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Note to reader: We try to focus on the
herbs in our products to bring you the latest information
- we will continue to add information about other women's
herbs you may want to consider. This section is arranged alphabetically.
Black Cohosh
BLACK COHOSH AND LIVER CONCERNS
Recently, there has been a lot of concern about black cohosh causing liver disorders.
So much so that Australia, the UK and Canada are now requiring black cohosh
products to carry warning labels. (stay tuned, they may very well reverse these
warnings) There continues to be a lot of development on this issue as scientific
evidence to the claim is very questionable. Just this past week a US court
dismissed a case that claimed black cohosh caused liver disorder.
I first took notice of this when a few
cases came out of Australia in 2004. At the time I
was able to locate the cases Australia was referring to. I
remember that these women had been older, on several pharmaceutical
drugs with histories of various serious illnesses over long
periods of time. How they came to the conclusion that
it was black cohosh that caused the liver toxicity seemed
to me, quite frankly, a big stretch.
But since then, Australia has had 9 complaints
about liver damage associated with black cohosh - and sited
47 worldwide. Although extremely rare, could it be
that it takes millions of women to take something before
we know that it could cause liver damage? The
Australian government also pointed out the rarity of the
occurrence. Are they even sure that it was black cohosh
causing the damage, with any clue to amounts or concentrations? Or
perhaps because it's so rare, black cohosh is not a cause
but a coincidence or correlation? What process
did the government go through to establish this? In
the end, liver toxicity is serious and we must take an honest,
hard look at it.
That is what the NIH did in late 2004. In
response to these concerns, the NIH held a one day workshop
considering liver toxicity claims as well as those about
the safety of black cohosh for women with a history of breast
cancer. The link to the write up is listed below. There has
been a lot of on-going research on the herb - and it was
interesting to review the progress. They first
went through how they believe black cohosh works - and once
again stressed that no studies show any estrogenic activity. Studies
continue to confirm that it is safe for women with breast
cancer. While no one is sure how black cohosh
works, the experts hypothesized that one way may be through
the serotonin receptors, specifically binding in two receptor
subtypes SHT-1A and 5HT-7. Both of these receptors
are associated with the hypothalamus, which is involved in
body thermoregulation. They also theorized that black
cohosh may have a positive effect on other systems as it
is found to have antioxidant activity.
But I'm drifting here a little… they
also looked to see if there was anything in the plant that
could be identified as potentially harmful to the liver. Catechols
were identified as a possible source but were dismissed because
they were not absorbed into the intestines. Therefore
at this time there is no known mechanism in the plant or
extract that would cause an adverse effect to the liver. Later,
a leading black cohosh German scientist who has headed several
clinical studies over the year (black cohosh has been
used regularly by Germans for 40 years) summarized
that since hepatotoxicity is always a serious health concern,
he routinely screens for liver function. He has never
identified an adverse effect. This year Dr. Farnsworth,
Professor of Pharmacology at University of Illinois, was
quoted as saying that during a current clinical trial on
black cohosh he's been monitoring liver enzymes in women
for over a year and has found no increase in enzyme levels.
The attention then turned in depth to some
individual cases -- two cases from the US and two from Australia. Each
case raised some very serious doubts whether black cohosh
was really the cause of the damage. In one case the
patient remembered seeing "black cohosh" on the
label but couldn't remember the product name. In the
other, the patient had been to Mexico seven months earlier
and had a history of three medical conditions as well as
depression. This woman was taking Synthroid, Prozac
and Darvocet. Experts agreed that causation was very
difficult to determine. One expert even argued that
it's possible that black cohosh was a protective element
for the liver if women of this population had less incidence
of liver disease than the general population. This
became the most important unanswered question in the workshop
- no one had any baseline data on what the hepatotoxicity
rates are for the general population.
One of the Australian cases that seemed
to be the most serious was a 47 year old woman who took black
cohosh for a week and three weeks later was admitted to the
hospital for liver failure. She eventually had a liver transplant
and remains well four years later. The actual source
of this black cohosh has not been confirmed or independently
tested. This obviously makes it very difficult to
determine whether it was the black cohosh or not. The
other Australian case involved a multi-herbal tincture
made by a pharmacist. It contained only 10% black cohosh
along with other herbs that were more likely to be hepatotoxic
than the black cohosh.
Overall, the panel noted the weakness in
the claim that black cohosh was really the cause of hepatotoxic
effects in these cases. In fact, it was stressed that
if black cohosh is taken by the millions of women that trade
groups are reporting, any adverse effects of the herb are
incredibly low. Having said that, a really good
point was made by a digestive and kidney disease expert. He
pointed out that studies are not powered to detect rare events
and only after thousands of people take a product can such
a thing as hepatotoxicity be detected. And the more
cases of this, the harder it becomes to dismiss. It can be
life threatening.
That sounds correct to me - as long as
the cases are being evaluated with good scientific sense. Hepatotoxicity
covers a spectrum of liver disease. According to this
expert, the cause can be determined in 90% of cases. It
is also the most common basis for pharmaceutical drugs being
pulled from the market or not being approved. The most
common cause of acute liver failure is the use of acetaminophen
(Tylenol). Many hepatotoxicity cases involve people taking different
drugs and OTC's as well as herbs. So, this must be sorted
out and obviously can be if 90% of the cases can be determined.
In my opinion, this is where Australia,
the UK and Canada dropped the ball. In February of
this year, the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration
(TGA) issued a policy for a new warning label required on
all herbal products containing black cohosh. The label
is to read, "Warning: Black cohosh may harm the liver
in some individuals. Use under supervision of a healthcare
professional." Later in the year, the UK followed
suit with a similar rule and Canada issued a safety statement. The
problem is, as many herbalists have pointed out, none of
these agencies have detailed the process or criteria they
used to determine this harm. It appears that they read
published cases but as we've seen from the NIH workshop,
when analyzed they don't hold up.
The American court system agrees. Just
last week one of two big cases believed to show causation
was dismissed with a preliminary judgment. The plaintiff
developed autoimmune hepatitis and required a liver transplant
just months after starting to use black cohosh. A lot
of inconsistencies emerged between the case write up and
court testimony. Most notably was the fact that the
woman drank alcohol, took ibuprofen and had been prescribed
Valtrex, a drug that lists liver enzyme abnormalities and
hepatitis as adverse reactions. In the case report the patient
did not drink or take any other medications, including herbals. The
patient's physician was one of the authors of the published
case and later an expert witness. The court found another
expert witness, a toxicologist, lacked expertise as he testified
that there was a causal link that could be tested but he
had not conducted animal or human tests on black cohosh toxicity.
"In fact, the research has consistently
held to the contrary, that black cohosh is non hepatotoxic," said
the court ruling.
The defense motioned for these two witnesses
to be excluded and later for a summary judgment. Both
were granted and the complaint was dismissed. This
dismissal of this case has prompted trade organizations to
approach Australia, UK and Canada to reconsider their rulings. So
far, the UK has agreed to reconsider.
As for Oöna and taking our products,
this is what I think. I know you know this about us,
but it warrants repeating… we take every step possible
to make sure that what goes into our products are the correct
species in the amounts that we say. We do independently
test each batch to make sure that we have reliable efficacy. I
am concerned about some adulterate products out there - so
sincerely, don't buy cheap. You know that we are extremely
careful about the source of our products.
And while I don't believe that black cohosh
is the cause of hepatotoxicity - if you are on pharmaceutical
drugs or have liver disease - please have your liver enzymes
regularly tested and read the fine print on those inserts. Consult
your physician or other health care professional about adding
Oona. I also love Alpha Lipoic Acid for the health
of the liver - but again, do check with your health care
professional.
What are the signs that your liver may
not be working properly?
Jaundice
- yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes
Dark urine
Nausea/vomiting
Diarrhea
Fatigue
Weight and/or
appetite loss
Fever
Bloated
abdomen or abdominal pain
We're here for you and your health and
will continue to update on this issue.
http://nccam.nih.gov/news/pastmeetings/blackcohosh_mtngsumm.pdf#know
http://www.herbalgram.org/herbalgram/articleview.asp?a=3010
http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=70068-black-cohosh-health-canada
http://www.imt.ie/displayarticle.asp?AID=11360&NS=1&CAT=18&SID=1
http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=70681
-black-cohosh-liver
http://www.ahpa.org/Default.aspx?tabid=69&aId=318&zId=1
http://www.tga.gov.au/cm/blkcohosh.htm
Newsletter
Fall 2006
BEWARE OF SUBSTITUTE BLACK COHOSH
An interesting study just came out about black cohosh used
in products like ours. Published
in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, and funded by the NIH Center
for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (it does not necessarily reflect the
views of the NIH, but usually validates the methodology as they wouldn’t
get a grant otherwise) the study found that 3 of 11 or almost one third of black
cohosh products tested were found to have an asian species that resembles
black cohosh but is not the native North American plant that we use in all of
our Oöna products. This asian derivation is also less expensive
and does not contain the same medicinal constituents. It is considered
to be inferior.
What was also interesting about this study
is that it explains what we have said and experienced all
along – that it is the quality of our extracts that
make the performance of our product so much better than others
on the shelf. We pay about 3X the amount for our extract
than others available. Price does not always mean
better quality, but in this case we feel that the price we
pay is insuring the culmination of the best plants, care
in the extraction method as well as adequate and subsequent
testing throughout.
What this study explains is that there
appears to be great differences in the amounts of triterpene
glycosides as well as phenolic constituents in black cohosh
among the products they chose. These two groups are believed
to mark or indicate the medicinal value of the plant. There
are other variables as well, but to keep it simple, the article
suggests that as a result, there exists differences in the
performance of product.
So as we say, you may have tried black
cohosh before, but if you haven’t tried Oöna we
don’t feel you really know if it works for you. If
you have tried Oöna and it doesn’t work
for you, you can be sure that you can pass over black cohosh
and move on to something else.
http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/sample.cgi/jafcau/2006/54/i09/html/jf0606149.html
http://www.ahpa.org/Default.aspx?tabid=69&aId=288&zId=1
Newsletter
Summer 2006
ON MY SOAP BOX
I can’t help it. A new black cohosh study came out last month and
in my opinion, it’s one with an agenda – but I’ll let you decide
for yourself. This study has not been peer reviewed or published but was
presented during an annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology
last month. The study was a double blind study with 132 women, taking black
cohosh for a month. It declared that black cohosh was no less effective
than placebo and therefore should not be recommended to patients. It of
course failed to mention the other minimum 14 studies that support it’s
safety and usage.
There are several issues with the study
as pointed out by the American Botanical Council.
First, they tried to reproduce a popular
German product – it is unclear to what extent they
were able to replicate this product. Further, the NIH
has done extensive research on what they believe constitutes
an effective black cohosh (this is what we follow) – they
could have easily have gotten those specifications. In
addition, these women only took this product for a month – at
40mg. of black cohosh a day, it’s no wonder that only
34% preferred black cohosh compared to 38% for placebo. At
that rate, it very well may not have had enough time to have
an effect.
These are all reasons that Oöna is
here in the market. Not all black cohosh is alike and
to treat it as such is a real disservice to women. This
is why we make such a big deal about the quality of our ingredients
and independently test each batch. It’s also
why we believe in a “loading period” for the
herb – so that women can get relief faster.* It makes
a difference.* At the same time we certainly do not
say that black cohosh works for everyone, but it has been
shown effective for a great majority of women, close to 80%
-- especially for symptoms that would not be considered “severe”*. We
also make sure that you get enough, having talked with many
practioners, 40mg. a day of a lesser grade standardized black
cohosh will take a long time to work. Finally,
it’s also the reason we add chaste tree berry to our
formula – as chaste tree is known to work in a similar
fashion on the hypothalamus/pituitary access yet seems to
focus on the luteal or second half of the cycle.* Many
times menopause can exasperate PMS type symptoms, like bloating,
headaches, mood swings, etc. so the chaste tree berry is
a real complement to the black cohosh.*
http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?id=60079
Newsletter
June 2005
AT THE SAME TIME
a new trial was published in a peer reviewed journal, Obstetrics and Gynecology
adding to those studies that confirm the effectiveness of black cohosh. This
was a 12 week trial with 304 women with various complaints that took 40 milligrams
of a standardized black cohosh product or a placebo. At 12 weeks, depending
on the complaint, the black cohosh was considerably more effective than placebo,
especially for hot flashes. It also seemed that the black cohosh was
more effective for women in early menopause (that’s not our experience,
but I can see the logic).
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=
pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15863547&query_hl=1
Newsletter
June 2005
ONE MORE THING
The University of Chicago got an additional $5 million dollar grant for the next
five years to study women’s herbs. Part of the National Institutes of
Health, The College of Pharmacy's Center for Botanical Dietary Supplement Research
is one of five botanical research centers to receive the grants from the National
Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and the Office of Dietary
Supplements. The center will use the funding to continue ongoing studies of
five plants including black cohosh, red clover, chaste berry, valerian and
dong quai in addition to six more. Hops, an ingredient in beer, will
be one of the new botanicals studied.
Headed by Norman Farnsworth, PhD, the
center is addressing the dire need to study the safety and
efficacy of dietary supplements. A proponent of standardization,
he explained that botanical products are much more complex
than single drugs. Plants can have many active compounds,
some of which may be expressed only under ideal growing conditions.
Farnsworth compared the situation to growing coffee, which
can vary in taste depending on growing conditions and locations.
"Plants produce different amounts
of chemicals from one year to the next," Farnsworth
said. "You have to have chemical and biological standardization
to ensure the consumer gets the same product every time."
"We're trying to establish a framework
by which one would address this problem and that could be
adopted by others," added Richard van Breemen, UIC professor
of medicinal chemistry and co-director of the center.
http://www.ascribe.org/cgi-bin/behold.pl?ascribeid=20050520.120224&time=
12%2013%20PDT&year=2005&public=1
Newsletter
June 2005
AN INTERESTING BLACK COHOSH
FINDING
A new study conducted by researchers at the New York Botanical
Garden found that an old specimen collected 85 years ago still
held it’s medicinal activity. Interestingly,
the sample was tested for four of the most important triterpene glycosides that
Oöna is standardized to. While just about all black cohosh is standardized
to 2.5% triterpene glycosides, Oöna is standardized to only these four important
glycosides, we don’t count any less effective glycosides to make up our
2.5% total. That’s one of the reasons you find our product more effective. The
other constituent of the plant, phenols, were lower than the modern medicinal
plant. The degradation of phenols may be from time or a natural chemical variation
due to geography or different harvest seasons. What’s interesting
about this is that we assumed that the shelf life of black cohosh was a couple
of years, and despite less than optimal storage conditions for decades, this
botanical held its activity for many, many years. Please see the link below
for the entire article and note the end of the piece where it talks about 13
studies that support the efficacy and safety of black cohosh at the NIH.
http://www.npicenter.com/anm/templates/newsATemp.aspx
?articleid=11867&zoneid=2
Newsletter
April 2005
UPDATE ON HOW BLACK COHOSH WORKS
There have been many different theories about how black
cohosh works that we include in our literature and on our
web site. However, the exact mechanism is not known. This
is not unusual since herbs have so many compounds that work
together and with the body to produce a desired effect. Most
of the time, we know where the active parts of the herb reside,
like triterpene glycosides in black cohosh, but extracts
should represent the entire herb because those glycosides
may work synergistically with other less active parts of
the plant. A team of researchers from the National Institute
of Health at the University of Illinois believe they have
found some preliminary evidence of the herb's efficacy in
relieving hot flashes, night sweats and other symptoms of
menopause. In lab studies the researchers have demonstrated
that black cohosh is capable of binding to human serotonin
receptors, including those that help regulate body temperature.
Previous studies shave shown that these receptors may play
a role in regulated hot flashes. "The study shows that black cohosh does
not appear to be estrogenic whatsoever and, as a result is
less likely to pose some of the dangers associated with traditional
estrogen replacement therapy" said study leader Judy
L. Bolton, Ph.D. in a release by the American Chemical Society.
For the full abstract, go to
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=
PubMed&list_uids=12952416&dopt=Abstract
Newsletter
October 2003
WORTHWHILE NOTES ON RESEARCH
The University of Illinois at Chicago is launching a study
to test whether two herbal products - black cohosh and red
clover - are effective in relieving symptoms of menopause.
Over a period of one year 112 healthy menopausal women will
be randomly assigned to one of four groups taking black cohosh,
red clover or Prempro. The researchers will be looking at
the frequency and intensity of hot flashes as well as other
symptoms such as insomnia, joint pain and fatigue. The study
is funded by the National Center for Complementary which is
part of the National Institutes of Health. For more info For
more information about the study, call 312-413-5819. or about
UIC, visit www.uic.edu.
Newsletter
August 2003
MORE GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE INGREDIENTS
IN OONA
A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine
(November 19th issue) found that in the studies to date only
the herb black cohosh and soy derived from food to provide
benefit in relieving hot flashes and other menopause symptoms.
(chaste tree berry was not included) Researchers at Columbia
University and George Washington University examined the results
of 29 independent studies on alternative treatments for hot
flashes and found that only the herb black cohosh appeared
to work. Other popular herbal treatments, including ginseng,
red clover, dong quai and oil of evening primrose, were found
to have no discernible effect on such symptoms as hot flashes,
vaginal dryness, sleeplessness and other ills blamed on menopause.
Researchers said studies have also found few documented benefits
from acupuncture, vitamin E, relaxation techniques and progesterone
creams.
The researchers noted that long term data
is lacking for many of these herbal remedies. This will be
important, as many clinicians have voiced the concern about
the long term use of these products. See http://www.annals.org/issues/v137n10/abs/200211190-00009.html
for an abstract or email us for a copy of the full article.
Newsletter
January 2003
BLACK COHOSH AND WOMEN WITH A HISTORY
OF BREAST CANCER
A study published in the current issue of Breast Cancer Research
and Treatment supports the growing body of evidence that black
cohosh supplements can be used safely to relieve menopausal
symptoms in women with a history of breast cancer who cannot
take estrogen. The study adds to the growing body of evidence
showing that black cohosh can help alleviate symptoms without
exerting an estrogenic effect. This is welcome news for the
many women who cannot or who choose not to take hormone replacement
therapy (HRT).
The study examined and compared the effects
of black cohosh extract, estrogen, tamoxifen (an anti-estrogen)
and a placebo control on estrogen-sensitive breast cancer
cells. "These data provide important evidence that black
cohosh works differently than estrogens and phytoestrogens
to relieve the symptoms of menopause," noted pharmacologist
and herbal expert, Steven Weisman, PhD.
Newsletter
October 2002
Immunity Boosters
NO FLU SHOT?
There have been a lot of articles on what foods and herbs
you can take to boost the immunity system during this season.
I wrote about this last January,
but it's worth repeating. I explained about the class of herbs
known as adaptogens - since I wrote it so eloquently then,
I'll just cut and paste. To be in the adaptogen class of herbs,
the herb must be safe and not put any further strain on the
organs. It must also help to restore balance to the system
regardless if a condition has depleted the system or there
is an excess in the system. Scientists believe that these
herbs work by supporting the adrenal glands and thus helping
to access more energy to eliminate toxic byproducts. A lot
of them also seem to work with an or enhance white blood cell
counts. I'd like to approach this a little different this
time. Let's take a look at what we can do to boost the immunity
system both in supplements and botanicals and then what is
better if you feel a cold/flu coming on.
- Boost immunity
VITAMIN A and CAROTENOIDS - Vitamin A comes
mainly from animal sources, so if you avoid them you may
want to take a supplement. Carotenoids are the plant pigments
that contribute to the orange and red colors in fruits and
vegetables, The body can convert some of them to Vitamin
A but others such as lutein (a must for your eye sight anyway)
and lycopene have been shown to promote immune response.
VITAMIN C - supports immune function but whether
it reduces colds have yielded mixed results - not for me,
I notice a big difference when I miss it. You can take 500
mg. a day for prevention or, what works even better, if
you feel a little somethin' somethin' is to consume cut
oranges (not orange juice, even fresh), strawberries, papayas,
or any citrus (fresh lemon juice is okay).
ZINC - essential to immune function but this is a
mineral that must be in balance - if you take too much it
can depress the immune function. If you're diet is high
in foods like shellfish, fish, meat and legumes, etc, you
are probably getting enough. Anything over 150 mg. per day
is too much.
ASTRAGALUS - This is my favorite -- a very safe herb,
most of the research in humans has been done in people with
cancer with great results offsetting the immunosuppressive
effects of chemotherapy drugs. There are several ways in
which this herb stimulates the immune system (for more info
go to stevenfoster.com) and without getting too technical,
it promotes the development and activity of natural killer
cells and the production of immune chemicals. The usual
dosage is in tincture form, 2-4 ml, three times a day for
at least 30 days. Can be taken all winter.
GINSENG - long known for promoting energy and longevity,
there is an Asian and American ginseng. The immune research,
mostly focused on the Asian species, has been shown to speed
the activity of white blood cells as well as stimulate natural
killer cell activity among other immune boosting functions.
There have been clinical trials that suggest that it can
ward off respiratory infections and one study that showed
that given with a flu vaccine, it caused a greater rise
in antibody levels that the flu vaccine alone. Be careful
with this herb as it is one that can interact with drugs
and cause side effects - especially if you taking any blood
thinners.
MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS - Another favorite of mine. Besides
they taste good - simply sautéing shiitake and portabello,
or maitake (or any other one that catches your eye) is much
better than any immune boosting shake. The one with the
most research for immunity is reishi - and reishi comes
in all kinds of forms, dried, tincture, extracts, capsules.
Stick with the companies that specialize in medicinal mushroom
supplements -there's a few.
- If it catches you…
ECHINACEA - If you get everything that comes by than
Echinacea is for you, however it doesn't prevent colds and
flu like some may think. At the first sniffle, take for
seven days - that's the time frame it works best. After
about 10 days, it isn't harmful but it may not work. This
is an herb that you must be mindful of the brand - if it's
very cheap, chances are you're getting what you pay for.
Look for root tinctures or fresh-expressed juice from the
herb.
BLACK ELDERBERRY - Again known to enhance the immune
function, studies have shown that this herb in a standardized
extract can cut flu symptoms from 6 days to 2 or 3, including
fever. The herb is known for its antioxidant and healing
properties and it has been used traditionally for skin conditions
to coughs.
GOLDENSEAL - This is an herb that is often in cold
and flu formulas but it is more of an ani-inflammatory,
antiseptic that is capable of killing some bacteria. Most
of the research on this herbs surrounds it ability to fight
gastrointestinal infections. Do not take if you are diabetic.
Newsletter
November 2004
Other Women's Herbs
FERTILITY HERBS
Let's just begin by saying that there is no panacea here but
herbs can be very helpful in maintaining/creating hormonal
balance and thus make pregnancy possible. Usually, pregnancy
issues are related to hormonal imbalances, fallopian tube
blocks, fibroids or a tilted uterus, cervical problems or
what appears to be "no reason at all". Alternative
approaches like herbs and acupuncture really only help women
with less severe endocrine issues as well as those who come
up with "no reason". Of course, they must be of
child bearing age. Herbs can also help a woman maintain their
fertility. Large fibroids, fallopian tube blocks and cervical
problems require medical procedures. As Susun Weed explains,
specifically what herbs can do is:
- nourish and tonify
the uterus
- nourish the body
- relax the nervous system
- establish and balance hormones
- balance the sex drive
The star in this category is chaste tree
berry - like in Oöna 's PMS1. There have been three pilot
studies (double blind placebo) in this country and several
in Europe that have shown that it increases fertility from
33% to 45%. As we know, chaste tree works through the pituitary
gland as a hormone regulator - working with the body to correct
hormonal deficiency of estrogen or progesterone. Another herb
I like in this category is red clover - as it has a high vitamin
content and is rich in calcium. The third must have is False
Unicorn Root, the strongest uterine tonic.
In the vitamin arena, make sure you have
enough zinc, vitamin E along with B6, B12 and folic acid.
In addition avoid synthetic estrogens in food as well as Aspartame
found in Equal or Nutrasweet. (not sure about Sweet n' Low)
Coming soon: Oöna Fertility….there's nothing out
there that we really like.
Newsletter
December 2004
Soy
SOY SUPPLEMENTS
We get a lot of questions about the differences between soy
supplements and soy foods. We always say that you should eat
soy foods because soy supplements are often stripped of other
nutrients and compounds that contribute to their health benefits.
This is also complicated by the fact that isoflavones exist
in two forms: aglycones (non-sugar form) and glycosides (sugar
form). The non sugar form is much more easily absorbed and
you should check the label that lists the aglycone forms.
The best way to take soy supplements is to take them with
soy foods - it insures that you have all the bioavailability
to absorb the supplement. For the full story go to
http://www.newhope.com/nfm-online/nfm_backs/nov_03/soyscience_s2.cfm
and
http://www.naturalfoodsmerchandiser.com/nfm_backs/nov_03/soyscience.cfm
Newsletter
November 2003
That's it for this month! As always,
check out our website for lots more information at www.oonahealth.com. In Good Health,
The Oöna Team
Questions or comments? Write valerie@oonahealth.com
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