Extreme cases when ingredients in herbal supplements cause severe side effects are unusual. But dietary supplements have long raised safety worries, with high-profile examples including ephedra, the herbal weight-loss treatment pulled from the U.S. market in 2004 after it was tied to heart problems and strokes. Some doctors continue to be concerned about evidence of side effects from such herbal ingredients, including research highlighting possible concerns about kava and comfrey. And the issue is drawing new attention after recent reports from the FDA about allegedly natural supplements illegally containing performance-enhancing drugs and undeclared pharmaceuticals.

For consumers, the upshot can be confusion and alarm. But people can reduce the risk that the supplements they take will endanger their health using a growing number of online information resources and certification programs, and some common-sense tactics.

Nearly two-thirds of American adults take dietary supplements, a broad category that includes vitamins, minerals and herbal products, according to the Council for Responsible Nutrition, an industry trade group. The most commonly used include multivitamins, calcium and omega-3, the group says. Allegedly natural over-the-counter treatments that promise to melt pounds, build muscle or boost energy are also widely used.

Most herbal supplements are consumed without raising safety concerns. Still, the products are much less closely scrutinized than drugs, which are tested extensively and must win FDA approval before going on the market. Supplements that are made from products that were on the U.S. market before 1994 can be sold without being reviewed by the FDA beforehand. Companies that include newer substances are supposed to inform the agency before they go on the market, but don’t have to wait for approval.

Officials at the Council for Responsible Nutrition say no new laws are needed, citing new FDA manufacturing standards for supplements, which are now being phased in, as well as a requirement for supplement makers to tell the FDA when they get reports of serious side effects, which took effect at the end of 2007.

Thats why people who want to take a supplement should talk to a doctor. Along with talking to a physician, people can do their own research. Many herbs have been tested in major studies and shown no benefits. Some have been linked to side effects, even without the presence of undisclosed drugs.

Before they take a supplement, consumers should also check for potential interactions between any herb, vitamin or mineral and their prescriptions. They should also be particularly sensitive if they have existing health issues. For instance, those with heart conditions should be careful about supplements that act as stimulants, which can involve ingredients such as bitter orange and guarana, in addition to caffeine.

Consumers can also search for specific supplements before taking them at www.fda.gov, to see if they’ve been included in safety warnings. Some other tactics are common sense, like being suspicious of those that boast dramatic curative effects. Consumers should also closely read the ingredients. Potentially dangerous substances often won’t be disclosed. But sometimes they are – if you know what to look for.

Finally, people should watch carefully for any symptoms that start after they take a new supplement.

When used properly, many herbal supplements may be safe and possibly beneficial to health. However, a few natural supplements can cause life-threatening problems or dangerous interactions with medications.

Natural doesn’t always mean safe when it comes to herbal supplements, according to the Mayo Clinic Health Newsletter. The newsletter covers some of the known interactions between herbal supplements and medications:

Garlic, ginseng, ginger and feverfew:
Patients who take anti-clotting medications such as aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin) and clopidogrel (Plavix) should avoid these natural supplements. They may increase the risk of bleeding. Supplements chondroitin and glucosamine also may interfere with warfarin.

Ginkgo:
Ginkgo may increase the risk of bleeding in patients taking anti-clotting medications. Ginkgo can counteract the blood pressure-lowering benefits of thiazide diuretic drugs. It also can interfere with anti-seizure medications.

Kava:
Kava is a sedative herb and is associated with serious liver problems, even when taken for a short time. Many medications, such as cholesterol-lowering drugs, pose a risk of liver damage. Taking kava supplements may increase the risk of liver problems even more.

St. John’s wort:
This supplement can greatly increase or decrease the potency of many medications and cause serious side effects. Patients who take antidepressants, anti-blood-clotting drugs, certain asthma drugs, immune-suppressing medications or steroids should probably avoid St. John’s wort.

S-adenosylmethionine (SAM-e):
This can cause serious side effects when taken with antidepressant medications that affect serotonin.

It’s always best to keep health care providers informed about natural herbal supplement you use, especially when starting a new medication or preparing for a medical procedure. Some herbal supplements need to be discontinued two to three weeks before certain surgical procedures, because they affect blood clotting, response to sedation and blood pressure control.

Resveratrol Antioxidants and Weight Loss: A Good Pairing?

The golden rule in weight loss is pretty simple: take in fewer calories than you expend in exercise. However, as any dieter will tell you, it’s far from easy. Americans spend billions of dollars a year on weight loss supplements, exercise programs and other diet aids—and still we can’t seem to win the battle of the bulge—even when we get desperate enough to try risky surgery or fad diets.

Recently a new product has come to light that may help people trying to lose weight stay on the healthy end of the spectrum: Resveratrol Select, which is unlike many diet supplements in that it uses a combination of natural and herbal ingredients designed to help the body stay healthy while losing weight. How? By mimicking certain aspects of the Mediterranean diet.

Studies have shown that part of America’s war with weight lies in the uniquely modern American combination of stressful lifestyle and fast-food consumption, and that the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle seem to be more conducive to healthier weight levels and longevity. In fact, much as been made on the news in recent months of the purported “French Paradox” (how the French eat a high-fat diet, enjoy rich desserts, drink wine and still have better cardiovascular health than the rest of us). One of the biggest differences between the American and French diet seems to be the wine consumption, and red wine (a staple on most Mediterranean tables) contains one of nature’s most powerful antioxidants, resveratrol, which is a key ingredient in Resveratrol Select. In addition to wine, resveratrol is also found in grape skins, blueberries, cranberries and other plants, and recent animal and in vitro studies indicate that it can have a positive effect on helping to maintain healthy cholesterol levels, supporting insulin health and optimizing metabolic and immune pathways that protect cells and improve mitochondrial function. And one capsule of Resveratrol Select includes as much resveratrol as 200 glasses of wine—without the added calories that alcohol can add to the waistline.

But consuming resveratrol alone isn’t enough to help with weight loss—so the manufacturers of Resveratrol Select also added a different type of antioxidant, Green Tea Extract (EGCG), which could make a big difference. Over time, green tea consumption helps increase metabolism, burn fat and reduce fat storage due to its caffeine and L-theanin content, which can be pivotal in helping to maintain energy for exercise.

Resveratrol Select combines these two powerful antioxidants with yet another energy boosting ingredient, Chromium, a niacin-based mineral that plays an important role in how the body uses insulin to burn sugars, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins for energy.

Although relatively new to the market, Resveratrol Select seems to be making a big splash, and many people are taking advantage of the free trial offer to see how well the product works for them. The trial offer also includes two bonus tools to help with weight loss: an e-book with over 70 weight loss tips, and a weight loss visualization audio.Of course, consuming fewer calories while burning more is the most efficient form of weight loss, and it’s always a good idea to inform your doctor before taking a weight loss supplement, but this new combination herbal supplement is worth a look for those concerned about maintaining good health while losing weight.

Since Dr Basant Puri, a consultant psychiatrist and senior lecturer at London’s Imperial College MRI unit, released his findings on Omega 3 and its effect on brain function and depression, many studies have been performed regarding the beneficial effects of this fatty acid. Studies over the past two years have consistently confirmed that Omega 3, a substance lacking in today’s “diet” is a key component in the brain’s development and proper functioning.

The notion that Omega 3 was linked to depression and other mental illnesses came about based on studies conducted at Harvard University in 1999 on people with bipolar and a 1996 study by the Journal of the American Medical Association studying the prevalence of depression across ten countries. The Harvard study found that fish oil was an effective treatment for bipolar. The study conducted by the Journal of the American Medical Association was expanded upon in 1998 when it was discovered that depression was lower in countries that consumed higher levels of fish.

Omega 3 As Part Of A Healthy Diet

Omega 3 is a substance found most commonly in fatty fish such as fresh salmon, tuna, mackerel, pilchards and sardines. Over the last 100 years the western diet has shifted radically to include far less fish and thus the Omega 3 fatty acid. During the same time depression is estimated to have increased up to 100 fold.

To maintain ideal health, the average person should consume five grams daily of essential fatty acids (divided between Omega 3, Omega 6 and Omega 9). As this is not likely to change at any point in the near future some recommendations have been laid out for those who choose to take Omega 3 supplements.

Omega 3 And The Brain

While the benefits of Omega 3 fatty acids can be noticed on many levels, the biggest breakthroughs documented have occurred in improved mental functions and health. Omega 3 has been reported to be effective in the treatment of depression. Numerous studies have indicated that during double-blind tests, patients suffering from depression who take Omega 3 over a placebo report significant benefits.

Similar results have been reported in the treatment of bipolar and schizophrenia. There are theories that Omega 3 could be used to treat other mental conditions such as attention deficit disorder, borderline personality disorder, dyslexia and cognitive impairment however at the time of this writing these beliefs are unsubstantiated by anything more than preliminary data.

Omega 3 And The Body

The main reported benefits of Omega 3 for the body occur in the heart. The American Heart Association recommends eating fatty fish at least twice per week in order to reduce the likelihood of heart disease.
Additionally, Omega 3 has been reported effective as an anti-inflammatory. And according to an article by Judith Horstman for Arthritis Today, “There’s strong evidence that fish oil supplements with omega-3 fatty acids can ease rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms, help prevent Raynaud’s syndrome spasms and possibly relieve some lupus symptoms.

Omega 3 Supplements

Any good doctor or nutritionist will tell you that the best way to get any nutrient is to go right to the source and eat it through the foods they originate. In the case of Omega 3 this would most likely be in the form of fatty fish, flaxseed, walnuts, canola oil and soybean oil. That said, this is not always possible given the average westerner’s diet and lifestyle. Additionally, for those suffering from sever depression or using Omega 3 to combat an existing condition, the amount contained in the foods we eat may not provide enough of this fatty acid. If this is the case then it is important to know what you are looking for.

The supplement should be high in EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). EPA, along with DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are the two active ingredients in Omega 3. EPA is considered to be the therapeutic element. It is thus important to purchase a supplement higher in EPA than DHA.

Due to the recent developments and study of Omega 3 and all of its potential health benefits, the majority of studies and information on it are preliminary and based on smaller test groups. Additional research is underway and should provide additional insight into how it works and exactly what its role is in the brain’s functioning and development.

Currently additional studies are ongoing into the roll of Omega 3 in brain and nerve regeneration, depression, heart disease, arthritis, cancer, neck and back pain, stress and an assortment of other mental and physical conditions.