Category Archives: Food Supplements

On the surface, the product seemed appealing: a natural herbal supplement marketed to boost energy and facilitate weight loss.

For some consumers, though, the fat-burning pill known as OxyELITE Pro bore a nasty side effect: unexplained acute hepatitis.

You think youre taking something to give you a little more energy and then, lo and behold, youve got a bad liver problem that lands you in the hospital, says Robert J. Fontana, M.D., a hepatologist and medical director of the Liver Transplant Program at the University of Michigan Health System.

In a recent paper, Fontana detailed seven cases of injury attributed to OxyELITE Pro from various U.S. medical centers participating in the Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network (DILIN).

Of those incidents, six patients were hospitalized, three developed acute liver failure and two required emergency liver transplants.

Although the affected group generally healthy, middle-aged adults who followed the manufacturers recommended dosage was small, their maladies underscore the risks of such products.

Nor do they mark the first time an herbal dietary supplement has caused harm.

Consumers might recall the controversy surrounding Hydroxycut, whose manufacturer voluntarily recalled 14 variations of the product line in 2009 after the Food and Drug Administration logged nearly two dozen reports of serious liver injuries.

Unlike standard pharmaceuticals, herbal supplements arent regulated by the FDA.

And a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last year found that dietary supplements account for 20,000 emergency room visits annually with many admissions involving young people.

Which is why Fontana urges extreme caution, if not abstinence.

I dont advise my patients to take any over-the-counter product willy-nilly, he says. These products are medically unproven and carry potential risk since the manufacturers are not required to demonstrate efficacy or safety in patients prior to marketing them.

He spoke more about the issue:

Are herbal supplements proven to help people lose weight?

Fontana: What is known to facilitate weight loss is, as you know, the traditional regimen of watching what you eat and exercise and calorie restriction. And theres also the medical route of meeting with a dietitian.

Other, newer approaches include endoscopic devices to change ones sense of stomach fullness as well as stomach surgery for severely overweight patients.

In terms of prescription drugs for weight loss, only one or two total are actually approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Theres not a whole lot of great options out there. A holistic physician might give herbs to patients, but thats not a traditional M.D. type of doctor, and thats not what I would do.

Most people in the survey taking OxyELITE Pro already had a normal body mass index but said they were using it to lose weight. Why?

Fontana: Theres an obsession in our culture with taking over-the-counter things to stay well, be well, feel well. Every condition or symptom has a pill. Theres huge marketing that goes on around this.

People want these things, and theyre buying them out of their own free will.

Whats the difference in how prescription drugs and herbal supplements are regulated?

Fontana: The FDA is very much involved with food regulation and drug development. Every patient exposed to a prescription medication during clinical trials (receives) data (analysis), blood and kidney tests.

There are very meticulous and high standards to get a drug approved.

But theres essentially no parallel regulation of herbal products. The regulatory process is quite expensive and cumbersome.

So people take these things over-the-counter herbal products from the health food store with touted health benefits and bad things can happen.

How did OxyELITE Pro make people sick? Was action taken?

Fontana: We dont know. No one really knows. The product had been around for many years before 2013 and is still available now in a newer formulation. Why, all of a sudden, did we get reports of this? What was it that was toxic?

We speculate that there may be a liver-toxic ingredient in the implicated formulation, but thus far nobody has been able to identify the responsible ingredient.

The FDA did take regulatory actions against the company because they had included an ingredient (aegeline, a dietary ingredient) that was not grandfathered in something that was not previously identified.

Its the only way the FDA can investigate these companies and how they got them to pull it from the market.

At the public health level, theres enough evidence accruing that there should be some changes in federal legislation to provide the FDA with the authority and resources to more closely regulate the manufacturing and promotion of these widely used products marketed as being safe since they frequently contain herbs, botanicals and other components derived from natural plants and foods. However, changes like this literally require an act of Congress.

How, meanwhile, could supplements be taken safely?

Fontana: Consult with your doctor before taking any such products to have them review them and provide input. You could call in to discuss your medical history.

A patient might say, I have liver disease, which is very important to know if youre considering taking these things since most ingested products are processed or eliminated either through the liver or the kidney.

Patients come in, they might be tired or have abdominal pain, and they dont think to tell us: Oh, I went to the health food store at the mall and Ive been taking something. People forget, or theyre a little bit embarrassed to tell you.

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News source:Michigan Health. The content is edited for length and style purposes. Figure legend: This Knowridge.com image is credited to Michigan Health.

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Why herbal and dietary supplements cause some doctors concern - Knowridge Science Report

Fargo, N.D. (Valley News Live): Products you think are helping you live a healthier life could be killing you. Herbal and dietary supplements are used across the U.S. but a new study finds these supplements are causing increased liver injuries. According to the study, liver injuries from dietary and herbal supplements are more than 20% of cases in the U.S.

Heidi Larson of Mentor, Minnesota, continues to count her blessings while still healing after suffering a severe liver injury. The injury was caused from a diet pill in the fall of 2015. Larson says she followed the directions on the bottle for the supplement.

"Within six weeks I was very ill and I didn't think much of that product," said Heidi Larson.

She began to have stomach pains, dark urine and her skin and eyes became yellow. Her doctors ran tests and found her numbers for her liver were up and her gallbladder was enlarged.

"My mom had called and said did you tell them you are on this nutritional product?" explained Larson. "I said well no because it's all natural and I didn't even think of it."

Larson stopped taking the product six weeks in but her symptoms continued to worsen. She was sent to a liver specialist in Fargo and they did an array of testing. Weeks later she found out it was from the Green Tea Extract in the supplement.

"It pretty much destroyed my liver," stated Larson. "Good thing the liver regenerates and I stopped taking it in time so I didn't totally destroy it."

"2014, it was roughly 10,000 cases since then the number of herbal and dietary injury has increased by 10 folds," explained Sanford Hepatologist Dr. Sajid Jalil.

The liver plays an important role in the body by filtering out toxins.

"People tend to believe that these supplements are natural and by extension harmless, that is not the case," said Jalil.

The study found most liver injuries tend to come from supplements that include green tea extract, anabolic steroids like bodybuilding and sport supplements, multi-ingredient nutritional supplements such as products mixed with vitamins, amino acids, proteins and botanical extracts.

"Most of these supplements are safe," explained Jalil. "I am not going to say that all of them are unsafe but with increasing use you will see increased risk of liver injury and they can range from no symptoms at all, just minor elevation of liver tests versus severe injury liver failure."

Dr. Jalil says products like Hydrocut have been taken out of the market but reformulated and introduced with a different name.

H&I Nutrition is a Fargo supplement store. The store manager says they educate their customers on what they are taking and advise them to follow the directions.

"Everyone thinks the more the better, that is not the case," said H&I Nutrition Manager Thomas Hastad. "A lot of times you take the recommend doses of the product, keep your water intake high and a healthy diet and you will be completely fine."

Hastad says he does ask his customers what their goals are and if they do have a plan. We asked if he ever tells his customers to tell their doctor the products they are taking.

"I don't stress that fact,that they need to tell, that is more their decision," explained Hastad. "That is kind of common knowledge you should be open with your doctor."

"Have you ever disclosed these things that you take? These supplements to your Doctor?" asked reporter Ashley Bishop.

"I guess not specifically, which I probably should because I am on some medications," said Justine Millar.

"You need to disclose pretty much everything," explained Jalil. "These supplements get ignored but when you're taking other medication there are a lot of drug to drug interactions. We have to know what you are taking so you make sure you are getting proper medication without drug interaction."

Dr. Jalil says everyone should remember that anything you ingest could cause liver problems and recommends not mixing supplements. Many people forget or are unaware that supplement manufactures are not required to prove to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) their products are safe or even effective. The study referenced earlier suggests more regulation is needed to provide safer products to the public. If you are looking for a way to keep your liver in good health, drink coffee or take Vitamin E.

Originally posted here:

Are the supplements you take killing you? - Valley News Live

Courtesy, design by Betsy Farrell

For as long as you've been able to swallow pills, the procedure for taking vitamins has gone like this: Intend to tip out a single tablet; scoop up the 73 that clatter out onto floor/under the fridge. (The nutrients cancel out the non-existence of the five-second rule, yeah?) Place one on tongue, then chase aggressively with water before the coating dissolves, but the mini tsunami sends it down the wrong pipe. Thirty minutes later, intestines turn into a Tilt-A-Whirl. Think: This is how it ends.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

To recap, it's only ever gone downhill since that first gritty Flintstone chewablebut thanks to a new line of supplements, this particularly unpleasant part of a larger, mostly unpleasant experience (looking after your health) no longer has to be so...unpleasant.

Launching on Net-a-Porter today, The Nue Co. produces organic, food-based supplements with zero additives or sugarjust straight-up, highly efficient protein, probiotics, and prebiotics that are easier for your body to digest and absorb than traditional isolated vitamins. (Who even needs 500 percent vitamin C?) For example, one tablespoon of the brand's plant- or milk-protein blendsblended into a smoothie or stirred into water and taken as a shot, as founder Jules Miller preferscontains the same protein as two eggs.

Along with the assurance that you won't get that old-fashioned churn-y feeling in your stomach from taking these, The Nue Co. also delivers three boosters for de-bloating, pretty skin, and energy, the trifecta of Millennial Concerns. (The youths will be all over the turmeric-smelling complexion one, you can bet your aa bowl on it.) On top of that, each Soil Association-approved power comes in a glass jar like that which you might find at a 20th-century druggist's shop, where your birth control would be handed over with a blush and a white paper bag. Very Top Shelf-ready.

But don't let the trimmings, including an upcoming travel-inspired range, distract youthese guys *will* fill the gaps in your grudgingly responsible, occasionally alarming diet. And they won't make you barf.

Follow Marie Claire on Facebook for the latest celeb news, beauty tips, fascinating reads, livestream video, and more.

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Vitamin What? This Food-Based Supplement Line Might Be the Nutritional Antidote You're Looking For - MarieClaire.com

The undeclared substances are being used in products classified as food supplements. Photograph: Alamy

Many herbal supplements, including for obesity and erectile dysfunction, contain hidden unlicensed pharmaceutical ingredients that could endanger peoples health, experts have warned.

The research team, from Queens University Belfast, Kingston University in London and the life sciences testing company LGC, concluded that not only do such supplements often make unverified claims as to their benefits but some have illegal ingredients which could pose a threat potentially causing low blood pressure or an increased risk of heart attacks.

The substances are unlicensed medicines as they are appearing in products classified as food supplements. Among the most common substances identified was sibutramine, according to the study, published in the Journal of the Association of Public Analysts.

Sibutramine was licensed as the medicine Reductil until 2010, when it was withdrawn across Europe and the US due to an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes associated with the use of the drug.

Tadalafil and sulfoaildenafil were among the most frequently undeclared ingredients in products for erectile dysfunction. When taken with other medicines containing nitrates, they can lower blood pressure drastically and cause serious health problems.

Emeritus professor Duncan Burns, from Queens Universitys Institute for Global Food Security, said: We have found that these supplements are often not what customers think they are they are being deceived into thinking they are getting health benefits from a natural product when actually they are taking a hidden drug.

These products are unlicensed medicines and many people are consuming large quantities without knowing the interactions with other supplements or medicines they may be taking. This is very dangerous and there can be severe side effects.

The research team analysed adverse findings recorded by the European Unions rapid alert system for food and feed (RASFF) between 2009 and 2016 inclusive. The database is designed to inform member states who can then take appropriate action locally. Consumers can access the database but, unlike authorities in member states, they often cannot see the product names.

The experts believe the pharmaceutical ingredients are sometimes added accidentally but on other occasions deliberately in an attempt to enhance products.

They identified 63 instances of food supplements containing sibutramine between 2009 and 2016, including 47 after 2010, when Reductil was withdrawn. There were 29 instances of tadalafil being found in food supplements in the eight-year period examined and 68 of sulfoaildenafil and chemical substances similar to it.

People suffering from conditions such as diabetes and hypertension are frequently prescribed nitrate-containing medicines. Erectile dysfunction is often associated with these conditions, raising the prospect that patients may be tempted to try herbal supplements, which they do not know contain tadalafil or sulfoaildenafil, which can interact negatively with the nitrates.

Burns said: People who take these products will not be aware they have taken these substances and so when they visit the doctor they may not declare this and it can be difficult to determine what is causing the side effects. It is a very dangerous situation.

Another common substance was yohimbine, found in 30 supplements, which has been said to have aphrodisiac-like effects but has been known to increase blood pressure and induce anxiety.

Burns said the RASFF list was unlikely to be comprehensive unless they went to every health food shop and every herbalist in the country.

He advised consumers: Be cautious about supplements you buy and use reputable websites. Discuss any concerns with your GP and always tell them what youre taking.

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Herbal supplements' illegal ingredients pose health risk, experts warn - The Guardian

Calcium is essential for healthy bones, but could getting it from supplements be doing more harm than good?

This week on Take Care, Dr. Taylor Wallace, affiliate professor in the department of Nutrition and Food Studies at George Mason University and former senior director of science, policy and government relations at the National Osteoporosis Foundation, discusses the effects that taking calcium supplements could have on cardiovascular health.

Calcium and cardiovascular health arent commonly associated with one another, but recent studies highlighting a potential link between heart health and calcium intake has cast the safety of calcium supplements into doubt.

The link stems from the hypothesis that an increased intake in calcium might cause arteries to calcify faster, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. But according to Wallace, the association of calcified arteries with calcium supplements is misguided; partially because it fails to address the impact of supplemental calcium from fortified sources like orange juice or soy milk, and partially because there is no correlation between arterial calcification and calcium intake.

When you have inflammation in your arteries, they calcify regardless of whether youre taking a supplement or whether you have a high intake of dairy products or other calcium rich foods, Wallace said. Thats a normal physiological process in response to inflammation, regardless of whether you take any type of supplemental calcium.

The level of calcium in a persons blood remains static regardless of diet or supplement intake. Without an appropriate amount of calcium from external sources (1,300 milligrams daily, according to the FDA), the body compensates by pulling calcium from the bonessomething that Wallace says is a major health concern.

Its extremely important that everyone get enough calcium, Wallace said. Osteoporosis is a huge public health epidemic; over 50 percent of individuals either have osteoporosis or a condition called low bone mass, otherwise known as osteopenia.

The risks of not getting enough calcium outweigh the risks of getting of calcium from supplementswhich, according to Wallace, is essentially nonexistent.

This is one of those instances where weve made a lot of public awareness around an issue where the scientific data is just not there, Wallace said. Its very poor data, and its a very small pool of data from the same lab groups.

Cardiovascular risks aside, dietary supplements are often cited as being less effective than calcium from dietary sources, like dairy products or dark leafy greens such as kale. So should you be worried about how you get your calcium? According to Wallace, the answer is still nohe himself takes calcium supplements.

Youre going to get [calcium] from two different ways, youre either going to get it from the diet, or youre going to get it from your bones, Wallace said. I recommend that if youre not getting three 8-ounce glasses of milk each day, you should supplement with 300 milligrams of elemental calcium per absent serving of dairy.

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Getting your calcium dairy vs. dietary supplements - WRVO Public Media

Atherosclerosis

Condition Specific Formulas

Heart, Circulatory Health

Bone & Osteo

Women's Health

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

Immune Support

Cold, Flu & Viral

Arrhythmia

Substance Abuse/ Addiction

Joints, Ligaments

Digestion, Stomach

Bruising / Contusions

Premenstrual Syndrome

Men's Health

Nutrition and Radiation

Diarrhea

Ulcers (Duodenal or Gastric)

Sleep Support

Arthritis

Cardiomyopathy

Cholesterol Support

Inflammation

Anti Aging

Stress, Mood Support

Skin Health

Pain Center

Healthy Sugar Balance Support

Allergies

Food Allergy and Intolerance

Attention Deficit Disorder/ ADD/ ADHD

Back Pain

Constipation

Depression

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Energy, Fatigue

Osteoarthritis

Brain & Cognitive Function

Nail Health

Menopause

Osteoporosis

Bladder Support

Urinary Health

Headache

Cleanse, Detox

Pregnancy

Eye & Vision Care

Oral, Dental Care

Prostate Support

Respiratory Support

Bronchitis

Anxiety

Healthy Thyroid Support

Heartburn & GERD

Kidney, Bladder Support

Herpes

Hair, Alopecia Support

Injuries, Burns

Adrenal Support

Nasal Health

Angina

Memory Support

Nausea Relief

Cataracts, Support

Macular Degeneration

Candida / Fungal, Yeast

Liver Health

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, CFS

Acne

Hemorrhoids

Psoriasis & Eczema

Colon Health

Ear, Hearing & Tinnitus

Gout

Alcoholism

Smoking Center

Irritable Bowel Support

Fibromyalgia

Uterine Fibroids

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Dermatitis

Asthma Support

Athlete's Foot

Atherosclerosis

Condition Specific Formulas

Heart, Circulatory Health

Bone & Osteo

Women's Health

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

Immune Support

Cold, Flu & Viral

Arrhythmia

Substance Abuse/ Addiction

Joints, Ligaments

Digestion, Stomach

Bruising / Contusions

Premenstrual Syndrome

Men's Health

Nutrition and Radiation

Diarrhea

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Supplements - iHerb.com

Food supplements are concentrated sources of nutrients or other substances with a nutritional or physiological effect, whose purpose is to supplement the normal diet. Food supplements are marketed 'in dose' form, for example as pills, tablets, capsules or liquids in measured doses etc. Supplements may be used to correct nutritional deficiencies or maintain an adequate intake of certain nutrients. However, in some cases excessive intake of vitamins and minerals may be harmful or cause unwanted side effects; therefore, maximum levels are necessary to ensure their safe use in food supplements.

EU regulatory framework

The European Commission has established harmonised rules to help ensure that food supplements are safe and properly labelled. In the EU, food supplements are regulated as foods and the legislation focuses on vitamins and minerals used as ingredients of food supplements.

The main EU legislation is Directive 2002/46/EC related to food supplements containing vitamins and minerals.

The Directive sets out labelling requirements and requires that EU-wide maximum and minimum levels are set for each vitamin and mineral added to supplements. As excessive intake of vitamins and minerals may result in adverse effects, the Directive provides for the setting of maximum amounts of vitamins and minerals added to food supplements. This task has been delegated to the Commission and is currently ongoing.

In addition, its Annex II contains a list of permitted vitamin or mineral substances that may be added for specific nutritional purposes in food supplements. Annex II has been amended by Regulation 1170/2009 of 30 November 2009.

Vitamin and mineral substances may be considered for inclusion in the lists following the evaluation of an appropriate scientific dossier concerning the safety and bioavailability of the individual substance by EFSA. Companies wishing to market a substance not included in the permitted list need to submit an application to the European Commission.

A guidance by the Scientific Committee on Food in 2001 gives information on the data that should be provided in the dossier supporting the application for a new substance.

EFSAs role and activities

EFSA was asked by the European Commission to evaluate the safety and bioavailability of nutrient sources proposed for addition to the list of permitted substances in Annex II of the food supplements Directive. In July 2009, EFSA completed the first comprehensive assessment of substances used as sources of vitamins and minerals in food supplements, which are currently sold in the EU.

Based on EFSAs work, the European Commission reviewed the list of permitted vitamin or mineral substances that may be added in food supplements.

Between 2005 and 2009 EFSA examined a total of 533 applications. Of these, 186 applications were withdrawn during the evaluation process, and EFSA received insufficient scientific evidence to be able to assess around half of the remaining applications. Possible safety concerns were identified in relation to 39 applications.

The evaluations were carried out by thePanel on food additives and nutrient sources added to food (ANS). The Panels evaluations involved judging the safety of a nutrient substance at the intake levels suggested by the applicant based on best scientific knowledge available. The Panel also assessed the bioavailability of the nutrient from the source, which is the effectiveness with which the mineral or vitamin is released from the source into the tissues of the body. Previously the former Panel on food additives, flavourings, processing aids and materials in contact with food (former AFC) was responsible for this work.

Moreover, EFSAs NDA Panel has preformed a comprehensive evaluation of the possible adverse health effects of individual micronutrients at intakes exceeding the dietary requirements and, where possible, established Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (ULs) for different population groups. ULs represent the highest level of chronic daily intake of a nutrient that is not likely to pose a risk of adverse health effects to humans. The ULs defined by the NDA Panel and by the former Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) are used as a reference by the ANS Panel in its evaluations of the safety of nutrient substances added to food supplements. Throughout this work EFSA will provide support to the European Commission in establishing maximum limits for vitamins and minerals in food supplements and fortified foods.

Further information: DG Health and Consumers: Food Supplements DG Health and Consumers: Addition of vitamins and minerals DG Health and Consumers: Tolerable upper intake levels for vitamins and minerals

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Food Supplements | European Food Safety Authority

What you need to know before taking a vitamin or mineral supplement.

The average American diet leaves a lot to be desired. Research finds our plates lacking in a number of essential nutrients, including calcium, potassium, magnesium, and vitamins A, C, and D. It's no wonder that more than half of us open a supplement bottle to get the nutrition we need. Many of us take supplements not just to make up for what we're missing, but also because we hope to give ourselves an extra health boosta preventive buffer to ward off disease.

Getting our nutrients straight from a pill sounds easy, but supplements don't necessarily deliver on the promise of better health. Some can even be dangerous, especially when taken in larger-than-recommended amounts.

Here are the recommended levels of daily intake for several important nutrients.

Nutrient

How much you

Don't exceed

Calcium

1,0001,200 mg

2,000 mg

Folate

400 mcg

1,000 mcg

Iron

8 mg

45 mg

Vitamin A

700 mcg RAE*

3,000 mcg RAE

Vitamin B 6

1.5 mg

100 mg

Vitamin B 12

2.4 mcg

No established

upper limit

Vitamin C

75 mg

2,000 mg

Vitamin D

600800 IU

4,000 IU

Vitamin E

15 mg

1,000 mg

*Retinol activity equivalents

We've heard a lot of encouraging news about supplements. A series of studies hailed vitamin D as a possible defense against a long list of diseases, including cancer, diabetes, depression, and even the common cold. Omega-3 fatty acids have been touted for warding off strokes and other cardiovascular events. And antioxidants such as vitamins C and E and beta carotene were seen as promising silver bullets against heart disease, cancer, and even Alzheimer's disease.

Here's the big caveat: many of those exciting supplement studies were observationalthey didn't test a particular supplement against a placebo (inactive pill) in a controlled setting. The results of more stringent randomized controlled trials haven't yielded the same good news.

"Often the enthusiasm for these vitamins and supplements outpaces the evidence. And when the rigorous evidence is available from randomized controlled trials, often the results are at odds with the findings of the observational studies," explains Dr. JoAnn Manson, chief of preventive medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, and principal investigator of a large randomized trial known as VITAL (Vitamin D and Omega-3 Trial).

Because observational studies may not fully control for dietary factors, exercise habits, and other variables, they can't prove whether the treatment is responsible for the health benefits. "People who take supplements tend to be more health conscious, exercise more, eat healthier diets, and have a whole host of lifestyle factors that can be difficult to control for fully in the statistical models," Dr. Manson says.

Some supplements that were found to have health benefits in observational studies turned out, with more rigorous testing, to be not only ineffective but also risky. Vitamin E, which was initially thought to protect the heart, was later discovered to increase the risk for bleeding strokes. Folic acid and other B vitamins were once believed to prevent heart disease and strokesuntil later studies not only didn't confirm that benefit but actually raised concerns that high doses of these nutrients might increase cancer risk.

We need a variety of nutrients each day to stay healthy, including calcium and vitamin D to protect our bones, folic acid to produce and maintain new cells, and vitamin A to preserve a healthy immune system and vision.

Yet the source of these nutrients is important. "Usually it is best to try to get these vitamins and minerals and nutrients from food as opposed to supplements," Dr. Manson says.

Fruits, vegetables, fish, and other healthy foods contain nutrients and other substances not found in a pill, which work together to keep us healthy. We can't get the same synergistic effect from a supplement. Taking certain vitamins or minerals in higher-than-recommended doses may even interfere with nutrient absorption or cause side effects.

Nutrient

Food sources

Calcium

Milk, yogurt, sardines, tofu,

fortified orange juice

Folic acid

Fortified cereal, spinach,

lentils, beef liver

Iron

Oysters, chicken liver, turkey

Omega-3

fatty acids

Salmon, sardines, flaxseed,

walnuts, soybeans

Vitamin A

Sweet potato, spinach, carrots,

cantaloupe, tomatoes

Vitamin B6

Chickpeas, salmon,

chicken breast

Vitamin B12

Clams, beef liver, trout,

fortified breakfast cereals

Vitamin D

Salmon, tuna, yogurt,

fortified milk

Vitamin E

Wheat germ oil, almonds,

sunflower seeds, peanut butter

Before you take any supplements for disease prevention, it's important to know whether the potential benefits outweigh the risks. To make that conclusion, you need to look at the results of well-designed studies. A recent randomized trial in men suggested multivitamins have possible benefits for cancer prevention. For many of the other popular supplements, including vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids, results from randomized controlled trials should be available within the next five years, according to Dr. Manson.

Until then, be judicious about your use of supplements. If you're lacking in a particular nutrient, ask your doctor whether you need to look beyond your diet to make up for what you're missingbut don't take more than the recommended daily intake for that nutrient unless your health care provider advises it.

Originally published: January 2013

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Dietary supplements: Do they help or hurt? - Harvard Health

In Ayurveda, a balanced diet plays a fundamental role in the maintenance of health.

Ayurveda further supports our nutrition with a variety of herbal and mineral food supplements (Rasayanas). These ancient and sophisticated herbal and mineral preparations support health in many ways. According to Ayurveda, they function to restore the bodys inner intelligence, thereby creating harmony and balance.

Maharishi Ayurveda food supplements are exclusively prepared according to age-old, original Ayurvedic formulas. We take pride in faithfully maintaining all the traditional manufacturing steps which are sometimes sophisticated in order to guarantee the outstanding quality of our products. In addition, the entire production process is monitored by experienced Vaidyas (Ayurvedic scholars).

The highest quality standards for your well-being: trust and security through first class, certified Ayurvedic products from original recipes. Our authentic Ayurvedic products are tested in independent laboratories to ensure they meet the most recent European standards.

Important product information

Some aspects of Ayurveda knowledge are based on principles and perspectives that differ from Western science as we know it, so please read the important information we have compiled to help you.

For a detailed ingredients list and dosage of each product, please look under the specific product.

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Food Supplements | Maharishi Ayurveda Products

Food Research; 100% Whole Food Supplements for Healthcare Professionals

Food Research International is Caribbean company dedicated to providing the highest quality nutritional supplements, in a form that is as close as possible to those naturally found in foods. It is well understood by nutrition researchers that we, as humans, should derive nutrition from food. It is our goal at Food Research to provide the best, scientifically researched, natural food supplements which meet the needs of those who live in our "modern" society. Food Research products are environmentally friendly. They are natural food complexes which have been shown to be better for the internal human environment.

Why are Food Research International products the best?

At least 98.97% of vitamins consumed are synthetic isolates, though they are often labeled as natural. Yet, there are no isolated USP nutrients that exist naturally. So, nearly all companies combine synthetic isolates with industrially-processed minerals in order to produce their vitamin-mineral formulas.

Food Research International is different.

None of our products contain any synthetic/isolated USP nutrients.

In order to obtain potencies that members of modern societies need, many of the nutrients in our products are hydroponically-grown to improve the concentration of nutrients in the specific raw foods that we use.

We essentially take advantage of a law of nature that a plant will absorb more of a nutrient when that nutrient in more available. Essentially, the plant is fed an enzyme-containing liquid that will be higher in one particular mineral. The plant will absorb more of that mineral, since more of it is present. The nutrient foods are grown in an FDA registered facility.

In reality we are duplicating the process of nature when we create food nutrients. Nature's process takes inorganic, non-food substances from the soil and delivers them to the cells of the plant. This natural process is the merging of different elements into a union creating one. Creating a whole from different elements is nature in action. The best method of creating a union, like those created by nature, between inorganic fractions and the whole food matrix seems to be utilizing hydroponic technologies.

We wanted to supply the best possible form of nutrients so we looked into modern technologies that would be compatible with the natural life processes that nature uses to improve the nutrients in natural plants.

This led to the acquisition of foods combined with a natural cold fusion process. The definition of fusion is the merging of different elements into a union, creating an enhanced whole from different elements. A natural cold fusion process is used to produce superior nutrients that are always 100% food. Enhanced nutrients occur from the merging of specific elements through a living plant into a whole food matrix through low temperature hydroponic farming. The reason that the process is "cold" is in order to preserve the naturally-occurring enzymes and other beneficial substances in the foods. Many of the processes and equipment had to be custom-made or altered to accommodate our need to maintain the fresh frozen raw foods used to create the usable raw materials. Cold fusion processing was not an after thought. No expense was spared to create these cold fusion processes and the state of the art manufacturing plant needed to keep Food Research International products the best available on the planet.

Furthermore, this form of "cold fusion-hydroponic" farming is pesticide free, and hence the quality of the food nutrients produced this way can be considered superior to conventionally grown foods. After growing, the plant is then harvested and dried.

No Genetically-Modified Organisms (GMO) have ever been found in our nutrient foods upon average analysis (which means none have ever been detected any time that they have been tested for).

These superior foods are also free of artificial colors, preservatives, and similar chemicals. The grown nutrients are also HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) validated. And the nutrient content of each batch is tested for potency.

Food Research International represents the best of all worlds: Real food nutrients, in real foods, with naturally occurring substances (such as enzymes, amino acids, lipids, and/or bioflavonoids) bottled and tested for potency.

100% food nutrients, 100% of the time.

Food Research International your best choice for 100% food nutrients. Additionally, you may view some of the specialized equioment from which Food Research International food nutrients are grown and processed.

We also have the best known refractive drying process of any food nutrients. You may also view information about the drying process.

Who heads up the Food Research? Food Research International Ltd. was intitially headed up by Clyde Skeete, of Barbados. Financial affairs handled by Canadian Barbara Gibbs.

The research group at Food Research consists of a variety of independent research scientists.

One researcher is Robert Thiel, Naturopath who also holds a Ph.D. in nutrition science. He has conducted, and had published, many scientific health studies. Thiel received the Leadership Award from the Orthomolecular Health Medicine Society. Thiel has been named Research Scientist of the Year, Physician of the Year, and Disability Researcher of the Year by the largest American naturopathic association. Doc. Thiel has had the only comprehensive paper published in a medical peer-reviewed journal (Medical Hypotheses) on the advantages of natural food vitamins over synthetic 'nutrients'. He also specializes in nutritional interventions for fatigue, sports performance, and various genetic and non-genetic disabilities.

Another is Steve Xue Ph.D., who runs Natural Medicine Without Borders. Dr. Xue also teaches Alternative Medicine to senior students at Portland State University and aspects of Traditional Chinese Medicine at top TCM universities in China. Dr. Xue received the Best Teaching Award by the Center for Teaching Excellence of Ohio University and the Award for Excellence of Research by the College of Education of Arkansas State University. He has authored various papers and books. He also specializes in alternative interventions for communications disorders.

Another researcher is Dr. James Schutz who has a doctorate in nutrition. He works with Kay Minders who holds a B.S. in nutrition. Both Dr. Schutz and Ms. Minders are also a board certified holistic health practitioners. Dr. Schutz has been registered internationally as a specialist in fibromylagia, immune disorders, and nutrition. Ms. Minders also has been registered as a therapeutic specialist in nutrition and immune disorders. Both also work with genetic and non-genetic disabilities.

Input is also provided by health professionals throughout the world.

Why are Food Research nutrients better than isolated USP nutrients? Human beings should get their nutrition from foods. "The body is designed to handle foods" [1]. It is important to realize "that in nature vitamins are never isolated. They are always present in the form of vitamin-complexes" [2-5]. Vitamins are natural complexes which produce a variety of actions in the body whereas some isolated USP vitamins are analogues of vitamins which appear to have at least some of these activities [5]. Food nutrients are complexed just as nutrients found in all foods, because they are food. USP vitamins are synthesized (according to strict federal standards), standardized chemical isolates (as listed in the United States Pharmacopoeia or the USAN and USP Dictionary of Drug Names) [6]; they are not food.

It is well known among nutrition researchers that most essential minerals are not well absorbed (some are less than 1%) [7]. "Bioavailability of orally administered vitamins, minerals, and trace elements is subject to a complex set of influences...In nutrition science the term 'bioavailability' encompasses the sum of impacts that may reduce or foster the metabolic utilization of a nutrient" [8]. Studies show that natural food complex nutrients are better than isolated USP vitamins or inorganic mineral salts or mineral chelates [e.g. 9-25].

Compared to USP/Mineral Salt

Up to 25 times more bioavailable [20]

Numerous university studies have concluded that supplements containing food nutrients are better than USP isolates. Food nutrients are better because they contain important enzymes, peptides, and phytonutrients CRITICAL to the UTILIZATION of vitamins and minerals which are not present in isolated USP nutrients. Published research has concluded that food vitamins are superior synthetic/USP vitamins.

References: [1] Whitney EN, Hamilton EMN. Understanding Nutrition, 4th ed. West Publishing, New York, 1987 [2] Airola P. How to Get Well. Health Plus, Sherwood (OR), 1989 [3] Olson JA. Vitamin A, retinoids, and carotenoids. In Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 8th ed. Lea & Febiger, Phil.,1994:287-307 [4] Farrell PA, Roberts RJ. Vitamin E. In Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 8th ed. Lea & Febiger, Phil.,1994:326-358 [5] DeCava JA. The Real Truth about Vitamins & Antioxidants. A Printery, Centerfield (MA), 1997 [6] The United States Pharmacopeial Convention. USAN and USP Dictionary of Drug Names. Mack Printing, Easton (PA),1986 [7] Turnland JR. Bioavailability of dietary minerals to humans: the stable isotope approach. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr,1991;30(4);387-396 [8] Schumann K, et al. Bioavailability of oral vitamins, minerals, and trace minerals in perspective. Arzneimittelforshcung,1997;47(4):369-380 [9] Ha SW. Rabbit study comparing yeast and isolated B vitamins (as described in Murray RP. Natural vs. Synthetic. Mark R. Anderson, 1995, p:A3). Ann Rev Physiol,1941; 3:259-282 [10] Thiel R. Natural vitamins may be superior to synthetic ones. Med Hypo.2000;55(6):461-469 [11] Thiel R.J, Fowkes S.W. Can cognitive deterioration associated with Down syndrome be reduced? Medical Hypotheses, 2005; 64(3):524-532 [12] Traber MG, Elsner A, Brigelius-Flohe R. Synthetic as compared with natural vitamin E is preferentially excreted as alpha-CEHC in human urine: studies using deuterated alpha-tocopherol acetates. FEBS Letters, 1998;437:145-148 [13] Ross A.C. Vitamin A and Carotenoids. In Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 10th ed. Lippincott William & Wilkins, Phil, 2005: 351-375 [14] Lucock M. Is folic acid the ultimate functional food component for disease prevention? BMJ, 2004;328:211-214 [15] Williams D. ORAC values for fruits and vegetables. Alternatives, 1999;7(22):171 [16] Thiel R. Vitamin D, rickets, and mainstream experts. Int J Naturopathy, 2003; 2(1) [17] Traber MG. Vitamin E. In Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 9th ed. Williams & Wilkins, 1999:347-362 [18] Olson R.E. Vitamin K. In Modern Nutrition in Health and Nutrition, 9th ed. Williams & Wilkins, Balt., 1999: 363-380 [19] Hamet P, et al. The evaluation of the scientific evidence for a relationship between calcium and hypertension. J Nutr, 1995;125:311S-400S [20] Ensminger AH, Ensminger ME, Konlade JE, Robson JRK. Food & Nutrition Encyclopedia, 2nd ed. CRC Press, New York, 1993 [21] Wood R.J., Ronnenberg A.G. Iron. In Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 10th ed. Lippincott William & Wilkins, Phil, 2005: 248-270 [22] Rude R.K., Shils M.E. Magnesium. In Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 10th ed. Lippincott William & Wilkins, Phil, 2005: 223-247 [23] Biotechnology in the Feed Industry. Nottingham Press, UK, 1995: 257-267 [24] Andlid TA, Veide J, Sandberg AS. Metabolism of extracellular inositol hexaphosphate (phytate) by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Int J. Food Microbiology. 2004;97(2):157-169 [25] King JC, Cousins RJ. Zinc. In Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 10 th ed. Lipponcott Williams & Wilkins, Phil., 2005:271-285

Some of these studies (citations) may not conform to peer review standards. Therefore the results are not conclusive. Professionals can, and often do, come to different conclusions when reviewing scientific data (peer-reviewed or not).

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Food Research; 100% Whole Food Supplements for Healthcare ...