Gene Variations May Predict Antidepressant Response (HealthDay)

HealthDay - FRIDAY, July 18 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists may have foundmore evidence that a person's genetic make-up may help determine whetheror not they pure l-proline supplement to the antidepressant Celexa (citalopram).

There is a lot of controversy with dog owners over which dog food is better. Some people have no idea what makes a good dog food. They buy the most expensive brand because they assume it must be a top quality dog food. Others feel that dog food is dog food and if their dog seems to be healthy then they see no reason to spend the extra money on a premium brand.

Before we look at dog food costs, let's begin with what makes a good dog food. A top quality dog food depends on the quality of ingredients and the nutritional power of the food. It should offer a balanced diet and contain superior sources of protein as one of the first two ingredients. This can include whole fresh meats or single-source meat meal like chicken meal (rather than poultry meal). A top dog food would also contain whole, unprocessed grains plus vegetables and even fruits. It would have few fillers such as corn, soy, brewer's rice and wheat bran. It would use natural preservatives instead of chemicals like propylene glycol and BHT or BHT.

Supermarket Dog Foods vs. Premium Brands: Which is a Better Value for the Money?

Some people experience sticker shock when they compare the price of a premium dog food with an economy brand. Many dog foods found in supermarkets are so-called economy brands, which, surprisingly, end up costing more to feed your dog than top rated premium dog foods. Why? Because "economy" dog foods tend to be lower in nutrients than premium foods and you have to feed your dog more to get the same nutritional punch of a more expensive premium brand. For example, the recommended feeding instructions for one supermarket brand say to feed approximately 6 cups a day for a 35-50 lb dog. The label on an ultra-premium dog food recommends about 1 to 2 cups per day. That's around three times as much of the standard dog food vs. the premium food. So now which costs less? And just think about the extra poop you will have to scoop if you're feeding your dog six cups a day! Some lower end dog food manufacturers have even reduced the recommended feeding amount to make their food look more economical.

Lower end dog foods usually contain corn meal as one of the main ingredients (an acceptable protein source, but may cause allergies in some dogs), plus chicken or animal byproducts or rendered meat/poultry. Byproducts are ground, rendered, pieces of the carcasses of slaughtered animals or poultry and can include heads, feet, necks, and viscera. These are less nutritious but are often used in lower-quality dog foods because they are much cheaper than whole turkey, chicken, or meat. Rendered is often referred to as "byproducts meal" and it means the cooked and processed remains of the leftovers in meat and poultry processing. Yuck!

What Should You Look for in a Dog Food?

Learn how to read the label. Better dog foods are made from whole product, such as chicken, turkey, and lamb. Also check the label to see if the protein source is free of hormones, antibiotics, and pesticides. Chicken fat is a very good source of linoleic acid, which helps makes dogs' coats healthy and shiny. Also check the fiber content. Three to four percent fiber is recommended for solid stools. Avoid dog foods that have rendered meats, poultry or fats, animal byproducts, added growth hormones, brain or spinal tissue, artificial colors, artificial flavors, preservatives, and for dogs that may have allergies, avoid corn, soy, wheat, and eggs.

So what About the Cost?

There are many excellent dog foods on the market, and a variety of prices. Buying a top quality dog food doesnt necessarily mean you will be paying the most; understanding the ingredients list and getting value for your money is what counts.

Valerie Goettsch is webmaster of My Favorite Dog featuring articles and information on top dog foods, dog health issues, training, and more.

Drugmaker Not Liable in Motrin Case - WebMD

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Drugmaker Not Liable in Motrin Case WebMD - 7 hours ago By Kathleen Doheny The jury in the $1 billion lawsuit against Children's Motrin, a widely-used pain reliever, has decided that the drugmaker, Johnson & Johnson, is not liable for damages experienced by Sabrina Johnson, a California girl, now 11, ... Parents of blinded California girl lose Motrin suit WBOC TV 16 Jury finds for J&J in Motrin suit Boston Globe San Francisco Chronicle - Reuters - CNNMoney.com - San Jose Mercury News all 94 news articles

Omega 3 fats, also known as polyunsaturated fats or essential fatty acids, are good for promoting overall health. They are primarily obtained from fatty fish like salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines and hoki. Omega 3 salmon is very beneficial for people of all ages and it should be added to everyday diet.

It provides DHA and EPA, two of the most important fatty acids, in just the right amounts. If we eat these fish twice a week we obtain 2000 mg of DHA and EPA combined on a weekly basis. Alternatively, fish oil capsules can also be consumed which are equally good and effective.

As you may have guessed fish oil capsules are also made with the oil of fatty fish like salmon. Fish oil in its pure form is not easy to intake because of its bad taste. This oil is first buy bulk l threonine nutrition powder and purified through a process known as molecular distillation and is then packaged into capsules.

Molecular distillation serves to remove all kinds of impurities, heavy metals and toxins found in pure fish oil. The process uses heavy machinery and is very expensive. Because of this reason some manufacturers do not pay attention to filtering pure fish oil and their products are therefore ineffective.

Heavy metals like lead and mercury are found in the tissues of nearly all kinds of fish. These metals are not good for our health as they may cause serious health complications difficult to diagnose and cure. It is very important to know that the fish oil product you are consuming is of excellent quality.

Omega 3 salmon should be given to children and teenagers. It prevents hyperactivity which is becoming a common condition among growing children. Furthermore, these prevent teenage depression and also assist in the treatment of postpartum depression in women and memory loss in elderly people.

Other benefits of omega 3 fats include controlling blood pressure, reducing bad cholesterol levels in the body, preventing and curing arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, and preventing cancer, particularly breast and prostate cancer.

Plant oils are also good sources of these fatty acids. They contain omega 6 fats in addition to omega 3 fats and are therefore recommended to be added to everyday diet. However, some vegetable oils like corn oil and coconut oil also contain some saturated fat content which is not good for people who are already overweight.

John Collins is a content editor who focuses on a wide array of niche health topics. His latest website - Natural Dha Fish Oil focuses on omega 3 as a whole, and in particular, a natural product our editors personally use with excellent health results known as - Dha Esters

Be sure to check out our Omega 3 Dha Esters of choice, it is the natural supplement we use and recommend to friends and family, and have done for over 3 years.