My Total Life Saving Regimen - From I Fired My Doctors and Saved My Life

Appendices

Appendix A

First let me deal with one of my pet peeves. The word “regimen” is frequently confused with “régime.”  

Regimen - Any regulation or remedy which is intended to produce beneficial effects by gradual operation. A deliberate, disciplined, orderly process.

Regime - A form of government; a colloquial term that refers to the set of political institutions by which a state is organized in order to exert its powers over a political community.

I have a regimen for my heart health. We are attempting to achieve regime change in dictatorships.

Second – My lawyer has cautioned me to make it clear that I do not offer advice to others. I only report what worked for me.

My Total Life Saving Regimen

What I eat.

I eat mostly raw, organic fruits and vegetables and whole grains. I also include an occasional small portion of organic poultry and seafood, though I am always mindful of fat content. I am appropriately cautious about the bacteria problem with raw foods and wash them carefully. I have nearly eliminated all cooked foods, sugar, hydrogenated oil, salt, dairy, preservatives, carbonated beverages and processed foods from my diet. That still leaves a cornucopia of healthy alternatives. A great place to explore starting to eat differently is http://www.webmd.com/content/pages/9/3068_9408.htm

When people ask about my dietary changes, I simply reply that now I eat salads. “SALADS?” they reply, incredulous, “as in rabbit food?” knowing that I have always been a big steak and potatoes guy, with double butter, two slices of cheese and lots of sour cream! The thought that Sam could suddenly make such a radical change is incomprehensible to most of our friends! I tell them that it certainly “beats the alternatives” to which they at least begin to give some credence.

Then, if they are truly more than just being polite, I tell them that when we say “salads” we don’t mean iceberg lettuce with added tomatoes and carrots. We shop a couple times a week at one of the several organic food markets in our community, buying a wide variety of raw vegetables, raw and dried fruits, whole grains, nuts and seeds. Then we come home and sprout the seeds to increase the nutritional value, soak the nuts and legumes, and chop the veggies, combining them into a variety of raw food “casseroles” so we always have several selections ready to grab for snacks or meals whenever we are hungry.  We try to keep a balance of all three categories: 1) dark green, leafy vegetables, 2) nuts, seeds and oils, and 3) natural sugars (fruits) in our daily diet.

Many foods that we used to eat cooked or steamed (turnips, rutabaga, yams, beets, etc.), we have learned to enjoy raw by grating them into our salads, along with soaked nuts, sprouted seeds, greens and other vegetables, fruits and herbs. Even soaked grains like bulgur make for a nice variety in some of the salads. We find ourselves “grazing,” as raw foods require more chewing (100 chews per bite) for optimum digestion. We often enjoy slowly munching away on our “salads” while reading or studying.

We have an extensive organic herb garden, so there are always a variety of tasty and healing, freshly-cut herbs in the various salads, as well as veggies in season from our organic garden. We include root veggies, stem foods and vegetable “fruits” in the whole palate of colors, so as to benefit from a fuller spectrum of vitamins and minerals, as well as for the esthetic beauty and enjoyment of each plate. We have also planted several fruit bearing plants, shrubs and trees on our property. As the pineapples, kumquats, bananas, mangos, avocados, tangelos, key limes and papaya ripen we also include them.

We usually prepare the salads “dry” so they last a day or two, and sometimes add vinegar and oil, or freshly squeezed lime juice or other dressings when we are ready to eat them.

Juicing fruits, veggies and greens, including wheat grass, also adds extra nutrition to our diet.

We have nearly eliminated dairy, except for some organic kefir (cultured goat milk) for digestive enzymes. On occasion we still treat ourselves to a slice of whole grain crust “pizza” topped with raw veggies sprinkled with a bit of chevre (goat cheese).  Organic, raw oat meal or granola soaked in fruit juice, topped with raw fruit and nuts also makes a nice snack. With some searching there are healthier alternatives in whole grain organic breads, dehydrated raw crackers, dressings and condiments, so our diet is every bit as diverse and interesting as before, and a lot better for us!

In David Wolfe’s The Sunfood Diet Success System, (a very information-packed text) we learn that organic foods contain many times more vitamins and minerals than conventionally grown crops. (The famous 12- year Schuphan study, and Bob Smith in the 1993 Chicago Study.) Our raw meals are actually tasty, pretty, and health building. Well worth the transition!

How I exercise.

I walk every day, aiming for three miles, and never less than one and a half each day. I also do upper body exercises with a modified Tai Chi routine, including quarter staff stick fighting, to engage a healthy, warrior spirit. The trees in my yard tremble when I walk out the door with my quarter staff. Also helpful are hand-weights, aerobics, biking, swimming, and a variety of activities I find enjoyable.

Stress Management.

Since I am a psychotherapist, this was perhaps an easier aspect for me to adopt than for most folks. See Chapter 16, or our clinic’s web site at www.bestselfusa.com for a few hints, or feel free to contact me by email at sams@bestselfusa.com.

Family, Friends and Faith.

I have been blessed with many friends and supporters who wish me well and pray for me. Sometimes I think this is as important as all of the other things I do, put together.

Vitamin and Herbal Supplementation.

Now we get down to the tangible aspects of my regimen. What follows is a complete inventory of the therapeutic substances I consume daily to correct my heart problem and maintain optimal health.

A brief word on dosages: I have worked up to therapeutic mega-doses of most of the following. However, to begin any aspect of this program, I advise following the direction on the label, keeping in mind that dosages are determined for a 150-pound body. If you weigh less or more, adjust accordingly.

Hawthorne – In Germany, one of the most frequently prescribed treatments for heart conditions is the herb hawthorn (Crataegus orycantholdes). Like many European countries, Germany has a government agency called the Kommission E, which produces official monographs (scientific papers) guiding the safe prescription, usage and manufacture of herbal medicines. The medical uses for hawthorn is described in detail among these monographs; it is recommended to treat heart insufficiency (classes 1 and 2) by strengthening heart contractions, lower blood pressure and pulse rate, as well as improving physical work capacity and anaerobic capacity (the ability to continue functioning in low oxygen conditions). The berry from hawthorn is widely employed for arrhythmia (irregular heartbeats, palpitations), high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries. My source for purchase - http://www.vitaminlady.com/.

L-proprionyl carnitine (LPC) - Studies suggest that patients who take L-carnitine supplements soon after suffering a heart attack are less likely to suffer a second heart attack, die of heart disease, experience chest pain and abnormal heart rhythms, or develop congestive heart failure. In addition, people with coronary artery disease who use L-carnitine along with standard medications may be able to sustain physical activity for longer periods of time.

For more information: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsSupplements/CarnitineLCarnitinecs.html

My source for purchase: http://www.vitaminlady.com/

Baby aspirin - Aspirin helps prevent heart attacks by decreasing formation of clots that block blood flow to the heart. High-risk people who have never experienced a cardiovascular event commonly take aspirin as a basic prophylactic, while it can also be taken to prevent a second heart attack. Low dose baby aspirin (81mg) is most commonly recommended.

Green Vibrance – Green Vibrance is a concentrated super food powder. It contains 58 organic vitamins and minerals, and is available at most health food stores.

Shaklee Nutritional Products – Of the vitamin supplements being marketed in the United States today, we found that there are basically three types  (1) Synthetic (chemical), (2) Crystallized (heat processed) and (3) Lyophilized (low temperature dehydration).  

These three methods of production were tested for safety and efficacy compared by the method of Pfeiffer (BioDynamics 50, 2t).. Http://www.pfeiffercenter.org/

1. SYNTHETIC:  A chemical vitamin isolate made from

inorganic materials, i.e., petroleum by-products. Sold

mainly in drugstores, these vitamins act as drugs in the body. They may set up toxic reactions and rob the body of its own storehouse of antibodies. 

2. CRYSTALLIZED:  Commonly labeled “organic” or “natural,” these vitamins are isolates derived at least partly from a whole food (organic) source by a high temperature process. (Products need be only 10% organic to legally carry the label “natural ingredients.”) Most of the live enzymes necessary for absorption into the body have been destroyed in this type of vitamin. (Example:  If we labeled a dead horse “natural and organic,” our label would be correct. If we wanted to ride him to town, however, we would be out of luck. “Organic and natural” does not necessarily mean “alive.”)  This is the type of vitamin sold in some drug stores and most health food stores.

3. LYOPHILIZED:  Whole food is dehydrated by a cool process (similar to freeze-drying,) preserving the complex of vitamins, bioflavonoid and enzymes found in nature. Enzymes necessary for absorption into the body remain intact. The only company we could find marketing this type of supplement is Shaklee Corporation.

I don’t use Shaklee products because I have a business relationship with Shaklee.  I use Shaklee products because I have scientific validation that they are the highest quality available and that they are safe and highly effective.

Peer review of a recent clinical study conducted by the University of California Berkeley has been completed and is now published at:  http://www.nutritionj.com/content/pdf/1475-2891-6-30.pdf

This twenty year, “Landmark Study” will be the groundbreaking standard for future clinical reviews throughout the nutritional scientific community. 

Shaklee Corporation  came out of the study with scientific validation that it’s users have markedly lower incidence of coronary heart disease, angina, congestive heart failure, diabetes, stroke and emphysema as well aslower homocysteine, LDL,(bad cholesterol), Triglycerides and higher HDL (good cholesterol). 

This study was led by Dr. Gladys Bloch, renowned nutrition researcher and epidemiologist, and conclusively showed that people who took Shaklee supplements have markedly better health than both users of other popular brands and non supplement users.  It is very important to note that those people who used brands other than Shaklee were actually more at risk for many diseases than those who took no supplements at all.  Chemically based or poor quality supplements are often worse than no supplements.

When it comes to using Shaklee supplements to help prevent major diseases, the results are impressive and speak for themselves. In the study, which featured 1000 participants, the incidence of heart disease in non supplement users was 7.9%, for users of other vitamins it actually went up to 9.8% and for users of Shaklee supplements 5.0%. This means that users who took other brands of supplements were nearly twice as likely as Shaklee users to suffer heart disease!

In the incidence of heart attacks the results are even more impressive: 7.4% for non-supplement users, 9.1% for users of other supplements and an amazingly low 2.5% for Shaklee supplement users!

Congestive heart failure: non-supplement users 5.2%, other brand users 5.1%, Shaklee users, 1.4%!    

The dramatic decreases in heart disease, congestive heart failure and heart attacks for people using Shaklee supplements for over twenty years is clearly life saving, as 40% of first heart attack victims die, and half of them never even knew they had heart disease!  For men especially, often the first symptom of heart disease is sudden death.  I am one of the fortunate ones who survived my first heart attack.

Shaklee supplement users also retained normal levels of blood pressure, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, homocysteine, plus zero abnormal levels of C-reactive proteins (a key indicator for inflammation and heart disease), while non supplement users and users of other vitamins on average did not.

Perhaps one of the most telling results on the quality of one’s health was the number of medications being taken by the general population compared to long-term Shaklee users. The average person 65 years and older is on 19 different medications. Yet, Shaklee users in the study averaged 0.6 medications – that’s less than one medication per person! Think about all the damaging side effects of using 19 medications, from liver damage, muscle pain, depression, and brain fog, versus living one’s older years practically medication-free! That’s a huge difference!

Finally, during the personal health assessment of the study, participants were asked if they felt good about their health. 45% of non-supplement users said yes, 48% of other brand users said yes while 85% of Shaklee users answered affirmatively!

The results of this landmark study are conclusive and profound – taking Shaklee supplements on a long-term basis can give you significantly better health.

All of the following ingredients for my regimen come from Shaklee.  Indeed, after using their products, I signed up to become a distributor (http://www.shaklee.net/bestself).  I started with the Vitalizer Strips and the Cinch Protein Shake (described below), and recommend these to many clients. Please feel free to contact us if you have any problems or want more information.

Vitalizer Strips –80 bio-optimized nutrients clinically proven to create a foundation for a longer, healthier life.  Based on 12 Shaklee clinical studies, Vitalizer provides the best spectrum of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, anti-aging phytonutrients, omega-3 fatty acids and probiotics available. Each nutrient is delivered to the right place at the right time with the patented Shaklee Micronutrient Advanced Release Technology  (S.M.A.R.T.™) delivery system. Each day’s supplements are prepackaged conveniently in a blister pack strip; handy for pocket or purse.

These represent the best of the best. Consider it, along with the Cinch Protein Shakes, as one of your essential foundations for good health.

Key Ingredients:

Vitamin A (50% as beta carotene from 5000 IU 100%

Blakeslea trispora and 50% as vitamin A acetate)

Vitamin C (as calcium ascorbate and ascorbic acid) 500 mg 833%

Vitamin D3 (as cholecalciferol) 600 IU 150%

Vitamin E 200 IU 667%

(as d-alpha-tocopherol concentrate, d-alpha-tocopheryl

acid succinate, mixed tocopherols, and mixed tocotrienols)

Vitamin K (as phytonadione) 80 mcg 100%

Vitamin B1 (as thiamine mononitrate) 9 mg 600%

Vitamin B2 (as riboflavin) 10.2 mg 600%

Niacin (as niacinamide) 120 mg 600%

Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine hydrochloride) 12 mg 600%

Folate (as folic acid) 400 mcg 100%

Vitamin B12 (as cyanocobalamin) 36 mcg 600%

Biotin (as d-biotin) 300 mcg 100%

Pantothenic acid (as d-calcium pantothenate) 60 mg 600%

Calcium (as dicalcium phosphate, 500 mg 50%

calcium ascorbate, and calcium carbonate)

Phosphorus (as dicalcium phosphate) 350 mg 35%

Iodine (as potassium iodide and sea kelp) 150 mcg 100%

Magnesium (as magnesium oxide) 200 mg 50%

Zinc (as zinc gluconate) 15 mg 100%

Selenium (as trace mineral protein hydrolysate) 70 mcg 100%

Copper

Manganese (as manganese gluconate) 2 mg 100%

Chromium (as trace mineral protein hydrolysate) 120 mcg 100%

Molybdenum (as trace mineral protein hydrolysate) 75 mcg 100%

Sodium 10 mg <1%

Total Omega-3 fatty acids 500 mg †

(from ultrapure marine lipid concentrate)

Our full spectrum includes:

EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) 280 mg 215%

DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) 180 mg 138%

And five other naturally found fatty acids including:

docosapentaenoic, stearidonic, eicosatetraenoic,

heneicosapentaenoic, and alpha-linolenic acids. 40 mg †

Bifidobacterium longum (probiotic) 250 million CFU †

Lactobacillus acidophilus (probiotic) 250 million CFU †

Lycopene (from tomato extract) 2.5 mg †

Lutein (as lutein ester from marigold flower extract) 2 mg †

Zeaxanthin (as zeaxanthin ester from marigold flower extract) 80 mcg †

Gamma-tocopherol 25 mg †

Beta- and delta-tocopherol 10 mg †

Bioflavonoid complex (as citrus, lemon, orange, and grapefruit 25 mg †

bioflavonoids, and hesperidin complex)

Quercetin 50 mg †

Nickel (as trace mineral protein hydrolysate) 15 mcg †

Tin (as trace mineral protein hydrolysate) 10 mcg †

Vanadium (as trace mineral protein hydrolysate) 20 mcg †

Boron (as trace mineral protein hydrolysate) 1 mg †

Silicon (as silicon dioxide) 2 mg †

In addition to the Vitalizer, I also take:

Cinch™ Cafe Latte Shake Mix (Shaklee) – Proteins are the essential building blocks of nature. I have at least two of these protein shakes a day. Why settle for a frou-frou cup of calories when you can have this frothy and yes, healthy Cafe Latte meal? It has a complete complement of amino acids, to maintain muscle and keep you feeling full, and fiber for regularity and heart health. Also comes in Chocolate or Vanilla, which I mix with fruit for smoothies.

Fiber Plan® Tablets (Shaklee) While the FDA recommends that we eat 25 grams of fiber a day for a 2,000 calorie diet, most Americans typically consume half of that amount. And yet the benefits are clear: a healthier colon as well as better digestion and regularity.

Liver DTX (Shaklee) – Liver DTX contains milk seed thistle, reishi mushroom, dandelion, artichoke and tumeric extracts, to help maintain bile flow, regenerate liver cells, and support the body’s antioxidant, cleansing and regenerative properties. This was particularly important me when I was on so many prescription medications.

Herb-Lax (Shaklee) – Encourages mild cleansing to normalize the body’s natural processes.

CoQHeart® (Shaklee) – Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supports energy production in your cells and is especially important for your heart. Studies show that as we age, we have less and less of it in our body. A healthy heart, which never stops to rest, relies on CoQ10's energy support, but often, cholesterol- lowering drugs interrupt the production of coenzyme Q10, so supplementation is particularly important in patients taking such medications. Dr Nobel recommended that I be sure to have elevated levels of CoQ10 in my system for as long as I continued to take medication. I continue elevated levels, even though I am no longer taking medication, for heart muscle rebuilding and prevention.

Nutriferon (Shaklee) – Critical to immune health, Nutriferon is the only supplement in the United States that naturally increases the levels of interferon within the body.

The science on this is very impressive, but beyond the scope of this brief appendix. I recommend you see: http://www.shaklee.net/bestself/prodNuFeronHome

Cholesterol Reduction Complex -  is a proprietary formula with clinically proven ingredients that help prevent absorption of cholesterol and lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol. It is made with a powerful blend of sterols and stanols, which are found naturally in plants, fruits, vegetables, and grains.  http://bestself.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku=21219
 I direct people toward a site on the subject by a NASA Flight Surgeon that debunks most of the misinformation foisted off on us by the drug industry and cardiologists: http://www.spacedoc.net/

Stress Relief Complex (Shaklee) – The Stress Relief Complex utilizes a unique combination of natural ingredients, including L-theanine and ashwagandha, to help you relax without causing drowsiness. In as little as 30 minutes, Stress Relief Complex will provide quick relief from everyday tension while promoting alertness.

Mental Acuity (Shaklee) – Mental Acuity Plus, which includes ginkgo, bilberry, hawthorn, and B vitamins, not only enhances memory and clarity in decision-making, but also lowers homocysteine levels to improve cardiovascular health. This complex is also a mild blood thinner.

Alfalfa Complex (Shaklee) – I take a lot of this one – 20 tablets a day. The roots of the alfalfa plant (also known as the "father of all foods,") reach as deep as 20 feet into the soil, bringing forth minerals in their most natural form. Recognized for centuries for its healing properties, alfalfa offers a wide range of nutrients: calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, chlorophyll, bioflavonoids, trace minerals, and vitamins.

Nano-Bacteria

My Nano-bacteria Regimen - This program is described at http://www.calcify.com/. As described in my chapter 15, “Nano This, Nano That,” calcification within the blood and arteries can lead to numerous painful conditions, including chronic inflammation, stiffness, pain, atherosclerosis and poor circulation. This technology is brand new, with peer-reviewed studies on the subject appearing only recently. My program, which includes EDTA and antibiotics, is designed to remove calcium deposits from arteries. But I need to emphasize – anyone who chooses to attempt this program must do the research first. You can contact me by email at sams@bestselfusa.com

CNN - Drs. Esselstyn and Ornish interview about Bill Clinton going Vegan

For more information:

http://www.vegsource.com/news/2011/08/dr-essesltyn-on-sanjay-guptas-cnn-special-video.html

Boost Your Health with Vitamins

These well intentioned young women do not understand the urgency of the need to supplement our diets with full spectrum nutrition.  See the article below the video:

 

 

Jamie McManus, M.D., FAAFP
Chairman, Medical Affairs, Health Sciences and Education

The art of medicine includes integrating a variety of methods of healing. I firmly believe in nutrition as the basis of good health. As a longtime vegetarian and runner, I have personally experienced the benefits of supplementation, and I feel strongly about educating my patients about the importance of nutrition, exercise, supplements and herbs.

People around the world are interested in any news about health, wellness and graceful aging. Shaklee has created this web site for health care physicians to help share that important information with you and your patients and clients.

You can learn more about my credentials, education, and philosophy of healing on my biography page.

The Importance of Supplementation

Research has increasingly validated the connection between nutrition and health, between the types and amounts of foods that we eat and the likelihood of developing certain diseases as well as the likelihood of maintaining good health or increased longevity. We know that excesses in the diet are clearly linked to certain diseases. For instance, obesity and high fat diets are both well established risk factors in the development of coronary artery disease, many types of cancer, ischemic stroke and Type 2 diabetes. These four conditions account for approximately 85% of all deaths in the United States and a very large portion of our health care dollar. It is estimated that 28 million Americans live with heart disease. 56 million Americans are being treated for hypertension. It is well established that just by losing as little as 10 pounds, one can see drops in blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. The excesses in our American diets have been linked to these disease risks for more than 30 years and yet we have yet to see significant improvements in primary prevention--i.e. not in lessening complications from hypertension or reducing the risk of a second myocardial infarction due to the prescription of ACE inhibitors or statin drugs--but rather improvements in diets and normalization of weight leading to normalization of blood pressure and cholesterol levels without medication. The medical profession has focused almost entirely upon treatment. I would like to have a discussion of the use of supplementation and dietary interventions towards a goal of prevention.

I have always approached healthcare from a perspective of prevention. I have employed nutritional and lifestyle strategies to 1) optimize health, 2) decrease the morbidity and complications of existing diseases--especially those that are directly linked to diet and obesity, and 3) attempt to reverse existing disease. I have found that when people are empowered with information and inspired into action--dramatic improvements in health and physical function can occur as well as actual reversal or improvement in disease states. There are three primary ways for physicians to utilize supplementation with patients. The first way is to utilize supplements as a way to assure that their patients' diets are replete with all essential nutrients that are scientifically validated, with the understanding and acceptance that the majority of Americans are NOT even reaching minimums of nutrition via their food intake. Dr. Gladys Block of UC Berkeley School of Public Health states that surveys confirm that American adults consume less than 2 servings of fruits and vegetables per day--certainly far less than the Institute of Medicine's most recent recommendation of 7 servings for women and 9 servings for men. The second way is to utilize supplementation to actually treat certain specific conditions---usually in an integrative fashion along with more traditional therapies. For instance, supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids has been shown to decrease the amount of lithium needed for treatment of bipolar disorder. The third way to utilize supplementation is to assist their patients in weight loss. We will discuss this in a future article that addresses incorporation of a scientifically advanced, clinically validated weight management program into the healthcare professional's office.

So, let us discuss the current state of knowledge--the research, the Epidemiologic data--what is quite clear and where we still need further information before guidelines can be truly universally acceptable. What is clear is that it is not just dietary excesses that lead to disease. Deficiencies in our modern diets are also being recognized--along with their connection to various health conditions. Indeed, cancer may be "the ultimate deficiency condition"! Many cancer research experts estimate that more than 80% of cancer are tied to dietary factors--both excesses and deficiencies. The American Cancer Society (and essentially all wellness experts) recommends 9 servings of fruits and vegetables for men, 7 servings for women, and 5 servings for teens per day to reduce one's risk of cancer. We know that antioxidants, such as Vitamins C, E, beta-carotene and other carotenoids, and selenium help protect our DNA from damage from oxidative stress and help to support our immune system in a more general fashion. It is generally well accepted that poor diets, stress, obesity, alcohol intake, lack of adequate sleep all decrease the function of the immune system and make our DNA more susceptible to the effects of oxidative stress---and if abnormal cells exist, will be less likely to recognize and destroy them.

So, let's talk about the excesses in the diet in greater detail, and then we will discuss deficiencies as well. I believe there are 3 main factors fueling the excesses in the diets and the resultant obesity epidemic we are seeing in the United States and around the world.

1. The easy availability of fast foods, convenience foods and take-out meals, which tend to be high in calories, saturated and trans-fats, salt and sugar.
2. The processing and refinement of our foods (especially these convenience foods) leading to dietary deficiencies when they are consumed regularly.
3. The resultant cravings creating a vicious cycle of overeating and a sad reality of overweight and obese individuals who are actually malnourished!

Americans eat a majority of our meals away from home, or bring home take-out foods because we are all juggling 20 hours of activities into 16-18 hours per day. These meals tend to provide what I call "doubly negative" nutrition. The excessive saturated fat, salt, sugar, and calories will ultimately lead to obesity and other negative health effects and these foods are largely deficient in important vitamins and minerals necessary for good health and energy---and can lead to deficiency syndromes, the most notable being low energy, one of the most common reasons for seeing a physician today. Thus, the double negative impact of fast and convenience foods. Slick marketing of these high fat, sugar laden foods to our children has led to a doubling of overweight and obese children in just the past 10 years in the United States, as well as most industrialized nations!! As a mother, and as a physician, I am both shocked and saddened by these trends.

Let's talk about these excesses, with a focus primarily on macronutrients. As a general statement, I believe that we must, as physicians, take responsibility for educating patients as to the healthy types as well as the amounts of macronutrients to consume. I am a firm believer in the old adage of "moderation in all things"---including moderation! We have seen focus on extreme low fat diets, extreme low carbohydrate diets, extremely high protein diets---none of which are really effective in the long run because it is a healthy balance of macronutrients that will provide the breadth of nutrients required for good health as well as lead to the highest likelihood of compliance. Yo-yo dieting will be discussed in a different segment---but clearly dieting cycles lead to lowered metabolism and directly contribute to a person's increasing weight over time.

Let's look at Fats. In the late 1970's, the very low fat diets proliferated, largely due to emerging data related to the connection of hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia to coronary artery disease. But ongoing research and data leads us today to have a clearer understanding that it is decreases in saturated and trans-fats and increased intakes of monosaturated fats that will lead to the greatest improvements in cardiovascular risk factors. The research on omega-3 fatty acids has increased our understanding dramatically. The current theories related to our ancestors having consumed diets with ratios of 2:1 Omega-6:Omega-3, while our modern diets are 15-20:1 Omega-6:Omega-3 as an explanation for the proliferation of autoimmune and other inflammatory conditions today. . Our ancestors consumed diets rich in nuts and seeds, good sources of omega-3's, while modern man and woman eat processed and often fried foods that contain large amounts of vegetable oils that are high in omega-6. Our intake of nuts and seeds are minimal. Omega-6 oils are pro-inflammatory and enhance platelet stickiness, whereas omega-3 fats are naturally anti-inflammatory and tend to help the blood flow and promote healthy heart rhythms. So, our fat intake is actually an example of both dietary excesses (omega-6) and deficiencies (omega-3). We are now seeing labeling of trans-fats, but we must continue to reinforce label-reading with patients. To correct the deficiencies of omega-3 fatty acids, we can urge the inclusion of almonds, walnuts, fatty fish and flax in the diet---but nuts tend to be high in calories, so I am a firm believer in the daily intake of fish oil capsules to provide these essential and health-conferring fats in the lowest calorie delivery.

See below for the American Heart Association's recommendations on Omega-3 fats.

Summary of Recommendations for Omega-3 Fatty Acid Intake

Population	Recommendation
Patients without documented coronary heart disease (CHD)	Eat a variety of (preferably fatty) fish at least twice a week. Include oils and foods rich in alpha-linolenic acid (flaxseed, canola and soybean oils; flaxseed and walnuts).
Patients with documented CHD	Consume about 1 g of EPA+DHA per day, preferably from fatty fish. EPA+DHA in capsule form could be considered in consultation with the physician.
Patients who need to lower triglycerides	2 to 4 grams of EPA+DHA per day provided as capsules under a physician's care.

Patients taking more than 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids from capsules should do so only under a physician's care. High intakes could cause excessive bleeding in some people.

Carbohydrates have also received much media and consumer attention. The simple reality is that we are eating higher amounts of refined carbohydrates than ever in history. We eat highly sweetened foods--breads, pastries, pastas and desserts---and rarely consume the necessary servings of fruits, vegetables and dark whole grains that provide important micronutrients and antioxidants as well as the necessary fiber for good colon health. While the evils of HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) have been almost demonized in the media---again, I will come back to the concept of balance. I would not put anyone into a panic mode because something has HFCS as an ingredient, but I would strongly urge all physicians and healthcare professionals to counsel their patients to not drink sodas at all!! These cola and similar beverages demineralize teeth and bones as well as provide pounds of extra sugar (or artificial sweeteners) to our society. Soft drink consumption has increased by more than fivefold in the past 50 years, and soft drinks are now the leading source of refined sugars in the American diet, with nearly half of the added sugars came from high fructose corn syrup. Soft drinks provide excess calories and contribute to the obesity epidemic but have no nutritional value.

The lion's share of carbs need to come from fresh fruits and vegetables. Adults should not consume fruit juice regularly as it contains too much simple sugars and relatively empty calories---reserve the juice for your children (or grandchildren). Eat whole fruit instead--it is more filling and more nutritious. I want to encourage all of you to eat the required servings of fruits and vegetables (9 daily servings for men and 7 servings for women)---and reinforce that message to patients at every visit.

Now, let discuss protein. Because amino acids are the building blocks of hormones, neurotransmitters and enzymes in the body, a healthy intake of protein is incredibly important. Adequate protein plays a role in our mood, our sleep and thought patterns, as well as playing critical roles in cellular energy production. While most Americans consume adequate protein, there are 3 key points to consider:

1. Americans tend to eat too much animal protein and protein sources that are high in saturated fat (red meat and full-fat dairy products). The addition of fish (especially omega-3 rich choices such as salmon and tuna) and soy foods are great ways to add proteins that will not compromise health.
2. Millions of American women have become "chronic dieters" who tend to skip the protein foods, eating fruits, vegetables and starches. These habits can lead to a vicious cycle of dieting that leads to loss of bone mass as well as lean muscle mass resulting in increasing difficulty in maintaining a healthy weight as well as a risk for osteoporosis.
3. Weight loss is far easier if the diet is adequate in protein content. Protein helps to control hunger, helps mood and helps to support metabolism. I highly recommend protein shakes as meal replacements---they are nutritious, satisfying and incredibly effective as a basis for calorie reduction without sacrificing nutritional adequacy. In fact, meal replacement shakes often provide more nutrition than the great majority of people are currently getting in their breakfast or lunch!
   
   The reasons for deficiencies:
4. The processing and refinement of our foods leading to dietary deficiencies and the resultant cravings creating a vicious cycle of overeating
5. the realities of modern agriculture techniques and our global economy leading to crops that are grown in deficient soil and harvested before they reach full maturity

And finally let us discuss the deficiencies in micronutrients in our diets today. Epidemiologic studies have clearly validated the association with diets that are high in fruits and vegetables and low in animal fat leading to good health and longevity. While exercise, stress management and other lifestyle choices, such as smoking, are also important factors diet and weight account for 70% of the risk. We also know that Americans are consuming far less than the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables, and eating highly refined foods that have often had the vitamin and mineral content processed out.

The Institutes of Medicine, a division of the National Institutes of Health now recommend that all adults can benefit from taking a multivitamin and mineral supplement on a regular basis for optimum health. Additionally, certain subsets of the population, including the aging, pregnant women and those on weight loss diets are singled out as being especially needy of additional specific micronutrient supplementation. As we age, we tend to absorb nutrients from food less efficiently. A number of studies have confirmed that older people absorb certain vitamins and minerals more efficiently from a multivitamin tablet than from food! Women who are considering becoming pregnant should be sure they are taking in adequate amounts of folic acid to prevent one of the most common birth defects---neural tube defects. Folic acid is better absorbed from supplements than from food. And, of course, people on diets should always take a multivitamin-mineral product.

And what about specific supplements to reduce one's risk of certain diseases? Well, from cataracts to age-related macular degeneration to certain cancers to osteoporosis, there is excellent scientific validation of the connection between supplementation and disease prevention. We know that Vitamins C and E (in the range of 250-500 mg and 400 IU respectively has been shown to reduce one's risk of both cataracts and AMD. Additionally, consuming greater than 10 mg lutein may also assist in risk reduction and disease progression with AMD.

The connection between calcium and Vitamin D intake and diminishing one's risk of osteoporosis has been well established for more than 25 years. More recent research and Epidemiologic data is leading us to increase the recommendations for Vitamin D. And there is widespread concern that the elderly, people who work indoors and those living in the Northern latitudes may indeed be deficient in natural production of Vitamin D due to limited sun exposure.

Recommended Intake of Vitamin D:
The Vitamin D Adequate Intake (AI) for children, adolescents and adults is as follows in

Table 2:

Male and Female Age	Vitamin D (IU/day)	Pregnancy & Lactation
9 to 13 years	200	N/A
14 to 18 years	200	200
19 to 50 years	200	200
51 to 70 years	400	N/A
71 + years	600	N/A

Source: IOM Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D,
and Fluoride


For further specifics on research and recommendations related to specific nutrients, please see our additional segments we have provided through links to 3rd party data within the Health Conditions, Dietary Supplement ingredients and Drug/ Nutrient Interaction segments.

Certainly, the old adage from our moms or grandmothers continues to be valid: "we are what we eat." And in 2007, that means McDonalds, Taco Bell and Starbucks. Let us, as medical professionals, set an example of healthy eating and a thoughtful lifestyle. Eat plenty of fresh vegetables, fruits and adequate amounts of lean protein, mainly from non-hormone-fed beef and fowl, wild (not farmed) fish and soy. Additionally, at the very least, take a balanced, divided dose multivitamin-mineral supplement, 1 gram of fish oil, 250 mg Vitamin C, 200-400 IU Vitamin E and, if you are a woman, 1000-1500 mg calcium each day! Continue to school yourself on the benefits (and lack of risk) of usage of nutritional and herbal supplements. We will provide you references on this site to further your knowledge and increase your comfort level with the benefits of supplementation for yourself, your family and your patients.
Be well.

Jamie McManus, M.D.

Jamie McManus, M.D., FAAFP
Chairman, Medical Affairs, Health Sciences and Education

Obama Attacks Nutrition by Alan Caruba

A recent post on the natural advocate concerning FDA’s involvement in the supplementation issue tended to hold our president responsible for what was happening on his watch. This author of the article left clear indications concerning his political stance. While the White House may not even be aware of what the FDA is doing, the issue remains legitimate.  Perhaps a more accurate headline might be "FDA Attacks Nutrition."

I have a policy about political comments that I would have applied here, had I been the author.  Since most of our elections are decided on nearly a 50/50 basis we are running the risk of alienating about half of our audience if we mention politics.

That being said, regardless of your political persuasion, I hope you appreciate the main thrust of the article.

Sam the Editor

Obama Attacks Nutrition

By Alan Caruba

While watching a television commercial for some prescription medication, have you ever wondered why something it states may kill you or cause serious side effects ever was permitted to be marketed to the public?

For decades I have taken a full range of vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements every morning. I don’t get head colds or any unwanted side affects. In my seventh decade, I enjoy exceptional good health. An annual physical check up is always the same. I am fine.

Millions of Americans benefit from a daily regimen of vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplements. Athletes use whey protein powders. Body builders take amino acids. Others augment food products that lack sufficient nutritional value. Their health and wellness is now threatened by the Obama administration’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Banning Health!

On the Friday before the Fourth of July weekend, the FDA published a 47-page document, the Codex Alimentarius, that would ban all nutritional and supplemental ingredients by requiring them to file documentation involving multi-million-dollar testing and the regulations would be retroactive to 1994!

This will destroy the manufacturers of these products because most are small companies that could not afford such costs. It’s not like there is a vast body of information that demonstrates any threat to health from vitamins and minerals. Quite the contrary. There is ample information on their benefits. There are libraries filled with books devoted to this.

Who would benefit from such regulation of the natural supplement industry? Big Pharma. The same pharmaceutical companies that have a long record of putting forth FDA-approved medications that later prove to be lethal are looking to use the regulatory powers of FDA to literally increase levels of illness.

In the same way Obamacare has been demonstrated to not only be unconstitutional, but also a threat to the health of millions—especially senior citizens—this callous administration now threatens to remove from the shelves of stores that sell nutritional supplements, from pharmacies, and from supermarkets and other outlets, the vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplements on which millions depend for wellness.

This constitutes a criminal conspiracy and Congress, which has ceded its law-making authority to the FDA, must hear from everyone in order to stop this assault on everyone’s health.

Frank Murray, the former editor of Better Nutrition, Great Life, and Let’s Live, is the author and co-author of fifty books on health and nutrition. They include Natural Supplements for Diabetes, Health Benefits Derived from Sweet Orange, and 100 Super Supplements for a Longer Life. He is a member of the New York Academy of Sciences.

One of Murray’s books, Sunshine and Vitamin D, notes that “With the hundreds of clinical trials published on Vitamin D in recent years—I read one study with 132 references—it is obvious that the ‘sunshine vitamin’ no longer has to play second fiddle to the other vitamins.” The same can be said for vitamins A, B, C, and E. All have amply demonstrated their value. Add to them, zink, potassium, selenium, and other mineral supplements. All those prostate advertisements are about herbal supplements!

The Obama administration that has made obesity its pet project is also famous for photos of the President eating every kind of fast food. It is rank hypocrisy, but the proposed FDA ban is literally life threatening.

Write, email, and fax your Representative and Senator to ensure that Congress intervenes with the FDA in the same fashion it is struggling to protect us against an out-of-control Environmental Protection Agency. In particular, contact the members of the House Oversight and Government Reform committee.

Your life and the lives of your loved ones literally depend on stopping this attack on real nutrition.

Americans are losing the freedom they take for granted as Big Government intrudes on every personal choice they make. The Obama administration has demonstrated its total indifference to America’s senior citizens' access to affordable medical care and now all Americans' ability to access nutritional supplements.

You are being “protected” into an early grave!

COMMENTS FROM EMAIL:

I guess that we can understand the FDA's desire to protect the U.S. Citizens from products that do nothing or actually cause harm under the guise of making people healtheir--since education does not seem to be working as well as we would hope.  Marjorie Fine at Shaklee has been our long time laison between the FDA and Shaklee--she keeps us up to date on things--and the FDA has come to Shaklee many times over the years to help derive fair and balanced legislation--not to harm the industry but to make them wake up to the harm in not testing for pesticides, heavy metals and vocs in the raw materials  they put into their products--and more.  

So many supplement companies--even when their products are made by one company--are marketed under many different names so that they appear to be small companies that the FDA can ignore--too bad!  No one is checking when companies claim things their products are supposed to do--but do not deliver--no mandatory clinical testing.   I have been hearing for many years that there may be only one or two manufacturers of supplements some day--Shaklee being one--because the other companies do not want to have any regulation that will cause them to spend money-it is expensive to do what Shaklee has done over a very long period of time--I don't know what the FDA should do about things--I do feel that education on prevention is a good way for them to work--maybe make sure that doctors are trained in prevention.  

Linda

Bunny and Sam,

First off, I'm sorry I didn't have more time to spend with you at the convention.

Are you sure the President even has a clue what the FDA is up to? When I read a headline like "Obama Attacks Nutrition" I'd at least like to see how (if) the President has any involvement, or if this is just another brush trying to paint him as the new Satan. There seems to be a lot of that going around. Why not pin the tail on the real donkey, which is the FDA, and their zillion ties to Big Pharma. "FDA Attacks Nutrition" would ring much truer.

You were at the Professionals Meeting the first night of the DC convention. The last speaker discussed this FDA proposition, the pros and cons, and my sense was that Shaklee didn't seem all that disturbed...or at least Jaime and Wes didn't say a peep about it. There's plenty of manufacturers who will suffer, but my sense is that Shaklee did their homework, and this regulation wouldn't crimp them the way it would most of the other pseudo-manufacturer-packagers out there.

Frank

Sam

What a gracious response! I don't recall the name of the CEO for the Committee For Responsible Nutrition who spoke to us at the Professionals meeting, but my overall impression from his presentation is that Shaklee faces no threat from this legislation.

And truthfully, it will be a relief to see the me-too suppliers and the  I-didn't-know  packagers being held more accountable for the side-effects and contaminants in the stuff they sell.

Remember blue-green algae, and sea silver, and the whatever liquid calcium everyone was swooning over last Century? With proper regulation of supplements, a lot less boondoggle will be hoisted on the public. With less sizzle in the air, more people will respond to stodgy old (NOT ANYMORE!) Shaklee!

Is FDA our friend, or are they in the  pocket of Big Pharma? I am sure the answer is somewhere in between, but I am thrilled to see Congress taking a stride towards protection of supplements.

Frank M. Painter, D.C.

Frankp@chiro.org

Boomers Will Be Pumping Billions Into Anti-Aging Industry

Baby boomers face of what used to be called the retirement age are offering 70 million members strong market for the legions of companies, entrepreneurs and plastic surgeons willing to take advantage of their “forever young” mode think, either through wrinkle creams, face lifts or training schemes.

That adds to the potential bonanza. Market research firm Global Industry Analysts projects that fuel the boom in consumer base, “seeking to keep the dreaded signs of aging at bay,” will drive the U.S. market anti-aging products for about $ 80 million today to more than $ 114 billion by 2015.

The baby boomers who grew up in an exaltation of youth culture, against a range of options as to when and how to be part of that market.

Anti-aging enthusiasts claim that life expectancy can be prolonged through interventions such as hormone replacement therapy and dietary supplements. Critics, including most doctors say that many anti-aging interventions are ineffective or harmful.

Of the major organizations like the National Institute on Aging, the general advice is that a skeptical consumer on guard for potential scams involving alleged anti-aging products.

“Our culture places great value on staying young, but aging is normal,” says the institute. “Despite claims about the pills or treatments that lead to endless youth, no treatment has been shown to reduce or reverse the aging process.”

His advice is essential to aging well: Eat a healthy diet, exercising regularly, not smoking.
“If someone promises you today that you can slow, stop or reverse aging, probably trying to separate you from your money,” said S. Jay Olshansky, a professor at the University of Illinois-Chicago Public Health who has written extensively on aging.

“It’s always the same message:” Aging is their fault and that we have the cure, ‘”Olshansky said.” Investing in yourself, in the simple things that we know work. Get a good pair of running shoes or walking and a gym membership, and eat more fruits and vegetables. ”

However, such advice has not reduced the demand for anti-aging products, many with high price tags that are not covered by health insurance. These include cosmetic surgery procedures from $ 10,000 or more, treatment of human growth hormone from $ 15,000 a year and a product of skin care called Peau Magnifique that costs $ 1. 500 for a 28-day supply.

Another challenge for consumers is that many dietary supplements and cosmetics, unlike prescription and OTC medicines are not required to undergo government testing or review before they are marketed. The Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission did not suppress, sometimes blatantly false anti-aging claim, but overall there is little protection for people who do not get the expected results.
Mary Engle, director of the division of the FTC’s advertising practices, said his agency focuses on cases that may cause serious harm, such as bogus cancer treatments that can induce an ill person to give adequate attention .

She said the agency lacks the resources to fully suppress the ads exaggerated claims that prey on customers’ hopes for a better appearance and more energy.

“We often do not reach the level of fraud,” he said. “There are problematic for many ads out there and we really have to choose what we focus on.”

In contrast to the caution of major organizations, there are many vocal advocates of anti-aging products and procedures, including the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. It organizes annual conferences in the U.S. and abroad, and claims 22,000 members, most doctors.

In its mission statement, the Academy said that the disabilities associated with normal aging “are caused by physiological dysfunction which in many cases ameliorate medical treatment, so that human life can be longer. ”
One of the co-founders of the academy is Robert Goldman, a doctor of osteopathic medicine. The author argues that much of the resistance to anti-aging comes from the sectors of the healthcare industry and pharmaceutical products that are threatened financially – for example, the growing use of over-the-counter nutritional supplements.

“Everything has to do with what is to control the dollars,” he said.

Although many anti-aging interventions are expensive, Goldman said that people with limited budgets can still take useful steps, such as drinking purified water, take vitamins and use sunscreen.

“People should be healthy and strong at 100 to 120 years old,” Goldman said in a biographical video. “That’s what’s really exciting – to live in a period of time that the impossible is actually possible.”
Olshansky, who in recent years has been one of the harshest critics of Goldman, believes there will be scientific advances over time, perhaps based on studies of the genes of long-lived people, which helps reduce the rate of aging.

Meanwhile, Olshansky says, “I understand the need for personal freedom, the freedom to make bad decisions.”
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