After examining 11 medical journals – among these were the Journal of the American Medical Association and the New England Journal of Medicine – two university researchers concluded the following:

– Journals with the most pharmaceutical drug ads published no clinical or cohort studies on dietary supplements.
– In journals with the most drug ads, mentions of supplements being unsafe or ineffective were 63 percent and 50 percent higher, respectively.

Schatzman’s take: Though advertising might have something to do with the apparent bias, there are many other factors that might be keeping supplements down. Here are some other reasons:

– There might be a bias in the article acceptance and peer-review processes at some journals.
– Editors and authors might influence these publications with their own views and interests.
– Studies on pharmaceuticals outnumber those on supplements and supplement ingredients.

Finally, Schatzman calls for the dietary supplement industry to “step up” and fund major research. Although this is certainly a great recommendation, he goes no further as to how such initiatives would be supported.

Since big pharmaceutical companies have the big bucks to conduct clinical trials and other studies, supplement manufacturers must find other ways to compete. One way might be to form partnerships or associations that would study certain ingredients. The industry at large might benefit from the results of these studies.

Tags: Nutritional Outlook, Medical Journal Bias, Advertising Bias, Dietary Supplements, AMA, New England Journal of Medicine

Foreclosures are at an all-time high, and the housing slump is only getting worse.

The stock market is posting major losses.

There’s uncertainty in the Middle East, and back home, political battles are just warming up.

Oh, and did I mention you’re twice as likely to die if you don’t get enough vitamin D?

In only the past four days, that’s about half of the negative, or at the very least concerning, news absorbed through the airwaves and in print. And although much of the worrisome news out there is largely tied to our poor economy, it seems lately we’re presented with little to smile about.

Then, a June 26 story from Fox News puts everything into perspective: “Baby who ‘died eight times’ looks forward to sweet 16.”

That’s right, a little less than 16 years ago, a baby from England was fitted with the world’s smallest pacemaker. And during the operation, the heart of Kirsty Sanderson, now 16, stopped.

Eight times.

Today, even though she’ll be on her fifth pacemaker at about age 26 and then every 10 years after that, Sanderson says she’s thankful everyday to have a “normal” life.

We can learn a lot from Sanderson.

Even in these tough economic times, when the odds seem stacked and our worries might be getting the best of us, we should be doing our best to see the bright side of any situation.

In its July issue, alive magazine had some great tips for curbing the worries on our minds:

· Instead of dwelling on what’s wrong, it might be a good idea to take a proactive stance. For example, if the War in Iraq has you down, join others in the quest to settle troubling issues.
· Like Kirsty Sanderson, learn to change your perception of the current situation. Instead of focusing on what’s wrong, focus on the good in your life.
· Don’t dwell on the past. Instead, narrow in on what you still want to achieve, and don’t overlook the possibilities that are up ahead.

Tags: worries, gas, foreclosures, stocks, middle, east, vitamin d, pacemaker, don\'t worry

Jody Summers, who released his first novel in March, will donate to the association a portion of the earnings from sales of “Dark Canvas,” according to a news release. Each sale will provide funding for fibromyalgia research and outreach.

The novel follows the life of an artist who mixes the cremated remains of the dead with paint to create tribute paintings. Summers has a friend who is stricken with fibromyalgia, and her artwork provided inspiration for “Dark Canvas.”

Summers, who is now writing two other books, including a sequel to “Dark Canvas,” said in the release that he plans to contribute to a particular cause with every book he writes. His Web site is www.jodysummersbooks.com.

Tags: Jody Summers, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, National Fibromyalgia Association

The interest group wants the dyes – Yellow 5, Red 40, Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Orange B, Red 3 and Yellow 6 – to be pulled from shelves and replaced with natural colorings, according to a story from WebMD.

The Center asserts studies have shown that artificial colors could escalate attention and hyperactivity disorders in sensitive children. One such study – results of which were published in 2004 – looked at several trials and concluded “food dyes contribute to hyperactivity disorders in sensitive children,” WebMD reports.

For some children, a doctor quoted in the story claims that eliminating artificial colorings could have similar effects as drugs for hyperactivity.

Enzyme-based supplements in all products from Enzymes, Inc. and Empire Health, LLC are 100% natural and contain no artificial ingredients. In particular, a digestive enzyme supplement that’s great for children, WellZymes™ Digestive Chewables, contains no preservatives or artificial ingredients.

Tags: Center for Science in the Public Interest, FDA, ADHD

If you’re having trouble remembering your health history, or you just want to keep tabs on the lifestyle and supplement choices you’ve been making to stay healthy, Internet giant Google might have the service you’re looking for.

In late February, the Enzyme Experts news site reported on Google’s medical records service – then in test marketing – which was created to provide password-protected online access to personal health profiles. A year and a half into its creation, Google released the much-anticipated program, Google Health, in mid-May.

At www.google.com/health, consumers have the opportunity to record their use of health care services, products and related spending, according to a New York Times story. This personal information can then be sent to health practices, or, practices can send information to individualized Google files.

The landing page of Google Health also includes a link that allows users to search for health information. One advantage of Google Health, the story says, is that it provides health care practitioners with a clearer picture of what types of drugs or supplements a patient is taking.

Tags: Google Health, enzyme supplements

May 19, 2008

Dear Health Care Practitioner,

It was recently brought to our attention by one of our customers that Dr. Ellen Cutler, owner of BioSET, Inc., has taken steps in the past few months to discontinue the relationship between BioSET, Inc. and Empire Health, LLC/Enzymes, Inc. Unfortunately, Dr. Cutler chose not to discuss her intentions with Empire Health, LLC/Enzymes, Inc. directly, therefore preventing the two sides from negotiating an amicable separation. Instead, Dr. Cutler has secretly attempted to duplicate formulations in the BioSET product line in order to circumvent Empire Health, LLC/Enzymes, Inc. Moreover, Dr. Cutler has placed BioSET customers in an awkward position by contacting them regarding her plans.

Empire Health, LLC/Enzymes, Inc. has no choice but to end its relationship with Dr. Ellen Cutler and the BioSET organization effective immediately.

The BioSET, Inc./Enzymes, Inc. relationship began nine years ago when Dr. Cutler approached Enzymes, Inc. in search of a product line that was more compatible with the BioSET System than the one she was endorsing at the time. The technical staff of Enzymes, Inc., consisting of biochemists and a medical doctor with more than 30 years of combined experience formulating enzyme-based products for health care practitioners, accepted the challenge of developing a line of high-quality, innovative products to meet the needs of Dr. Cutler and BioSET. Dr. Cutler was so pleased with the therapeutic effectiveness of these products that she permitted Enzymes, Inc. to promote them to health care practitioners using the BioSET trademark and her endorsement for the past nine years.

During those years, Enzymes, Inc. has remained loyal to and supportive of Dr. Cutler through her many professional and personal trials and tribulations. For the sake of its customers, Enzymes, Inc. has made every effort to help bring stability to the ever-changing BioSET organization. Two years ago, when the BioSET organization was floundering, Dr. Cutler formed a partnership with natural health care industry veteran Frank Guzzo to manage all activities for BioSET, Inc. Encouraged by this positive move, Enzymes, Inc. agreed to work with Frank Guzzo to create a new entity, Empire Health, LLC, which would facilitate the marketing and distribution of the BioSET product line, as well as coordinate BioSET seminars.

The goal of Empire Health, LLC/Enzymes, Inc. has always been to provide the best possible products to health care practitioners combined with exceptional technical support and reasonable pricing. It has become clear during the past year that Dr. Cutler’s business methods and motivations differ dramatically from those of Empire Health, LLC/Enzymes, Inc. The inability of Empire Health, LLC to reach a contractual agreement with Dr. Cutler despite its good faith efforts, coupled with Dr. Cutler’s arbitrary termination of Frank Guzzo’s partnership in BioSET, Inc., has led to the realization that any type of continued relationship with Dr. Ellen Cutler and BioSET, Inc. is impossible.

Empire Health, LLC/Enzymes, Inc. apologizes for any inconvenience this separation from BioSET, Inc. may cause you or your practice. We have immediately begun phasing out product bottles bearing the BioSET logo but will continue to sell the same formulations with the same clinically-proven proprietary ingredients such as PhysioProtease™ and Protease GL.™ To avoid patient confusion, the label design will remain the same with only the BioSET logo being replaced. In addition, the separation from BioSET allows us to offer more favorable pricing on all products, as well as add new, innovative products to the line. Private label opportunities are also now possible.

Of course, you will continue to receive the same excellent customer service and technical support you have come to expect from Empire Health, LLC/Enzymes, Inc. To benefit your practice further, we will be sponsoring educational opportunities on a wide range of topics, including enzyme therapy and bioenergetic medicine, in convenient formats at reasonable prices.

Thank you for your patience during this transition. We look forward to continuing to help you build your practice. Please don’t hesitate to contact either one of us if you have questions or concerns regarding this matter.

Yours for Better Health,

Frank Guzzo
President
Empire Health, LLC
8500 NW River Park Drive, #227
Parkville, MO 64152
(877) 617-7717
(415) 717-7702
frank@empirehealthllc.com

Lynn S. Greaves
Vice President
Empire Health, LLC/Enzymes, Inc.
8500 NW River Park Drive, #227
Parkville, MO 64152
800-637-7893
(816) 746-6461 ext. 308
lgreaves@enzymesinc.com

Tags: Bioset, Enzymes Inc, Empire Health, supplements, alternative health news, Dr Ellen Cutler

From 2003 to 2006, 50% of Americans fell into that category. Now, 51% regularly take one or more prescriptions, the AP says.

The most commonly used drugs were those for lowering high blood pressure and cholesterol. Experts in the story attributed some of the increased prescription use to health problems stemming from obesity, as well as to the continual advertising of prescription drugs.

An early April story at Enzyme Experts explains that Vytorin, for the treatment of high cholesterol, failed to reduce heart disease risk in a clinical trial, according to a March 31 CBS/Associated Press story.

Another story from CNN said the use of Vytorin and Zetia, a component of Vytorin, significantly increased in the U.S. when they were featured in a $200 million advertising campaign. Sales were four times lower in Canada, where drug ads aren’t allowed.

Several other pharmaceutical drugs, as explained at Enzyme Experts, have shown poor or dangerous results.

Somewhat disturbing in the mid-May AP story was an estimate that about 1.2 million U.S. children are taking medications for type 2 diabetes, sleeping problems and stomach concerns – all of which were described as “adult conditions.”

At young ages, it’s probably not a good idea to expose children, or adults for that matter, to the risk of dependency on sleeping pills, as well as to the side effects of antacids and acid blockers.

Drugs that inhibit natural acid production are associated with increased risk of hip fractures, likely because calcium is not sufficiently absorbed, according to a story from MSNBC. In addition, restrained acid production could increase the risk of intestinal infection and bacterial overgrowth in the stomach and small intestine. According to MSNBC, the overgrowth of bacteria in the stomach could lead to pneumonia, vitamin B12 deficiency and stomach cancer.

Antacids, such as Tums and Rolaids, can cause problems with protein digestion and vitamin B12 absorption. Long-term use can interfere with absorption of other nutrients, including iron and calcium.

For safe, natural and nonaddictive support, WellZymes™ Sleep Enhance or any digestive enzyme supplement in the WellZymes™ line would make excellent alternatives to prescription drugs. Enzyme-based digestive supplements help address the root cause of stomach problems – improper digestion – rather than mask symptoms.

And as an alternative to blood pressure- and cholesterol-lowering drugs, WellZymes™ Cardiovascular Health provides herbs, nutrients and enzymes for maintaining healthy blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. From your health care practitioner, be sure to ask about BioSET™ Vascular Maintenance,™ which is indicated for high blood levels of cholesterol and/or triglycerides.

Tags: high blood pressure, prescription drug use, cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, sleep, antacids

The metro Kansas City event will feature presentations from fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome experts who will provide insight into cutting-edge research and treatment protocols, according to FCI. A Health Care Providers workshop will take place May 16 from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Health care practitioners can receive continuing education for attending the entire conference.

Enzymes, Inc., is a sponsor of the conference along with Creative Wellness Center of Kansas City, Mo. Enzymes, Inc., will be located at booth 10, while Creative Wellness Center will be at booth 11.

There are several products in the WellZymes™ line of nutritional enzyme supplements that can help with symptoms of fibromyalgia. In particular, Enzymes, Inc., plans to provide attendees with samples of WellZymes™ Fibro Ease™ and WellZymes™ Gastric Ease.™

Fibro Ease™ has been formulated to relieve muscle tenderness and enhance nutrient delivery to muscle and nerve cells. Gastric Ease,™ which can be used in place of antacids, provides a complete blend of digestive enzymes along with soothing herbs to support proper digestion.

The conference will take place at the Marriott Hotel in Overland Park. For more information on FCI and the conference, visit the coalition Web site at www.fibrocoalition.org or call 913-384-4673. For room reservations, call the Marriott at 913-451-8000.

Fibromyalgia Awareness Day is May 12.

Tags: fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome

In fact, the AP says traditional medicine for the aging U.S. population faces many challenges:

· One geriatric specialist is available per 2,500 seniors
· Sufficient medical training does not exist
· Turnover of nurses aides is 71 percent per year
· Within their first two years on the job, about 90 percent of home health aides quit
· Some elderly patients need team care, which Medicare doesn’t provide

The story also says Medicare lacks coverage for preventive care, focusing on treating conditions rather than promoting long-term health.

Thankfully, U.S. seniors have chiropractors, naturopaths, acupuncturists and other alternative health practitioners on their side. Whether it’s nutrition or enzyme therapy, these practitioners provide baby boomers and the elderly with safe, effective and natural choices for sustaining long-term health.

On May 6, the American Chiropractic Association will play host to a teleseminar called “Geriatrics: Comprehensive Care for the Senior Population.” This educational seminar will provide information on holistic health care options for the aging population.

Tags: baby boomers, health care, Medicare, American Chiropractic Association

For the month, health observances include:
American Stroke Month
Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
Better Sleep Month
Lupus Awareness Month
Lyme Disease Awareness Month
Mental Health Month
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Awareness Month
National Arthritis Month
National Celiac Disease Awareness Month
National High Blood Pressure Education Month

Week-long health observances include:
Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week (May 4-10)
Food Allergy Awareness Week (May 11-17)

May 12 is Fibromyalgia Awareness Day

Tags: national health observances in May