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CRANBERRY TO PREVENT CAVITIES -- Cranberries and unsweetened cranberry juice contain polyphenols, antioxidants that prevent bacteria that could cause cavities from clumping together. In a laboratory test, 58 percent of the bacteria combinations that cause cavities were prevented from congregating when unsweetened cranberry juice was used. See this month's "Herbal Corner" for more information about Cranberry.

GREENS AND COLORECTAL CANCER -- People who ate the most broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, mustard greens, kale and cauliflower reduced their risk of colorectal cancer by 40%. Such vegetables contain sulforaphane, a potent anti-cancer compound.

REMODELING A BATH? -- According to Bryan Bowen of Jim Logan Architects, an eco-architectural firm in Boulder, Colorado, there is no particular type of steam shower or whirlpool-style tub that is healthier or more environmentally friendly than another. However, he and his associates usually suggest tubs made of cast iron/enamel, because they have no formaldehyde component in the base material. Formaldehyde is a suspected human carcinogen shown to cause birth defects and genetic changes. As for steam and other types of showers, Debra Lynn Dadd states in her book "Home Safe Home," that "the EPA has now identified chloroform released from hot, running shower water as a major indoor air pollutant - so there is a hazard in breathing water in the form of steam." There are some shower-head filters available that address this. Consult the National Sanitation Foundation web site for more information.

GELATIN EASES KNEE PAIN -- In a study of 20 athletes with chronic knee pain conducted at Ball State University, a daily dose of Knox NutraJoint, a gelatin supplement, resulted in less pain and increased range of motion. "Gelatin is extremely high in two amino acids that make up joint cartilage," says David Pearson, coordinator of the Human Performance Lab at the university. These amino acids have a positive effect on joint pain and stiffness and may help repair minor cartilage damage. Dr. Pearson says it is too soon to say how his research would affect older people with knee problems but on-going studies appear positive. Gelatin-based desserts do not provide enough gelatin to get these benefits, he noted.

FRIGHTENING SIDE EFFECT TO VIAGRAź -- When Viagraź burst onto the scene a couple of years ago, men smiled at their lovers. Then came the slew of trite jokes. It appeared that this was finally the sexual miracle drug that many had been waiting for. However, some recent cases have shown the drug may cause vision loss. A handful of men suffered small strokes in their eyes, which resulted in optic nerve damage. Though doctors have not nailed down an exact correlation, a few men have had the strokes for two to three hours after taking Viagraź a second time. One documented form of stroke caused by the drug is a form of color blindness. Many men see the world in a hue of blue for several hours, but the symptoms eventually wear away.

THE TOP 20 BENEFITS OF EXERCISE -- Everyone can agree that exercise is a good way to stay physically and emotionally fit and enjoy a healthy lifestyle. You will certainly feel better, have more energy, and your whole outlook on life will be one hundred percent brighter than someone who fails to find the time to exercise. In short, exercise is a win-win situation that should be a part of your daily routine. Here are the top 20 benefits to regular exercise:

1. Elevates your metabolism so that you burn more calories everyday.

2. Increases your aerobic capacity (fitness level). This gives you the ability to go through your day with less relative energy expenditure. This enables a "fit" person to have more energy at the end of the day and to get more accomplished during the day with less fatigue.

3. Maintains, tones, and strengthens your muscle. Exercise also increases your muscular endurance.

4. Decreases your blood pressure.

5. Increases the oxidation (breakdown and use) of fat.

6. Increases HDL (good) cholesterol.

7. Makes the heart a more efficient pump by increasing stroke volume.

8. Increases hemoglobin concentration in your blood. Hemoglobin is part of the red blood cell that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.

9. Decreases the tendency of the blood to clot in the blood vessels. This is important because small clots traveling in the blood are often the cause of heart attacks and strokes.

10. Increases the strength of the bones.

11. Causes the development of new blood vessels in the heart and other muscles.

12. Enlarges the arteries that supply blood to the heart.

13. Decreases blood levels of triglycerides (fat).

14. Improves control of blood sugar.

15. Improves sleep patterns.

16. Increases the efficiency of the digestive system which may reduce the incidence of colon cancer.

17. Increases the thickness of cartilage in joints which has a protective effect on the joints.

18. Decreases a woman's risk of developing endometriosis by 50 percent.

19. Increases the amount of blood that flows to the skin making it look and feel healthier.

20. Exercise, in addition to all the physiological and anatomical benefits, just makes you feel GREAT!

THE HERBAL CORNER

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Cranberry is a bitter red berry derived from a low-lying evergreen (Vaccinium macrocarpon) native to North America. Most of the cranberry harvest is use to make sweetened juices but many people now take encapsulated dried extracts for their health benefits.

Cranberry's main medicinal use, to prevent and treat urinary tract infections, is a relatively modern discovery dating only to the early twentieth century. Earlier traditional applications included its use as a remedy for stomach ailments and gallbladder attacks. Scientific studies have generally found that cranberry does indeed help to prevent or alleviate urinary tract infections. A beneficial effect on kidney stones and chronic kidney inflammation is less proven. Cranberry is also being taken for its vitamin C and its phytonutrients, including flavonoids such as the proanthocyanidins, which are beneficial antioxidants.

Do scientists know how it works? Researchers initially suspected that cranberry juice turned urine more acidic, making the urinary tract less hospitable to bacteria that can cause an infection. Recent studies indicate that the herb's effects are due more to an ability to prevent bacteria from sticking to the lining of the bladder and urinary tract. Exactly which compounds are most active in promoting urinary tract is still being determined.

Cranberry extracts may help prevent two major diseases: heart disease (by inhibiting oxidation of harmful LDL cholesterol) and cancer (an in vitro test showed potential anticarcinogenic activity in the fruit's proanthocyanidin fraction). A recent study added to findings on how the herb treats urinary tract infections by determining that cranberry juice acts on the cell wall to prevent proper attachment of E. coli bacteria.

Avoid medicinal doses of cranberry concentrate if you are taking drugs for urinary or kidney problems. It is safe for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It should not be used as a substitute for antibiotics during an acute urinary tract infection.

Cranberry products are typically available in liquid form, tablets, capsules, and softgels containing dried, unsweetened juice powder or concentrated extract. Some products combine cranberry with vitamin C. Unsweetened cranberry juice, available in some natural food stores, is the most potent cranberry drink but many people find this difficult to consume due to the extremely sour taste. Sweetened cranberry juice drinks and "cocktails" are more palatable; those that have only 10 percent or less of the healthful juice need to be taken in greater quantities than higher-quality drinks with 30 percent or more cranberry juice. Even the highly sweetened commercial cranberry juices may have therapeutic effects, according to some studies. For example, a 1994 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that ten ounces per day of a commercially available cranberry juice cocktail was almost twice as effective as a placebo in reducing bacteria in urine.

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HEALTHY RECIPE-OF-THE-MONTH