– Letter from Marilyn – June 2008

– In the News: recent progress in the world of health

• Food additives do children harm
• Hot flushes vanish with flax seeds
• Drop the feast and famine diet
• One sausage a day causes cancer risk
• Regular exercise can stop the biological clock
• Cake eating mums can make their babies fat

– Menopause

• Eating for a change: Five dietary changes that are essential for the menopause

– Ease bloating

• How to ease PMS related bloating

– Vaginal infections

• Natural ways to treat vaginal infections

– Help save the rainforest

• Brazil nuts: good for you and keeping th Amazon rainforest alive

– Weight loss

• The weight-loss benefits of mindful eating

– Case Study – June 2008

• Early menopause

– Osteoporosis

• Osteoporosis: why good digestion matters

– Housework

• Cleaning your house could give you asthma

– Infertility

• Homeopathy and infertility

– Discovering herbs

• Motherwort: the benefits

– Morning sickness

• Natural ways to beat morning sickness

– Ask Marilyn:

• Can you help me boost my libido
• Should I try the baby food diet?
• Star Question: Binge eating and PCOS?

– Ingredient Spotlight:

• Carrots – the health benefits

– Monthly Meal Idea:

• Carrot and raisin loaf

– Coming Next Month (July 2008)

Dear Reader,

You probably read the headlines the other month to the effect that ‘supplements may do you harm’.  It is very difficult when we get so many conflicting stories in the press and then it makes it hard to know what to believe.

The study that was quoted was actually a meta-analysis which is a combination of the results of a number of studies. For a meta-analysis, the researchers can decide which studies to include and what not to include depending on what criteria they choose.  The researchers identified 748 studies that could be included in this meta-analysis and then decided that there were only 409 eligible trials which were randomised controlled trials.  But then they decided to look at only 67 of those.  They excluded 405 trials where no deaths were reported. 

 

It is difficult to see how 405 trials which reported no deaths were excluded from an analysis which was supposed to look at the effects of vitamins on mortality.  The other big problem with this meta-analysis is that they assessed all-cause mortality, which means death due to anything.  So people whose deaths may have been caused by road accidents, murder or suicide would be included and of course would have no connection with taking vitamins. 

 

So do take these results with a large pinch of salt (well maybe not so large because of the link with high blood pressure!) but it is easy to see how statistics can be manipulated and that people will only end up seeing the doom and gloom headline.  My recommendation is to take good levels of vitamins and minerals along with a healthy diet to give yourself the best chance of good health.

 

 

Kind regards,

 

 

 

Marilyn Glenville

 

 

Look out for more answers from Marilyn, the latest news, case studies from the Clinic, Monthly Meal Ideas and also:

– Phytoestrogens: Why you need them during the menopause

– Eating to beat PCOS

– Hypnotherapy and infertility: Is it all in the mind?

– Do vegitarians have an increased risk of osteoporosis?

– Discovering herbs: Ginger

And, as always, much, much more …