Month: September 2014

What Supplements Are

Dietary supplements refer to a broad range of products that fill gaps in our diet and provide natural health care remedies. Multivitamins, omega-3/fish oil, vitamin D, vitamin C, and calcium are just a few of the thousands of products that more than 150 million Americans regularly consume. Congress has defined “dietary supplement” as a product… Continue reading What Supplements Are

Catch 22

Decades of research has affirmed that natural products are safe and effective, and in many cases, can be a desirable alternative to pharmaceutical drugs for promoting health, alleviating symptoms, and curing disease. However, regulators such as the FDA have created a “Catch-22” that prevents dietary supplement manufacturers from informing consumers about potential health benefits and… Continue reading Catch 22

Current Science

Supplements vs. Pharmaceuticals “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” –Hippocrates (Father of Western Medicine) Like food, dietary supplements are one of the safest things we put in our bodies. Products like multivitamins, omega-3/fish oil, vitamin D, vitamin C, and calcium can be used to fortify your health or treat ailments and… Continue reading Current Science

How Supplements Are Regulated

Dietary supplements are zealously regulated by multiple federal agencies in order to ensure products are safe and that product labels are truthful and accurate. Claims that dietary supplements are unregulated completely overlook the extensive regulatory framework that governs the industry, and ignore the industry’s lengthy record of safety and benefit to consumers. In 1994, Congress… Continue reading How Supplements Are Regulated

Myth: GMOs are Tightly Regulated

Biotech companies claim that GMO foods are strictly regulated. The reality is that such regulation is either weak or non-existent. No GMO food has ever been certified as safe by the FDA. Biotech companies, not government agencies, conduct research on new GMO crops. The standard for GMO safety is completely arbitrary: GMOs are considered as… Continue reading Myth: GMOs are Tightly Regulated

Crispy, Golden…and Potentially Dangerous!

Grass-fed, organic, free-range. But are you undermining those benefits with the way you cook your food? Last week we told you about the research indicating that, although not essential, it might be a good idea to cook mushrooms before eating. This week we discuss what happens when you cook other food at higher temperatures. Advanced… Continue reading Crispy, Golden…and Potentially Dangerous!

Nutritionists Excluded in New Federal Bill

A new Senate bill introduced last week by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) called the “Older Americans CARE Act” provides funding for programs that support the elderly. The bill states that those services can be provided by “a nurse, registered dietitian, case manager, health coach, or social worker.” As introduced, “nutritionist” is not included in that… Continue reading Nutritionists Excluded in New Federal Bill

Congress Says Americans Too Stupid For Labeling

That is the conclusion of a Congressional Panel after several days of testimony from ‘experts.’ The bipartisan panel released a statement claiming that GMO labeling would be too confusing for consumers who are ‘ignorant’ of the real nature and risks of GMOs. So despite numerous surveys showing that over 90% of Americans want foods containing… Continue reading Congress Says Americans Too Stupid For Labeling

Exercise Increases Brainpower

There is a recurring characterization in American pop culture of the brainy, but physically pathetic nerd. Music, cinema and even art have contributed to the idea that brains and brawn are diametric opposites. A recent study published in Frontiers of Human Neuroscience suggests that children who are more aerobically and physically fit perform better cognitively… Continue reading Exercise Increases Brainpower