– Letter from Marilyn

– In the News: recent progress from the world of health

• Diet pill ‘made children smarter’
• Just 15 minutes exercise can beat obesity
• Vitamin D can ease arthritis
• Aromatherapy really is good for your health
• Missing breakfast leads to cholesterol rise

 – Making the body more alkaline boosts bone denisty and prevents osteoporosis

– Your snack prescription: nibble your way to good health and weight loss

• Eat every 2 to 3 hours to speed up your metabolism

 – 10 reasons you’re tired

• Fight fatigue with our energy solutions

– Natural solutions for the menopause you can trust

• Safe alternatives to combat the symptoms

– Cartoon: Omega oils 

– Magnesium supplements may protect adolsescents against bone loss later in life

• Stronger bones in the future for girls who take a daily dose

– Natural metabolism boosters: 9 ways to burn more calories

– Healthy words: obsessed with health?

– The true power of good nutrition – case study

• How Karen got back her life after suffering with heavy bleeding

– 15 ways to beat the bloat 

• Feel better fast with our strategies to reduce excess gas

– Dietary advice for future dads

• If you’re trying for a child your partner should eat healthily too

– Healthy words: early to bed

– Healthy words: health & hope

– How toxic is your home?

• Reduce your exposure to dangerous chemicals

– Healthy words: physical fitness

– Marilyn’s top 10 brain foods (food for thought part 2)

• Top 10 foods for better brain performance

– Ask Marilyn:

• Star Question: confused about green tea
• Cluster headaches?
• How to avoid sweets?
• Dry, itchy skin on face & hands?

– Ingredient spotlight: Dates

• Naturally sweet and providing many health benefits

– Monthly Meal Idea: Date Slice

• A delicious and naturally sweet snack

– Coming Next Month (June 2007)

Look out for more answers from Marilyn, the latest news, case studies from the Clinic, Monthly Meal Ideas and also:

• Your Weight Loss Plan For Life
• Is Stress making you ill and overweight?
• Good news for menopausal women: You can avoid hot flushes and other symptoms by changing your diet
• The Big Vitamin Scare: Can supplements kill you?
• A Question of Balance: How weight affects fertility

And, as always, much, much more …

Dear Reader

I hope you are enjoying the articles in Natural News and do send in your feedback as that way I can keep improving the content and design.

This issue of Natural News includes an article on the natural approach to the menopause and as there seems to be a lot of confusion around this subject, I wanted to clarify one particular issue. I have always used the herb black cohosh in my clinics with great success for the menopausal hot flushes and night sweats so it came as a surprise to know that in the future all black cohosh products will have to carry a warning saying that the herb may cause rare but serious liver disorders.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) report cites 14 cases of women with liver problems in the UK that were “possibly” or “probably” linked to black cohosh. When the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) reviewed all the evidence worldwide, it concluded that, in fact, there were only two “possible” (one in the UK) and two “probable” cases and that it is not clear whether black cohosh caused the problem. These four cases are such a small number when weighed up against an estimated 9 million treatment days of black cohosh used each year.

The National Institute of Health in the US believes there’s no case to answer and their website states that black cohosh has few side effects and that ‘liver damage has been reported in a few individuals using black cohosh, but millions of people have taken the herb without apparent adverse health effects. There is no scientific evidence to show that the herb causes liver damage.’

Also worryingly, researchers have found that some black cohosh products on the market contain an Asian species of black cohosh which is cheaper than the North American black cohosh. Compared with the species cultivated in North America, the Asian variety has different chemical properties and may have different effects on the body.

So I would still recommend that you use black cohosh as the herb of choice for the menopause symptoms but make sure that you buy from reputable companies so that you know you are getting the best quality herb and preferably buy organic.

Kind regards,

Marilyn Glenville PhD