Five Seasons Women’s Wellness: Health and Wellness Blog

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) added a warning to Tamiflu’s label after repeated reports of self-injury, suicide and delirium associated with the anti-viral drug.

Side effects, including panic attacks, delusions, delirium, convulsions, depression, loss of consciousness, and in some cases, suicide, occurred primarily in children under the age of 17 within a day of taking the drug.

Tamiflu is one of four treatments for seasonal flu in the U.S. It is usually taken to prevent or lessen the severity of the virus.

A new study published in the Journal of Food Science reports that the polysaccharides found in black tea may benefit people with diabetes by helping to slow down the absorption of sugars.

Full Article

Gibran Ramos, ND, MSOM, shares his top five secrets for good sleep:

1. Stick to a routine.
2. Start bedtime early.
3. Use your bed for sleep (and sex) only.
4. Sleep like a princess (or prince).
5. Build a cave, sleep like a bear.

These are all great ideas, especially #1 and #2.  Our bodies thrive on routine.  Keeping a regular sleeping schedule not only improves the ease and quality of sleep, but it improves daytime energy and overall vitality.

Check out the Full Article for more details.

Happy sleeping!

Read More at the FDA’s Website

Announcement issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA):

“[Posted 05/01/2009] FDA warned consumers to immediately stop using Hydroxycut products by Iovate Health Sciences, Inc., because they are associated with serious liver injuries. Hydroxycut products are dietary supplements that are marketed for weight-loss, as fat burners, as energy-enhancers, as low carb diet aids, and for water loss under the Iovate and MuscleTech brand names.

FDA has received 23 reports of serious health problems ranging from jaundice and elevated liver enzymes, an indicator of potential liver injury, to liver damage requiring liver transplants. One death due to liver failure has been reported to FDA. Other health problems reported include seizures; cardiovascular disorders; and rhabdomyolysis, a type of muscle damage that can lead to other serious health problems such as kidney failure.

The agency has not yet determined which ingredients, dosages, or other health-related factors may be associated with risks related to these Hydroxycut products. FDA continues to investigate the potential relationship between Hydroxycut dietary supplements and liver injury or other potentially serious side effects.”

visit the FDA’s website for more information

A study published last month in the Archives of Internal Medicine reported that older adults who eat a lot of red and processed meat are at a higher risk of death.  Conversely, the study found that eating white meat (poultry and fish) may have a protective effect.

After adjustment for confounders, men and women who consumed the highest amount of red and processed meat had significantly increased risks for overall mortality, cancer-related deaths, and cardiovascular-disease–related deaths, relative to those who consumed the least.

Consumption of white meat was associated with significantly decreased risks for total and cancer-related mortality.

Article: Acupuncture and Stress

Many children’s toys contain harmful chemicals like lead and arsenic that are linked to a host of health problems.

Check out www.HealthyToys.org for ratings on more than 2,800 toys.

www.HealthyToys.org

Interesting snippet on the multiple factors that can cause heart attacks.

DR. WEIL: Cholesterol Just One Heart Factor

The evidence is mounting that diet and lifestyle are the best cures for our worst afflictions.

Wall Street Journal article by Deepak Chopra, Dean Ornish, Rustum Roy and Andrew Weil