Category: health-letter

The federal government’s dietary guidelines are likely to Include recommendations to reduce sodium intake, take vitamin D, avoid solid fats, and more.

My doctor gave me a prescription for 50,000 units of vitamin D to be taken every two weeks. But I’ve read that the recommended dose is more like 1,000 IU a day, and that more than 2,000 IU a day is unsafe. I don’t want to do more harm than good!

Ultraviolet light causes skin cancer, but it also triggers the body’s production of vitamin D, which seems to counteract it. Limited sun exposure can boost levels of vitamin D, or it can be obtained through a vitamin supplement.

The argument for taking a daily multivitamin is not as strong as it used to be. Research continues to accumulate showing that vitamins do not provide the benefits they were once believed to, and sometimes can be harmful.

Certain nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D or potassium and sodium, work better in pairs, which is useful information when making nutritional choices.

An ultrasound screening can detect blockage in the carotid arteries, but a government task force is discouraging such screenings due to the very small percentage of the population at risk for such a stroke.

The government has released the latest version of its dietary guidelines, but some health care professionals are disappointed, because they feel that the recommendations regarding sugar-sweetened drinks and salt consumption are not strong enough.

I’m 70 and exercise 30 minutes a day. I’ve heard that creatine supplements might help build muscle strength. Is there anything to it?

Research on crying focuses on several different areas, including the chemicals in emotional tears and their purpose, and whether or not depressed people cry more.

A new type of health care organization aims to improve managed care by controlling costs and rewarding efficiency while maintaining high standards of care.