April 2012

It's our right to know

by Joseph Roberts

• There are two historical initiatives going on right now in America. In California, a campaign called “It’s our Right to Know” (www.label gmos.org) is pressing to get a million signatures so that labelling of genetically modified foods is on the ballot for 2012. (The next US presidential election takes place November 6, 2012.)

A survey showed that more than 90 percent of Californians want the right to know what is in their food. People are taking back their power and putting initiatives on the ballot (as voters in BC did with their HST Referendum). The California Ballot Initiative requires 800,000 in-person, physical signatures. It cannot be done online and the deadline to gather the signatures is April 22, 2012.

Genetically modified organisms, often called genetically engineered (GE) or “transgenics” are derived from a process where genes of one species are inserted into another species.

“These genetically engineered foods have been allowed into our food supply without warning and they aren’t labelled,” says Pamm Larry, founder of the “It’s our Right to Know” campaign. “The bottom line is Californians have a right to know what’s in the food we eat and feed our children. It’s time to send a strong, direct message to those who govern us…that we want genetically engineered foods labelled.”

It's our right to know by Joseph Roberts On the US federal level, the campaign “Just Label It!” (www.justlabelit.org) has tremendous popular bi-partisan support. More than 500 partner organizations representing healthcare, consumer advocates, farmers, parents, environmentalists, food and farming organizations, businesses and faith-based communities have united on this issue.

So why is common sense GMO labelling not already in place? Because the biotech industry lobbies politicians for laws favourable to their industry. Corporations such as Monsanto are huge in the biotech industry. Biotech companies have been so effective in lobbying senators, governors, congressmen, regulators, medical panels and research organizations that they have basically rendered the government impotent in protecting citizens. Yet the biotech PR machines are performing far better than the actual crops. Failure to Yield, a report by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) notes that, despite 20 years of research and 13 years of commercialization, genetic engineering has failed to significantly increase US crop yields.

Three GE crops account for the vast majority of acres of GMOs planted around the world: corn, soybeans and cotton. Five countries produce 90 percent of the world’s genetically engineered crops: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, India and the US.

Even though 50 countries, including the European Union and Japan, have laws mandating that genetically engineered foods be labeled, sadly, Canada and the US do not. Remember, if it is GMO it is not organic and certainly not natural. Biotech corporations do not want to label GMOs because given a choice, informed people would not buy transgenic foods.

Locally, in Richmond, BC, Nature’s Path has championed consumer education and promoted GMO labeling for many years. “If California gets GMO labeling, so will the rest of the USA, and Canada will follow,” says founder Arran Stephens.

Although we live in Canada and cannot directly sign the petitions for these important initiatives in the US, we can help them succeed by calling or emailing people who do live there and by sending donations.

Make no mistake; if US citizens claim their right to know when GMOs are in their foods, Canada’s government will not stand for long refusing to label.

You too have the right to know what you are feeding your family. Act now, spread the word and visit the websites cited in this article. Support those frontline campaigners who are passionately working for our right to know.

Like abolishing slavery, GMO labelling is just the right thing to do.

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For more information about the anti-GMO movement in Canada, visit www.cban.ca (Canadian Biotechnology Action Network), www.cog.ca (Canadian Organic Growers) and www.certifiedorganic.bc.ca (Certified Organic Associations of BC).

Photo © Grant Cochrane

by Allan Lawry

• To understand how osteoporisis is a healing mechanism and not a disease, a brief history of the term “osteoporosis” is necessary. In 1830, French pathologist Jean Lobstein observed there were holes in the bones of some of the cadavers he was studying. And around that time, various researchers began to combine two Latin words to describe this condition: “osteo” meaning bone and “poros” meaning pore or hole. Together, the two words literally mean “porous bones,” describing weak and fragile bone that could fracture. You basically had to break a bone before you were diagnosed with the “disease”.

This changed in 1994 when the World Health Organization (WHO), under the direction of the UN, changed the description of osteoporosis from a disease of fractures to a disease of fracture “risks.” The organization also published its guidelines for what comprised a risk fracture, based on T scores derived from DEXA X-ray scanners. These scanners began to show up in greater numbers in medical clinics all over North America and due to their abnormally low levels for determining risks, almost overnight, 30% of all Caucasian females had a “risk factor.”

The WHO subsequently recommended bisphosphonates (drugs) as the first line of treatment for the disease; Fosamax was approved by the FDA and sales began to skyrocket. Last year, sales reached $3 billion dollars. These drugs not only have many well-documented adverse effects, but there is growing evidence they may actually cause bone to weaken after long-term (more than five years) use. This might be due to the drug’s hardening of the bone, where it becomes more brittle and prone to breaking. There are warnings from the US FDA noting the bisphosphonates may cause other fractures, like those of the femur. (See http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm229171.htm)

The medical business, Big Pharma and the FDA have created a “disease” from a symptom. They endorse faulty diagnostics, promote a harmful cure and sell it to anyone who is taken in by their deceptions. They have created a nightmare for those caught in the web of deceit, drugs and false hope for healthier bones.

Basic bone information: Bones are living, active tissues that renew themselves via a process called remodelling. Hormonal cells called osteoclasts remove old bone from bone tissue, deposit it into the bloodstream for removal and create small holes in the process. Cells called osteoblasts then arrive with a “mortar” of calcium, minerals and collagen to fill in the holes. This is an ongoing process that peaks when we are in our twenties. It begins to slow down in our forties and can accelerate naturally as we age.

Osteoclasts and osteoblasts are activated by the parathyroid hormone (PTH), which signals osteoclasts to pull calcium from the bones. Calcitonin is the hormone that stimulates osteoblasts to deposit calcium into the bones. Osteoblasts must be able to do their job effectively. Osteoblasts that are exhausted are one of the primary reasons for bone loss. Problems begin when the delicate balance between PTH and calcitonin is disrupted.

Bone loss can occur when the process of remodelling becomes dysfunctional. It affects one in four women over the age of 45 and one in eight men over 50. Here are some of the main reasons why we lose bone and some natural solutions to these problems:

Lack of magnesium: Calcitonin relies on magnesium to function properly. When we lack it, the balance between calcitonin tilts too far toward PTH. This results in excessive stimulation of the osteoclasts, causing calcium to be pulled from the bones. Most people are low in magnesium. The recommended intake is 500-900mg/day.

Excessive acidity (acidosis): If your diet contains too many acid foods such as meat, grains, bread, pasta, soft drinks, alcohol and coffee and not enough alkalizing foods such as green vegetables and fruits, your body starts to become acidic. As the blood needs to be slightly alkaline (approximately 7.3-7.4 PH), your body will pull calcium from the bones to neutralize the acid.

This is one of the main reasons for “bone remodelling dysfunction” or BRD. BRD is the term I prefer to use to describe “porous bone.” To keep your body in a more alkaline state, a diet that consists of 70-80% alkaline foods and 20-30% acid foods is recommended. You can check your PH levels with pH strips purchased at health food stores; you can monitor saliva or urine. It is recommended that your pH be approximately 6.5 in the morning, 7.0 in the afternoon and 7.5 in the evening. This shows you have alkaline reserves for the body’s needs. We have seen bone density increase by over 20% with this strategy alone.

Low hormone levels: Bone requires an adequate supply of several hormones, such as parathyroid hormone, growth hormone, DHEA, calcitonin, estrogen in women and testosterone in men. As an example, cortisol is a stress hormone, produced when there is stress. It will pull calcium from the bones if there is not enough DHEA to counter balance its effect. The parathyroid regulates calcium in the body and if it becomes stressed will pull calcium from the bones. We have recorded a 10-pound bone loss due to the condition, which is known as hyperparathyroidism. Estrogen loss for females during menopause is another major factor, as estrogen protects the loss of calcium in the body.

Women should begin to check their hormone levels starting in their early forties. For men, begin to check in the early fifties. This will give you a baseline for future reference and from which to monitor changes. Contact your primary care physician to coordinate these vital tests.

Low intake of the essential nutrients and bone builders: Attempt to have a diet that contains 20-30% protein, 30-40% plant-based carbohydrates, 15-20% good fats and 10-15% fibre. Enjoy your food and give yourself lots of good nutrition and energy.

Strong bones require the following: Bio-available calcium three times per day (800-1,000 mg/day); Natural sources of vitamin D (sunshine) (800-2,000 iu/day); Phosphorous (800-1,200mg/day; Potassium, (4,000-6,000mg/day). In addition, manganese, silicon, zinc, strontium and vitamin K are also important.

The bone robbers: Avoid smoking and an excess of coffee, alcohol, stress, calcium from dairy sources (increases acidosis), salt, sugar, soft drinks and fluoride. Also avoid prescription drugs, even those endorsed by Health Canada for “osteoporosis.” Some drugs actually contribute to fractures by killing the osteoclasts. This creates old, brittle bone that is prone to fracture. Femoral fractures are on the rise worldwide due to this misguided treatment. (For more information, search Google for “Fosamax lawsuits.”)

Not enough exercise: Exercise stimulates the osteoblasts to produce more bone. Just walking more will help and if you can do weight-bearing exercises, such as light weight training, you will help the bones greatly. Attempt to work out three times a week and vary your routine to avoid repetition, injury and boredom. Try to get outside and give yourself lots of fresh air and oxygen. You will feel better and more positive. You were meant to be active and to give your body the gift of lifelong activity. The main reason for BRD is due to the owner of those bones not providing the right ingredients for growth and maintenance of the overall body. If you do not provide your body with health enhancing nutrition, supplements, fresh air, exercise, sunshine and positive thoughts, your bone mineral supply may become depleted.

BRD is a short-term dysfunction that is actually a built-in healing and balancing system of the body. It gives priority to places or systems of the body that require minerals immediately. It “sacrifices” its minerals to these areas and then waits for its owner to replenish the storehouses. If the owner (you and I) does not provide the bones with what they need, the dysfunction continues and bones become weaker, less dense and more porous. Bones are the storehouses for energy for short-term repairs and balancing. They were not meant to provide long-term energy for the body. You, as its owner, must keep mineralization high in the bones to prevent the long-term results that we now define as BRD.

For many years, the definition and promotion of BRD was based on the following concept: Osteoporosis is a disease that causes weak and fragile bones that are prone to breaking. Other research has prompted a new definition: Bones lose density and become weak or fragile due to bone remodelling dysfunction (BRD), a short-term healing mechanism. This is caused by a variety of metabolic processes that contribute either individually or collectively to the decline of bone integrity.

BRD can be reversible, but it requires knowledge, a healthy diet and exercise plan, hormonal balancing and stress reduction. Above all, however, it requires a dedicated owner to take responsibility for the health of their bones. The earlier you start the better, so take care of your bones.

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Vancouver-based Allan Lawry is the creator of the “Healthy Bones Program,” which provides an all-natural alternative for people with bone health concerns. He is also a lifestyle and fitness coach. Call 604-220-7188 or email info@alfitness.ca, www.alfitness.ca

by Dr. Eldon Dahl, ND

• Ever wondered if you could bottle that sleepy feeling you get after eating a big turkey dinner, for future use on one of those long, restless nights? Well, last December, the Canadian health food industry was overjoyed when L-tryptophan, along with nine other products, was released from *Schedule F restriction. Until then, all these ingredients were only available to Canadians via expensive prescriptions. According to clinical studies in the Natural Standard clinical database, these nutrients have been clinically reviewed and used with life-changing improvements. Despite their proven effectiveness, however, Canadians are only now able to obtain these products legally without a prescription.

Last year, Health Canada, with the help of its Drug Schedule Status Committee, undertook a review of the science assessment for these 10 naturally sourced medicinal ingredients and decided that none of the reasons for restricting them in Schedule F were found to apply. The committee recommended these medicinal ingredients could be regulated as non-prescription status under the Natural Health Products Regulations.

So why has tryptophan been so controversial? It is best known as a natural relaxant. It helps improve sleep patterns and aids the body in the metabolization of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. The controversy surrounding L-tryptophan is best explained in the book The Healing Nutrients Within by Dr. Eric R. Braverman, M.D. In 1989, a fatal outbreak of the rare autoimmune disease Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS) cropped up. The disease causes fever, numbness and rashes. It also affects the muscles, arms and legs. In severe cases, EMS can cause death.

According to an article by William E. Crist entitled **Toxic L-tryptophan: Shedding Light on a Mysterious Epidemic, the outbreak was traced back to the Japanese engineering firm Showa Denko. Instead of fermenting its tryptophan normally, it introduced a new strain of bacteria into the fermentation and decreased the amount of activated carbon powder used in the purification process. These seemingly small manufacturing decisions, which were probably meant to be beneficial, instead proved to be catastrophic. Previously, tryptophan users had never reported any EMS-related symptoms. However, those who were unfortunate enough to receive the “bad batch” from 1989 reported major health issues. Several of those who developed EMS from the contaminated tryptophan sued the Japanese manufacturer. Although a settlement of $2 billion was eventually reached, this uproar resulted in a FDA mandate banning the sale of tryptophan in the US. Before discovering all the manufacturing facts, some of the media published the “health risks” of taking tryptophan, fuelling the fires of panic.

In time, however, the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition studied amino acid supplementation and concluded it was safe after all. And in 1996, L-tryptophan could be obtained in the US via prescription. Canada similarly followed suit with prescription use only. Health Canada finally released L-tryptophan from Schedule F in December of 2011. As Dr. Braverman and his colleagues state, “In our opinion, if there is any risk at all to amino acid therapy, it is taking imbalanced amino acids that do not contain tryptophan.”

L-Tryptophan has earned non-prescription status when sold as an oral dosage of no more than 220 mg daily. (It has prescription status when sold for human or veterinary use as a single ingredient intended for any route of administration other than oral.)

Another highly anticipated nutrient, L-carnitine (Levocarnitine), is now available to Canadians when sold for the treatment of its primary or secondary deficiency. An amino acid found in meat, this product helps reduce oxidized LDL-cholesterol levels in men and women, as well as circulating LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels for both genders. It also enhances exercise performance by facilitating glycogen storage during low-intensity aerobic exercise, as well as by balancing fuel utilization during high-intensity aerobic exercise. Basically stated, L-carnitine is good for many things, including mental clarity, energy, heart health and weight control.

The remaining list of released Schedule F products includes:

Apiol oil: Found in celery, parsley seed oil, dill, fennel seed, sassafras root bark, etc., it has been used in the treatment of liver, spleen and prostate diseases, as well as arthritis, anaemia and microbial infections. It has also been found useful as a laxative and diuretic.

Centella asiatica: Also known as gotu kola, this is a mild adaptogenic herb that is anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-bacterial and diuretic. It can also aid in the treatment of anxiety and hypertension. Its ability to help heal wounds is responsible for its traditional use for leprosy.

Deanol and its salts and derivatives (also known as DMAE, precursor to choline) has been used for treating ADHD, autism, Alzheimer’s disease and tardive dyskinesia. It is also used for improving memory and mood, boosting thinking skills and intelligence, oxygen efficiency, athletic performance and muscle reflexes as well as for liver spots and improving red blood cell function.

Dimethyl sulfoxide (also known as DMSO) has non-prescription status, unless sold for the treatment of interstitial cystitis or scleroderma in humans or for veterinary use. DMSO is predominantly used as a topical analgesic, a vehicle for topical application of pharmaceuticals, as an anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant. Because DMSO increases the rate of absorption of some compounds through organic tissues, including skin, it can be used as a drug delivery system. It is frequently compounded with antifungal medications, enabling them to penetrate not just skin, but also toenails and fingernails.

Dopamine (and its salts) is a neurotransmitter that helps control the brain’s reward and pleasure centres. It also regulates movement and emotional responses. People with low dopamine activity may be more prone to addiction. Dopamine deficiency results in Parkinson’s disease. It now has non-prescription status unless sold for administration by injection.

Gold (and its salts and derivatives) now has non-prescription status unless sold for administration by injection. Gold can ease the pain of arthritis and inflammatory joint diseases.

Theobromine and its salts (found in chocolate, kola nuts, coffee and tea) is a stimulant similar to caffeine that helps open bronchial passageways for asthma and dilates blood vessels to aid circulatory problems.

Uracil and its salts has non-prescription status, unless sold for the treatment of cancer. It helps to carry out the synthesis of many enzymes necessary for cell function through bonding with riboses and phosphates.

In the US, these products have been sold over-the-counter and are protected by the Congress-defined term “dietary supplement,” as coined in the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994. A dietary supplement is a product taken by mouth that contains a “dietary ingredient” intended to supplement the diet. Such supplements fall under the general umbrella of “foods,” not drugs.

Since these products have been sold in the US, they have not had any related safety concerns. In fact, they have attributed to better health and noticeable improvements for athletes. Yet until last December, free access to these supplements and their benefits was not available to Canadians because Health Canada had not yet fully reviewed and assessed them for safety, efficacy and quality, as required by the Food and Drugs Act and the Food and Drug Regulations.

Many in the health industry are elated to see these products legally available for sale; it is like a dream come true. The products work, but consumers have not had the opportunity to see the results for themselves. Canadians can now enjoy the same benefits that our US counterparts have enjoyed for decades: the freedom of choice. Canadians can use natural alternatives that provide great results without harmful pharmaceutical side effects and finally, as a bonus, no prescription is required. Another benefit to those seeking better health through prevention is that supplementation with a product such as L-carnitine may help avoid heart disease all together, saving millions in potential surgeries and prescription medication. To be frank, lives can ultimately be saved because of this Schedule F decision.

This milestone for the health industry should be celebrated, although, in retrospect, it is unfortunate it took so many years to recognize the healing potential of these products. Realistically, we still have a long way to go. There are more products that could benefit Canadians that are currently inaccessible under current regulations. Still, organizations such as the Canadian Health Food Association, the Natural Health Protection Association and Health Action Network are seeking to bridge the gap between the natural health industry and Health Canada. Steps such as this provide encouragement as better education brings enlightenment.

Proactively, in the spirit of cooperation, the natural health industry, the provinces and Health Canada can work together for the optimal health of all Canadians. Learn more about the organizations mentioned: CHFA www.chfa.ca/en-us/home.aspx NHPA http://nhppa.org HAN www.healthactionnetwork.com/

*Schedule F refers to Sections C.01.041 to C.01.049 of the Food and Drug Regulations, controlling the sale of medicinal ingredients. These ingredients require a prescription for both human and veterinary use, unless the veterinary use it is labelled for is in a form unsuitable for human use. In 2004, the Natural Health Products Regulations came into force and all naturally sourced ingredients of a natural health product became governed by these regulations.

**Toxic L-tryptophan: Shedding Light on a Mysterious Epidemic: www.seedsofdeception.com/Public/L-tryptophan/2BackgroundInformation/index.cfm

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Dr. Eldon Dahl, ND, is the founder and director of the Life Choice™ nutraceutical product line. Its L-Typtophan product has earned an EN# from Health Canada (www.life-choice.net)

photo © Alita Bobrov