A natural substance found in cartilage, glucosamine is manufactured from shellfish shells. Glucosamine therapy is especially promising because it may treat the underlying disease by improving cartilage health. It strengthens and slows the breakdown of cartilage by stimulating production of proteoglycans used in the synthesis and repair of cartilage. Although providing more immediate pain relief, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDS) such as Motrin and Advil may actually accelerate progression of arthritis by inhibiting cartilage repair. Continue reading "Glucosamine Sulfate for Arthritis"

We all know how difficult it is to deal with jet lag. Increased daytime fatigue, irritability, and loss of mental alertness are familiar symptoms for all of us. Your body’s internal clock, regulated by your circadian system, becomes out of synch with the new day-night cycle at your travel destination. For a flight across six or more time zones, it generally takes 4-6 days to re-establish a normal sleeping pattern. Westbound travel is generally more easily tolerated since it is easier to lengthen rather than shorten our natural circadian rhythm. Continue reading "Melatonin for jet lag"

Skin flushing is one of the most unpleasant symptoms experienced by patients when they first start niacin therapy. Niacin, or nicotinic acid, is a water-soluble B vitamin that helps lower LDL (bad cholesterol) and raise HDL (good cholesterol). Fortunately many patients develop a tolerance to niacin with time. Continue reading "Niacin Flush"

Niacin is the most effective intervention for raising HDL or good cholesterol. Not only will niacin (nicotinic acid) raise HDL cholesterol by 8-35% and lower LDL cholesterol by 10-25%, it has been shown to lower the risk of stroke and heart disease. Nicotinic acid should not be confused with another water soluble B vitamin, nicotinamide, which does not lower cholesterol levels. Continue reading "Niacin for cholesterol"

HDL or good cholesterol is considered “good” because it helps transport cholesterol from your arterial walls, back to the liver for excretion in your gastrointestinal tract. HDL also possesses antioxidant activity which prevents LDL or bad cholesterol from oxidizing and creating atherosclerotic plaque in your heart arteries (hardening of the arteries). Continue reading "Raising HDL"