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Frequently Asked Questions: Products |
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Specific questions about our products: |
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Q: |
I tested one your tablets in a glass of water (or vinegar) and it didn't dissolve. Can I trust that your products are working? |
A: |
This is an old marketing ploy. The stomach is very different from a glass of water or even vinegar. Stomach acid (hydrochloric acid) is much more acidic than water or vinegar, and digestion involves churning and heat as well. It's often hard to spot a plausible-sounding ploy, so we appreciate our members' interest in scientific experiments! |
Q: |
I'm interested in balancing the pH in my body. What products support a more alkaline environment? |
A: |
Minerals in general support a more alkaline environment, as does a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Meats and proteins, on the other hand, support a more acid environment in the body. Respiratory acidosis is when the body is overly acid and can be caused by respiration, whereby the lungs are unable to remove carbon dioxide effectively, such as with asthma, bronchitis, or obstruction of the airway. Metabolic acidosis, on the other hand, can be caused by diabetes, kidney failure, too much aspirin, and a whole host of other things, including stress and even consumption of too much niacin and vitamin C! Diet is absolutely critical, with raw foods being ideal for restoring the correct acid/alkaline balance within the body. Interestingly, citrus fruit also has an alkalinizing effect, despite its concentration of citric acid! |
Q: |
Why don't you sell mega-dose multivitamins? |
A: |
There was an era when mega doses were all the rage,
but that era is waning. Studies indicate that the body stops absorbing
nutrients once a saturation point has been reached.
We recommend divided doses for many of our supplements, including Coenzyme
Q-10, which many members would like to see in mega dose sizes.
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Q: |
Do stomach acids destroy pancreatic enzymes? |
A: |
No, pancreatic enzymes from vegetarian sources make it through the digestive process quite well. Unlike animal origin enzymes, vegetarian enzymes have a broader pH range of action, supporting break down of food in both your acidic stomach (pH about 3.0) as well as your more neutral intestines (pH about 6.0). This means there is no need for enteric coating, which adds both cost and extra chemicals to any formula. |
| Q: | Is propylene glycol safe as an excipient? |
| A: |
Propylene glycol is a derivative of natural gas commonly used in consumer and food products, including deodorants, pharmaceuticals, moisturizing lotions, fat-free ice cream, and sour cream products. Propylene glycol has gotten a bad rap as an ingredient because of its use in products not fit for consumption (think antifreeze). While well-intended, these conclusions are ultimately inaccurate. Propylene Glycol is on not only the US Food and Drug Administration's list of ingredients Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS), it is recognized by the World Health Organization as safe for use. While propylene glycol is found in some antifreeze, it’s not the toxic antifreeze form. Ethylene glycol, however, also commonly used in antifreeze, is a highly toxic! In fact, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) actually recommends the use of propylene glycol-based antifreeze because it is safer than ethylene glycol should pets accidentally ingest it. Propylene glycol has come under fire for information disclosed in its Material Safety Data Sheet .(MSDS). An MSDS discloses safety information for manufacturers and shippers on proper procedures for handling ingredients, for treating accidental exposure, and for cleaning up spills. MSDS information is often misunderstood, as the data concerns 100% substance concentrations. Even water and salt have cautionary comments regarding their safety according to their MSDS sheets. In cosmetics and creams, such as our Progesterone Cream, propylene glycol is used in only the smallest amounts to keep products from melting in high heat or freezing when it is cold. It also plays an important role in helping active ingredients penetrate the skin. Given our strong commitment to safety and quality, we feel confident that research and a long history of safe usage have shown propylene glycol to be a safe and appropriate ingredient in our Progesterone Cream. |
| Q: | What about the safety of excipients magnesium stearate and stearic acid? |
A: |
There’s a lot of seemingly icky information out there about magnesium stearate and stearic acid, and sadly, most of it is downright misleading. Most of this information comes from one misinterpreted study done in 1990. The study analyzed using very large amounts of stearic acid as a potential substitute for more harmful drug used in grafting surgeries to prevent rejection. Stearic acid while scary sounding is nothing more than a naturally-occurring fatty acid found in foods such as animal fats/oils and vegetable oils. Magnesium stearate is the salt of stearic acid. They’re both used in relatively small amounts as a lubricant in nutritional supplement manufacturing to prevent materials from sticking to machinery. The FDA considers stearic acid and magnesium stearate GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) for food use in accordance with accepted GMP practices. Thus, the toxicity at these levels is extremely low and likely non-existent. Toxicity assessments in rats have indicated magnesium stearate causes no irritation to the skin and is nontoxic when ingested or inhaled. Magnesium stearate has also showed no carcinogenic effects when implanted into mice bladders. Worst case? Ingestion of large amounts of magnesium stearate may have a laxative effect or cause mucosal irritation. |
| Q: |
I've heard that dicalcium phosphate is unsafe, yet many manufacturers use it as an excipient in their products. What's your take? |
A: |
There is absolutely no evidence that dicalcium phosphate is harmful. This notion got some publicity a number of years ago, largely due to a mail order company that put out brochures claiming calcium phosphate was bad. Their arguments were very unscientific and speculative at best. The few studies they cited did not support this contention at all. It was mainly a marketing ploy to make their products look superior because they did not use calcium phosphate. This is classic example of a spurious argument that takes on a life of its own through repetition. |
Q: |
Is there a correlation between vitamin C intake and nosebleeds? |
A: |
Nosebleeds can be a symptom of vitamin C deficiency. They can also occur when people take high doses of vitamin C and then stop suddenly. This phenomenon is known as "rebound scurvy." If someone has been irregular with vitamin C intake, or has dramatically changed their intake of vitamin C, it is very possible there is a correlation to recent nosebleeds. Bioflavonoids and/or grape seed extract may help to strengthen capillaries. |
Q: |
Why did you remove iron from your Multi-Vites? I thought iron was important, especially for women. |
A: |
The general thinking now is that most people do not need to supplement iron unless they have iron-deficiency anemia (and not all anemia is caused by iron deficiency). The concern about excess iron is due to evidence (not conclusive) that has come to light in recent years that high levels of iron in the blood may increase the risk of heart disease in some people, although it may also require low levels of antioxidants for this to occur. Most people store enough iron in their system so that they don't require iron in their supplements. |
Q: |
What nutrients are important for detoxification? |
A: |
In addition to a multivitamin and antioxidants (essential to metabolizing toxins and dealing with resulting free radicals), choline, betaine, methionine, vitamin B6, folic acid, and vitamin B12 are important, and they are referred to as lipotropic agents. This means that they promote the flow of fat and bile to and from the liver, in effect "decongesting" the liver and improving liver function and fat metabolism. Lipotropic formulas tend to increase levels of SAM-e, the major lipotropic compound in the liver, and glutathione, one of the major detoxifying compounds in the liver.
Much research has been done on how silymarin from Milk Thistle enhances the detoxification process. It has been shown to prevent the depletion of glutathione. Glutathione is very important in binding with fat-soluble toxins (i.e. heavy metals, solvents, and pesticides) and converting toxins into water-soluble compounds that can be readily excreted via the kidneys.
It helps to follow a liver-friendly diet, including avoidance of saturated fats, refined sugar, and alcohol. A diet rich in fiber, particularly water-soluble fiber, promotes increased healthy bile secretion. Foods that protect the liver include: (1) sulfur-rich garlic, legumes, onions, and eggs; (2) water soluble fibers from pears, oat bran, apples, and legumes; and (3) cabbage-family veggies such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, and cabbage. |