Vitamins, Dietary Supplements, and Over-the-Counter Medications

Having Trouble Sleeping? Pills are not a Safe Solution

A compelling new study suggests that people who take sleeping pills are at an increased risk of dying or developing cancer within the next 2 and a half years. | more

What You Need to Know About Performance-Enhancing Supplements

Everyday new products are advertised, making promises that are often too good to be true. Consumers who desperately want to look and feel better are the unsuspecting guinea pigs for these untested products. Before you decide to buy nutritional supplements, it is important to gather objective information (not from the manufacturers), and to consult with your doctor or another health professional. | more

Will Acai Help Me Lose Weight?

Many sellers of health foods and supplements claim that the acai (AH-sah-EE) berry will help you lose weight. Dieters beware: these claims are false. | more

Glucosamine Supplements: Good for joints but possibly risky for diabetes

Glucosamine is a popular dietary supplement used by many who suffer from joint pain. Most dietary supplements make claims that aren't backed by scientific research, but NIH reports that daily doses of glucosamine can lower pain. As a result, the supplements are recommended by many physicians. But may these pills actually be dangerous? | more

Examining the Safety of Natural Supplements

In their quest for health and beauty, half of all American adults take natural supplements to solve all sorts of problems. But do these products really work, and how much do Americans know about their safety? Not as well as one may think, and not nearly enough. Ultimately, it is unwise to trust the claims that manufacturers of dietary supplements make about either the effectiveness or safety of their products. Let the buyer beware. | more

Should I Take Vitamin E Supplements?

Many people take vitamins, but it’s important to know what positive and negative effects they can have on our health. This article will focus on vitamin E, which is a powerful antioxidant. | more

Cold and Flu: Do Natural Health Products Work?

Cold and flu are two of the most common illnesses and there is no "cure" for either. Because antibiotics do not treat symptoms or cure either cold or flu, many people turn to natural products in an effort to prevent and treat cold and flu symptoms. But, do these products work, and are they safe? Here, a range of these products are compared, examining their safety and effectiveness. | more

The Facts About Medication for Colds and the Flu

Cold and flu are two of the most common illnesses and there is no "cure" for either. Because antibiotics do not treat symptoms or cure either cold or flu, many people turn to over-the-counter medications in an effort to prevent and treat cold and flu symptoms. But, do these products work, and are they safe? Are they safe for children as well? Can the risks outweigh the benefits? | more

What is Folic Acid and Why Do You Need it?

More than half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned. As such, it is very important for women of childbearing age to make sure their diet includes the proper amount of folic acid, which is vital for brain and spinal cord development within a baby. | more

Ginkgo Biloba May Help Memory but May Increase Stroke Risk

Ginkgo biloba has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years, and today it is one of the most popular herbal supplements, widely advertised as a beneficial antioxidant that helps prevent memory loss and dementia. Like most herbal products, however, there have been few clinical studies to see if these claims are accurate. Though both possible risks and benefits have been found in research, whether or not ginkgo biloba is good or bad for you is not yet known, and should be discussed with your physician. | more