Vitamins in America

Brain Nutrients Aiding Cognitive Health

2016-05-07T01:17:19Z

Phosphatidyl Serine (PS) plays an important role in the neurotransmitter systems of the brain. In 23 peer-reviewed studies, more than half of which were double-blind, PS was shown to have substantial benefits to learning and memory.

PS is not common in the food supply and has been used for people over the age of 50 or for damaged brain cells due to disease, alcohol, drug use, pollution, and for epilepsy. PS maintains nerve connections (synapses) in the brain, and various higher mental activities. PS is important for nerve cell differentiation, activation and renewal, neurotransmitter production and release, and maintaining electrical current flows in and between cells.

Alpha-lipoic acid is a remarkable metabolic antioxidant readily transported through cellular membranes. I t helps recycle other antioxidants! What this means is that when vitamin E quenches lipid peroxidation a vitamin E radical is formed and that radical is reduced back to vitamin E by lipoic acid. It does a similar task with vitamin C, in turn Vitamin C can also reduce vitamin E.

Not only does lipoic acid play a role in lipid (fat) environments, but also in aqueous (water) environments where it can inactivate hydroxyl and peroxyl radicals, singlet oxygen, hypochlorous acid, and nitric oxide. Lipoic acid acts as a catalyst and chelator. In Europe it has been used for detoxification of heavy metal poisoning, possible application in atherosclerosis, side effects of diabetes, oxidative stress, and it may exert a protective effect against the formation of cataracts.

Most recent research now indicates that Lipoic Acid prevents HIV replication. It has the ability to protect the genetic material, DNA, in the cell nucleus and protect NF kappa-B in the cytosol and most important it is able to bolster the cellular glutathione levels in the system and in lymphocytes!

Acetyl l-carnitine is incredible and the research papers keep coming out on it. It plays a key role in maintaining normal brain and nerve function during aging. It's so incredible it has been shown to maintain cellular membrane activity, and to restore age related membrane changes! Acetyl l-carnitine is an antioxidant- it scavenges super oxide anion radicals which can otherwise damage membrane lipids. It increases cerebral blood flow. It has a major effect on short term memory.

Acetyl l-carnitine effects major depression and changes in the circadian hormonal rhythms,

Ginkgo biloba is an important herb that aids circulation to the brain. The American Botanical Council reports: "In Germany Ginkgo is an approved therapy for the treatment of memory loss in conditions such as Alzheimer's, ringing in the ears, dizziness, and poor circulation in the lower legs resulting in pain during walking (intermittent claudication.)"

Also, ginkgo aids in the "control of acute symptoms of altitude sickness and vascular reactivity to cold exposure, protective action in hypoxia (insufficient oxygen in the body); acute deafness related to the cochlea (part of the inner ear)."

It should not be used before elective surgery or persons with a bleeding disorder. It is important to check with your health provider when taking pharmaceutical drugs along with ginkgo.*

34 YEAR History of Nutrients from 1982 to 2016

2016-05-05T06:14:14Z

Here are some highlights from the last 34 years. Vitamin Express introduced many remarkable products. Back in 1982 spirulina, the single cell spiral algae high in protein was very popular. It's sources were mainly Mexico and Africa. Then it was developed in Japan and Hawaii and remains to this day an effective aid for energy and nutrition high in phenylalanine a precursor to tyrosine as a mood elevator and brain nutrient. It became necessary to add calcium to balance out the high phosphorus content.

One of the first foreign nutrient formula requests was for Gerovital or GH3 by Dr. Ana Aslan of Romania. It was not available in the US because of its anti-aging claims, so it was our first introduction to restrictions and what was available for sale. Now it is available in the original formula and we are selling it. The research was remarkable and to this day represents one of the most accurate and thorough double blind studies ever produced with remarkable published results.

Next was the elusive "B-15" from the famous Krebbs Laboratory in San Francisco. After being banned in the US it traveled to Canada and ultimately the USSR, just in time for the World Olympics. In Russia it was called Aangamik, and later after returning to the US as a remarkable enhancer of stamina was changed from pangamic acid to the active ingredient, pure DMG (di-methylglycine). Now it is one of the most impressive nutrients available for runners, cyclists and endurance athletes.

At the same time from Japan arrived chlorella with its extraordinary benefits. It came at a time of dire need with the advent of the AIDS epidemic proving itself beneficial in many ways, especially with CGF - Chlorella Growth Factor.

Also from Japan came Dr. Asahai's Cancer Clinic trace mineral nutrient germanium sesquioxide--a most amazing trace element that gave a new perspective and adjunct to aid the treatment of cancer and help reduce aging through the oxygenation of cells.

From Hawaii there emerged a whole new methodology for cellular health developed by Dr. James Fahey with the use of wheat sprouts grown in a fashion that significantly aided the body's production of anti-oxidant enzymes. Once high levels anti-oxidant enzymes such as super oxide dismutase, and glutathione reductase to name two are attained, a whole new level of health developed. Customer responses were astounding with reports of toxic therapies bad effects reduced, degenerative issues greatly reversed and energy improvements. Radiant health was obtainable as even the skin radiated the benefits of anti-oxidant enzyme activity. Athletes especially found benefits from the added methionine reductase present in the Runner's Formula.

Nature contains the miracle of life and as nutritional science progressed from its roots of discovering vitamins such as E, C and B vitamins back in the 1930's and 1940's, more and more knowledge of the benefits they provided increased. With the role of epigenetics a whole new world of health was possible to envision.

Vitamin A was lauded as the most important nutrient to help protect against cancer. Shortly afterwards it was vilified and as genetic research emerged Vitamin A appeared more important to health than ever. Vitamin D finally got its recognized place in the sun as well. This continuing recognition is insured by the Vitamin D Council's wealth of thousands of published research studies extolling its benefits from bone to mental health.

Meanwhile research found some vitamins weren't doing anything. Something was wrong. There was a barrier to their effectiveness. So scientists dug deeper and found aging had a great impact on health because often, almost universally, the body's ability to convert basic nutrients,such as Pantothenic Acid into its co-factor, didn't work. To correct this problem, manufacturers with scientists developed co-factor products. The co-factor pantethine went on to provide what pantothenic acid B-5 had failed to do in the aging population.

Soon other nutrients were offered as co-factors. Aging health was enhanced dramatically when B-6 became P-5-P pyridoxal-5-phosphate and one by one other nutrient enhancements took place from co-factors of nutrients.

Other nutrients followed the course - special forms of Vitamin E created a whole new scientific understanding of benefits- the tocotrienols were high anti-oxidant performers, the d-gamma tocopherols benefit prostate cancer and the list grew and grew as more universities throughout the world studied these nutrients.

Vitamin C became available in a multitude of forms such as ascorbates with various minerals attached to retain its health giving properties longer in the body. Then along came the big change for Vitamin C--ascorbyl palmitate, an oil soluble form of C the body could store in the organs, skin, and brain to be used to help maintain cellular health.

All the while three new fronts of scientific work were simultaneously generating new exciting worlds of their own, still deeply connected to the rest of the world of nutrition. These three categories were amino acids, hormones, and new nutrient discoveries.

Amino acids seemed to break all boundaries of nutrient expectations. They are the very essence of our being and basis for nature's genome. Probably the most important one for us is L-Glutamine. Genetically it is our base. There are hundreds of amino acids. Presently science recognizes the number will grow with time and has some understanding of around 26 for the human body.

L-Arginine, L-Lysine, L-Ornithine were the first to hit the market in a big way. It all stemmed from books such as Thomas Mann's "Anti-aging" on longevity and Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw's book "Life Extension". Especially the body building community sought these nutrients for physical fitness and enhanced release of growth hormone.

L-Lysine of course was sought as the country went through what seemed an epidemic of herpes virus. Especially with the AIDS epidemic many nutrients became recognized for their immune benefits, especially propolis and zinc. Minerals got their biggest push in the 1980's when for the first time medical doctors were extolling a nutrient and it was calcium. Unfortunately they were not extolling magnesium at the same time.

By the 1990's many of the amino acids were available with more to come--L-Glycine, L-Phenylalanine, DLPA, L-Tyrosine, L-Taurine, L-Carnitine, L-inosine, and the BIG seller that out shone them all L-Tryptophan.

L-Tryptophan was the new kid on the block and so effective and remarkable that all competition fell in its wake. It aided restful sleep, it help make menstrual cycles comfortable, it helped reduce stress, it helped to stop binge eating, thereby reducing weight. In a short time it took over the market. It was the biggest success story in nutritional history and it saturated the marketplace- health stores, drug stores, grocery stores. It was found everywhere. .

Then the dark moment came. The major Japanese supplier changed filtering system and somehow e-coli bacteria got through the filters and into the product. Only food grade L-tryptophan had the problem but it was enough to shut everything down and vilify L-tryptophan, eradicating it from the market. The next moment the pharmaceutical industry introduced Prozac and in the end it became America's answer to stress, not L-tryptophan. Hospitals, of course, were still using it. It is so important that there really is no alternative. We do get it in our food as well. Interestingly enough, pharmaceutical grade L-tryptophan was used to cure people who suffered from the e-coli attack. So for about 20 years it was absent from the market and now is back and again growing in popularity.

One of the clear successes for the industry was the passage by Congress of DSHEA, Dietary Supplement Health & Education Act. However, one of the losses was the compromise made for passage by the pharmaceutical ensconced Senators who saw to it that on every bottle, every sheet of information about a product is stated "This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." As we all know- intention is everything and so is prevention! To state that Vitamin C does not prevent scurvy is an absurdity and many other deficiency diseases exist that are easily reversed through vitamin therapy. However, these nutrients cannot be patented and therefore enormous profits are reduced to moderate ones.

In fact DSHEA become a noose as the government's FDA severely tried to increase the term disease to include pregnancy, menstruation, and other natural health conditions, such as menopause. Where there is no relevant discussion in the public about nutritional supplements and the benefits, there is not education and where there's no education- there's no prevention.

Worse the FDA has had a requirement agreed to at signing to provide rules and regulations for introducing new products and nutrients to the market place. That's all well and fine until it comes to doing it. Thirty years later they finally came forward and the rules were presented to the horror of the industry, the same format as a pharmaceutical drug- and still not completed. Meanwhile the mere mention that a nutrient may help protect against influenza can result in jail time.

Now you must understand the difference between the two terms- pharmaceutical and nutraceutical. Pharmaceutical drugs do harm and any benefit needs to be closely monitored with any number of bad effects warranting immediate cessation. They are pharmaceuticals. The word "pharma" comes from the Greek meaning "poison". "Ceutical" is Greek for "medicine"..

Vitamins, amino acids, enzymes, minerals are nutraceuticals. "Nutra" stands for "nutritional" medicines. These provide benefits and rarely and only under special conditions could cause harm, such as getting too much iron, too much of a single nutrient that is not properly balanced or following its proper use.

Finally the nail in the coffin is that the government wants every formula, every nutrient of every company to follow their costly drug-like procedure resulting in the destruction of the industry with elimination of most companies to only a few large rich companies. That will greatly diminish creative enterprise and adding new successful nutritional products.

This would be a great loss to the health of the country where it is well established that hundreds of millions of dollars each year are saved by nutritional supplementation. However, slowly the industry is being bought by large corporate interests and effective products once offered slashed from availability.

Another remarkable advance was in the increasing number of digestive and proteolytic enzymes available by manufacturers with great benefits in digestion and reducing inflammation.

Moving onward hormonal health represents a great category breakthrough. When hormones are out of balance much harm and suffering occurs. One by one the health industry provided melatonin, DHEA, pregnenolone and again the biggest popular product natural progesterone, not to be confused in any way with synthetic progesterone, with the introduction by Ray Peat and popularization by Dr. John Lee and follow-ups by Clara Felix proved to be the answer to many women's hormonal health issues in a safe and effective way, especially menopausal issues.

Third is the category of remarkable achievements by science with the introduction of alpha-lipoic acid, CoQ10 (ubiquinone and unbiquinol), AHCC (Active Hexose Correlated Compound), and the newest vitamin since the discovery of B12- PQQ (Pyrroloquinoline quinone) discovered by J.G. Hauge. At the same time more nutrients emerged such as L-Theanine and a renewed interest in GABA, phosphatidyl serine, and inositol-IP6.

Throughout this narrative I have left one of the biggest categories out, mostly because of its complexity. It is singularly established with a major health and medicinal role in human history. Herbs are the medicine of the world and an unending source of pharmaceutical medicine as well. It's interesting how an herb can be of great benefit then the active ingredient isolated, combined with a few additives, and suddenly becomes a pharmaceutical- poison medicine offering great promise and high risks.

Herbs are nature's complexity multiplied over and over. Plants have the ability to mutate and adapt beyond comprehension. Herbs can live in dire conditions, even to the point of being within a highly radioactive environment.

Medicine in this country up until the early 1900's based most of their remedies upon herbal medicine. It was the age of the Eclectics and the bible of medicinal use was the King's American Dispensatory- almost 2200 pages, two volumes of individual plants names, botanical sources, history, description and chemical composition, action, medicinal usage, dosage, specific indications and uses and related species.

Herbs remain a unique and special category unto themselves with a complexity of composition and use that through time and now research proves their worth beyond measure.

The most popular herbs are ones for restful sleep, immunity, stress. Tea companies like Seelect, and Celestial Seasonings pioneered the market place. Later, tea drinks became popular with the first company to start it all called Sunhillow by Bill Karneges. Later Knudsen, Heinke and others got on board.

In the health industry herbs were approached cautiously because they did things. Things you weren't supposed to say or talk about, like: "It cured my cancer" absolutely forbidden. So many formulas remain that make no claims to their uses, such as the Essiac Formula or Scudder's Alterative, yet they have a long and full amazing history.

We watched as Ginseng, Green Tea, and Echinacea became more popular followed by Saint John's Wort, Rhodiola, Holy Basil, Turmeric (Curcumin), and within it all the melding and mixing of Chinese Medicinal Herbs, Ayurvedic Herbalogy, American Indian, South American and African Herbs entering the marketplace and now even a horrific conflict over the production and distribution of Peruvian Maca.

Finally, no list can leave out mushrooms, a unique category that even contains the largest living organism known on earth. Mushrooms variety and use for immunity, longevity and brain function are extraordinary! From Reishi, shitake, Lion's Mane and Chaga to Corriolus and AHCC.

Vitamin Express is often on the cutting edge of nutrients that support health, health issues, such as food irradiation, and the downside of fluoride. Along this avenue we have encountered a new overly obtrusive barrier to health of such magnitude that we have put much effort into researching it and ultimately providing an aid to help protect the body from its harmful influences.

EMF (electro-magnetic fields) and dirty electricity has engulfed our own electrical system pushing us nearer and nearer to a health catastrophe. This must be dealt with at the national level as well as community level. For now RayGuard appears to be our best available means to help reduce its harmful effects on an individual basis.As time goes forward we will preent information that science has found regarding these and other issues.

Thank you for patiently reading through this long narrative.
Best of health, Michael

Safety - Nutra vs. Pharma

2016-04-11T01:18:06Z

This is where the medicinal world divides into two: nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. They are both regulated and watched over by the Food and Drug Administration, the FDA.

The FDA came into being due to the necessity of regulating pharmaceutical drugs. This was especially important because of the nature of the product. One can easily understand the FDA's responsibility for these products, "pharma" is a Greek word that means "poison" and "ceutical" means "medicine". These are chemically altered ingredients from natural products or even a newly inspired arrangement of molecules into something not seen in Nature.

The pharma products require strict guidelines for testing and reporting. That is because they represent something new in the world of medicine. Even so, many products gain approval only to be forbidden for sale after actual use and performance proves them to be dangerous or life threatening to the public.

In most cases pharmaceuticals have added bad effects that are listed as "side effects" with warnings stating to immediately stop the drug and seek medical advice. The FDA monitors this activity and determines the availability and safety of the drug. It's major goal is to protect people from these dangers and also, to protect the pharmaceutical industries' role in providing new medicines.

Into this world is cast the natural remedies that have been used for centuries by medical practitioners, along with the nutritional derivatives of the natural diet that have been found to be necessary for life called vitamins and other nutritional medicines, along with minerals, amino acids, and enzymes.

These substances from food have been discovered because without them a deficiency disease occurs. Their discoveries result in great advances in medicine and health and their researchers receive Nobel prizes for their discoveries.

Can you imagine the difficulty of having two distinct worlds of medicinal aids regulated by the same regulatory agency?

Pharmaceutical is a patent oriented, high profit producing enormously wealthy segment that also maintains deep ties to the government regulators of the industry. (For example, one product alone for lowering cholesterol produces more incomes than the entire nutraceutical industry)

Whereas, the nutraceuticals are usually in competition without patent protection, easily available on the open market, does not require a doctor's prescription, extremely safe, low priced and growing rapidly.

Here is an agency, the FDA, whose goal is to protect pharmaceuticals and looks at everything from the viewpoint that there must be something wrong with the drug since all have "side effects". And I'm not joking here. The number of deaths annually reported by medical records due to pharmaceuticals makes it the fourth major cause of death in the USA. The number of hospitalized severe reactions to pharmaceutical drugs is in the low millions. This makes pharmaceuticals one of the major causes of seeing a doctor, buying a prescription, and being hospitalized which in turn produces the most expensive cause of high medical costs and funeral expenses.

The FDA is protecting this system and even goes to court to stop anything else that competes with a pharmaceutical.

There was a simple eye drop formula with Vitamin A that produces excellent, inexpensive medicinal relief to eye problems which was attacked by the FDA which prefers to protect a new pharmaceutical eye drop appearing in the marketplace. The attack results in high legal costs causing the business to fail. Meanwhile, the pharmaceutical derivative that is more expensive, requires a prescription and doctor's visit, and is less effective remains.

The eye product was taken off the market the first time because it used Vita A in its name, which is a description of its contents. However, the FDA said it was prescriptive because vitamin A is good for the eyes and as an eye drop could not be called Vita A eye drops. When the company struggled onward and changed their name they were then hit with other regulatory issues that could have been resolved with the FDA's help but were not.

So you can easily see the difficulty of having a government agency meant for drug control overseeing the Nutraceutical world. For your information the safety differences are so great that one need only read this quote:

(OMNS Jan 16, 2015) There was not one death caused by any dietary supplement in 2013, according to the most recent information collected by the U.S. National Poison Data System. The new 251-page annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers, published in the journal Clinical Toxicology (1), shows no deaths whatsoever from any dietary supplement. ( Mowry JB, Spyker DA, Cantilena LR Jr, McMillan N, Ford M. 2013 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System (NPDS): 31st Annual Report. Clinical Toxicology (2014), 52, p 1032-1283. ISSN: 1556-3650 print / 1556-9519 online. DOI: 10.3109/15563650.2014.987397)

This is part one of several articles to come that look at the differences of pharmaceuticals vs. nutraceuticals.

The 2008 California Health Emergency - a Historical View

2016-04-11T00:53:16Z

On August 1st, 2008, the California Department of Food and Agriculture will begin spraying the San Francisco Bat Area by air with a pheromone pesticide called Checkmate OLF-R. The spraying will be continuous every 30 to 90 days for the next two to ten years.

The spray has never been independently tested. The spray has no environmental studies done. The spray is time-released microcapsules containing known carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. The label on the product states it is harmful if absorbed through the skin. Harmful if inhaled. Contamination requires rinsing with water and calling poison control.

The US Department of Agriculture announced emergency funding (where have we heard that before) to combat the Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM) infestation bypassing normal safety and environmental studies!

The Manufacturer is Dupont. Signs and symptoms effects of acute overexposure: High oral doses can cause apathy (lack of feeling or emotion). Spraying has led to major respiratory problems.

Whenever anything is an emergency and bypasses safety precautions it should be a flag that some individuals are pushing this through the normally slow governmental machinery of change.

This long term commitment of spraying is costing us great sums of money. It is endangering our health, especially that of our children.

These are the important questions:

How much does it cost?
Who is receiving the money?
Is there any collusion taking place between the government and the contractors?
Are alternatives that don't put us at risk being used as practiced in New Zealand? There the moth has been established for more than 100 years and controlled using sticky traps to monitor the LBAM.
Is this an intelligence test of the Bay Area? If so, we have passed it because the multitude of studies and observations by citizens of Santa Cruz, California recently documented the dangers of spraying and for it to continue represents a heinous act by the government of the people without the people's consent. The spraying in the SF Bay Area is opposed.

So, to get the message out there to fellow citizens who work for the government- it is necessary to sign petitions, write letters and go to this website: http://www.lbamspray.com/index.htm

Another Major TEST of intelligence

The National Health Federation, who is the most trusted source of health-freedom information, has released an important press release, linked below. California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment is proposing language to add to proposition 65 that "would essentially classify all vitamin-and-mineral dietary supplements with above-RDA potencies as cancer-causing agents unless proven otherwise."

Please forward this link to everyone interested in health-freedom. There is an online petition to act on as well as a public hearing in Sacramento on April 18. http://www.thenhf.com/press_releases/pr_23_mar_2008.html

The NHF is the only health-freedom organization with recognized observer-delegate status at Codex meetings.

California - ever known for its luscious beauty, endless energy, and general wackiness - is on the verge of stepping off the edge of the cliff yet again. A trial balloon is being floated by California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) to limit the potency of vitamin-and-mineral supplements under California's Proposition 65 as cancer-causing agents.

Proposition 65's history is well-known within the State. In November 1986, voters in the State of California approved Proposition 65, in the belief that its passage would help protect them from toxic chemicals in the environment. Officially known as the "Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986," almost everyone these days just calls it Prop 65. Prop 65 requires the State to publish a list of those chemicals "known" to cause cancer or birth defects or other reproductive harm. This list is updated at least annually and has ballooned to include some 775 chemicals. Although Prop 65 uses the term "known," in the real world substances on the list are not necessarily known to cause cancer but are only those thatcould, under certain circumstances, pose a risk of cancer based upon the interpretation of existing scientific data, such as animal studies.

Prop 65 also requires businesses with 10 or more employees to notify Californians about the presence of listed chemicals in their products, in consumers' and employees' homes or workplaces, or that are released into the environment. The law further prohibits California businesses from knowingly discharging significant amounts of listed chemicals into drinking-water sources. OEHHA administers this program.

Scott Tips, the President and General Counsel of the National Health Federation, notes that, "Without the warnings on listed products, private legal bounty hunters can sue those companies in violation of Prop 65, even though no harm from the products is ever demonstrated, and exact enormous legal and other costs. While some (not much) good has resulted from Prop 65, like all government programs the good intentions quickly lead to enormously bad consequences that far outstrip any possible good. One easy example of this is the Prop 65 listing of natural progesterone as a cancer-causing agent when in fact it helps counteract the carcinogenic effects of estrogen. Natural, bioidentical progesterone is an important hormone-replacement therapy for women, many of whom have been unfortunately scared away from its health benefits by the Prop 65 warnings that are mandated on the product."

"Without such warnings," Mr. Tips continues, "the products and their manufacturers and distributors are sitting ducks. In fact, one growth industry spawned by Prop 65 consists of numerous private law firms dedicated to shooting first and asking questions later in a "no prisoners taken" attempt to earn huge legal fees while doing a bare-minimum of public good. The State and County governments may also bring legal action, but often it is these vulture firms that are first out of the gate to win the jackpot. After all, BMWs and exotic vacations must be paid for somehow."

OEHHA, it says, is proposing regulatory language - in concept only and not as a formal regulatory proposal, mind you - that would essentially classify all vitamin-and-mineral dietary supplements with above-RDA potencies (note they still use the old Recommended Daily Allowance term instead of the correct RDI, or Recommended Dietary Intake) as cancer-causing agents unless proven otherwise. Because California's Prop 65 has nationwide impact due to the size of the market, consumers can easily imagine the harm this will do with substances that have a long history of being incredibly safe and effective.

Here is what OEHHA wrote in a typical, late-Friday release (March 21, 2008):

"Certain chemicals or compounds such as vitamins and minerals are necessary to promote human health or to ensure the healthy growth of food crops. Excessive exposures to these same chemicals or compounds can cause cancer or adverse reproductive effects. OEHHA is seeking a way to balance the need for these nutrients with the necessity for providing Proposition 65 warnings for exposures to listed chemicals in foods. OEHHA has developed draft regulatory language that addresses this issue, which can be found below." (emphasis added)

OEHHA has then proposed the following regulatory "concept" (conveniently worded already by the Agency's legal department):

"Section 1250X. Exposure to Beneficial Nutrients in a Food

(a) Human consumption of a food shall not constitute an "exposure" for purposes of Section 25249.6 of the Act to a listed chemical in a food if the person causing the exposure to the chemical can show that the chemical is a nutrient that is beneficial to human health and that the total amount of the chemical consumed in a food, whether naturally occurring, intentionally added to the food, or otherwise present, does not exceed the level established in subsection (c).
(b) For purposes of this section, a chemical is beneficial to human health if a daily value or allowance has been established for the chemical or compound by the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine, National Academies.
(c) This section applies only to exposures that do not exceed the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) established in the Dietary Reference Intake Tables of the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine, National Academies, current edition, if one is established. If no RDA is established, this section applies only to exposures that do not exceed 20 percent (20%) of the Tolerable Upper Intake Level established in the Dietary Reference Intake Tables of the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine, National Academies, current edition." (emphasis added)

In its Notice, OEHHA has set two key dates for public input: (1) A public meeting on April 18, 2008, to be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon in the Sierra Hearing Room at the California Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters Building located at 1001 I Street, Sacramento, California, where OEHHA will hold a public workshop for the ostensible purpose of gathering input from interested parties concerning the issues raised by these regulatory "concepts"; and (2) Written submissions to be received from all interested parties no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 2, 2008, directed to the attention of Fran Kammerer, Staff Counsel, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, California 95812; or by e-mail to fkammerer@oehha.ca.gov.

The National Health Federation has already consulted with outside legal counsel specialized in this area of law for the express purpose of stopping this idea from proceeding beyond its conceptual stage. NHF will be in attendance at the April 18th meeting and will be submitting cogent written comments, assisted by scientific and legal experts, opposing this regulatory "concept." The Federation is also exploring legal action against the Agency should it proceed in any way with implementing its concept. This is critical and will affect individuals, supplement manufacturers, and vitamin retailers. This is not just a California issue. Anyone who depends on supplements for their health or livelihood must voice their opposition.

In the meantime, the NHF asks all interested parties to sign our on-line petition opposing this ridiculous concept, which the Federation will then personally submit to OEHHA. (Go to http://thenhf.com/press_releases/prop65_petition.htm.) The NHF also asks all interested parties to provide us with any scientific and legal data that they might have supporting our position that vitamins and minerals are not carcinogenic and therefore do not belong on the Proposition 65 list, so that all pertinent information may be included into the Federation's comments and possible lawsuit.

March 21, 2008 OEHHA Notice http://www.oehha.ca.gov/prop65/law/regs032108.html

(Click Here For The Online Petition)

Inform others to sign our on-line petition-send this link to the press release

April 18, 2008 Public Hearing
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Sierra Hearing Room
California Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters Building located
1001 I Street
Sacramento, California
Please attend and voice your opposition.

Written opposition submissions:
Directed to the attention of Fran Kammerer, Staff Counsel
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
1001 I Street
Sacramento, California 95812
Comments due by May 2, 2008

Multiple Vitamin Battles

2009-03-26T01:46:41Z

Perception is everything. So let's look at the influences that help determine it.

Medicine is based upon observation, as the French Philosopher Michel Foucault stated in The Birth of the Clinic, when describing the medical profession.

Observation is Perception

For years the wealthy in northern Europe ate off pewter plates, which have a very high lead content. Tomatoes are very acidic and when placed in contact with the pewter they leached out the lead. When eaten, the tomatoes then produced lead poisoning. Lead poisoning manifests itself in many ways from headaches to delirium to death. Based upon perception tomatoes were considered poisonous in those regions for several hundred years by society and the medical community until the 19^th Century when a merchant publicly ate a bushel of tomatoes to prove they were harmless without ill effects.

Perception is Our Reality

Twenty-five years ago medical science stated unequivocally that we were born with limited number of brain cells. Once they died, they were never replaced. Although this seemed illogical to some, it was accepted as fact.

For example, canaries help prove the opposite. There is an area of a male canary's brain where their song composing takes place. The song is very important to male canaries because the female canary responds to singing of this song, which helps the male canary in his courting. After the season passes, the brain cells die. The next Spring, new brain cells emerge and the canary offers up a new song, perhaps to make sure the female canary responds, since she has already heard last year's tune.

Today it is recognized that brain cells can be regenerated - not just in canaries - and that new ones are created. With the development of genetics, the World's perception of reality is once again shifting. We now know that change is an integral part of all life, and that change occurs endlessly. Farmers, physicists, meteorologists, and geologists recognize this. It is part of their training, so they recognize it when they see it. The theory of relativity placed truth within contextual terms and that context changes. Biologists, chemists, mathematicians, and medical science seem to have much more difficulty recognizing it. Perhaps this is because they view the World in reduced terms, seeing the World as a tiny stage with set rules and options. They are often surprised by an observation they never thought could occur because their established rules and language prevented them from seeing it, and their training produced attachment to results firmly established.

An outmoded belief system becomes rigid and corrupted. It is a fixed belief system. Meanwhile, everything is changing. This is exactly what happened at Duke University.

Some oncologists decided to experiment with genetically-altered yellow laboratory agouti mice, specifically raised because they genetically pass cancer on to their young. These mice are used for cancer research in medical labs. The scientists decided to see what would happen if they fed the rats some vitamins, specifically, a mixture of B vitamins - the exact same kind as found in a general multiple vitamin. One of the scientists, Randy Jirtle, thought it both eerie and scary to observe the newborn mice. The young looked very different from their parents. They were lean, brown and healthy. This experiment helped to change science's view of the influence of the environment and opened a new way of viewing genetics due to "epigenetic change." This means that genes express themselves according to their environment, i.e., genetic change. A person changes their genes (turning them on and off) by changing the environment surrounding them - that is, by altering what they eat, drink, and do.

It is now realized that there are approximately 600 enzymes that need vitamins and minerals to function properly. Research has shown that defective enzyme genes are repairable with a higher dose of the proper vitamin or mineral.

It is hitting even the mainstream press. On the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle, June 6, 2008, the paper reported that "UC Berkeley researchers are searching for genetic flaws that can be fixed by simply taking vitamin and mineral supplements . . . . By knowing which genes are defective, people will know which vitamins they need ... . Eventually, a person's entire genome may be scanned for flaws, and a set of vitamins could be prescribed for optimum health." (Emphasis added)

Change and Observation are Intrinsically Linked

They create our reality. There are, however, major hurdles for perception to cross. In our society, training can take many forms and frequently the higher the status, the more rigid the training, such as for lawyers and medical doctors. The results can frequently be a narrowness that creates draconian, authoritarian behavior. In addition we have human emotions that present definite hurdles to perception - the greatest of which appears to be greed. Even when we know otherwise, greed and authoritarian mindsets choose the path committed by the person's training as the "truth" to adhere to or the desirable path to maintain for one's own self interest.

These behaviors and mind sets act in our daily lives and seem to usually play a minor role, but those small, important, skewed perceptions create realities that do not fit the intelligence of the Universe, often with great ramifications.

On the large scale, whole organizations and systems base their reality upon these perceptions. The results can often be that information is not accurately observed, or else observed and inaccurately reported, or made to fit the desired perception to create a specific reality. At some point the system fails, there are mistakes. This common event in the Universe is called "karma." (Karma is when what happened yesterday affects what is happening now, and what is happening now affects what will happen tomorrow. In other words, your past karma is what happens to you and your future karma is what you do.) We witness this, for example, in banking, the stock market, healthcare, politics, and education. Ultimately, the Universe sorts it out.

The Heart of the Issue

Are multivitamins unnecessary and dangerous as the media reports? The media gets their information from news releases, interviews, or actual reporting from attending a lecture or conference by a reporter in the employ of someone. Regardless of what the media is saying we know that the general health of Americans is deteriorating and at an increasing rate. We have huge sums of money procured to find cures. Much of it is wasted funding since in most cases there is not a "cure" per se. There is only change that can make the difference. When cancer is recognized more as a result of environmental poisoning and bad diet, and stress, and poor life style with lack of exercise, then change can take place. Before that time comes to pass, it is all public relations and moneyed interests beating a tin drum.

So what is it about multiple vitamins that make them such an easy target for criticism at this time? Perhaps it is the old "divide and conquer" because there are definitely several schools of thought regarding a good multivitamin making it an easy arena to attack. The movement to control the individual's availability to purchase multivitamins hinges on creating a perception that they are worthless or even dangerous and should only be taken under a doctor's prescription (although the doctor is untrained in the field of nutrition), and therefore must be removed from the open marketplace where the individual has control of his or her own health to that of a "qualified" but largely-ignorant professional.

Without the specifics of the content or quality of the multivitamin being attacked, the health industry has a difficult time responding to criticism. The multivitamin variations are numerous. We can, however, divide them into several categories and critically analyze them.

The Big Differences in the World of Multivitamins

First of all, when it comes to dietary supplements, there is the health-food store standard, also backed by the orthomolecular approach. Next, there is the emerging concept that food-based supplements with low potencies are the answer. Both of these are somewhat on the same side of the fence. Why? They both believe in purity and active ingredients for maximum absorption and assimilation.

Then, on the other side of the fence we have the pharmaceutical drugstore multivitamins. They actually are the ones that the public most frequently purchases. Not only are their potencies usually much lower, but they differ in tableting and excipients used. And all too often the form of the multivitamins differ, with the pharmaceutical brand multivitamin far more often using a synthetic form of a particular vitamin or mineral (e.g., Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) instead of Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol)) that is far inferior in quality to that of the natural or other form found in a brand sold in health-food stores.

Additives and Quality

Often overlooked by consumers who see generic vitamin names on multivitamin labels and rarely look beyond, additives and quality are nevertheless of paramount importance. And it is here where the two types of multivitamins have important differences.

Just consider one of the top-selling multiples in the marketplace, which happens to be a drug-store multiple supplement for seniors. It is highly endorsed by both MDs and pharmacists. First, let's look at its excipients (the extra chemicals needed to make the tablet, complete the filling of the capsule, or added for some other unknowable reason):

Polyethylene Glycol, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Pregelatinized Corn Starch, Sodium Benzoate, Sucrose, Talc, Maltodextrin, Calcium Stearate, Sodium Aluminosilicate, Sunflower Oil, Colloidal Silicon Dioxide, Corn Starch, Crospovidone, FD&C Blue No. 2 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Red No. 40 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Yellow No. 6 Aluminum Lake, Gelatin, Hydrogenated Palm Oil, Hypromellose, and Modified Food Starch.

Do you want or need all those extra excipients? How do they affect assimilation? How do they affect your health? A crash course in additives will quickly help you decide, so read about them - all are easily found on the internet and known by other common names; such as Crosprovidone, which is PVP, and hypromellose as HPMC. When all of these additives are researched one wonders how they could possibly pass California's strict anti-carcinogen Proposition-65 requirements for human ingestion since some are related to chemicals that are carcinogens. Does this make the critics correct?

Regarding quality of the drug-store multivitamin, one of the most important differences is the use of the "dl" synthetic, and inferior, form of Vitamin E (which form has no biological activity). The formula has many other inferior forms of nutrients to name a few: Sodium selenate (a form of selenium that is not chelated and is easily reduced by Vitamin C into unabsorbable selenium); an unknown amount of sodium; a nonchelated (and therefore less-viable) form of zinc; and all at such low potencies that researchers consider them ineffective as discussed further on.

Let's now look at a typical health-food store multivitamin and see the difference. Here are the common excipients (some times limited to only rice powder):

Cellulose, stearic acid (vegetable), modified cellulose, magnesium stearate, silica. Coating: vegetable food glaze.

Here is another example:

Cellulose, magnesium, stearate, silica dioxide, modified cellulose gum

Followed usually on most bottles with a statement similar to this:

Free of the most common allergens such as yeast, rice, barley, wheat, lactose (milk sugar) and all milk, fish and egg products. No added flavorings, sugars, salt, artificial sweeteners, coloring, preservatives or salicylates.

The actual vitamins are the most-active forms, such as the natural "d" forms of Vitamin E and usually meaningful portions of newer nutrients such as lutein, which in the "drug store" variety had a quarter of a milligram and less than a third of a milligram of lycopene both of which should measure five to ten milligrams to approach an effective dose. Also, when iron is present in the formula, most frequently it is ferrous-sulfate - a form of iron that causes constipation and interferes with Vitamin-E absorption. The health-food store vitamin formulas also take into account proper ratios of minerals and B vitamins.

No Proof of Harm, But Proof of Benefit

How can anyone compare or make a generalized statement evaluating multivitamins? It is true that people have for the last sixty years taken vitamins, even unintentionally because they have been routinely added to fortify foods such as bread, cereals, canned goods, and other food products. This has been mandated by the government to help protect people's health (although some fortification - such as in the case of iron - has possibly done more harm than good).

For the media to print that the public is getting more vitamins than they need by quoting a doctor or researcher without a proven study is a baseless opinion and absolute nonsense! If there were such a study, it would be headline news! Why?

There has never been a single study, out of all that have been done, that shows the American public comes remotely close to consuming the minimum requirements for vitamins and minerals in their daily diet. Disease prevention and health enhancement in the United States appear to be possible only through supplementation.

Further, studies indicate levels of malnutrition. Doctors have reported to me from the University of California Medical Center their disbelief at finding scurvy (Vitamin-C deficiency disease) in their patients. Meanwhile, agricultural departments, such as at the University of Texas, are finding the nutritional levels of food are lower than ever historically, with a steady significant decline from the early 1900s up to the present.

Industrial farming accounts for dramatic ecological and environmental dangers that put everyone at high risk and decreasing nutritional values as food is mass produced without any regard for quality. This is a relatively recent phenomenon.

According to the 2007 Milken Institute's report "An Unhealthy America - The Economic Burden of Chronic Disease," chronic illness costs the economy $1 trillion a year. The key points are staggering with more than 109 million Americans suffering from one or more common chronic conditions for a total of 162 million cases (because many Americans have more than one disease case - e.g., diabetes and hypertension). The former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona said, "The public is telling us the No. 1 domestic issue is health." He goes on to say, "The disease burden is mounting, the economy burden is mounting and the trajectory we're on is unsustainable." How can one possibly ignore these facts and claim that there is no need for everyone to take at least a multivitamin?

Better Health through Better Nutrition

The most recent in-depth study on multiple nutrients recognizes how difficult it is to generalize. (See Block G, Jensen CD, Nordus EP, Dalvi TB, Wong LG, McManus JF and Hudes ML, "Usage Patterns, Health and Nutritional Status of Long-term Multiple Dietary Supplement Users," a cross-sectional study that was published in the October 24, 2007 issue of Nutritional Journal.) The study nevertheless could make some statistical statements based upon the 278 long-term users of multiple dietary supplements, 176 users of a single multivitamin/multimineral supplement, and 602 nonusers of supplements whom the scientists studied.

At least half of the subjects in the multiple dietary-supplements group consumed a multivitamin/mineral, B-complex, Vitamin C, carotenoids, Vitamin E, calcium with Vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, flavonoids, lecithin, alfalfa, Coenzyme Q10 with resveratrol, glucosamine, and an herbal immune supplement.

The majority of women in this group also consumed gamma linolenic acid and a probiotic supplement. The majority of men additionally consumed zinc, garlic, saw palmetto, and a soy-protein supplement.

Overall, the study showed that the use of multiple dietary supplements led to better health. As the researchers themselves said, individuals who consume a number of nutritional supplements were found to have better biomarkers of health than those who do not consume any supplements or who only consumed a multivitamin/mineral.

Among other benefits, multiple-supplement users also had lower levels of C-reactive protein and triglycerides and higher levels of HDL (the so-called "good") cholesterol. Other findings in the multiple supplements group included lower risks of elevated blood pressure, diabetes (73% less compared to nonusers), and coronary heart disease (52% less compared to nonusers). Subjects consuming multiple dietary supplements also reported having "good or excellent" health status 74 percent more often than non-supplement users.

Other corollary findings included the discovery of various nutrient deficiencies in both the non-supplement users and the multivitamin/mineral users, especially with low levels of Vitamin C. Far from being a danger to health as the mass media would have us believe, using multiple nutritional supplements confers various health benefits that merit further study, not blind condemnation.

Time to Change Perception

So, please read nutrition to know more. At Oxford University in England students tell you that they "read" history, they "read" mathematics, they "read" philosophy. They never seem to say "study." When a person studies something they become attached to what they learn - it becomes the "truth" and hard to change when a new truth appears; whereas, when one reads something, there is less attachment and more investment in critical reasoning and thought - in other words, an "open mind."

With a more open mind you are able to help others change their perceptions about health and nutrition and with it everyone's health. Stay healthy - it's your right and responsibility!

"Side Effects" - Bad Substitute for the Real Thing!

2009-03-26T01:11:44Z

The word "side" has a multitude of uses in the English language. It is used over and over again for many different meanings and lends itself to other words to create a multitude of ambiguous, suggestive, and descriptive nouns or adjectives.

We use "side" for every possible type of meaning; inside out, sideways, side kick, sidelines, sunny side up, side interest, take sides, outside, side dish, bright side, side of beef, up side down, right side up, seamy side, and the most ominous use is "SIDE EFFECTS".

"Side effect" is defined as a consequence other than that, for which an agent is used, especially an adverse effect on another organ.

The word "side" somehow suggests the perception that there is a benefit occurring simultaneously. This is where the pharmaceutical industry employs semantics and language to create an illusion. If a drug makes a person feel ill- then that is the effect of the drug. If it makes a person feel good- then that is an effect of the drug. Rarely does a person experience a drug where it makes them feel good and bad at the same time.

If a person becomes paralyzed, has a stroke, attempts suicide, or dies it seems trivial and flippant to name such effects as "side effects". They are without doubt effects that fall in the category of "Bad" effects. The FDA allows this suggestive language and has other notable areas of verbal inaccuracy. The FDA substitutes the term "discontinuation" for "withdrawal", but that's another story.

The FDA should require accurate language banning the use of "side effects" as warnings and replace the term with "bad effects" which more accurately communicates an immediate call to the doctor, stopping use of the drug, and re-evaluating the prescribed drug.

"Side effects" suggest that bad effects may occur but to continue use until the benefits of the drug become evident. Too often someone witnesses a bad reaction to a drug and still continues use because they perceive the effects as somewhat harmless, part of the cure, just a simple "side effect" not reacting soon enough to stop the drug as the person goes into nausea, possible stroke, coma or death.

"Bad effects" give a clearer understanding to the use and dangers of the prescribed drug. Perception is everything for the consumer and clarity in language regarding health dangers should be made mandatory by the FDA! Eliminate the term "side" and in its place use the term "bad". It could save lives!

Body-building Nutrition

2009-03-19T18:19:50Z

Here is a brief discussion of some popular body-building nutrients:

AKG, or alpha-ketoglutarate, is the ammonia-free skeleton of glutamine, and as such, can provide the anti-catabolic effect of glutamine, preserving muscle during and after exercise, without the downside of loading the body with toxic ammonia, which can happen when large amounts of glutamine are taken. Perhaps the best way to obtain this is in the form of ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate, which besides functioning as an ammonia scavenger and a ready-source for anti-catabolic glutamine, also releases growth hormone, stimulates insulin secretion, and ends up increasing the arginine pool, another growth hormone releasing agent.

Arginine-Ornithine were first publicized when Sandy Shaw and Durk Pearson came out with their book, Life Extension. Their studies showed Arginine-Ornithine increased the secretion of growth hormone. Many bodybuilders have noticed that their muscle pump is enhanced when they take ornithine and arginine. It is now recommended to take Lysine along with Arginine, to prevent the outbreak of latent herpes, to further promote growth-hormone release, and to otherwise balance amino acids.

Free-Form Amino Acids are taken by many successful bodybuilders.They give an edge when it comes to muscle size, strength and hardness.

B-6 helps the utilization of protein foods, as well as fats and carbohydrates. It is best taken as part of a balanced B-complex.

Bee Pollen has been found to have a nourishing and energizing effect. Bodybuilders take it before a session, to energize, intensify, and lengthen their workouts. One proponent of the "apiary life-style", Royden Brown, claims in his book, Bee Hive Product Bible, to have rejuvenated his body by consuming large amounts of bee pollen and other bee products.

Branch-chain amino acids, specifically, Leucine, Isoleucine, and Valine, have been shown to be the primary components of muscle protein. Ingesting increased amounts of these important nutrients during and after working-out offers the muscle cells their preferred nutrition, helping exercise to increase muscle size and strength. This effect occurs in part because these amino acids provide a substrate for glutamine, an essential nutrient both for the muscle cells and for cell replication in the immune system, and in part because the branch-chain aminos are burned for fuel, sparing other aminos for tissue growth.

Carnitine is known for it's ability to increase the utilization of stored body-fat, helping people to slim down and increase lean muscle mass. Most often they also notice a significant increase in energy, partly due to feeling better about their new size and partly due to the energy derived from the better burning of fat. Carnitine is also considered protective of heart function, both because the heart uses lipids as the source of most of it's energy, and because it helps to reduce blood levels of fat and triglycerides. Bodybuilders find carnitine especially useful when cutting-up, because it helps transport cellular fat, speeding the fat-burning process.

Chromium Picolinate is the brainchild of Dr. Gary Evans, a chemistry professor at Bemidji State University. His studies showed that the compound "bulked-up" lean muscle mass and cut down body-fat percentages. There is also evidence that this supplement can reduce cholesterol levels in the blood. Chromium Picolinate as well as GTF Chromium potentiate the action of insulin.

Creatine Monohydrate is a naturally occurring compound produced mainly in the liver and involving the pancreas and kidneys. In human clinical studies it has proven to increase force production and muscle mass. Dr. Julian Whitaker recommends its use for "reversing the symptoms of age-related deterioration of muscle" (Health and Healing, March, 1994).
Creatine supplement converts into phosphocreatine within the muscle. Phosphocreatine is critical to the maintenance and continued production of energy by donating a phosphate group to ADP to make ATP, the substrata utilized for powering all body movements and biochemical reactions in the body. So creatine supplements can create more ATP without needing carbohydrates, fats, or oxygen to recharge the ATP. This makes it a source of super fast energy because it does not need to undergo a complicated process to produce energy. It can also lead to the absorption of hydrogen ions released into muscles from lactic acid, which cuts-back the "burn" and reduces exercise fatigue.
Creatine is unique in that it increases the production of proteins and builds muscle (anabolic) and it also acts to decrease the breakdown of muscle protein (anticatabolic). These benefits could be used to retain muscle mass as a person ages. Absorption is best after some exercise. Jarrow produces an excellent combination product of 1000mg creatine combined with Co-Q10 60 mg.

Vitamin C is highly regarded by many bodybuilders. It is often forgotten that working-out intensely is a heavy stress on the body, especially the immune system, and vitamin C can be of great benefit to support immune response. It helps speed recovery from workouts, prevent bruising, and promotes the release of subcutaneous water.

DHEA See Article

Dibencozide is the co-enzyme form of vitamin B-12. Although already-buffed bodybuilders often don't notice much effect from it, we have heard numerous reports of sudden and significant increase in energy and ability to effectively workout from ectomorphs, sometimes referred to as "pencil-necks". This may be due to a correction of a possibly long-term and marginal B-12 deficiency, which your doctor could determine through a simple blood test.

Digestive Enzymes may not be needed by "genetically-gifted" bodybuilders, but for most of us, any help we can get in breaking down and absorbing our food is greatly appreciated. Without this process, whatever we eat is wasted and doesn't help build mass and strength. Especially when "bulking-up", enzymes can not only improve progress but also rescue one's social life.

Dimethylglycine (DMG) is the active nutrient behind what was called B-15, calcium pangamate, or pangamic acid. It is an intermediary metabolite that is useful in the production of neurotransmitters, hormones, DNA, choline, and methionine. It enhances the immune response system, normalizes blood glucose levels and reduces high blood pressure levels. It enhances oxygen utilization, reduces lactic acid formation, and aids detoxification- improving liver, pancreas, and adrenal function. In 1960 Russia reported DMG benefited people suffering from diabetes, alcoholism, mental disorders, and cardiovascular ailments. Also, DMG enhanced athletic performance, as demonstrated by the Olympics. It is especially useful for those who train to exhaustion. DMG delays this drop-off in energy, allowing more intense workouts.

Gamma Oryzanol was first researched extensively by Japanese scientists, who derived it from rice bran oil. It increased the anabolic efficiency of food, increasing mass with less food, possibly by stimulating the pituitary to release growth hormone releasing hormone. There is also some evidence that it helps increase energy levels and overall stamina and that it aids tissue repair.

Ginseng, Asian, or Panax ginseng, is the herb of ancient Chinese lore and folk medicine. The Latin name Panax derives from the Greek word panakos meaning "cure-all" or panacea, a testimony to the wondrous reputation this herb had in the mid-1700's when the famous Swedish botanist Linnaeus named the plant.The wild root is virtually extinct in Asia today, with a few kilos of the roots still being found in the wild. These roots command prices of up to $10,000 each on the Hong Kong market. Most Panax ginseng is commercially cultivated in China and Korea, in both red and white forms. White (actually beige or cream colored) is the natural, dried root material, while the "red" is basically the white roots which have been steam-treated. This process engages a preservation process, besides the natural color change. In South Korea, the red is considered higher quality by the Korean government's Office of Monopoly, which controls all processing and export of Red Korean Ginseng.

Practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) consider the Asian ginseng to be an energy tonic, stimulating and heat producing, increasing yang energies. It is employed in a number of degenerative and "wasting" diseases where chi or vital energy is deficient. It is contraindicated in conditions such as colds and flu. The red variety is considered by traditional herbalists to be more potent and stimulating than white. Some scientific tests appear to confirm this notion.

In recent years, many companies have come out with ginsengs that have standardized the amount of ginsenosides, the known active ingredients. Because of this development, an impressive array of research on Asian ginseng has been conducted in Europe, and the results of this research has validated some of the traditional "tonic" reputation of Asian ginseng root. These studies confirm the stress-reducing properties, heightened endurance levels, cardiovascular and other activities of Asian ginseng.

Ginseng, Siberian, Eleutherococcus senticosus, became famous in the late 1970's because it was reportedly used by Russian Olympic team members and Soviet cosmonauts as part of their daily training regimen. A Soviet scientist, Dr. I.I. Brekhman, did the early research on Siberian ginseng, and it is his work that popularized the term "adaptogen", indicating a substance that tends to restore normal physiological function, whether it is deficient or excessive, and that allows the body as a whole to respond to a non-specific stress (such as over-exercise). Siberian ginseng belongs to the same Araliaceae family as the other ginsengs, but genus Eleutherococcus instead of Panax. It is the premier substance for enhancing physical stamina and endurance.

L-Glutamine has many functions in the body. Recently it has been used to help heal leaky-gut syndrome and chronic immune problems, because of it's importance as a fuel in the mitochondria of both the gut lining and other cells in the body. Glutamine is a primary nutrient for muscle growth, comprising over 50% of the free amino acids in muscle. Studies show that muscle protein synthesis is highly correlated with the level of glutamine. Also, recovering alcoholics have used L-glutamine for many years as part of a program to help control sugar cravings and for mental clarity.

Inosine has a unique ability to increase ATP production. It is so closely related to ATP structurally that no oxygen is required for this conversion and is the quickest pathway for the cell to get its ATP. It works best when taken on an empty stomach with an electrolyte mixture, such as ALACER'S Emergen-C and with Coenzyme Q-10 before exercise. This enhances oxygen transport throughout the system, improving workload efficiency, and prevents any increase in uric acid synthesis.

Lipotropics include methionine, choline, inositol, B-6, and betaine. Lipotropics have been used by bodybuilders to decrease subcutaneous fat, perhaps by emulsifying fat under the skin. They also can help the proper digestion and utilization of dietary oils.

Liver has been used by bodybuilders since the beginning. Vince Cironda became famous for his advocacy of liver supplements for bodybuilding, citing a study where rats whose diet was supplemented with liver for two weeks survived a swimming test in ice-cold water far longer than the control group. This indicates an increase in stamina, heat, and just plain 'ol strength. Many customers report similar results from taking liver (though nobody we know has timed their survival rate swimming in the S.F. Bay!) We recommend Enzymatic Therapy Liquid Liver and TwinLab Predigested Liver Aminos.

MCT Oil stands for Medium Chain Triglycerides. They are derived from coconut oil. Because they are shorter chains than most dietary fats, MCT's don't require bile to be absorbed and can go directly to the liver. They supply 2 and 1/4 times the energy of the same amount of carbohydrates, making them ideal for endurance athletics and as a protein-sparing supplement. Because they are soluble in biological fluids, they aren't converted to body fat but are burned for energy.

Octacosanol was identified by Professor Thomas Cureton at the University of Illinois as the component of wheat-germ oil that improved strength, reaction time, and endurance. His studies were conducted over a 20-year period and involved weightlifters, swimmers, wrestlers, and track and field athletes. Octacosanol is a solid white alcohol, whose exact mechanism of action is still unknown, although some evidence suggests it works to improve the efficiency of transmission of nerve impulses. Many customers who run, bike, or engage in other endurance sports have reported a strengthening and steadying effect from octacosanol.

PAK has been scientifically proven to be valuable for those involved in both aerobic or anaerobic activity. It increases cellular energy as well as cutting down on lactic acid production.

Protein Powders

Whey Protein is a new superior protein for all uses, including strenuous exercise, bodybuilding, chronic illness, and convalescence. The major protein in whey is lactalbumin, with lactoglobulins as minor proteins. Though whey itself has been considered a wonderful "healthfood" in times past, the prevalence of lactose intolerance has made it impossible for many people to use whey. However, with the new technique of ion-exchange filtration (used in Next Nutrition's Designer Protein), and the even better cross-flow micro-filtration (Unipro's Perfect Protein), everyone can enjoy the benefits of this fantastically-nourishing supplement!
There are three important attributes of whey protein which make it an ideal source of protein: high quality, large amounts of branch-chain amino acids (BCAA's), and the immune-enhancing effects of lactalbumin.
Recent studies have shown that athletes need greater amounts of protein than do non-athletes. Whey protein can be important for maintaining muscle structure and function during periods of strenuous exertion. High levels of high quality protein exert an "anticatabolic" effect, meaning that muscle breakdown is prevented. There are four methods commonly used to measure protein quality: protein efficiency ratio (PER), biological value (BV), net protein utilization (NPU), and chemical score. Although casein has been the "gold standard" of protein quality for many years, whey protein is higher quality, regardless of which technique is used. Whey also scores far higher than soy and other lower quality proteins such as rice, beef, and wheat. Egg is the only protein source that even comes close to whey, but even here, whey contains higher levels of BCAAs, which makes whey a better protein source for athletes and bodybuilders.
Research has identified the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) as key amino acids for both bodybuilding and exercise performance. BCAAs (notably leucine) are known to be directly oxidized in muscle, thereby acting as a source of energy. In addition, leucine is used for alanine synthesis in muscle; alanine is subsequently transported to the liver and used to make glucose, which is then available as a fuel for muscular contraction.
Finally, recent studies have shown that lactalbumin, the main protein in whey, can enhance immunity in animals. In a study of immuno-enhancement where mice were fed diets containing various proteins, lactalbumin proved to be 2.4 times better than egg protein, and five times better than casein! The stimulatory effect of lactalbumin became apparent at two weeks and persisted throughout the course of the study. Since strenuous exercise has recently been linked to a depression in both the cellular and humoral immune responses of humans, it may well be wise for athletes, bodybuilders, and everyone else to use high-quality whey as their source of dietary protein!
Milk and Egg Protein Powders, until the advent of whey protein, were considered the highest quality proteins. They are still great sources of complete protein for those who can digest them, and are more cost effective than free-form amino acid formulas.
Soy Protein is wonderful for the genetically and digestively gifted, as an adjunct to high-quality whey protein. It is best used in rotation with other proteins (i.e., not every day) and sometimes in conjunction with digestive enzymes. Used properly, it not only costs less but it also can be used in cooking and baking. Though the over-use of tofu by bodybuilders earned it the nickname "the White Death", the occasional intake of soy-protein brownies or shakes offers a welcome change in one's regular diet.
Spirulina contains around 65% easily-digested protein. This is high-quality, complete protein, including all the essential amino acids (those the body cannot make from other amino acids and so which must be included in the diet every day). Because the protein in spirulina is high in phenylalanine, it has also been found useful as an aid to appetite suppression and cutting-up.

Smilax is a plant sterol that reportedly increases testosterone level. Whether it actually does or not, many report feeling increased energy when they take it.

Vanadyl Sulfate is the best and safest form of the trace mineral vanadium. Vanadium is involved in cellular metabolism, growth, and reproduction, and in the formation of bones and teeth. Studies with rats have shown that it may be able to reverse diabetes. It seems that vanadyl "mimics" the action of insulin, stimulating glycogen production and the transport of amino acids into muscle tissue and preventing the breakdown of muscle protein. Body-builders have reported impressive gains in muscle size and strength when adding vanadyl sulfate to their regimen. Some research suggests that the trace mineral chromium, which also helps control blood sugar levels, is best taken at a different time from vanadium.

Vitamins/Minerals and Supersaturation:
from Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding by Arnold Schwarzenegger with Bill Dobbins, Simon and Schuster, 1985, p 680-81.
"Experts are often heard decrying the ingestion of excess protein, vitamins, and minerals by bodybuilders on the grounds that the body is only capable of using small amounts of the various nutrients at any one time.... Bodybuilders and many other athletes, however, do not accept most of these theories. Their experience tells them that extra protein and vitamin and mineral supplements do make a difference... If the body is supersaturated with nutrients whenever an important reaction begins to occur - protein synthesis, for example, or the creation of creatine phosphate for energy - the nutrients required are right there on the spot. Therefore the body is able to work and grow in ways that would not be possible if you accepted lower nutritional minimums."
A good megavitamin/mineral program can be a great boost for bodybuilders, and it may well be considered imperative during periods of reduced caloric intake.

Yohimbe stimulates and energizes; it's also considered an aphrodisiac. Body-builders have reported a definite strengthening effect from taking it, in the short-term, which allowed them to increase the intensity of their work-outs. The major active ingredient is the isomeric alkaloid, yohimbine.

Beta-1,3-Glucan: Extraordinary Immune Support

2009-03-19T17:11:57Z

Information provided by Immudyne, Inc.,
P.O. Box 51507, Palo Alto, CA

A new nutritional product called beta-1,3-glucan is one of the most exciting things happening today in the field of nutritional supplements.

Obtained from purified yeast, beta-1,3-glucan has a long scientific history and a reference list including literally hundreds of papers. Research originated in the 1940's when Pillemer and his colleagues described a crude yeast cell wall preparation, Zymosan. They reported that this material was able to stimulate nonspecific immunity¹. It was unknown at that time which element of this composition, containing a relatively crude mixture of proteins, lipids and polysaccharides, actually activated the immune response.

The answer came later in the 60's, when Dr. Nicholas DiLuzio at Tulane University experimented with beta-1,3-glucan² . In the late 1980's Dr. Joyce Czop, at Harvard University, described the mode of action of this material in stimulating the immune system: there is a specific receptor for beta-1,3-glucan on the surface of certain cells, called macrophages³ that when activated, stimulate a cascade of events turning the body into "an arsenal of defense".

Macrophages play an essential and pivotal role in the initiation and maintenance of the immune response. From an evolutionary point of view, the macrophage is the oldest and most consistently preserved immunologically competent cell known. Not only humans and higher animals, but primitive invertebrates such as Hydra, which have no other immunological effector cells, have macrophages. In order to function immunologically, the macrophages must pass through a state of activation which involves certain morphological changes but also, most importantly, a whole sequence of metabolic changes which result in the production of series of so-called cytokines which act as internal regulators of the immune system. Activation can be initiated by a variety of different stimuli, such as endotoxin, bacteria, viruses or chemicals which can be too toxic or pathogenic to be useful. Beta-1,3-glucan is not only orally effective, completely non-toxic and safe, but is one of the most potent stimulators of the immune response.

Considerable attention has been recently given to Aloe Vera extract, which was found to carry one of the macrophage activating polysaccharides, mannan or polymannose. While mannan has some macrophage activating potential, it is very slight compared to that of glucan⁴. There are several different glucans with different levels of activity, the most active of which is beta-1,3-glucan from the cell wall of yeast. A three dimensional model of this molecule shows it to be a helix, and the research at Harvard has shown that there exist, on the macrophage cell membrane, receptors for a small number of residues, approximately seven⁵ . The fact that such a small number of glucose units can activate this receptor is very remarkable. What is more remarkable still, is that there should be a specific receptor for this sort of polysaccharide chain on the surface of the most ancient sugar cell in the immune cascade. There is now evidence to show that glucan is, from an evolutionary point of view, the most widely and most commonly observed macrophage activator in nature⁶. The same enhancing mechanisms have been found in all branches of the animal, bird, fish and plant kingdoms^7,8.

The activated macrophages is a veritable powerhouse in terms of activity. Not only can a macrophage recognize and kill tumor cells non-specifically, as well as removing foreign debris, but it can produce a number of essential cytokines that are able to stimulate the immune system in general and boost bone marrow production. Individuals, who by reason of age and other factors, such as chronic infection or poor nutrition, have a compromised immune defense system, are liable to all of the following problems: arthritis, reduced wound healing capacity, reduced bone marrow proliferation with resulting lowered white cell counts and anemia, increased incidence of cancers, increased incidence of all kinds of viral, fungal, and bacterial infection. It is well understood that one of the main elements of the aging process is a lowering of effectiveness of the immune function^9,56,57 : all the problems mentioned above occur in old age. In addition, during ordinary living, the chances that the immune system is impaired may be surprisingly high. Not only environmental influences like UV radiation, electro-magnetic fields, food preservatives and antibiotics can cause temporary immunosuppression but also stress and heavy physical exercises have these negative effects. It is well-documented that after heavy exercise, generally healthy athletes frequently suffer from influenza or pneumonia because of the depressive effect on their immune system¹⁰. The same immunosuppression is observed in people under physical or emotional stress and in patients with stress-related diseases, such as coronary disease. Under these influences the number of macrophages available are reduced and unable to participate in the immune cascade which causes even deeper immunosuppression. Beta-1,3-glucan has been proven to both stimulate and activate macrophage cells¹¹ which will counter these negative effects.

In the 1970's after extensive studies in animals, human experiments with glucan began. Dr. Peter Mansell reported that after injection of glucan into subcutaneous nodules of malignant melanoma they resolved within a few days. When the biopsy of the injection sites were done no evidence of melanoma was found, just a collection of obviously activated macrophages¹².

A follow up of that study was to treat a number of women with recurrent malignant ulcers of the chest wall following mastectomy and radiation for breast cancer. After an application of glucan in a vehicle these normally very indolent ulcers healed completely. Subsequently, the same material had been used in the therapy of large pressure ulcers at the New Orleans Charity Hospital with complete resolution of the ulcers, some of which went down to the sacrum. An unexpected benefit was the complete lack of infection and the rapidity of the reappearance of normal skin¹³.

The first human study on this specific glucan's systemic effect was done in the mid1980's on advanced HIV infection. Even in these deeply immunologically deficient individuals, an increase in serum cytokines IL-1, IL-2 and Interferon was measured¹⁴. Results of another clinical trial showed significant mortality decrease from infectious complications in severe trauma patients¹⁵.

At that time a crude preparation containing beta-glucan was already registered in Eastern Europe for injection in patients for treatment of the effects of bone marrow suppression from radiation or chemotherapy. In contrast to the crude mixture called Zymosan, beta-1,3-glucan, a substance that is highly purified and active when taken by mouth, is effective in very small dosages¹¹.

One of the most remarkable oral studies with beta-1,3-glucan was done at the US Armed Forces Radiobiology Institute. In a well controlled study, 70% of rats given a lethal dose of radiation were completely protected from radiation effects when given a dose of yeast beta glucan by mouth AFTER the radiation¹⁶. Dr. Myra Patchen discovered that beta-glucan is also a free radical scavenger. It is able to protect blood macrophages from free radical attack during and after the radiation allowing these cells to continue to carry their important functions in the irradiated body and release factors important to the restoration of normal bone marrow production¹⁷.

In the light of what we know about free radicals today and their potential to accelerate aging, cause cancer and other diseases, this particular effect of beta-1,3-glucan is especially important. Free-radical scavenging assays were repeated in different models and which confirmed the antioxidant effect¹⁸.

Recent experiments completed at Baylor College of Medicine in the laboratory of Professor Phil Wyde also prove the oral effectiveness of beta-1,3-glucan to stimulate nonspecific immunity¹¹. Peritoneal macrophages doubled their phagocytic activity in mice fed with beta-1,3-glucan. This systemic effect of oral application of beta-1,3-glucan is comparable to that achieved using injections, which makes this material a unique and very valuable oral immunostimulant.

When beta-1,3-glucan was added to antibiotic regime in animals challenged with different bacterial (Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli and others) and viral (Herpes virus) pathogens, a reduced amount of antibiotics or antivirals was needed to cope with the infection¹¹. It also has an antifungal effect, shown in experiments with Candida albicans¹¹. Such a broad anti-infective spectrum of beta-1,3-glucan can be explained only by the fact that the immunostimulation produced by this unique material is non-specific.

Continuing research with oral application of beta-1,3-glucan revealed that it increases the effectiveness of other oral cholesterol-reducing agents, such as Niacin and Lopid¹⁹. Interestingly, recent research has also demonstrated the anti-diabetic effect of IL-1 cytokine, which increases insulin production resulting in lowering of blood glucose level²⁰. Macrophages are the main source of IL-1 in the body and it's production can be boosted by beta-1,3-glucan supplementation. Mindful of the extremely high rate of atherosclerotic complications and the extraordinary requirement for antioxidants in diabetic patients, beta-1,3-glucan is an obvious adjuvant for an improved lifestyle in these conditions.

As is repeatedly shown in the multitude of studies concerning the activity of beta glucan as an immune stimulator, or perhaps more descriptive, a "biological defense modifier", there are enormous benefits to be obtained by the use of beta-1,3-glucan as a nutritional supplement. The aging process has been defined as "the sum total of life's physical embarrassment due to adverse conditions"; in this regard, beta-1,3-glucan may well be the first and only true anti-aging supplement. It is defensive to negative events such as infection, tumors and radiation damage and adjunctive to the positive effects of antioxidants, lipid balance enhancers, antibiotics and other therapeutics. The result is improved general health which means more enjoyment of life, less infirmities, less time and money required for medical needs and potentially dramatic savings in Medicare and other health related expenditures over time.

Beta-1,3-glucan is effective in all mammals as it is in fish and birds. It successfully prevents vibriosis, yersiniosis and furunculosis in Crustacea when it is added to the feed^7,21,22. The new devastation of the shrimp farm, the Taura Syndrome, which has been recently identified as viral disease, causes high mortality with survival of less than 20% of the shrimp farm population. Feeding shrimp with beta-1,3-glucan increases their survival rate up to 90%²³.

Beta-1,3-glucan basically is a highly purified form of a food product. Technically it is a polysaccharide molecule completely made with glucose. Glucose is a simple saccharide that the body transforms to energy as ATP and stores in muscles, liver and other tissues in a form of glycogen. Beta-1,3- glucan is different from energy-storing glucose-containing polysaccharides because the connection between the glucose units is different, more specifically, it is the beta-1,3-linkage, which makes this compound so unique. It is Generally Recognized As Safe (category GRAS according to FDA) and has no toxicity or side effects²⁴.

To summarize, beta-1,3-glucan is a safe and very potent nutritional supplement with a systemic effect that can be described as non-specific immune stimulation combined with it's free-radical scavenging activity. Some of the biological events illustrating this stimulation are:

Activation of macrophages, expressing increased nonspecific phagocytic ability allowing macrophages to destroy pathogens more efficiently, frequently preventing disease.
Release of important cytokines, such as IL-1, IL-2 among others, initiating immune cascade and triggering other cell lines, such as T-cells. Release of colony-stimulating factors, boosting bone marrow production.
Cholesterol-reduction through cell activation and anti-oxidant activity.

Groups of people that are considered to benefit from beta-1,3-glucan supplementation:

People with impaired immunity from any cause including but not restricted to HIV infection; people with high occurrence of infectious diseases, tumors and undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy; age 40+ when the natural aging process starts to slow down immune reactivity, geriatric patients, and others with a compromised immune response.
People that are possibly can be affected by extra free-radical production caused by external sources: ones frequently exposed to low-dose radiation, including sun light, other types of exposures such electromagnetic fields; lack of raw fruits and vegetables in diet and eating preserved food. Extra free-radicals can also be a result of a chronic disease such diabetes or chronic inflammation.
People who exercise excessively, professional and amateur athletes as well as people who workout intensively and also those under physical or emotional stress who have a temporary immune deficiency which can result in infection. Beta-1,3-glucan will provide them with nonspecific immunostimulation that can increase their resistance to illness.
People with high risk of atherosclerosis should definitely add beta-1,3-glucan to their diet whether they are taking cholesterol-reducing drugs or not. Macrophage activation will not only help to draw extra cholesterol from the blood but it also can prevent further plaque formation on the arterial walls and phagocytize existing plaque which is recognized as a foreign body.

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