Health News, Vitamin Products, Nutrition Products, Nutrition Supplements, Online Health Shop

Cold season will soon be here and that means it's time to remind people that antibiotics aren't effective against colds and inappropriate use of antibiotics may be harmful, says a doctor at Washington University in St. Louis. "People need to remember that antibiotics are used for bacterial infections. A common cold is a virus. Antibiotics simply won't work on viral infections," Dr. David C. Mellinger, associate director and chief physician at the university's Student Health Service, said in a prepared statement. In addition, the overuse of antibiotics can lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. "We all have bacteria in our bodies. If they are constantly exposed to antibiotics, the normal bacteria can become resistant. Those bacteria can then end up actually causing more infections," Mellinger said. He cited penicillin as an example. "Penicillin, one of the first antibiotics created, killed many of the bacteria that existed during the last century. But over time, bacteria have built up resistance to penicillin. Now, it is really only prescribed for streptococcus, the organism that causes strep throat, and a few other select infections," Mellinger said. People with colds shouldn't ask their doctor for antibiotics. Instead, they should drink plenty of fluids, rest, and perhaps try an over-the-counter cold remedy, he suggested. Vitamin Cafe has stocked up for winter to help you steer clear of Colds & Flus. Our huge range of remedies to to boost your immune system and ward off infections can be found on this link: click here to open the link

Fish oils 'keep arteries clear' Doctors have discovered how oily fish protects against heart disease and stroke. Researchers at Southampton University have found that omega-3 oils stop the build up of fatty deposits in the arteries. If left unchecked these deposits can block key routes to the heart or brain triggering an attack or stroke. The findings add to growing evidence that eating oily fish or taking fish oil supplements reduce the risks of this happening. Professor Philip Calder and colleagues based their findings on a study of 162 patients who were waiting to have surgery to remove dangerously high levels of fatty build-up or plaques in their arteries. Daily supplements The patients were divided into three groups and were asked to take either omega-3 fish-oil capsules, sunflower-oil capsules or a dummy capsule six times a day. On average, they took the capsules for 42 days. After the patients underwent surgery, doctors examined their plaques. They found that there were far fewer inflammatory cells in the plaques of patients who had taken the omega-3 fish oil capsules. This meant that they were less likely to rupture and to trigger a heart attack or stroke. Professor Calder hailed the results saying they offered hope to the hundreds of thousands of people who die from arterial disease every year. He suggested that people should eat more oily fish or take fish-oil supplements. "I have no hesitation in recommending that people increase their consumption of omega-3s, even if they are not ill, because they are protective," he said. "Increasing their intake of omega-3 fatty acids simply by eating more oily fish or taking fish oil capsules can reduce their risk of heart-related death." Professor Calder acknowledged that the patients involved in the study took relatively high doses of omega-3 oil. However, he suggested that taking much lower amounts over longer periods could be equally beneficial. "We gave them about 1.6 grams of omega-3 per day, which is 10 times more than people would normally have," he said. "To achieve this level people would have to consume several oily fish meals a week or take quite a number of fish oil capsules per day. "The level we're talking about is quite high, but if people have a very long period of exposure to a lower dose it might have the same effect." More research The Stroke Association welcomed the study but said more research is needed to determine how much omega-3 oils people should take. Eoin Redahan, one of its directors, said: "This research strengthens the information that has already been around about omega-3 fatty acids." But speaking to BBC News Online, he added: "What we don't know is how much omega-3 should be taken and how it should be taken. "For instance, if you take too much it can block the normal blood clotting process and that in turn could lead to excessive bleeding. This could be dangerous after someone has suffered a haemorrhagic stroke." Professor Sir Charles George, Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, added: "This research is important, and it reinforces advice to eat one portion of white fish and one portion of oily fish every week." The study is published in the medical journal The Lancet. FAQ: What's the best way to get fish oil in my diet? Studies have shown that many fish contain high levels of mercury and other toxins from our polluted oceans. The health risks of these toxins can outweigh the potential benefits of omega-3 fish oil. Currently, it appears that the safest way to get omega-3's in your diet is from high quality, pharmaceutical grade fish oil supplements. The highest quality brands available today refine fish oil through a complex molecular distillation process to filter out any impurities.