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KIDNEY STONE ADVICE OVERTURNED -- For years, doctors have advised people with kidney stones to adopt a low-calcium diet. But a new study says that a low-calcium diet may actually cause the excruciating stones to develop. Loris Borghi at the University of Parma studied 120 men who had recurring kidney stones. Half were put on low-calcium diets, while the other half ate normal amounts of calcium but cut back on meat and salt. After five years, 23 men on the low-calcium diet developed new stones, while only 12 of the men on the diet restricting animal protein and salt did. To prevent recurring stones, researchers recommend restricting animal protein to 600 grams a week (or eliminating it altogether), and salt to no more than 1.5 grams per day.

VITAMIN C RESEARCH -- Research is adding evidence that Vitamin C - from either food or supplements - can reduce the chances of developing gallstones and other types of gall bladder diseases. Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, studied the data of 13,000 subjects participating in the "Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey." Results showed that women consuming the greatest amount of Vitamin C had a 39% lower risk of developing gallstones. It was concluded that vitamin C is required to activate cholesterol-7 a-hydroxylase, an enzyme that breaks down cholesterol into bile acids. Vitamin C has been shown to increase the enzyme's activity by about 15 times.

CANCER-FIGHTING FLAVORS -- "A tablespoon of oregano a day keeps the doctor away." Herbs such as oregano and rosemary are a rich source of antioxidants, which help the body fight cancer, heart disease, and stroke. More herbs should be used for flavoring instead of salt and artificial chemicals. Whether they are consumed in tinctures, teas, or pasta sauces, many herbs are even better sources of antioxidants than fruits and vegetables. By weight, fresh oregano has 42 times the antioxidant activity of apples, 30 times more than potatoes, and 12 times more than oranges; one tablespoon of oregano provides as much antioxidants as an apple! Garden thyme, dill, and peppermint also pack a healthy punch.

FYI -- According to the book "Farmer's Almanac: Home Remedies," a diet to aid a woman's body during menstruation should contain plenty of vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 can be found in the following foods: sunflower seeds, lentils, lima beans, pinto beans, black-eyed peas, rice bran, broccoli, asparagus, among others.

THE PERILS OF PIERCING -- One out of five people who get a body part pierced suffer medical complications, says a new study of college students. More than half of the 454 undergraduates studied at Pace University in New York had some form of piercing. Of those, 17 percent had encountered some sort of problem, such as bacterial infection, bleeding, or excessive scarring and tearing of tissue around the piercing. The tongue and the navel are the areas most likely to become infected. In one recent case, tongue piercing led to a brain abscess in a young woman. Doctors warn that some piercers use nonsterile instruments and can infect people with life-threatening conditions such as HIV, hepatitis C, or septicemia.

FYI -- Mangoes have twice the RDA of vitamin A and 100% of the RDA for vitamin C. Buy those grown in Hawaii or Florida; imported varieties can contain traces of a carcinogenic fumigant.

ZINC INFO -- Sucking on zinc lozenges can cut colds short by an average of seven days, researchers have discovered. Zinc can also dramatically reduce symptoms such as a dry, irritated throat. Zinc does not work for everyone, however. The downside is that zinc has an unpleasant taste. There are, however, lozenges on the market that contain honey and/or citrus flavoring that are a lot easier to swallow. But do not take more than the amount recommended by your doctor as zinc can be toxic in large doses.

STOMACH MUSCLE EXERCISE -- This exercise can help tighten your stomach muscles: Lie on your back. Clasp your hands behind your head and raise your legs in the air, with your knees slightly bent. Lift your shoulders toward your knees while raising your rear and hips off the ground. Return to your starting position. Repeat 25 to 50 times.

A BANDAGE MADE FROM SKIN -- British researchers have created a "living bandage" from a patient's own cells, which could help people with hard-to-heal wounds. Scientists at the biotech company CellTran in Sheffield scraped skin cells from patients and grew them on discs coated with a thin film of plastic. After the cells multiplied, they were placed on the wound like a bandage; the plastic dissolved, while the skin cells continued to grow until they completely covered the affected area. About 6 million people in the United States and Europe - especially people with diabetes or circulation problems - have wounds that do not heal properly. Deteriorating or infected wounds can be dangerous. The "biological bandage" is still in its early stages, and will require more testing before it is widely available.

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FEATURED ARTICLE

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Birth defects can happen in any family. "All I knew before my pregnancy was that I did not have kids with problems. I had heard of spina bifida, but other than that, I knew absolutely nothing about it. After all, this kind of thing does not happen to people like me," said Jane J. of Georgia. But most babies born with the birth defect spina bifida are born to parents with no family history of the birth defect. Spina bifida involves incomplete formation of the spine and is the most common neural tube defect (NTD), a group of serious birth defects of the brain and spinal cord. It may include paralysis of the legs, loss of bowel and bladder control, water on the brain, and learning disabilities. One out of every 1000 newborns in the United States has spina bifida; however, many go on to lead successful and productive lives. NTDs, like spina bifida, occur during the first month of pregnancy - before most women know they are pregnant.

Folic Acid May Reduce the Risk

Many factors affect a pregnancy, including genetics and things women may come in contact with during pregnancy. Taking Vitamin B9, or folic acid, before and during early pregnancy reduces the risk of having a child with spina bifida or another NTD. While folic acid cannot guarantee having a healthy baby, it can help. Studies have shown that if all women of childbearing age were to take folic acid everyday, their chances of having a child with a NTD may be reduced by up to 75%. Folic acid helps build healthy cells, so it is important for all women who could become pregnant to take folic acid everyday. Besides helping with a healthy pregnancy, folic acid has been shown to have other benefits for both men and women in fighting heart disease and certain cancers. You can get folic acid in a vitamin that has folic acid and foods rich in folic acid like dark green leafy vegetables, oranges, and fortified breads and cereals.

Some Women Need More Folic Acid by Prescription

For most women, it is enough to take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid everyday through multivitamins and foods rich in folic acid. Other women who have a history of NTDs (have a child with spina bifida, have spina bifida themselves, or have a history of NTD-affected pregnancies) need to take ten-times more folic acid by prescription (4000 mcg), for one to three months before pregnancy and for the first few months of pregnancy because they are at higher risk of having a child with spina bifida or another NTD. It is important for women to speak with a doctor and plan their pregnancy to be sure they are getting the right amount of folic acid. "Try and map out things in advance . . . for instance, I would definitely meet with an obstetrician ahead of time, explain the history, ask about recommendations, etc.," says Hannah M., mother of a child with spina bifida.

Remember to Take Folic Acid

According to a recent survey of women at a Spina Bifida Association of America (SBAA) national conference, women agree that folic acid can help reduce the chances of spina bifida and that it is important for women with a history of spina bifida, but they sometimes forget to take it. To make it easier to remember, women may take their folic acid supplement when they eat lunch, read the newspaper, feed the dog, or do any other daily activity. Soon taking folic acid everyday will be a daily activity too.

General Spina Bifida Facts

• Approximately 4,000 pregnancies each year are affected by spina bifida.
• Each year almost 500,000 children worldwide are born with some kind of neural tube defect.
• Spina bifida occurs between the 3rd and 4th week of a pregnancy before most women know they are pregnant.
• 70 percent of children born with spina bifida are able to walk with or without the use of assistive devices.
• Hydrocephalus, or fluid on the brain, occurs in 70 to 90 percent of children with the most severe form of spina bifida.
• 95 percent of babies with spina bifida and other neural tube defects are born to parents with no family history of these disorders.
• If one child has spina bifida the risk of recurrence in any subsequent pregnancy is about one in 40.
• Up to 74 percent of children with spina bifida are allergic to latex.
• Approximately 40 percent of all Americans may have spina bifida occulta (the most mild type of spina bifida).

For women not thinking about becoming pregnant, it is still important to take a vitamin with folic acid everyday because about half of all pregnancies are not planned. If you are a woman thinking about becoming pregnant, speak with your doctor about your personal risk of having an NTD-affected pregnancy. And tell your friends and family that taking folic acid everyday can help reduce the risk of spina bifida. For more information, please contact the Spina Bifida Association of America at 1-800-621-3141, or via e-mail at sbaa@sbaa.org, or view their web site at http://www.sbaa.org

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THE HERBAL CORNER

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YELLOW DOCK is a tall perennial plant of the buckwheat family with a long history of medicinal use. It is native to northern Europe and Asia but is adaptable and has spread to various temperate parts of the world in recent centuries. The part of the plant used medicinally is the yellowish, carrot-like root.

The ancient Romans, Chinese, and others used species of Rumex (the genus includes various docks and sorrels) for skin complaints and digestive conditions. Yellow Dock has especially been employed to treat chronic skin conditions that are thought to result from toxicities due to poor liver and digestive function. Mixed with dandelion root, Yellow Dock is a traditional liver rejuvenator. It is sometimes used to treat jaundice, hepatitis, and other liver ailments. Along with other herbs such as gentian, Yellow Dock is a traditional bitter herb. Bitters are used as spring tonics to "cleanse the blood," and, on occasion, to stimulate appetite and promote complete digestion. Folk healers have used Yellow Dock topically to treat wounds, ringworm, hemorrhoids, and skin conditions. Yellow Dock has also traditionally been used to treat abdominal pain and cramps, arthritis and rheumatism, chronic bronchitis, female problems, and anemia.

Yellow Dock remains a useful herb for addressing acne, psoriasis, eczema, boils, and other skin conditions. Its bitter taste seems to stimulate appetite and increase the flow of bile, thus making it a useful remedy for conditions associated with poor digestion, such as flatulence and heartburn. Many herbalists still recommend it to promote liver function and detoxification of the blood. In low doses Yellow Dock is a gentle laxative that can relieve chronic constipation. Topically it is astringent and potentially anti-bacterial. Yellow Dock may also help to prevent or treat: inflammations of the nasal passages and respiratory tract; rheumatoid iritis, an autoimmune inflammation of the iris; and nervous indigestion.

Do scientists know how it works? Small amounts of anthraquinone glycosides account for the mild laxative property of Yellow Dock. Their bitter taste may also affect digestion and appetite. Yellow Dock's astringency is due to tannins. In addition the herb contains oxalic acid and other oxalates, flavonoids, and a volatile oil. It is also rich in iron.

Yellow Dock root is available as a liquid extract, in capsules and tablets, and in tea bags. It is a common ingredient in formulas for hair, skin, and nails; colon cleansing; detoxification; blood cleansing; and circulatory and liver conditions. Yellow Dock root is relatively safe although it should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Some people taking it may experience mild diarrhea or nausea. The fresh leaves are high in oxalates and in large doses can reduce nutrient absorption or cause toxic side effects.

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HEALTHY RECIPE-OF-THE-MONTH