CBD -- It's Everywhere, But Does It Work?

MONDAY, May 13, 2019 -- You would have to be living in a cave to have missed the CBD craze that is sweeping across America: New products are cramming store shelves as the market explodes for what many Americans believe to be a miracle cure-all.

Everything from oils to gummies to pills, creams and ointments are now for sale at supermarkets and specialty chains. You can even get massages infused with CBD, or cosmetics laced with the drug.

Could You Be Short on Vitamin B12?

THURSDAY, May 2, 2019 -- In the ABCs of vitamins, B12 is often overlooked. But it's essential for the making of nerve and red blood cells, as well as DNA along with many other body processes. Adults and teens need just 2.4 micrograms a day, but you can fall short even on this small amount.

You're at particular risk of a B12 deficiency if you're a vegetarian because animal foods, like meat and dairy, are the only foods that deliver it. If you have a health problem that affects nutrient absorption, like Crohn's disease, have had bariatric surgery or take certain medications, you also run the risk. So do people over 50 because of changes in stomach acids.

For One Man, Too Much Vitamin D Was Disastrous

MONDAY, April 8, 2019 -- Vitamin D is the healthy "sunshine" vitamin, but it can have a dark side, one Canadian man discovered.

A team of Toronto physicians reported on the case of a 54-year-old man who developed kidney damage after taking extremely high doses of vitamin D.

Many Cancer Patients Take Alternative Meds But Don't Tell Their Doctors

THURSDAY, April 11, 2019 -- One out of every three U.S. cancer patients uses alternative or complementary therapies, but many keep that info from their doctors, a new study finds.

That's a real concern, the study's lead author said, especially when it comes to supplements and cancer radiation therapy.

Dietary Supplements Do Nothing for You: Study

MONDAY, April 8, 2019 -- If you're popping dietary supplements in the hope of living longer, a large new study suggests you'd be better off investing that money in nutritious foods.

The research found that vitamins A and K, magnesium, zinc and copper were linked to a lower risk of death from heart disease or stroke, and an overall lower risk of dying during the average six years of follow-up. But these findings were true only when the nutrients came from foods, not from supplements.

For One Woman, Popular Red Yeast Supplement Brought on Liver Damage

MONDAY, March 25, 2019 -- She thought red yeast supplements would be a natural way to lower her cholesterol. What could be easier?

Instead, the 64-year-old woman landed in the hospital with acute liver damage that her doctors say was likely caused by taking the over-the-counter product.