We have found NO documentation that supports any problematic LDL or blood lipid changes in association with glucosamine sulfate. The most commonly reported problematic symptom of glucosamine sulfate supplementation is moderate gastrointestinal symptoms like heartburn, indigestion, or nausea; often these are eliminated if the supplement is taken in conjunction with meal time. In fact, it is always best to take supplements at meal time so that the nutrients are intermingled with real food nutrients in the digestion process.

Researchers have found that changes in LDL are mainly a result of liver dysfunction caused by the following:

• Liver dysfunction is genetically inherited, more probable in early onset of problem with no disease or aging indicators.
  
  
• Liver dysfunction occurs as part of the aging process.
  
  
• Liver dysfunction occurs from disease, diabetes being the most common.
  
  

A defect in the receptor protein for LDL in the liver has been found to be a cause for high LDL. This defect is considered to be genetic, although dietary environment and an unhealthy lifestyle could precipitate liver dysfunction, and often does with the aging process and with disease, diabetes being the most common. The LDL receptor from the liver is responsible for removing cholesterol from the blood; and once the LDL is bound to the receptor a signal is sent for the body to cease producing LDL. Damaged receptors do not send the "Stop Production" signal, and results in excessive LDL levels. Also, a diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol decreases the number of LDL receptors, and thereby reduces "Stop Production" feedback. Another association to LDL levels is Low Thyroid Function. Although not as common, individuals with thyroid problems need to realize this association.

You did not state whether your cholesterol level requires extra attention (medical or alternative). Just in case, here's some extra info. Almost 30 million prescriptions are issued each year for cholesterol-lowering drugs. These drugs have not been proven to extend a person's life span. To the contrary, these drugs (lovastatin--known as Mevacor, and gemfibrozil--known as Lopid) have been associated with increased noncardiovascular mortality. In other words, the persons taking these cholesterol-lowering drugs had increased death rates from some other cause (not cardiovascular), and died sooner than they would have if they had not been on cholesterol-lowering drugs.

Why? Probably because this specific category of drugs has been clearly proven in animal studies to be carcinogenic (cancer causing) and toxic to the liver (remember that is the organ that controls LDL levels in the first place). [study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association titled "Carcinogenicity of Lipid-Lowering Drugs," by Neman and Hully, vol 275 (1996) pgs. 55-60.] This study clearly demonstrated that the risk of carcinogenicity for cholesterol-lowering drugs is far above recently issued FDA guidelines. Although directly associating animal data to humans is an uncertain process, a toxin that is carcinogenic to any tissue form should be avoided.

The following excerpt from the JAMA article provides informative insight into the power of drug companies in the drug approval process:

"How did it happen that cholesterol-lowering drugs were approved by the FDA for long-term use in spite of their animal carcinogenicity? To address the question, we obtained minutes of the Endocrinologic and MedaMetabolics Advisory Committee meetings (under the Freedom of Information Act) at which lovastatin and gemfibrozil--the two most popular cholesterol-lowering drugs--were discussed. ... The only reported discussion of animal carcinogenicity studies at the FDA advisory committee meeting on lovastatin (February 19 and 20, 1987) was by a representative of Merck Sharp & Dohme (makers of the Mevacor brand of lovastatin), who downplayed the importance of the studies.

The minutes from the meeting on gemfibrozil (October 17, 1988) are even more revealing because the committee did discuss carcinogenicity." "Dr. Troendle [deputy director, Division of Metabolism and Endocrine Drug Products for the FDA] noted that gemfibrozil belongs to a class of drugs that has been shown to increase total mortality. It has been shown to have animal carcinogenicity, and she does not believe the FDA has ever approved a drug for long-term prophylactic use that was carcinogenic at such low multiples of the human dose as gemfibrozil."

When asked to vote at the end of the meeting, only three of the nine advisory committee members believed the potential benefit of gemfibrozil outweighed the risk. But the committee's non-approval decision was ignored by the FDA and gemfibrozil was given FDA approval.

So now nearly 30 million prescriptions are given by doctors for cholesterol-lowering drugs that are known to have carcinogenicity, probably the doctors to not know this, they only know that the drugs have FDA approval! Mevacor (lovastatin) is the most popular and Lopid (gemfibrozil) is now second. The authors of the above JAMA article advised that lipid-lowering drug treatment be avoided except in patients at high risk for an immediate heart attack or stroke. Yet doctors don't know this and the health millions of individuals is being compromised.

Our alternative for high LDL is a complete nutrition supplement program to assure the presence of all vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants each day. We recommend Ultra Body Toddy and EFA Plus to provide you with these important vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants.

With acute LDL levels (i.e. higher than 160) researchers had more significant success with a niacin therapy program than with the drug Lovastatin; better to LDL ratio, and significantly better lipoprotein reduction (we're hoping to publish more details on this on our website in the near future. However, niacin does have some side effects, such as flushing. Also, forms of niacin like "sustained-release" and "timed-release" or "slow-release" should be avoided because they are also toxic to the liver--as shown in recent studies published in JAMA [McKenny et al. "A Comparison of the Efficacy and Toxic Effects of Sustained- vs Immediate-Release Niacin in Hypercholesterolemic Patients." JAMA vol 271 (1994) pgs. 672-677].

Besides niacin, extra vitamin B5, Vitamin C, and Garlic are also components to have in an alternative therapy program. Hope this helps, and we hope that if you supplement you'll give our products a try. If you have added questions call us, or write again!

Studies have now been published that turn historical medical recommendations to avoid eggs upside down. Eggs are no longer implicated in problems with LDL (bad cholesterol) and in fact help the body to balance good and bad cholesterol. Eggs do contain cholesterol, but they do not cause or worsen an LDL condition.

Researchers have found that changes in LDL are mainly a result of liver dysfunction caused by the following:

• Liver dysfunction is genetically inherited, more probable in early onset of problem with no disease or aging indicators.
  
  
• Liver dysfunction occurs as part of the aging process.
  
  
• Liver dysfunction occurs from disease, diabetes being the most common.
  
  

A defect in the receptor protein for LDL in the liver has been found to be a cause for high LDL. This defect is considered to be genetic, although dietary environment and an unhealthy lifestyle could precipitate liver dysfunction, and often does with the aging process and with disease, diabetes being the most common. The LDL receptor from the liver is responsible for removing cholesterol from the blood; and once the LDL is bound to the receptor a signal is sent for the body to cease producing LDL. Damaged receptors do not send the "Stop Production" signal, and results in excessive LDL levels. Also, a diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol decreases the number of LDL receptors, and thereby reduces "Stop Production" feedback. Another association to LDL levels is Low Thyroid Function. Although not as common, individuals with thyroid problems need to realize this association.

You did not state whether your cholesterol level requires extra attention (medical or alternative). Just in case, here's some extra info. Almost 30 million prescriptions are issued each year for cholesterol-lowering drugs. These drugs have not been proven to extend a person's life span. To the contrary, these drugs (lovastatin--known as Mevacor, and gemfibrozil--known as Lopid) have been associated with increased noncardiovascular mortality. In other words, the persons taking these cholesterol-lowering drugs had increased death rates from some other cause (not cardiovascular), and died sooner than they would have if they had not been on cholesterol-lowering drugs.

Why? Probably because this specific category of drugs has been clearly proven in animal studies to be carcinogenic (cancer causing) and toxic to the liver (remember that is the organ that controls LDL levels in the first place). [study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association titled "Carcinogenicity of Lipid-Lowering Drugs," by Neman and Hully, vol 275 (1996) pgs. 55-60.] This study clearly demonstrated that the risk of carcinogenicity for cholesterol-lowering drugs is far above recently issued FDA guidelines. Although directly associating animal data to humans is an uncertain process, a toxin that is carcinogenic to any tissue form should be avoided.

The following excerpt from the JAMA article provides informative insight into the power of drug companies in the drug approval process:

"How did it happen that cholesterol-lowering drugs were approved by the FDA for long-term use in spite of their animal carcinogenicity? To address the question, we obtained minutes of the Endocrinologic and MedaMetabolics Advisory Committee meetings (under the Freedom of Information Act) at which lovastatin and gemfibrozil--the two most popular cholesterol-lowering drugs--were discussed.... The only reported discussion of animal carcinogenicity studies at the FDA advisory committee meeting on lovastatin (February 19 and 20, 1987) was by a representative of Merck Sharp & Dohme (makers of the Mevacor brand of lovastatin), who downplayed the importance of the studies.

The minutes from the meeting on gemfibrozil (October 17, 1988) are even more revealing because the committee did discuss carcinogenicity" "Dr. Troendle [deputy director, Division of Metabolism and Endocrine Drug Products for the FDA] noted that gemfibrozil belongs to a class of drugs that has been shown to increase total mortality. It has been shown to have animal carcinogenicity, and she does not believe the FDA has ever approved a drug for long-term prophylactic use that was carcinogenic at such low multiples of the human dose as gemfibrozil."

When asked to vote at the end of the meeting, only three of the nine advisory committee members believed the potential benefit of gemfibrozil outweighed the risk. But the committee's non-approval decision was ignored by the FDA and gemfibrozil was given FDA approval.

So now nearly 30 million prescriptions are given by doctors for cholesterol-lowering drugs that are known to have carcinogenicity, probably the doctors to not know this, they only know that the drugs have FDA approval! Mevacor (lovastatin) is the most popular and Lopid (gemfibrozil) is now second. The authors of the above JAMA article advised that lipid-lowering drug treatment be avoided except in patients at high risk for an immediate heart attack or stroke. Yet doctors don't know this and the health millions of individuals is being compromised.

Our alternative for high LDL is a complete nutrition supplement program to assure the presence of all vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants each day. We recommend Ultra Body Toddy and EFA Plus.

With acute LDL levels (i.e. higher than 160) researchers had more significant success with a niacin therapy program than with the drug Lovastatin; better to LDL ratio, and significantly better lipoprotein reduction (we're hoping to publish more details on this on our website in the near future. However, niacin does have some side effects, such as flushing. Also, forms of niacin like "sustained-release" and "timed-release" or "slow-release" should be avoided because they are also toxic to the liver--as shown in recent studies published in JAMA [McKenny et al. "A Comparison of the Efficacy and Toxic Effects of Sustained- vs Immediate-Release Niacin in Hypercholesterolemic Patients." JAMA vol 271 (1994) pgs. 672-677].

Besides niacin, extra vitamin B5, Vitamin C, and Garlic are also components to have in an alternative therapy program.

Food sources of each of these nutrients as well as many others is contained within the discussion of that nutrient in our web area "Pick A Nutrient..." For example, look at niacin (Vitamin B3) and you will see that fish, poultry, eggs, rice and sunflower seeds are good sources of niacin. For natural sources of vitamin B5 click here

The most important issue in cholesterol is balance between HDL and LDL and triglycerides. The most important body function to obtain this balance is a healthy liver. Liver health is the result of a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and supplementing with at least the antioxidant nutrients to decrease the toxic burden the liver has to deal with each day. We do carry a new antioxidant product called Cell Shield. However, we feel the best program is full spectrum supplementation with Ultra (which contains the daily dosage of Cell Shield antioxidants) and EFA Plus for essential fatty acids to assure the presence of all nutrients every day.

Hope this helps, and we hope that if you supplement you'll give our products a try. If you have added questions call us, or write again!

First of all, we do not recommend that you stop taking coumadin without first talking to your physician. here are some nutrients that do help with blood thinning (or anticoagulants). Vitamin E, Vitamin C and Garlic. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that improves circulation and thins the blood. If you are taking an anticoagulant drug, don't take more than 400 IU a day, except under your doctor's supervision. Vitamin C with bioflavonoids helps in thinning blood. The bioflavonoids enhance the absorption of the vitamin C and are best taken together, but it is best if the level of bioflavonoids is equal to or greater than the level of Vitamin C. Vitamin C also prevents blood clots and free radical damage. Take anywhere from 3,000-6,000 spread throughout the day (you'll know if you've taken too much if you get diarrhea, then back down 1,000 mg). Garlic is another nutrient that thins the blood and lowers pressure. We carry odorless Kyolic garlic in capsules, you can take 2 capsules 3 times a day. Remember that first and foremost you should be on a full-spectrum supplement so that your body has everything it needs to heal and regulate itself. Then as you add extra nutrient support for specific problems your body will not be over stressed trying to balance the extra nutrients and will be able to take care of your specific problems. We do carry a liquid full-spectrum vitamin supplement. The liquid helps so that you get the greatest possible absorption also carry EFA Plus which helps in cell formation, helps balance the fluid level of cells, and helps to minimize the formation of clots.

I am hoping you can help me. A dear friend to me was diagnosed cardo-miopathy several years ago. Doctors can't believe that he is still alive today. They say it's due to eating right through out the years, however, he is having problems getting rid of the water he is taking in, which makes it very hard to breathe causing him major exhaustion, and many sleepless nights. Plus he is getting terrible gas and he has turned to eating junk food. What do you suggest he could do to help his kidneys work to relieve him from the water since the lacects that he is taking aren't helping enough? I guess I'm selfish and I want him to be around a little bit longer. He has your tapes and I know he is a true believer on what they say. Can you give me some insight so I can pass it on to him?

Cranberry juice concentrate (no added sweeteners a great berry that is very helpful in maintaining kidney function. He'd need to drink at least 8 oz. three times a day. Cranberry juice for healing the bladder is to be taken only with quality drinking water. He should drink at least 8 oz. three times a day.

Since his water retention is high, he should try to avoid foods that are high in salt. Stay away from sodium and potassium chloride, a salt substitute. It is a fallacy that more water causes more water retention. Dehydration and low water intake can worsen a water retention problem because then the body tries to store all the water that ever does come in because of the fluid dehydration signals. HE NEEDS TO CHEMICALLY/NUTRITIONALLY BALANCE his body and then his body should be able to resolve these problems.

Enzymes are an important part in digesting food properly. He needs to be taking digestive enzymes 3 times a day with each meal. We carry Enzyme Plus.

If he's taking antacids, they will cause a problem with the digestive acidity levels in his body and make it harder for him to digest his food and nutrients. This seems logically reversed since people think high acids cause heartburn, but his condition is once again linked to chemical/nutritional imbalances. Food will NEVER DIGEST in an alkaline (anti acid) environment. If the body is balanced digestive acids will do their job correctly without irritating the dickins out of his gut.

Because of his digestive sensitivity we recommend he begin taking Ultra Toddy. If he can't handle the Ultra then the Total Toddy would be the one to take.

Good nutrition is always the best line of defense and the best way to help your body to chemically balance and heal itself. If you don't give your body what it needs, it has no way of healing itself. Because of his digestive sensitivity we recommend an incremental program of full-coverage liquid with our Total Toddy product, and also the Enzyme Plus product discussed above.