I want you to think about what's inside it!

Dear Friend,

Like most people, I like to get the most bang for my buck, so, for me, every shopping trip is an exercise in comparing - prices, nutritional information... you name it. And now, if a team of researchers get their way, it looks like my shopping habit may extend beyond the shopping centre and the supermarket into the pharmacy.

Amanda Ross has more information, read her article below.

In the name of good health,

Pascale Barrow
Managing Editor of Nutrition & Healing

P.S. Controlling yeast infections (or candida) is often tricky and finding the root of the cause is important. Read below to see what Dr Wright recommends to fight this all-too-common infection.

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How to think "inside the box"
 
Amanda Ross
Editor Nutrition and Healing

In February researchers from Dartmouth presented a proposal to the FDA that would require drug ads to include fact boxes, or "benefit boxes" as they've been dubbed. These benefit boxes would include numerical tables that would outline how well the drug performed vs. placebo in clinical trials. The boxes would also list the odds of experiencing side effects while taking the drug.

The Dartmouth research team contends that these boxes would help consumers make more informed decisions about the prescription medications they're considering and possibly avoid taking drugs that show only marginal benefits.

One of the examples the researchers outlined involved a patented sleep aid. According to the researchers, the "benefit" box for the drug would show that participants who took it fell asleep an average of 15 minutes faster than those taking a placebo, and slept about 37 minutes longer than people in the placebo group. From there, consumers can decide whether the extra 50 minutes of sleep is worth it to them.

Personally, I think the idea of being able to see, in black and white, just how effective drugs really are (or aren't, as the case may be) is great - not to mention the straight facts on how risky they can be and how likely your chances are of experiencing those side effects. Perhaps it would help diffuse some of the "smoke and mirrors" we are exposed to.

I think this is a fabulous idea and hopefully it will eliminate some unnecessary consumption of certain drugs.

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Never have a yeast infection ever again
 
Dr Jonathan V Wright
Editor of Nutrition & Healing

Q: Do you have any information on natural treatments for candidiasis?

Dr. Wright: Candidiasis is basically a chronic yeast infection, which can be localised, topical or systemic. One of the reasons this condition is becoming so wildspread is the all-too-common, sugar-laden diet so many people consume. Sugar feeds yeast. Also, individuals with compromised immune systems, women who are pregnant or taking birth control pills, or people on antibiotics are more prone to yeast infections. And that's quite a significant portion of the population.

Luckily, there is a lot you can do about it. First, cutting out refined and simple sugars, alcohol, fruit juice and refined carbohydrates is a must. Also, food allergies need to be investigated, as they could cause imbalances in the system that invite yeast infection as well. Some individuals who experience an overgrowth of intestinal yeast significantly under-produce hydrochloric acid in their stomach. This affects the acid/alkaline balance of the entire gastrointestinal tract, leaving it lopsided on the alkaline side, which encourages the growth of yeast. For both of these conditions you should work closely with a natural medicine physician to remedy the underlying cause.

Incorporating probiotics and digestive enzymes into your diet can also produce "good" flora in your system which could help balance the yeast. Probiotic supplements (like acidophilus and lactobacillius) are available in most health shops.