Age shouldn't be ignored!

Over the last several generations we have gone through several developmental stages as people in civilized societies or countries. For the most developed countries, these developmental stages can be categorized or metaphorically labeled with terms such as, the "Ages", the "Industrial Age", the "Information Age", and, arguably the next stage or "Age" would be that of the "Technological Age." Whether or not we have actually left the information age and entered the technology age remains to be seen. One thing is clear, however, and that is you can never completely dismiss old, developmental ages when new ages begin.

To advance as a civilized society upon a solid foundation from one age to the next, the transition must be seamless, so as to incorporate lessons previously learned. If not, life has a funny way of repeating those lessons over and over again, until such time those lessons are learned. Whether the lessons to be learned apply to an individual or an entire society, the consequences for continuous failure to learn those lessons, or out-right ignoring them all together, can become quite severe. But what about something far more important than the new ages we enter? What about our health?

For most people, their health is probably one of the most enigmatic, misunderstood and easily ignored aspects of their lives.
To simply define health is not enough.

Health:

1 a : the condition of being sound in body, mind, or spirit; especially : freedom from physical disease or pain

b : the general condition of the body

We enter each new age with hopefully a firm grasp on the lessons presented by previous ages. For most people in developed countries, we spend our health, seeking or building our wealth. And, in the latter stages of our lives, we spend our wealth, trying to regain our health. For "third world" countries, the people have neither health nor wealth to spend which fosters large scale hopelessness and despair.

For those concerned about their health and, those not so concerned, one thing is abundantly clear. Outside of food and drug safety and family genetics, YOU are the only person responsible for your health. Health IS cumulative and what you do today, directly effects not only how well you will live today but, also how well you will live years from now.
When people go to the doctor for medical advice and care, most fail to realize that the doctor is only treating symptoms of what ails you and is not curing you. The truth of the matter is, that most ailments which are not due to family genetics, ARE due to a culmination of neglect on the part of the individual. Further still, most do not even realize that they are neglecting their health and that neglect, is the root cause of their ailment or disease. Most people neglect their own health due largely in part, to their lack of knowledge on this particular subject. Just like man-made laws, ignorance of natural laws (proper nutrition) is no excuse.

Ignorance of man-made laws can cost you big with hefty monetary fines and even jail. Ignorance with natural laws like proper nutrition and exercise when it comes to your health, can also cost you big. Major diseases and even death can and does occur when you neglect your health for too long. Let me simplify the explanation without being to simplistic.

Our bodies are naturally waging a continuous battle on the cellular level. That battle has two primary combatants, Free Radicals and Antioxidants. Free radicals, however complex, are nothing more than an unstable molecule. These molecules are unstable, because they have what are called "unpaired" electrons. These unstable molecules have one goal,...to become stable again. They attempt to do this by bumping into healthy cells which DO have "paired" electrons on the molecular level, whereby they steal the healthy cell's electron, causing the healthy cell to now become unstable. This process happens over and over again (billions of molecules) causing a chain reaction or what we know as the "domino effect". What is really taking place is the oxidation of your cells, a scary process that occurs naturally within the human body. We also have a natural defense against this process in the form of Antioxidants.

Antioxidants are how we combat the oxidation of our cells. The way this happens is that Antioxidants have an abundance of electrons whose sole purpose is to disrupt the chain reaction caused by free radicals. Antioxidants freely give up their electrons stabilizing the free radicals, breaking the cycle. The problems occur, however, when their are not enough antioxidants to combat the numbers of free radicals that develop. This is because free radicals can and are produced from many outside sources with the biggest sources being: the sun, chemicals, pollution, and cigarettes (1 cigarette produces approximately 10 Billion free radicals).

When we consider that our bodies do not produce most antioxidants naturally, we are then left with having to rely on our primary source of antioxidants coming from the foods we eat. If we neglect to eat proper amounts of proper nutrition on a daily basis, we lose ground in the fight against the havoc (commonly referred to as the ravages of aging), that free radicals inflict upon our healthy cells. If proper nutrition is neglected with any degree of regularity, the damage inflicted can and does cause abnormal cell reproduction and can lead to damage to our structural DNA. As this damage continues to occur, over time, we develop ailments and diseases usually attributed to aging. The sad truth is that most of what are considered to be "age" related diseases and ailments ARE due to what we do or do not put into our bodies and ARE preventable. What we put into our bodies, whether inhaled, ingested or that which permeates the epidermis (skin), does directly effect our health.

So, to make a long column even longer, you as an individual really do have control over your health. You can reverse a lot of what ails you. Proper nutrition and exercise are the cornerstones to longevity. Increase, the amount of fruits and vegetables you consume. The more colorful the better. Increase your physical activity. Take up walking if sustained exercise is physically difficult for you. And, supplement your regimen with a quality vitamin and mineral supplement. Consistently giving your body all it needs to fight the ravages of aging will pay dividends down the road. You will live better, longer.

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Scientific Basis with measurable results

Clinical Study: Validation of Non-Invasive Raman Spectroscopy as an Indicator of Total Antioxidant Nutritional Status in Humans

October 2005

Measurement of blood antioxidants is widely accepted as the gold standard method to determine antioxidant nutritional status in human research studies. This method typically involves invasive blood sampling, extraction and analysis of carotenoids, vitamin E and/or vitamin C by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Blood antioxidant analysis is not practical for use outside the clinic since it is invasive, time-consuming, expensive and the blood levels are affected by multiple factors, such as antioxidant consumption from recent meals.

Recent research strongly supports the concept of an “antioxidant network” in the body in which different antioxidant species work synergistically to preserve, support and regenerate one another in combating oxidative stress in the body.

To test this theory, Pharmanex® sponsored a study in collaboration with three major US universities to test skin carotenoid levels as an indicator of the overall health of the antioxidant network in over 300 healthy subjects. Specifically, the researchers investigated correlations between skin carotenoids—measured non-invasively by Raman spectroscopy (Pharmanex BioPhotonic Scanner)—and blood serum antioxidants (vitamins C, E, and carotenoids by HPLC), as well as urinary isoprostanes, which are widely regarded as the best measure of oxidative stress in the body.

The results of this study confirmed prior research showing strong correlations between skin and blood carotenoids. Most importantly, however, the present study showed highly significant correlations between skin carotenoids (BioPhotonic Scanner) and other blood antioxidants. In addition, a highly significant inverse correlation between skin carotenoids and oxidative stress (urinary isoprostanes) was observed. Together these results confirm that the BioPhotonic Scanner is the best non-invasive indicator of overall antioxidant status in the body, as well as a good indicator of overall oxidative stress.

In addition, the study demonstrated that skin carotenoids as measured by the Scanner, are a more accurate indicator of average fruit and vegetable consumption than blood carotenoids. Previously, blood carotenoids had been viewed as the gold standard indicator of fruit and vegetable intake.

This study will be submitted for publication at a major scientific meeting as well as in a peer-reviewed journal. Specific results and further information will be released in these publications.

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A Different Kind of Natural Health Company

Pharmanex® — a different kind of natural health company

The difference is clear: Pharmanex sets the industry standard for scientific integrity. Pharmanex scientists examine the natural, healthy processes that take place in the body and determine how nutritional supplementation can enhance these functions. After weighing these factors, only substances known to be safe and effective in promoting health are taken to the next stage of development.

Once selected, all Pharmanex® ingredients are subjected to a stringent, scientific analysis known as the 6S® Quality Guarantee. This patented manufacturing process — based on selection, sourcing, structure, standardization, safety, and substantiation — enables Pharmanex to lead the pack in quality and efficacy. The company consistently meets or exceeds the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards set by the FDA for this product category.

Today, more than 125 on staff scientists lead the Pharmanex research and development team. These scientists review published clinical and scientific studies to identify botanicals that may have health-promoting properties. Original research is also coordinated with more than 150 noted scientists from around the world, representing such institutions as Harvard, Stanford, UCLA, Columbia, Purdue, Peking University Health Science Center, Shanghai Medical University, and Peking University. Through these affiliations and extensive research, the Pharmanex® difference becomes clear.

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Do Your Vitamin and Mineral Supplements measure up?

Do your vitamin and mineral supplements measure up or are they nothing more than "Witch Doctor" magic?

The basis of science is the ability to measure, to quantify.
Think about it. When you visit the doctor's office for anything, what are the first few procedures that they perform on you? They measure (take) your temperature, they measure your blood pressure, they have you step on a scale to record your weight. Depending on what your visit to the doctor's office is, you could be there to have a series of tests performed, all designed to give the doctor a picture of what is happening inside your body.

Yes, the ability to measure truly is the basis of science. We are conditioned as human beings through the course of our lives to measure, to know how much. But what happens when we get away from measurement as the foundation when it comes to our health? The answer is that we revert back to a time when Shamans, witchcraft, and the proverbial medicine man was the answer to everything. A pinch of this, a dash of that, and you were cured. All it took in most cases, was a savvy, charismatic entrepreneur willing to step up and lead his people to whatever ends he desired.

Now, I know that it may not actually be as simplistic as that, but you get the picture. To me however, what is even more puzzling, is the gullibility of today's civilized society when compared to ancient times. At least back then, you had to show proof of your claims, even if it was nothing more than a magician's trick or risk being run out of town or banished from the tribe. Today, the magicians' tricks have become more elaborate with the rise of technology, but so has our ability to reason. The onset of higher education, by all counts, should reduce not increase societies gullibility factor.
Take vitamin and mineral supplements and the nutrition industry for example. Currently the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate this industry with any degree of regularity or with anything potent enough to prevent fraud on a MASS scale. In fact, about the only thing the FDA currently requires of these companies is that any product claims of improvements or cures to ones' health be substantiated or proven with science. Well there are a multitude of things wrong with this kind of lax legislation.

The following example is Typical for most supplement production on the market today:

There are currently several hundred thousand companies that sell vitamins. Most get their ingredients from the same few manufacturers and the only difference is the packaging.

1. Farming produces the raw ingredients from plant sources such as wheat.

2. The vitamins are then extracted from the raw ingredients.

3. The manufacturing company makes the supplement according to the specifications (quantity of each vitamin & mineral in the capsule) set forth by the marketing company, not by scientists.

4. By ordering as few as 100 bottles, you too can have your own vitamin brand. No science, just a different label.

Now, I know you may be saying to yourself that there is NO WAY, that it can be that easy to have your own brand of vitamins. Well sadly, it is that simple. Further, unscrupulous companies have done just that and by exploiting this lax legislation that regulates the industry, have made all sorts of unsubstantiated claims knowing them to be bogus. Oh sure they run the risk of being fined or sanctioned by the FDA, but they also know that marketed the right way, they can make hundreds of millions of dollars before the FDA even catches wind of their scheme.
A change may be brewing in the wind however.

Currently, the supplement industry is a multi-BILLION dollar industry and growing by the billions each year. The Pharmaceutical companies have realized that people are taking supplements religiously and the numbers are only increasing. So, in my opinion, it is no coincidence that the Food and Drug Administration is beginning to crack down on the unscrupulous vitamin companies and supplement industry. It is also my opinion that the rules are about to change for the vitamin industry. Change by requiring any such company having to PROVE that their products work, not just refrain from printing or making claims on the bottle, but actually have to prove they work before even putting them on the market. This change will effectively eliminate most of the Pharmaceutical industry's competition when they officially enter the market. Most of the companies within the current vitamin and mineral industry simply will not be able to meet the challenges of start-up or sustained costs of implementing the infrastructure required to meet these new changes.

One company rises to the challenge.

A company called Pharmanex has risen to the challenge of these foreseen changes and has put in place the infrastructure to succeed.

The Pharmanex scientific team comprises medical researchers, clinicians, pharmacologists, botanists, medicinal chemists, pharmacognosists, nutritionists, process chemists, analytical chemists, biochemists, molecular biologists, immunologists, statisticians, toxicologists, exercise physiologists, quality control specialists, and clinical research specialists. More than 75 full-time scientists from three internal research centers confer together daily. This team has obtained dozens of patents and published scores of scientific papers that are internationally recognized. Past and present collaborations also include numerous universities and leading research centers across the world.

Pharmanex has also gathered together some of the greatest minds in the scientific world to form a renowned Scientific Advisory Board. The combination of internal scientists, research centers, and the Scientific Advisory Board comprises the most extraordinary group of scientists ever assembled by a nutritional company.

This diverse network promotes penetrating and clear-sighted discovery throughout every stage of the development process. Exploring new possibilities, testing hypotheses, contributing a diverse and abundant variety of expert viewpoints - all this illuminates and enriches the work, translating into the finest nutritional products in the industry.

As for the ability to measure being the basis for science, Pharmanex holds true to this core belief and has taken the necessary steps for the coming changes in order to substantiate their product formulation and development.

These steps will be discussed on my next post.

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