Can Vitamins Really Kill You?

Recently, a study was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine which stated vitamins could be harmful, or even deadly, to older women.  You may have heard about this study through the various mainstream media outlets.  Suffice to say, you don't have much to worry about.

Vitamins and mineral do not kill people.  If that were so, there would be a ban on oranges.  Truth of the matter is, this "study" was poorly conducted.  In fact, it wasn't even a scientific study, but rather a survey.  One in which the results were horribly skewed until they got the results they wanted.  This is just another case of the pharmaceutical companies attempting to steer people away from taking things that actually help people.

Take this study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition for example.  Regan Bailey, who headed the study, actually stated, "People need to choose supplements which help meet, but not exceed, the recommended daily intake levels".  This is completely backwards.  And here's why.  The recommended daily intake (RDI) level of Vitamin C is 60mg/day.  The same amount found in one orange.  So, if you had more than one orange per day, you would be in danger according to Ms. Bailey.  In fact, many types of orange juice contain over 100% of the RDI of Vitamin C in one 8oz glass.  So apparently we need to be careful at the breakfast table now?

The results from this latest study where the conclusion is "vitamins could kill you" wouldn't even pass a high school science class.  One always need to be careful of what the hear or read in the mainstream media when it comes to vitamins.  Do your own research rather than blindly believing what you read.

If you would like an excellent retort to this study, I would recommend taking a look at the post Mike Adams at NaturalHealth.com put out regarding the matter.  Reading this two-part post will open your eyes and see just how flawed this "study" was.

To Your Health

Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals for over 5-years through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on these products or the unique opportunity,  visit us at www.huffster.usana.com.

Sunscreen Actually Increases Skin Cancer???

As reported in Natural News on July 14th, 2011:


A new report issued by the consumer protection organization Environmental Working Group (EWG) reveals that many popular sunscreens contain ingredients known to spur the growth and spread of skin cancer cells, which defeats their stated purpose of preventing skin cancer.

Data indicates that the sun’s rays combine with certain sunscreen ingredients in the skin and damage skin cells, which can lead to lesions and tumors — and worst of all, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has allegedly been aware of this critical information for the past ten years, but has done absolutely nothing to warn people about it.

According to a report by AOL News, about half of the sunscreens tested contained vitamin A ingredients and derivatives like retinol and retinyl palmitate, which FDA’s own studies have shown are photocarcinogenic, meaning they become toxic when exposed to sunlight. In fact, an older FDA report explains that sunscreens containing vitamin A ingredients cause tumors and lesions to develop and spread 21 percent faster than sunscreens that do not contain vitamin A ingredients.

Not to be confused with the vitamin A found in food and supplements that is absolutely essential for good health, vitamin A additives in sunscreen are different — their interactions with ultraviolet sun rays actually produce carcinogens in the skin.

 Read the full article here

Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity,  send an email with questions to:  huffster@usana.com.

Liquid Vitamins vs. Tablet Vitamins

Liquid Vitamins vs. Tablet Vitamins - what is best for you?  This is probably one of the most widely disputed arguments in the supplement industry.  Some will say liquid vitamins are better because the absorb better.  While others suggest the tablet form not only has a better absorption rate, but also contains more vitamins and minerals.

So who is right?  Before providing one scientist's answer to this question, I need to emphasize the fact that we are talking about pharmaceutical grade table vitamins and not the discount vitamins you will find at your local Walmart.

This excellent answer was given by a scientist at Usana:  a company which produces pharmaceutical grade supplements in tablet form.  The company was voted the #1 supplement company in America just a few short weeks ago by the National Sanitation Foundation.  Take a look at the answer and hopefully it will provide you the information you need to make an educated decision for yourself.

The Claims
Many liquid supplement manufacturers claim that because their product is in a liquid
form that it is more bioavailable. In fact, some even use phony statements regarding the
Physician's Desk Reference to support such claims. The statement they reference about
liquid supplements being more bioavailable first appeared in the PDR under a listing for a
specific nutritional supplement product. That statement has since been removed because
it was false and could not be substantiated. In addition, the PDR organization itself does
not make any such statement about liquid vitamins vs. tablets.


How Are Nutrients Absorbed?
Nutrients are absorbed by the small intestine, unless they are taken sublingually or
injected. When you ingest a supplement in either a liquid or tablet form, it must first go
through the stomach and is then absorbed by the small intestine. If liquids were simply
absorbed directly in to the bloodstream, as some supplement companies claim, would the
same happen when you ate soup?

Bioavailability is defined as the degree and rate at which a substance (as a drug) is
absorbed into a living system or is made available at the site of physiological activity.
Different vitamins and minerals have different absorption rates no matter if they come
from a tablet, liquid, powder, or food. For example Calcium has a pretty standard
absorption rate around 25-35%. The form does not generally make a significant
difference.

The Differences
A well-made tablet provides a very effective delivery system and is the chosen form of
most pharmaceutical medications. This is because tablets have been shown to be a very
efficient delivery system for medications. Why would vitamin and mineral supplements
be any different? Does anybody doubt that an aspirin tablet is less effective because it
comes in a tablet?

Tableted products provide the advantage of an increased amount of active ingredient
(almost 3 times as much as a capsule and much more than a liquid or spray). In general,
the stability of tablets is also superior to liquids.

Determining Factors
There are many factors that can affect the absorption of vitamins and minerals in the
body. Some of these factors are a function of the person taking the nutrient and are
dependent on the age of the person, the integrity of their digestive system, the state of
their health, the time of day, the person's gender, and if the supplements was taken on a
full or empty stomach. People whose nutrient needs are greater, such as growing children,
pregnant or lactating women, and those who are currently deficient, may have
significantly enhanced absorption rates for certain nutrients. Recently, some individuals
and companies have made claims that their products are superior because they are "98-
percent absorbed" or some similar number. This is a misleading statement because there
are too many variables to imply that an individual's absorption is a certain percent of the
material consumed. Even absorption of minerals from food sources can vary
significantly. Boron, molybdenum, and iodine can be absorbed at over 90 percent while
the average absorption rates of zinc, copper, and selenium can range from 30 to 80
percent depending on the form. It should seem reasonable then, that stating an average
absorption rate is very misleading.

USANA Vitamins
The USANA tablets are formulated to meet United States Pharmacopoeia standards
requiring full disintegration within 30-45 min. They are also formulated to meet
standards for dissolution. Because the USANA tablets are formulated to these standards,
the vitamins and minerals found in our supplements are properly absorbed into the body
and are very beneficial. Innovative formulations have been developed to optimize
nutrient bioavailability. Each lot of USANA tablets is tested against finished product
specifications to ensure that it meets standards for: identity, target weight, hardness,
thickness, disintegration, potency, purity, and (microbial counts). USANA provides its
vitamins and minerals in amounts and forms so that, in conjunction with a healthy diet,
you will receive maximum bioavailability, full effectiveness, and uncompromised safety.
A couple of questions to ask:

Liquid Vitamins Are Not Used In Scientific Studies
The supplement industry itself originated on account of published studies in the scientific
literature that contributed to the knowledge and insight into nutritional elements. With the
hundreds of studies connecting calcium and vitamin D supplements with bone health, it is
hard to dispute that tableted supplements provide an effective delivery system. If tablets
weren't any good, why did the researchers get positive results? If liquid or spray
supplements are so much better, why are they rarely, if ever, used in published scientific
research?

Conclusions
Keep in mind that we are speaking of multiminerals and multivitamin formulations.
There may be certain products that may be appropriate in a liquid (just as some
medications are liquid). However, these are the exceptions, not the rule.
Finally, liquid supplement promoters often contend that liquids are better because they
don't contain fillers (excipients used in tablets for disintegration, form, binding, coating,
etc). That is a ridiculous argument since liquid supplements require even more "other"
ingredients such as emulsifiers, solvents, preservatives, stabilizing agents, coloring,
flavoring, etc. The more ingredients in a liquid supplement, the more excipients that may
be required.

To Your Health

Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity,  send an email with questions to:  huffster@usana.com.

Vitamin D: My Personal Journey And Experience

I have to admit…with all the knowledge I’ve gained over the years regarding the potential health benefits of supplements, not even I was aware of the effects of vitamin D.  Sure, I knew it was called the “sunshine vitamin” because our skin is able to synthesize UV light from the sun and convert it to vitamin D.  I also knew you could receive more from dairy products, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt.  But I didn’t “see the light” until earlier this year.  That was when I began to really dig into the benefits of vitamin D.

A Theory is born.

You see, I’ve had a theory for quite some time.  Here in Wisconsin, our cold and flu season begins in the Oct/Nov time frame.  And it lasts until early spring.  I started to wonder WHY we don’t see more colds and cases of influenza in the spring or summer.  The old song-and-dance from your mother may have gone something like this:  “Make sure you put a hat on and dress warm when going outside or you’ll catch a cold”.  Sound familiar?  If you think about it, it makes sense.  You get colds in the winter.  So as soon as I would get one, I would go back and try to remember when I had gone outside without a coat or hat.

The problem is, it’s not true.   Even Mythbusters debunked it in one of their shows.  The fact is, these are spread through germs and contact with people.  Someone sneezes into their hand, then grabs a doorknob, shakes someone’s hand, and passes a glass around.  Everything that person touches becomes a little time-released germ bomb.

So if colds and influenza are actually spread around from these germ bombs and NOT cold weather, then why wouldn’t we see more cases in the summer.  If they truly have nothing to do with the temperature outside, we shouldn’t have a cold and flu season…it should be a year-round thing.  But that’s not the case…WHY?

Getting Closer to the Truth.

I started to put the pieces of the puzzle together.  I knew we absorbed vitamin D from the sun.  I also knew, in order to accomplish this, we needed our skin exposed while outdoors.  Outside of a couple crazy fans watching the Packers play at Lambeau Field in December…without shirts on…the odds are pretty slim one would have much of any skin exposed during the harsh Wisconsin winters.  Not to mention the fact people tend to stay indoors more often.  Could this be the reason we have colds in the winter?  That’s when I started researching.

It turns out, I wasn’t far off.  While skin exposure to the sun is very important, the main issue here is the angle of the sun in the sky.  During the fall, through the winter, and into spring the sun is at such a low angle in the sky that our bodies do not absorb the UV rays critical for the creation of vitamin D.  You could sit outside in a swimsuit for 3hrs with snow blowing around you and it wouldn’t help your vitamin D creation one bit.

Upon listening to presentations by Dr. Myron Wentz and Dr. John Whittcomb, I felt compelled to write multiple blog entries on vitamin D.  And as you have probably noticed, this is the topic I have written about the most.  Namely because I feel it is information everyone should have.  But this time, I wanted to pass along my own personal experiences.

Using Vitamin D to Change Lives.

Following my research, I began to supplement my diet with additional vitamin D.  I am already receiving 2000IU from the multi-vitamin and fish oil I take.  I began taking an additional 2000IU back in early October when I knew I wouldn’t be receiving any more from the sun.  Since then, I have increased that amount and have been taking 6000IU every day.  My wife also began taking an increased amount of vitamin D.  And after watching Dr. Whittcomb’s presentation and reading the research from Japan regarding children taking vitamin D, I started giving my 2 children 2000IU/day.  The tablet we use is about the size of a Tic-Tac and is chewable, so it’s easy enough for them to take.

Regardless of the recent FDA ruling to limit yourself to only 600IU of vitamin D/day, based upon the scientific studies I had read, my belief was, and still is, that we are perfectly safe.  In fact, physicians are recommending their patients take 5000IU/day in lieu of receiving the flu shot.  Suffice to say, my personal opinion is that the FDA ruling was either a matter of being overly cautious or an attempt at protecting the pharmaceutical industry.  Perhaps both.

Here we are with January coming to a close.  To date, we have had no sickness in our household this winter.  An occasional runny nose, sure.  But no colds or flu.  An amazing feat considering my wife works in a hospital and my children attend daycare, which is a germ-bomb factory.

How Well Has It Been Working?

Now, am I saying my family’s results are typical and you should immediately go out and start taking vitamin D?  Yes and no.  It is my opinion that it can only help…there are no negative effects that I am aware of.  But I’m also not a doctor and can’t “officially” give out that type of advice.  So it’s up to you to make your own decision.  If you want to base it off my family’s experience, or the various other posts I’ve made is entirely up to you.  But before you start up on something, you may also want to consider consulting with your family physician and looking into a pharmaceutical grade supplement.

Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity,  send an email with questions to:  huffster@usana.com.

Can You Use Bilberry And Lutein For Eye Health?

Bilberry is a powerful antioxidant which protects blood vessels within the eyes and promotes eye health.  It has been used to prevent and treat Macular Degeneration, night blindness, glaucoma and cataracts.  But it's benefits are not limited to eye health.  It may also help to treat varicose veins in early stages and has traditionally been used to control blood sugar levels in diabetics.

During World War II, British pilots reported increased night vision after consuming bilberry jam.  However, actual scientific studies on the effects and benefits of bilberry are very limited.  Suffice to say, even though it has been traditionally used to treat various eye disease, there has not been a sufficient number of studies to back these claims.  Does that mean it will not work?  Not necessarily.  Simply that more research needs to be conducted.

Lutein is found in certain fruits and vegetables such as carrots and squash.  This has also been traditionally used for eye health and may lower your risk of cataracts and Macular Degeneration.  In a study published in the April 2004 edition of Optometry, visual function was found to improve in patients taking lutein.

Another study reported in the January 25th, 2008 edition of Health, and published in the January issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, showed an 18% decrease in the risk of cataracts when consuming a combination of lutein and zeaxanthin.  This combination can be found in some high quality supplements, or in foods such as spinach, peas, and broccoli.

So, while studies are lacking with regards to the use of bilberry with regards to promoting eye health, there are studies available showing potential benefits when using lutein.  As such, supplementing your diet with these substances may lower your risk of developing eye disease.

Choosing how to obtain lutein and bilberry is a different matter.  While it is possible to receive the benefits through food, it may be easier to take a high quality, pharmaceutical grade supplement to ensure you are receiving ample amounts in a bioavailable form.  As always, before making any changes to your diet, I recommend consulting with your physician.

To Your Health

Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity,  send an email with questions to:  huffster@usana.com.

Does Body Cleansing And Colon Cleansing Work?

Body Cleansing, Colon Cleansing, and Body Detox.  These techniques have been gaining in popularity over the last couple of years.  But do they work?  And do you need them?

What is it?
But let's not get too far ahead of ourselves.  Exactly what are these techniques?  What is the intent?  And what do they consist of?  A detox diet is one method.  Generally, this consists of some type of fasting such as drinking only water for a weekend.  Or it could consist of a diet of water, fruit juice, and foods high in fiber.  The intent here is two-fold:  to lose weight and to rid your body of toxins.

A Colon Cleansing, on the other hand, is not a type of diet.  Your main goal here is not to lose weight, but rather to rid yourself of toxins in the body.

Where do these toxins come from?
Toxins are around us everyday.  The air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink.  The theory is that when you eat foods, some of those particles get left behind in the digestive tract.  These particles which do not get flushed out sit in your colon or intestines and break down, releasing toxins into the body as they do so.  In other words, they rot inside your body.


As these toxins are released into your body, they can build up.  Some believe these can cause health issues, low energy, and even lead to colon cancer.

How do you go about doing a cleansing?
Enzymes and Probiotics are two of the methods used to help with the detox process.  Digestive enzymes help to properly digest food, pull vitamins and minerals out of the food and into the body, while at the same time, assisting the liver and colon with getting rid of harmful toxins.  Probiotics are, according to WHO, "Live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host".  You can find these in foods such as yogurt, or you can purchase actual probiotic products.

Probiotic Benefits.
Some of the potential benefits you may experience with the use of probiotics include:

• Colon Cancer Prevention
• Lowering Cholesterol
• Lowering Blood Pressure
• Improving Your Immune System
• Reducing Inflammation
• Improving Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

 Do You Need It?
As stated earlier, your liver and colon does the heavy lifting when it comes to detoxifying your body.  So you may be wondering why you would need to take alternative measures.  It is important to remember that you are not trying to replace the body's process, but instead you are assisting the process.  Very similar to taking vitamins.  This is not meant to replace eating healthy foods.  You are simply supporting your body.

In conclusion, there is nothing wrong with giving your body a little support.  To date, no one has ever died from eating yogurt or taking additional digestive enzymes or probiotics.  There is absolutely no downside here and can only help.

 Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity,  send an email with questions to:  huffster@usana.com.

Diabetes Risk In America

Another 'Quick Hit' posting from Dr. Ray Strand on the growing diabetes problem in America:

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic health condition that develops when the body becomes resistant to insulin, a hormone that regulates carbohydrate and fat metabolism. The exact mechanism by which type 2 diabetes occurs is unknown, but a number of correlating risk factors - particularly obesity and physical inactivity - are well-established. Unfortunately, the number of individuals with type 2 diabetes has increased sharply in recent years, with an estimated $174 billion cost to the United States in 2007 alone.
 

A number of papers have attempted to project type 2 diabetes prevalence 5, 10, and 20+ years into the future. Unfortunately, most of these projections have relied on weak or outdated metrics, including old census data, static mortality rates, and overly simple estimations of diabetes incidence. A recent paper from researchers at the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion hoped to overcome these weaknesses by utilizing recent census data and a matrix of factors derived from an extensive literature review. 

The researchers describe their results as "a sobering picture of the future growth of diabetes." Their most optimistic values point to 21% of the U.S. adult population having type 2 diabetes in the year 2050. A middle-ground scenario predicts a prevalence of 25%-28%, while high-end data points to a diabetes prevalence of 33%, or 1 in 3 adults. To put these numbers in perspective, approximately 7% of the U.S. adult population had type 2 diabetes in 2007. In 1990, prevalence was below 5%. 

Unlike some chronic diseases, type 2 diabetes risk can be reduced by relatively moderate lifestyle changes. Losing weight (if overweight or obese), improving dietary choices, and regular exercise are all known to reduce risk of acquiring type 2 diabetes. The authors of this paper note that such changes "can help to decrease loss in quality of life and the future cost of providing care for people with diabetes. Indeed, such efforts are essential if we hope to moderate or slow the growth of diabetes prevalence." 

Boyle JP, Thompson TJ, Gregg EW, Barker LE, Williamson DF. Projection of the year 2050 burden of diabetes in the US adult population: dynamic modeling of incidence, mortality, and prediabetes prevalence. 2010. Population Health Metrics 8:29. 

 Scott Huff has been helping people obtain optimal levels of vitamins and minerals through the use of  pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.  He is also experienced in helping people create an alternate source of income, simply by educating and helping others with their health.  For more information on this unique opportunity, please watch this short video tour, or send an email with any questions to:  huffster@usana.com.