Nutritional Supplements: Can ... Video Transcript

Webcast Transcript

They do not treat you as a primary care doctor or as a specialist. They have a chance to review the vitamins and herbs that you're taking, other therapies that you might be taking, to be sure that you're doing no harm. And you'll notice I said "physicians." And I don't mean to be biased, but I think in this area, people who have an understanding of herb/drug and drug/drug interactions, they really are very, very important. Because one should not assume, because it's natural, it's safe.

LISA CLARK: Very good point. Before we wrap up, I'd like to ask each of you: Are there any other food supplements or nutritional supplements that we haven't mentioned that you'd like to emphasize at this point?

SAM BENJAMIN, MD: I would mention garlic. Great stuff. Not necessarily the best thing for socialization, but it's really good, and it definitely works by both inhibiting platelets, just as aspirin does, something that helps clot the blood. And it does help lower serum cholesterol. That would be one that I would consider on a day-to-day basis. Something you can eat, it's cheap and it's safe.

LISA CLARK: And it certainly makes your food taste better.

SAM BENJAMIN, MD: One other is a thing called tree ear. Tree ear is a Chinese, if you've ever had sweet and sour soup --

LISA CLARK: Wood ear mushrooms?

SAM BENJAMIN, MD: Or wood ear, or mo-eh in Chinese. And what it does is, they're little black strips. It comes from an ear-looking kind of plant that expands in water. And it definitely is a blood thinner. Danger here is: Cannot take it with aspirin. Cannot take it if you're taking Coumadin. Better tell your doctor about it. If you eat a lot of Chinese food, it's very important that you tell your cardiologist or internist about that as well.

LISA CLARK: A good point. Thank you, again, both of you, Nate Lebowitz and Sam Benjamin. And thanks to you for joining us for this webcast. I'm Lisa Clark.

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