Xtend-Life Blog

Testosterone and Vitamin D

Xtend-Life — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:18:06 GMT

I felt it may be interesting to share the following exchange between myself and a customer who contacted me. First, Let me show you what he had to say.

From Customer:

“Thank you so much for your reply. I used to go to an internal medicine doctor that helped me with panic attacks and depression, he put me on effexor for years. I started thinking, what would happen if you gave your body all the vitamins and nutrients that it needed, then see what if any pharmaceutical drugs I may need.

My doctor thought this was a bad idea, so I switched to a doctor that also was a nutritionist and he ran blood test and said that I need to take Usana, and at least 2000-4000IU of Vitamin D3.

Well it has seemed to work, I have been off all meds for years. Now I have found out my current doctor is on the Scientific advisory council for Usana and his wife is a distributor.

Not saying this is bad, but make me wonder if he is promoting it just to increase his sales? He told me it was almost impossible to get too much of the Vitamin D3, also started me on testosterone injections because me testosterone was too low. Said there was no supplement out there that can increase this. I have placed my second order of Total Balance Men's and first order of Male Rejuvenator, so far so good!”

I responded as follows:

Be very wary of testosterone injections! By taking testosterone directly it can potentially deactivate your own production of testosterone making you dependent on injections for the rest of your life. Personally I would never have them as the risks are too high.

I know that testosterone therapy is quite popular with many people and indeed with some Doctors because it can be a ‘quick fix’. The key is to do everything that you can to support your own systems to produce adequate amounts, AND, to also keep in mind that most men still continue to produce adequate amounts of testosterone as they age, but they end up with low amounts in their systems because a lot of it is converted to estrogen as they get older.

If you can reduce the conversion of testosterone to estrogen then you shouldn’t have a problem. I will be 65 this year and my testosterone levels are still at that of a typical man several decades younger, and all I do is support my organs with adequate levels of nutrients including those such as Chrysin which help inhibit the conversion of testosterone to estrogen.

We have this in Total Balance Men’s. Bear in mind that I have been taking it for years and that unlike testosterone injections it is not a quick fix, but it is a permanent solution.

With regard to the Vitamin D. I disagree with your Doctor if he is saying that you cannot get too much Vitamin D from supplements. The fact is that you can, as Vitamin D taken orally is quite different from that manufactured by the body from the sun.

Over the last couple of years, there has been a Vitamin D craze/fad with many people including physicians advocating ‘more is better’ when they are referring to Vitamin D supplements. They think that this will fix just about everything that ‘ails’ you. This I believe is a dangerous position as you can get toxicity from high doses of Vitamin D and it may upset other balances in your body which many forms of vitamins can do if taken in isolation and in excessive doses.

However, you can’t get too much Vitamin D when it is produced by your own body from exposure to sunlight. If this is what your Doctor is referring to then I agree with him 100%.

Vitamin D obtained from sunlight is able to be stored by the body in fatty tissues and any excess released during the winter time or other periods when it is needed. If you tried to get as much Vitamin D from supplements as you can get from regular exposure to the sun you would actually get quite ill.

So, try to get as much exposure to the sun, all over if you can as it will give you a lot of health benefits.

Caring For Your Skin Inside Out

Xtend-Life — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:26:00 GMT

Do you sometimes despair at the condition of your skin?

Perhaps you’ve tried all the so called ‘miracle’ potions and lotions. Or resorted to heavy make-up, big shades or, worse, hiding at home!

What is your skin trying to tell you?

Usually, the message is that unless the cause of the skin issue is external, such as a cut or insect bite, an external remedy will almost never properly correct an internal problem.

You see, our skin is the largest organ of our body, with more area exposed to the elements – internal and external - than any other organ. It receives one third of all the blood that is circulated in the body, helping it to protect, absorb and excrete wastes.

So if you don’t ‘feed’ and ‘water’ it correctly, with the right nutrition, adequate pure liquids, proven natural supplements, and natural topical ingredients, it gets sick!

And if it can’t excrete toxins because the digestive and excretory systems are impaired, leading to chemical and hormonal imbalances, aging and degeneration, the skin becomes even sicker!

Indeed, the skin is a vivid fingerprint of what's going on inside.

According to Chinese medicine, skin is the ‘third kidney’: it rids the body of excess moisture and toxins. Oily, dry, blotchy, itchy, inflamed red skin, acne, psoriasis and other skin disorders very often indicate that the organs which eliminate toxins from the body, such as the liver, kidney or colon are not working properly. For example:

Rashes and itching spots, particularly on the lower legs are often a sign of a congested liver.
Odd skin rashes can also be parasitic – most commonly yeast/fungus, but sometimes other parasites.
Dry skin, dandruff, acne, rough scaly skin often indicates a lack of essential fatty acids (EFAs) and good fats (a mix of mainly monounsaturated, Omega 3 and some saturated fats)
Acne in particular is often caused by an excess of processed dairy foods, stress, toxicity, inflammation, hormonal and gut imbalances
Dry, ‘shrivelled’ skin can also be a sign of chronic dehydration. Without water, all tissues in the body become crippled at the cellular level; they begin to shrivel and lose their ability to function properly.
Bumpy chicken skin on the back of the arms may indicate two problems: The first is a liver that is not metabolizing fat properly, and the second is a lack of the right kind of fat such as omega 3 oils
Thick sandpaper textured skin on the back of the heels and the elbows is a reflection of poor carbohydrate metabolism, low thyroid function and/or iodine deficiency.
The colour of the skin around the eyes relates to various organs. Greenish colours reflect liver and gallbladder problems; blues along with ‘bags’ reflect kidney problems, and yellows reflect spleen and stomach issues.

Of course, all of these originate largely from a poor diet and unbalanced lifestyle.

A diet based on processed, chemical laden foods and acidic liquids which contain few beneficial nutrients and don’t digest easily in the human body. And an unbalanced lifestyle characterised by all the stresses and excesses of fast paced modern living.

Remember, the body is holistic: Glowing, vibrant, clear skin depends on the optimal function of many of the core systems of the body: your nutritional status, immune system, gut, hormones, toxic load, oxygenation, and mind-body health.

Beauty may well ‘be in the eye of the beholder’, but how much does that eye really see?

New Improved Enteric Coating System

Xtend-Life — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:18:00 GMT

Here at Xtend-Life we are always looking for ways to improve our products and the health benefits that they provide to many thousands of customers.

As part of this process we have just completed the transition to using the new, state of the art Nutrateric II enteric coating system across the full range of our enteric coated tablets.

This applies to all of the following products…

Total Balance range (7 products)
Neuro-Natural range (4 products)
Arthrit-Eze, Cardio-Klenz & Diabet-Eze

We have been working with Colorcon, a world-leader in immediate and delayed release coating solutions for some time on this transition and we were also proud to be the first supplement manufacturer in the world to move to this new system.

Why did we make this change?

Over the last eight years we have been using well proven pharmaceutical enteric coating from Colorcon Inc and it has been an excellent system. However, we made the transition to the Nutrateric II system because we believe it is the best and most natural enteric coating material on the market. Most of the ingredients are extracted from plants.

Unlike the previous coating the Nutrateric II system is clear, because it has no iron oxide or other materials which are used to provide colour. This means that you can now see the color of the ingredients in the tablets rather than the white or yellow coating which was used previously.

You will also notice that the tablets with the new coating also smell different. More of a herbal type smell due to the plant components of the coating itself. Even though they now look similar to the non-coated tablets you can rest assured that the efficacy is still the same. They still undergo the same rigorous testing with each batch.

If you would like to read more about this coating we have included more info which you can access by clicking here.

Latest Developments on NDI's...

Xtend-Life — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:00:00 GMT

NDI's stand for new dietary ingredients. If you have been reading this blog for some time you will be aware that last year the US FDA came out with a bombshell for both industry and consumers alike when they issued a 'guidance' document for NDI's. This document was seen by many as a direct attack on the supplements and much of it was without justification and some aspects of it were technically impossible to comply with.

If you are not aware of how ominous this document is, then you may wish to have a look at some of my earlier blogs which can be accessed from the links below.

Is this the beginning of the end for Supplements?

An Update on the FDA's 'attack' on Dietary Supplements...

An Update of NDI's...

Update of FDA proposed NDI regulations

As a result there has been a significant uproar by consumers and industry alike. The ‘guidance’ if passed would severely undermine the integrity of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA) as well as restrict the availability of supplements. It would deal a ‘death blow’ to the industry and provide a major victory for the pharmaceutical industry.

The two US Senators who were the prime authors of the DSHEA legislation have come out solidly opposed to the proposed ‘guidance’ document for NDI’s. They have written to the FDA Commissioner requesting that they withdraw the current document and start again. Fortunately they have the support of other influential politicians, but then they have a real fight against those politicians supporting the pharmaceutical lobby.

You can read the letter to the FDA by Senators Tom Harkin and Orrin G. Hatch by clicking here.

Fact: Anti-Depressant Drugs No Better Than Placebo

Xtend-Life — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:27:00 GMT

If you're amongst the millions who suffer from Depression, you've probably tried many treatments, both Conventional and natural. Have they helped you, made no difference, or made things worse? Perhaps you're even wondering what to do now?

Then this fact may interest you. More and more research is concluding that Conventional anti-depressant medications are at best useless or worse, dangerous.

Indeed, a study in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry reveals that antidepressant drugs work no better than other methods at relieving depression. Or, in the words of the Journal’s authors: "This trial of urban MDD patients failed to confirm that either active treatment was better than placebo."

Their lead researcher, Jacques P. Barber PhD, even admitted: "I was surprised by the results, they weren't what I'd expected."

The results may also have caused Barber some embarrassment given that some of co-researchers have received funding from the pharmaceutical industry for the study.

In trying to justify the ‘unexpected’ results, Barber also said: “receiving a placebo in a clinical trial is not the same as getting no treatment." That’s because study participants in placebo groups have contact with health professionals who are asking about their symptoms and well-being. For some people, that attention can make a difference -- and may help explain the placebo response seen in studies

Then we have Dr. David Mischoulon who cautioned against reading the results as "nothing works for depression". On the contrary, he says to Reuters Health: "I think it's the opposite. It's more that, everything seems to work to some degree."

Everything?

In other words: when a scientific study proves that a certain pharmaceutical drug fails to live up to its hype, some ‘experts’ claim that everything, including that drug, can be helpful in treating a condition, and voila, it is still effective!

This is, of course, an amazingly unscientific and absurd way of looking at the findings.

But it seems to be the only way that its defenders can (very poorly) try to justify the drug’s existence. Apart from scrapping it...which they are most unlikely to do.

Of course, there IS another way. That is to understand the true causes of depression and, critically, how they can be addressed naturally and safely.

Our research confirms other studies which show how depression is a sign of several underlying, systematic imbalances in, for example, brain chemicals such as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine neurotransmitters and thyroid hormones. These imbalances are in turn caused by genetic weaknesses, trauma, chronic stress, environmental and food allergies, lack of purpose and especially nutritional inadequacies.

So please be aware that depression is not just due to a "chemical imbalance in your brain," which Conventional drugs are designed to correct.

For anyone who has ever swallowed such marketing ploy, this is NOT a scientific statement. It's a botched theory, a hypothesis that was proven incorrect.

Investigations were done to see whether or not depressed people actually had lower serotonin levels. In 1983 the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) concluded that: "There is no evidence that there is anything wrong in the serotonergic system of depressed patients."

The fact that this fallacy continues to thrive is destroying the health of millions, because if you take an SSRI drug that blocks the normal re-uptake of serotonin, you end up with the very physiological problem the drug is designed to treat–low serotonin levels. Which, ironically, is the state hypothesized to bring on depression in the first place.

Depression is multi-causal and needs to be addressed on multi levels... starting with nutritional inadequacies. We have done this by sourcing potent natural nutrients and synergising them into our unique protocol.

Combine this protocol with regular sunshine, exercise and, of course, healthy nutrition and you’ll give Big Pharma a major run for their money!

A Text A Day Keeps The Doctor Away

Xtend-Life — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:48:43 GMT

Does your life depend on your mobile phone or other mobile devise? Think about it... how much information, some critical, does it contain? How much time do you spend using it? If you lose it you feel as if you’ve lost your best friend!

Now, as health management moves from files and folders, to electronic medical records and into the memories of smart phones, our health may become more dependent on these little devices too!

Here’s How...

I recently read about the 2011mHealth Summit which aims to promote the use of wireless technology to improve health outcomes worldwide.

It’s a great idea given the popularity and ubiquity of mobile technology. By current estimates there are now are over 5 billion mobile phone subscribers and over 70 % live in low- and middle-income countries.

In fact it’s in counties like Africa where many text-based health programs originate, before they are adopted and adapted by the rest of the world.

For example, Text To Change, a non-profit organization in Africa, has been successfully using mobile technology for health education since 2008. TTC uses text messages, or SMS, in its educational programs targeting health issues like HIV and AIDS, malaria, and reproductive health in Uganda, Kenya and Namibia.

For the rest of us, the technology is now in the form of over 12,000 health-related apps in the iTunes store.

Given the gift giving season, and huge choice, I thought you may like to know some of the better, free smart phone apps and mobile services that can help you manage your health...

Smart Phone Apps for Smart Health Choices

iTriage

With a Vision of “Helping the World Make Better Healthcare Decisions”, iTriage is a very effective, popular health app created by 2 ER doctors to address the two most commonly asked healthcare questions:

• What could be wrong with me?
• What do I need to do, or where do I need to go for treatment?

According to iTriage, their new mobile and web healthcare platform “empowers people to make better healthcare decisions and improves healthcare delivery for providers and payers.” The glowing testimonials from customers seem to endorse that. It seems to be an impressive tool considering the many health variables involved.

Indeed, to date, millions of consumers in over 80 countries have downloaded iTriage making it the most widely distributed mobile platform connecting patients to healthcare delivery.

Text4baby

Text4baby is a very popular free health text messaging service providing pregnant women and new moms with pregnancy tips and advice about how to care for a newborn. It even times the messages to your due date or your baby’s birthday.

Smokefree TXT

Smokefree TXT is all about: “Quitting: on your phone, on your terms.” It’s a free mobile service designed for young adults – though anyone can use it – which provides 24/7 encouragement, advice, and tips to help smokers stop smoking for good.

The service sends encouraging messages about quitting. What’s really cool is you can also text back with keywords like “crave” or “slip” to let the app know what kind of day you are having!

Here is a study reported in The Lancet showing how “Smoking cessation programmes delivered via mobile phone text messaging significantly improved smoking cessation rates at 6 months and should be considered for inclusion in smoking cessation services.”

Lose It

Yes, this "beautifully designed weight-loss app" (according to the New York Times) is all about losing that horrible weight...especially relevant over the Christmas ‘splurge’!

Its website and testimonials show how the app helps you lose weight by keeping track of what you eat each day, as well as how many calories the food counts toward your “daily calorie budget.”

The result? Apparently “86 % of their users have lost weight.”

Rxmind Me

Ever had trouble remembering which pill to take when? With so many different medications all with their unique dosages and time intervals, it’s no wonder that people get confused.

Now with apps like Rxmind Me that faulty memory is no excuse!

Simply download the free app, insert your medications, dosages and other relevant information and Rxmind Me will alert you when it’s time to pop your pill.

I bet when you go for your next doctor’s appointment, s/he will be mighty impressed with you having all the medications listed! (Maybe advise them to use an app like Rxmind Me too!)

The above apps are great examples of harnessing technology in a user friendly and health enhancing way. Just as important though, is how SMS use in global health programs can be cost-effective, informative, easily accessible, anonymous, and above all, life-saving.

Just think health apps which may help to prevent and remedy health issues, as well as save lives. What a Great Christmas present!

PS: Legal Disclaimer: I think I’m obliged to say that I am not affiliated in any way with the above apps!

Bad Hospital Food Strikes Again?

Xtend-Life — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:49:00 GMT

I recently wrote a blog entry about the poor quality of hospital food in the UK after watching a reality-based TV series about a world renowned chef trying to improve the nutrition and quality of food served to patients... especially children.

It seems the trend of serving unpalatable (and probably low quality) meals to patients has spread to a hospital in New Zealand. According to this article, a woman is claiming that she was served poor quality food during her recent admission to a hospital.

Now this may just be a case of one person’s opinion versus the hospital’s menu...the article also doesn’t reveal any comments from other patients at the same hospital.

Whether the hospital in question does actually serve bad food or not cannot be verified. However, the issue itself should be something that every hospital catering service needs to take seriously.

A patient’s recovery should be a hospital’s primary objective...so when it comes to the patient’s meals, this objective shouldn’t be diverted for any reason.

Sorry for sounding a little cynical, but a part of me cannot help but wonder if some hospitals insist on serving poor quality food that’s low in nutritional value to simply get the patients back in. I know this is probably far from the truth but it does make you think doesn’t it?

There are hospitals out there that actually have excellent catering facilities and the meals that get served to patients are really good.

In fact, I recently visited a friend in hospital here in Christchurch and he raved about the menu saying the food could rival any restaurant menu. Since he is a food writer and hospitality consultant, you can’t help but take him seriously when it comes to food quality, taste and nutrition.

I suppose it depends on the hospital itself...one cannot slap them all with the ‘bad food stamp’. On the other hand, if you require immediate medical care and need to get to an emergency room quickly, it’s not really ideal to request the ambulance driver to head to the hospital on the other end of town that serves good food.

In an ideal world, every hospital should be serving highly nutritious tasty food to its patients...unfortunately this isn’t so. It seems that the best way to ensure you avoid bad hospital food is to reduce your chances of ending up in one. Obviously accidents can happen but when it comes to degenerative health conditions that eventually require hospital treatment, you must remember that many of these ailments are preventable...you have the choice to live a healthy lifestyle by getting the right nutrients everyday, eating a balanced diet and getting enough exercise.

If you do however choose to live an unhealthy lifestyle, then there’s a good chance that bad hospital food will be the least of your worries. Make 2012 the year you get your health back on track!

A Bowl of Sugar for Breakfast?

Xtend-Life — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:53:00 GMT

When it comes to the proverbial 'most important meal of the day', something has gone seriously wrong over the last couple of years. Breakfast cereals marketed towards children are often promoted has healthy meals, but no one ever tells you about the sugar content.

According to a recent article, the Environmental Working Group found that 56 out of 84 reviewed breakfast brands had between 24 to 26% sugar by weight! That’s even before the odd sprinkle of sugar that some children add to their cereal.

To put things into perspective, the amount of sugar in a single serving of some breakfast cereals may even be similar to eating a few cookies or even a chocolate bar.

Extra sugar not only gets converted into fat but the sudden intake of sugar causes blood sugar levels to spike and then crash...inevitably leading to vicious circle of craving sweet fatty food.

This ‘sugar generation’ goes far back, even when I was at school. I had a friend who ate his cereal (a popular brand containing chocolate) with three large spoons of sugar added. To top it off, he drank a large glass of his favorite soft drink.

Back then, it’s easy to see why by the time first break came around at 10am, he was cranky and first in line at the tuck-shop ordering donuts, chocolate bars and crisps.

Some people may argue that at least it’s a way of getting their children to eat cereal and therefore get some fiber into their system and food into their stomachs to start the day. However, there are many different ways of ensuring your children get the most out of their breakfast, reminding them that they don’t always have to eat whatever’s advertised on TV.

For example, boiled eggs and soldiers (strips of toast dunked into a soft boiled egg) are a great way of getting healthy amount of fiber, protein and carbohydrates. Rolled oats with a drizzle of honey and some berries is another tasty breakfast that is sure to go down well with the kids.

In fact, it’s important to understand that breakfast isn’t limited to just cereal. You can pretty much eat anything you like. I have a few favorites that I like to rotate and alternate for my first meal of the day.

First up, I really enjoy a slice or two of toasted ciabatta bread (or any other Mediterranean bread) with a roasted tomato rubbed across the surface. I top this off with a little bit of olive oil and a sardine or two. Sardines are often overlooked by some people, especially here in New Zealand as they’re usually used as bait. What a waste! They’re tiny dynamite packages of flavor and are very good for you.

Another favorite of mine - especially in the warm summer months - is a simple bowl of frozen berries. They could be blueberries, strawberries, raspberries or a mix of different types...it doesn’t really matter. It’s closest thing to eating sorbet or ice-cream for breakfast.

Lastly, I usually eat eggs three times a week. I’m a big fan of them and understand that they’re actually good for you. I like them either boiled or poached with some steamed spinach on the side...delicious!

Trying new things for breakfast is not just a fun way of getting through the boring same old cereal routine, it will also help you and your children find a few favorites too.

You can read the article "The 10 Most Sugary Cereals" which I mentioned above to see the list of cereal brands.

Quick Tips for Festive Fat Loss

Xtend-Life — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:55:00 GMT

During these past festive weeks, how much weight did you gain? One or two pounds?

According to Ursula Arens of the British Dietetic Association, on average people gain 5 lbs (2 kg) in the four-week Christmas period.

That’s about an additional 500 calories a day - the equivalent of a mince pie and a few extra glasses of wine!

Although the festive season is now largely over for most of us, it is still appropriate to provide some quick tips which can apply in 2012.

1. Pre Party Planning

Don’t Crash Diet!

Many believe that they should avoid the ‘damage’ of a big meal or party, by ‘saving up’ on calories and hardly eating at all during the preceding days.

This is a big mistake for several reasons.

First, when you go into a meal or party incredibly hungry, you are likely to overeat far more than you would otherwise....Worse still, is the temptation to overload on calorie dense, fatty/carb-laden food.

Secondly, think about what this does to your hormonal, insulin and sugar levels! This is especially dangerous when you have not eaten for a while.

The result is that many of the excess calories get stored as fat.

Instead, eat normally or even a little more, prior to the big parties. If you arrive feeling comfortably full with healthy nutrition, you will be less tempted by all those party ‘treats’.

Also consider:

Make your own healthy dish, or several helpings (for others) and bring it to the party. That way if you can’t find anything healthy at the ‘do’ you can still enjoy your own cuisine!
Increase your pure water intake to counter the possible side effects of excess alcohol, sugar and acid. Also, the more water you drink, the fuller you will feel.
Take a couple tablespoons of vinegar before your big, especially carb heavy meals. Studies show how vinegar helps to reduce glucose and insulin spikes especially in insulin resistant folks and diabetics. It also increases satiety.

2. At the Party

Water Water Everywhere....

As soon as you arrive, drink a big glass of water or two and wait 15 minutes before eating anything. In fact drink as much pure water as you can during the ‘do’, especially between meals and beverages to keep yourself hydrated and feeling full.

Bests Foods

Start with your own pre prepared meal....You did prepare it didn’t you?!

If, after that, you still have enough ‘wiggle room’, focus on the freshest and least processed foods, especially salads, veggies and proteins. Remember that the simpler the better: foods swimming in creamy dressings, sauces and condiments can be calorie and health bombs (despite how yummy they may look!)

Similarly, some ‘nibbles’, snacks and canapés can be so tantalisingly attractive that it’s easy to eat the equivalent of a whole meal just in snacks! Because they are usually full of excess salt, sugar and unhealthy fats, stick with just one hand full in total. Or avoid them!

If you can find lean proteins, like organic, grass fed meats, toxin free fish and free range eggs go for it. Protein is, by nature, very filling. It also helps your body process carbohydrates more effectively by stimulating the release of the hormone glucagon. Glucagon is a hormone which helps to control blood sugar and curb the fat-storage properties of insulin.

The challenge is how does one know about the protein source/quality without asking? Even then, unless you are among company who value healthy eating, the question may seem a bit ‘off’! Trust your instincts.

Best Beverages

For many, alcohol, spirits and various beverages are key to celebrating and partying.

To enjoy your ‘tipple’, moderation and simplicity are key. Drinking spirits then alcohol followed by soda then by alcohol again over a concentrated period, will give you serious indigestion! (or even a fatty liver over time)

You may also be surprised how many often empty calories are hidden in various beverages.

Alternating each alcoholic drink with a glass of water is a good moderation trick. You can also add sugar free (and artificial sweetener free) fizzy water to white wine for spritzers that last longer with no extra calories.

Click Here for more on Healthy Beverage Guidelines

3. Post Party Recovery!

Pay back time...in one form or other!

This simple but effective 3-5 day ‘Recovery Regime’ works for me and others I have recommended it to.

It consists of short intense exercises, plentiful sleep, lots of pure water and fresh coconut water, and simple nutritious foods to give my digestive system a rest.

Of course, continue to take our natural supplements to help restore your balanced health. Our Digesten K is particularly recommended to rebalance the flora in your stomach.

Hopefully these party tips will help keep the fat from settling on your hips!

Whilst on the Subject of Statin Drugs...

Xtend-Life — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 04:23:44 GMT

Are you aware that last year the FDA actually issued a warning to limit the doses of simvastatin as at the highest recommended levels of 80mgs they now deem it to be unsafe for most people?

This is because people on that higher rate have an increased risk of muscle injury (myopathy) . In some people, the myopathy progresses to a more serious disorder called rhabdomyolysis, which can damage the kidneys and lead to kidney failure and death.

This safety announcement was made by the FDA last June. If you are on a high dose of a statin, particularly if it is around the 80mgs then please bring this warning to the attention of your Doctor. The full bulletin can be read on the FDA’s website by clicking here.

Bear in mind when talking to your Doctor that statin drugs at any dosage carry the risk of myopathy. The symptoms of myopathy include weakness, muscle pain or tenderness, and fatigue. If the myopathy progresses to rhabdomyolysis, it can cause dark or red-colored urine.

If you are taking a statin also check the list of other drugs on the FDA bulletin that you should not be taking at the same time as the statin. If you are taking any of those talk to your Doctor urgently.

Question the need to actually be on a statin. What are your triglycerides like? Are your homocysteine levels OK? But most importantly do you have any inflammation in your blood? That is measured by the level of your C-Reactive Protein.

Over the years I have lost count of the number of cases that I have seen where people were on statin drugs without due cause. Really question your Doctor and ask for the evidence that the upside of taking the statin outweighs the downside.

Statin Drugs Increasing the risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Xtend-Life — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 04:12:35 GMT

It is a bit of a change to see the mainstream media air a negative report about a blockbuster drug, let alone statin drugs which have been the biggest 'blockbusters' of all time. But... they did!

The headlines were “Statins increase the risk of Type-2 Diabetes in Women”. It is good that the evidence is now being revealed by mainstream media (even though it has been known for some-time) that these drugs increase the risk of other diseases including diabetes. I wonder when they will start releasing some of the other negative statistics…such as the statins increase the risk of cancer.

What is not widely known is that some of the studies on statins showed that although there was some overall reduction in mortality from heart related events…in some sectors of the population (not for women) that there was an overall increase in mortality from other causes, cancer being one of them, but they were not obligated to make that knowledge public as that was an observation outside the parameters of the studies.

What is surprising in the msnbc video which you can watch by clicking here is that the woman being interviewed intends carrying on with the statin. If she was to dig deeper and question her physician in depth she would discover that the statin is doing nothing to reduce her risk of a heart event. Any benefit that a statin may give in relation to heart disease very likely comes from the drugs assisting to reduce the levels of C-Reactive Protein which is a measurement of inflammation in the body, not as a result of its cholesterol lowering properties. (Reduction of CRP can be easily achieved without the risk of side effects).

I wonder when we will see media releases letting people know that dropping cholesterol to the levels that statins do are a major factor in the increasing rates of male impotency, and overall depression in the general population…and other concerns! Low cholesterol will cause both of the two mentioned conditions. Triglycerides, and inflammation in the blood as measured by C-Reactive Protein are much better indicators of the health of your heart and circulatory system and both of these are easily helped by ingesting one of our Omega / 3 DHA Fish Oils preferably in conjunction with one of our Total Balance range.

An Overweight Child Put Into Foster Care?

Xtend-Life — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:31:00 GMT

I came across this news clip the other day and thought I’d share it. I appreciate that some people have different views on the following topic and although some might not agree with the other’s views, I thought I’d take the core focus of the topic and discuss that instead.

This article reports the story about a 200 pound 8-year-old boy who was taken from his family and placed in foster care after county case workers in Cleveland said his mother wasn’t doing enough to control his weight.

Some people will say this is wrong and some will agree with the county case workers. Instead of choosing which side I think is right, I’d like to ask the following: “Why are so many other children - both younger and older than the boy in question - overweight and out of shape?”

The longer people debate and point fingers at who to blame, the real problem will only take longer to get resolved. If it’s a parenting problem, a government problem or both, something needs to be done...fast!

This overweight generation of children are at risk of an early death or at the very least, a difficult, complicated and expensive life trying to cope with the several degenerative diseases they either may have or will no doubt succumb to.

Another branch of argument is free will. Some people may argue that if the children want to be overweight and choose to eat junk food, why stop them. Well, I doubt these children really want to get overweight...it could be a double-barreled problem of them not having healthy alternatives (either in terms of choice, budget or both) and not receiving the proper education and awareness about the risks of eating junk food.

The following excerpt from the article only highlights the seriousness of the problem:

“The mother agreed to enroll the child in a special Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital program called Healthy Kids, Healthy Weight. That program has evaluated more than 900 overweight and obese children from the ages of 4 to 8 since 2005. A team of specialty doctors, nutritionists, psychologists and others treat the children and work to educate families about creating healthy eating habits.

“Dr. Naveen Uli, a pediatric endocrinologist and co-director of the program, said he is seeing more children who are quickly developing diseases that in the past were seen only in adults, like Type 2 diabetes and hypertension. These can affect a person's health, life span and health care costs, he said.

“But he said interventions need to be targeted, if possible, for the whole family.

Uli said many families in the program have found it difficult to relearn how to eat, to read and translate confusing food labels and to make the healthy choices. Not all families complete the intense 12-week program, or they are unwilling or unable to grasp the seriousness of the threat, he said.

“There is no policy on whether to report obese children to the county if they do not complete the program, but doctors can call if they think the child is at risk.”

Whether you think it’s right or not to take a child away from his/her family for being overweight is a question for another day...instead the real questions should be:

•   What are we doing as parents AND as a government to prevent the spread of the obesity epidemic?
•   What are we doing as parents AND as a government to educate children about the risks of eating junk food and how to make healthier choices when it comes to food and lifestyle?
•   What are we doing as parents AND as a government to encourage and promote healthier living...not just for children but for the greater population?
•   Why is junk food still not seen as a threat to society like cigarettes, alcohol and drugs?

By addressing these key questions ASAP and implementing the right solutions...rather than debate the issue and play the blaming game, we’ll help many children and their families to get back on the healthy track and improve their lives.

Best wishes and thank you!

Xtend-Life — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 03:00:00 GMT

For many of our Customers, this is the time of year in which they celebrate Christmas and have some holidays. For others, their time of celebration is at a different time of the year. Whichever culture that you come into, we all have one thing in common and that is we are nearing the end of 2011.

For many people this has been a very trying year, what with both natural disasters and a financial system that is in chaos. We have certainly had our share of natural disasters here in Christchurch with the devastating earthquakes. Since the big one in February there has I believe been around 6,000 aftershocks.

But, the disaster here in Christchurch is minor when compared to the devastation in Japan that followed just a month later. The world media certainly focused on that and in particular the risk of radiation exposure.

No doubt 2012 will be another challenging year, what with the economy, on-going battles with excessive regulation, and no doubt a few more natural disasters thrown into the mix. These various events do have a negative impact on many people and as such can affect a person’s health. It is important that you do not allow problems, whatever the source to affect your sense of well-being or inner peace. Just remember that you cannot change ‘what has already happened’. Don’t allow negative events to ‘eat you up’. If you accept them, then they will not have any power over you and as such your health will not be affected. When you are in a position to make positive changes then you can do so without any burdens.

Finally, THANK YOU to all our loyal customers who have supported us again during 2011. The Xtend-Life ‘family’ has grown quite a lot during this year as a result of this support. We look forward to be of continuing service to you next year, no matter what may be around the corner.

Three Myths of the Creaky Bones

Xtend-Life — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:25:56 GMT

Do your bones ache and creak most of the time? Worse still, are you experiencing fractures and broken bones as you age? Then perhaps your Doctor has diagnosed you as one of the estimated 200 million + people worldwide suffering from what is considered as “a serious public health concern”. Osteoporosis literally means "porous bone", a disease in which the density and quality of bone are reduced.

Perhaps too, your Doc has told you that osteoporosis is a ‘normal’ part of aging caused by a lack of calcium. And that Bisphosphonates like Fosomax, Boniva, Reclast and Actonel will prevent bone fractures.

Oh dear...wrong on all counts.

Let’s look at the facts...

MYTH 1: Osteoporosis is primarily a Calcium Deficiency Disease.

FACT1: You probably get enough Calcium & More doesn’t mean Better!

Yes, calcium is critical for making bone. But...

Calcium deficiency is unusual nowadays because many processed foods are ‘fortified’ with calcium, like bread, milk, orange juice, pasta, yogurt, toothpaste, chewing gum, snack crackers, granola bars... it’s even in your water, depending on where you live. Then you have unprocessed foods with calcium like organic dairy products, green veggies and juices, some fish like salmon and sardines, sesame seeds and almonds, white beans and rhubarb.

If you do have a calcium deficiency it is more likely because your body is not absorbing the calcium you take, not because of inadequate calcium. This could be related to other factors such as an imbalance or inadequacy of hormones, vitamins and minerals, digestive distress and inadequate exercise and diet. For example:

Hormones

Hormones control the amount of calcium that ‘sticks’ to your bones. You can take all the calcium you want, but if your estrogen and testosterone levels fall, calcium will drop away from your bones.

In women, estrogens are the main regulators of bone breakdown. And the hormone progesterone controls the rate of new bone deposits. The higher the progesterone level the more bone formation.

The most powerful bone builder in terms of bone mass and strength for both men and women is testosterone.

Another hormone – cortisol – effects bone strength.

There is a membrane that lines the outer surface of your bones called the periosteum. Its cells turn into osteoblast cells that make new bone. The “stress” hormone cortisol reduces bone density by stopping those cells from becoming osteoblasts. That’s why the higher your cortisol levels, the less calcium is absorbed, the lower your bone density becomes and the faster you lose bone.

Both mental and physical stress increase cortisol, whereas regular exercise reduces it.

Increased exercise and energy is also beneficial for bone because it takes a lot of energy for your body to produce bone. Osteoblasts use a hormone called osteocalcin to tell your body to make that energy so the osteoblasts can do their job.

There’s only one problem... leptin. This hormone, that increases when you gain weight, interferes with osteocalcin and inhibits new bone formation.

Watch your weight!

Vitamin D is both a hormone and vitamin key to building bone

Vitamin D

Vitamin D directs how much calcium you store in your bones so you can use it when you need it. Too little vitamin D can lead to thin, brittle bones and osteoporosis. Specifically Vit D:

Reduces risk of breaking a bone in any part of the body by 33%
Reduces risk of a breaking a hip by 69%
Reduces risk of having constant bone pain – a condition called osteomalacia

Your best source of vitamin D is sunshine. Exposing as much of your naked body as possible to 20 mins of strong sunshine daily would be great. Good food sources of vitamin D include salmon, mackerel, tuna fish, sardines, eggs, beef and cheese.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K, especially the natural form of Vitamin K2 (menaquinone) which we use in our Bone-Protec helps to regulate calcium and stabilize bone density. A study completed in April found that high vitamin K intake means higher bone mineral density, and less bone loss with aging (ref 1) The authors wrote that vitamin K gave people “superior bone properties.”

Foods with vitamin K include dark leafy vegetables like kale, spinach and collard greens. Parsley and green olives also have vitamin K, as do the spices basil and thyme.

Selenium

Just 55 micrograms daily of selenium helps to reduce your risk of osteoporosis by up to 15%. A study (ref 2) gave two groups of animals a drug that causes osteoporosis. They treated one group with selenium. When researchers looked at the leg bones, those from the selenium group were protected, and looked almost like normal bone.

The best source of selenium is brazil nuts, which contain a whopping 544 micrograms in just one ounce. You can also get selenium from red meat, tuna, eggs and walnuts.

Boron

Boron helps to harden bone and to build bone strength by preventing bones from losing calcium and magnesium. Good food sources include nuts, plums, prunes, red grapes, raisins, apples, pears, and avocados.

Excessive Sugars and Acid

We have mentioned many times the dire health effects of excessive sugars, especially processed sugars (HFCS). Our blog ‘Pickled Alive’ shows how whenever you consume aspartame your tissues, bones, cells and body are slowly leaching and melting away!

Acidosis (or an unbalanced PH) is in fact a major cause of many health concerns and aging because of the inflammation, oxidation, glycation and methylation it triggers.

More Calcium isn’t necessarily Better!

Many studies show how higher calcium intake doesn’t prevent fractures due to bone loss, but does cause heart damage! For example:

A study looked at over 195,000 women and found that drinking milk fortified with calcium had zero effect on the risk for hip fractures (refs 3-4)
Another study in the journal Osteoporosis International found that taking calcium supplements meant a 27-31% increase in risk of heart attack and up to a 20% increased risk of stroke. The authors even suggest you use “other osteoporosis treatments that are available without calcium.” (ref 5)
A third study looked at 61,443 women, who were followed for almost 20 years. It found that increasing daily calcium has no effect on fractures later in life. The women who took in the most calcium did not reduce the risk of fractures of any type, or of osteoporosis (ref 6)

MYTH 2: Osteoporosis is an inevitable part of aging, and only treatable with drugs.

FACT 2: Bones should (and do) last a lifetime, and can be strengthened naturally

Bones are designed to be strong for your entire life. Some of the longest living people, like those in Japan and China have bones which are strong and dense up to the very day they pass away. This is largely due to a natural unprocessed diet and heavy manual work.

Healthy human bone is actually very strong. Although mild steel is much heavier than bone, pound for pound bone is stronger than steel! Bone has a tensile strength of 20,000 psi while mild steel is much higher at 70,000 psi.

Osteoporosis drugs and other common medications have profound side effects. In fact, the newest drugs meant to improve bone density such as Bisphosphonates like Fosomax, Boniva, Reclast and Actonel actually cause bone breaks:

Researchers studied women with fractures who were taking these medications. Over 65% had the same rare fracture in the same area of their thigh bones. And these were the women who had been on the drugs for the longest time! (ref 7)
Using cortisone for asthma or arthritis for longer than three months, increases risk of fracture regardless of bone density (ref 8)
Acid reflux medications like Nexium and Prevacid (PPIs) increase risk of hip fracture by 25%. The odds of getting a spinal fracture increased by 50% (ref 9)
According to the journal ‘Bone’, antidepressants like Paxil and Prozac (called SSRIs) contribute to bone loss and a higher risk for fractures (ref 10). That’s because antidepressants increase serotonin levels, and too much serotonin restrains osteoblasts from making new bone. Another study from ‘Bone’found that the odds of getting a fracture were 56% higher for people who use acetaminophen (Tylenol, Excedrin) compared with people who don’t.
Long-term therapy with antiepileptic drugs (phenobarbital) causes soft bones and fractures leading to the metabolic bone disease osteomalacia. In one study, antiepileptic drugs reduced both neck and hip bone density, and caused significant bone loss (ref 11)

Enough said!

MYTH 3: Only Women suffer Osteoporosis

FACT 3: Nonsense!

This myth is so ingrained in our belief system that many doctors do not even consider the relevance of Osteoporosis in men. This is a big mistake!

The fact is both sexes experience Osteoporosis dependent on all the factors mentioned above. These factors apply equally to both sexes.

PubMed offers a more realistic picture of the gender issue. It explains that the prevalence of osteoporosis is greater in women, but mortality after fracture is higher among men. Women are at a greater risk because they lose bone mass a little faster than men until they’re 65. After that, everyone loses bone at about the same rate.

Finally...

The take home message from all this is that bone health and strength, like health in general, is dependent on many inter-related factors not just calcium, (or medications!). Your bones will outlive you (!) given a balanced lifestyle with proper nutrition, moderate weight-bearing exercise, minimal alcohol and smoking, and emotional balance.

However, if you feel you need extra bone support, then in addition to our Total Balance and Omega 3 range, you may like to consider our Bone-Protec. This is much more effective than the 'normal' calcium supplements because all the key co-factors are included...even the very expensive but effective VItamin K2, as opposed to the ineffective synthetic Vitamin K1.

Reference:

1. Bulló, M., Estruch, R., Salas-Salvadó, J., "Dietary vitamin K intake is associated with bone quantitative ultrasound measurements but not with bone peripheral biochemical markers in elderly men and women," Bone April 5, 2011
2. Bischoff-Ferrari, HA, et al, "Milk intake and risk of hip fracture in men and women: A meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies," J. Bone Miner Res. Apr. 2011;26(4):833-9
3. Freskanich, D., et al, “Milk, dietary calcium, and bone fractures in women: a 12-year prospective study,” American Journal of Public Health June 1997; 87(6): 992-997
4. Bischoff-Ferrari, HA, et al, "Milk intake and risk of hip fracture in men and women: A meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies," J. Bone Miner Res. Apr. 2011;26(4):833-9
5. Reid, I.R., Bolland, M.J., Avenell, A., Grey, A., "Cardiovascular effects of calcium supplementation," Osteoporos Int. March 16, 2011
6 Warensjo, E., Byberg, L., Melhus, H., et al, "Dietary calcium intake and risk of fracture and osteoporosis: prospective longitudinal cohort study," BMJ May 2011; 342
7. 5 Lenart, B., Lorich, D., Lane, J., et al, “Atypical Fractures of the Femoral Diaphysis in Postmenopausal Women Taking Alendronate,” New England Journal of Medicine 2008
8. 6 Aubry-Rozier, B., Lamy, O., Dudler, J., "Prevention of cortisone-induced osteoporosis: who, when and what?" Rev. Med. Suisse Feb. 10, 2010;6(235):307-13
9. 7 Ngamruengphong, S., Leontiadis, G.I., Radhi, S., et al, "Proton Pump Inhibitors and Risk of Fracture: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies," Am. J. Gastroenterol. April 12, 2011
10 Verdel, B.M., Souverein, P.C., Egberts, T.C., et al, "Use of antidepressant drugs and risk of osteoporotic and non-osteoporotic fractures," Bone Sept. 2010;47(3):604-9
11.Andress, D.L., Ozuna, J., Tirschwell, D., et al, "Antiepileptic drug-induced bone loss in young male patients who have seizures," Arch. Neurol. May 2002;59(5):781-6

An Update of NDI's...

Xtend-Life — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 04:26:22 GMT

If you have been a reader of this blog for some time you may have read the earlier articles that I wrote concerning NDI's which stands for New Dietary Ingredient. The thrust of those articles were to bring to your attention the threat that we were all facing, industry and consumer alike to the on-going access to dietary supplements.

The US FDA published a ‘guidance’ document on what they required to have done in order to register a new dietary ingredient. The industry had been waiting 17 years for this document which apparently was prepared in just 180 days under a congressional mandate.

The bottom line is that the document was ill-conceived and was unworkable and impractical in many different ways. In fact, if it had gone ahead in the form that was published most of the supplement industry would have had to close their doors. I won’t go into the reasons for this as it is too involved but I did outline some of these in the previous blog posts which you can access by clicking here.

I should point out that this over the top ‘guideline’ had nothing to do with either safety or efficacy.

There was a comment period which the FDA, under industry and consumer pressure extended until the beginning of this month. The industry responded in a coordinated manner. If you are interested in knowing the arguments that were submitted and some further background you can do so by reading an article published by ‘Natural Products Insider’. Just click here to access it.

Drug Company Faces Hurdles From US Senators

Xtend-Life — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 02:51:53 GMT

Last week, three senators asked a large pharmaceutical company (and five other health companies) to spill the beans and reveal why want to block generic versions of the cholesterol drug Lipitor.

Of course the answer is obvious and if the plan is fully implemented then the patients and tax payers will be the ultimate losers. For more info on this refer to an article on the New York Times website.

“Pfizer has taken unprecedented actions to preserve market share during the next six months, while generic competition is limited and prices remain fairly high. Pfizer is offering discounts to companies that will reject generic prescriptions and substitute Lipitor."

While some companies say they will save money, others do not. The senators said they were concerned about longer term impacts on employers, Medicare and health care costs.

‘We need to take a close look to ensure we’re protecting both taxpayer dollars and access to the medicine patients need,’ Senator Max Baucus, the chairman of the Finance Committee, said in a statement released with the senators’ letters.

“The letters were signed by Senators Baucus, a Montana Democrat; Charles E. Grassley, an Iowa Republican; and Herb Kohl, the Wisconsin Democrat who is chairman of the Special Committee on Aging. ‘Consumers and taxpayers foot the bill when drug benefit companies and insurers manipulate the marketplace to prevent access to generic drugs for millions of Americans,’ Senator Kohl said in the statement.”

Credit should be given to the senators for giving this Big Pharma company a few hurdles in its effort to dominate the market...however, I wonder if they realise that drugs (regardless of whether they’re best-selling brands or generics) are hardly the best way to address health concerns. Be good if these senators could put a bit more attention to helping stop the influence of the pharmaceutical companies in trying to discredit natural solutions and helping the general public to understand that there are much better alternatives to statin drugs which do nothing to help the overall heart health of the nation.

Warning On Gastric Band Weight-Loss Claims

Xtend-Life — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:21:22 GMT

One of the latest ways to promote weight loss is the application of a gastric band. These devices are implanted around the upper part of the stomach to create a ‘pouch’ which effectively reduces the amount that you can eat at one time.

A couple of these devices have been approved by the US FDA for patients whom meet certain criteria. However, the FDA has issued warning letters to a number of organizations promoting these devices as they claim that they are not advising patients of the risks…of which there are many, such as…

•   nausea and vomiting
•   difficulty swallowing
•   gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
•   upset stomach or pain
•   stretching of the stomach pouch
•   stretching of the esophagus
•   moving of the gastric band, requiring another surgery to reposition it

• erosion of the band through the stomach wall and into the stomach, requiring another surgery

If you are overweight, please don’t be tempted by this procedure. Even if you don’t suffer any of the side effects…which is unlikely, it is certainly not the way to promote good health.

Losing weight is really not that difficult if you apply the age old principle of calories in, versus calories burnt.

Earlier this year I had a situation in which my weight had crept up a bit (over the last couple of years) and I decided that I needed to lose 7kgs. As most of us have experienced at various times, weight can be put on by ‘stealth’ if you don’t keep an eye on it, unless you are one of these people who can eat what and how much you like and nothing changes.

Anyway, it is simple to lose weight if you work on one simple premise. 3,500 calories is equivalent to half a kg or a bit more than a pound. So, if you want to lose 7kgs as I did that meant I had to make an ‘adjustment’ of 24,500 calories. The question is over what period of time is that ‘adjustment’ to take place. I elected to do it at the rate of half a kg a week or 3,500 calories a week, or 500 calories a day.

So, it then becomes a simple mathematical exercise. Either reduce food intake by 500 calories a day, or increase the amount of exercise by that amount. I elected to do a bit of both. Around an average of 150 calories a day from exercise and 350 calories in food!

By not aiming to adjust my habits by more than 500 calories a day I was able to achieve that objective and did indeed average a weight loss of half a kg a week and did it painlessly. All I had to do was be aware of how many calories in what I was eating and drinking. For example, if I was out for a meal with company and having a beer, I would limit it to one instead of two because I know that one beer is the equivalent of having to do about 20 minutes on the treadmill. (About 120 calories) So, I would think…’now if I have this beer am I prepared to do an extra 20 minutes on the treadmill?’ Invariably the answer was no. The same thing applied to my food. If I was having a delicious meal and where I would previously go back for another helping I would ask myself the same question.

The bottom line…I never went hungry, I have got back to the weight that I wanted so I am not lugging around the extra 7kgs and I have never felt so good. Actually I have lost more than 7kgs of fat because I have put on more muscle.

What I am trying to say here is that you can lose weight painlessly and without getting hungry and there is no need to put your health at risk. It takes a relatively long time for the weight to build up and it takes some time to get rid of it. Slow weight loss is much better than fast weight loss. It also gives your skin a chance to take up the ‘slack’.

Don’t be tempted by the apparently easy and fast solutions. If you would like to read a bit more about the gastric band you can go to the FDA’s website by clicking here.

“He Who Pays the Piper Calls the Tune”

Xtend-Life — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 03:25:59 GMT

Drug companies have long kept secret payment details they make to medical professionals for promoting their drugs. This practice, though legal, raises many questions about potential conflicts, and whether the interests of patients may be compromised.

Lee Spiller, Policy Director for the Texas branch of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights comments: “The practice puts patients and tax dollars at risk...It taints the whole process. I’d hate to think donations were shaping state mental health policy in particular.”

The fact is they are!

Extent of the Problem

As the Texas Tribune reports:

“Between 2009 and early 2011, at least 25,000 Texas physicians and researchers received a combined $57 million, and probably far more, in cash payments, research money, free meals, travel and other perks.
Dozens of these medical professionals were paid more than $100,000 each during that period. 114 were professors, physicians, psychiatrists or researchers who were already paid a salary by the state, in some cases more than a half-million dollars a year.

In the USA generally, the PLOS Medicine study shows how pharmaceutical companies spend more on marketing and promoting to doctors than on research ($57.5 billion vs $31.5 billion respectively in 2008). This translates as “an astounding $61,000 in promotion per physician."

The PLOS authors conclude: “There is something severely wrong with a system that emphasizes marketing over research. Profit is good, but profit at the expense of the public health is dangerous.”

Similarly, data reported in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) about a Duke University study shows the financial motives behind the increase in cardiac stress tests recommended by doctors over the last decade.

The study found that doctors who bill for both the equipment and the interpretation of the tests were 50-100% more likely to order the testing than doctors who only interpreted the results.

Duke cardiologist Dr. Bimal Shah who led the study said: "The way that financial reimbursement is structured for some of these tests may induce increased use, and in some cases, overuse."

Time for a change?

The good news is that this situation may slowly be changing.

As customers and patients have become increasingly aware of and litigious about medical mistakes, and drug companies are pressured into making legal settlements with the federal government, drug companies have begun posting doctors’ payment information on their web sites.

The nonprofit investigative news organization ProPublica took these disclosures and assembled them into a single, comprehensive database that allows patients to search for their physician. The data is available “to news organizations, reporters, bloggers, policy wonks and anyone else who'd like it”.

You can see a summary Here and search whether your US Health Professional has received drug company money.

For the detailed data, you need to fill in their form.

ProPublica now has payment reports from 12 drug companies comprising more than 40 % of U.S. drug sales. This shows “more than $760 million in payments from 12 pharmaceutical companies to physicians and other health-care providers for consulting, speaking, research and expenses.” Their investigation suggests that: “many doctors are being paid by the same drug companies whose medicines they prescribe.”

In addition to this public information, a new health law The Physician Payments Sunshine Act dictates that all doctors must publically report any payments from pharmaceutical companies to the federal government.

Already, these positive changes seem to have some tangible results. In Vermont for example, the Attorney General released data showing that total payments to physicians dropped 13% in fiscal 2009 to $2.6 million. The reporting requirement began in 2002.

Objections to the New Health Law

Of course, there have been objections to the Health Law and payment curbs. Some consumer groups say that the new law is too narrow in its scope. While some doctors complain that it will unfairly stain legitimate work they do for industry. Dr. Thomas Stossel, a professor of medicine at Harvard believes concerns about relationships between companies and doctors have been overblown. "What's wrong with a company buying me lunch or giving me a tote bag?" he asks.

Other physicians acknowledge that donations from industry – even small ones – can create conflicts of interest. "There is extensive literature suggesting that gifts can influence behavior," says Dr. Robert Steinbrook, adjunct professor of medicine at Dartmouth Medical School.

Industry critics gripe that the federal law has too many loopholes. It only applies to physicians and teaching hospitals. Companies won't have to report payments they make to nurses, physician assistants, and other medical professionals who might influence which products are prescribed.

"If any marketing avenue is not regulated, companies will find a way to exploit it," predicts Dr. Daniel Carlat, a psychiatrist and associate professor at Tufts Medical School. "I expect we’ll see a lot more nurse practitioners giving hired-gun talks."

Lo and behold, in Vermont, corporate payouts to nurses totalled $288,000 in 2009—almost triple the amount they received the previous year!

Oh dear!

Ultimately “He who pays the piper calls the tune”.

World Anti-Corruption Day

Xtend-Life — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:31:00 GMT

The 9th December is 'International Anti-Corruption Day'. Whereas I appreciate that this is not directly related to health matters it is indirectly in that corruption in all its various forms impacts on all of us in some way which in turn can affect our health whether it be mental or physical.

Corruption is much more wide spread that most people realise and it affects the behaviour of people in all walks of life. Much of it is quite innocent such as doing a favour for someone in return for them doing something for you. That’s not a problem when it is transparent and nothing is hidden. It is when it escalates to when someone uses their influence to bring about a particular result in return for some form of gain which can be under many guises.

It is frequently done in business even though it is illegal in most countries although rarely enforced. Over the last decade the area that has received most scrutiny has been the incentives given to the medical profession by Pharma which has led to the over prescribing of many drugs.

Even worse than this is the corruption that goes on at political level which can have such wide reaching impact on the well-being and health of the general population. No-where is that more apparent than in Africa. What is interesting is that we are all quick to condemn the dictators and despots who get wealthy at the expense of the general population, but, they are not the only ones to blame. Without businesses from western countries have a lot to answer for in allowing businesses to perpetuate the practice of making payments to politicians in positions of power.

We have been faced with occasions in which difficult business paths in overseas countries could be ‘smoothed’ by the ‘transfer’ of money but as a matter of principle we refuse to do it and instead take the more difficult path, and we always get there in the end. Of course we are not adverse to showing our appreciation when an official is helpful but that appreciation is either in the form of flowers or perhaps a bucket of kiwifruit to be share amongst others in the office.

It would be a far happier and healthy world if everyone was more aware of the implications of corruption and did their bit to help reduce it. To have a look at where your country ranks in the international corruption 'stakes' please click here ("2011 Transparency International CPI Report shows 80% of humans live under corrupt government").

NSAIDs or Natural Nutrients for Pain Relief?

Xtend-Life — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 03:17:00 GMT

While many of us look forward to the fun and camaraderie of the imminent festive season, it can also be one of the most stressful of times. Additional work, family feuds and squabbling kids often leave me with a lopsided grin and intense headache!

Add to that the aches and pains of over exertion and excess of the wrong foods, booze and it’s tempting to grab what we think as a quick relief. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory and over the counter drugs (NSAIDs and OTCDs) to the rescue!

Before you expose yourself to their possible negative side effects, consider natural nutrients for pain relief.

Natural options may help to address root causes of both acute and chronic pain: nutrient imbalances, excess acidity and inflammation.

Digestive enzymes

Digestive enzymes help to replenish and rebalance the critical components required for effective digestion: soluble fiber, enzymes, phenolics and prebiotics.

You can find many supplements and foods which focus on only one or two of these key components. We’ll have a look at them in a minute. Or you can benefit from a synergistic combination of them in our proven Kiwi fruit Digesten K formula.

This works in a number of different ways. Firstly it improves the digestion of proteins through the action of enzymes. Secondly it encourages the growth of good bacteria through natural prebiotics. Thirdly, it inhibits the growth of pathegons (bad bacteria) with phenolics. Finally the soluble fibre content may help improve bowel function.

The result is improved assimilation of nutrients from food and supplements, improved consistency of stools and a clean colon. It can also help reduce the likelihood of toxins leaking into the blood stream.

Other natural compounds and enzymes

Other natural compounds and enzymes to aid digestive balance and reduce pain and inflammation include:

Bromelain / Papain

Bromelain is a natural compound extracted from pineapple and papaya containing several proteolytic enzymes. These help to break down and digest food proteins and to short-circut pain pathways in the body. Papaya also has papain. This is contains a variety of proteolytic enzymes which break down proteins. Studies show its effectiveness in treating diabetes, herpes, cancer and digestive issues like bloating and chronic indigestion. Papain has also been shown to attack tumor cells and boost the immune system.

Turmeric

The antioxidant turmeric seeks and destroys free radicals and so reduces pain and swelling. A study at Sloan-Kettering Cancer Research Center in New York reports how Tumeric was not only more safe but also more accurate in treating pain and swelling than any of the NSAIDs they tested. Indeed, turmeric and ginger have the same analgesic properties as aspirin or ibuprofen - without savagely attacking your stomach lining or putting too much pressure on your kidney functions.

Boswelia

Boswelia is one of the most widely used herbs in Indian medicine for treating pain, inflammation, and for supporting healthy blood circulation.

Natural Supplements

The following anti inflammatory nutrients are also beneficial: curcumin, quercetin, ellagic acid, resveratrol, garlic, magnesium, pine bark extract, Vitamin E (containing gamma-tocopherol and tocotrienols) and Vitamin K to reduce levels of IL-6, a pro-inflammatory messenger. Vitamin K also helps in the treatment of osteoporosis by regulating calcium and promoting bone calcification. If you are taking Coumadin or other anticoagulant medicine, consult your physician before taking vitamin K.

All these and more are found in our recommended protocol for inflammation and pain:

The Total Balance product suited for you
Omega 3/QH Ultra at 2-4 daily
Green Lipped Mussel powder at 3 - 6 daily
Arthrit-Eze at 6 tablets per day (2 x 3) for 2 months then reduced to 3 daily

Anti-inflammatory Diet

As you will appreciate, the above natural nutrients will be most effective when taken with an anti inflammatory diet of fresh, preferably organic fruits, vegetables, wild seafood, nuts, seeds, herbs and spices, protein from free range cattle, eggs, and the right balance of healthy fats. By ‘healthy fats’ I mean a mix of mainly monounsaturated, Omega 3 and some saturated fats.

Some more great anti-inflammatory and pain reducing foods include:

Tart cherries (great for arthritic pain)
Vitamin C rich fruits like strawberries, kiwis, oranges, guavas, lemons, and limes provide powerful antioxidants which help to reduce pain
ExtraVirgin cold pressed olive oil which is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties which hinder the pain-causing mechanisms within the body. As a monounsaturated fat, it also reduces high blood-pressure, a prime cause of headaches.
Lettuce which contains salicylic acid, a compound found in aspirin. Romaine lettuce in particular is rich in this compound, which is known to treat inflammation.

Adequate water / liquid intake is also critical, especially if excess alcohol and soda have lead to dehydration and acidity. Other than pure water, and fresh vegetable juice, one of the healthiest drinks you can have is fresh, sweet coconut water. I love it and gratefully guzzle up to a litre daily when I can.

While it’s true that the above natural nutrients may not always provide the quick relief claimed by NSAIDs and OTC drugs, they do help your body repair damage and address the root causes of pain. For sure, NSAIDs and OTC drugs cannot claim those lasting benefits!

Europe Bans Airport Scanners...

Xtend-Life — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:58:55 GMT

According to this article on the Time website, a few weeks ago the European Commission proposed to ban the so-called 'backscatter' X-ray machines. These scanners emit radiation and are seen as a risk to the health and safety of citizens through the EU's 27 member nations.

So what’s happening in the US? Well, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has gone and rolled out roughly 250 backscatter X-ray machines across the US. The TSA still maintain that these X-ray machines are safe and that any increase in cancer risk is negligible.

However, many scientists disagree...and so do we. These previous blog entries outline our opinions about this issue of airport scanners and radiation exposure.

To put things into perspective, although the risk of an individual developing cancer from scanner radiation is relatively low...the accrued risks over time by the millions of Americans who regularly fly every year most certainly puts these machines into a potential danger-zone that the public are exposed to at airports throughout the country.

Frequent fliers and pilots alike seem to be against the scanners. In fact, the pilots’ unions publicly recommend that passengers opt of the pat-down security check as opposed to the X-ray machine. With recent news reports of some passengers reporting personal violations of their rights and other legal headaches for courts countrywide after these pat-downs, it seems that when it comes to national security, flight risks, health risks and passenger opinions...you’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t.

Considering the majority of professional and decent TSA officials out there, getting a quick pat-down may be the lesser of the two ‘evils’ when heading through airport security. At least you and your fellow passengers can see what’s happening...unlike the potentially dangerous X-ray radiation that passes through your body every time you’re subjected to these backscatter scanners.

While this controversial topic gets bounced around the bureaucratic tennis courts of America’s political and legal sectors, passengers are still no better off and are still subjected to the risk of radiation exposure every time they fly.

You may not be able to choose your preferred method of travel but you can certainly choose which form of security check you’re entitled to. I understand that none of them are ideal and tick all the boxes, but in the great scheme of things, avoiding an X-ray scanner and its potential risks should be at the top of your agenda whenever you travel.

Omega 3 helping Autistic kids

Xtend-Life — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 02:17:52 GMT

I thought you may like it if I shared this little bit of news with you.

A couple of weeks ago, whilst I was at our Thailand office in Bangkok, some of the staff there asked me if I would come with them to their monthly visit to the Autistic Thai Foundation, so that the administrators of the foundation could meet me and I could meet some of the families whom we are helping out.

Very simply we are donating our Omega 3 DHA/fish oil every month to 30 poor families in the hope that it will help their autistic children. We have only been doing it for a few months but we are getting some positive results. For example, one parent was telling me that his son who could never concentrate on a computer game for more than a few minutes is able to focus on it for about an hour. Other parents said that they have noticed an overall improvement in the alertness of their children.

We will keep an eye on how it evolves and if it continues to be positive we will expand this program. We made up a special batch of the Omega 3/DHA in smaller soft gels to make it easier for the children to swallow.

If we continue to find that it helps the children we will look at adding the smaller soft gel into our range. That decision will be made probably before the end of the year and we will introduce it as soon as possible afterward... but it could take 2 – 3 months as we have to plan for splitting off some of our oil into a separate production run, prepare new labels, etc, etc.

Just a few words about the Autistic Foundation. It was set up about 20 years ago by a parent of an autistic child and is still administered by the same people. It is accredited by the government and has a number of branches throughout Thailand. Most of their funding comes from the sale of a variety of ornaments or gift packages. The children make these with the help of their parents many of whom are unable to work because if the need to take care of their children full time. The items that they make are excellent.

If you would like to know more about this organisation you can go to their website at www.autisticthai.org Unfortunately it is only in Thai at the moment. We are investigating possible ways in which we could help them expand their work. They have 100,000 members in Thailand.

Did You Know That Pizza is a Vegetable?

Xtend-Life — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:33:40 GMT

It's True! Just Ask the US Government...

I've seen some pretty incredible headlines in my time and this one is no different. It seems that the US House of Representatives recently passed a bill that abandons proposals to strip the ridiculous vegetable status given to pizza and limit the frequency of French fries served as school lunch to almost 32 million US school children.

It seems that Big Pharma aren't the only big sharks in the corporate feeding frenzy that is America's upper finance echelon... the food manufacturers are just as ruthless. These guys shouldn't really be called food manufacturers because some of the stuff they produce isn’t ‘food’ in my opinion.

Frozen French fries, ready-made pizza and other ‘edible’ substances that no doubt are filled with preservatives, trans fats and who knows what else, are the flagship products of these large corporates.

There’s nothing wrong with successful companies making profit, it’s actually encouraging to see some form of economic growth. However, there’s a clear and distinct line between making profit from honest and ethical methods versus making profits from a sheer blatant disregard for the health and wellbeing of your customers.

The fact that the US government has gone back on its promise to fight against obesity epidemic by allowing this pathetic bill to be passed is beyond me.

Let’s look at the following excerpt from a related article about the topic:

"It's an important victory," said Corey Henry, spokesman for the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI). That trade association lobbied Congress on behalf of frozen pizza sellers like ConAgra Foods and Schwan Food and French fry makers McCain Foods and JR Simplot, the latter best known as a supplier to fast-food company McDonald's. "Our concern is that the standards would force companies in many respects to change their products in a way that would make them unpalatable to students," Henry said. Other AFFI members include HJ Heinz, General Mills and Kraft Foods.

With this sort of attitude towards nutrition and health, it’s hardly surprising that learning disabilities, childhood obesity and other serious health ailments on the rise. It’s really sad that profits are more important than the health and wellbeing of the next generation.

It’s makes you wonder how these profits will help pay for the resulting healthcare and ongoing treatment that many of these kids will need in a few years after being subjected to this so-called ‘food’.

It reminds me of a friend I had back in school. He had parents who came from the Mediterranean region (although I don’t where exactly) and they packed him lunch meals that you’ll probably never see today. His lunch meals varied from day to day and included food like sardines, sundried tomatoes, cured ham, olives, bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and loads of other delicious ingredients that made my mouth water. What a lucky guy he was!

Meanwhile, the other kids in my class just stuck with their chocolates, crisps, donuts and soft drinks. It makes one wonder…

What Corey Henry says in the above excerpt just sums up the blinker-viewed mentality of these companies. They’ve brain-washed many people and children into thinking that all food should be deep-fried, full of trans fats and served with French fries. He says that changing the current standards would mean that these companies would have to change their products in such a way that they’ll be unpalatable to students!

Excuse me?! Surely a right-thinking person can’t be serious in thinking that this statement is believable?! It’s like something out of a bad dark comedy! Putting more greens, fruits and vegetables on the menu along with real food that requires proper prep work must be the way forward.

If the students don’t like the taste, then unfortunately it’s still a case of the current policy of ‘take it or leave it’. What about the students who don’t like French fries and the junk food served in schools? Sure, they may be a minority but surely they’ve got a right to get the kind of healthy food they deserve?

Sorry for the anger-drenched words I’m using but this is something I feel really strong about. Remember a time when cigarettes were freely promoted and advocated everywhere? Remember how a small group of people slowly grew into a worldwide protest against the tobacco industry and forced changes?

I’m convinced that the same thing can happen to the food industry. We need change and we need it to start at home with us the parents... because if the government isn’t going to do it, then we’ll have to do it ourselves. It’s 2011 for crying out loud…a time where anything is possible if you’re willing to make an effort to make the change you want so long as it is for the overall good without impinging on individuals rights.

Chicken Pox in Your Mail Box?

Xtend-Life — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 01:30:59 GMT

Prior to the 1980's, many parents would deliberately take their children to visit a friend whose kids had chickenpox. The assumption? 'Catching' chickenpox 'naturally' would provide children with ‘natural’ long term immunity.

Indeed, as a kid, I remember my parents taking me to friends whose kids were infected by chicken pox, mumps, measles and whooping cough. Of course, they didn’t tell me their ‘agenda’ at the time or I’d have run a mile! Then when I came down with all the symptoms, I just assumed it was bad luck!

Today, this practice has been largely replaced by the chickenpox Varicella vaccine. It’s called this because chicken pox is usually caused by the Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV).

However, because of worries about the effectiveness and safety of vaccines in general, and the chickenpox vaccine specifically, some concerned parents are reverting to the ‘older’ methods, with a potentially dangerous twist...

According to several press reports some parents have been using a Facebook group called ‘Find a Pox Party in Your Area’ to pay strangers to mail them “[licked] lollipops, spit or other items” from kids with the illness.

One of the Facebook postings from Wendy Werkit of Nashville offered a "fresh batch of pox in Nashville shipping of suckers, spit and Q-tips available tomorrow 50 dollars via PayPal."

Charming!

Werkit said that the money was used to cover the shipping costs of the lollipops that had been licked by her children. "They can't get (chickenpox) the normal way anymore of just naturally catching and just naturally getting the immunity for life."

According to CNN Health website, which had about 1,000 Facebook likes, has now been removed. Archived versions of the site show its purpose listed as “a group for parents who want their children to obtain natural immunity for the chicken pox.”

As you probably know, I am not a fan of vaccines.

However, on this occasion I agree with the many doctors and experts that mailing chicken pox is “a lousy strategy”.

Dr. Wilbert Mason, a professor of clinical pediatrics at USC’s Keck School of Medicine and an infectious disease expert at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, said he was "dumbfounded" by the news. "I'm speechless....How could people be so stupid?"

Mason believes that sending chicken pox through the mail probably won't work, because the Varicella virus needs cells to live in. There probably would be very few cells in spit or on a used lollipop. "It's unlikely the virus would survive long enough," he said.

But more resilient types of infections -- dangerous ones -- could make it, including hepatitis B, group A strep, and staph germs.

As Dr Bill Schaffner, chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, says: “You are sending out other germs, other bacteria, and you have no idea what is in them...It is not a good way to transmit chickenpox. Typically somebody breathes out the virus and then somebody else breaths it in.”

UCLA infectious disease expert Dr. Peter Katona was even more blunt: "I'd like to see charges pressed here," he said, referring to the practice of sending the virus through the mail.

Officials may already be on it.

The Associated Press reported on Friday that Jerry Martin, a U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, issued a warning that sending chickenpox through the mail was illegal, as well as dangerous.

Please, if you are concerned about exposing your children to vaccines, the above is not the way to go!

Consider instead safe and natural options to boost the immune system.

You may also wish to use (or give your children) our proven supplements which help the body to become less susceptible to colds and viruses. Xtend-Life Total Balance combined with our Omega 3 DHA/Fish oil and Digesten-K will help increase vital nutrient absorption, reduce body inflammation, and build up your immunity against colds, the flu and other viruses. Our Viral-Protec is recommended as an additional ‘top-up’ to give your immunity the ‘edge’ it needs.

Recalling my childhood, I know that although I hated all the symptoms of chicken pox, mumps, measles and whooping cough, my parents were adamant I ‘grin and bear it’. I had no vaccines or other medicines. (Xtend-Life wasn’t ‘alive’ then either!)

I did have my parent’s love and warm nourishing soups. I still have one of my mum’s recipes from that time....seems to have done the trick! (Mind you I wasn’t too pleased when our neighbours descended to share my precious soup!)

Popping More Pills Associated with More Cases of Erectile Dysfunction

Xtend-Life — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 03:31:00 GMT

According to this article on the Time website, scientists have found a link between increased cases of erectile dysfunction (ED) and increased intake of medication drugs... prescription or over-the-counter.

The scientists conducted a study that controlled for factors like age, smoking status, diabetes, weight and high blood pressure…they still found that the association between medication intake and ED remained.

The results of study found that across the subjects’ age groups of between 45 to 69, the chance of having ED was higher in those men who took more medication. Roughly 16 percent of men who took two or fewer medication drugs reported having ED, as opposed to 20 percent of those men who took three to five medication drugs, 26 percent of those who use six to nine medications, and 31 percent of those who regularly take 10 or more drugs for health ailments.

Did you know that ED is not an age-related condition? It’s true, age has nothing to do with ‘raising a man’s mainsail’…it’s a simply case of blood flow, that’s it. Unfortunately the blood flow required for maintaining health erections is often hindered by various other health-related conditions brought on by the poor health and lifestyle throughout the aging process.

This blood flow is often made worse by prescription drugs causing a vicious cycle to develop…some men may even request their doctor to prescribe a certain blue pill to help with their ED (some men may even buy illegal ‘ED cures’ online), only adding to the cocktail of drugs currently cursing their system.

Treating ED and other health conditions with medication drugs is like trying to hammer a nail into a wall with the palm of your hand…you’ll end up doing more damage to yourself than achieving the actual objective.

Having said that, there are times in which drugs can provide an essential support function and help prevent a serious ‘event’ and at those times they should be used. But, an effort should be made to make the use short term and whilst on the drug learn as much as possible not only about the drug but the cause of your condition which brought about the need for the drug in the first place.

If you are aware of the cause which is often lifestyle related then you can…if you have the desire for it work on reducing your dependency on the drug and ultimately phasing it out.

If you address the five main causes of aging along with maintaining a healthy blood flow, digestive system and rest of your systemic body functions…coupled with a healthy lifestyle and diet…you’ll be able to help reduce your risk of developing ED and other so-called ‘age-related’ conditions and support the health and wellbeing of your body.

You can read more about how to do this by clicking here...

Pickled Alive?

Xtend-Life — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 04:11:23 GMT

Jed was a local hustler and alcoholic. He was friendly, easy going and always helped with light manual tasks with slightly shaky hands!

A few days ago he was found swollen and curled up on the beach. Dead.

The verdict? Methyl / wood alcohol poisoning. Antifreeze and paint remover were his favourite 'tipple' and sources of methyl alcohol.

You may think “Poor Jed, but how does this relate to me? I would never consume any form of methyl alcohol”.

Really?

I suggest that you may be consuming it daily. Perhaps you even enjoy it!

You see, methyl alcohol or methanol is a main ingredient of one of the most widespread sweeteners used today: Aspartame.

If you eat or drink mainly processed fare, especially ‘diet’ or ‘low calorie’ in nature, then you are surely pickling yourself to an early grave!

How?

Acidified by Aspartame

You are probably aware from our blog posts and other sources of the great health dangers of Aspartame. But you may not know that Aspartame contains at least 10% methanol.

Methanol breaks down into formaldehyde and formic acid in the body.

Formaldehyde is a known toxic carcinogen with damaging health effects like brain poisoning, retinal impairment and DNA replication prevention. Formaldehyde is what the undertaker will use to embalm you after death.

Please don't do their job before it is needed!

Formic Acid is a toxin used to remove epoxy and urethane coatings, which is definitely not a health food! Like formaldehyde, formic acid inhibits oxygen metabolism. Oxygen metabolism (circulation) is extremely necessary for a healthy brain to make correct decisions and for your heart to keep beating.

Aspartame's other 90% is phenylalanine and aspartic acid. When taken into the body without food, in the form of diet drinks for example, they are totally neurotoxic.

So whenever you consume aspartame your tissues, cells and body are slowly leaching and melting away! Yet despite these known damaging facts about Aspartame, it is still allowed. Why?

Why is Aspartame allowed?

Sadly it is the usual tale of money and politics.

By 1974, objections from the scientific community and the thousands of documents showing the dangers and poisonous makeup of aspartame, finally prompted the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to put approval of aspartame on hold.

But in 1981 a new FDA Commissioner, Dr Hayes, overruled the objections of the scientists and FDA, and approved aspartame.

As Warren pointed out in 2003, this approval was in spite of the then fully operational "Delaney amendment" which forbade the use of carcinogenic substances in or as a food additive. (That's another story, as this amendment was removed from the statute books after intense lobbying by the food industry!)

Of course, it was no coincidence that Dr Hayes was a friend of Searle, the inventor of aspartame!

In fact once Dr Hayes’ ruling took effect, he quit the FDA and he went to work with Searle for an exorbitant salary.

You don't have to go to the movies to see such things occurring. Simply read U.S. FDA's history…

Meanwhile, if you regularly drink diet sodas or eat processed diet foods ask yourself: “Do I really want to slowly but surely pickle myself alive?”

Christmas Delays…

Xtend-Life — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 01:49:55 GMT

It is getting close to that time of year again when many of our customers world-wide celebrate Christmas.

It has been our experience over the last eleven years that quite a few of our customers send some of our products to family and friends as gifts. Sometimes because of delays in the mail leading up to Christmas, the packages may not arrive until after Christmas day which could lead to disappointment.

So this year, Chantal our Customer Relations Manager checked with New Zealand Post as to the last day that we could ship packages and guarantee delivery in the USA and the UK. That date is the 2nd December NZ time. (1st Dec USA time).

If you have a regular scheduled order and you want to ensure that you have it before Christmas, please go into your account and adjust the shipping date just for your next order. Alternatively, contact one of our customer relations staff on customer.service@xtend-life.com and they will arrange it for you.

Thanks.

5 Quick Tips To A Healthier Thanksgiving

Xtend-Life — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 02:54:00 GMT

As our American readers will soon celebrate Thanksgiving, I thought a few quick tips would be appropriate on how to enjoy the holidays without worrying too much about your waistline.

Eat and drink in moderation – As obvious as it may seem, some people can still go overboard when it comes to the amount of food and alcohol they consume during Thanksgiving. Drinking a glass or two of water before and during the meal will trick your brain into thinking you’re full and therefore help limit your intake of excess food and alcohol.
Skinless white meat is best – Turkey is full of protein and tasty bird indeed, however the skin and dark meat are packed with calories. Try to avoid them if you can and opt for the white meat sans the skin.
Skip the stuffing – I know this sounds like torture for some people but most stuffing recipes use white bread as a foundation. White bread is a refined grain and all it ends up doing is soaking up the butter and oil in the turnkey, making it a really high calorie dish. Instead try using a stuffing made from brown or wild rice…preferably prepared and served outside the turkey as a side dish.
Have veggies for dessert – No I don’t mean resorting to steamed mixed vegetables for your dessert...I meant having pumpkin pie instead of other calorie-laden options like pecan pie. For the crust, try using crushed ginger snaps, butter and pecan nuts. Top off your pumpkin pie with grated dark chocolate (a fantastic pairing with pumpkin believe it or not) for a healthy and decadent dessert packed full of antioxidants.
Make your own cranberry sauce – Those convenient cans of cranberry sauce are just that…convenient, nothing more. In fact, they’re usually very high in preservatives and sugar. There are loads of recipes online on how to make your own cranberry sauce. Besides being a healthier option, it’ll also be much tastier.

Thanksgiving is a holiday to celebrate with your family, friends and those close to you…not a time to focus on the dinner table and meal ahead.

It may be difficult with the delicious aromas coming out of the kitchen and the notion that it’s only one day of the year… but by maintaining some resilience and following the abovementioned tips, you’re more likely to enjoy a healthier Thanksgiving than before.

On behalf of everyone at Xtend-Life, Happy Thanksgiving to all our American readers and their families.

The Doctor Frankenstein of Food

Xtend-Life — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 20:17:00 GMT

I was recently going through my morning news feeds when the headline of an article caught my eye... "Grow you own meat". I was shocked and surprised at what I read.

The article looks at a group of researchers in the Netherlands who are trying to turn the meat industry on its head. You may be thinking: “Great, they’re probably looking for better farming methods, increasing organic farming of cattle and emphasizing the need for more grass-fed beef as opposed to the antibiotic saturated grain-fed excuses for meat that’s dominating the meat market throughout western world.”

I know…I was thinking (and hoping) the same thing. Unfortunately, the researchers are doing something totally different and to be honest, it just doesn’t sit right with me.

You see, Professor Mark Post and his team are making meat without going anywhere near a herd of cattle, or a farm or the countryside. No, they’re cooking up experiments in a lab that seem like something straight out of a horror sci-fi story.

The following excerpt is taken from the article:

“Instead of getting meat from animals raised in pastures, he wants to grow steaks in lab conditions, directly from muscle stem cells. If successful, the technology will transform the way we produce food. ‘We want to turn meat production from a farming process to a factory process,’ he explained.”

Now let’s look at the arguments…

Prof. Post says: “"I think everybody knows subconsciously that the way we produce meat is not sustainable and isn't friendly to animals." Personally, I couldn’t agree more with him. The majority of commercially farmed meat is full of antibiotics and the whole treatment issue of the animals is much to be desired. However, in saying this, I believe that solutions need to be (and can be) implemented to ensure better farming and harvesting of beef. Bulldoze a few big pharmaceutical facilities and replace them with green pastures to farm cattle maybe?
According to the article “livestock farming accounts for around 18% of all man-made greenhouse gas emissions” and “around 10 per cent of the world's fresh water supplies”. I don’t know where or how the journalist got these figures. Either way, one just has to look at the massive industrial sector (and many others) where factories almost always pump out serious amounts of greenhouse gases every second. I’m sure the meat industry can improve but it’s a fraction of the total amount. Prof. Post needs to shock the muscle cells in order to stimulate growth…I wonder how many greenhouse gases are emitted by his researchers and the carbon-footprint they need to get the electricity need to continually shock the muscles every second of every day to get a steak produced.
The following excerpt came as the biggest shock to me…Prof. Post says: “We don't really know where the taste of meat comes from…We assume it comes from fat, but there may be other components, most of them are unknown so it's a bit of a mystery how the conditions we use during the culturing of the meat will affect the taste." Ask any half-decent chef where a big part of the flavor of meat comes from and he/she will say the fat 99% of the time. No wonder the professor is struggling to find a way to grow fat…you simply cannot. It’s natural and found in real organisms known as cattle, poultry and yes, even people. It’s a product of metabolic processes and other extremely complicated yet amazing physiological effects. You’ll find fat in cattle found on the greenest pastures as well as those subjected to intensive farming. Fat is necessary for the meat’s flavor and in moderate amounts, it’s necessary for the human body and endocrine system to function properly.

I can understand Prof. Post’s good intentions but I believe his methods are not viable. Some people will argue for animal welfare and better environmental emissions, while some people will question the ethics of growing meat for commercial use.

Personally, I’d like to see better quality meat in general…from the farms to the abattoirs to the treatment of the cattle. I think there is nothing better than an excellent quality steak sourced from an animal that has lived a good life living in a field eating grass, hasn’t been injected with antibiotics and was harvested (the PC word for slaughtered) quickly and in hygienic humane conditions.

Some people may think I’m living in a dream world but some farmers, meat suppliers and butchers are already moving in this direction and I think it’s great for everyone…regardless if you’re a meat-lover or not.

I know the topic of meat production can stir up people’s emotions, which makes it a great talking point. What do you think?

Feeling S.A.D?

Xtend-Life — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 20:47:00 GMT

Are you one of the millions globally who dread this time of year? Not because of the false merry jingles already blaring from shops stocked with Christmas goodies, or because of the surfeit of talentless 'talent' shows on TV! What I am talking about is a disorder which appears as the days shorten and darken and the weather turns gloomy and cool. S.A.D - 'Seasonal Affective Disorder'.

What is S.A.D – Seasonal Affective Disorder?

According to Medicinenet, S.A.D is a type of winter depression affecting a minimum 4% of adults living mostly in the Northern latitudes. The Cleveland Clinic claims that nearly 10 % of Alaska residents suffer from SAD, while in the USA an additional 10 to 20 % of the population suffers from a milder form of SAD called ‘Winter-onset seasonal affective disorder’ or ‘wintertime blues’.

S.A.D can begin at any age with the average onset age being 23 years old. It appears more common in women than men, though hard proof of that is scarce as men prefer not to openly report to being depressed.

Interestingly, although ‘S.A.D’ as a ‘disorder’ has only been recognised by the medical profession in the last few decades, the phenomena is not new. In fact the ‘father of modern medicine Hippocrates noted that a 'melancholia' occurred when the seasonal light patterns changed.

What are the S.A.D Symptoms?

Perhaps not surprisingly, symptoms typically resemble those of a short term Depression including moodiness, poor focus, sleep difficulties, anxiety, loss of libido, feeling ‘numb’, lethargy, aches and pains, compromised immune system and a tendency to prefer starchy and sugary foods.

How does S.A.D differ from Depression?

Depression is classed as a mental illness which can last anything from 3 months to 30 years. While S.A.D is usually experienced during autumn and winter. People who experience SAD may be otherwise outgoing, optimistic and social individuals in the spring and summertime yet revert into sluggish, retiring types who avoid interaction and are unable to function normally when the colder, darker months arrive.

Generally speaking, S.A.D. is easier to treat successfully than depression because the causes of S.A.D appear to be easier to identify and address.

What exactly causes S.A.D?

The general consensus is that insufficient strong sunlight and Vit D leads to brain chemical imbalances, especially of serotonin and melatonin, which in turn trigger S.A.D symptoms.

This imbalance takes places in the hypothalamus - a section of the brain just behind the eyes. The hypothalamus helps to control the pituitary gland, which in turn controls the thyroid, adrenal glands and sexual organs. The hypothalamus also effects appetite and weight, sleep, body temperature and emotions.

So when the hypothalamus is off whack, ‘Keeping up appearances becomes very hard indeed.

How can S.A.D. be reduced?

As with depression, anti depressants can help in extreme cases. However, regular exposure to strong sunlight, Vit D and a healthy lifestyle tends to have more lasting, effective results.

One of the most popular SAD-busters is to escape on a sun-drenched tropical vacation during the dead of winter. But even though most of us would love to remedy a foul February funk by decamping to Palm Springs for a week, going away is often neither practical nor financially viable.

Some alternative tips to consider are:

1. Let there be light.

A common treatment for SAD is light therapy or phototherapy. During light therapy, sufferers of SAD sit in front of a special light therapy box for around 30 minutes. These boxes mimic natural sunlight, helping to promote a chemical change in the brain ‘lifting’ a ‘down’ mood. Just think of a light therapy box as a tanning bed for the brain (without the harmful side effects).

It appears that narrowband UVB phototherapy is particularly effective in increasing Vit D levels. Note that most people need at least 2,000 to 5,000 IU/day through the winter to keep brain chemistry and neurotransmitter action at optimal levels.

2. Exercise

Exercise increases serotonin and endorphin levels and improves metabolism, which in turn helps banish the blues. Exercise outside and you'll get an even greater boost - studies have shown that one-hour of outdoor exercise had the same benefits as 2.5 hours of light treatment indoors.

Deep breathing exercises and meditation are also helpful in combating S.A.D.

3. Mood food

If you’re like me, you may find yourself craving carbs and sweet treats when it gets cooler.

Although calorie-laden comfort foods may improve one’s mood temporarily, they also increase blood sugar spikes and hormonal imbalances. So instead eat nutrient dense foods that naturally help to boost your mood.

Bananas for example help boost levels of serotonin. Fresh fruits, veggies and grass fed animal meat are rich in both the amino acid tryptophan and in vitamin B-12, both crucial players in the production of serotonin.

4. Supplements

In addition to a quality multi vitamin and Omega 3 supplement there are other natural nutrients that may help with the treatment of depression. For a list of these and a recommended protocol please see Natural Treatments for Depression, Stress and Anxiety

Finally, transform S.A.D. into happy by trying something new!

Consider cooking classes (or subject your family to new, experimental healthy recipes), volunteer or start crafting. Or how about some DIY, home decoration or clearing out over stuffed cupboards? Use lively colors to brighten both your mood and the general mood around your house!

Depressed Doggie? Big Pharma to the Rescue

Xtend-Life — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 03:09:47 GMT

If you are a dog lover, you are probably attuned to your canine friend's every mood and body language.You know when they are happy, sad, bored or even annoyed with you!

Max my gorgeous German Shepard dog wore an exasperated expression on his face whenever he 'disapproved' of something I did, like forget his food!

Those rare times when he was feeling a little ‘blue’, he just lay down quietly and slept: “Leave me alone” written all over him. Let nature take its course I say.

Not any longer if Big Pharma get their way.

Over the last few years drug giants like Elanco and Eli Lilly have been developing the doggie version of the antidepressant drug Prozac.

The drug - Reconcile - is a once-daily chewable drug for dogs intended to treat ‘canine separation anxiety’ (CSA)....A fancy ‘label’ to describe the behavioral changes that can occur when a dog is separated from its owner and is left alone.

Is Big Pharma not content with doping humans?

You see, Reconcile is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), meaning it comes from a class of drugs known for severe side effects.

Even Reconcile's product information sheet states the dangerous side effects like seizures, weight loss, tremors, aggression, constipation, vomiting, diarrhea, thyroid malfunctioning ...All courtesy of the fluoxetine hydrochloride (Prozac), which is converted into norfluoxetine by the liver. Both of these are fluorophenyl compounds - a form of toxic mind-altering fluoride.

In addition to these stated side effects, are the numerous reports that indict SSRIs like Prozac and Reconcile for increasing the risk of strokes, thick arteries, cataracts, miscarriages, and developing anti-social tendencies.

Just what your furry friend needs to transform it into a furry fiend!

The FDA, in fact, actually has no idea how dogs will react to Reconcile, particularly in the long term -- but the agency has granted its approval anyway.

This approval was based on a single, eight-week study in which dogs treated with Reconcile experienced only slightly better improvement with their CSA symptoms, compared to dogs who received simple behavior modification therapy.

Of course, the study was funded by Reconcile's manufacturer, and did not examine the long-term effects of using Reconcile!

Yet Veterinarians are excited about the prospects of such drugs. Dawn Boothe, a veterinary internist and clinical pharmacologist at Auburn University says: “Prozac is a drug we've used for years... having it approved in dogs gives us a level of confidence regarding safety and efficacy in that species."

How can she be so blind to the reality of these drugs?

She continues: “I think the human-animal bond has changed in the last few years. People are starting to say, 'My animal is a member of the family, and I am willing to pay the cost of drugs that were developed for humans.' I think the pharmaceutical companies have picked up on that."

Let’s get real.

Big Pharma have ‘picked up on’ the profit potential of pet pharmaceuticals. I doubt that they are even thinking of the lasting benefits of drugs to the animals or their owners precisely because they are unknown or unproven!

Indeed, the pet products industry is burgeoning. 2011 figures released by the American Pet Products Association (APPA) show that Americans now spend more than $50 billion a year on food, supplies, and veterinarian care for their pets -- up nearly 300% since 1994.

I acknowledge that there may be genuine cases where anti-depressants etc may be appropriate for dogs, especially when they have had a history of being abused by previous owners. Or, when the owners have tried everything to help their pet to no avail and drugs are the kindest ‘last resort’.

However, I believe that before resorting to drugs, one of the best ‘treatments’ (for both humans and dogs !) will always be loving care, and a healthy lifestyle including a nutritious diet and exercise.

Finally I wonder... Aren't dogs inherently social animal? If you took any "healthy" dog and let it loose, it would find other dogs to hang out with if it could and would prefer it. Isn't it actually more unusual that a dog would LIKE to be alone?

Life-Saving Drugs - Maybe?

Xtend-Life — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 01:39:06 GMT

We have often highlighted the dangers of viewing Big Pharma as our savour from every illness, infection and disease out there.

In the USA for example, it's a sad fact that the leading cause of death and injury is Conventional Medicine. Similar concerns are likely to apply in other countries too. Warren also wrote about this subject over nine years ago!

So our curiosity was aroused when we read an article describing how patient deaths have been caused by "drug shortages....an escalating problem that has endangered patients and raised the possibility of price gouging..."

Drug Shortage Deaths... 'An Escalating Problem'?

Last year, the FDA reported 178 drug shortages, and the agency says it continues to see an increase in shortages this year. These scarcities tend to affect cancer drugs, anesthetics, drugs used in emergency medicine, and electrolytes needed for intravenous feeding.

Major causes of drug shortages are said to be quality or manufacturing problems, or delays in receiving components from suppliers. Drug makers also discontinue certain drugs in favor of newer medications that are more profitable.

The result, according to a White House official is that President Obama is expected to sign an executive order instructing the FDA to reduce the drug shortages, and requiring drug makers to notify the FDA six months ahead of a potential shortages.

Your Views?

We would be very interested in your views about this. Consider, for example:

1. Is making pharmaceutical drugs more easily available in the best long term interests of the general public? Or does it just encourage the ‘over-medication’ of society? I would exempt emergency drugs which serve a real purpose from this comment!

2. How do you feel if you are dependent on such drugs? Relieved by Obama’s initiative? Will it work in practice? Consider how exactly does this "executive order" change the rules and regulations under which the FDA currently operates?

3. How do you feel if you need natural medications like Medical Cannabis just to get through each day, but it is banned where you live? No new ‘initiatives’ for you!

4. What is the real agenda? Is this ‘executive order’ a PR stunt? As the article points out, Obama, is facing re-election. Clearly legislation to support what he deems are popular initiatives, will enhance his ‘re-electability’. As we know, anything to promote Big Pharma’s profits enhances the fund raising efforts of politicians.

Interestingly Obama in his pre-election campaigns:

Swore: "I will allow Americans to buy their medicines from other developed countries if the drugs are safe and prices are lower outside the U.S."
Lambasted drug companies and the influence they wielded in Washington. His team even ran a television ad targeting the industry's chief lobbyist, former Louisiana congressman Billy Tauzin, and the role Tauzin played in preventing Medicare from negotiating for lower drug prices.

Since the election, Tauzin has morphed into the President's partner. He even secured an agreement that the administration wouldn't try to overturn the very Medicare drug policy that Obama had criticized on the campaign trail."The White House blessed it," Tauzin said.

5. Are ‘Drug makers discontinue(ing) certain drugs in favor of newer medications that are more profitable” as stated in the article. Or are they deliberately withholding critical medications to run up the prices?

We welcome your comments.