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FROM THE JULY 2008 ISSUE

Table of Contents
Ask the Experts
Is a Generic Good Enough?
Brand-name drugs are expensive because many are still under patent, and thus only one company can make each medication. Healthy competition re-enters the marketplace when the patent expires and generic versions are produced. In the last two years many major drugs became available as generics, including the cholesterol drug simvastatin (brand name Zocor), the antidepressant sertraline (Zoloft), and the sleeping pill zolpidem (Ambien). More blockbuster brands will soon join the list. About two-thirds of prescriptions in the U.S. are now for generic drugs. The shift to generics has trimmed billions of dollars from the nation’s rising health-care costs. Insurers and government health plans very strongly encourage or require the use of generics. Still, some people fear that switching to a generic is risky. Here’s the lowdown.  Full Story

FROM THE WELLNESS GUIDE TO DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS

In focus this month: Glucosamine and chondroitin for arthritis
Confused about all the hype and conflicting info about supplements?  Go to the Guide to Dietary Supplements
FROM OUR RECIPE FILE

Rats Eat Blueberries, Get Smarter
A recent English study that found that blueberries reversed age-related memory declines in elderly rats, as we discuss in this month’s Wellness Letter. Even though what happens in rats may not happen in people, blueberries are among the most nutritious foods. Our featured recipe is Blueberry Cobbler.  Go to Recipe

FROM FOUNDATIONS OF WELLNESS
Here are the basics for staying healthy
30 major articles about exercise, nutrition, prevention, and self-care. Go to Foundations