Women who use over-the-counter progesterone creams could be exposed to hormone levels comparable to prescription oral progesterone, a small study suggests. The study compared one brand of progesterone cream with a prescription oral progesterone that, like the cream, is derived from plant sources and provides a hormone that is structurally identical to the natural progesterone in a woman's body. The prescription product, Prometrium, is used as part of hormone replacement therapy after menopause, or...

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In a national survey of high-school students, approximately one in six reported that they currently have asthma, and of these, more than one in three had an attack during the preceding year, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The incidence of asthma has increased greatly in recent decades. We think that much of it may be related to food or environmental allergies, and a poor quality diet. For more information...

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People who consume more vegetables and fruits have a lower risk of developing arthritis. Vegetables and fruits contain pigments called "carotenoids", which appear to be the agents responsible for the lowered risk. They have an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect. Researchers at the University of Manchester in the UK analyzed data from a study of more than 25,000 subjects to investigate the association between dietary carotenoids and arthritis risk. Between 1993 and 2001, the group...

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