Herbal nutrition - a good idea when dieting?
What are nutritional supplements?
With the increasing recognition given to herbal nutrition, the medical community continues to encourage the appropriate use of specified amounts in your diet.
Backed up by scientific studies, herbal nutrition is thus no longer perceived as an esoteric way for you to maintain a healthy body. Herbal nutrition is widely accepted for the relief of symptoms and prevention of certain ailments.
Herbal nutrition may take the form of tablets, capsules, liquid extracts, teas, and powders as health supplements.
In the 11th Annual Research Conference on Diet, Nutrition and Cancer, the American Institute for Cancer Research noted a survey showing that one of three Americans is using dietary supplements, of which many are derived from herbs http://www.nutrition.org/cgi/reprint/131/11/3034S.pdf .
In particular, it recognized green tea as a good source of natural anti-oxidants such as flavonoids that cleanses your body of harmful elements resulting from metabolism and other factors such as smoking, pollution and ultra-violet rays.
Some researches on tea , whether green or black, showed that it may play a role in preventing stroke, heart diseases and cancer.
As rehydrating drinks, teas sold with different fruit flavors may include additional Vitamin C. Aside from claimed laxative and longevity properties, producers claim that herbal teas serve as medical cure for diabetes, cough, and obesity
Other herbs mentioned by the American Institute for Cancer Research are St. John's Wort for relief of acute depression; Ginkgo Biloba for improved brain function, and Echinacea in preventing cold symptoms.
To prevent more serious ailments, herbal nutrition may be included in your diet to lower the risks of cancer. The herbs may work through several factors to provide the protection needed by the body.
Garlic , for example, is said to contain organosulfur compounds that may thwart cancers of the skin, esophagus, stomach, colon, liver, lung and mammary glands.
Not an elixir of life
While the use of herbal nutrition is gaining wider prominence after much support by actual scientific studies, you should not be swayed so easily as to accept the notion that a particular herb, even with its proven efficacy, is the only thing important in your diet.
Some medical experts perceive that herbal nutrition can even be harmful to you if taken in large quantities. Ginseng , for instance, is not advisable for people who are hypertensive or women who are pregnant. This kind of tea is a �cardiovascular tonic� and may push blood pressures upwards ( www.nursing-standard.co.uk/archives/ns/vol15-13/pdfs/p4752v15w13.pdf).
Be warned again
There is the difficulty in determining the kind of manufacturing regulations imposed by countries producing herbal supplements. Hence, there is also the risk that the products may be contaminated with harmful organisms or other chemicals.
If you have an impaired immune system because of chemotherapy, for instance, some health experts advise that you should avoid such herbs.
In case you wish to use any herbal supplements in your diet, this must be referred to your doctor. There is a possibility that the ingredients can affect your kidneys, liver and other organs. The risk of infection and any adverse interactions with your other medications are not also remote.
The Seattle Cancer Care Alliance , which includes the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, said some herbals may decrease blood clotting. As an example, persons with low platelet counts should not take garlic and Gingko Biloba
(www.seattlecca.org/files/web/ herbal _sup_2510_0.pdf)
The Seattle-based group further enumerated the following herbal and botanical medications with known dangerous side effects during cell transplantation and chemotherapy and should not be taken under any circumstance :
� Alfalfa
� Kava Kava
� Borage
� Laetrile (Apricot Pits)
� Chaparral
� Licorice Root
� Chinese herbs
� L-tryptophan
� Coltsfoot
� Lobelia
� Comfrey
� Maté Tea
� DHEA
� Pau d' arco
� Dieter's Tea (including senna, aloa,
rhubarb root, buckthorn, cascara,
castor oil)
� Pennyroyal
� Sassafras
� St. John's Wort
� Ephedra or MaHuange
� Yohimbe and Yohimbine
� Groundsel or Life Root
� Heliotrope or Valerian
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