Lutheran Grilled Cheese » Vitamins and Supplements

China and Vitamin's

papajoemc — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:40:50 +0000

China corners vitamin market

Nation & World: Sunday, June 03, 2007

by Tim Johnson

SHIJIAZHUANG, China — If you pop a vitamin C tablet in your mouth, it’s a good bet it came from China. Indeed, many of the world’s vitamins are now made in China. In less than a decade, China has captured 90 percent of the U.S. market for vitamin C, driving almost everyone else out of business.

Chinese pharmaceutical companies also have taken over much of the world market in the production of antibiotics, analgesics, enzymes and primary amino acids. According to an industry group, China makes 70 percent of the world’s penicillin, 50 percent of its aspirin and 35 percent of its acetaminophen (often sold under the brand name Tylenol), as well as the bulk of vitamins A, B12, C and E.

In the wake of a pet-food scandal, in which adulterated wheat gluten from China led to the deaths of thousands of pets in North America, and other instances of food and toothpaste tampering, China’s vitamin producers are reaching out to reassure U.S. consumers that their vitamins are safe.

Whether that’s true isn’t clear, however. Foreign food-safety experts say China’s larger companies have reputations to protect. The question is how they maintain quality control.
In this pharmaceutical hub, a two-hour train ride south of Beijing, managers at what may be the world’s largest vitamin C factory said they’re constantly improving quality control to keep pace with the tenfold increase in production this decade.

“We used to only comply with domestic standards. Now we must comply with international standards,” said Liu Lifeng, an aide to the general manager at Weisheng Pharmaceutical.
Food- and drug-safety inspectors drop in at the plant from time to time. But the inspectors aren’t exactly neutral guardians of public health. They work for the city government, which is a part owner of the parent company of Weisheng Pharmaceutical.

That kind of relationship between food and drug inspectors and China’s booming agricultural and pharmaceutical industries is coming to the fore as an issue in the food-safety debate.

The local government in this thriving city of 2 million people would suffer if it did anything to hurt the growth of local vitamin and drug producers, and local officials might be reluctant to admit that a public safety issue had arisen.

“That’s a conflict of interest right there,” said Kathryn Boor, a food-safety expert at Cornell University. “You really need a disinterested party involved in inspections.” Issues of food and drug safety ripple across China today.

The former chief of the state Food and Drug Administration, Zheng Xiaoyu, was given the death sentence Tuesday for taking $832,000 in bribes to let unsafe drugs on the market. One Zheng aide was sentenced to a 15-year jail term last autumn, and a second was accused in May in the bribery scandal.

A survey earlier this year said more than three-fifths of Chinese worry about whether the food they eat is contaminated or adulterated. Observers of China’s food and dietary-supplements industry say many larger companies, such as Weisheng, are well-managed and obtain key global certifications.

At the sprawling Weisheng plant, uniformed employees bustle about on neatly swept walkways, entering production areas where assembly lines purr. Machinery seemed clean, although managers barred a visitor from taking photographs in factory areas.

“The industry in China is bifurcated between top-notch companies that are highly skilled and do all the right things, and the second- and third-tier producers, some of which are just sloppy bucket shops,” said Peter Kovacs, a food-industry consultant based in Incline Village, Nev.

Foreign brokers concur that the low end of China’s market has severe problems.
“Sometimes you enter a factory, and you say, ‘I can’t believe they produce food here.’ It’s dirty and the machines are old,” said Jan Willem Roben of Vision Ingredients in Shanghai, a broker of food additives for export.

Since U.S. laws don’t require food and drug sellers to label products with the country of origin of ingredients, it’s impossible for consumers to know where food or supplements are coming from, not to mention what factory produced them.

Vitamins fall into an area in China that straddles the food industry, comprising some 2 million businesses that exported $2.5 billion worth of goods last year, and the drug industry, which has 5,000 companies.

Cases of adulterated or mislabeled products have hit both food and drug companies.
Fake drugs to treat impotency and help with weight loss are legion in China. Some African nations complain of fake Chinese medicines hitting their pharmacy shelves.

Shady small pharmaceutical firms have exported bogus anti-malaria medication to Southeast Asia, where the illness is prevalent, allowing sick people to grow sicker.
“We really believe they are criminals,” said Dr. Henk Bekedam, chief of the World Health Organization office in China, referring to producers of fake medicines.

Share and Enjoy:

Product Conference Calls

papajoemc — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 20:28:58 +0000

Ferguson-Lagoni Group and Friends Conference Call and Training Schedule

October-November 2007
Product Talks

Tuesday 9 PM Eastern Time call 712-432-3973 pin # 33500 New phone number and pin

Oct 2 Kai and Tina Fusser
Nutrition for the fall sports season

Oct 9 Ellie Cullen, R.N.
Tips for the flu and cold season

Oct 16 Steve Chaney and Barb Lagoni
Breaking the sugar habit

Oct 23 Pam Cary Success with weight loss

Oct 30 Dr Frank Painter
Keeping your Immune system strong

Nov 6 Elaine Demro
Recovery from Colon Cancer

Nov 13 Laura Bohanek
Schleraderma

Nov 20 Gerri Steiner and guest

Health testimonial

Nov 27 Ellie Cullen, R.N.
Better health through better digestion

Share and Enjoy:

Omega-3 and your mood

papajoemc — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 12:30:32 +0000

Omega 3 may improve mood

A recent presentation at the 64th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society discussed the relationship of blood levels of Omega-3 fatty acids and a person’s mood. This may be another reason why you might want to add Shaklee’s full-spectrum http://www.shaklee.net/customhealth/product/20244 to your daily supplements list. Here’s the scoop!

In 2000, the American Heart Association revised its Dietary Guidelines to recommend that people eat at least two servings of fatty fish per week as a means of reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. While the cardioprotective effects of omega-3 fatty acids are well-established, other studies have demonstrated that omega-3 fatty acids may be linked to a variety of psychological conditions, including major depression and bipolar disorder. Research presented at a recent meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society has strengthened this link, with the results of small trial suggesting that low blood levels of omega-3s may have a negative impact on a person’s mood and behavior.

In the study, researchers collected blood samples of 106 hypercholesterolemic people who had no history of depression or any other diagnosed mood disorder, and did not take fish oil supplements or psychotropic drugs. In addition to blood tests, all subjects completed a series of tests designed to measure mood, personality and levels of impulsive behavior.

Participants with low blood levels docosahexaeonic acid (DCA) were 42 percent more likely to report symptoms of mild to moderate depression, while patients with low levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were more likely to be in a negative mood, and were associated with high neuroticism scores. Low levels of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) were associated with higher levels of impulsive behavior.

“In conjunction with published research, these data suggest that dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids may be a determinant of normative variability in affect regulation, impulse control and personality,” the authors wrote in their conclusion. They added, “This study opens the door for future research looking at what effect increasing omega-3 intake – whether by eating omega-3-rich foods like salmon or taking fish oil supplements – has on people’s moods.”

Conklin S, Harris JI, Manuck SB, et al. Plasma fatty acids are associated with normative variation in mood, personality and behavior. Abstract #1411. Presented at the 64th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society, Denver, CO, March 1-4, 2006

Frank M. Painter, D.C.
“The Doc on The Block”

Share and Enjoy:

Omega-3 and ADD

papajoemc — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 12:02:46 +0000

Fish oil ‘calms kids with ADHD’

16aug05

A DAILY dose of fish oil helps calm children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, an Australian study suggests.

PhD psychology student Natalie Sinn, of the University of South Australia and CSIRO Nutrition, studied 145 children aged seven to 12 with ADHD over 15 weeks.
Half were given a commercially available dietary supplement containing a combination of fish oil and evening primrose oil, in a ratio of four to one.
The other group took a placebo – an inactive treatment.
In what’s known as a double-blind study, parents, children and researchers did not know whether children were taking the daily fish oil capsules or the placebo.
MS Sinn said when parents were later questioned, children on the active fish oil capsules, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, showed improvements in attention, behaviour and vocabulary.
“They were able to concentrate better, they were calmer, less impulsive, that sort of thing,” Ms Sinn said in an interview.
“The same improvements were not reported from children who took the placebo.”
When the placebo group switched to the fish oil capsules for a further 15 weeks, they showed similar benefits.
Children recruited into the study were not taking medication for their ADHD.
They were given just under a gram of fish oil a day in the trial.
Ms Sinn said 60 per cent of the brain was composed of fats, the most important being omega-3 fatty acids, such as those found in fish oil, and omega-6, like those in evening primrose oil.
She said many people in western societies were deficient in the omega-3 fatty acids, such as those found in dark leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds and oily fish.
“There’s a growing body of research that’s finding evidence of links between omega-3 deficiency and mental health problems like depression and schizophrenia,” Ms Sinn said.
“Research is also suggesting that some children with developmental problems, including ADHD and dyslexia, can benefit from taking omega-3 supplements.”

Please contact me if you would like more information on Omega-3 or any other nutritional needs for you or your children. You can leave a comment and I will get back to you.

Share and Enjoy:

Brainy Baby

papajoemc — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 01:14:23 +0000

Oily fish makes ‘babies brainier’
Eating oily fish and seeds in pregnancy can boost children’s future brain power and social skills, research suggests.
A study of 9,000 mothers and children in Avon suggested those who consumed less of the essential fatty acid Omega-3 had children with lower IQs.
These children also had poorer motor skills and hand-to-eye co-ordination, research in the Economist said.
The Food Standards Agency says pregnant women should consume only one or two portions of oily fish a week.
A team from the National Institutes of Health in the US analysed data from a long-term study done in Avon, UK.
‘Frightening data’
Looking at the effects of Omega-3 intake on 9,000 mothers and their children, the team found mothers with the lowest intake of the essential fatty acid had children with a verbal IQ six points lower than the average.
While those with the highest consumption of mackerel and sardines and other sources of Omega-3 had children, at age three-and-a-half, with the best measures of fine-motor performance, researchers said.
Low intake of the crucial fatty acid also appeared to lead to more problems of social interactions – such as an inability to make friends.
Research leader Dr Joseph Hibbeln said “frightening data” showed 14% of 17-year-olds whose mother had eaten small quantities of Omega -3 during pregnancy demonstrated this sort of behaviour.
This compared with 8% of those born to the group with the highest intake, he said.
Dr Hibbeln said: “The findings of poor social development and poor motor control in children indicate that these children may be on a developmental trajectory towards lifelong disruptive and poorly-socialised behaviour as they grow up.”
It’s absolutely essential that pregnant women take in enough Omega-3 and that children in early infancy take in enough Omega-3
Patrick Holford
Nutritional expert
Professor Jean Golding of Bristol University set up the original research – the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children -15 years ago to look at the predisposition to disease.
She told the BBC: “The baby’s brain needs Omega-3 fatty acids. It doesn’t create its own fatty acids so it needs to be something that the mother will eat.”
The new research also builds on earlier work in the US which suggests pregnant mothers will develop children with better language and communication skills if they regularly consume oily fish.
Nutritional expert Patrick Holford, director of the Brain Bio Centre, said Omega-3 was key to children’s intelligence because the brain is formed of 60% fat – 30% of which is essential fats.
Successive studies have shown clear links between intelligence and consumption of this essential fatty acid, he added.
Seed option
“It’s absolutely essential that pregnant women take in enough Omega-3 and that children in early infancy take in enough Omega-3.”
The richest sources of Omega-3 are larger fish which eat other fish, but research shows that the larger the fish the more pollutants, such as mercury, they contain.
For this reason Mr Holford recommends women consume two portions of wild or organic salmon, trout or sardines weekly.
Seeds such as flax, pumpkin and hemp are good sources of Omega-3 for vegetarians, but large quantities need to be consumed to gain the same effect.
This might translate to two tablespoons of seeds daily, Mr Holford said, but women can also use a high quality Omega-3 supplements.
Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/4631006.stm

Published: 2006/01/20 12:14:06 GMT

Share and Enjoy:

AUTISM AND NUTRITION

papajoemc — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 23:51:04 +0000

Here is a great article about Autism and how by changing your diet you can make a big difference. If you want to talk about specific issues e-mail me customhealth@gmail.com or go to my website http://www.shaklee.net/customhealth

This article appears as a chapter in the OFFICIAL AUTISM 101 MANUAL published by Autism Today, 2006.

Contributing Author Laurence A. Becker, Ph.D., Creative Learning Environments

AUTISM AND NUTRITION: RESOURCES AVAILABLE

In 2003, Dr. Rimland edited with Dr. Stephen Edelson TREATING AUTISM: Parent Stories of Hope and Success, one of the most important, readable, and useful books I know about. In addition to 30 chapters written by parents of autistic children, many of whom are medical doctors, telling of their success in treating their children, the book also contains a chart that shows the results of 22,300 responses to a survey on the treatment effectiveness of DRUGS, SUPPLEMENTS, DIETS, & MISC. THERAPIES OR CONDITIONS. What an incredible source of information for parents and doctors! Write ARI to obtain a copy of the survey and the results or to order a copy of the book. One example of the data is the survey: “Bar graphs depicting the rating of 49 drugs and 8 nutrients by thousands of parents of autistic children note that Ritalin, the most frequently used drug, helped only 29% of the children, while making 44% worse (based on 3082 parent surverys). Compare that with the ratings of nutrient therapies.

One of the most significant books to enter my life has been Karyn Seroussi’s UNRAVELING THE MYSTERY OF AUTISM AND PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER: A Mother’s Story of Research & Recovery. It reads like a detective story. I was given a copy, and I read the entire book in two days. It brought together some of the people and information that I had gained in the conferences in 1981; 1982 and connected them with autism. It also reaffirmed Dr. Rimland’s statement that “In the past 40 years the most significant research in the field of autism has not been done by men in white lab coats, but by mothers!” I cannot tell you how important this book is. Each Appendix is filled with resources. Page 262 has information about the Autism Network for Dietary Intervention.

Another recent book (2005), EVIDENCE OF HARM, by David Kirby explores in great depth the relationship between vaccinations and autism.

Resources for Art and Autism: Sandy McMurray at www.autismarts.com ,

Karen Simmons author of SURROUNDED BY MIRACLES, produced ARTISM, Art by Those with Autism and a CD Peace of Mind for Autism (caretoday@shaw.ca) or 1-877-482-1555. See also Autism Today. Released in 2006 is THE OFFICIAL AUTISM 101 MANUAL. See Amazon.com for information. See also “Living in the Spectrum” vol 1: Autism & Ausperger’s is a CD produced by Lecia Macryn at www.mindscapeproductions.com (248) 288-2242. The art of autistic savant artist Richard Wawro, who passed away in February 2006, may be found at www.wawro.net

. The M.I.N.D. Institute has published a book of its permanent art collection. It is a wonderful book that contains a biography of each artist and a full color reproduction of the art. See www.mindinstitute.org. Also see Dr. Darold A. Treffert’s www.savantsyndrome.com/ for artist Chirstophe Pillault, 12 year old savant artist Ping Lian (www.pinglian.com/) of Malaysia, and many other savant artists. I will have the feature article in the July 2006, issue of KALEIDOSCOPE Magazine (Exproring the experience of disability through literature and the fine arts) www.udsakron.org on the topic of the portrayal of disability in film. Many new and wonderful films are coming out seemingly each month. The latest to be added to my list of must see films is KEEPER OF THE KOHN about the life of Peter Kohn, long time field manager of the Middlebury men’s and women’s lacross teams. It’s a real keeper.
As you discover new and helpful resources, I hope you will share them with me. This listing of resources is constantly being updated. I look forward to adding yours. My life has been blessed by so many people, and the synchronicities are almost overwhelming at times. But “IF we be TRUE to the integrity of the moment, who knows, what or where, wonders, beasts, adventures will sweep us UP into their flood!”
“Persons are gifts…wrapped.
Each meeting of persons in an exchange of gifts.”

I have written the previous two-page statement to point people in the right direction. While it does not talk about specific nutritional supplements to use with children who have autism spectrum disorders, it does provide a broader context of the research and knowledge in the field. Some of the nutrients mentioned in the Parent Survey used by Dr. Rimland are: Calcium, Folic Acid, Vitamin A, Vitamin B3 & B6, Magnesium, Vitamin C, Zinc, Digestive Enzymes, Fatty Acid, and St.John’s Wort. The parent survey gives parents a broad knowledge of what a large number of other parents have tried and the behavioral changes that they have experienced.

Shaklee nutrition can be used to provide the supplements used in the survey in a number of instances. I am confident that the purity of the ingredients used in Shaklee food supplements and the nature of the processing of the ingredients is unmatched in the supplement industry. Shaklee has been at the forefront of the science of nutritional supplements for 50 years.
See www.shaklee.com www.shaklee.net/customhealth

The little booklet, HEALTHY KIDS, by Betsy & Ginny Vaughn has also been making a significant impact on the lives of children and families. (now also available are HEALTHY WOMEN and HEALTHY MEN, & HEALTHY PETS) Since receiving a copy from a friend, I have ordered and shared over 200 additional copies. HEALTHY KIDS contains 130 accounts by parents, nurses, and doctors, who shared their experiences of using nutritional supplements instead of drugs to bring health and well being to countless children and their families. The introduction is by a pediatrician, Linda P. Rodriguez, M.D., who has been using this approach for over twenty years in her medical practice. The complete index for the booklet lists all of the articles that relate to a specific childhood health problem and also lists the specific nutritional supplements that were used in each account. It has been such a joy for us to share this valuable resource with so many people. Copies of the book may be obtained by calling us (512-454-4489) or by calling 800-669-8162 or by email vaughng@mindspring.com

Share and Enjoy:

The numbers are in

papajoemc — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 13:02:09 +0000

Saturday we measured ourselves and the results are in. I was not very happy with them which I guess is a good thing. If I was happy with them I might not be as motivated. The problem is my back. I think this happened when I did my weight loss journey for the first time. My back started to hurt and I did not go to the gym so I was down on myself and I quit. I am not quitting this time. I am going to eat right and then exercise when I get a chance to feel better. I can do the pool if nothing else. Little movement is better than nothing.

But here we go

This is from March 2, 2007
Neck: 19
Chest:56.5
Waist:59.5
Hips:52
L Bicep:17
R Bicep:18
L Thigh:30
R Thigh:30.5
L Calf:21
R Calf:21

This is from Saturday September
Neck: 19
Chest:55.5
Waist:59
Hips:49
L Bicep:15
R Bicep:16
L Thigh:30,5
R Thigh:30
L Calf:21
R Calf:21

Things are not as bad as they were in March. So I can’t say that I am at my worse measurement wise. But weight wise I am at 364.2 — I don’t like that number at all. I have dedicated myself to not joining the 400 club and I am not. I think each day that I creep that way I am getting more and more motivated to lose the weight.

Well those are the numbers. Thanks for all the messages of support that I have gotten so far. It really makes a difference knowing that there are people out there who care and who are encouraging.

Share and Enjoy:

Want to have a baby?

papajoemc — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 20:04:21 +0000

If you are thinking about having a baby in the next six months to two years you should listen to this and talk with me. Having a healthy body is the main thing that will help you conceive as well as not have any road bumps during your pregnancy.

This conference call will help you learn more about what you need and how to prepare your body (mind and spirit are another story) for this life-changing event

Dr. Larry Gould, ob/gyn physician and Master Coordinator, will take questions about his clinical experiences with the role of Shaklee products in pre-natal nutrition, and any other questions related to women’s reproductive health. His last call was so popular; we decided to devote an entire Tuesday Product Talks call to a Q&A on this very important topic.

The call is this Tuesday, September 18, at 9 pm eastern, 712-432-3973 pin 33500#.

Share and Enjoy:

Vegetarians

papajoemc — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 00:21:03 +0000

Are you a vegetarian? Or are you thinking about becoming one? Well you need a different kind of nutritional “diet.” Listen tonight 9pm eastern to a conference call about what you need to make sure your body is getting all it needs nutritionally. This conference call is with Ellie Cullen, R.N. President of Your Future Health Blood Testing, on the special nutritional needs of vegetarians.

If you miss it this call will be archived at www.shakword.com username and password are shaklee, all lower case.

The call will be at 9 pm eastern time on 712-432-3973 pin 33500#.

Share and Enjoy:

Going Deeper into your Health

papajoemc — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 19:33:28 +0000

There are lots of ways to learn more about your health. The first way is through e-mail. You can e-mail me and let me know that you are interested. My e-mail address is customhealth@gmail.com

Another way is to visit my website. http://www.shaklee.net/customhealth

If you are not sure what you want or what you will like you can ask. My advice is to start with the cleaning products. You can’t go wrong with them. They work SO well and they are unlike any other cleaning products out there. The thing that I like the most is that they are safe for me and for my family. Before we started using them our son had asthma and he was coughing all the time. Our daughter had a cough as well and we did not know what to do. They were not “sick” but they were not totally healthy. We made sure they got their vitamins, we changed our cleaning products and we got an air source (a machine to clean the air) and their coughs are gone! In fact I went out of town with my 6-month-old daughter last week and her cough came back!! I was so upset! But after 24 hours being home again it went away. That’s the proof for me.

Anyway, here is the website for the cleaning products. Pick and choose products that you use everyday, or on an annual basis and let me know how it works. http://www.shaklee.net/customhealth/prodHou

If you are not happy with your job, what you are doing — or if you are a stay at home mom or dad looking to make some extra income (that’s what we are doing, my wife wants to stay at home with the kids) then you can join my group. It is comprised with people who I am close too – my family and friends. We are all very supportive of one another, because if one succeeds then we all do! It is an amazing experience. Right now my wife and I are making enough money each month to cover or vitamins and we are happy with that but we want to be at the point where we are doing much more and we are on the verge of having that happen. The next few months are going to be great for us — I know it, I can feel it. So if you want in on this ground breaking opportunity let me know – leave a comment, shoot me an e-mail and I can help you out.

Share and Enjoy: