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TWO MORE REASONS FOR CALCIUM -- If you want to tame the mood swings and depression of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), try calcium supplementation. Women with PMS who took 1200 mg of calcium carbonate every day for 3 months found that their symptoms were reduced by 45%. In addition, calcium may have a new life-saving role. In a recent study, people with a history of colon polyps (a precursor to colon cancer) who were given 1200 mg of calcium carbonate had significantly fewer recurring polyps than those given a placebo.

CANNED FOOD WARNING -- Canned vegetables generally have a two-year shelf-life, but they will lose up to 25% of their nutrients within one year if you store them at 80 degrees F or higher. Instead, store them in a cool, dry pantry with an average temperature of 65 degrees F.

CUT CANCER WITH CO-Q-10 -- Coenzyme Q-10 (or Co-Q-10) is a well-known, naturally-occurring substance (and dietary supplement) that possesses antioxidant, heart-helping, and cellular energy-supporting properties. Of late, Co-Q-10 is also showing promise in fighting certain types of cancer in women. Among a group of 75 American women with cervical cancer or cervical intraepitheelial neoplasia, a precursor to cancer, lower levels of Co-Q-10 were found in blood and cervical/vaginal cells, compared with 27 women with normal Pap smears. Another study among 200 French women with breast tumors, both malignant and benign, found reduced amounts of blood Coenzyme Q-10. And a later study of 21 Turkish women with breast cancer undergoing radical mastectomy found lower amounts of Co-Q-10 within the normal, surrounding tissue. In fact, four of the women had undetectable amounts of Co-Q-10. In light of a recent clinical study showing Co-Q-10 supplementation protects immune cells from DNA damage, Co-Q-10 certainly merits further study as a cancer preventive. Further information about Co-enzyme Q-10 and a high-quality nutritional supplement called "Co-Q-10 Plus" can be found at http://www.aomega.com/ahs/c1012b.htm.

THE WONDERS OF DILL SEED -- Dill seed is an excellent herb for settling an upset stomach, is safe for children, and can be made into a tea. It breaks-up gas bubbles in the stomach and prevents flatulence. It contains natural preservative properties and thus has long been used to make food safer. Dr. Daniel Mowrey, director of the American Phytotherapy Laboratory in Salt Lake City says that it also inhibits the growth of Staphylococcus, E. coli, Streptococcus, and Pseudomonas.

WARNING OF DEPRESSION -- You should see your doctor if you experience five or more of the following signs of depression for more than two weeks, or if these symptoms interfere with your everyday routine: A persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood; Sleeping too little or too much; Reduced appetite and weight loss, or increased appetite and weight gain; Loss of interest or pleasure from activities you once enjoyed. Restlessness or irritability; Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment (such as headaches or constipation); Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions; Fatigue or loss of energy; Feeling guilty, hopeless, or worthless; Thoughts of death or suicide.

RESTFUL SOAK -- To gently slough-off dry, scaly skin, add one cup each of baking soda, table salt, and borax to a warm bath. To soothe stiff joints and sore muscles, add several cups of Epsom salts to your bath. Minerals are absorbed through the skin and are frequently recommended to help ease muscle cramping. You can boost the mineral content of salt baths by adding ground seaweed or cosmetic clay. Immersing in water with a high salt content may also help ease asthma, according to Japanese research.

MORE BROCCOLI, PLEASE! -- Even if you do not smoke, your lungs are still exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke. New research suggests that the substance responsible for the "bite" in broccoli's flavor (isothiocyanate, or ITC), blocks enzymes that activate the cancer-causing agents in tobacco smoke. Even better news, just a little ITC can help. A study of 942 men (both smokers and non-smokers) over 11 years, tracked intake of cruciferous veggies such as broccoli and cauliflower by measuring ITC in the subjects' urine. Averaging just one cruciferous veggie a day cut lung cancer risk by 35%, compared to those who ate them less often.

TWO NEW USES FOR TOOTHPASTE -- Here are two great tips for using toothpaste to eliminate odor and carpet stains. 1. If you have handled fish and cannot get rid of the smell, wash your hands with toothpaste; the odor will disappear completely. Just squeeze an inch-long glob of white fluoride toothpaste on the palm of one hand, then spread it over both palms as if you were using soap. Rinse thoroughly. 2. Toothpaste is great for carpet stains, including dog or cat accidents. Be sure to use plain white toothpaste (but no whitening formulas), and test a small hidden area of the carpet or rug first to be sure that it does not cause any discoloration.

WOMEN URGED TO TAKE MORE VITAMIN C -- Researchers are urging that the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin C for healthy young women be raised. Currently, such recommendation is for 75 milligrams. But, the researchers point out, women were not included in studies that led to that calculation. So, the scientists at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and Vanderbilt University suggest the RDA of the vitamin be raised to 90 mg, based on new studies of women. Participants had vitamin C in their blood depleted and then were given varying amounts of the vitamin to replenish the level over six months. The study indicated the higher levels would be optimal for women, said lead study author Mark Levine of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

BLACK TEA AND HEALTHY ARTERIES -- If you suffer from heart disease, drinking black tea may help your arteries stay healthy, according to a report in "Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association." The study indicates black tea offers some of the same benefits as do other antioxidant-rich foods called flavonoids. Dr. Joseph Vita, senior study author and professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine, said: "The present study provides a plausible biological mechanism in humans to explain the inverse relationship between black tea and cardiovascular disease. Our findings fit well with the growing appreciation that diet and lifestyle modifications are important approaches to the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis." The study shows that flavonoids improve the function of vascular endothelium, the inner lining of blood vessel cells, which produces substances that regulate the diameter of the blood vessels.

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THE HERBAL CORNER

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GREEN TEA consist of the leaves and delicate young leaf buds of an evergreen bush (Camellia sinensis) widely cultivated in Asia. Green Tea is the freshest and least processed form of tea, the most popular human-made beverage in the world. Traditionally used by monks as a mild mental stimulant, Green Tea also has a long history as a medicinal herb, useful for treating coughs, colds, and breathing ailments.

In recent years, scientists have begun to verify Green Tea's remarkable, health-promoting properties. Studies indicate that Green Tea may help protect against cancers of the lungs, skin, liver, pancreas, and stomach. Green Tea benefits the heart by lowering cholesterol levels and reducing the tendency of blood platelets to stick together. It appears to reduce the incidence of dental caries and has shown promise as a weight-loss agent that can promote the burning of fat and help to regulate blood sugar and insulin levels.

Green Tea contains numerous polyphenol compounds and potent antioxidants called catechins, and tea extract is proven to increase antioxidant activity in the blood. It has more of these beneficial compounds than common fermented black tea. The evidence for green tea's potent antioxidant effects continues to accumulate. In a recent study, researchers found that compounds such as those found in tea not only directly scavenge free radicals but also enhance the effectiveness of the body's natural antioxidant systems.

Recently, Japanese researchers reported that increased consumption of Green Tea prior to clinical cancer onset is significantly associated with improved prognosis of stage I and II breast cancer. Green Tea appears to inhibit various human tumors in test tubes, including specific leukemic and skin cancers, plus carcinomas of the breast, gastrointestinal tract, colon, and lung. Topical application of the major polyphenol antioxidant found in Green Tea, EpiGalloCatechinGallate or EGCg, reduces the amount of free radicals and inflammatory prostaglandins produced by immune cells in skin in response to UVB sun rays. The results suggest that skin products containing sufficient Green Tea extract may help protect against UVB-induced skin aging and skin cancers. Drinking green tea was tested in cancerous mice receiving the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin, with positive results suggesting that green tea may enhance cancer chemotherapy and patients' quality of life.

The most popular Green Tea products are the dried herb for making tea, available in various grades (from twiggy kukicha to choice sencha) and forms (loose, tea bags), and encapsulated extracts standardized for 25 percent or higher of the polyphenols. Green tea has also become a popular ingredient in sun blocks, cream rinses, and other body care products.

The most worrisome chemical in green tea is caffeine, which occurs in small amounts (20 to 30 mg per cup, if brewed for 2 to 3 minutes) compared to coffee. Unless caffeine is added, caffeine content of the capsules should be approximately 5 to 15 mg. The potential health benefits from consuming four to five cups of green tea per day apparently outweigh any negative effects of caffeine. An increased risk of cancer of the esophagus has been associated with some tea-drinking populations, but the effect is apparently from drinking large amounts of extremely hot, salty tea.

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HEALTHY RECIPE-OF-THE-MONTH