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Nature’s Sunshine JUNE 2003 Newsletter
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Issue 38 |
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JUNE 2003 |
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VITAMINS: IS THIS THE END OF NUTRITION
IN EUROPE? The British media has recently been enjoying a feeding frenzy over a report that suggests, “minerals and vitamins can cause cancer and liver damage” (The Times), that “people are poisoning themselves”(Sunday Times), and that their health could be “irreversibly damaged” (Daily Telegraph). I listened to further reports on The Today Programme on Radio 4 and again on GMTV. The journalists were supposedly quoting from a report written by the FSA (Food Standards Agency) but sadly the journalists sensationalised the whole issue - some people will do anything to sell newspapers! The FSA report was based on a detailed, 350-page study from the Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals (EGVM). I have purchased a copy of this report, as I was very interested to check some of the statements made in the media. In the first place, the claim that “vitamins and minerals can cause cancer” is a statement restricted to the over-use of chromium picolinate, which is sold in High Street stores at levels up to 0.6mg. The FSA states that it “may have the potential to cause cancer”. The EGVM is aware of two cases where the patient died from severe kidney and liver damage after taking 7.5mg regularly, although no cases of cancer came to light. I checked out quite a lot of the vitamins and minerals which received bad press but there was nothing alarming in the EGVM report. Yes, we know that if you take 10,000mg of Vitamin C that you will probably get diarrhoea and that when you stop, the diarrhoea goes away. It’s also known that Zinc taken in doses of over 100mg can be toxic to the body, but that’s why Zinc is sold in doses of 15mg with clear dosage instructions on the bottle. I came to the conclusion that this was probably something to do with the EU directive to restrict the sale of over-the-counter vitamins and minerals, which will be implemented in two years. It will be a sad state of affairs if we are no longer allowed to manage our own health by supplementing a diet already sadly lacking in vital nutrients. Has this got anything to do with the drug companies wanting to continue enjoying enormous profits from drugs, I wonder? Lynne
Gully |
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WHO NEEDS SUPPLEMENTS?
Everyone, actually. Who in the world is malnourished? Why, the poor people in developing
countries are, of course. But did you know that many people in the prosperous
West are also deficient in essential nutrients? An astonishing fact, perhaps, for those who believe we get all the
nutrients we need from our diet. But our soil is now so depleted of essential
minerals from intensive farming that the nutritional quality of our food is
but a fraction of what it was 50 years ago, organic or not. Most fruit and vegetables that we buy in the supermarkets have been in cold storage for approximately 6 to 9 months. This can have a devastating effect on the quality of our food. Random tests carried out proved that the nutritional value of our food varies. For example, one carrot was tested and found to have 1850mg of
vitamin A. another carrot was tested and found to have only 75mg of vitamin
A. One orange was tested and found to have 70mg of vitamin C whilst
another contained only a trace of vitamin C. A study was carried out on our food in 1950 and again in the year
2000. An enormous amount of essential minerals have been lost in our food
over the past 50 years. These are just a few examples of the mineral loss. carrots now contain 75%
less magnesium broccoli now contains 75%
less calcium spinach now contains 60%
less iron swedes now contain 60%
less iron And so it goes on. Worrying statistics that have totally convinced me
that supplementing my diet is essential for good health. It’s your choice. CLINICAL TRIALS ON SUPPLEMENTS Free radical damage is the initial cause of most types of cancer,
early aging, cataracts etc. “Antioxidant” is the name given to particular types of nutrients that
neutralise free radicals, reducing the level of damage they cause. Many clinical trials have been carried out using antioxidants to prevent certain types of illnesses.
So prevention seems to be the best approach, as ever. Don’t wait for something to develop. |
Nature’s Sunshine provides a range of
professional supplements containing antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to
boost our daily nutritional intake. There is also a children’s range – just
call me for details. ANTIOXIDANT ARSENAL. We are bombarded with free radicals every day and if they are not controlled they can damage the body's cells and accelerate the processes of disease and aging. The antioxidants will scavenge for free radicals and neutralise them, preventing them from harming the body. The Antioxidant Arsenal contains Vitamin C, Vitamin E with Selenium, Beta Carotene, Zinc and Grapine. Stock No: 4033 Price:
£22.25 i) SynerPro Multiple Vitamins &
Minerals provides 100% of the UK RDA for 16 vitamins and minerals in a
base of cruciferous vegetables and herb blend. Stock No: 1644 Price: £9.15 (60) ii) Super Supplemental Vitamins and
Minerals is excellent for the more active person and the full range of
vitamins and minerals are in a base of choline, inositol, alfalfa, asparagus,
barley grass, broccoli powder, cabbage powder, lemon bioflavonoids, rose
hips, wheat germ and kelp. Stock No:
1817 Price: £13.50 (120) iii) Mega Chel is a powerful
vitamin and mineral supplement and is also the key product for the
circulatory system. In addition to a large array of vitamins and chelated
minerals it contains herbs, which assist the circulation such as ginkgo
biloba, hawthorn berries, CoQ10 and inositol.Stock No: 1821 Price: £26.50 (180) iv) Nature's Prenatal is a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement specially formulated for pregnant and lactating women with 800 mcg of folic acid in addition to a balanced combination of vitamins and minerals. It is also a good idea to take this product if you are trying to conceive because of the folic acid content. Stock No: 4917 Price: £19.35 |
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Tel: 01689 856581 email: lynne.gully@optimumhealth.co.uk
www.optimumhealth.co.uk |
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