XTEND-YOUR-LIFE Newsletter
7 January 2004
Interesting info about cancer prevention...
I was reading a news item today that caught my eye! The headline said...
'VEGETABLE COMPOUND MAY BE CANCER CURE'.
The article then goes on to say: "Vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage have been shown to protect against cancer but US scientists have now patented a compound derived from these greens with a new use - to treat cancer"
That's certainly interesting, so on I read where I learnt that a patent has been granted to researchers at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station for a derivative of DIM or diindolylmethane, which is a natural compound derived from certain vegetables. This really got me interested because we use diindolylmethane in Total Balance as we are already very much aware of its cancer inhibiting properties. I wondered... how can they patent a natural substance such as DIM?
As I read further I found that the patent is not directly for an extract of the natural DIM itself but for a chemical 'duplicate' of the active ingredient. The patent has been picked up by Plantacor, a new biotech company headquartered at the same institution and they are soon to commence clinical trials in collaboration with M D Anderson in Housten.
I have no doubt that the clinical trials will be 'successful' and that some exciting VNR's will appear on national TV at some time in the future. Note: For those readers who are not familiar with VNR's this is a term for Video News Releases. The drug VRN's are usually commissioned by Pharmaceutical companies then supplied to news broadcasters by Public Relations Companies. The news broadcasters grab them with open arms as they are in a news item format ready to air. They are rarely edited by the broadcaster. Virtually all the items that you see on TV news for new drugs are in fact VNR's which pave the way for the eventual release of a specific drug.
Back to this 'new' invention!
Is this likely to be good for you as a person concerned about health and cancer prevention? The short answer in my opinion is "NO".
Why?
Because this is just another example in which a perfectly satisfactory, valuable and naturally occurring substance is attempted to be duplicated chemically into a drug that can be patented. New side effects can occur when you chemically duplicate a natural active ingredient and take it in isolation. In other words ingest a chemical without the other substances that occur with that active ingredient in nature.
Often the other substances that occur in conjunction with the natural active ingredients are important for overall efficacy and synergy. To give you an example! When we manufacture our supplements we normally use the variant of the specific substance that has the highest level of active ingredients. However, there can be exceptions to this and in those cases when I question Prof. Dr. A Munem why this is so, he will explain that some of the 'inactive' substances in that particular ingredient are just as important as the 'actives' to ensure synergy with the 'actives' in other ingredients.
All sounds pretty complicated I know, and I certainly don't profess to understand it all... but Dr Munem sure does. Anyway, the point that I am trying to make is that sometimes you can take an active ingredient and isolate it so completely that it will give the action that you are seeking, BUT create an imbalance and a resulting problem somewhere else in the body.
In simplistic terms most pharmaceutical drugs are chemical derivatives of what occurs in nature but without all the naturally 'supporting' substances. This is why they can work on specific targeted ailments but cause damage in other parts of the body thus causing side effects.
Whereas I am not 'knocking' the research that these folk are doing in Texas on DIN I do have to admit that I get a bit annoyed with the principle behind so many of these 'discoveries'. For example, the information about natural DIM has been around for a long time and its beneficial effects for preventing cancer are well known... but... unless you are already using our Total Balance I bet there is a good chance that you didn't know about it.
The benefits of natural DIM are well known!
The question is WHY don't you know? The answer is... who is going to tell you? Not many people know about DIM let alone many of the other very beneficial natural substances available. Most Doctors can't tell you because they heavily rely on much of their info from the Pharmaceutical Companies because it is sanctioned by the government. Nobody is going to sue a doctor whose patient died from a drug when it was prescribed in accordance with the directions... and yet people die in their tens or even hundreds of thousands from drug reactions every year. Still, the majority of the medical profession 'plays it safe' and sticks with the 'rule book'. Of course there are enlightened physicians out there and their numbers are increasing... so there is hope!
In my view it is the government's responsibility to give this important information to the public... but don't hold your breath as this won't happen for many reasons. It's sad... but that is the reality!
I'll get off my soap box now and tell you a little about DIM (diindolylmethane) so it will help put this article into perspective.
DIM Diindolylmethane is a major active metabolite of indole-3-carbinol, which is a constituent of Cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and broccoli. Indole-3-carbinol is thought to be one of the agents responsible for the cancer-protective properties of these vegetables. In stomach acid, indole-3-carbinol is unstable and readily converts to a variety of compounds including diindolylmethane.
Independent evidence suggests that Diindolylmethane may be used for preventing breast and uterine cancer. It may also be used to prevent benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and for premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Most people do not get enough of this valuable substance. For example, a typical diet provides 20-120 mg of indole-3-carbinol per day. Approximately 10-20% is converted to diindolylmethane, providing 2-24 mg daily. In Total Balance we supply 50mgs per day of DIM to provide the protection that you need.
As with all substances that you ingest (other than good wholesome food) there has to be a sound scientific reason for doing so. I am paranoid about this which is why every ingredient we use has to be supported by clinical studies and will stand up to rigorous cross referencing. DIM is no exception to this.
I know that many of my readers like to see firm supporting evidence of some of the things I say... so, for you folk we have posted copies of seven published clinical studies on DIM on our website. You can get a list of them and review them by clicking here.
Until next issue,
Info about the editor.
P.S. Please pass this newsletter on to a friend. Thank you.
**** CANCER PREVENTION??? ****
We certainly don't make claims that any of our products will prevent cancer. There are so many factors that can contribute to cancer and so many different cancers that no one single product could make such a claim and it would be irresponsible to do so. However, there are a number of natural substances that have been established in clinical studies to help prevent certain cancers.
One of the substances with particular benefits in preventing Breast cancer and maybe prostate cancer is Diindolylmethane (DIM) which is why we use it in our Xtend-Life Total Balance along with other complementary powerful cancer fighting substances. This is only one of the reasons why Total Balance is considered to be one of the most potent natural cancer fighting supplements in the world.
As an added bonus Total Balance contains many anti-aging substances as well as those needed to boost your immunity against the dreaded flu. For more info click here.
Important notice: All material provided within the newsletter XTEND-YOUR-LIFE 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.
