PODCAST #9 3-1-07

WELCOME TO THE 9th EDITION OF THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST

Vitamin D again, Herbs, Bad studies , Melatonin and Breast Cancer.

As mentioned before Vitamin D is a very important vitamin for your health. A study of more then 700 pairs of twins reports that those born in northern states were almost twice as likely to get the disease
Multiple Scleroses as those born farther south. Possibly because early sun exposure (producing Vitamin D) protects against MS.

In previous podcasts I said that the newer studies for natural products are either biased by the drug companies or are badly done. Much research done before 2000 showed that St. John’s wort was effective for mild to moderate depression. It was then tested for major depression with much-publicized disappointing results. No mention was made that it had proven effective in moderate depression. Another example of misuse of modern studies is Saw Palmetto. Early evidence found Saw Palmetto was found useful in mild to moderate benign prostatic hyperplasia. So recently a study was done to show it was not useful in men with severe benign prostatic hyperplasia. In many previous studies. It was found good for mild to moderate benign prostatic hyperplasia but no good for severe benign prostatic hyperplasia. Why repeat the negative findings of a previous good study unless you want to stop the use of the herb, so people will use the more expensive prescription drug with side effects.

MELATONIN fights breast cancer
U.S. breast cancer rates plummeted 7.2% in 2003. This came one year after millions of women stopped taking conventional hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
Melatonin runs our sleep/wake cycle. When it get dark the pineal gland produces melatonin, when melatonin levels rise in the body we fall asleep. Melatonin is a powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and a free radical scavenger.
Melatonin has another use it is fast becoming a strong tool in breast cancer treatment and prevention. A Dec. 06 issue of the Indian Journal of Medical Science notes that in many randomized controlled trials, patients receiving supplemental Melatonin in addition to standard cancer therapies had substantially higher survival rates and significantly fewer side effects.
The Oct. 06 issue of Cancer Research has a report indicating that, in addition to Melatonin’s potential as a cancer preventive and inhibitor of tumor development and growth, it appears to increase the efficacy of chemotherapy, while decreasing side effects.
Melatonin comes in doses of 200 mcg, 1 mg. 3 mg. and 10 mg. The usual dose for sleep is 1 to 3 mg. Melatonin is taken 10 to 30 minutes before bedtime.

That’s all for PODCAST #9. I hope you found it interesting and informative. The next PODCAST will be Feb.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS is
health@lencolabs.com.

For more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com, thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with–Leonard Austin