Xtend-Life-Questionst
Issue 23rd May 2006
Please click on the question of interest...
Government report on vitamins... Let me apologize if I'm starting to bug you about all the nutrition news. That is not my intention but I've just about reached the end of my tether. I think I've finally had it. After I received your product I really felt that I had finally gotten on the right track. I was just getting ready to have some of the product shipped to me on a continuous basis. However, I don't have a clue as to what my family and I should do after reading the government report that I sent you. More...
Bi-Polar Disease... Someone was asking in your last newsletter what to use for Bi-Polar disease. I have a friend who used a product with organic lithium as the main ingredient and she is having fantastic positive good results without any side affects. More...
Proxenol... Hi, I have been an Xtend-Life customer for about 8 months now, and I have been reading a lot on a product called Proxenol, which is supposed to do wonders. It is sold by BioNutrigenics, Inc. and is supposed to rejuvenate cells, glands, and organs and greatly increase energy, among other "wonderful" things! I usually take these claims "with a grain of salt", but I wonder if you have any thoughts on this product. More...
Question: from John (Subject: Government report on vitamins…)q11
Let me apologize if I'm starting to bug you about all the nutrition news. That is not my intention but I've just about reached the end of my tether. I think I've finally had it. After I received your product I really felt that I had finally gotten on the right track. I was just getting ready to have some of the product shipped to me on a continuous basis. However, I don't have a clue as to what my family and I should do after reading the government report that I sent you.
One of the problems that I have concerns a relationship with one of my best friends. He's a doctor and he is extremely anti-vitamin. The closest we've ever come to having a real argument is over supplements. We've been friends since we were about five years old. Also the internist that I go to doesn't take any supplements and he keeps me telling me that I'm not only wasting my money but I'm also putting my health in danger. He admonishes me every time I go see him about taking so many supplements and especially vitamin C.
Warren I promise I will never confront you with this topic again but I am so frustrated. I've always worked out, taken supplements, drunk juices and did everything in my power to take care of myself. Isn't it ironic that people like me and your who try to do the right thing now find that we might be more at risk than someone who doesn't give a s’’’’. I've taken so many supplements for so long that I'm sure that if there is legitimate concern it's already too late to reverse any damage that might have been done. I can't begin to tell you how p’’’’’’’ off I am.
Beyond all the b’’’’’’’’ I want to let you know that I respect you, not only for your knowledge but for the concern and interest you demonstrate week after week. I don't really know you but I just have a feeling that you are honest, your intentions are admirable and you are basically just good folk.
Editors Note: For the government report referred to please click here.
Answer: from Warren
OK...here are my comments about your concerns below...and you are not 'bugging' me so don't worry about that. This sort of feedback helps keep me on top of things.
The first thing that I should say is that there is plenty of evidence to support the efficacy of taking many natural supplements. Much of that evidence we have on the website in the form of clinical studies for various individual ingredients. However, there is a lot of confusion in the media in particular when it comes to supplements. Very often supplements such as ours are called multivitamin/mineral supplements which they are not.
There is a world of difference between a well designed multi-ingredient formula using sensible daily amounts of ingredients (such as in Total Balance) to that of many popular vitamin pills. What has happened over the years is that when some positive news has come out about a specific ingredient (such as Vitamin C), then consumers tend to take the view that more is better.
Of course, the manufacturers oblige by producing products with higher and higher doses. Now, in the case of Vitamin C you shouldn't take any more than 400mgs a day in ascorbic acid form unless you are sick. This is because excess ascorbic acid reacts with your stomach acid and will actually produce free radicals instead of 'absorbing' them.
High doses of Vitamin C should only be taken intravenously for serious illnesses.
The same principle applies to many other popular 'vitamins' on which people are definitely overdosing. (Albeit their actions may differ). Most of the vitamins that people are taking to excess are synthetic and they really should not be taken in isolation. The sad thing is this reflects negatively on supplements in general which leads to problems with people such as your friend, and internist.
The reality is that you are not putting your health in danger using supplements UNLESS you are taking MEGA DOSES like some people do. You will notice that with our Total Balance we use low levels of most vitamins. This is because we are totally opposed to the taking of mega doses of isolated vitamins.
In summary Johnny, there are elements of truth to the article but then it is also a misleading article in the respect that they are putting all supplements into the same category and not comparing apples with apples.
I would certainly be prepared to challenge both the safety and efficacy of my personal supplement regime with anyone. I know that not only is it safe but it is also effective. Here it is if you are interested to know.
Alternate months...daily regime:
Month 1:
Total Balance Men's Plus - 6 tablets
Neuro-Natural General - 6 tablets
Male Rejuvenator - 6 tablets
Omega 3 DHA/Esters - 3 soft gels
Month 2:
Total Balance Men’s Plus - 6 tablets
Neuro-Natural Memory - 6 tablets
Viral-Protec - 3 tablets
GLM - Omega 3 - Plus - 3 soft gels
Every six months I discontinue all products for two weeks with the exception of the Omega 3. When we complete our new Heart Formula I will probably add that to my regime and take it every second month...just as insurance!
I don't take any other supplements. Of course, I don't have any prescription drugs.
Does it work? Well, it seems too based on my current health. I have the hormone profile of a man 25 years younger. I don't have any aches or pains. I don’t seem to have an excessive degeneration of any of my organs. Admittedly that can only be confirmed with an autopsy…and I am not ready for that. J However, the obvious signs are that all of them are working well. For example, my eyes are in better condition than they were 8 years ago, and my mental clarity and memory is better than most people 30 years my junior.
I will be 59 in August and I am in better condition now than what I was when I started on my supplement regime 8 years ago.
When I see people criticizing the effectiveness of a professional supplementation regime the first thing I do is assess if they are younger or older than me and then compare their health with mine. At the end of the day, that is the bottom line!
So, in summary I would not be swayed by others who really are basing their opinions on incomplete data. Also, don’t forget that most Doctors only spend a couple of days in their entire training on nutrition and prevention.
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Question: from Margaret (Subject: Bi-Polar Disease…)q22
Someone was asking in your last newsletter what to use for Bi-Polar disease. I have a friend who used a product with organic lithium as the main ingredient and she is having fantastic positive good results without any side affects.
My daughter also uses it from time to time with great success.
Are you able to also produce this for your customers?
Answer: from Warren
Yes, Lithium is a great ingredient and we use it in both our Total Balance and Neuro-Natural Formulas but only in low doses.
There is certainly evidence supporting its use for Bi-Polar disease and as such people suffering from this condition could very likely benefit by taking additional lithium. However, higher doses should be taken only under the direction of a qualified professional.
It is not practical for us to make a high dose lithium product for two reasons. One is that there are potential risks from higher dose levels of lithium, and secondly, in many countries lithium at higher doses than what we use in our formulas is considered a prescription drug.
Thank you for sharing this info with us.
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Question: from Dinah (Subject: Proxenol…)q33
Hi, I have been an Xtend-Life customer for about 8 months now, and I have been reading a lot on a product called Proxenol, which is supposed to do wonders. It is sold by BioNutrigenics, Inc. and is supposed to rejuvenate cells, glands, and organs and greatly increase energy, among other "wonderful" things! I usually take these claims "with a grain of salt", but I wonder if you have any thoughts on this product.
Have you even heard of it? If it is so great, maybe Warren will consider adding it to our Total Balance?
Answer: from Warren
The main ingredient of the Proxenol is Morinda and the claims in my opinion are way out of proportion. We are not convinced that it is any more effective than the other extracts that we use in Total Balance.
Products such as this crop up from time to time with ‘over the top’ claims with little or no scientific support. They are inexpensive to produce and are popular in the MLM industry because of the higher profit margins.
To read a copy of information on the active ingredient, Morinda, from a reputable data base click here. Also, as a point of interest the bulk of the protease enzyme which they use will be destroyed in the stomach.
Source: http://www.naturaldatabase.com
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Important notice: All material provided is for informational and educational purposes only, and is not to be construed as medical advice or instruction. No action should be taken solely on the contents of this publication. Consult your physician or a qualified health professional on any matters regarding your health and wellbeing or on any opinions expressed within this newsletter. The information provided in this newsletter is believed to be accurate based on the best judgment of the editor but the reader is responsible for consulting with their own health professional on any matters raised within.
Morinda m
Also Known As:
Ba Ji Tian, Bois Douleur, Canarywood, Cheese Fruit, Hai Ba Ji, Hog Apple, Indian Mulberry, Luoling, Mengkudu, Menkoedoe, Mora De La India, Mulberry, Nhau, Noni, Nono, Nonu, Pau-Azeitona, Rotten Cheese Fruit, Ruibarbo Caribe, Tahitian Noni Juice, Ura, Wild Pine, Wu Ning.
Caution: See separate listing for Ba Ji Tian.
Scientific Name: Morinda citrifolia.
Family: Rubiaceae.
People Use This For:
Orally, morinda is used for colic, convulsions, cough, diabetes, dysuria, stimulating menstrual flow, fever, hepatosis, constipation, leukorrhea, malarial fever, and nausea. It is also used for smallpox, splenomegaly, swelling, asthma, arthritis and other bone and joint problems, cancer, cataracts, colds, depression, digestive problems, and gastric ulcers. Other uses include high blood pressure, infections, kidney disorders, migraine, premenstrual syndrome, stroke, pain, and sedation. The fruit juice is used for arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, muscle aches and pains, menstrual difficulties, headaches, heart disease, AIDS, cancers, gastric ulcers, sprains, depression, senility, poor digestion, atherosclerosis, circulation problems, and drug addiction. The leaves have been used in medicines for rheumatic aches and swelling of the joints, stomachache, dysentery, and swelling caused filariasis. The bark has been used in a preparation to aid childbirth.
Topically, morinda is used as an emollient and to reduce signs of aging. The leaves are used topically for arthritis by wrapping around the affected joint, for headache by applying to the forehead, and for direct application to burns, sores, wounds, and leprotic lesions. A mixture of leaves and fruit is applied to abscesses, and preparations of the root are used on stonefish and sting-ray wounds, and as a smallpox salve.
In foods, the fruits, leaves, roots, seeds, and bark are eaten.
Safety:
POSSIBLY SAFE ...when used orally or topically and appropriately for medicinal purposes (11944). ...when the fruit is consumed as food (11944).
PREGNANCY: POSSIBLY UNSAFE ...when used orally. Historically, morinda has been used as an abortifacient (11964).
LACTATION: Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.
Effectiveness:
There is insufficient reliable information available about the effectiveness of morinda.
Mechanism of Action:
The applicable parts of morinda are the fruits, leaves, flowers, stems, bark, and roots. Morinda contains potassium, vitamin C, anthraquinones, beta-sitosterol, carotene, vitamin A, flavone glycosides, linoleic acid, caproic acid (which may explain its foul odor), ursolic acid, rutin, and other constituents (11944). The fruit juice also contains a significant amount of potassium, approximately 56 mEq/L (1298).
Preliminary research suggests that constituents in the fruit and roots of morinda might have antibacterial, antiviral (including HIV), and antihelmintic effects. Other preliminary research suggests that morinda might have analgesic, hypotensive, and immunological activity (11944,11964).
The fruit juice contains a polysaccharide-rich substance which increases survival in mice with Lewis lung carcinoma, possibly by activating the host immune system (441). Damnacanthal, an anthraquinone isolated from the roots of morinda, may affect second messenger signaling and reverse mutagenicity of cancer cells (442,443). It also seems to promote capillary degeneration and death in experimental tumor tissue (11965). Other very preliminary research suggests that morinda may inhibit cancer cell proliferation (11964). In mice, lyophilized aqueous extracts of morinda roots have sedative and central analgesic effects, the latter blocked by naloxone (444). Animal research suggests morinda root extract might have antidepressant activity (11966).
A report has been published in a botanical journal about 2 constituents of morinda, xeronine and proxeronine, that are touted in advertising about morinda. However, these compounds have not been chemically identified or described in medical literature and are currently regarded as questionable (11964).
There is no reliable published clinical research on morinda.
Adverse Reactions:
Orally, no side effects have been reported in studies of morinda; however, there is one case report of hepatotoxicity in an otherwise healthy patient who consumed morinda tea. The patient developed symptoms beginning a week after consuming the tea daily including malaise, nausea, abnormal fatigue, and shortness of breath while exercising. Hepatotoxicity was diagnosed after 3 weeks of ingesting the tea and liver function tests were found to be elevated. Liver function tests declined within 2 days of discontinuing the morinda tea and were normalized within a month (13107). From this single case report, it is not possible to prove that morinda was the cause of hepatotoxicity in this case. Potential product contamination was not ruled out. However, researchers theorize that anthraquinones contained in morinda could potentially cause hepatotoxicity. Other products containing anthraquinones, such as senna, have been linked to cases of hepatotoxicity. More evidence is needed to determine if morinda causes hepatotoxicity.
Interactions with Herbs & Supplements:
None known.
Interactions with Drugs:
ACE INHIBITORS (ACEIs): Morinda juice contains significant amounts of potassium, about 56 mEq/L (1298). ACE inhibitors can also increase potassium levels. Theoretically, combining morinda and ACE inhibitors might increase the risk of hyperkalemia. The ACE inhibitors include benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), and trandolapril (Mavik).
ANGIOTENSIN RECEPTOR BLOCKERS (ARBs): Morinda juice contains significant amounts of potassium, about 56 mEq/L (1298). ARBs can also increase potassium levels. Theoretically, combining morinda and ARBs might increase the risk of hyperkalemia. The ARBs include losartan (Cozaar), valsartan (Diovan), irbesartan (Avapro), candesartan (Atacand), telmisartan (Micardis), and eprosartan (Teveten).
POTASSIUM-SPARING DIURETICS: Morinda juice contains significant amounts of potassium, about 56 mEq/L (1298). Potassium-sparing diuretics also increase potassium levels. Theoretically, combing morinda and a potassium-sparing diuretic might increase the risk of hyperkalemia.
Interactions with Foods:
None known.
Interactions with Lab Tests:
URINE COLOR: The anthraquinone constituents can discolor urine from pink to rust and interfere with diagnostic tests, due to anthraquinone content (275).
Interactions with Diseases or Conditions:
CHRONIC RENAL INSUFFICIENCY: Consuming morinda fruit juice might increase the risk of hyperkalemia in patients with renal insufficiency. There is one published case report of hyperkalemia in a patient with chronic renal insufficiency who consumed morinda juice. Morinda fruit juice contains approximately 56 mEq/L of potassium (1298).
HYPERKALEMIA: Consuming morinda fruit juice might increase potassium levels and exacerbate hyperkalemia. Morinda fruit juice contains approximately 56 mEq/L of potassium (1298).
Dosage/Administration:
No typical dosage.
Comments:
Morinda is a small evergreen tree in the Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, Australia, and India that often grows among lava flows. Morinda's most common traditional use is topical. Morinda roots and bark have been used to make a red or yellow dye for clothing. The smell and taste of some Morinda citrifolia fruit and juice (noni juice) are unpleasant. The FDA has issued multiple warnings to morinda manufacturers about unsubstantiated claims (11944,11964).
The National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine is sponsoring a Phase I study on the use of morinda freeze-dried noni fruit extract. Study results have not been published (11967).
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Government Report on Vitaminsm2
WASHINGTON — Over half of U.S. adults use multivitamins, mostly the pretty healthy people who also eat nutrient-fortified foods.
Yet there's little evidence that most of the pills do any good — and concern that some people may even get a risky vitamin overload, advisers to the government said Wednesday.
Worried about bottles that promise 53 times the recommended daily consumption of certain nutrients, specialists convened by the National Institutes of Health called Wednesday for strengthened federal oversight of the $23 billion dietary supplement industry — especially efforts to pin down side effects.
For the average healthy American, there's simply not enough evidence to tell if taking vitamins is a good or bad idea, said Dr. J. Michael McGinnis of the Institute of Medicine, who led the NIH panel's review.
"We don't know a great deal," he said, calling for more rigorous research.
Moreover, McGinnis added, "The product with which we're dealing is virtually unregulated," meaning there are even questions about how the bottles'
Vitamins and minerals, often packaged together, are the most-used dietary supplements, and widely assumed to be safe. After all, vitamins naturally occur in some of the healthiest foods, and vitamin deficiencies have been known to be dangerous since scurvy's link to a lack of fruits and vegetables was discovered centuries ago.
Ironically, the NIH panel concluded, the people most likely to have nutrient deficiencies are the least likely to use multivitamins.
Yet among the generally healthy and affluent, use of vitamin supplements — along with fortification of foods with extra vitamins — has skyrocketed in recent years as scientists speculated that high doses of certain nutrients might prevent cancer or other diseases.
That's where safety questions arise, because too much of certain nutrients can be bad.
There are only a few proven disease-preventing supplements, the NIH panel concluded:
On the other hand, smokers should avoid taking beta-carotene supplements, because the pills can increase their risk of lung cancer, the report stresses.
For other vitamins, concern arises mainly with super doses that exceed the government's "recommended daily amount," or RDA. Between 1 percent and 11 percent of supplement users may be exceeding the upper limits set for certain nutrients, if they add together their doses from pills and their diets, said Cornell University nutritionist Patsy Brannon.
Leading her list: Too much niacin can damage the liver. Among other examples, too much vitamin A can cause birth defects, and too much vitamin E can cause bleeding problems.
Aghast at the super-doses on some bottles, panelist William Vaughan of Consumer's Union asked, "Why would I take 53 times what people tell me is the RDA?"
If you choose to take vitamins, use those labeled with 100 percent of the RDA or "daily value," advised Brannon. Together with a good diet, that would provide most people plenty without getting near the upper limit.
Some vitamins also can interact dangerously with medications, and doctors should ask their patients what they take, the panel said.
Congress limited the Food and Drug Administration's oversight of vitamins and other dietary supplements in 1994. Unlike most medications, most supplements sold today never had to be proven safe, much less proven to bring any health benefit.
The NIH panel marks the fourth scientific report in recent years urging more FDA authority over supplements, urging the agency to, among other things, mandate that manufacturers report customer side effects just like medication makers do.
Legislation that would do that has languished in Congress since 2004; the industry's Council for Responsible Nutrition said Wednesday it supported that call.
But "for millions of Americans who struggle with diet and nutrition, a daily multivitamin provides a safe, affordable, and reliable means of filling nutrition gaps and promoting overall good health," added council president Steven Mister.
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