- Letter from Marilyn

- In the News: recent progress in the world of health

• How pistachios can help the heart
• Eating a bowl of cereal can help you get pregnant
• Mediterranean diet halves risk of lung disease
• Pregnant women or those trying for a baby should not drink alcohol
• Calcium - the key to staying slim after 50

- Alternative therapies for weight loss

• 4 natural techniques for losing weight

- Quick Tip: did you know?

• Whizz through the calories

- Disease fighting foods

• Your body’s best form of defence

- Quick Tip: memory-boosting smoothie

• A delicious drink with extra benefits

- Naturally cleaning your air

• Alternatives for air fresheners

- 20 Natural energy boosters

• How to tackle your flagging vitality

- This month’s nutritional spotlight: Apples

• The old saying proves the point

- All about garlic

• Allicin - the magic ingredient

- Healthy words: inspiring quotes

• Breaking habits

- The true power of good nutition: case studies from the clinic

• How Mandy and Paul conceived against all the odds

- Mastering your metabolism by the decade

• How to stay fit, slim and toned over the years

- Follow the right diet to become a mother

• The best foods to boost fertility

- Quick tip: you got rythmn

• Can music soothe pain away?

- Natural ways to ease headaches

• 5 effective remedies

- Quick tip: eat fish to keep your eyes bright

• How to keep your vision clear

- Learning to relax during the menopause

• How to beat stress and remain positive

- Ask Marilyn: your questions answered

• Star question: smoking and brittle bones?
• Is decaf better than regular coffee?
• Resisting the afternoon urge to snack?
• Are eggs good or bad for you?

- Ingredient spotlight: Chickpeas

• Chickpeas - a healthy choice

- Monthly meal idea: Hummus

• Hummus - a delicious pate to make at home

- Coming Next Month (August 2007)

Look out for more answers from Marilyn, the latest news, case studies from the Clinic, Monthly Meal Ideas and also:

• How to break through your weight loss plateau
• 20 ways to Live Longer
• How to eat less
• Just how healthy are health foods?
• The truth about menopause and soya
• The King of Herbs: Everything you need to know about Ginseng
• Energy boosting supplements

And, as always, much, much more …

Dear Reader,

This issue of Natural News is packed full of useful articles and tips to keep you in good health. The recipe this month is hummus which is a wonderful summer food to have with raw vegetables or warm wholemeal pitta bread. The spotlight ingredient is chickpeas, which are actually an amazing food with potential to reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes and also are excellent around the menopause as they are a rich source of phytoestrogens.

In the May issue of Natural News, I talked about the confusion surrounding black cohosh and how I felt that it is still the herb of choice around the menopause for its ability to help with hot flushes and night sweats.

Further research has shown that black cohosh could have other benefits for women. Research published this year in the International Journal of Cancer has shown that black cohosh may halve the risk of breast cancer. The researchers found that the use of black cohosh was associated with a 61% reduction in the risk of breast cancer. This was confirmed by another study this year on breast cancer cells which showed that black cohosh inhibited the growth.

It has been suggested that in fact black cohosh works like a SERM (selective oestrogen receptor modulator). SERMs function as an oestrogen promoter in organs where oestrogen is needed, such as the bones, while acting as an ‘anti-oestrogen’ in organs where unnecessary oestrogen can be dangerous (for example, the breast and womb). This would explain the beneficial effects of black cohosh on breast cancer because the herb would actually be blocking the oestrogen receptors in the breast. It also explains why there are no significant changes in hormone levels when women are taking black cohosh indicating a non-oestrogenic effect.

So at least, the research is now confirming what many cultures have known for centuries when they have used herbs as their way of preventing and treating illnesses.

Kind regards,

Marilyn Glenville PhD