Dietary Supplements - What the Industry Does Not Want You to Know

[Guest guest]

Dietary Supplements

What the Industry Does Not Want You to Know

_http://www.drrons.com/supplements-industry.htm_

(http://www.drrons.com/supplements-industry.htm)

by Ron Schmid, N.D., ©2003

 

This article originally appeared in the Spring 2002 issue of Wise Traditions

in Food, Farming and the Healing Arts, a publication of the Weston A. Price

Foundation. Much of what we believe is shaped by what we see, read, and hear.

The media's message about supplements-those substances regularly ingested as

pills, powders, and liquids by over one-half of all Americans in their quest

to feel better and live longer-is decidedly mixed. We often read or hear

stories about the benefits of taking supplements of vitamin E, St. John's Wort

or Coenzyme Q10. Often these stories refer to published scientific studies

demonstrating usefulness. A week later, we read or hear a report about the

dangers of the same substance, with warnings by a designated expert to stay away

from it.

 

This is not an article about the media or politics, but a few words about

what's behind the news and what the media calls " science " are in order.

Actually, one word is in order. The word is MONEY. Money vastly influences what

is

reported and the slant placed on that reporting. So where's the money? Most of

the ads on the nightly news now are drug company ads. And newspapers and

magazines today are full of drug company ads. This means we should expect

enormous bias against anything that would take away from pharmaceutical

profits. Do

you want to trust Rather, Brokaw, and Jennings —or your own judgement?

 

To Take or Not to Take

 

Over thirty years ago, I read a little book called Vitamin E for Ailing and

Healthy Hearts, by the Shute brothers. It's still a good read. The brothers,

Canadian medical doctors, presented an open and shut case about the myriad

benefits of vitamin E supplements. I began taking vitamin E and continue to

this day. I also began researching the usefulness of vitamins, minerals,

enzymes, herbs, and special foods in the treatment of health problems. A number

of

these substances are helpful to anyone interested in optimizing health and

extending the span of vigorous, active life. Others are appropriate for many

people who develop problems typical of our culture. The question is really not

whether or not to take supplements. Rather, the questions are which ones, when

and how much.

 

Those are hard questions, and because the answers are different for each of

us and depend on individual needs, they can't be fully answered here. But

some general questions that apply to all of us can be answered. In this

article,

I'll address the following questions:

 

—What is the difference in quality between one company's version of a given

supplement and another's?

 

—What supplements are important for most people? Why?

 

—What is the relationship between supplements and foods? Can supplements

complement even a very good diet?

 

—What are some problems people commonly have that can be helped with proper

supplementation?

 

Quality Issues

 

Most people simply cannot determine what they are really getting when they

buy supplements. Among the usually unanswered questions:

 

—What are the sources of the vitamins and minerals used in a given vitamin

and-or mineral product?

 

—What sources are most like the vitamins and minerals in foods, and most

likely to be beneficial?

 

—Do the herbs in a given herbal product have the potency to achieve the

desired result?

 

—What are the effects of additives used in manufacturing the supplement? How

absorbable is the product?

 

Sources and Forms

 

Vitamins and minerals come in many different forms. Some are derived from

foods, such as vitamin E when extracted from vegetable oil and vitamins A and D

when extracted from fish oil. Others are made in laboratories—they may then

be labeled " natural " because they are made from " natural " precursors. Some

are combined with dried foods and herbs and called " food vitamins. "

 

A number of forms of synthetic vitamins A and D are used in supplements. All

should be strictly avoided-even small amounts of the synthetic forms may be

toxic. In fact, the toxicity of these synthetic forms has contributed to the

media frenzy about the alleged dangers of vitamins A and D. The media and the

medical establishment do not distinguish between the synthetic forms and

natural vitamins A and D as found in or derived from animal fats. Decades ago,

researchers definitively established the benefits and safety of large doses of

natural vitamins A and D. Traditional diets are rich in these nutrients,

typically containing upwards of ten times the RDA amounts the government now

tells us are adequate. There has never been any indication of anything but

benefit from these natural forms of vitamins A and D, including for pregnant

women. In fact, these nutrients are particularly important for pregnant women,

and

foods rich in vitamins A and D were emphasized for pregnant women in

virtually all of the traditional cultures studied by Weston Price.

 

The warnings against Vitamin A usually include mention of Arctic explorers

who died from vitamin-A overdose because they consumed polar bear livers.

Actually, the early explorers did not die from vitamin A overdose but from

cadmium poisoning. They experienced exfoliative dermatitis and hair loss. In

1988,

a team of Swedish scientists discovered that polar bear and seal livers tend

to accumulate the metal cadmium. The symptoms for cadmium poisoning are

exfoliative dermatitis and hair loss. But don't expect to hear about this on

the

evening news. Rather, expect continuing stories about the alleged dangers of

vitamins A and D. The media and the medical establishment work together to

vilify the very substances that can prevent suffering and disease.

 

Cod liver oil is a wonderful supplemental source of natural vitamins A and

D. I recommend from one-half to two tablespoonfuls daily of high-vitamin cod

liver oil, described later in this article, to most of my patients.

 

Vitamin E is another nutrient for which it is very important to select the

proper form. Synthetic vitamin E is labeled, " d, l- alpha. " This mixture of

the " d " and " l " forms is biochemically different from naturally derived vitamin

E, which consists of and is labeled " d-alpha. " Like synthetic vitamins A and

D, synthetic vitamin E has detrimental effects. It is incompletely

metabolized and may even disrupt the metabolism of natural vitamin E in the

liver. The

most beneficial natural vitamin E products come as mixtures of the alpha,

beta, gamma, and delta tocopherol fractions. I use and recommend a product

called " Unique E, " made by the A.C. Grace Company, whose only product is this

superior vitamin E supplement.

 

To summarize, the fat-soluble vitamins (A, D and E) should always come from

natural sources. As for the water soluble vitamins, there are natural sources

that can provide small amounts for general use-acerola powder for vitamin C,

for example, and low-temperature dried yeast flakes grown on an appropriate

medium for B complex. However, for larger therapeutic doses it is necessary

to use synthetic vitamins. How these water-soluble vitamins are formulated

makes a big difference in how they are absorbed and tolerated.

 

Almost all of the vitamin C in supplements is made in a laboratory, despite

labeling that implies otherwise. For example, the label might say, " ascorbic

acid from sago palm. " Dextrose, a form of sugar that contains no vitamin C at

all, is extracted from sago palm and used as the base molecular material for

a complex laboratory process that synthesizes vitamin C. Or the label might

say " vitamin C derived from the finest natural sources. " True, but the

vitamin C was synthesized. It might also say " with rose hips and acerola, "

which

are then used as the base material for the tablet or capsule. But a tablet of

rose hips or acerola can contain only about forty milligrams of truly natural

vitamin C; the rest is synthesized.

 

Pottenger's experiments met the most rigorous scientific standards. His

outstanding credentials earned him the support of prominent physicians. Alvin

Foord, M.D., Professor of Pathology at the University of Southern California

and

pathologist at the Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, co-supervised

with Pottenger all pathological and chemical findings of the study. One

particular question that modern science has largely ignored was addressed: What

is

the nutritive value of heat-labile elements-nutrients destroyed by heat and

available only in raw foods?

 

Most significant in regard to the form of vitamin C is the buffering

process, which complexes a mineral (typically either calcium, magnesium, or

potassium) with ascorbic acid. Buffered vitamin C is gentler on the stomach

than

regular vitamin C, which because of its acidity often causes gas, bloating, and

upset stomach. Buffered C offers superior absorption as well.

 

Labels often proclaim " natural " B vitamins, derived from yeast. But

companies manufacturing yeast add laboratory-synthesized B vitamins to the food

fed

to the yeast during its growth, and then fortify the yeast further with

additional B vitamins once it has grown. This allows the production of yeast of

any

B-vitamin potency desired, which is then used to formulate vitamin pills

labeled " B vitamins derived from yeast. " I generally recommend taking B

vitamins

as part of the multi vitamin-mineral-antioxidant that I use. For therapeutic

doses of specific B vitamins, I recommend Thorne Research products.

 

Minerals in supplements are found in many different forms. Minerals occur in

foods as part of molecules in which the mineral exists as a complex with

other substances. Minerals in supplements are also found as complexes, and the

substances with which they are complexed effect the degree to which the

minerals are absorbed and utilized. Some mineral supplements are actually

extracted

from foods (for example, calcium hydroxyapatite), while others are complexed

in the laboratory (for example, amino acid complexes of calcium) or found in

nature (for example, calcium carbonate).

 

Calcium is the most commonly taken mineral supplement, and calcium

supplements come in scores of different forms. But only one is actually a food

extract

and that is calcium hydroxyapatite. This is the form of calcium that

naturally occurs in bone. Low temperature processing techniques are used to

extract

microcrystalline hydroxyapatite concentrate (MCHC) from raw bone-the best

products utilize MCHC from free-range, pesticide-free New Zealand cattle. MCHC

is a complex crystalline compound composed of calcium (about 24%),

phosphorous, delicate organic factors (thus the importance of low temperature

processing), protein matrix, and the full spectrum of minerals that naturally

comprise

healthy bone. Look for a calcium supplement in which the only source of

calcium is MCHC. Many supplements say " MCHC " or " calcium hydroxyapatite " on the

label, but when you read the ingredients carefully you discover that a secondary

source of calcium, typically dicalcium phosphate-an inexpensive, poorly

absorbed form of calcium-contributes an unstated percentage of the calcium to

the

supplement.

 

Many calcium formulas include magnesium; well-absorbed forms include

magnesium aspartate, magnesium glycinate and magnesium oxide. Many other

minerals

may be complexed as aspartates or picolinates, which generally provide

excellent absorption.

 

" Food Vitamin " Supplements

 

Understanding the " food vitamin " supplements is a bit tricky and warrants

explanation. There are three general types of products that are often referred

to as " food vitamins. "

 

One type is made by taking standard USP (United States Pharmacopia) vitamins

(manufactured in laboratories by biochemical processes) and putting them in

tablets or occasionally capsules with dried foods and-or herbs (along with

fillers and other additives used in production). Taking these vitamins is no

different than taking standard USP vitamins with a meal (but a lot more

expensive).

 

A second type of " food vitamin " is supplements made by adding standard USP

vitamins to a liquid broth containing yeast. As the yeast grows, the vitamins

and minerals are incorporated into the cell structure of the yeast. The yeast

is then killed in a drying process, and the residue is pressed into tablets

with herbs, binders, and manufacturing additives. The companies New Chapter

and Megafood use this type of process to make their products.

 

Because of the amount of space taken up by the yeast, products made this way

are very low in potency. Even if absorption is superior, the low potency and

high cost makes them very cost-inefficient for anyone wishing to take, say,

500 mg of vitamin C, or 100 mg of coenzyme Q-10, or 400 IU of vitamin E, on a

daily basis. Another problem I've encountered is that many people taking

these yeast-based supplements for any length of time develop yeast

sensitivities. This is particularly true for those with a history of candida

problems

(common in our carbohydrate-addicted culture).

 

The third kind of " food vitamin " supplements is products that are actually

dried foods, often organic, pressed into tablets with the aid of manufacturing

additives. Most products made by Standard Process fall into this category.

Again because of size constraints, these products are necessarily of very low

potency in terms of the amount of vitamins and minerals present, although

some people feel they have potent effects. While they may be of excellent

quality, they are very cost inefficient. Taking these supplements might be

compared

to eating good organic foods, in very small quantities.

 

Potency and Purity

 

For herbs, potency depends on the quality of the raw herb used and the care

taken in manufacturing. A tremendously wide range of quality is found in

different products. A poor quality product may have no effect whatsoever; the

same dosage of a superior product may work wonders.

 

The herbal products I most often use and recommend are liquid alcohol

extracts and encapsulated dried herbal extracts. I use and recommend alcohol

extracts made by the Eclectic Institute of Sandy, Oregon, because the company

uses

organic alcohol and is committed to growing and securing the finest quality

herbs. A number of fine companies make encapsulated dried herbal extracts,

including Eclectic, Herb-Pharm, Gaia Herbs, and my own company.

 

How potent a given vitamin or mineral product will be depends on what forms

the vitamins and minerals are in, and how much of the product is actually

absorbed and utilized. Vitamins and minerals may be complexed in various forms,

as described above; forms identical or close to those found in foods are

generally better absorbed and utilized.

 

There are two issues relating to purity. First, are the raw ingredients

pure? Reputable manufacturers insure that each batch of raw materials is

laboratory-tested for purity and can provide users with copies of certificates

of

analysis. The other issue concerns the additives nearly all manufacturers use

in

the production of supplements.

 

Additives

 

Nearly all supplements contain stearates, manufacturing agents used as

lubricants to speed up production. Most capsules and tablets are made by

" jobbers "

in mass production plants, which churn out a multitude of formulas for

various companies. Magnesium stearate and stearic acid are lubricants added to

raw

materials in supplements so that production machinery will run at maximum

speeds. This ensures that production schedules will meet profit targets.

 

Tablets also contain potentially allergenic binders, fillers and often

coloring agents. They are coated with shellac (listed in the ingredients as

" natural glaze " ) or vegetable coating (derived from corn, to which many people

are

sensitive). Potentially allergenic fillers are used to top off capsules.

 

These additives have a number of effects, including decreased absorption. In

a study published in Pharmaceutical Technology, the percent dissolution for

capsules after 20 minutes in solution went from 90% without stearates to 25%

with stearates. These substances clearly effect the dissolution and rapid

absorption of nutrients. Another problem is allergenic reaction, for even small

amounts of additives may cause reactions in sensitive individuals. Fillers

may contain hidden lactose or other allergenic ingredients. This is a major

reason why so many people have adverse reactions to supplements, or fail to

receive the significant benefits pure supplements will offer. For these

reasons,

I recommend that when possible, people use additive-free supplements.

 

Because the supplements industry routinely uses additives in their products,

manufacturers and distributors always deny that the presence of these

substances is in any way detrimental. Nevertheless, it seems to me a simple

matter

of common sense that the most desirable products would not contain

non-nutrient substances that are added solely to expedite the manufacturing

process.

 

The only widely available supplements that are made without these additives

are those made by Thorne Research; they are available only through licensed

health care professionals, and in some pharmacies. My own company, Dr. Ron's

Ultra-Pure, makes many 100% pure, additive-free supplements. I personally use

and recommend Thorne products, my own, and those of a number of small

companies making additive-free specialty products.

 

Nutrients Needed

 

Consider ancestral diets, invariably rich in animal fats from grass-fed wild

or domestic animals, organ meats, and seafood wherever available. The

following is a partial list of nutrients richly supplied in those foods,

nutrients

that are at best marginally supplied in most modern diets, even for those of

us trying to follow Weston Price's teachings.

 

Fat-Soluble Nutrients: Vitamins A and D, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA

(docosahexaenoic acid) are available from raw butter, cheese and whole milk

from grass-fed animals, egg yolks, organ meats and seafood and best

supplemented by taking cod liver oil on a daily basis. Our pure, flavored or

plain cod

liver oils supply nearly 12,000 IU of Vitamin A, 1200 IU of Vitamin D, and

600 mg each of EPA and DHA per teaspoon. I recommend taking most supplements

before meals and taking cod liver oil before other supplements, with a glass

or so of water. Start with a teaspoon and work up to 1-2 tablespoons. For

cardiovascular problems, I often recommend up to three tablespoons daily.

Generally, the more at risk a person is for a heart attack, the more important

it is

that he or she takes lots of cod liver oil.

 

Minerals: Calcium, magnesium, and trace minerals (including iodine, zinc,

selenium, and chromium), are available from whole raw milk, bone broths,

Celtic sea salt and sea vegetables such as kelp and dulse. Calcium is best

supplemented by taking calcium hydroxyapatite. Bones also contain magnesium and

boron, which work together for a healthy skeletal system. I recommend 500 mg of

calcium (in MCHC, microcrystalline hydroxyapatite) daily, and recommend two or

three times that amount for people who do not have access to raw milk. A

well-assimilated calcium supplement is good insurance for men and women alike

against osteoporosis. The best calcium formulas contain magnesium and the trace

minerals manganese and boron, which are important in the absorption and

utilization of calcium. These can be taken in combination, as a multi-mineral

supplement.

 

People with low thyroid function (usually undiagnosed because of the

inadequacy of standard thyroid tests) often benefit from extra iodine in the

form of

a supplement, which should be used under the supervision of a knowledgeable

practitioner.

 

As for zinc, I recommend 30 mg daily in the form of zinc aspartate or zinc

picolinate, and up to 90 mg a day for those with an indication of deficiency,

such as men with prostate problems.

 

I supplement selenium and chromium in the form of selenium and chromium

aspartates in the amount of 200 mg each daily. Selenium is especially important

as a supplement in areas of the country where the soil is deficient in

selenium (such areas statistically correlate with higher incidences of cancer).

Chromium is especially important for people with diabetes or other glucose

metabolism problems. Therapeutic doses of these two trace minerals may be

considerably higher than is generally thought, based on therapies now used at

cutting

edge alternative medicine clinics. Exact dosages need to be individually

determined, but may be as high as 1,000 to 2000 mg per day (levels previously

thought to risk toxicity).

 

Antioxidants: Vitamin E, Vitamin C, coenzyme Q10, alpha lipoic acid,

oligomeric proanthrocyanidins (PCOs, as found in grape seed extract), and

tocotrienes (vitamin E like substances that complement the effects of Vitamin

E) are

richly supplied in organ meats such as heart and liver. They can be

supplemented individually in a multi-nutrient combination. Many researchers

think this

is a critical area to supplement. Ironically, the foods richest in many

antioxidants-organ meats-are among those most vilified by the medical

establishment

for their cholesterol content. There is ample evidence that antioxidants

help retard the aging process and prevent the development of chronic diseases.

 

I recommend anywhere from 100 IU to 1600 IU of vitamin E daily, in the form

of mixed tocopherols, as mentioned above. The higher amounts are most

important when cardiovascular disease is present, and for women experiencing

symptoms during menopause.

 

Vitamin C may not be needed at all as a supplement if the diet is rich in

vegetables, but is useful for most acute and chronic illnesses, sometimes in

amounts up to several thousand milligrams a day.

 

I recommend that coenzyme Q10 be supplemented anywhere from 25 mg to 600 mg

per day. Many people experience increased energy on coQ10; endurance athletes

perform better when supplementing coQ10; and people with high blood pressure

usually find that adequate doses lower it significantly. CoQ10 is of

critical, even life-saving importance for people with heart disease, and it is

here

that the highest doses are most helpful. Preliminary trials have even found

high doses helpful in cancer. CoQ10 is best absorbed with fats, and the

richest food source is heart. I use coQ10 combined with tocotriene complex in a

fatty base to enhance absorption. A gel form has also become popular, and

although it is well absorbed, it is much more expensive and contains the

additive

polysorbate 80, a highly undesirable substance.

 

I recommend supplementing alpha lipoic acid from 25 mg to 600 mg per day.

Levels are known to be lower in people with heart disease or diabetes, and

studies show alpha lipoic acid to be of critical importance in the treatment of

liver problems. Supplementing may be beneficial in virtually all chronic

diseases. Athletes note enhanced energy production in muscle tissues, decreased

glucose uptake by fat cells, and improved muscle recovery with alpha lipoic

acid supplementation. Once again, organ meats are a rich source.

 

I recommend supplementing from 25 mg to 400 mg of grape seed extract per

day. In addition to their potent antioxidant action, the PCOs in grape seed

extract strengthen the blood vessels and capillaries, thus helping maintain

vision and preventing disorders of the retina, including macular degeneration

and

diabetic retinopathy. One study of 805 men showed that the higher the intake

of PCOs, the lower the risk of heart disease.

 

The coenzyme Q10 I use is encapsulated in a base of tocotriene complex.

Tocotrienols, found in tocotriene complex, are members of the vitamin E family.

They inhibit clot formation, reverse plaque buildup in arteries, reduce the

risk of cancer and inhibit the growth of cancer cells, reduce inflammation and

function as powerful antioxidants.

 

Organs and Glands, Herbs and Other Food-Derived Supplements

 

We have mentioned a number of special foods, such as cod liver oil, the sea

vegetable dulse, and celtic salt. These are foods used in small amounts to

provide rich sources of many of the nutrients I’ve described. A number of

herbs

and food-derived belong in this category, along with freeze-dried organs and

glands, essential traditional foods prepared as outstanding food supplements

useful in even the best diets.

 

Organs and Glands: Our Dr. Ron’s individual products include liver, heart,

brain, thymus, kidney, pancreas, adrenal, ovary and testicle. We’ve also

created the ultimate traditional superfood – Organ Delight, a combination of

liver, heart, brain, thymus, kidney, spleen, pancreas, and adrenal. Until now,

these special foods have been unavailable as pure, 100% additive-free

supplements. We prepare them by freeze-drying freshly harvested organs and

glands at 40

to 60 degrees F below zero. Freeze-drying tissues preserves the unaltered

proteins, enzymes and the fat-soluble activators so important in traditional

diets. The tissues we use are taken only from grassfed, inspected animals,

raised without the use of pesticides, hormones or antibiotics, in New Zealand

–

where mad cow disease has never occurred.

 

 

Fiber and enzymes: These are supplied in the diet by a variety of plant

foods (in the case of fiber), by raw foods (especially raw proteins) and by

fermented foods such as cultured dairy products and lacto-fermented condiments

and

beverages. Most people do not obtain nearly enough of either. Fiber is not

usually thought of as a nutrient, since it provides no calories, but it is of

tremendous importance. Usually I recommend one to two teaspoonfuls of pure

grade A psyllium fiber first thing every morning, taken with two or three

glasses of water. Even larger doses may be recommended for those with

gastrointestinal problems. Psyllium often works wonders. Since it is not

absorbed, it

simply bulks up the stool. This reduces pressure in the intestines, eases

straining, and promotes easy and regular bowel movements in the process.

 

Enzymes are provided only in raw and fermented foods, and the enzymes in raw

proteins may be the most valuable. For those unable or unwilling to consume

raw or fermented animal foods, I recommend two capsules or more of pancreatic

enzymes once a day with a meal. Large doses of pancreatic enzymes can be an

important part of treatment for cancer and other chronic diseases.

 

Herbs and Food-Derived Supplements

 

We have mentioned a number of special foods, such as cod liver oil, the sea

vegetable dulse, and celtic salt. These are foods used in small amounts to

provide rich sources of many of the nutrients I've described. A number of herbs

and food-derived belong in this category, in that they may be consumed often

in small amounts with great benefit.

 

Bilberry: Bilberry helps build strong vision. Clinical studies in recent

years have shown improvement in subjects with myopia and glaucoma. I take 1-6

60

mg capsules daily (containing 36% anthocyanosides).

 

Ginkgo biloba: Ginkgo may be the single most important plant medicine we

have, because it alleviates such a wide variety of problems. Ginkgo

dramatically

improves blood flow to both the brain and peripheral parts of the body. Over

fifty double blind studies have proven Ginkgo's effectiveness in conditions

involving poor circulation in the arteries to the brain and other tissues.

Ginkgo works in many ways. By stimulating the release of a substance called

endothelium-derived relaxing factor, ginkgo relaxes the arterial walls

throughout the body, resulting in improved circulation. In addition, Ginkgo has

a

profound normalizing effect on the function of platelets, the clotting elements

in the blood; Ginkgo makes platelets less likely to clot abnormally, thus

enhancing circulation and exerting a protective action against Alzheimer's

disease, hearing loss and strokes. Clinical studies have shown that people of

all

ages experience improved cognitive function when taking Ginkgo.

 

Milk thistle: Milk thistle regenerates liver cells and protects us from

chemicals and toxins to which we all are exposed. Milk thistle dramatically

enhances liver health by protecting the outer membrane of liver cells and

acting

as a powerful antioxidant in the liver. Milk thistle acts to regenerate

damaged and injured liver cells, reversing the liver damage caused by toxins

and

ameliorating a host of medical problems.

 

I recommend Ginkgo and milk thistle supplements that both utilize

standardized extract with whole plant powder, insuring both guaranteed potency

and the

presence of the synergistic ingredients found in the whole plants. I

recommend 1-6 capsules daily (60 mg Ginkgo extract and 175 mg milk thistle

extract

per capsule).

 

Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates: These nutrients are components of

cartilage and are supplied in traditional diets by gristle and bone broths. For

chronic and acute conditions, however, supplementation may be necessary. Both

have been shown in numerous studies to produce better results than NSAIDS

(non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) in relieving the pain and inflammation

of arthritis. In one notable double-blind study, patients suffering from

osteoarthritis took glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate supplements. Cartilage

tissue samples showed that damaged cartilage had been significantly repaired

after only three months. I use a combination product that provides 1500 mg of

glucosamine and 1200 mg of chondroitin in four capsules. I recommend from two

to four capsules daily for many of my patients.

 

Spirulina: Spirulina is a nutrient-dense, chlorophyl-rich dried algae,

available in capsules or as powder. I like a product called Spirulina Pacifica,

the dried powder from spirulina organically grown in the waters off the Kona

coast on Hawaii's Big Island. I recommend two teaspoons daily, added to water,

smoothies or shakes.

 

Superfood Formula by Pure Synergy: This is a mixture of superfoods including

the best quality forms of blue-green algae, seaweeds, mushrooms, herbs,

sprouts and green juices, all dried at low temperature so as to preserve the

enzyymes and nutrients. A teaspoon or two added to water makes a great morning

shake. It can be combined with the recommended dose of 2 teaspoons spirulina,

mentioned above.

 

Phosphatidyl Serine (PS): PS is another substance derived from food that

enhances brain function. PS was originally isolated from beef brain. Over forty

studies have proven that PS can reverse brain aging. State-of-the-art

cognition tests have revealed improvements from PS. For example, on name-face

recall, an excellent marker for brain aging, PS reversed the average test age

of

the subjects from sixty-four years test age to fifty-two years test age. That's

a twelve-year recovery of cognitive function! Numerous published studies

have shown significant improvements in mental function, depressive symptoms and

behavior-even in subjects with moderate to severe senility. I recommend from

100 mg to 600 mg daily for many of my patients.

 

Sources of Additive-Free Supplements and Herbal Products

 

- Thorne Research makes nearly 200 additive-free products, which are

available through licensed health care professionals. Thorne products that I

use and

dispense include individual B vitamins and amino acids, and phosphatidyl

serine.

- Unique E by the A.C. Grace Company is available only through licensed

health care professionals.

- Spirulina Pacifica is available in some health food stores.

- Pure Synergy is available through licensed health care professionals.

- Herbal products from Eclectic Institute, Gaia Herbs, and Herb-Pharm are

available in many health food stores. In addition to the sources listed, any of

the products mentioned in this article may be ordered directly from me. My

company, Dr. Ron’s Ultra-Pure (1-877-472-8701) makes the following:

- Organs and Glands: Our Dr. Ron’s individual products include liver, heart,

brain, thymus, kidney, pancreas, adrenal, ovary and testicle. We’ve also

created the ultimate traditional superfood – Organ Delight, a combination of

liver, heart, brain, thymus, kidney, spleen, pancreas, and adrenal.

- Doc’s Best Optimal Vitamins-Minerals-Antioxidants: Many of the nutrients

mentioned (calcium hydroxyapatite, buffered vitamin C, magnesium, selenium,

chromium, coenzyme Q10, alpha lipoic acid, grape seed extract, tocotriene

complex, zinc, boron, manganese) are among those included in our multi.

- Cal 1000-Mag 500 Hydroxyapatite Plus: Includes calcium hydroxyapatite,

magnesium, boron, manganese, and vitamin D3 from fish oil.

- Coenzyme Q10 , 100 mg, with Tocotriene Complex

- Alpha Lipoic Acid, in 100 mg and 300 mg sizes

Buffered Vitamin C, 500 mg, with 25 mg Alpha Lipoic Acid

- Grape Seed Extract, 100 mg, with 300 mg Rosehips Powder

100% Pure Grade A Psyllium Fiber

- Ginkgo Biloba, 60 mg Extract, with Leaf Powder

- Milk Thistle, 175 mg Extract, with Seed Powder

- Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfates, 1500 mg and 1200 mg in four capsules

 

 

Living Better and Longer

 

Whole foods have always formed the core of my approach to health. In the

early 1970s, I belonged to one of the first food coops in western

Massachusetts.

From there I went on to naturopathic medical school believing that if I

learned enough about how food effects people, I could help them recover from

most

medical problems. That has turned out to be even truer than I realized then,

as I discovered the work of Weston Price and other pioneers of nutritional

therapy.

 

My studies and my years in practice have shown me that certain high quality

food supplements can play a critical role in preventing and treating disease

and in optimizing health and longevity. Properly understood, these nutrients,

herbs, concentrates, special foods and extracts complement even the best

diets. As we embrace the wonderful health-giving qualities of traditional whole

foods, we should also embrace the best of what modern science has given us.

Scientists and clinicians have clearly demonstrated the efficacy of a wide

range of products that fall under the general heading of " food supplements. "

Knowledge is growing rapidly, and so too is marketing hype that would have us

believe that every new supplement is a magical elixir. The challenge and

realistic goal is to separate the wheat from the chaff and apply this knowledge

to

live healthier, happier, and longer lives.

 

 

Please contact our office by phone (toll-free at 1-877-472-8701) or by

e-mail if you are interested in more information

 

 

 

This email was cleaned by emailStripper, available for free from

_http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm_

(http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm)