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Can adaptogens help you adapt to stress?
Feeling run-down? Stressed? Anxious? Adaptogens to the rescue, say enthusiasts. Ashwagandha, rhodiola, ginseng, and a variety of mushrooms like cordyceps, reishi, and chaga are on most lists of...
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The potential benefits and risks of cannabis
“Ten years ago, when you referred to cannabis, you were talking about dried plant material that people smoked,” says Ryan Vandrey, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the...
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Essential oil benefits?
What can essential oils do for you? Use “sweet orange to quell anxiety,” “lavender to sleep better,” and “rosemary for better focus at work,” says health.com. Essential oils are made by cold-pressing...
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Can supplements help with depression?
Can vitamin D, omega-3 fats, or other nutrients ward off depression, as many labels imply? “Support” claims are rarely backed by good evidence. “All kinds of supplements claim to boost your mood or...
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Is kava the antidote for anxiety?
Kava is all the rage right now. But is there evidence that it actually quells anxiety? And could there be a downside? “Kava root has a long history of use in Polynesia for its mild sedative effects,”...
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A practical guide to marijuana
Recreational or medical marijuana is legal in most states in the U.S. If you live in one of those states and choose to use marijuana, here are some things to consider. If you’d like to learn more...
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Can cinnamon lower your blood sugar?
“Helps promote sugar metabolism,” says Trunature Advanced Strength CinSulin, a water extract of cinnamon. “Supports healthy blood glucose levels (within the normal range).” CinSulin? Surely...
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Got insomnia?
Who couldn’t use a little more sleep? Or at least a little more good-quality sleep. Here’s what can help…and what’s a waste of money. Michael V. Vitiello is professor of psychiatry and behavioral...
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Could probiotics do more harm than good?
Ever been told that you should load up on probiotics after a round of antibiotics? You’re not alone. In one survey of doctors and other healthcare providers, nearly 50 percent had recently...
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Can collagen supplements improve your skin’s appearance?
“Our line of beauty-specific products support the skin’s moisture, improving the elasticity, tone and vibrance,” promises Vital Proteins, which sells collagen powder. Skin mostly consists of the...
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Can peppermint oil relieve indigestion or IBS symptoms?
Its muscle-relaxing effects may soothe a sensitive gut. “Peppermint oil reduces abdominal pain by targeting specific pain receptors,” says Adrian Masclee, a professor of gastroenterology and hepatology...
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Does ginger help nausea?
Have you heard that ginger can calm an upset stomach? Here’s what the evidence says. “There’s strong evidence that ginger can help with nausea and vomiting from motion sickness, morning sickness, and...
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A probiotic for obesity? Really?
Did the New York Times oversell the results of a recent study on a probiotic? “People with metabolic disorders may benefit from supplements of a common gut bacterium, a small pilot study suggests,”...
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Can taking extra vitamin D help protect your bones?
The VITAL trial randomly assigned roughly 770 adults to take vitamin D (2,000 IU a day) or a placebo. (About 80 percent of them started with adequate vitamin D levels.) After two years, vitamin D...
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How to spot the tricky language that supplement companies use
Hoping to boost your immunity? Keep your brain sharp? Improve your mood? Look no further than the supplement aisle at your local drugstore. At least that’s what supplement makers want you to believe....
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Keep your eyes peeled for these marketing tactics
Supplement companies use advertising techniques that may fly under your radar. Here are two examples to watch out for. Advertorials Glance at the ad (above) from Zebra CBD (which sells CBD oils,...
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More vitamin D isn’t necessarily better
“Bone health,” says CVS brand vitamin D, which comes in five doses—400 IU, 1,000 IU, 2,000 IU, 5,000 IU, and 10,000 IU. Whoa. The Recommended Dietary Allowance is only 600 IU a day up to age 70 and...
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What does it mean for a supplement to be “Clinically Proven”?
Not much. Here’s how manufacturers can use the claim to sell us supplements we don’t need. “Clinically proven,” says the ad for Longevity by Nature’s Telos95 Telomere Health Support. Take the...
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How companies can slice and dice data to help sell products
What to do if your study didn’t pan out as you had hoped? Get creative, of course! While anyone can do shoddy science, supplement companies are notorious for funding studies that are tailor-made for...
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Vitamin D & vertigo
Vitamin D may help prevent benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), which occurs when tiny crystals in the inner ear get dislodged. Researchers randomly assigned 1,050 people who had been treated...
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