Monday, March 21, 2005
We love happy news!
"I'm so grateful to try an alternative to treating my sons' ADHD besides medicine. The diet I've just read about is something I do for myself and feel hopeful for Coleman to try it too!! Thank you." - This is an email that came across our desk this morning. Boy - talk about a great way to start the day! It thrills us to hear from people whose lives have improved. Keep the emails coming...!
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Is it FDA Approved? If so, RUN!!!
Okay, maybe I am exaggerating a bit but, honestly, doesn't it seem like we hear awful things about pharmacuetical drugs every time we pick up the newspaper? Last week researchers found that one in 12 children using methylphenidate experienced a 300 percent increase in levels of chromosome abnormalities, occurrences associated with increased risks of cancer and other adverse health effects.
It is important to note that this is the third piece of news in as many weeks highlighting serious risks associated with ADHD medications. First, Strattera linked to liver damage. Then, Canadian officials pulled Adderall off the shelves because Adderall has been linked to sudden death. Now, Ritalin is linked to conditions in the body that indicate cancer risk factors.The bottom line is that ADHD drugs are drugs. The body does not know the difference between a prescribed “legal” drug and a street drug - of which these are close cousins. For the sake of your body and your health (or your child’s body and health), seek out healthy alternatives to drugs.
It is important to note that this is the third piece of news in as many weeks highlighting serious risks associated with ADHD medications. First, Strattera linked to liver damage. Then, Canadian officials pulled Adderall off the shelves because Adderall has been linked to sudden death. Now, Ritalin is linked to conditions in the body that indicate cancer risk factors.The bottom line is that ADHD drugs are drugs. The body does not know the difference between a prescribed “legal” drug and a street drug - of which these are close cousins. For the sake of your body and your health (or your child’s body and health), seek out healthy alternatives to drugs.
Beat Depression and Boost Mood With Food
While many doctors routinely prescribe antidepressants as first-line treatment depression, there are more effective natural food alternatives.
Eating the right foods could have the same effect as taking traditional antidepressant medications, researchers at Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital found.
In a paper published in the Feb. 15 issue of Biological Psychiatry, a team of researchers report that omega-3 fatty acids and uridine, two naturally occurring substances in many foods, prevented the development of signs of depression in rats as effectively as antidepressant drugs.
In the study, researchers examined how omega-3 fatty acids and uridine affected the behavior of rats exposed to stress. Normally, rats quickly develop learned helplessness behavior -- believed to reflect despair in animal models -- when tested repeatedly under stressful conditions. Rats given injections of uridine or fed a diet enriched with high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids showed fewer signs of despair than untreated rats.
Scientists placed rats in a tank of water where they had no choice but to swim. As time passed, the rats realized swimming was useless and began to float -- a sign of surrender to depression. Yet when given an antidepressant drug, the rats resumed swimming.
When the rats were given combined doses of omega-3 fatty acids and uridine instead of antidepressants, similar behavior occurred -- lending evidence these natural components are equally effective as drugs.
Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish, and most abundantly in oily species like salmon and tuna. Walnuts, molasses and sugar beets are also foods high in these elements.
Biological Psychiatry February 15, 2005;57(4):343-350
Eating the right foods could have the same effect as taking traditional antidepressant medications, researchers at Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital found.
In a paper published in the Feb. 15 issue of Biological Psychiatry, a team of researchers report that omega-3 fatty acids and uridine, two naturally occurring substances in many foods, prevented the development of signs of depression in rats as effectively as antidepressant drugs.
In the study, researchers examined how omega-3 fatty acids and uridine affected the behavior of rats exposed to stress. Normally, rats quickly develop learned helplessness behavior -- believed to reflect despair in animal models -- when tested repeatedly under stressful conditions. Rats given injections of uridine or fed a diet enriched with high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids showed fewer signs of despair than untreated rats.
Scientists placed rats in a tank of water where they had no choice but to swim. As time passed, the rats realized swimming was useless and began to float -- a sign of surrender to depression. Yet when given an antidepressant drug, the rats resumed swimming.
When the rats were given combined doses of omega-3 fatty acids and uridine instead of antidepressants, similar behavior occurred -- lending evidence these natural components are equally effective as drugs.
Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish, and most abundantly in oily species like salmon and tuna. Walnuts, molasses and sugar beets are also foods high in these elements.
Biological Psychiatry February 15, 2005;57(4):343-350
More Bad News @ ADHD Medications
Study Shows Ritalin, Concerta Pose Cancer Risk Factor
A study released Thursday, (February 24, 2005) links Ritalin to an increased cancer risk and other health problems. In a small but startling study, researchers found that 1 out of every 12 children using methylphenidate experienced a threefold increase in levels of chromosome abnormalities, occurrences associated with increased risks of cancer and other adverse health effects.
These chromosome abnormalities occurred after just three months of using the drug methylphenidate, the generic name for a group of amphetamines that includes Ritalin, Concerta, Metadate CD and others. Methylphenidate is the most widely prescribed of a class of drugs used to treat ADHD.
Click [here] to view the full version of this article.
A study released Thursday, (February 24, 2005) links Ritalin to an increased cancer risk and other health problems. In a small but startling study, researchers found that 1 out of every 12 children using methylphenidate experienced a threefold increase in levels of chromosome abnormalities, occurrences associated with increased risks of cancer and other adverse health effects.
These chromosome abnormalities occurred after just three months of using the drug methylphenidate, the generic name for a group of amphetamines that includes Ritalin, Concerta, Metadate CD and others. Methylphenidate is the most widely prescribed of a class of drugs used to treat ADHD.
Click [here] to view the full version of this article.
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