Big Government Plan for Your Supplements

Here's the latest CODEX update from National Health Federation

Anti-Vitamin Misinformation

The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) celebrated its 50^th year of existence the first week of July while also conducting its 36^th session, with several hundreds of member-state delegates and non-governmental organizations in attendance.  Chairman Sanjay Dave was re-elected as CAC Chairman and presided over the meeting in a fair and business-like manner.
          But fair and business-like did not compensate for the Commission’s gross nutritional ignorance that resulted in certain Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs) being approved for vitamins and minerals over the repeated and strong objections of the National Health Federation (NHF), a Codex-accredited non-governmental organization.
          As Scott Tips – the NHF’s delegate at that meeting – remarked afterwards, “Of course we spoke up in opposition to approval of these NRVs, because they will reduce by 20% to 66% all but one of the already-low B vitamin NRVs, increase Calcium NRVs while reducing Magnesium NRVs (the exactopposite of what modern nutrition tells us should be done), and promote, at best, subsistence nutrition when optimal nutrition is called for here. These are standards that would only allow consumers to put one foot before the other, barely avoiding slipping into the grave, as they shuffle through life.  Consumers deserve better, they deserve optimal nutrition that allows them to maximize their potential and quality of life.”
          To continue reading the full report of what happened at this most recent meeting, CLICK HERE. The fight over these NRVs is not over and will continue in November in Germany at the Nutrition Committee meeting to be held there.
          Another detailed critique of the proposed Codex recommendations has been written by health journalist Bill Sardi, as commissioned by the NHF.  The entire critique can be read online.  Sardi has written the U.S. delegate to Codex in the past, opposing passage of similar guidelines. He has been an outspoken critic of Codex.
          Codex has drawn the similar ire of other health-freedom advocates.  There is a concern that Codex solely serves the needs of big business and that it is a conduit for disease mongering by establishment of nutrient recommendations that lock in in a certain level of disease in human populations that then requires more doctoring and drugs.
          For more information, contact the National Health Federation, the only health-freedom organization with standing to participate at Codex meetings.

Proposed Changes In Recommended Daily Dietary Intake Of Essential Vitamins & Minerals CODEX (World Health Organization/ Food & Agriculture Organization of The United Nations) versus Daily Value/Reference Daily Intake
NUTRIENT	Proposed Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) -CODEX	100% Daily Value(what is listed on dietary supplement labels) based on RDI (Reference Daily Intake)	Difference
Thiamin (Vitamin B1)	1.2 mg	1.5 mg	-20%
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)	1.2 mg	1.7 mg	-30%
Niacin (Vitamin B3)	15 mg	20 mg	-25%
Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6)	1.3 mg	2.0 mg	-35%
Folic acid (Vitamin B9)	400 mcg	400 mcg	No change
Cobalamin (Vitamin B12)	2.0 mcg	6.0 mcg	-66%
Vitamin A	550 mcg (1833 IU)	1500 mcg (5000 IU)	-64%
Vitamin C	45 mg	60 mg	-25%
Vitamin D	200 IU (5 mcg)	400 IU (10 mcg)	-50%
Calcium	1000 mg	1000 mg	No change
Iodine	150 mcg	150 mcg	No change
Iron	14 mg	18 mg	-22%
Magnesium	240 mg	400   mg	-40%
Zinc	12 mg	15 mg	-20%
IU = international units Mg = milligrams Mcg = micrograms	Source: CODEX NRVs CCNFSDU PWG Discussion Paper	RDI -Reference Daily Intake Source: Nutribase.com

          Minneapolis, Minnesota will be the hosting city for Codex Alimentarius’ next Committee meeting on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (August 24-30, 2013). NHF will be there participating not only at the plenary session but also at the working group session on the Guidelines on Risk Management Recommendations for Residues of Veterinary Drugs, with the intent and goal of keeping as many drug residues out of our foods as possible.

Read More

Malnutrition Equals Obesity

While this article from Gary Scattergood is written about the issue of malnutrition in the UK it is certainly appropriate to raise the same question in the US.

In the late 60s when I was in college earning my NP degrees I studied nutrition as an integrated part of the the curriculum.  Certainly we knew then that malnutrition was an issue directly related to health, not some obscure thought.  Even then we knew cancer for instance was a nutritional disease as were many hospital related deaths.

Disease now is just thought of as a deficiency of some pharmaceutical drug and the problem is not addressed from all possible and interrelated issues.

 

Shame on health providers, shame on dietitians, government, and big business along with seemingly ignorant legislators.

Put the spotlight on malnutrition instead of obesity

The UK is in dire need of a national strategy to tackle malnutrition, which is at least as big a problem to public health and the public purse as obesity.

According to Dr Elizabeth Weekes, from the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London, widespread attention on the so-called obesity epidemic was overshadowing the fact that 3M people in the UK were either malnourished, or at severe risk of malnutrition, at any time.

One million of those are over 65 years old and 400,000 of them live in London. The problem is more likely to be experienced in deprived areas and it is likely that “far more people are malnourished now than they were 10 years ago” due to the economic climate and government welfare cuts.

Don’t recognise a problem

“The problem we have in the UK is that people don’t recognise we have a problem [with nutrition] or, if they do think we have a problem, they think it is about obesity.

“Malnutrition costs at least as much to health and social care costs as obesity,” said Weekes at the Government Knowledge conference ‘Beating the Nutrition Recession: Tackling Food Poverty’ in London last month.

She added there were “millions of reasons” why malnutrition occurs including physical, psychological and social factors. The consequences, she said, however, were clear.

“Malnourished people are more prone to illness, less likely to recover from illness and the cost of treating someone who is malnourished in hospital is twice that of someone who is well-nourished.”

Weekes said she was particularly alarmed by the results of a recent survey, which showed that 60% of carers in the community were concerned about the nutritional intake of a patient. Furthermore, 16% of recipients reported fears  that a patient was underweight or had a very small appetite and yet had no sources of nutritional support or advice.

“Another figure that staggered me was that 55% of people being cared for use nutritional supplements,” she added.

 

Another stark figure she revealed was that 70% of malnourished people who were admitted to hospital were more malnourished when they left.

She told delegates it was essential a national malnutrition strategy was formulated.

“The Malnutrition Taskforce (an independent group of experts across health, social care and local government) is calling for a national strategy, particularly for the elderly, but I feel quite strongly it should be for everyone,” she added.

Read More

High Heat Warnings

In very hot weather it is best to bring your loving animal companion indoors.
Here are some tips for your dog.

• Supply shade. 
• Supply enough water. One quart of water with 1 TBSP raw apple cider vinegar helps people in hot weather and it is safe and helpful for your pets too. Plus it deters fleas and other pests. 
• Use a cold and wet kerchief tied loosely around their neck. 
• Thoroughly wet their ears, and if needed, the area under their legs. 
• Keep off hot concrete as it can burn their paw pads.

Natural Health News: HOT WEATHER TIPS

Jun 19, 2012

Hot Weather Help. Elders and others need to pay close attention in hot weather. This news article has some good information about being older and the current hot heat throughout most of the US. By LINDSEY TANNER - AP .

Natural Health News: Worried About Heat? Hot Weather Help

Jul 20, 2011

Hot Weather Help. Elders and others need to pay close attention in hot weather. This news article has some good information about being older and the current hot heat throughout most of the US. By LINDSEY TANNER - AP ...

Natural Health News: Cooling Down in Hot Climates

Jun 11, 2011

“Cool Wave” towel is a must for all of your warm weather activities! Order Now! . Large 16” x 26” towel . Keeps you cool without getting you wet . Will remain10 to 20 degrees cooler than current air temperature for 4 to 5 hours

Read More

A Different Way of Approaching Drug Resistant TB

Over many years we have covered the topic of vitamin C and its benefits in health and disease.  We have also written on the benefits of garlic for drug resistant TB and how microbiological research proved this.  As this kind of science continues to be rejected by mainstream medicine and Big PhRMA we can only hope the information presented here helps you to be able to speak out to your health care providers about broader care options.  Please use the search function to locate our earlier vitamin C posts and TB related coverage. You can find more about vitamin C on our web site, http://leaflady.org, and our Whooping Cough article on the Seattle PI web site, Natural Notes blog.  Thanks for reading.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is extraordinarily sensitive to killing by a vitamin C-induced Fenton reaction. 

Nat Commun. 2013;4:1881. doi: 10.1038/ncomms2898.

Vilchèze C, Hartman T, Weinrick B, Jacobs WR Jr.

Source

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1301 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, New York 10461, USA.

Abstract

Drugs that kill tuberculosis more quickly could shorten chemotherapy significantly. In Escherichia coli, a common mechanism of cell death by bactericidal antibiotics involves the generation of highly reactive hydroxyl radicals via the Fenton reaction. Here we show that vitamin C, a compound known to drive the Fenton reaction, sterilizes cultures of drug-susceptible and drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent oftuberculosis. While M. tuberculosis is highly susceptible to killing by vitamin C, other Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens are not. The bactericidal activity of vitamin C against M. tuberculosis is dependent on high ferrous ion levels and reactive oxygen species production, and causes a pleiotropic effect affecting several biological processes. This study enlightens the possible benefits of adding vitamin C to an anti-tuberculosis regimen and suggests that the development of drugs that generate high oxidative burst could be of great use in tuberculosis treatment.

PMID:

 

23695675

 

[PubMed - in process]

More background information

Drug-Resistant TB “Extraordinarily Sensitive” to Vitamin C

Monday, 24 June 2013 21:00 By John Otrompke, Contributing Writer

Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) crystals. Courtesy Visuals Unlimited

Researchers looking for options to control multi-drug resistant tuberculosis were surprised to learn that vitamin C given along with iron, could wipe out a wide variety of strains---at least in vitro.
Reporting in Nature last month, Dr. William Jacobs, Jr., professor of microbiology, immunology & genetics at Yeshiva University, NYC, said, "Mycobacterium tuberculosis is extraordinarily sensitive to killing by a vitamin C-induced Fenton reaction."
The findings suggest that tuberculosis could be prevented or treated in populations with subclinical infections using simple and inexpensive nutritional supplements---an important discovery in a time when antibiotic-resistant strains are on the rise. This has not yet been tested in infected humans, but it's certainly plausible.
"The bactericidal activity of vitamin C against M. tuberculosis is dependent on high ferrous ion levels and reactive oxygen species production, and causes a pleiotropic effect affecting several biological processes," Dr. Jacobs and his colleagues noted.
Making a Killing
"We started our research about two years ago, when we made a surprise discovery," he Dr. Jacobs told Holistic Primary Care. "We predicted that if we added isoniazid and cysteine to isoniazid-sensitive tuberculosis in culture, the bacteria would develop resistance. We knew isoniazid acts as a reducing agent, generating reactive species, so we tried another agent, vitamin C, to replace cysteine, but instead of causing resistance, we ended up killing off the culture--- something totally unexpected."
He cautioned that scientists don't yet know whether patients vulnerable to tuberculosis should take vitamin C. "We know that for this killing to occur, you also need to take the element iron along with vitamin C; this is something that could be explored, maybe in synergy with existing drugs, since one third of the world's population is sub-clinically infected with tuberculosis."
The problem, he says, is that "it would cost a lot of money to research further, and drug companies are not inclined to do that research because they can't get a return on their investment, since vitamin C is not patentable," he explained.
Meanwhile, the researchers at Yeshiva are trying to replicate their findings in vivo. "We've done the experiment in mice just a few months ago, and it did not work," said Jacobs. "But mice metabolize vitamin C differently from humans; mice make vitamin C, whereas humans can't."
Dr. Jacobs' team has also tested Vitamin E, but it didn't kill tuberculosis."
He is hoping to continue the work on vitamin C, suggesting that the combination of ascorbic acid and iron might help boost the efficacy of drug regimens.
"Vitamin C is safe and inexpensive, so drug companies should go head and do a clinical trial, although we don't know how the vitamin C would get to where tuberculosis is, in a macrophage in the patient's lungs," he said.
No Resistance

Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Image courtesy CDC

TB doesn't appear to develop resistance to vitamin C. "In a genetics lab, we typically discover things by isolating resistant mutants. We tried to find resistant mutants to vitamin C numerous times, but we've been unsuccessful, which is exactly what you'd want in a good drug," Dr. Jacobs explained.
However surprising, these findings are not the first time a study has shown that vitamins are helpful in combating TB. "For example, vitamin D actually turns on macrophages to kill TB, but that is a different mechanism; vitamin D actually stimulates an immune response," Dr. Jacobs said. The vitamin C and iron combo has a more direct cytotoxic effect.
"We need more funds to explore this; right now is a very difficult time at the National Institutes of Health to get grants. Typically the NIH will fund 25% of grants, but because of budget cuts they're only funding 6% of grants, and typically to develop a drug for use in people would cost half a billion dollars," explained Dr. Jacobs. However, it shouldn't be nearly as expensive to research the viability of vitamin C as a therapy for TB.
"If I had the money, I would go ahead and think abut doing this as an early bacteriocidal therapy. First, I would just monitor the amount of vitamin C in a patient's blood, when we gave it to them. Before a patient newly-infected with TB started on standard therapy, I would like to do a two-week trial with vitamin C as one of agents. That way, we could test a new regimen, to see if the tuberculosis got killed or not, and then go back and start them on standard therapy."

Read More