The problem for them is that if one were to take the time to properly and thoroughly do the research they'd find so much supporting research dating back decades.
If you carefully review the literature you will find that vitamins are not killers. What you might be more likely to find is a fear that supplements could displace pharmaceutical drugs. This might undermine Big Pharma and an entire filed that, since WW II, has been mired in toxic chemistry.
Recall, please, that several major studies have shown that MSM really only helps about 20% of all people, and this is mainly in trauma centers. What does this tell you about the other 80%, and the fact that the FDA is taking more money to put unproven, and often harmful or deadly drugs on the market faster, without proper testing?
In general, the positive supplement data is is the literature of biochemistry and nutrition. For herbs, the foundation of most medicine, that information can be found at the Lloyd Library or the USDA (thanks to Jim Duke). Another source is the research on vitamins and cancer, now continuing over many years, with effective testimony, at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
I always enjoy the look on people's faces (medical types) when I explain that in France, herbal medicine and the use of pure essential oils etc is taught in medical schools.
When I say nutrition I am not indicating the world of dietitians whose education and work is more likely than not controlled by the USDA.
We know, those of us who work in the filed of natural healing and nutritional medicine (some use the 'orthomolecular' terminology), that not only do supplements prevent, but they nourish and promote recovery from chronic health conditions.
Natural healing, by its very nature, takes more time. It sometimes is tough for someone used to the "here take this pill" mentality that addresses only symptoms to be patient enough to help their body fully recover. A lot of time and education, from my side, goes into the equation to help that person see success.
I work usually with people who have chronic and complicated health concerns. I have developed, over a number of years, a system that comes from my position as a health educator, but mainly as a health detective. Every time I work with someone I am amazed at the intensive and positive impact of herbs, vitamins, minerals, foods, and homeopathic or other vibrational remedies in the lives of people.
The people with cancer I have had the honor to work with have, since 1979, all improved, healed better and faster, and needed less chemo or radiation with supplements, than those who took the tunnel vision approach from MSM. I think about the woman who was told never to eat broccoli because it would interfere with the chemo, or the cancer center that plugs you in to the chemo and offers you candy and chips if you get hungry. I also think about my clients, who did MSM with natural healing that did not lose their hair or their appetite.
Then I get to hear comments like this from a cancer survivor who has used only natural healing methods and supplements: "I guess you heard that (his) most recent labs were almost 100% perfect (white count off by just a tad). His doctor told him his labs/weight/etc reflect one healthy guy. He attributes his health to you/your guidance. Thank you again."
Consider that studies are usually set up to prove a selected outcome. The studies are designed by a 'researcher' to coincide with grant applications they are able to get funded, insuring their (continuing) salary and that of their support staff. This is usually called the 'Rosenthal Effect'.
And note that government regulation has little to do with health benefits derived from supplements (just look at the harm we know of in almost weekly reports in the media about FDA regulated and approved pharmaceuticals that cause so much harm and even death).
Sadly, Harding points to a lot of fallacious information to support her premise, relying on government propaganda against the use of (non-$$$ generating) supplements spouted by her interviewee, Dr. Miller.
Just trying to encourage you to take more responsibility for your health, through education.
Chronic illness main factor in supplement use By Anne Harding
Fri Apr 4, 2008
Having one or more chronic illness is the primary factor associated with the use of dietary supplements. Cancer survivors also use supplements to treat chronic medical conditions, but not specifically for cancer, a new study shows.
Given the lack of information on the risks and benefits of many supplements, as well as their potential for interaction with drugs cancer survivors may be taking, such as tamoxifen, it's imperative for cancer patients to let their physician know about what non-prescription medications and natural products they may be taking, lead author, Dr. Melissa Farmer Miller, told Reuters Health.
"We really are just beginning to build an evidence base on the benefits of dietary supplements," said Miller, of the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. "Even if there's not a benefit, there is a potential for them to cause harm."
Supplement use is growing among all Americans, Miller noted. To understand whether cancer survivors are using supplements more than the general population, she and her colleagues analyzed information from 1,844 cancer survivors and a random sampling of 7,343 people with no history of cancer.
The only type of supplement use independently associated with having a cancer diagnosis were single vitamins, the researchers found. However, the subjects who reported having a chronic illness were 82 percent more likely than those without a chronic disease to be using two or more supplements, whether or not they also had cancer.
Other factors associated with the use of dietary supplements included female sex, older age, greater physical activity, consumption of fruits and vegetables, and the use of other complementary and alternative medicines.
Miller noted that it's impossible right now to definitively state that people living with cancer should -- or shouldn't -- take supplements. "The primary message should always be to promote a healthy diet," she said.
Doctors and other health professionals caring for cancer patients should be up on the literature about various supplements and should be sure to ask about supplement use, Miller said.
Cancer patients also need to be as well informed as possible about any supplement before they take it, Miller said. This can be tough, she noted, given the lack of regulation of dietary supplements in the U.S. and the limited information on their risks and benefits.
"Consumers are really kind of out there on their own, and should confer with their health care providers about supplement use."
SOURCE: Journal of the American Dietetic Association, March 2008.
Copyright © 2008 Reuters Limited
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