2002 April

It may not get the popular press of its "cousins" C and E, but new research is showing us that vitamin D may reduce the risk of heart disease. That's right, in addition to keeping bones strong and reducing the effects of osteoporosis, a new study reports that vitamin D may protect women from heart disease.

On March 13th the European Parliament – a 626-member legislative body representing the 15 European Union countries – passed the "EU Directive on Dietary Supplements," which classifies vitamins as medical drugs rather than food supplements. The Directive grants a transition period of three years for vitamin supplements already on the market. But in 2005, every EU country will be required to implement the Directive.

In two new studies, scientists found even more evidence that the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil can significantly improve cardiovascular health and cut your risk of heart attack in half.

For centuries, Traditional Chinese Medicine has taught that tea can be potent medicine. Modern alternative medicine has embraced that idea for years – and recently, even the mainstream has supported the benefits of tea. It's no wonder – research continues to reinforce that the antioxidants in tea can protect your heart, fight cancer, and prevent disease.

St. John's wort, the popular herbal supplement used for more than 2,000 years to take the edge off mild depression, got kicked around in the press last week. And it wasn't pretty.