Xtend-Life-Questionst
19th September 2006
Please click on the question of interest...
Copper and Alzheimer's... I'm a faithful auto-ship customer of your products. I recently read about the effects of copper on the brain causing Alzheimer’s disease. More...
CORRECTION - Is New Zealand produce better?... In the last issue I made a comment in response to a question. This is what I said: “An exception to my comments about NZ livestock would be dairy cows which are not used for human meat consumption in NZ. (as far as I know). What I do know is that these animals, although grass fed are nonetheless given all sorts of stuff to increase their milk consumption... More...
ZonePerfect Omega 3 expensive?... I have been taking Omega 3 supplements, with my kids, for several years. The brand we previously used (ZonePerfect) has been apparently sold. Though the new brand is, I believe, the same in quality, the price seems to be going through the roof. So I started looking for other distributors of molecular-distilled omega 3. More...
Question: from Grace (Subject: Copper and Alzheimer's...)q1
I'm a faithful auto-ship customer of your products. I recently read about the effects of copper on the brain causing Alzheimer’s disease. The article I'm referring to is in USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2003-12-26-alz-advance_x.htm
Can you please comment on this article? I notice that I'm consuming at least 2mg of copper daily with the Total Balance regimen. Thank you.
Answer: from Warren
You can rest easy Grace.
Although we use 2mgs of Copper Gluconate per 6 tablets in Total Balance the amount of elemental copper is only 0.28mgs of elemental copper, or 280mcgs (micrograms). It is the elemental amount which is how the metals are measured.
Copper is an essential metal as it is a co-factor needed for the efficacy of many other minerals and nutrients. However, like many metals and various nutrients too much of it can be toxic.
We always err on the conservative side when it comes to elements that have a potential risk, and ensure that they are always well within proven safety limits with a comfortable margin. We also factor in that we have customers who are purchasing multiple products from us and thus may be getting a specific nutrient or element in several products.
The label of TB only shows the 2mgs of Copper Gluconate because we don't have room to also fit on the elemental on the label. However, we do list the elementals on the website under ingredients at
http://www.xtend-life.com/product_detail.php?product_id=7&lang_id=1&menu_id=15
The US RDA for copper is 0.9mgs (about three times more than what we use in 6 tablets).
The subjects of the study you referred to, were ingesting at least 1.6mgs of elemental copper which is a minimum of 6 times more than we use.
I have attached another couple of articles which you may find interesting.
http://archneur.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/63/8/1085
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa003&articleID=8D8F733A7C2A2EA60DF6439A28A2B9A3
Remember that almost all substances can be toxic if ingested in excess…even water.
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CORRECTION: (Subject: Is New Zealand produce better?...)q2
Warren Comments:
In the last issue I made a comment in response to a question. This is what I said:
“An exception to my comments about NZ livestock would be dairy cows which are not used for human meat consumption in NZ. (as far as I know). What I do know is that these animals, although grass fed are nonetheless given all sorts of stuff to increase their milk consumption... So, the risk of inadvertently consuming growth hormones and other additives from NZ dairy produce is probably much the same as most other countries that have intensive dairy farming operations.
The risk of antibiotics may be less as they are still grass fed and do not live in confined conditions.
I don't believe in eating dairy products or drinking milk. These facts along with the poor nutrition value of dairy products are good enough reasons to stay away from dairy products.”
Richard from Hamilton, New Zealand responded:
Under the heading "Are NZ Ingredients Better" in the newsletter just sent, Warren makes the statement that NZ dairy cows are "given all sorts of stuff to increase their milk consumption... So, the risk of inadvertently consuming growth hormones and other additives from NZ dairy produce is probably much the same as most other countries that have intensive dairy farming operations."
This is incorrect, and Warren does the NZ dairy industry a disservice with his misinformation. NZ dairy cows are NOT fed hormones, additives, or chemicals to increase milk production. It is true that they are occasionally given oils to counteract bloat, and zinc to counter facial eczema, and antibiotics if they contract mastitis in which case the milk is withheld from factory supply. Residue testing is routine at dairy factories. However, any suggestion that hormones are used to increase milk production, as is done in the USA and elsewhere, is simply not true in New Zealand.
Another point is that dairy cows do enter the food chain at the end of their lives, generally winding up as hamburger beef. Again, routine testing at all meat plants for a wide range of residues including antibiotics and heavy metals gives some assurance that the meat is free from harmful components, and is certainly better in that regard than most beef produced on feedlots in the USA.
Warren Comments further:
So, there you have it from someone who is in the know. Glad to hear it, and thanks to Richard for pointing it out. Still won’t eat dairy products though. J …oh…and no hamburgers either!
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Question: from Cindy (Subject: ZonePerfect Omega 3 expensive?...)q3
I have been taking Omega 3 supplements, with my kids, for several years. The brand we previously used (ZonePerfect) has been apparently sold. Though the new brand is, I believe, the same in quality, the price seems to be going through the roof. So I started looking for other distributors of molecular-distilled omega 3.
I found your site through the Best Health Secrets site, and I like what I'm reading! I have one question. The information I've read before indicates a difference between short-chain omega 3 and long-chain omega 3.
In general, long-chain is always more expensive and harder to come by, but is the most precious nutritionally. Throughout the excellent information on your website, I didn't see any use of the short-chain/long-chain differentiation. I do not know enough about the subject to infer short-chain versus long-chain, so I need to ask you.
Is the Hoki oil omega3 short-chain or long-chain? I'm sorry that I don't know enough to phrase my questions more elegantly!
Answer: from Warren
The reason why the Zoneperfect product is so expensive is because of their distribution system. It is no purer than our Omega 3. It goes through the same purification process. The advantage we have is that our product is fresher and we only use one type of fish, all sourced in New Zealand.
With regard to short chain and long chain Omega 3's, I can confirm that our Omega 3 is long chain. In fact all DHA and EPA in fish oils are long chain.
The short chain versions of Omega 3 are found in vegetable sources of Omega 3 such as flax oil. The main component of this omega 3 is ALA (alpha linolenic acid) which is a short chain and which the body has to convert to the long chain form, ie. DHA and EPA.
So, if anyone suggests that their fish oil is better than another because it contains long chain Omega 3, write it off to hype because so is everyone else’s. The key in making a purchase decision should be based on purity and DHA levels. EPA is often hyped out of proportion as it is easier and cheaper to get in higher proportions but it is not as beneficial as DHA.
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