Medical Experts Wanted to Discuss Supplement Safety
The Beljanski Foundation, a New York based 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization, is dedicated to funding research for natural, non-toxic answers to cancer by continuing the work of accomplished French molecular biologist, Dr. Mirko Beljanski, who spent over 40 years studying the environmental impact on DNA replication and transcription. Over the years The Beljanski Foundation has sponsored research on the anti-cancer properties of plant extracts Dr. Beljanski discovered, collaborating with prestigious institutions including Columbia University and Kansas University Medical Center.
Plant extracts are marketed as dietary supplements by various companies. The Foundation’s first march of order was to approach a reputable manufacturing company and check if their extracts were able to match Dr. Beljanski’s original specifications regarding purity and strength. The USP or the NSF labels were useless in this case, because those companies have developed methodologies to test very popular ingredients, but had no knowledge on how to test those little known plant extracts, and no interest in developing a methodology for testing. The manufacturer had to develop its own specifications and testing programs to ensure supplement safety. They were able to develop high quality products and the research programs have led to numerous publications in peer review papers showing how plant extracts can be both safe and effective.
At a time the public is craving natural solutions that are effective and affordable, one would think that the manufacturer would boast his association with such prestigious research as a great marketing tool.
The reason? Herb and supplement manufacturers who dare research their products can be put out of business if their research is deemed by authorities to reveal an intent of bringing to market a product that could help treat a medical condition!
One would think that there could be no serious objection to accurately informing the public about any lawful activity. After all, the First Amendment requires liberty to discuss publicly all matters of public concern. But since the enactment of the Dietary Supplement Health Safety Act in 1994, manufacturers making health-related claims or deemed to make an implied claim, or even deemed to have the intent to make a possible claim on food products, have been prosecuted.
In the meantime, it’s no surprise that pharmaceutical companies will protect their brands at all costs and decry natural solutions as quackery, even if this blanket rejection of natural treatments screams conflict of interest. The industry warns that if natural treatments are allowed to flourish, “Desperately ill patients clinging to false hope may refuse surgery or give up their medicine and die.” Meanwhile, the industry continues to treat only the symptoms — the consequences of the sickness and not the cause of sickness — while imposing even higher prices on its products.
The good news is that more and more good doctors are refusing to be turned into five-minute prescription dispensers. They recognize that medicine is a holistic, multifaceted discipline. They value nutrition, psychology, and environmental medicine as part of their medical practices. Meanwhile, patients are becoming more and more empowered and educated. In growing numbers, patients are seeking new personalized solutions to replace the old one-size-fits-all approach to medicine.
Every time you see a conventional doctor, ask questions on prevention, nutrition, supplement safety and lifestyle. Tell your doctor that you expect him or her to take the time to get to know you and discuss your health goals. We have a right to self-determination. You may ask your doctor what the alternatives are to conventional treatment. Your doctor should assist you with reviewing all the options that science offers. “Ignorance leads to the loss of Freedom,” as Benjamin Franklin has taught us.
As for the supplements themselves, I cannot stress enough the importance of the quality of the natural extracts being used. Obviously, only quality extracts sufficiently loaded with active ingredients will trigger results. Beware of the inconsistency in potency from one brand to another. There can be a huge difference in concentration between various extracts available on the market.
Beware also of substances only backed by unverified testimonials. Look instead for compounds where the mechanisms of actions have been studied and published in reputable scientific journals. More often than not, cheap imitators “borrow” the science made by serious companies and present the results as if obtained by their own product. Look for companies that pursue research, or who provide material used by researchers.
Look for the trademark. Serious, quality products are trademarked. The trademark should appear visibly on the label. Only one company has been authorized to use the Beljanski® trademark, and the products it sells are the same quality as the ones being used for research.
An aging population, combined with increased pollution, and global access to weapons of mass destruction in the form of pre-packaged foods and sugary drinks, have created the “perfect sickness storm.” Meanwhile, whatever their differences, healthcare systems around the world are all plagued by ever-increasing costs and long waits at hospitals for expensive conventional treatment. Some systems work better than others in terms of reimbursements, accessibility, and coverage, but they are all straining under the pressure of spiraling costs and reduced access. When our soil is depleted, our crops poisoned by chemicals, our milk pasteurized, our water contaminated, more than ever our society needs quality dietary supplements. This industry should be hailed for bringing us natural vitamins, antioxidants, probiotics, minerals, and other sources of goodness.
Share
