U.S. to Prohibit Supplement Tied to Health Risks

By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG

Published: December 31, 2003 by the New York Times

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30, 2003. Ephedra, the herbal supplement that has been linked to heart attack, stroke and sudden death, including that of a pitcher in the Baltimore Orioles organization poses an "an unreasonable risk to the public health" and will be banned, Bush administration officials said on Tuesday.

The ban is the first time that the Food and Drug Administration has removed a dietary supplement from the market since 1994, when Congress passed a law severely restricting the agency's authority to regulate herbal products. It will not take effect for several months.

In the meantime, Tommy G. Thompson, the secretary of health and human services, strongly urged consumers to stop taking ephedra, which has been used by millions of Americans seeking to lose weight or enhance athletic performance.

"For too long, dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids have been heavily promoted and widely used," Mr. Thompson told reporters at a news conference announcing the ban. "They are simply too risky to be used."

The health secretary said the ban would almost certainly generate a court challenge from ephedra manufacturers, who contend the supplement is safe when used as directed. It will also set a precedent for how the F.D.A. deals with dietary supplements in the future.

Yet the industry's reaction was mixed. After a decade of intense debate over ephedra's safety, the supplement has generated so much bad publicity for herbal products' manufacturers that spokesmen for several trade groups said on Tuesday they were relieved by the action.

"Finally," declared Loren Israelsen, executive director of the Utah Natural Products Alliance, which represents leading manufacturers of dietary supplements, many of them based in Utah. "Ephedra has been a slow and painful burn for both the F.D.A. and for the industry."

Calling ephedra "a political lightning rod," Mr. Israelsen said other supplement makers feared that if the F.D.A. did not act against ephedra, Congress would move to tighten the agency's jurisdiction over all dietary supplements.

Consumer advocates, meanwhile, criticized the ban as too little, too late. "It's inexcusable why this has taken so long," said Dr. Sidney M. Wolfe, director of Public Citizen's Health Research Group, which petitioned the agency to ban ephedra in September 2001. He added, "All that's happened since then is more people have died."

Unlike drugs, dietary supplements, naturally occurring substances that are derived from botanical materials, are not subject to F.D.A. review before they come to market. Instead, manufacturers can market dietary supplements as long as they do not make claims that their products affect the "structure or function" of the body.

But herbal products can be as powerful as prescription drugs, experts say. Ephedra, an adrenaline-like stimulant also known by its Chinese name, ma huang, has for years been suspected of causing heart attack, stroke and sudden death in otherwise healthy people. Its principal active ingredient is ephedrine, which can raise blood pressure and is regulated by the F.D.A. as a drug when it is manufactured in a synthetic form.

California, Illinois and New York have already banned the sale of ephedra products, and some sports leagues, including the National Football League, bar players from taking them. Concerns about the supplement were heightened in February, when Steve Bechler, a 23-year-old pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles, died after taking ephedra tablets. A medical examiner concluded that ephedra contributed to Mr. Bechler's death.

While the debate raged, the F.D.A. faced major hurdles in trying to restrict ephedra sales. Under the 1994 law, the government cannot restrict the sale of dietary supplements without proof that they pose an unreasonable risk to the public health. But the F.D.A. has no authority to require safety studies or even to obtain reports of adverse effects from supplement makers.

Slenderize Your Tummy!

The "AirBike" Hits All Abdominal Muscles

Ly on the floor and pull your knees in. With your hands in classic "crunch" position, swing one leg out as you bring the same elbow to the alternate leg. Switch sides. Continue alternating until you have to stop. This is my favorite all around abdominal exercise!

The Five Absolute Worst Foods You Can Eat

By Dr. Joseph Mercola with Rachael Droege

There are no bad foods, right? Only food you should eat in moderation? Well, not really. The following foods are so bad for your body that I really can’t see any reason to eat them. Not only do they have zero nutritional value, but they also give your body a healthy dose of toxins, which should make the idea of eating them really hard to swallow.

Doughnuts

Doughnuts are fried, full of sugar and white flour and most all varieties contain trans fat. Store-bought doughnuts are made up of about 35 percent to 40 percent trans fat.

An average doughnut will give you about 200 to 300 calories, mostly from sugar, and few other nutrients.

It’s too bad that Americans view doughnuts as a breakfast food as, nutritionally speaking, eating a doughnut is one of the worst ways to start off your day. It will through off your blood sugar and won’t stay with you so you’ll be hungry again soon. You are better off eating no breakfast at all, or better yet grabbing a quick glass of Living Fuel.

Soda

One can of soda has about 10 teaspoons of sugar, 150 calories, 30 to 55 mg of caffeine, and is loaded with artificial food colors and sulphites. I can't think of any good reason to ever have it. The diet varieties are also problematic as they are filled with harmful artificial sweeteners like aspartame.

Studies have linked soda to osteoporosis, obesity, tooth decay and heart disease, yet the average American drinks an estimated 56 gallons of soft drinks each year. Plus, drinking all that sugar will likely suppress your appetite for healthy foods, which pave the way for nutrient deficiencies.

Soft drink consumption among children has almost doubled in the United States over the last decade, which is not surprising considering that most school hallways are lined with soda-filled vending machines.

Schools often make marketing deals with leading soft drink companies such as Coca-Cola from which they receive commissions--based on a percentage of sales at each school--and sometimes a lump-sum payment, in exchange for their students’ health. School vending machines can increase the consumption of sweetened beverages by up to 50 or more cans of soda per student per year.

If you routinely drink soda--regular or diet--eliminating it from your diet is one of the simplest and most profound health improvements you can make.

French Fries (and Nearly All Commercially Fried Foods)

Potatoes are bad enough when consumed in their raw state, as their simple sugars are rapidly converted to glucose that raises insulin levels and can devastate your health. But when they are cooked in trans fat at high temperatures, all sorts of interesting and very unpleasant things occur.

Anything that is fried, even vegetables, has the issue of trans fat and the potent cancer-causing substance acrylamide.

Foods that are fried in vegetable oils like canola, soybean, safflower, corn, and other seed and nut oils are particularly problematic. These polyunsaturated fats easily become rancid when exposed to oxygen and produce large amounts of damaging free radicals in the body. They are also very susceptible to heat-induced damage from cooking. What is not commonly known is that these oils can actually cause aging, clotting, inflammation, cancer and weight gain. You can read the article “Secrets of the Edible Oil Industry” for more information.

It is theoretically possible to create a more “healthy” French fry if you cook it in a healthy fat like virgin coconut oil. Due to its high saturated fat content, coconut oil is extremely stable and is not damaged by the high temperatures of cooking. This is why coconut oil should be the only oil you use to cook with.

I am fond of telling patients that one French fry is worse for your health than one cigarette, so you may want to consider this before you order your next ‘Biggie’ order.

Chips

Most commercial chips, and this includes corn chips, potato chips, tortilla chips, you name it, are high in trans fat. Fortunately, some companies have caught on to the recent media blitz about the dangers of trans fat and have started to produce chips without trans fat.

However, the high temperatures used to cook them will potentially cause the formation of carcinogenic substances like acrylamide, and this risk remains even if the trans fat is removed.

Fried Non-Fish Seafood

This category represents the culmination of non-healthy aspects of food. Fried shrimp, clams, oysters, lobsters, and so on have all the issues of trans fat and acrylamide mentioned above, plus an added risk of mercury.

Seafood is loaded with toxic mercury and shellfish like shrimp and lobsters can be contaminated with parasites and resistant viruses that may not even be killed with high heat. These creatures, considered scavenger animals, consume foods that may be harmful for you.

Eating these foods gives you a quadruple dose of toxins--trans fat, acrylamide, mercury and possibly parasites or viruses--with every bite.

If you have a taste for seafood, there’s an easy solution. It’s best to avoid your local fish fry and try the only fish I now eat--the delicious wild red Alaskan salmon that was proven through independent lab testing to be free of harmful levels of mercury and other contaminants.

Meet Jennifer Williams

Engaged To Be Married in 2004

On August 30, 2003 my life changed. My boyfriend of 2 ½ years proposed to me on a beautiful beach in Bermuda. We were surrounded by our friends and family as we were there for his sister's wedding. He had arranged it so I would catch the bouquet and he would catch the garter. And he did, thank goodness! Then after he put the garter on my leg, while he was down on his knee he pulled out the ring and asked me to marry him. He is such a romantic! Everyone else knew what was coming so they were ready with video cameras and regular cameras. We are fortunate to have pictures of this exciting moment from every angle. It was wonderful!

After we got home, we had a chance to look at the pictures. The beach was beautiful, the sunset, the people, everything was perfect. But when I saw myself I was so disappointed. I was disappointed with myself for wasting another beautiful moment in my life being overweight and out of shape. I didn't even want to look at the pictures. It was at that moment, I decided that I was going to change my life.

All my life I had been overweight and tried every diet out there. Sometimes I would have temporary success but the weight always came back. I knew if this time it was going to be a lasting change I couldn't do it myself. So in September I began working with Angela twice a week.

And wow, what an adventure the past 4 months have been. I have lost over 16 inches and a total of 15 lbs. of fat. In total I have dropped from 25% to 17% body fat. And my body has completely changed, every day I 'find' a new muscle. For Christmas this year, my fiancé bought me a set of variable weights that go up to 45 lbs. each. Four months ago I would never of believed that I could of ever lifted that much weight. (And he never thought he would be buying me fitness equipment for Christmas.) Currently I am using 30 lbs. for my stronger muscle groups but I am motivated to get to that 45-lbs. mark. It feels so good to see the beginning of the shape and definition in my arms and legs. Although I am not at my goal, I even got the courage to get my belly button pierced and now I can show it off!

The biggest change for me is the way I think about food and exercise. Before I was always on a diet and exercise program for a set period of time and couldn't wait for it to be over. The other day, I just realized, this time I have finally learned how to form healthier habits and I want to continue them. I don't want to go back to eating all of the yucky processed junk food. Regardless of the weight loss, my body just feels better when I eat healthy. I am learning to cook healthier and make better choices. Up till now I had a lot of misconceptions of what was good for me. Now I understand how proteins, fats and carbohydrates work, and why some are better than others. I have completely cut out any processed foods and caffeine. Now I eat more food, more often and I never feel like I am starving myself. It's great!

About two years ago I was diagnosed with Acid Reflux disease and was treating it with medications. The pills helped but it was still painful at times. Since I changed my diet, I have not had any symptoms at all and I have not had to take any medication. Its amazing the difference a change in your diet can make.

My goal for this month is to find the PERFECT wedding dress. I am thinking about something strapless (yeah!) and with a fitted bodice. I am so happy with my new body and motivated to continue that I now have the confidence to show it off. I can't wait!

We have set our wedding date for September 25, 2004 and with my new body, healthier habits and increased confidence level, I know it will be a beautiful day I will love to look back on.

Thanks Angela!

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Your Spiritual Health

Kenneth Copeland
Kenneth Copeland Minstries

"Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip." (Hebrews 2:1)

It's happened to all of us. We get a little of the Word of God under our spiritual belts. We have a few victories. Our lives are going great for the first time in years. Then suddenly we slip and it all falls apart. We find ourselves having to start all over again.

Hebrews was written to a people like that. They made such great spiritual progress that they got to the place where they should have been teachers. Then they slipped back so much, they needed baby food again. (See Hebrews 5:12.)

What caused them to fall so far? They let other things get in the way of their faith. They let the promises of God slip, so they slipped.

That's happened to a multitude of believers in the last several years.

"Well, Brother Copeland," they said, "we're tired of that faith stuff." Or, "We just don't have time to spend that much time in the Word."

They turned their attention away from the promises of God. It's not that they didn't believe them anymore. It's just that they directed their attention to other things. They let their Word level drop and since low Word level equals low faith level, they soon began suffering defeat in areas where they once had victory.

Don't let that happen to you. When things are going well, don't just ride the tide of God's blessing. Dig deeper into what God has for you. Give more earnest heed to the promises of God. Concentrate on moving ahead, on becoming so strong in the Spirit you can not only get your own needs met, you can meet others' needs as well!

Remember: Low Word Level = Low Faith Level = Slip.

Don't get so busy enjoying today's victory that tomorrow ends up in defeat. Look into the things you've learned. Give the Word more of your attention--not less. Keep moving from faith to faith. Instead of trying to trip you up, Satan and his bunch will be crying, "Oh no, that faith man is coming after us again!"

Scripture Study: Hebrews 5:11-14, Hebrews 6:1-12"

The Body Sculptress says, "You have what you pay attention to. If you focus on God and His word, your faith stays strong. In the exact same way, if you focus on good food and exercise, you have a strong and healthy body. But as soon as you decide you are good enough, or you let other things get your attention, your strength, faith and health wane.

Remember this year to remember. Don't get so busy with other things that you forget what brought you to a better place. Because you're "there" doesn't mean you can stop "exercising" the things that got you there. It's time to refocus to ensure that you continue doing the right things right. Be strong this year, and if there is anything I can do to help you, please don't hesitate to let me know."

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GET THE BODY OF YOUR DREAMS THIS YEAR!

New Year Special For residents of Raleigh, NC

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