The Fine Line Between Dietary Supplements and Energy Drinks

Continue Reading » The Fine Line Between Dietary Supplements and Energy Drinks

Whey Protein Processing, Terms and Definitions: Countering the Misconceptions About Whey Protein Including 'Raw' Whey

By Eric Troy

There is so much obsession, confusion, and supplement company shenanigans concerning whey protein products, I thought that what everyone needed was a thorough overview of the whey manufacturing process. That is, the whey powder manufacturing process.

Supplement companies use our ignorance against us: our ignorance of what whey is, how it is processed, and what all the terms attached to it mean.

Continue Reading » Whey Protein Processing, Terms and Definitions: Countering the Misconceptions About Whey Protein Including 'Raw' Whey

Fish Oil: Just the Facts

If you have a few years under your belt, then you can still remember what I call the “Fat-Free 80’s.” Think back to a time when dietary fat was the enemy. Ah, yes… A time when fat-free products lined the outer shelves of the supermarket. A time when it was not a bad thing to get a box of Entemann’s cinnamon rolls, as long as they were the FAT-FREE cinnamon rolls. Health Valley made some positively disgusting fat-free cookies, along with a host of other fat-free products that tasted like sugary cardboard. And we can’t forget the 75% sugar weight gainer products, those were priceless. 1,000, 2000, 4,000 calories per serving, and all you had to do was mix about a cup of powder into your favourite drink. No worries though, these gainers were virtually fat-free! What we were led to believe was that fat-free products equated to fat-free physiques. Unfortunately, that was far from the truth.

Continue Reading » Fish Oil: Just the Facts

Food Label Zealots, Chemicals, Supplements, and Natural Food: Want Some Chlorophyll?

As a continuance of my assault on the misleading ideas about "natural" food, this is yet another follow-up to a series of blog posts where I discuss chemicals in foods and the concept of natural. In the last one I talked about the difference between chemicals as nutrients and chemicals as pharmacologic agents. I explained that some chemicals in food do have a physiological affect beyond their basic biological functions. Others, such as compounds in herbals used for medicinal purposes simply have no function as a "nutrient." All of these, though, have one thing in common and that is summed up by saying that "The poison OR the remedy is in the DOSE." This is important in helping us recognize the difference between nutrition information and alternative medicine information.

Continue Reading » Food Label Zealots, Chemicals, Supplements, and Natural Food: Want Some Chlorophyll?

Vitamin A and Beta Carotene: What, How, When, Why to Supplement

By Ken Adams, M.D. and Scott E. Conard, M.D.

Vitamin A and the pre-vitamin, beta carotene are closely related supplements. There are definite benefits to the nutritional supplementation of both Vitamin A and beta carotene but there are also dangers to their supplementation. Many people do not realize that beta carotene is converted within our bodies to Vitamin A but supplementation of one in lieu of the other is not equivalent to the supplementation of both. There are also other members of the antioxidant carotene family include cryptoxanthine, alpha-carotene, zeaxanthin, lutein, and lycopene, most of which do not convert into significant amounts of vitamin A. These will be discussed also in this article.

Continue Reading » Vitamin A and Beta Carotene: What, How, When, Why to Supplement

Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamine) - When, How, and Why to Supplement

By Ken Adams, M.D. and Scott E. Conard, M.D.

Sources and Physiologic Functions

Sources

Liver, kidney, muscle meats, eggs, cheese, milk, and fish are excellent sources of vitamin B12. It is not found in plant foods or in yeast. Fermented foods such as soy sauce, tempeh, and miso, and fortified foods such as soymilk are also good sources of this vitamin.

Continue Reading » Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamine) - When, How, and Why to Supplement

Thiamine (Vitamin B1) How, Why and When to Supplement

By Ken Adams, M.D.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) Sources and Physiologic Functions

Sources

Pork, whole grains, and legumes are the richest sources of thiamine. Outer layers of seeds are particularly rich in this vitamin.

Continue Reading » Thiamine (Vitamin B1) How, Why and When to Supplement

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) When, How, and Why to Supplement

Poultry, fish, liver, and eggs are good sources of this vitamin; meat and milk contain lesser amounts. Pyridoxine in animal sources is 96% bioavailable. Vitamin B6 can be made by intestinal bacteria in healthy persons. Plant foods such as legumes, peanuts, potatoes, yeast, bananas, corn, cabbage, yams, prunes, watermelon, and avocados also contain this vitamin.

Continue Reading » Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) When, How, and Why to Supplement

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)

Sources: Liver is an excellent source of riboflavin. Milk, cheese, egg whites, legumes, peanuts, fish, meats, broccoli, spinach, and fortified grains are good sources. The UV component of sunlight destroys Riboflavin. Hence, milk should be protected in opaque cartons from bright light during storage. Proteins, dextrins, and starch decrease the need for this vitamin.

Continue Reading » Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)

Niacin (Vitamin B3) When, How, and Why to Supplement

By Ken Adams, M.D. and Scott E. Conard, M.D.

Niacin (Vitamin B-3):

Sources and Physiologic Functions Sources: Niacin is found in unrefined and enriched grain and cereal, milk, and lean meats, especially liver. Yeast, poultry, salt water fish, nuts, legumes, coffee, tea, dairy products, and potatoes are good sources of Niacin.

Continue Reading » Niacin (Vitamin B3) When, How, and Why to Supplement

What Is Homeopathy?

By Merseyside Skeptics Society

The 10:23 Campaign

Contrary to popular belief, 'homeopathy' is not the same as herbal medicine. Homeopathy is based on three central tenets, unchanged since their invention by Samuel Hahnemann in 1796.

The Law of Similars

The law of similars states that whatever would cause your symptoms, will also cure those same symptoms. Thus, if you find yourself unable to sleep, taking caffeine will help; streaming eyes due to hayfever can be treated with onions, and so on. This so-called law was based upon nothing other than Hahnemann's own imagination. You don't need to have a medical degree to see the flawed reasoning in taking caffeine - a stimulant - to help you sleep; yet caffeine is, even today, prescribed by homeopaths (under the name 'coffea') as a treatment for insomnia.

Continue Reading » What Is Homeopathy?

Study Shows One-Fifth of Internet-Available Ayurvedic Medicines Contain Toxic Metals

Ayurveda is a traditional medical system that originated in India. It aims to integrate and balance the body, mind, and spirit to help prevent illness and promote wellness. Potentially toxic metals sometimes are incorporated in traditional Ayurvedic medicines as part of rasa shastra—a practice which combines herbs with metals, minerals, and gems. While rasa shastra practitioners claim that such medicines are safe if properly prepared, concerns regarding safety from metal intoxication remain. In an NCCAM-funded study, researchers sought to determine how often Ayurvedic medicines sold on the Internet contain detectable levels of lead, mercury, and arsenic. They purchased products manufactured in both India and the United States and examined both rasa shastra and non-rasa shastra (herbal-only) medicines.

Continue Reading » Study Shows One-Fifth of Internet-Available Ayurvedic Medicines Contain Toxic Metals

Warning: The Hidden Risks of Erectile Dysfunction and Sexual Stimulant Dietary Supplement 'Treatments' Sold Online

Men looking online for “dietary supplements” to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) or enhance their sexual performance should beware: these products may contain prescription drugs or other undisclosed ingredients that can be harmful. “The number of these problematic products available on the Internet appears to be increasing,” says Michael Levy, director of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Division of New Drugs and Labeling Compliance. The division is part of the Office of Compliance (OOC) in the agency’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER).

Continue Reading » Warning: The Hidden Risks of Erectile Dysfunction and Sexual Stimulant Dietary Supplement 'Treatments' Sold Online

Bone Health and Nutrition in Aging: Calcium and Vitamin D

Bone health is an important issue in aging. Calcium and vitamin D currently have the most focus in published research on nutrition and bone health in aging, although evidence from published research is not conclusive. A systematic review was conducted to determine the impact of dietary and supplemental interventions focused on calcium and vitamin D over the past 10 years. Using key words to search, and search limits (aging population, English), 62 papers were found related to diet, nutrition, and bone; and 157 were found related to calcium and bone. Our review found a positive effect on bone health for supplements; food-based interventions; and educational strategies. Although there may be a publishing bias related to non-significant findings not being published, our results suggest the effectiveness of food based and educational interventions with less economic impact to the individual, as well as less risk of physiological side effects occurring.

Continue Reading » Bone Health and Nutrition in Aging: Calcium and Vitamin D

Effect of Soy Lecithin on High Cholesterol

Recent studies suggest that lecithin-rich diet can modify cholesterol homeostasis and hepatic lipoprotein metabolism. Considering the phytotherapeutic impact of lecithin, this work hypothesizes that lecithin administration in hypercholesterolemic patients may reduce cholesterol concentrations by increasing biliary secretion. Total cholesterol and LDL were evaluated after soy lecithin administration in patients with high cholesterol. One soy lecithin capsule (500?mg/RP-Sherer) was administrated daily. One-two months before the treatment beginning, blood samples were collected for total lipids and cholesterol fractions analysis. The results showed a reduction of 40.66% and 42.00% in total cholesterol and of 42.05% and 56.15% in LDL cholesterol after treatment for one and two months, respectively. A significant reduction in total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations was observed during the first month of treatment, suggesting that the administration of soy lecithin daily may be used as a supplemental treatment in high cholesterol.

Continue Reading » Effect of Soy Lecithin on High Cholesterol