 month on the drug. Of those, 26 study participants have continued to respond over time—up to a year after starting the drug. For one patient, the tumors disappeared completely.

The drug had an effect on a wide range of cancers including some that are difficult to treat: non-small cell lung cancer, melanoma skin cancer, colorectal cancer, kidney cancer and stomach cancer.

Impressive Results

While a 21% response rate for a new drug may not sound like a big deal, in the field of cancer research it’s HUGE! An average response rate for cancer drugs in early trials is about 3% with the best response rates reaching 18%.

"This has all the characteristics of a really amazing drug," said study author Dr. Roy Herbst, chief of medical oncology at Yale University. "I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen response rates like this."

There are currently four other similar drugs in development that target the PD-L1 protein in some way that allows the immune system to take on tumors.

These drugs represent a new wave of cancer drugs that may fundamentally change cancer treatment, say experts.

Source:

Health Finder

New research focused on this much debated question suggests that most people with celiac disease can enjoy gluten free oats without fear of an autoimmune reaction. However there are a few caveats and conditions that accompany this good news.

Even though oats do not inherently contain gluten like other grains (wheat, barley, and rye), people with celiac disease are advised to avoid commercial oats because they are typically contaminated with other grains during harvest, processing or packaging.

But with the availability of “gluten free” oats—oats grown in fields isolated from other grains and processed/packaged in gluten free facilities—many with celiacs can enjoy oats once again.

In the new study, 46 celiac patients consumed gluten-free oats daily at a mean of 10 ounces per week for an entire year. Clinical evaluations including intestinal biopsies for signs of an immune reaction were conducted every three months. By the end of the study, 95% of the participants had no adverse effects or changes in intestinal biopsies.

The researchers noted that all oats used in the study were confirmed to be gluten free.

Playing it Safe

Considering the risk of cross-contamination, celiacs are often advised to avoid oats altogether when first initiating a gluten-free diet. However, this and a growing number of studies have found that many people with celiac disease can later reintroduce gluten-free oats (not commercial oats) once their initial symptoms are resolved.

Experts caution that unless oats are labeled “certified gluten-free” or “pure uncontaminated” they should not be eaten by individuals with celiac disease. Even then, you should consult your healthcare provider before introducing oats into your diet.

Unfortunately a small percentage of people with celiac disease may still react to all oats--even gluten free—long after they eliminate gluten from their diet. Why that happens is still a mystery.

Sources:

Nutritional Outlook

Celiac Sprue Association

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a common yet serious health condition affecting about 1 out of every 3 adults in the U.S.

It is often called the “silent killer” because it greatly increases the risk of heart attack and stroke yet many people with hypertension do not have the classic symptoms of high blood pressure: sweating, nervousness, or trouble sleeping.

With this being National High Blood Pressure Education Month, we thought we would help dispel harmful misconceptions surrounding this condition.

Myth 1:  High blood pressure runs in my family so I will get it too.

While a family history of hypertension does increase your risk of developing it, that doesn’t mean you can’t avoid it. These healthy lifestyle factors can help prevent high blood pressure:

• Eat a healthy diet that consists of fruits and vegetables, lean protein and whole grains. Limit unhealthy saturated fats, sodium and fast carbs (sugar and processed flour)
• Get regular physical activity – about 30 minutes a day
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Manage stress
• Avoid tobacco and limit alcohol consumption to 1 drink per day for women and 2 for men.

Myth 2: I feel fine. I don’t have to worry about high blood pressure.

Even if you feel good and have no family history or other risk factors for high blood pressure, that doesn’t mean you are safe. Many people don’t have symptoms. Be sure to get your blood pressure checked at least once every two years.

Myth 3:  If my blood pressure is 119/79 (considered normal) then I’m in good shape.

Not so fast. Normal blood pressure for a healthy person may be 119/79 (or below) but if you have other health conditions such as diabetes, excess body weight or high cholesterol, then your doctor may want your blood pressure even lower.

Myth 4:  Kosher and sea salt are low sodium alternatives to table salt.

Like table salt, both kosher and sea salt contain 40% sodium and count the same toward total sodium consumption.

Myth 5:  I was diagnosed with high blood pressure but I have it under control now so I can stop taking medication.

High blood pressure can be a life-long disease. Don’t stop taking your medication, but do speak with your doctor about your concerns and prognosis.

Take Control

For more ways to lower your risk of hypertension or keep it in check try these 10 Top Ways to Manage Blood Pressure Naturally.

Sources:

American Heart Association

Prevention

If you or a loved one has an implanted heart defibrillator or other medical device controlled by magnets, you need to know that some of today’s tech gadgets may interfere with their operation.

For example, a recent study found that strong magnets inside the iPad 2 and its Smart Cover may cause electromagnetic interference that could alter the settings or even deactivate an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) if the iPad is placed near the chest.

The ICDs, like other implanted medical devices, contain magnets to allow physicians to adjust their settings.

The iPad did not interfere with these devices when it was held at normal reading distance from the chest. No effects were noted with patients who had implanted pacemakers or used a loop recorder.

Other devices such as cell phones and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines have also been known to disrupt cardiac rhythm devices.

This study builds on previous research that found that iPads can also interfere with magnetically programmed shunts in the brain when an iPad is placed within two inches of the device. They reported a case in which an iPad interfered with the function of a shunt implanted in a 4-month old girl. Her mother had been holding an iPad while she carried the infant.

Growing Concerns

Experts say there are two big concerns for consumers and healthcare providers. One is that it can be difficult to detect when magnetic interference causes an implanted device to malfunction. There is no light that goes off to tell you something is wrong.

Then when you consider that our aging population will likely increase the number of implanted devices; and the explosive growth of tablets and other tech gadgets will probably continue—the risk of magnetic interference with medical devices may be a growing problem.

Increased Monitoring

The bottom line is that doctors will now be having more conversations with their patients about the risk of technological devices affecting implanted devices and monitoring patients more closely.

Sources:

Philadelphia Inquirer

Medical News Today

New research provides yet another reason for pregnant women to consider their DHA status during pregnancy—DHA may promote increased birth weight and longer gestational age in their babies.

The study found that mom’s who took 600 milligrams of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA during pregnancy gave birth to infants who were less likely to have very low birth weight and to be born before 34 weeks compared to mom’s who didn’t receive the supplement.

This has both clinical and cost implications as these two factors can significantly impact the overall health and development of infants and lengthen hospital stays.

DHA Function

Your body needs DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) for the proper functioning of your brain as an adult, and for the development of your nervous system and visual abilities during the first 6 months of life.

DHA Sources

Our bodies naturally produce small amounts of DHA, but we must get the amounts we need from our diet. Dietary sources of DHA include cold water fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines and anchovies. Seaweed is a good vegetarian source of DHA.

Eating oily fish two to three times per week typically supplies adequate amounts of EPA and DHA for adults. Unfortunately, most Americans don’t get enough omega-3 fatty acids in their diet.

This is where fish oil or other DHA supplements may fill dietary gaps. Supplements are also convenient for those who don’t like the taste of fish or don’t have access to high quality seafood.

For infants, breast milk from a mother who eats a healthy diet contains significant amounts of DHA. Infant formula may or may not have any DHA.

DHA for Expectant Mothers

While DHA supports both mom and babies health, children and pregnant women should avoid species of fish with the potential for the highest level of mercury contamination: king mackerel, shark, swordfish, and tilefish. They should also limit consumption of white albacore tuna to under 6 oz. per week.

High-quality fish oil supplements made by manufacturers who test for mercury and other toxins do not pose the same risk of mercury contamination.

Speak with your doctor about how you can ensure proper nutrition for yourself and your baby.

Sources:

New Hope 360

University of Maryland Medical Center

American Heart Association

In recent years we’ve covered news about researchers using dogs’ extraordinarily sensitive noses to detect the distinct odors of lung, breast, colon and prostate cancer. Now three puppies at the University of Pennsylvania are learning how to sniff out ovarian cancer.

What many of these cancers have in common, and why dogs are being employed, is the need for an accurate, non-invasive diagnostic tool. Ovarian cancer is extremely difficult to detect in the early stages of the disease as symptoms—constipation, weight gain, bloating and frequent urination--are mild and can be attributed to other benign causes.

When caught early, survival rates of ovarian cancer are about 90%. Unfortunately it is usually discovered when it has already metastasized. This is why it’s the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death in women and claims more than 14,000 lives each year.

The Nose Knows

To train the puppies to recognize ovarian cancer’s unique scent, scientists will take tissue and blood samples from both healthy and ovarian cancer patients.

The dogs will then be exposed to the samples in containers they can't access, but are vented so they can smell them. 

Much like drug or bomb sniffing dogs, they will be trained to alert their handler when they smell ovarian cancer. When they distinguish the correct one, they're rewarded with food or a toy. 

The puppies--Ohlin and Thunder, both Labradors, and McBain, a Springer Spaniel—have been in training since they were 8 weeks old.

Source:

Philadelphia Inquirer

The popularity of energy drinks containing high amounts of caffeine has food and beverage producers launching all sorts of products with a jolt of caffeine—gum, jelly beans, water, and even popcorn!

Meanwhile, this trend has not escaped the attention of the Food and Drug Administration which announced that it wants to examine the cumulative impact of so many new sources of caffeine—especially since many of them are marketed to children and adolescents.

The FDA is already investigating the safety of energy drinks and energy shots following at least 150 reports of illness and 25 deaths.

Current FDA regulations governing caffeine were put in place for cola-type beverages in the 1950s and did not anticipate the proliferation of caffeine added to foods. Caffeine has the regulatory classification of "generally recognized as safe," or GRAS, which means manufacturers can add it to products and then determine on their own whether the product is safe.

Others Concerned

But it’s not just the FDA that’s noticed the influx of caffeine in the marketplace. The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) shared its concerns with the FDA last year.

"Could caffeinated macaroni and cheese or breakfast cereal be next?" asked CSPI executive director Michael F. Jacobson. "One serving of any of these foods isn't likely to harm anyone. The concern is that it will be increasingly easy to consume caffeine throughout the day, sometimes unwittingly, as companies add caffeine to candies, nuts, snacks and other foods. And that's on top of the soda, coffee, tea, and energy drinks that are already widely consumed."

The American Academy of Pediatrics has also issued a report that discourages the consumption of caffeine and other stimulant substances in the diets of children and adolescents. They warned that too much caffeine can be dangerous for children, who have less ability to process the stimulant than adults.

Large amounts of caffeine can cause rapid heartbeat, seizures anxiety, restlessness, irritability, and insomnia.

We’ll be watching what happens with this hot topic. In the meantime parents may want to keep an eye out for these amped up foods.

Sources:

NBC News

Courier Journal

Center for the Public Interest

Every year National Women’s Health Week turns our attention to the importance of women’s health issues and encourages women to take important steps to safeguard their health. Men can play a role by supporting the women in their lives to do the following:

Step 1 – Get regular check-ups and screenings

Women’s Health Week kicks off on Monday with National Check-up Day. If you haven’t already done so, it’s a good time to pick up the phone and schedule your next regular check-up or screening.

Regular checkups provide a number of benefits to women:

• Screening tests, such as mammograms and Pap tests, can find diseases early, when they are easier to treat. Some women need certain screening tests earlier or more often than other women do. Recent changes in health care laws require that  women can now receive some types of preventive screenings without copays.

• Screenings and routine care can help women lower their risks of many health conditions, including heart disease, the leading cause of death among women.

Step 2 – Get regular exercise.

Step 3 – Eat a healthy diet.

Step 4 – Get adequate sleep and manage stress to promote good mental health.

Getting Started

We realize that for many women these steps sound like a very tall order to fill in an already hectic schedule. But the truth is that’s exactly why women need to take time for these important preventive measures—to keep up with their demanding lives.

Hopefully some of these tips and tools from our health library will help get you started:

• Women: Go-to Health Guidelines at Any Age

• BUSTED! Health & Aging Myths that Every Woman Should Know

• Exercise Myths for Adults Over 40

• 8 Natural Ways to Fight Weight Gain During Menopause

• Practical Ways to Strike a Work/Life Balance and Reduce Stress

Source:

Women’s Health

Being overweight or obese increases a man’s risk of prostate cancer by as much as 57% says a new Columbia University study.

The researchers reviewed biopsies of over 6,600 cancer-free men of whom 11% had precancerous lesions.

After 14 years of follow-up and taking other risk factors into account, the association between increased weight and prostate cancer held for all cases—low grade and high-grade, early stage and late, nonaggressive and aggressive prostate cancer.

"We don't absolutely know what the true biology is," said study author Andrew Rundle. "In some ways, this reflects the association between the body size and larger prostate size, which is thought to reduce the sensitivity of the needle biopsy. It is possible that the tumors missed by initial biopsy grew and were detected in a follow-up biopsy."

Rundle added that this study suggests that obesity should be considered a risk factor for more intensive follow-up after a benign prostate biopsy.

Cancer Metastasis

Obesity also appears to play a role in cancer metastasis as a previous study found that overweight men were three times more likely to have their cancer spread than normal weight men. For obese men the risk of metastasis was five times higher.

Health Burden

This study adds to a long list of cancers and other health problems linked to obesity, including:

• cancers of the esophagus, breast (postmenopausal), endometrium (the lining of the uterus), colon and rectum, kidney, pancreas, thyroid, gallbladder and possibly other cancers.
• coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, and a number of other chronic diseases.

And each year, the number of Americans considered obese continues to rise. According to the latest national health survey, 68% of U.S. adults age 20 years and older are now overweight or obese. This is up from 56% in the previous decade.

In addition, the percentage of children who are overweight or obese has also increased.

Sources:

Medicine Net

WebMD

National Cancer Institute

Chronic stress can wreak havoc on mind and body and has been implicated in many health problems including autoimmune disorders. New research helps shed light on how stress may increase the risk of an autoimmune disease similar to multiple sclerosis which causes damage to the nervous system.

Normally, stress sets off a chain reaction in your body that includes the release of the hormone cortisol that helps you handle stressful situations (fight or flight). Cortisol also helps regulate your immune response. In small doses, your body’s reaction to stress is protective; higher or unrelenting amounts of stress have the opposite effect.

Using mice, the scientists showed how chronic stress may damage the body’s ability to regulate immune function. They found that autoimmunity results when chronic stress alters the effectiveness of cortisol to regulate the inflammatory response because it decreases tissue sensitivity to the hormone. Specifically, immune cells become insensitive to cortisol's regulatory effect. In turn, runaway inflammation promotes the development of autoimmunity.

Moreover, the researchers found that exposure to high levels of corticosterone (the equivalent of cortisol in rodents) simulating chronic stress reduced the number of immune cells. This increased the number of cells that encouraged damaging inflammation compared to those that inhibit it.

This mechanism appeared more pronounced in females than in males and may explain, in part, the higher rates of autoimmune disease in women than in men.

This study also supports previous research that found that a high proportion (up to 80%) of patients with autoimmune disorders reported uncommon emotional stress before disease onset. Unfortunately, not only does stress cause disease, but the disease itself also causes significant stress in the patients, creating a vicious cycle.

Take Aways

The researchers say the results of this study suggest that while a high level of cortisol may generally protect against the worsening of autoimmune diseases, in those exposed to chronic stress, steroids could lead to a worsening of their symptoms.

Therefore, even though steroids is one of the treatments for chronic inflammation, use of such a treatment – particularly in patients suffering from chronic stress – should be carefully weighed and considered.

We can all achieve health benefits by reducing the amount of stress in our lives. You can find tips and ideas to tame stress with Strategies for a Stressed Out Society.

Sources:

Ben-Gurion University of Negev
Science Daily
PubMed

A growing number of consumers are choosing organic fruits and vegetables as a way to avoid pesticides and support sustainable farming practices. However, organics are not always accessible or affordable for everyone, leaving consumers wondering how to enjoy the nutritional benefits of produce while limiting exposure to harmful chemicals.

This is where the Environmental Working Group’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce really comes in handy. EWG researchers compile data from pesticide residue tests conducted by USDA and FDA scientists on 28,000 samples of 48 popular fruits and vegetables.

Based on these results, the most contaminated produce makes up EWG’s “Dirty Dozen^TM” list and those with the lowest potential for chemical residue make up the “Clean Fifteen.” By putting this important information in the hands of consumers, we can all minimize our toxic load.

Here are some of the highlights from this year’s guide:

Dirty Dozen Plus:

EWG's ranking uses six measures of pesticide hazards including the number of pesticides detected on a crop and the percent of samples testing positive. The “Plus” produce did not meet the Dirty Dozen criteria but were frequently contaminated with pesticides that are exceptionally toxic to the nervous system.

• Apples
• Celery
• Cherry tomatoes
• Cucumbers
• Grapes
• Hot peppers
• Nectarines – imported
• Peaches
• Potatoes
• Spinach
• Strawberries
• Sweet bell peppers
• Kale/collard greens +
• Summer squash +

Clean Fifteen:

• Asparagus
• Avocados
• Cabbage
• Cantaloupe
• Sweet corn
• Eggplant
• Grapefruit
• Kiwi
• Mangos
• Mushrooms
• Onions
• Papayas
• Pineapples
• Sweet peas – frozen
• Sweet potatoes

It’s important to note that residue tests are conducted on produce that has been washed and/or peeled depending on how it is typically eaten. For examples, bananas, avocados and oranges are washed and peeled before testing, but leafy greens or grapes are only washed.

Get the Guide

For more test results and ways to reduce your exposure to pesticide residue, download the full report: EWG’s 2013 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce.

Sources:

Environmental Working Group

Food Marketing Institute

We’ve all heard that drinking too much soda—regular or diet--isn’t good you, but new research suggests that even one soda per day may be too much.

A European study found that drinking just one 12 oz. sugar-sweetened soft drink a day can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by as much as 22%. This conclusion is based on an analysis of more than 28,000 people in eight European countries.

As part of the analysis, the researchers considered other factors that are known risk factors for diabetes such calorie consumption and body mass index (BMI), a body fat calculation based on weight and height.

But even after taking into account participants total calorie intake and BMI, the risk fell only fell a few points to 18% suggesting that the effect of sugar-sweetened soft drink on diabetes goes beyond their impact on weight.

While the study did not prove cause and effect, it is consistent with other U.S. studies and prompted the lead researcher to say that clear messages on the unhealthy effect of these drinks should be given to the population.

Other Health Problems

Before you ditch your regular soda for a diet soda, consider these potential hazards of diet soda:

• Heart Disease - According to a University of Minnesota study of about 10,000 adults, drinking just one diet soda a day is linked to a 34% higher risk of metabolic syndrome—increased belly fat and high cholesterol associated with heart disease.
• Kidney Damage - Among 3,000 women is a study of diet cola, those who drank more than two sodas were twice as likely to experience a decline in kidney function.
• Obesity - Diet sodas increase your risk of gaining weight—yes you read that right! Gulping down just two or more cans a day increased waistlines by 500% in one study. It appears artificial sweeteners fool with your body’s ability to regulate calorie intake based on the sweetness of foods. So, consuming diet foods might make you more apt to overeat because your body is tricked into thinking it is eating sugar—and sugar makes you crave more sugar.
• DNA Damage – Diet sodas often contain mold inhibitors (sodium benzoate, potassium benzoate) that have the ability to cause DNA damage. These preservatives have also been linked to hives, asthma, and other allergic conditions.
• Tooth Decay – The acidic nature of diet soda (or regular soda) dissolves the enamel on your teeth. Adults who drink three or more sodas a day have far greater decay, missing teeth, and fillings compared to non-soda drinkers.
• BPA Exposure – Soda cans are coated with an endocrine disruptor, bisphenol A (BPA) that has been linked to heart disease, obesity and reproductive problems.

Sources:

Health Day News

Prevention

After a long dreary winter and drenching spring rains, the warmth of the summer sun can feel so good that we may forget the harmful effects of those warming rays.

That’s why the American Academy of Dermatology designates the first Monday in May “Melanoma Monday.”  This observance reminds us that the risk of getting skin cancer is not only real--it’s one of the fastest growing cancers.

Did You Know?

• Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, accounting for half of all cancers.
• Current estimates are that one in five Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime.
• Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is the most common cancer for 25- to 29-year-olds.
• According to estimates, more  than 76,600 cases of melanoma will occur  this year.

Once melanomas have metastasized, they are often deadly, but new research is giving us hope for new treatments.

Just in the last month, scientists found that gossypin, a flavone originally isolated from the hibiscus plant (H. vitifolius), inhibits the action of two gene mutations that commonly occur in people with melanoma. Gossypin treatment also reduced tumor volume and increased survival rate in mice transplanted with human melanoma tumors containing the two mutated genes.

In another recent study, researchers report that a virus-based melanoma drug TVEC is showing promising early results in a phase 3 trial.

Protect Yourself

Most skin cancers are preventable and survivable if you follow these basic steps:

• Prevent. Seek shade, cover up, and wear at least an SPF 15 sunscreen.
• Detect. Look for new or changing spots on your skin.
• Live. See a dermatologist if you spot anything changing, itching, or bleeding.

The good news is, you don’t have to give up your favorite outdoor activities or that sun-kissed glow to be sun safe. Just remember to wear sunscreen before going outdoors and instead of baking in the sun or a tanning bed, try sunless tanning sprays or lotions.

In addition to lowering your risk of skin cancer, protecting your skin from damaging rays also prevents premature aging—wrinkles and skin discoloration.

A Final Word

If you’re a parent with teenagers, you know that it’s often difficult to convey to them that they are not invincible. Unfortunately skin cancer often strikes young men and women with a history excessive tanning (both indoors and outdoors).

This video is a must-watch for parents and young people.

Sources:

Melanoma Monday

American Cancer Society

Medical News Today

May 4 marks the eighth annual international celebration of herbs and all the many ways they enhance our lives.

The observance consists of a coordinated series of independently produced public educational events that highlight herbs’ use in food, beverages, medicine, beauty products, and crafts, along with the art of growing and gardening with herbs.

CNCA Health Connection

This day is especially close to our hearts as herbs play a significant role in our mission to deliver only the best dietary supplements that support overall health and wellness.

As an active member of the American Botanical Council, one of the Herb Day founders, we are sponsors of projects to reduce economic botanical adulteration through improved testing, and identify solvent contaminants in botanical extracts.

Herb Day Events

Currently there are over 13 Herb Day events in 11 states scheduled this weekend, May 4 or May 5th.

For the location of an Herb Day event near you, visit the Herb Day website. Or learn more about the many uses of herbs at home with these articles or posts:

Health

• Top Nutritional Herbs Backed By Science, Time
• Take Care of Your Heart with Nature’s Delicious Gifts
• Valerian May Help Menopausal Women Sleep Better
• Herb Causes Prostate Cancer Cells to Self-Destruct
• Natural Herb Boosts the Power of Tamoxifen

Home

• How to Deep Clean Your Home Naturally
• Green Your Indoor Air: Freshen Your Home Without Harming Your Health
• Natural (DEET-free) Ways to Repel Mosquitoes
• Essential Oils May Become “Essential” for killing MRSA

Sources:

Herb Day