Staying healthy. (Memo to members).

"CU takes this occasion to report that the use of blackstrap molasses as a part of the human diet seems to be on the wane. The evidence is that the sticky tide is receding as more and more users realize that, despite the claims of its ardent advocates, blackstrap molasses will not correct menopausal difficulties, grow hair, restore gray hair to its natural color, or prevent nervousness, tiredness, and poor digestion." But it probably won't kill you, either, which is a lot more than we can say about ephedra.

CONSUMER REPORTS' 1953 update on "Food Fads and the Law," from which the above quote was taken, went on to say that the newest food fads are the so-called food supplements. "As the laws now stand," we said, "the consumer is very poorly protected indeed against quackery in the field of nutrition."

Fifty years later, things aren't much better. Herbal remedies such as ephedra are still classified as dietary supplements and not medicine, and they are not required by federal law to be proved safe and effective. While it's unclear whether data support claims that ephedra boosts athletic performance or reduces weight, it's very clear how dangerous it can be.

For eight years Consumers Union has been pushing for a complete ban on ephedra. We will continue to do so. We don't believe that the warning labels the Food and Drug Administration has proposed are an adequate response to a product that is associated with more than 80 deaths and that holds such appeal for young athletes competing in an increasingly high-stakes arena.

Health topics have been a key part of CU's work since the beginning. Now, new medical research and discoveries; evermore complex and less comprehensive health insurance; and an array of drugs, devices, and technology make staying healthy more complicated than ever.

We've got a few ways to help. With the aim of preventing problems in the first place, CONSUMER ...