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There is a safe

 There is a safe, easy, natural way to cure mood disorders and reclaim a life of health and happiness without spending a fortune or relying on dangerous (and often ineffective) drugs.


If You or Someone You Love
 Suffers From Depression, Anxiety,
Insomnia, Attention Deficit or Any “Mood Disorder,”
This May Be The Most Important Letter
You’ll Ever Read

From: Dr. Dana Myatt
                                 Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Myatt’s Wellness Club
                        To:  People Suffering from Mood Disorders

 

                        Dear Friend:

                        There is a “dirty little secret” known in many medical and scientific circles about “mood disorders” (depression, anxiety, etc.) …
                         a secret you will probably never hear from your doctor …and the Big Drug Companies want it that way.

                        This “dirty little secret” is the reason that 72% of people diagnosed with a mood disorder don’t feel better
                        regardless of what “head med” (drug) they take, and why even those who do feel somewhat better
                        with drugs often find that the “improvement” stops working after a while or still doesn’t make them feel
                        really good. If you knew the “dirty little secret” that is known to medicine’s “inner circle,” you would find yourself able to:
                       

                                    * not just feel “better,” but truly goodagain …

                                    * end fatigue, lethargy, anxiety and hopelessness in a few days, sometimes overnight …

                                    * skyrocket your energy levels without stimulants …

                                    * sleep like a baby all night long and wake rested and refreshed….

                                    * say “goodbye” to depression and anxiety without drugs….

                                    * reclaim your happy, energetic self in record time with NO dangerous drug side-effects

 

                        The best part is, you won’t need to take costly “head meds” or stimulants indefinitely
                        (which don’t work well anyway), pay thousands of dollars for often-ineffective counseling,
                        and still spend the rest of your life feeling only “half alive” because of a mood disorder. All you need to
                        know is the “dirty little secret” that has been kept behind closed doors… until now.


3 Lies Your Doctor Probably Told You About Mood Disorders
(and he doesn’t even know they’re lies…)

Lie # 1: Mood disorders are caused by a serotonin deficiency. In some cases, this is true. (Note: did your doctor ever actually TEST your serotonin levels to verify this? Answer: Almost certainly “NO”). Even if serotonin deficiency is your problem, as it is for some people with mood disorders, conventional drugs like Prozac and Zoloft only block the re-uptake of this neurotransmitter, giving your body the false impression that more serotonin is available. Treating “serotonin deficiency” without a test is not only a “shot-in-the-dark,” but the treatment itself is a “patch-job,” instead of a “fix.” Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI’s) do not increase serotonin levels, and the artificial blocking of re-uptake eventually depletes serotonin levels even more.

Lie # 2:  Drugs are the best treatment for mood disorders. Come on. Do you really think depression is caused by a Prozac deficiency? Or that anxiety is caused by a Trazadone deficiency? Changes in brain chemicals (called Neuro-Transmitters) cause the symptoms we collectively call “mood disorders.” These changes in brain chemistry can be identified and corrected by natural means, restoring them to normal levels.
                       
Lie # 3:  There is no way to test Neurotransmitter levels. Actually, NeuroTransmitter Testing has been around for years. Your doctor could test and know exactly what “head hormones” (neurotransmitters) you are low or high in and make specific corrections. But keep reading and you’ll find out why he/she probably doesn’t even know about this test, and if they do, why they can’t (won’t) order it for you…..

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The Real Cause of Mood Disorders That
Big Drug Companies Hope You Never Find Out

 

                        Doctors know that brain chemicals — called Neuro-Transmitters, or “NT’s” for short—- control everything from mood and sleep to food cravings. Most people have heard of at least one of these Neurotransmitters,  serotonin, but there are other major NT’s including epinephrine (adrenaline),norepinephrine, dopamine,                                     GABA, PEA and histamine. Together, these major Neuro-Transmitters control mood, libido, food cravings, sleep patterns and energy levels to name only a few. When any one of these NT’s are out of balance (as they are in an estimated 85% of the population with mood disorders), the implications can be enormous:

                                   

                             Serotonin:
                                           Too little can cause depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, uncontrolled appetite, migraine headaches, obsessive/compulsive disorders and PMS complaints.

                                           Too much serotonin is rare and is caused by excess drugs or other serotonin-increasing treatments. Serotonin overdose can be life-threatening.

 

                             Epinephrine (adrenaline): too much can causes sleep disturbances, anxiety and ADHD. Too little causes fatigue,  depression, lack of focus and difficulty losing weight.       

                             Norepinephrine (NE): Too much causes anxiousness, stress, hyperactivity and high blood pressure. Too little causes fatigue, lack of focus and difficulty losing weight.

                             Dopamine: responsible for feelings of pleasure and satisfaction. Low levels play a role in Parkinson’s  disease and also in addictions and food cravings.  High dopamine is seen in people with autism,  attention disorders and GI disturbances. 

                             GABA

 

                             glutamate is the major excitatory neuro Transmitter in the brain. Excess glutamate is associated with neurological diseases such as Huntington’s disease, parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, ALS, Tourette’s syndrome and Korsakoff syndrome. While excess glutamate alone probably does not cause these diseases, it is felt that high levels of glutamate may be toxic to nerve cells and indicate toxicity elsewhere in the body.                                                  

                       

                        Doctors use various “head meds” (like Prozac or Zoloft) to increase serotonin’s effects. (Notice I said effects; these drugs do not increase actual serotonin levels). Sometimes these drugs help depression, but often not. That is because the other major Neurotransmitters’s — epi, NE, dopamine, GABA and glutamate — are also intimately involved in mood and “feel good” control. “Tinkering” with only one neurotransmitter — serotonin — may not help much if any of the other five major neurotransmitters are out of balance. In many people with anxiety, depression or other mood disorder, serotonin levels are not the only problem or not even the problem at all. Many cases of mood disorder havenothing to do with serotonin but instead involve one or more of the other major neurotransmitters.

So why doesn’t “Big Medicine” and “Big Pharma” want you to know that other neurotransmitter imbalances may be the cause of your depression? Because NT imbalances can be corrected with a few simple diet changes and some inexpensive over-the-counter supplements. Drug companies don’t have drugs to effectively correct other neurotransmitter except serotonin and norepinephrine. Depression medications like prozac, zoloft, XXX and XXXX are BIG BUSINESS, raking in $XXXXX of dollars for major drug companies each year. If even a small percentage of the 19 million depressed Americans discovered how to correct their depression without drugs, Big Pharma income from these drugs could drop precipitously. Or imagine if XXXX million children and adults no longer needed Ritalin and other stimulants! Believe me, the Big Drug Companies will do everything they can to make sure this doesn’t happen — including convincing your doctor and you that your only hope for treating a mood disorder is dangerous drugs. Even more appalling is that these drugs effects only ONE, or at most TWO major neurotransmitters — even if you have never had your neurotransmitters levels tested!

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Your Secret Weapon for Conquering Mood Disorders

                        Balancing the body’s six major neurotransmitters —  serotonin, epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, GABA and glutamate — is the secret to feeling good and getting out from under the dark cloud of depression, anxiety, insomnia, attention deficit or any other mood disorder you may suffer from. Other “side-effects” of balanced NT’s (as if being free from depression or anxiety weren’t enough!) include sound sleep, improved libido and energy, normal appetite and better fat-burning. If you are over or under weight, body weight tends to normalize because mood disorders are a common cause of over and under-eating.

                        As you’ll learn, there are simple, natural ways to increase or decrease neurotransmitters. For example, two amino acids (both readily available in any health food) provide the raw materials that the body uses to produce epinephrine and norepinephrine. By supplementing these amino acids, a person who is low in epinephrine (adrenaline) or norepinephrine can improve their neurotransmitters levels without drugs, just by taking these amino acids between meals. By using “precursors” (raw materials that the body uses to make NT’s), the resulting increased NT levels are a true “fix,” not just a “band aid.”

                        Normal neurotransmitter levels are the key to a happy, energetic, symptom-free life. The correction for imbalanced neurotransmitters involves a few simple diet changes and some inexpensive, easily obtainable nutritional supplements. So what is holding you back? Obviously, you need to know which neurotransmitters are out of balance before you can begin an NT-improvement program. As you can see from the list of NT’s above, excesses cause just as many problems as deficiencies. The secret to normal neurotransmitter balance begins with knowing your neurotransmitter levels.
________________________________________
                                   
The Medical Test
That Can Save Your Life

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Perhaps You’re Wondering,
“Why Didn’t My Doctor Order This Test…?”

Your doctor did not order a NeuroTransmitter test fortwo important reasons:

First, because he or she doesn’t know about it!Big Drug Companies aren’t “pushing” these tests yet because they don’t have drugs to address every neurotransmitter imbalance. Would you want to continue taking a serotonin-effecting drug, for example, if you found out you were low in epinephrine instead? And what about your doctor? The pharmaceutical industry is responsible for most of a doctor’s training, including the medical school curriculums. American medical schools are still marching to the Big Pharma tune. And Big Pharma isn’t ready for you or your doctor to know about simple ways to correct Neurotransmitter imbalances, especially when “head meds” are such Big Business.

Second (and this one may shock you), a doctor can besued by either your insurance company OR the federal government for ordering a “non standard” medical test. You read that right. The Big Drug Companies have such a stronghold on doctors and the government that a doctor can only order those tests that the drug companies “approve of.” Big Pharma isn’t going to let the cat out of the bag about Neurotransmitter Testing until they have drugs to sell you to “correct” any NT imbalance that testing discovers. And while norepinephrine drugs have just recently been introduced (which means we are the “guinea pigs for testing their safety), there are no other “head meds” on the horizon. That means that you’ll be waiting for years— perhaps even a decade or more—before your doctor will know about this test and  order it for you.

As I showed you in the first half of this report, your doctor is telling you some potentially deadly lies-and he doesn’t even know it.

But it isn’t his fault. He simply never learned in medical school or in mainstream journals about the safe, natural miracle-cures that are all around us, but known only to an unorthodox, yet dedicated few. It’s a shame, but the modern medical establishment is so dominated by the pill and scalpel that these un-patentable (read: inexpensive and difficult to regulate) cures get swept under the rug by our Big Pharma-friendly government…

 

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Ignorance Isn’t Bliss, It’s Blistered

As we discussed earlier in this report, your doctor is telling you some potentially deadly lies-and he doesn’t even know it.

But it isn’t his fault. He simply never learned in medical school or in mainstream journals about the safe, natural miracle-cures that are all around us, but known only to an unorthodox, yet dedicated few. It’s a shame, but the modern medical establishment is so dominated by the pill and scalpel that these un-patentable (read: inexpensive and difficult to regulate) cures get swept under the rug by our Big Pharma-friendly government…

_________________________

 

3 Reasons Why I Know You’ll Find Your
Neurotransmitter Improvement Program So Valuable

1.) Knowledge is Power. Whether you choose conventional drugs, natural (corrective) remedies or a combination of both, at least you will know exactly what neurotransmitters need to be normalized, instead of just going along with the conventional medical “guess” and treating only serotonin levels.

2.) You’ll know your Options.  Your follow-up report will detail which drugs, supplements, diet and lifestyle changes are available to correct your particular neurotransmitter imbalances.

3.) You’ll discover proven ways to live a healthier, happier life.  When you balance your brain chemistry through corrective measures, you’ll not only feel happier, you’ll be genuinely healthier.

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Lift DEPRESSION Overnight
By Pressing Your “Happy Buttons”

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What Patients Have To Say
About the Neurotransmitter Improvement Program….
(testimonials here)

“You Have Make A Huge Difference…”
“I feel like I have my life back. I really didn’t realize how depressed I was. Things seemed  better after I started taking Zoloft, but it was only after we discovered that I was low in epinephrine and norepinephrine, and made some changes, that I could tell the difference beween ‘just getting by’ and really living. It’s hard for me to find the words to express how greatful I am for this test and your recommendations.” John Abrams, Phoenix, Arizona

“I Have Already Experienced Great Changes In Myself Because Of The Principle #1 Exercise…”
” I started taking the recommended supplements just two days ago and I can already feel a difference. I slept better last night than I have in years. I really do believe with such fast improvement in my sleep that help is on the way…” Katherine K., Poduk MI

“Your NT Program Recommendations Are Easy To Follow…”
“I learned through NT testing that I had three neurotransmitter imbalances (none of which was serotonin, which explains why Prozac wasn’t helping me). But I was afraid that “natural treatments” would involve some strict diet and exercise plan and eating foods I don’t like, like tofu. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Dr. Myatt’s recommendations were simple and easy to follow. Even better, I have experienced dramatic results in only two weeks. THANK YOU SO MUCH DR. MYATT!”

“TheNIP Program Has Empowered Me To Take Control Of My Life…”

“NIP Has Truly Changed My Life…”

” TheNT Test and Program Have Accomplished in Three Weeks what Drugs and Counselling Failed to Produce in Three Years…”

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Your Personal Neurotransmitter Improvement Plan (NIP) will be:

Simple — That’s because simple is the thing that works the best.

Fast Results — When you invest in this course, or in anything, you are doing so because you want results sooner rather than later.owever, you have to be open to fast results. This sounds crazy, but if you believe in the saying “anything worth having is worth waiting for” than you are going to live a life waiting. Let’s start getting results right now – fast, immediate – with these 11 Principles.

Real Life — Principles from the real world always work better (or else they would not be principles) than the “should be’s” some people try to get you to believe.

Realistic, A Game Plan — Do you agree that information without a plan that shows you how to use it is worthless information. That means even poor information, if it at least comes with a game plan, will benefit you.

So imagine what superior information, with a specific, easy to follow game plan like the 11 Principles course is worth to you… Not only do you learn each of the 11 Principles, you also see how other people like yourself have used them. And most importantly, you are given an easy to follow game plan to quickly and simply put each Principle into use for yourself.

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Don’t just swallow a pill (and the marketing hype that goes with it) and carry on with business as usual. True neurotransmitter-balancing treatment is worth its weight in gold -and far outweighs the use of tranquilizers, anti-depressants, sleeping pills and other synthetic mood-altering drugs. So stop the drain on your health and feel like yourself again.

                             ___________________________

                        Drug-free treatments work like Prozac without dangerous side effects. Prozac and other antidepressants work by boosting your levels of the mood-enhancing chemical serotonin. Yet researchers have now discovered a technique that does the very same thing — without drugs!
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Believe me, this isnot “pop medicine.” Just the opposite. These unpublicized techniques were revealed to our editors by a team of over 250 leading physicians and scientists, then carefully double-checked against the latest research. You won’t find them in the popular press — and unlike the fluff printed there, these things work.

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We are supposed to have freedom of speech in this country, but even many courageous alternative medical doctors don’t dare dare discussnew medicines or testsuntil they are “approved” by conventional medicine.Funny thing is, many of these leading-edge discoveries will in fact become “accepted”—- just as soon as Big Pharma figures out how to make a profit from them.

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Neurotransmitters are naturally occurring chemicals within the brain that relay signals between the nerve cells and are required for proper brain and body function. A proper balance of neurotransmitter levels helps achieve optimal health.

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Prescribing drugs based on opinions, theories and guesswork is like driving blindfolded. Without actual testing, you won’t discover your real Neurotransmitter imbalances except by accident.

Even “medicalexperts” find it hard to predict how patients will respond to a Neurotransmitter-effecting drug like Prozac or Zoloft. What’s more…

Testing often proves “expert opinions” dead wrong — and can skyrocket response and profits through the roof!

Simple diet, lifestyle and supplement changes can dramatically improve your neurotransmitter balance and hence, your mood and happiness level. But unless and until you test, you’ll never know what those needed changes are.

 

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Lift depression, Balance Your NT’s and see:

Better Results In Your BUSINESS

Better Results In Your HEALTH

Better Results In Your JOB

Better Results In Your Relationships

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How Much Is The Neurotransmitter Improvement Program?

The total value of the Neurotransmitter Test plus your personalized follow-up report —what I call the Neurotransmitter Improvement Program — is $794. And that would still be an incredible bargain based on the results it can bring you. But because I want to make this program available to as many people as possible before the “window of opportunity” closes, I’m going to make you an incredible offer.

Can you even put a price tag on a healthy, happy life?

How much would you give to wake up tomorrow morning living that dream life you gaze at every day in your head?

However, I want to get this life-changing information into everybody’s hand at a very reasonable price. And since this test is not yet “recognized” by conventional medical insurance (and won’t be until Big Pharma figures out how to get into the act), you’ll be paying out-of-pocket. Instead of the usual $794cost of theNeurotransmitter Test plus a New Patient Consult and follow-up report from me, I have chosen to make the entire program available for the cost of the NT test alone, $297.

Cost of NIP Program including NT test and Personalized Report: $297
Cost of feeling healthy, happy and energetic again: priceless

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Money-Back Guarantee

Perhaps you are concerned about the test results. What if your test results say that all of your neurotransmittrs are completely normal? Personally, I’ve never seen completely normal test results in a person suffering from depression, but I suppose it could happen. Now, a test result is a test result. The lab isn’t going to give us our money back if we don’t like the test results, any more than you’d get your money back for any other medical test result that you didn’t like. (Did you get your money back when you didn’t like hearing that you had high cholesterol? Or high blood sugar?) But I am SO CONFIDENT that if you suffer from depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD or other any other mood disorder that  neurotransmitter imbalances will be discovered which will lead you to a better life, that I will personally make this guarantee:

If your NeuroTransmitter Profile results come back completely normal, I will personally return your money— you won’t even have to ask for it back. Not only that, but you can keep your bonuses. Even in the presence of normal test results (again, I’d be quite surprised), your personal report will contain suggestions for increasing your health and happiness levels.

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P.S. If you recognize the enormous value of this program, please order your Neuro Improvment Program today. I don’t know how long I can continue to offer The Neurotransmitter Test, which requires a “doctor’s order.” You see, I’ll have a lot of people “gunning” for me when they find out what I am offering, and I could be barred at any moment from making this life-changing test and report available. The drug companies won’t like it because hey don’t want you to find out that you may have a neurotransmitter imbalance that is correctable without one of their drugs. Other doctors who use this test won’t like it, because it may deprive them of a new patient visit and numerous follow-up visits. (Remember, the test can only be ordered by a doctor, so ordinarily you’d have to visit a physician who would order the test for you). Even the labs who perform the tests might get a little “testy” when they learn that I am offering this test to people that I haven’t seen in person. But until someone cuts me off, I’ll do my best to make this test available. I believe it’s that important. Because I have no idea how long I can offer it, please don’t delay. If you return to this page and it’s gone from the Internet, it will mean that this service is no longer available to anyone except a private practice patient of mine.
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Three Free Bonuses: Yours to Keep no Matter What

1.) The Body/Mind Connection DVD.

2.) FREE report: 29 simple, natural strategies to lift depression and live a life of joy.

3.)  [JV partner bonus here?]
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REFERENCES:

 

Recommended Reading

Commonsense Rebellion: Taking Back Your Life from Drugs, Shrinks, Corporations, and a World Gone Crazy (Paperback) by Bruce E. Levine, pHD. Continuum Press, 2006.

 

 

                       
                       

 

                       

                       


 

 

 

Neogenis Nitric Oxide Test Strips


Nitric Oxide Test Strips The world’s first and only standard non-invasive salivary Nitric Oxide test. Now you can measure your Nitric Oxide levels for yourself.

Test Nitric Oxide levels.

This saliva test is a simple way to understand the body’s current ability to produce Nitric Oxide. We recommend testing on an empty stomach. We recommend testing regularly.

Why test?

The test helps monitor the body’s Nitric Oxide status using saliva. Test results are measured by comparing the test strip to four color-coded indicators. The test monitors the body’s level of this critical molecule in the system.

How To Use The Strips

Wash your hands.

Wash Hands

Place your saliva on the test strip indicator pad.

Apply saliva

Compare your test strip indicator pad to the color chart on the container.

Compare Strip Color

Note: Baseline test produces most accurate results if test is taken on an empty stomach. If you are taking antibiotics or have used antiseptic mouthwash in the last 24 hours, test results will not be accurate. Do not place the test strip in your mouth.

This is the world’s first and only standard non-invasive salivary Nitric Oxide test.

Now you can measure your Nitric Oxide levels for yourself.

Special Order – Please Call.

 

Butterbur (MigraMAXX)


Natural Support For Migraine Headache and Hay Fever

ButterburrButterbur (Petasites hybridus) contains petasin, a substance which relaxes blood vessels and certain smooth muscles and is anti-inflammatory. Studies have shown that butterbur is useful for:

  • hay fever
  • migraine headaches

Butterbur and Hay Fever

Butterbur has been shown in studies to be as effective as drugs at relieving hay fever symptoms but without adverse side effects

One study compared Butterbur to the drug cetirizine (Zyrtec) and found that both relieved symptoms equally well. However, the drug was associated with a higher rate of adverse side effects including drowsiness.

A second study compared butterbur extract with fexofenadine (Allegra). Butterbur was just as effective as fexofenadine at relieving symptoms.

Butterbur and Migraine Headache

Studies have shown that Butterbur reduces the frequency of migraine headaches. The amount of Butterbur needed to be effective was 75mg of a standardized 15% petasin extract taken at least twice per day. Smaller doses were not effective in reducing migraine frequency.

Butterbur may contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids which can cause liver damage, use only extracts which have the pyrrolizidine alkaloids removed. This will be stated on the label.

References

1.) Wang GJ, Shum AY, Lin YL, et al. Calcium channel blockade in vascular smooth muscle cells: Major hypotensive mechanism of S-petasin, a hypotensive sesquiterpene from Petasites formosanus. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2001;297:240–6.
2.) Thomet OA, Schapowal A, Heinisch IV, et al. Anti-inflammatory activity of an extract of Petasites hybridus in allergic rhinitis. Int Immunopharmacol 2002;2:997–1006.
3.) Lipton RB, Gobel H, Einhaupl KM, et al. Petasites hybridus root (butterbur) is an effective preventive treatment for migraine. Neurology 2004;63:2240–4.
4.) Lee DK, Haggart K, Robb FM, Lipworth BJ. Butterbur, a herbal remedy, confers complementary anti-inflammatory activity in asthmatic patients receiving inhaled corticosteroids. Clin Exp Allergy 2004; 34:110–4.
5.) Ziolo G, Samochewiec L. Study on clinical properties and mechanism of action of petasites in bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive bronchitis. Pharm Acta Helv 1998;72:378–80.
6.) Schapowal A, Petasites Study Group. Randomised controlled trial of butterbur and cetirizine for treating seasonal allergic rhinitis. BMJ 2002;324:144–6.
7.) Lee DK, Gray RD, Robb FM, et al. A placebo-controlled evaluation of butterbur and fexofenadine on objective and subjective outcomes in perennial allergic rhinitis. Clin Exp Allergy 2004;34:646–9.
8.) Schapowal A; Petasites Study Group. Butterbur Ze339 for the treatment of intermittent allergic rhinitis: dose-dependent efficacy in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004 Dec;130(12):1381-6.
9.) Lee DK, Carstairs IJ, Haggart K, Jackson CM, Currie GP, Lipworth BJ. Butterbur, a herbal remedy, attenuates adenosine monophosphate induced nasal responsiveness in seasonal allergic rhinitis. Clin Exp Allergy. 2003 Jul;33(7):882-6.
10.) Käufeler R, Polasek W, Brattström A, Koetter U. Efficacy and safety of butterbur herbal extract Ze 339 in seasonal allergic rhinitis: postmarketing surveillance study.Adv Ther. 2006 Mar-Apr;23(2):373-84.
11.) Diener HC, Rahlfs VW. Danesch U. The first placebo-controlled trial of a special butterbur extract for the prevention of migraine: reanalysis of efficacy criteria. Eur Neurol 2004;51:89–97.
12.) Grossmann M, Schmidramsl H. An extract of Petasites hybridus is effective in the prophylaxis of migraine. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther 2000;38:430–5.
13.) Pothmann R, Danesch U. Migraine prevention in children and adolescents: results of an open study with a special butterbur root extract. Headache 2005;45:196–203.
14.) Lipton RB, Gobel H, Einhaupl KM, et al. Petasites hybridus root (butterbur) is an effective preventive treatment for migraine. Neurology 2004;63:2240–4.

 

Macular Degeneration


Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease that gradually destroys sharp, central vision. Central vision is needed for seeing objects clearly and for common daily tasks such as reading and driving. AMD affects the macula, the part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail. AMD causes no pain.

In this simulation, how a person with AMD sees the world is presented graphically. As the disease progresses the area of central vision deteriorates. The gradual destruction of light sensitive cells continues until large areas are totally lost. Peripheral vision remains, but the ability to clearly see straight ahead is gradually lost. Credit: National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health

In some cases, AMD advances so slowly that people notice little change in their vision. In others, the disease progresses faster and may lead to a loss of vision in both eyes. AMD is a leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 years of age and older.

Wet AMD versus dry AMD

Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels behind the retina start to grow under the macula. These new blood vessels tend to be very fragile and often leak blood and fluid. The blood and fluid raise the macula from its normal place at the back of the eye. Damage to the macula occurs rapidly.

With wet AMD, loss of central vision can occur quickly. Wet AMD is also known as advanced AMD. It does not have stages like dry AMD.

An early symptom of wet AMD is that straight lines appear wavy. If you notice this condition or other changes to your vision, contact your eye care professional at once. You need a comprehensive dilated eye exam.

Dry AMD occurs when the light-sensitive cells in the macula slowly break down, gradually blurring central vision in the affected eye. As dry AMD gets worse, you may see a blurred spot in the center of your vision. Over time, as less of the macula functions, central vision is gradually lost in the affected eye.

The most common symptom of dry AMD is slightly blurred vision. You may have difficulty recognizing faces. You may need more light for reading and other tasks. Dry AMD generally affects both eyes, but vision can be lost in one eye while the other eye seems unaffected.
 

Normal vision and the same scene as viewed by a person with age-related macular degeneration. Normal vision
Normal vision   The same scene as viewed by a person with age-related macular degeneration
The same scene as viewed by a person with age-related macular degeneration

Causes and Risk Factors

Who is at risk for AMD?

The greatest risk factor is age. Although AMD may occur during middle age, studies show that people over age 60 are clearly at greater risk than other age groups. For instance, a large study found that people in middle-age have about a 2 percent risk of getting AMD, but this risk increased to nearly 30 percent in those over age 75.

Other risk factors include:

  • Smoking. Smoking may increase the risk of AMD.
  • Obesity. Research studies suggest a link between obesity and the progression of early and intermediate stage AMD to advanced AMD.
  • Race. Whites are much more likely to lose vision from AMD than African Americans.
  • Family history. Those with immediate family members who have AMD are at a higher risk of developing the disease.
  • Gender. Women appear to be at greater risk than men.
  • Aspirin. A new study links daily aspirin use to an increased risk of macular degeneration.16

Can my lifestyle make a difference?

Diet and lifestyle can play a role in reducing your risk of developing AMD.

  • Eat a diet high in green leafy vegetables and fish.
  • Don’t smoke.
  • Avoid daily aspirin use.16

Conventional Medical Treatment for Macular Degeneration

Wet AMD can be treated with laser surgery, photodynamic therapy, and injections into the eye. None of these treatments is a cure for wet AMD. The disease and loss of vision may progress despite treatment.

  1. Laser surgery. This procedure uses a laser to destroy the fragile, leaky blood vessels. A high energy beam of light is aimed directly onto the new blood vessels and destroys them, preventing further loss of vision. However, laser treatment may also destroy some surrounding healthy tissue and some vision. Only a small percentage of people with wet AMD can be treated with laser surgery. Laser surgery is more effective if the leaky blood vessels have developed away from the fovea, the central part of the macula. (See illustration at the beginning of this document.) Laser surgery is performed in a doctor’s office or eye clinic.

    The risk of new blood vessels developing after laser treatment is high. Repeated treatments may be necessary. In some cases, vision loss may progress despite repeated treatments.

     

  2. Photodynamic therapy. A drug called verteporfin is injected into your arm. It travels throughout the body, including the new blood vessels in your eye. The drug tends to “stick” to the surface of new blood vessels. Next, a light is shined into your eye for about 90 seconds. The light activates the drug. The activated drug destroys the new blood vessels and leads to a slower rate of vision decline. Unlike laser surgery, this drug does not destroy surrounding healthy tissue. Because the drug is activated by light, you must avoid exposing your skin or eyes to direct sunlight or bright indoor light for five days after treatment.

    Photodynamic therapy is relatively painless. It takes about 20 minutes and can be performed in a doctor’s office.

    Photodynamic therapy slows the rate of vision loss. It does not stop vision loss or restore vision in eyes already damaged by advanced AMD. Treatment results often are temporary. You may need to be treated again.

     

  3. Injections. Wet AMD can now be treated with new drugs that are injected into the eye (anti-VEGF therapy). Abnormally high levels of a specific growth factor occur in eyes with wet AMD and promote the growth of abnormal new blood vessels. This drug treatment blocks the effects of the growth factor.

    You will need multiple injections that may be given as often as monthly. The eye is numbed before each injection. After the injection, you will remain in the doctor’s office for a while and your eye will be monitored. This drug treatment can help slow down vision loss from AMD and in some cases improve sight.

Nutritional Treatment of Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS)

Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS)

The National Eye Institute’s Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) found that taking a specific high-dose formulation of antioxidants and zinc reduces the risk of advanced AMD and its associated vision loss by 25%, slowing AMD’s progression from the intermediate stage to the advanced stage.

 The specific daily amounts of antioxidants and zinc used by the study researchers were 500 milligrams of vitamin C, 400 International Units of vitamin E, 15 milligrams of beta-carotene (often labeled as equivalent to 25,000 International Units of vitamin A), 80 milligrams of zinc as zinc oxide, and two milligrams of copper as cupric oxide. Copper was added to the AREDS formulation containing zinc to prevent copper deficiency anemia, a condition associated with high levels of zinc intake.

Can diet alone provide the same high levels of antioxidants and zinc as the AREDS formulation?

No. The high levels of vitamins and minerals are difficult to achieve from diet alone. However, previous studies have suggested that people who have diets rich in green leafy vegetables have a lower risk of developing AMD.

Can a daily multivitamin alone provide the same high levels of antioxidants and zinc as the AREDS formulation?

No. The formulation’s levels of antioxidants and zinc are considerably higher than the amounts in any daily multivitamin.

If you are already taking daily multivitamins and your doctor suggests you take the high-dose AREDS formulation, be sure to review all your vitamin supplements with your doctor before you begin. Because multivitamins contain many important vitamins not found in the AREDS formulation, you may want to take a multivitamin along with the AREDS formulation. For example, people with osteoporosis need to be particularly concerned about taking vitamin D, which is not in the AREDS formulation. 1

How to Make Vision Supplements Work Better

Many people who take the AERDS nutritional supplement formula do not benefit from it and the disease progresses. Only about 25% of study participants benefited. Also note that this formula often slows the advancement of the disease. Just because you don’t notice improvement doesn’t mean it isn’t working.

Some holistic physicians, myself included, have found that poor assimilation — especially a decrease of gastric acid function in the stomach — is an important factor in the development of AMD. No matter how many supplements one takes, if they are not assimilated, they are of no value.

It is probably no coincidence that the risk of AMD increases with age and so does the decline of stomach acid production. Contrary to popular belief, most people who experience “heartburn” actually have too little stomach acid, not too much. Find out how that happens in this article: What’s Burning You?

So, in addition to taking eye nutrients, improving digestion and assimilation is also highly recommended.

Dr. Myatt’s Recommendations for Macular Degeneration

  1. Diet: eat a diet high in antioxidant nutrients (especially green vegetables), high in Omega-3 fatty acids (from fish) and low in Omega-6 fatty acids.
  2. Gastric function: Perform a Gastric Acid Self-Test or ask your holistic physician to perform a Heidleberg gastric analysis. Make corrections to gastric acid function as indicated by the test.
  3. Vision supplements: The following are specifically recommended for macular degeneration:

    I) Maxi Multi– optimal potency multiple vitamin / mineral / trace mineral supplement. 3 caps, 3 times per day with meals.

    Vision was the same or better in 88% of people with AMD who took a multiple vitamin / mineral supplement compared with 59% of those who those who did not take the supplement. This is a statistically significant difference. The supplement used in this study contained beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, and riboflavin. 2  Other studies have confirmed the importance of vitamins A, C, E, zinc and other nutrients found in a quality multiple vitamin/ mineral formula. 3,5 More recent studies have also shown the importance of B complex vitamins in AMD.4

    II.) Maxi Marine O-3: (high potency fish oil). 1 cap, 2 times per day. A diet high in omega-3 fatty acids, especially from fish oil, has been associated with lower risk of macular degeneration in multiple studies. 5-10

    III.)  Lutein Plus (lutein and zeaxanthin).  1 cap, 1-2 times per day with meals. Lutein and zeaxanthin are two carotenoids that act directly in the macula to protect it from damaging effects of excess light.  Along with vitamins C and E, they are part of the antioxidant defense system of the macula.11      

    Studies have shown that lutein and zeaxanthin reduce the risk of AMD and may slow progression. 3-5, 11-14
    Smokers have an increased need for these carotenoids. 14      

How Long to See Results?

One study suggests that it takes at least 6 months of supplementation to see results. 15
 

References

  1. www.nei.nih.gov
  2. Olson RJ. Supplemental dietary antioxidant vitamins and minerals in patients with macular degeneration. J Am Coll Nutr 1991;10:550.
  3. Krishnadev N, Meleth AD, Chew EY. Nutritional supplements for age-related macular degeneration. Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2010 May;21(3):184-9.
  4. Olson JH, Erie JC, Bakri SJ. Nutritional supplementation and age-related macular degeneration. Semin Ophthalmol. 2011 May; 26(3):131-6.
  5. Ho L, van Leeuwen R, Witteman JC, van Duijn CM, Uitterlinden AG, Hofman A, de Jong PT, Vingerling JR, Klaver CC. Reducing the genetic risk of age-related macular degeneration with dietary antioxidants, zinc, and ω-3 fatty acids: the Rotterdam study. Arch Ophthalmol. 2011 Jun;129(6):758-66.
  6. Mance TC, Kovacević D, Alpeza-Dunato Z, Stroligo MN, Brumini G. The role of omega 6 to omega 3 ratio in development and progression of age-related macular degeneration.Coll Antropol. 2011 Sep;35 Suppl 2:307-10.
  7. Merle B, Delyfer MN, Korobelnik JF, Rougier MB, Colin J, Malet F, Féart C, Le Goff M, Dartigues JF, Barberger-Gateau P, Delcourt C. Dietary omega-3 fatty acids and the risk for age-related maculopathy: the Alienor Study. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2011 Jul 29;52(8):6004-11. Print 2011 Jul.
  8. Sangiovanni JP, Agrón E, Meleth AD, Reed GF, Sperduto RD, Clemons TE, Chew EY; Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group. {omega}-3 Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid intake and 12-y incidence of neovascular age-related macular degeneration and central geographic atrophy: AREDS report 30, a prospective cohort study from the Age-Related Eye Disease Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Dec;90(6):1601-7. Epub 2009 Oct 7.
  9. SanGiovanni JP, Chew EY, Agrón E, Clemons TE, Ferris FL 3rd, Gensler G, Lindblad AS, Milton RC, Seddon JM, Klein R, Sperduto RD; Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group. The relationship of dietary omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid intake with incident age-related macular degeneration: AREDS report no. 23. Arch Ophthalmol. 2008 Sep;126(9):1274-9.
  10. Seddon JM, Rosner B, Sperduto RD, Yannuzzi L, Haller JA, Blair NP, Willett W. Dietary fat and risk for advanced age-related macular degeneration. Arch Ophthalmol. 2001 Aug;119(8):1191-9.
  11. Fletcher AE. Free radicals, antioxidants and eye diseases: evidence from epidemiological studies on cataract and age-related macular degeneration. Ophthalmic Res. 2010;44(3):191-8. Epub 2010 Sep 9.
  12. SanGiovanni JP, Chew EY, Clemons TE, Ferris FL 3rd, Gensler G, Lindblad AS, Milton RC, Seddon JM, Sperduto RD. The relationship of dietary carotenoid and vitamin A, E, and C intake with age-related macular degeneration in a case-control study: AREDS Report No. 22.  Arch Ophthalmol. 2007 Sep;125(9):1225-32.
  13. Tan JS, Wang JJ, Flood V, Rochtchina E, Smith W, Mitchell P. Dietary antioxidants and the long-term incidence of age-related macular degeneration: the Blue Mountains Eye Study.Ophthalmology. 2008 Feb;115(2):334-41. Epub 2007 Jul 30.
  14. Schweigert FJ, Reimann J. [Micronutrients and their relevance for the eye–function of lutein, zeaxanthin and omega-3 fatty acids]. Klin Monbl Augenheilkd. 2011 Jun;228(6):537-43. Epub 2010 Aug 25.
  15. Cangemi FE. TOZAL Study: an open case control study of an oral antioxidant and omega-3 supplement for dry AMD. BMC Ophthalmol. 2007 Feb 26;7:3.
  16. Paulus T.V.M. de Jong, Usha Chakravarthy, Mati Rahu, Johan Seland, Gisele Soubrane, Fotis Topouzis, Johannes R. Vingerling, Jesus Vioque, Ian Young, Astrid E. Fletcher. Associations between Aspirin Use and Aging Macula Disorder:The European Eye Study. Ophthalmology Volume 119, Issue 1 , Pages 112-118, January 2012

 

Magnesium Stearate: In Search of The Truth


An interview with  Dr. Dana Myatt, N.M.D.

Biography:
Dr. Myatt is a graduate of the National College of Naturopathic Medicine and has been in multi-disciplinary, full-scope family practice for 23 years. In addition to her nationwide family practice, she frequently speaks at medical and lay conferences across the country on topics in holistic medicine.  She is the founder and CEO of  Dr. Myatt Nutritionals, her own line of nutritional supplements since 1994.

Dr. Myatt is author of “A Physician’s Diary” (A.R.E. Press, 1994) and the upcoming “Ketone Zone Diet” .  She is a member of  The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, the Arizona Naturopathic Medical Association, the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.  She is also a certified Advanced Hazmat Life Support provider and instructor.

Magnesium stearate, a common ingredient in many nutritional supplements, has gotten a bad rap from several nutritional supplement companies and online physicians.  One doctor has gone so far as to claim that it forms a deadly “biofilm” in the intestines and suppresses the immune system.  Since magnesium stearate is so widely used in the nutritional industry, we felt it important to carefully examine these claims.

 

After watching this thorough and completely scientifically referenced video by Dr. Dana Myatt on the subject, a nutritional supplement industry reporter named Jill requested an interview to learn the truth about magnesium stearate.

Here is that interview.

Jill: Dr. Myatt, what exactly is magnesium stearate and what is its role in nutritional supplements?

Dr. Myatt:  Magnesium stearate is a simple salt of two common substances, the mineral magnesium and the saturated fat stearic acid.  It is used as a “flow agent” in many nutritional supplements and pharmaceuticals.

Jill: Could you explain a bit more about magnesium stearate?

Dr. Myatt:  Magnesium stearate is a salt that contains two common ingredients, a fatty acid called stearic acid and the mineral magnesium. Together they form magnesium stearate.

Magnesium stearate contains two molecules of stearic acid and one molecule of magnesium.  The molecule is held together by ionic bonds — the definition of a salt — that break apart easily in acid, the condition found in the human stomach.  Though the name may make it sound like a synthetic, space-age molecule, both magnesium and stearic acid are abundantly available in many foods in our diet.  In order to really understand magnesium stearate, let’s look at its two components.

Magnesium is an essential mineral, the major mineral most likely to be deficient in the American diet. (1)  I don’t think anyone would argue the safety of magnesium.

Stearic acid is a saturated fatty acid found in many foods including eggs, chicken, grass-fed beef, coconut oil, walnuts, cheese, chocolate , salmon and human breast milk to name just a few. (2)

Both magnesium and stearic acid are not only safe, they are beneficial to human health. Magnesium stearate is simply a salt that combines both of these molecules.

Jill: What is a “flow agent” and why is it used?

Dr. Myatt:  Flow agents help ensure a consistent dose of product in each capsule. Magnesium stearate does this by preventing individual ingredients from sticking to each other and from sticking to the encapsulating machines.  It allows manufacturers to create a consistently homogenous mix, so the amount of active ingredients is the same from capsule to capsule or tablet to tablet.  In other words, the use of magnesium stearate and other flow agents helps ensure consistency and quality control.

Jill: Some companies claim to fame is that they do not use flow agents or other “inert ingredients.” Is that a good thing?

Dr. Myatt: This might sound good to consumers who do not understand the nuances of good supplement manufacturing practices,  so some companies use it as a selling point.

The truth, however, is that companies who don’t use flow agents are more likely to have inconsistent doses of ingredients in each capsule or tablet. This aspect of quality control is so important that the FDA is said to be considering the issue as part of their new GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) guidelines.  If flow agents are added to the GMP’s, all manufacturers may be required to use flow agents to ensure consistency. Flow agents are that important for quality control.

Jill: Do most drugs, vitamins and supplements contain more than just the active ingredient? Can they be made without them?

Dr. Myatt:  Almost all drugs and supplements contain inactive ingredients. These “inactives” serve multiple purposes.  Flow agents, as we discussed, help ensure consistent dosing in each tablet or capsule. Some products contain fillers like cellulose which acts as a binder in tablets and helps fill out the size of tablets or capsules.

Herbs can be encapsulated and additional herb used as filler, so these products may contain only “actives.”

So yes, it is possible to make capsules or tablets without inactive ingredients, but quality control becomes more difficult.  Manufacturing without minute amounts of inactives is possible but drives the price of the supplement up unnecessarily.  There is no proven benefit to manufacturing without magnesium stearate except as a marketing angle.

Jill: One doctor claims that magnesium stearate suppresses immune t-cell function and causes the collapse of cell membrane integrity in helper t-cells.  Is there any scientific support for this?

Dr. Myatt: (laughing) Not unless you’re a mouse. This claim amuses me the most, because the doctor who promotes the idea that magnesium stearate is dangerous also promotes and sells a lot of foods that are high in steric acid, claiming it to be a healthy fat, which it is.

The entire argument is based on the gross misrepresentation of a single mouse study. Here’s the “Cliff notes”:

The entire claim is based on a single study—- that’s right, one study — performed in 1990, using mouse T-cells in a Petrie dish. When mouse T-cells were incubated (read that: “soaked” or bathed) with stearic acid — not magnesium stearate, but stearic acid — there was indeed a collapse of the cell membrane and a loss of T-cell function. (3) This study was never repeated.

But here’s the factoid that magnesium stearate naysayers conveniently “forget” to mention.  Mouse t-cells are known to lack the delta-9 desaturase enzyme that converts stearic acid into oleic acid. This was mentioned right in the same mouse-cell study.  Mouse T-cells can apparently become toxic from high levels of stearic acid, at least in a Petrie dish and at levels far above what could ordinarily be achieved from diet.

Human t-cells have the delta-9 desaturase enzyme that converts stearic acid to oleic acid, so human T-cells don’t develop this same toxic build-up when exposed to stearic acid. (4)

Bottom line: Mice lack an enzyme in their T-calls that humans have, so stearic acid is toxic to mouse T-calls and not to human T-cells. Stated another way: humans are not mice.

Jill: So… stearic acid isn’t bad for humans? What’s the difference between stearic acid and stearate?

Dr. Myatt: Stearic acid is a saturated fatty acid and one of the most common saturated fatty acids found in nature.(5) The term “stearate” is used when steric acid is part of a salt (as when stearic acid combines with magnesium to form magnesium stearate). The terms steric acid and stearate can be used interchangeably.

Jill:  But isn’t stearic acid or stearate toxic at some dose?

Dr. Myatt:  Water is toxic if the dose is high enough.

Anybody concerned about the minute amount of stearic acid in supplements should know the following:

  • The daily adult intake of stearic acid from food (US adult) averages about 7,000 mg/day.(6)
  • A person taking 20 vitamin capsules weighing 500 mg each and containing 1% magnesium stearate would take in less than 96 mg of stearic acid per day. Manufacturers typically use 0.25% – 5% magnesium stearate in nutritional formulations.
  • The amount of stearic acid from supplements in the above scenario is 1.3% of the total daily adult intake.
  • Magnesium stearate is considered safe for human consumption at levels below 2,500 mg/kg per day. This equates to 170,000 mg per day as a safe dose for a 150-pound adult.(7) That’s almost 6 ounces of pure magnesium stearate.

Jill: Got it. Magnesium stearate is magnesium plus stearic acid, correct?  Is there something about the two molecules that, once combined, makes it behave differently than the two separate molecules? In other words, is magnesium stearate actually different than magnesium and steric acid?

Dr. Myatt:  No, there is nothing special or different about magnesium stearate. It is a simple salt of magnesium and stearic acid. Here is the chemical “short course”:

Magnesium Stearate = 2 stearic acid + 1 magnesium

This salt disassociates (comes apart) readily in the acidic medium of the human digestive tract.

One claim I’ve seen is that the addition of magnesium stearate to supplements decreases bioavailability. What the studies actually show is that absorption might be slowed somewhat but overall absorption is not decreased. (8,9)

Jill:  Another claim is that magnesium stearate a chalklike substance that gums up your intestines and prevents absorption of your nutrients.  Fact or fiction?

Dr. Myatt: Fiction.

Magnesium stearate is definitely not a chalk. Chalks are soft, stone-like minerals, including things like gypsum (calcium sulfate) CaCO3 (calcium carbonate) and CaO (calcium oxide).  Remember that magnesium stearate is a salt, containing approximately 96% stearic acid, which is a saturated fat. The other 4% is magnesium. Chalks are combinations of minerals, but magnesium stearate is mostly saturated fat.

How could a fat be a chalk? It isn’t, not by any known scientific definition of a chalk.

Even if it were a chalk, you shouldn’t be worried about it gumming up your intestines or “caking the lining.” Why? Because if you did eat chalk, like calcium carbonate, which is a form of calcium used in many nutritional supplements, your digestive system would break it down to its mineral components. Human digestion is truly amazing.

By the way, I used to perform quite a few endoscopies in clinic. This is where you examine the lining of the large intestine with a special scope, looking for polyps. I never once saw anyone with a “caking of the lining” of their intestinal tract.  Tenacious, dry stool sometimes, yes. But “caking” with a chalk-like substance? Never. If this story about “caking the lining” is told by a doctor, it must be one who has never actually visualized the inside of the large intestine.

Jill: OK. No T-cell collapse in humans, no “caking of the lining” of intestines. How about the claim that magnesium stearate stimulates the gut to form a biofilm? And is a biofilm a sludge that would act as a barrier to the absorption of nutrients?

Dr. Myatt: There is not one single scientific reference or study to support this claim.  In fact, if you know what a biofilm is — and I’m going to tell you in just a minute — you’ll see that this entire argument is completely preposterous. It has no basis in any known science.

To clarify for those readers who haven’t seen it, this internet legend, promoted by a well-known doctor, says that a biofilm is basically like the “sludge in your toilet tank,” and that magnesium stearate causes this sludge and prevents nutrient absorption. Just as there is a big difference between a chalk and a fat, a biofilm is not akin to sludge, a.k.a. “soap scum” that you might find in your toilet tank.  By the way, I don’t have soap scum in my toilet tank. But I digress.

A toilet tank film or bathtub ring occurs when hard water, containing calcium or magnesium, reacts with fatty acid in soap to form a so-called “soap scum.” If you live in a hard-water area, you’ll see this as an annoying white film on your shower curtain.

Humans get significant amounts of magnesium, calcium and fatty acids — the ingredients in soap scum —from diet. But we don’t form soap scums in our bodies because of our digestive enzymes and acids. Further, soap scum is not biofilm — not even close.

We learned that soap scum is a mineral (usually calcium or magnesium) plus fatty acids. Humans eat both all day, every day and do not develop a “scum” in their intestines.

Biofilms are layers of bacteria or yeast embedded in the gel-like substance they secrete. They tend to be highly antibiotic-resistant and often fatal.  As to the claim that stearic acid causes biofilms, this is completely without any scientific evidence. In fact, several studies have shown just the opposite — stearic acid actually helps prevent the formation of biofilms. (10,11)

Jill:  Next claim.  Magnesium stearate made from contaminated oils from genetically engineered crops. True?

Dr. Myatt:  OK, let’s talk dirty. Magnesium stearate is most commonly sourced from cottonseed oil or palm oil and it’s true that cotton can be a GMO crop and is typically high in pesticides. But even if the starting cottonseed oil is contaminated, the finished product, stearic acid, is so highly purified that contamination really isn’t an issue. Cottonseed-derived stearic acid is so purified and the final molecule so far-removed from the original source, it doesn’t carry any pesticide residue. We might as well worry about the food-grade additive cellulose, which is also obtained either from wood waste (we call that “sawdust” out here in Arizona) or cotton waste (known as “gin trash,” — the waste cotton remaining in the cotton gin). (12)

Just like taking dirty water and purifying it into something clean and drinkable, purifying cottonseed oil to obtain stearic acid delivers a pure finished product.

And by the way, stearic acid can also be derived from palm oil, which many manufacturers, myself included, use as the source of their stearic acid.

Jill:   Is magnesium stearate often contaminated during processing, as one doctor claims?

Dr. Myatt:  Contamination during the manufacture of supplements or pharmaceuticals can occur anywhere along the entire manufacturing process.   That is why quality supplement manufacturers test raw materials before purchase; after purchase when they are received; after mixing and after encapsulating. Raw materials can occasionally become cross contaminated, and that’s why quality manufacturers employ so many tests and inspections all along the process.

Now, is magnesium stearate one of the substances more likely to be contaminated? Absolutely not. There is one reported instance of a raw materials manufacturer notifying the World Health Organization that several batches of magnesium stearate had been cross contaminated with zeolite (sodium aluminum silicate), calcium hydroxide, and several other substances. The contamination was determined to be due to incomplete cleaning of air milling equipment. This was traced to a single raw materials manufacturer and was an isolated event.  Moreover, WHO found the contaminating substances to be present in such minute amounts that they posed no health risk.  And this was self-reported by the manufacturer of the raw material before it was used in product.(13)

Jill:  Is magnesium stearate going to be removed from supplements by the Codex Committee on Food Additives?

Dr. Myatt:  No. The Codex Committee considered removing magnesium stearate from the acceptable food list, not because of any danger, but because they didn’t see the use for it in food. They were simply trying to trim up their list of allowed food additives.  When food manufacturers pointed out that magnesium stearate is an important and safe anti-caking agent, it was reinstated.  Removing magnesium stearate from Codex for use in nutritional supplements has never been considered as far as I can determine.

Magnesium stearate is currently approved by FDA regulations for use in food and supplements. (14,15)

Jill: Is there room for disagreement in the supplement industry on what is safe and effective?

Dr. Myatt:  (laughing) Is the Pope Catholic?

I don’t always agree with my colleagues in the nutritional supplement industry. Some ingredients and doses based on the scientific literature are arguable. With most issues in medicine, there is no black and white. There is instead, “ten thousand shades of gray.” In many instances, there is evidence on both sides of the question.

But the evidence is not “mixed” on the safety of magnesium stearate. The evidence says that magnesium stearate, a simple salt of magnesium and stearic acid, is a safe and effective flow agent that helps maintain dose consistency, and there really isn’t any evidence to the contrary.  At least I haven’t found any, and I’ve looked long and hard at these claims because I, too, manufacture nutritional supplements and use magnesium stearate as a flow agent.  So I had to know if any of these claims had even a shred of basis in fact. They don’t.

That’s not to say that new evidence won’t emerge, but right now, the damning claims for magnesium stearate are completely without scientific verification or substantiation.

Jill:  Dr. Myatt, you have completely dismantled the “danger claims” of magnesium stearate, all supported with verifiable references.  Why would some companies and doctors make these claims if they have no basis in fact?

Dr. Myatt: There is a lot of competition in the nutritional industry today. Everybody and their brother is selling supplements, or so it seems. Companies must distinguish themselves in order to get a toe-hold in the industry. Think about it.

If 537 other companies are selling a calcium supplement, why should you buy mine? Everybody is looking for a unique selling angle.  “More bioavailable,” “72% more absorbable,” “nano-technology,” and on and on. Some of these claims have merit, but many are just marketing hype.

One “angle” is to claim that magnesium stearate is dangerous, bad, or evil — never mind the proof aspect. To paraphrase the movies, “We don’t need no stinking proof”!  And since the majority of manufactures who use magnesium stearatedo so because it is one of the absolute safest and best flow agents, claiming that it is bad and then making a supplement without it is a marketing strategy, nothing else.  Considering how few people do their “homework” on such claims — witness how these many unsubstantiated claims about magnesium stearate are now accepted “facts” in the minds of many — the technique is probably  fairly effective as a marketing tool.  But in my opinion this is not simply “misrepresentation.” Someone is telling outright lies.

Jill: (laughing) Wow — don’t hold back, Dr. Myatt. Why don’t you tell us what you really think?! Do you have any parting thoughts for our readers?

Dr. Myatt: Don’t believe something just because you read it, heard it or learned it at the University of Google. Check references. See if there is known science or studies to support claims.  Blind sheep can easily be led off a cliff.

Also, use supplements from manufacturers that you have researched and trust.  There are a number of quality manufacturers who are just as concerned with providing pure and health-giving products as they are with their bottom line and who believe that quality is the best way to stay in business.

Jill: Thank you Dr. Myatt for this most informative and, dare I say, entertaining Q & A.

Dr. Myatt: It’s always a pleasure to help set the scientific record straight.

References:

1.) National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements: Magnesium.
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/
2.) USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 24
3.) Tebbey PW, Buttke TM. Molecular basis for the immunosuppressive action of stearic acid on T cells. Immunology. 1990 Jul;70(3):379-84.  Full Text article: NCBI
4.) Anel A, Naval J, González B, Uriel J, Piñeiro A. Fatty acid metabolism in human lymphocytes. II. Activation of fatty acid desaturase-elongase systems during blastic transformation. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1990 Jun 14;1044(3):332-9.
5.) Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet. Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional
6.) U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. What we eat in America,
NHANES 2001-2002, individuals 2 years and over (excluding breast-fed children).www.ars.usda.gov/SP2UserFiles/Place/12355000/pdf/Table_1_BIA.pdf., page 5. Accessed 06/28/12
7.) Søndergaard D, Meyer O, Würtzen G. Magnesium stearate given perorally to rats. A short term study.Toxicology. 1980;17(1):51-5.
8.) Alija Uzunović, Edina Vranić; “Effect Of Magnesium Stearate Concentration On Dissolution Properties Of Ranitidine Hydrochloride Coated Tablets”; Bosnian Journal Of Basic Medical Sciences, 2007, 7(3): 279-283
9.)  Natalie D. Eddington, Muhammad Ashraf, Larry L. Augsburger, James L. Leslie, Michael J. Fossler, Lawrence J. Lesko, Vinod P. Shah, Gurvinder Singh Rekhi; “Identification of Formulation and Manufacturing Variables That Influence In Vitro Dissolution and In Vivo Bioavailability of Propranolol Hydrochloride Tablets”; Pharmaceutical Development and Technology, Volume 3, Issue 4 November 1998 , pages 535–547
10.) Soni KA, Jesudhasan P, Cepeda M, Widmer K, Jayaprakasha GK, Patil BS, Hume ME, Pillai SD. Identification of ground beef-derived fatty acid inhibitors of autoinducer-2-based cell signaling. J Food Prot. 2008 Jan;71(1):134-8.
11.) Liaw SJ, Lai HC, Wang WB. Modulation of swarming and virulence by fatty acids through the RsbA protein in Proteus mirabilis. Infect Immun. 2004 Dec;72(12):6836-45.
12.) USDA. Cellulose. www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5066975
13.) World Health Organization Quality of Medicines for Everyone, Contaminated magnesium stearate VG EP excipient manufactured by Ferro, supplied by Signet and used in finished pharmaceutical products, December 22, 2011. http://apps.who.int/prequal/info_press/documents/Mg-Stearate_InformationNote_Dec2011.pdf
14.) Food and Drug Administration, CFR – Code of Federal Regulations Title 21, accessed Sept. 10, 2012.
15.) Food and Drug Administration, Select Committee on GRAS Substances (SCOGS) Opinion: Magnesium stearate, accessed Sept. 10, 2012

Maxi Fiber™

 

Maxi FiberFormulated By
Dr. Myatt To Be
The Best-Tasting,
Most Complete
Fiber Available

Maxi Fiber is once again temporarily unavailable – sorry!

Fiber is one of the most important components of a healthy diet, but few of us get enough for optimal health.

  • Fiber Complex™ is a great-tasting, easy to use blend that provides the full spectrum of fibers found in a nutritious, whole food diet such as gums, pectins, mucilages, and lignans.
  • Fiber Complex™ contains both soluble and insoluble fiber for digestive, heart health and glucose-regulating benefits.
  • Fiber Complex™ is suitable for everyday use, since it contains no laxative herbs.
  • Fiber Complex™ mixes easily, without becoming gritty or thick
  • Fiber Complex™ is hypoallergenic: no corn, soy or gluten, and no artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners.

People on the standard American diet often do not consume the recommended fiber intake per day. The standard American diet consists mostly of refined and processed foods that are literally stripped of their natural fiber content. A fiber intake of 38 grams a day for men and 25 grams per day for women is the recommendation for people under 50 years old. If you are above the age of 50, men and woman should be consuming 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories.

Fiber is the component of food that is either minimally digested or in most instances not digested at all. The positive health effects of fiber are well documented. Some researchers suggest that low fiber diets are a major contributor of the chronic health problems seen in America today.

Fiber is described as either being soluble or insoluble, with each having different properties that are beneficial to your health. Soluble fiber helps modulate blood cholesterol levels, blood glucose levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. Soluble fiber is traditionally found in oats, apples, pears and legumes. Insoluble fiber typically is only minimally digested and adds the necessary bulk that speeds up the digestive system which reduces transit time and promotes regularity. It also aids in reducing toxins that can potentially be absorbed through decreasing the transit time. Insoluble fiber is traditionally found in foods like bran, whole grains, certain fruits and vegetables.

Fiber Complex™ offers a good tasting solution that can be used to supplement the diet, and help those that are striving to improve their nutritional intake and meet the recommended levels.

Maxi Fiber for Health

Maxi Fiber Supplement Facts

KandidaPlex


Powerful Natural Support To Manage Candida

KandidaplexThis powerful phytonutrient complex was designed for intestinal and systemic yeast imbalance. Along with undecylenic acid, this formula also provides berberine, citrus seed extract and other synergistic factors.

Recommended dosage: one to two capsules per day, increase by one capsule every two to three days until desired results are achieved (most commonly six per day).

Learn More About Berberine + Ultra Here!We no longer carry Kandidaplex.

Dr. Myatt has a new recommendation for treating Candida:

Learn about Berberine + Ultra Here >>> 

Kava-Kava


Natural Anti-Anxiety and Muscle Relaxant Support

Description – Kava Kava (Piper methysticum) is approved in Europe as a treatment for nervous anxiety, depression, insomnia, and restlessness.  Clinical studies have found Kava Kava as effective as benzodiazepine drugs but without the undesirable side effects (impaired mental acuity and addiction).

Kava is also an antispasmodic and  muscle relaxant.  It has anesthetic effects on the urinary tubules and bladder.  With its analgesic properties, Kava is a good remedy for chronic pain. Kava is also effective for intestinal colic (pain) caused by IBS.

Suggested dose: 1 Capsule (40-75 mg kavalactones per cap) 1-3 times per day.

Dr. Myatt’s Comment: I find that kava is much more effective when taken as a tea, which is the way it is traditionally used. Open 4-6 capsules in a cup of hot water. Sweeten to taste. NOTE: kava has a bitter taste that must be “acquired.” Sweetening may help. If you know how much anti-anxiety or muscle tension relief it is going to give you, kava’s taste seems a small price to pay.

Additional Note: You may have heard or read about safety questions concerning kava. As it turns out, only the stem, leaf and peeled root bark cause problems; the whole lateral root does not. This kava product contains whole lateral root only. Read here for more information about the “kava kava mystery.”

Larch (Larix occidentalis)


Natural Anti-Metastatic and Immune Stimulant

Larch ArabinogalactansLarch is a deciduous conifer that contains an arabinogalactan similar to those found in other “immune-enhancing” herbs such as Echinacea, Baptisia and Turmeric.

Larch arabinogalactans have been shown to reduce the number of liver metastasis in multiple studies, perhaps by acting as a “reverse lectin” and blocking tumor binding sites. A similar effect has been noted for Modified Citrus Pectin. Larch also nourishes the gut flora and acts as a source of dietary fiber. A summary of the benefits of Larch are:

  • stimulates the immune system
  • helps prevent cancer metastasis
  • improves bowel flora (friendly gut bacteria)
  • acts as a source of dietary fiber

Larch and/or Modified Citrus Pectin should be considered by anyone with cancer to help prevent or delay metastasis.

Suggested Dose: two teaspoons, 2-3 times per day. This may be added to your Super Shake.

REFERENCES

1.) Hagmar B, Ryd W, Skomedal H. Arabinogalactan blockade of experimental metastases to liver by murine hepatoma. Invasion Metastasis 1991;11:348-355.
2.) Beuth J, Ko HL, Oette K, et al. Inhibition of liver metastasis in mice by blocking hepatocyte lectins with arabinogalactan infusions and D-galactose. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 1987;113:51-55.
3). Beuth J, Ko HL, Schirrmacher V, et al. Inhibition of liver tumor cell colonization in two animal tumor models by lectin blocking with D-galactose or arabinogalactan. Clin Exp Metastasis 1988;6:115-120.
4). Hauer J, Anderer FA. Mechanism of stimulation of human natural killer cytotoxicity by arabinogalactan from Larix occidentalis. Cancer Immunol Immunother 1993;36:237-244.