Dr. Jonny Bowden's Blog

Vitamin D Boosts Weight Loss Efforts

2009-07-06T06:28:00.001-07:00

According to a new study, people whose vitamin D levels test high before they go on a diet experience significantly better results on that diet than people with low levels of vitamin D. The study suggests that vitamin D plays a part in weight loss and that increasing your intake of this incredibly important nutrient just might help you drop additional pounds.

We already know that vitamin D deficiency is associated with obesity, but it's not clear which comes first- are people obese because of inadequate vitamin D... or does obesity cause vitamin D levels in the body to somehow drop?

In the current study, presented at the Endocrine Society's 91^st annual meeting in Washington DC, researchers measured blood levels of vitamin D in 38 overweight men and women before putting them on a calorie restricted diet for 11 weeks.

Here's what they found: Higher levels of vitamin D predicted greater success on the weight-loss diet.

In general, most of the subjects had insufficient levels of vitamin D in the first place. But for each 1-ng/mL increase in the active form of vitamin D, subjects lost nearly 1/4 pound more weight. Baseline levels of vitamin D- the levels measured before the subjects went on a diet- actually predicted how much weight they would lose on the diet itself, with those with the least amount of vitamin D losing the least amount of weight on the diet, and those with the most amount of vitamin D losing the most amount of weight.

Most nutritionally aware health professionals- including doctors who know anything about this stuff at all- recommend that you get a 25-hydroxy vitamin D test, which is the most accurate form of testing for blood levels of vitamin D. They also recommend that ideal levels be in the 50-80 range. Less than 20 is considered severely deficient, and under 50 is less than optimal, even though lab values for "normal" start at 30.

In addition, the researchers measured body fat distribution on all the subjects using a DXA (bone densitometry) scan. Higher baseline levels of vitamin D also predicted greater loss in troublesome (and more dangerous) abdominal fat.

"Our results suggest the possibility that the addition of vitamin D to a reduced-calorie diet will lead to better weight loss," said Shalamar Sibley, MD, MPH, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota.

So now in addition to helping people improve physical performance, strengthening bones, improving mood and possibly fighting cancer, we can add weight loss to the resume of this amazing little vitamin. Don't wait for the doctors to catch up with the science. I recommend 2,000 IUs a day of vitamin D, a very safe amount for this inexpensive (and easy to swallow) vitamin!

Candida: The Quiet Invader

2009-07-06T06:25:00.001-07:00

Picture if you will, a garden with two things growing in it: Flowers and Weeds.

If the weeds are kept under control, they really don't do much damage and the flowers will bloom everywhere. If, however, the garden becomes overgrown with weeds, it's a whole different story.

Your gut is exactly like that garden, but instead of being populated with flowers and weeds it's populated with what's poetically called "gut flora", the many organisms which reside in the intestinal tract. In your gut, the part of the flowers are played by beneficial bacteria called probiotics, while the part of the weeds is played by a nasty little microbe known as Candida albicans.

Candida albicans is actually a fungus, but in "normal" circumstances it lives in peace with the rest of the gut flora and isn't much cause for concern. Unfortunately, this peaceful coexistence is often disrupted by a number of factors, resulting in an overgrowth of candida which can cause havoc everywhere in the body, affecting our immune system, hormone balance and even our thought processes(1). Most common symptoms include:

bloating
constipation or diarrhea
fatigue
brain fog
mood swings
sugar cravings

yeast infections

Anything that can affect the natural ecology of the gut can cause an overgrowth of candida, but the usual suspects are...

antibiotics
birth control pills
sugar (the favorite food for these little buggers)

Antibiotics, for example, can easily alter the delicate balance between "good" and "bad" bacteria in your gut (and, for women, in the vagina) by killing off many of the good bacteria that help keep the yeast fungus (Candida) under control. Without the good bacteria to keep Candida in check, the little buggers multiply like rabbits, ultimately damaging the intestinal lining and destroying cells.

Remember, candida (a yeast fungus) are living organisms, and they produce their own set of toxins. "Greater numbers of candida produce greater amounts of toxins, which further irritate and break down the intestinal lining", explains Liz Lipski, PhD, CNN. "This damage allows macromolecules of partially digested food to pass through (the gut wall)". The immune system takes one look at those partially digested molecules, realizes they don't belong, treats them as invaders and sends out a bunch of antibodies. "The net result is increased sensitivity to foods and other food substances, and to the environment", explains Lipsky.

What to do, what to do?

Number one with a bullet is to stop feeding them. Since sugar is their number one source of fuel, the typical effective "anti-yeast" diet looks a lot like Atkins. At the very least, avoid sugar, grains, alcoholic beverages, and yeasted breads. Even fruits (dried or fresh) are eliminated during the "kill-off" phase. (You can eat all the grass-fed beef, free range poultry and eggs, vegetables, yogurt, nuts and seeds you want.)

While starving the yeast cells, you want to make sure to nurture the good bacteria that keep them in check. The best way to do this is with probiotics. Lactobacillus probiotics are particularly good at keeping Candida albicans under control(2), but a good broad-spectrum probiotic supplement- containing lactocacillus and bifidobacteria-- is always a good idea. Remember, probiotics are living organisms, and- like Candida- they need their own source of fuel. Probiotics love to dine on FOS or fructoogliosaccharides. These molecules are also called "prebiotics" and many good probiotic formulas also contain some of these as well.

Many other substances are helpful in killing off candida. At the top of the list is garlic ("my personal favorite", says Lipsky), capryllic and lauric acid (both found in coconut oil), oil of oregano, pau d'orco and grapefruit seed extract. A terrific weapon in the anti-candida arsenal is olive leaf extract. Olive leaf contains the active ingredient oleuropein which has strong anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. Barlean's Olive Leaf Complex is a particularly recommended brand that comes in a liquid form that's easy to take and tasty to boot.

Many practitioners recommend a strict "anti-yeast" diet for at least three weeks, and then suggest reintroducing "banned" foods slowly as your gut gets healthier. When Candida are killed, it may produce an antibody response that can result in a temporary worsening of symptoms (the "die-off" effect or Herxheimer reaction). "(Because of this) it's important to begin therapeutics gently with small doses and gradually increase", says Lipsky. "If your symptoms are still aggravated, cut back (on the yeast killers) and then gradually increase".

And for women- for whom vaginal yeast infections are a particular concern- consider internal applications of healthy bacteria in addition to oral supplementation. Ann Knight, DC, a holistic chiropractor in Thousand Oaks, California has had much success with this protocol. "A broad spectrum probiotics mixed with yogurt and inserted into the vagina can be very effective", she says.

In some cases more serious weapons- like the antifungal med Nyastatin- may be called for, but remember, if you're still feeding the yeast with sugar (and foods that the body treats as sugar) you're kind of defeating the purpose. The cornerstone of the best diet for getting rid of yeast is eliminating sugar.

Which is also, come to think of it, one of the cornerstones of the best diet for overall health.

References

"Digestive Wellness", Elizabeth Lipsky, PhD, CNN
"The Probiotic Rescue" Allison Tannis, RD, MSc

I'm Crazy About Longevity

2009-07-02T14:28:00.000-07:00

We have a lot of flexibility as far as maintaining our bodies and how long we can actually live... and live well! I reveal much much more about this in my program:

The 7 Pillars of Longevity
This learning system can help you:

enhance memory and elevate mood
prevent killers like diabetes and Alzheimers
improve heart health and blood pressure
increase energy and physical performance
guard against internal and external aging
create richer, more meaningful relationships

The Truth About Exercise

2009-06-29T11:22:00.001-07:00

This 5 minute video busts a lot of myths about exercising. There's a lot more where this came from inside of Diet Boot Camp.

Modest Carb Reduction May Facilitate Weight Loss

2009-06-29T11:19:00.001-07:00

A new study from the Department of Nutrition Sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham shows that even a modest reduction in carb intake was enough to stabilize blood sugar, reduce insulin and, in the long-run, facilitate weight loss.

Barbara Gower, PhD, the coauthor of the study, said "There has been great public interest in low-carbohydrate diets for weight loss, but they are difficult to maintain, in part because of the drastic reduction in carbohydrates".

Well, we can quibble about the difficult to maintain part- many low-carbers feel it's the easiest program they've ever been on once they get used to it- but let's admit that many people do find the idea of giving up high-carb foods daunting to say the least.

This study shows that even a partial reduction in high sugar (high-glycemic) carbs can make a huge difference to your health and your weight.

The researchers studied two groups of people. One group was given a "standard" diet of about 55% carbohydrates, 18% protein and 27% fat. The second group was given a diet of 43% carbs, 18% protein, and 39% fat.

Calories were identical in both groups, and the calorie level was set at just the amount needed to maintain weight.

The results showed that even when weight loss was not the goal, the group eating slightly lower carbs stayed fuller longer and were more satisfied. They also had healthier blood sugar levels and lower levels of insulin, the fat-storage hormone.

Commenting on the study, which was presented at the 91^st Annual Meeting of the Endocrine Society in Washington DC, Dr. Gower said this: "Over the long run, a sustained modest reduction in carbohydrate intake may help to reduce [calorie consumption] and facilitate weight loss".

Amen to that.

If you'd like a structured low-carb diet plan designed to stabilize blood sugar levels and lower levels of insulin (the fat-storage hormone) check out Diet Boot Camp. It includes a healthy shopping list, quick and tasty recipes, and a food almanac.

The Real Health Care Reform Program

2009-06-29T11:17:00.001-07:00

It's starting to happen.

Slowly, a growing number of voices from establishment medicine are beginning to sound a different- and much overdue- theme in their writings on the health care crisis.

They're starting to talk about- wait for it- prevention.

What's gotten lost in all the shouting in Congress about the costs of universal health care and the costs of revamping the existing (and quite broken) system, is this simple message: untold millions could be saved by keeping people out of the damn system in the first place.

About which, let me just say two words: Diabetes and Obesity.

Writing in the June 23 edition of the Wall Street Journal, Mark Sklar, MD, writes: "We have unparalleled levels of obesity in our country. If we could prevent even a small percentage of people from becoming obese and developing these conditions, the costs of health care could go down far enough to cover everyone's insurance". Sklar recommends incentive programs to encourage healthy eating and exercise. First step: Ban vending machines and fast food from our schools. (Good luck with that one, but at least he's talking about it!)

"It's really stunning how the percentages for type 2 diabetes are going up in younger and younger Americans. Clearly, diabetes is following obesity, and both have huge ramifications on long-term health," says Siri Atma Greeley, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of Chicago Medical Center.

"The health insurance system is just horrible for these kids as they age. They get kicked out of their cozy pediatric health care systems, knocked off their parents' health plans, then stop care and suffer the consequences," says Rebecca Lipton, associate professor in pediatric endocrinology at the University of Chicago. "We are already seeing some 20- and 25-year-old kids now on dialysis for kidney failure. It's chilling,"

Indeed. And this might just be the perfect teaching moment. We're all learning (painfully) about what happens when you overspend, overcharge, take an "interest only" mortgage and hope for the best later on. Now it's time to apply those economic lessons to the way we eat and the way we live.

No one said it would be easy, but it's doable. Both diabetes and obesity can be largely prevented and their staggering costs- physically and financially- can be substantially reduced.

How?

We need to do exactly what we're being forced to do with spending: Cut back.

It's really not that hard- and even if it is, so what? We've lived under the illusion that we can have whatever we want and eat whatever we want and folks, it was a big, fat, ugly lie. We spent on our credit cards and worried about the bills later, even though most of what we pay is interest on a principle that never seems to decrease and we've been doing the exact same thing with our health.

And forgive me for ranting, but I'm tired of hearing about "deprivation" as if having to turn down a Krispy Kreme is in the same class as poverty, hunger, or living on $2 a day (which is what half the world does).

Get over it.

It's time for some tough love. You're not deprived if you can't eat all the chocolate and cake and crappy cereals and Olive Garden sized portions of pasta and supersized fries you want.

I don't call that deprived-- I call it smart.

You can start your own health care reform program right now by following these four simple rules:

Take your desired weight, multiply by 10 and eat that number of calories a day. (You can add a couple hundred if you exercise at least 1/2 an hour on that same day). And no, you won't starve.

Do something that gets your heart rate pumping for at least 30 minutes a day

Take omega 3 fatty acids.

Don't smoke.

That may not keep everyone alive out of the health care system, but it'll sure make a profound difference in the amount of time you spend there.

"I Just Can't Lose Weight"

2009-06-22T17:01:00.001-07:00

I am so confident that my Diet Boot Camp can help you lose weight that I'm including this 90 day guarantee:

My 90 day guarantee protects you... so what are you waiting for?

Give Diet Boot Camp a try »

Carbohydrate Restriction May Slow Prostate Tumor Growth

2009-06-22T16:59:00.001-07:00

Restricting carbohydrates, regardless of weight loss, appears to slow the growth of prostate tumors, according to an animal study recently published by researchers in the Duke Prostate Center.

"Previous work here and elsewhere has shown that a diet light in carbohydrates could slow tumor growth, but the animals in those studies also lost weight, and because we know that weight loss can restrict the amount of energy feeding tumors, we weren't able to tell just how big an impact the pure carbohydrate restriction was having, until now," said Stephen Freedland, M.D., a urologist in the Duke Prostate Center and lead investigator on this study.

The researchers believe that insulin and insulin-like growth factor contribute to the growth and proliferation of prostate cancer, and that a diet devoid of carbohydrates lowers serum insulin levels in the bodies of the mice, thereby slowing tumor growth, Freedland said.

The findings appear in the May 26, 2009 online edition of the journal Cancer Prevention Research.

Animals in the study were fed one of three diets:

a very high fat/no carbohydrate diet

a low-fat/high carbohydrate diet

and a high fat/moderate-carbohydrate diet, which is most similar to the "Western" diet most Americans eat, Freedland said.

They were then injected with prostate tumors at the same time.

"The mice that were fed a no-carbohydrate diet experienced a 40 to 50 percent prolonged survival over the other mice," Freedland said.

Mice on the no-carbohydrate diet consumed more calories in order to keep body weights consistent with mice on the other study arms.

The researchers plan to begin recruiting patients at two sites – Duke and the University of California - Los Angeles - for a clinical trial to determine if restricting carbohydrate intake in patients with prostate cancer can similarly slow tumor growth. The trial should begin within a few weeks.

"It's very exciting - this is a potential new mechanism to fight prostate cancer growth and help patients live longer with their disease," Freedland said.

Asparagus: ATasty Weight Loss Treat

2009-06-22T16:55:00.001-07:00

This article is written by my colleague Dr. Leo Galland, author of The Fat Resistance Diet - Jonny

Delicious young asparagus has arrived at farm stands and local markets. Now is the time to enjoy them while the stalks are tender. Asparagus are a good source of fiber and contains important nutrients. They have Vitamin K, which is good for your bones. Asparagus are also a source of beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin, which are anti-inflammatory and help support weight loss.

I like to soak the asparagus several times to remove the sand. Then trim the tough ends of the asparagus. You may like your long stems and others may favor the Asian style perhaps cutting more of the stem into an angled piece which is very appealing if you have never tried this style before. This size can be tossed into a salad or a stir-fry.

Steam asparagus for a few minutes in very little water. Steam until brilliant green and fork tender. Watch them and be careful not to overcook.

A bowl of cooked asparagus on the kitchen counter will simply disappear as a delicious snack. Having only 40 calories per cup makes this an allowable treat. A squeeze of lime or lemon and perhaps a dash of salt and pepper completes your dish. Enjoy!

To receive a free one day meal plan with recipes visit www.fatresistancediet.com.

The Key to Controlling Cravings

2009-06-11T06:38:00.001-07:00

Cravings are actually a form of addiction with physiological and psychological components.

This is why most diet plans fail- because they don't address the emotional side of cravings.

Without proper support for your emotions it is nearly impossible to overcome the old habits and cravings that keep you from becoming your best.

This is what separates Diet Boot Camp from all the other weight loss plans out there.

It's not just about your weight, it's about you. The whole you: Body, thoughts, and feelings.

If you are ready to create the life you love in a body you love, the Diet Boot Camp Challenge begins on July 6th.

Learn more»

Love Your Liver!

2009-06-11T06:35:00.001-07:00

Environmental pollution may be contributing to the growing problem of liver disease in U.S. adults, according to a new U.S. study.

Matthew Cave of the University of Louisville and colleagues studied the role of environmental pollutants in liver disease in 4,500 people who take part in the so-called 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

They examined chronic low-level exposure to 111 common pollutants including lead, mercury, PCBs and pesticides, and their association with otherwise unexplained liver disease in adults.

These pollutants, the researchers said, were detectable in 60 percent or more of the study subjects.

"Our study found that greater than one in three U.S. adults had liver disease, even after excluding those with traditional risk factors such as alcoholism and viral hepatitis," Cave said in a statement.

"Our study shows that some of these cases may be attributable to environmental pollution, even after adjusting for obesity, which is another major risk factor for liver disease," he said.

Cave is presenting his findings this weekend at the Digestive Disease Week conference in Chicago, the largest international gathering of physicians and researchers in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery.

Given the load our poor liver has to contend with, I consider liver support supplements to be more important than ever. My favorites are milk thistle (400-900mg daily), selenium (200-400mcg daily) and alpha lipoic acid (100-600 mg daily), which I personally take every day. A great formula for general use is Vital Nutrients Liver Support which contains herbs like dandelion root, artichoke leaf extract and curcumin known to be very liver-friendly. Freshly made vegetable juices- especially with beet and beet greens- are also great for that poor liver.

A Feel-Good Story for Everyone

2009-06-11T06:32:00.001-07:00

Spoiler alert: This story has nothing to do with nutrition.

Well, not directly, any way.

But it does have to do with motivation and commitment, and with persisting in the face of insurmountable odds- something that a lot of people who have tried to tame the demons of food addiction know something about.

On the surface, Danielle Galloway looks like a typical attractive teenager graduating high school this month.

She's 17, she's smart, she's pretty and she's well-spoken. And she's optimistic about the future.

So stop reading for a moment, and think about this: What do you suppose is true about Danielle?

Whatever it is, I guarantee you it's not so.

Danielle Galloway was a homeless teenager.

She spent most of her childhood in 8 different shelters in Atlanta where she and her six- count them, six- siblings- bounced around from shelter to shelter with their mother. She attended no less than ten different schools. Against all odds, she threw herself into her studies, eventually graduating in the top 25% of her class and winning a full scholarship to Boston University where she will become a full time student beginning in September.

Majoring- by the way- in math.

Inspiring? Incredible? You betcha.

You can watch a moving interview with Danielle here. She talks about the mentors that helped her along the way, the teachers who took her under their wing, the mother who despite obstacles most of us will never experience, managed to raise six terrific kids in a way that gives true meaning to the overused term "family values".

I'm telling you this story for two reasons.

One, it's inspiring and moving and I hope it makes you feel as good as it made me feel when I first heard it.

And two, because it reminds me- and I hope it reminds you- that we don't have to be victims. Not of our "genes", our environment, our food choices, our weight.

And we don't have to be "defeated" when something is really difficult- whether it's losing weight, getting an education, making a relationship work, or just surviving when things look really crummy.

Sometimes we can all use a little reminder of just how powerful we can really be.

Thanks, Danielle, for reminding us.

Do You Have Barbara Bush Syndrome

2009-06-08T09:15:00.000-07:00

A lot of people who want to lose weight have the Barbara Bush syndrome. They want their situation to magically change without having to change any of their habits.

Changing habits is a hard thing, believe me I know, but as someone who has overcome many unhealthy habits in my life (and as someone with a Masters degree in psychology) I know that change is possible with the right help.

Diet Boot Camp is my eight week program for physical transformation that includes a mental makeover. It's like having Jonny the psychologist, Jonny the nutritionist, and Jonny the personal trainer all show up at your house for an eight week visit.

Are you ready to change your body and change your life? If so, check out Diet Boot Camp!

Take Two Walks and Call Me in the Morning

2009-06-08T09:14:00.001-07:00

It's no secret that many people don't exercise, even though they know they should. (Not you of course- but maybe someone you know.) Recent studies show that a written prescription for exercise from a doctor might just help motivate people to get off the couch and start moving!

Professor Miriam Morey led the most recent study on prescribing exercise, which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. She focused on cancer survivors like Joe Collie, who had surgery for prostate cancer. "The operation was in July of '93, so it's been 16 years since I had that procedure," explains Collie.

Collie and more than 600 other cancer survivors went on diets and exercise programs tailored to their needs. They also spoke with counselors over the telephone on a regular basis.

After 12 months, researchers were surprised to find that those who participated in the diet and exercise program increased their physical activity, lost weight and reported less physical decline than those in a control group.

Professor Morey says the study's results should help change patient care. "We can deliver this intervention to your home. You don't have to go anywhere. You can be on a mountaintop living by yourself, or in another country, and we can deliver this intervention," she said.

Professor Loretta DiPietro heads George Washington University's Department of Exercise Science. She says she was not surprised by the results of Morey's study. "We've been working with physicians for years and years to get them to discuss exercise with their patients," DiPietro states.

She says it is easier to prevent disease with exercise than it is to use exercise as part of treatment after the illness is diagnosed.

"Exercise has its greatest benefits on the prevention end of the equation," PiPietro adds. "It's much more effective in preventing excessive weight gain or excessive rises in blood sugar and cholesterol."

But she also says different exercises can help people with different diseases. For example, people at risk for osteoporosis benefit from weight bearing exercise. People with high blood sugar benefit the most when they exercise after a meal.

And Professor Morey says her study proves that cancer survivors suffer less decline in mobility when they get exercise tailored to their needs.

Joe Collie sums it up like this: "You've got to be able to get up and move around."

Researchers are not only discovering which exercises are best, but how often, how intense and how much time per week exercises should be done to maximize the benefit.

But you don't have to wait while they figure out all the details, which would be like waiting for a study to show that water puts out fire.

Exercise is the single best predictor of good health outcomes that I know of. It almost doesn't matter what you do-- just do something. In my book, The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth I had to give "exercise" a special place simply because I was unable to find any "treatment" or "intervention" or "supplement" or "diet" that had as far-ranging and profound effects on human health and longevity.

Great if doctors start "prescribing" this info for their patients, just as other health professionals have been doing for decades.

Even better if we start listening to them!

How Big Pharma Threatens Its Critics

2009-06-08T09:13:00.000-07:00

by Melanie Segala

This week, an important new investigative piece came out by my friend Melanie Segala, the managing editor of TOTAL HEALTH BREAKTHROUGHS (I'm a contributing editor to THB). It's worth reading, and Melanie has graciously allowed me to reproduce it for my readers. - Jonny

Do you remember Vioxx? It was the anti-inflammatory pain medication taken by an estimated 80 million arthritis sufferers around the world from 1999 to 2004. The incredible success of the drug was due in large part to its supposed safety.

Unlike other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, Vioxx did not cause stomach irritation or damage the kidneys in regular users. Its acceptance as one of the go-to drugs by mainstream medical practitioners earned manufacturer Merck & Co. profits of at least $11 billion in the five years it was on the market.¹

Then as is often the case when taking synthetic chemicals, the reports of dangerous side effects began to surface -- and they were serious indeed. Thousands of people (or their survivors) claimed to have suffered heart attacks or strokes after taking the drug. In 2004, Merck voluntarily recalled Vioxx, and finally in 2008 paid out $4.85 billion to over 48,500 claimants in the US who proved they suffered adverse health effects from taking the drug.²

Now the same story, on a smaller scale, is being played out in an Australian courtroom. This time though, Merck & Company and its Australian subsidiary, Merck, Sharpe and Dohme are fighting a class action suit filed by more than 1000 Australians who claim they suffered heart attacks or strokes after taking Vioxx.

While this move by Merck may not be surprising, some of the evidence being presented against them certainly is. According to published reports of the trial, before Vioxx was recalled, Merck had a very effective means to silence health professionals who expressed concerns or negative opinions about the drug.³

The shocking court evidence shows company employees drew up a "hit list" of doctors, researchers, and academics who, it was felt, had to be "neutralized" or discredited from criticizing the drug. Before you assume Merck hired a few of Tony Soprano's boys to do the job, I'll clarify, that's not what Merck had in mind.

Instead, their method for silencing professional critics consisted of intimidation in the form of subtle threats to cut off research funding and block academic appointments. According to one e-mail submitted as evidence, a Merck employee stated, "we may need to seek them out and destroy them where they live" -- a threat that amounts to ruining careers and jeopardizing livelihoods -- all for the sake of making big profits on a dangerous drug.

At one point the situation was so bad that Dr. James Fries, a professor of medicine at Stanford University wrote a letter to the CEO of Merck describing how at least eight clinical investigators on his staff had been victims of intimidation, including one who had received phone calls accusing him of "anti-Merck" bias.³According to Dr. Fries, tactics like this on the part of Merck employees, "seriously impinge on academic freedom." I agree with him 100%.

But now larger questions remain to be asked.

How many times have Merck and other companies in the Big Pharma cartel gotten away with silencing honest health professionals who were trying to stop dangerous drugs from being introduced to a trusting public?

How many of the thousands of people who suffered severe reactions including heart attacks and strokes from taking Vioxx could have been spared if critics had the freedom to speak out against its harmful effects --without reprisal?

Finally, how many potentially dangerous pharmaceuticals are currently being marketed even though leading researchers have serious doubts about their safety?

The Vioxx case gives us only a glimpse into how Big Pharma operates behind the scenes to continue growing its huge profits. If this is any indication, consumer safety seems to be at the bottom of their list of priorities.

References

Eight Ways to Feel Full Eating Less

2009-06-01T13:55:00.003-07:00

People who wolf down their food are more likely to be overweight and suffer from digestive problems. Here are eight tips from the Life Extension Institute, expanded on by me, to help you not do that!

Stop eating before you feel full. It takes 15 to 20 minutes for your digestive system to tell your brain that you've had enough. The gut sends a little hormone called CCK to the brain to deliver the message "dude, you're full!" It takes a while to arrive- if you stop eating before you feel full, you'll do just fine. Remember, one of the longest lived societies in the world (Okinawans) have a saying: hara hachi bu, which means "step away from the table when you're about 75% full".

Turn utensils into allies. Make a habit of putting down your fork or spoon after each bite; don't pick it up again until you've swallowed. If you're eating hand-held foods, place them on your plate between bites. This helps you with number one (above), giving CCK more time to make the journey to the brain.

Chew well. Take small bites of food and chew each one about four or five times before swallowing. Don't take the next bite until your mouth is empty. You also can take a sip of water between mouthfuls. You'll be amazed at how helpful this is.

Take breaks. Once or twice during a meal, stop eating for about a minute. Talk, drink some water and take note of how full you're getting.

Relax. Try to schedule mealtimes when you can sit down and not rush. If you can, play soft background music - studies have shown it makes people slow down. Stressful dinners- with shouting and argument- make digestion next to impossible. Those stress hormones prepare the body for fighting or running, not for sitting down and digesting. Work with your body, not against it.

Concentrate on your meal. Distractions such as TV can keep you from noticing how quickly you're eating. Not only that, TV is the ultimate mindfulness-killer. I won't even patronize restaurants that have the TV on all the time, although ones that don't are increasingly difficult to find.

Try different dishes. If you have the same meals all the time, you're more likely to eat quickly and mindlessly.

Time yourself. As you adjust to a slower pace, a watch or timer can help you set goals.

Special Announcement Coming Thursday

2009-06-01T13:54:00.000-07:00

It's the perfect time to start thinking about getting in shape for the summer- or better- for the rest of your life.

The best way I know to do that is with Diet Boot Camp- a program I designed to help not only build the body of your dreams but more importantly, to build habits that will last you a lifetime.

This Thursday we will announce the details of the first ever Diet Boot Camp Challenge!

We've designed a special community website where participants can post questions, pictures and comments and can work together while achieving their weight loss goals, learning from, inspiring and encouraging one another.

And... there will be prizes!

Watch your e-mail for the special announcement of details on Thursday.

Cinnamon Can Lower Blood Sugar

2009-06-01T13:53:00.000-07:00

Cinnamon contains phytochemicals which can mimic insulin's ability to increase uptake of sugar by the cells. You can start seeing results by taking just 1g of cinnamon.

How Celebrity Moms (Really) Lose the Baby Weight

2009-05-25T13:34:00.001-07:00

Ever wonder how so many celebrities can transform back to skinny and sexy right after having a baby? Does this leave you frustrated? In this guest article my friend and colleague Ray Salomone - The Wellness Crusader reveals the un-natural Hollywood secrets that make these post-partum transformations possible.

A combination of many emails and my brewing disgust at the celebrity magazines and their coverage of "How I Lost The Baby Weight" have compelled me to finally expose the sham behind what has frustrated women all over the world.

Remember, I train celebrities and I am forced at times to put up with their unbelievable nonsense. So here's the deal.

When a celebrity gives birth (often by a scheduled, voluntary c-section) many immediately receive a tummy tuck. Once they are home, they bring in their (already assembled and waiting in the wings) team of professionals whose sole duty is to get the celeb back into red carpet shape. Often a publicity deal is already in the works with a magazine selected to cover her miraculous return to the spot light.

This team is made up a personal trainer, a masseuse, yoga instructor, Pilates instructor, nutritionist and personal chef. More often than not, little pills are often taken. (Remember the Rolling Stones song, Mother's Little Helper?) They devote their entire day to this. Every other annoyance is taken care for them. Changing diapers? Please!

Losing sleep? Makes for a great sound bite but it's not the truth.

During this 4-6 week hunker down, the new baby is rarely seen. The child is in the care of a full time staff.

(Note: When a celebrity says "my baby sitter" what she really means is

"My full time nannies")

Also- notice how they all say, "Breastfeeding helped me to lose the weight." Yeah right! Breastfeeding and weight loss has NO connection. Most of them couldn't be bothered to breast feed anyway. The horror!

So ladies, please give yourself a break. It took you nine months to gain the weight, give yourself nine months to lose it. Believe nothing you read in the magazines. Enjoy the experience of your newborn. Eat healthfully. Exercise when you can. As the weeks and months go by, your baby will get into a routine, and then so can you. And now you can have your sanity back on this issue.

Vegetable Juice May Help to Lose Weight

2009-05-25T13:27:00.001-07:00

(United Press International) Drinking at least one glass of low-sodium vegetable juice daily may help overweight people with metabolic syndrome lose weight, U.S. researchers say.

Metabolic syndrome is defined by a cluster of risk factors, including excess body fat in the midsection, high blood pressure, high blood sugar and abnormal blood lipids. If left uncontrolled it can increase risk for both diabetes and heart disease.

Study author John Foreyt of the Baylor College of Medicine said the 81 participants in the study were primarily African-American and Hispanic adults -- populations that typically have a higher incidence of metabolic syndrome.

Each group followed a Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet that emphasizes eating lean meat, lower fat dairy, whole grains, vegetables and fruit daily, and keeping saturated fat, total fat, cholesterol and sodium in check.

Two of the groups were given Low Sodium V8 100 percent vegetable juice and instructed to drink one or two cups every day for 12 weeks, while the third group was not given any vegetable juice.

The researchers found that participants who drank at least 8 ounces of low-sodium vegetable juice as part of a calorie-controlled Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet lost four pounds over 12 weeks, while those who followed the same diet but drank no juice lost 1 pound.

The findings were presented at Experimental Biology meeting in New Orleans.

Dr. Jonny's comment: There could be several reasons why the vegetable juice helped these folks lose weight:

One, it may have cut appetite, causing those on the juice to eat a bit less even though "technically" they were following the same diet. In these experiments, it's fiendishly difficult to track every calorie of every participant, so even though both the juice group and the no-juice group got the same instructions, the juice drinkers may have eaten less.

Two, as we're finding more and more, fruits and vegetables (and their juices) may have an indirect effect on weight loss, simply by virtue of how anti-inflammatory they are. Inflammation is a component of obesity, and reducing inflammation always helps everything- and may also help with weight loss.

In any case, I've been touting fresh made vegetable (and some fruit) juice for as long as I've been writing this newsletter. And if nothing else is around, a V-8 might be a very good way to get some (though not all) of the benefits of freshly made juice. And regular consumption- along with a reduced calorie, low-sugar eating program- might even help you lose weight.

Pomegranate: Superstar of the Food Kingdom

2009-05-25T13:20:00.000-07:00

Researchers have found that pomegranate juice contains more antioxidants than any other juice or drink (including red wine and green tea). Test subjects also exhibited increased blood flood to the heart when they drink this "natural Viagra."

Vitamins Harmful?

2009-05-18T11:08:00.001-07:00

Many of you have written to me asking me to comment on a recent study that seemed to show that taking antioxidants prevents some of the health-promoting effects of physical exercise.

If you didn't read about the study, here's the New York Times article on it, which was one of the most e-mailed articles of the week.

Here's what happened: Michael Ristow, MD and his colleagues took 40 healthy young men, half of whom were known to be exercisers ("Previously trained") and half of whom were not ("Previously untrained"). Half of each group were randomly assigned to receive antioxidants-- 1000mg of vitamin C and 400 IUs of vitamin E--while the other half of each group received no supplementation.

All subjects then underwent a 4 week exercise training program.

What the researchers found was that taking the antioxidants seemed to prevent some of the benefits of exercise, regardless of whether the subjects were experienced exercisers or novices.

As you can imagine, this was disturbing.

But before you buy into the media headlines ("Vitamins Harmful!") let's look a little more closely at what happened.

We've known for a long time that exercise increases insulin sensitivity-- the ability of the cells to respond to insulin. When the cells are sensitive to insulin, they "open up their doors" and allow insulin to deposit sugar from the bloodstream into the cells where it can be used for energy. This is a good thing, and one of the many ways exercise benefits people. Insulin resistance- the opposite of insulin sensitivity- is when the cells kind of "lock their doors" and don't pay attention to insulin. When that happens, both sugar and insulin remain high in the bloodstream- a very bad situation and one which can lead to metabolic syndrome and diabetes. You don't want insulin resistance- you want insulin sensitivity.

The researchers in the study determined insulin sensitivity by using a measure called GIR (glucose infusion rate). They also measured a hormone called adiponectin, which helps make the body more sensitive to insulin.

Normally, when you exercise, both GIR and adiponectin would increase.

But for the folks taking the antioxidants, they did not.

In this study, GIR and adiponectin only increased in the group that did not take the antioxidants.

How and why might this be?

Dr. Ristow has a theory, and it goes something like this: When you exercise, you produce increased numbers of free radicals. (This is undisputed and well-known; exercisers consume a lot of oxygen, and free radicals come from oxygen.) But according to Dr. Ristow, these free radicals act something like a chicken pox vaccine- by introducing a small amount of a "poison" to the body, the body counters with defenses that have significant benefits to you. In other words, small amounts of a "bad" thing- like stress or free radicals- can actually stimulate defenses that wind up being protective and healthful. Ristow reasons that perhaps "disabling" these free radicals with antioxidants prevents the body from mounting its own defense operation.

Specifically, he suggests that perhaps the free radicals generated by exercise are required for the insulin-sensitizing capabilities of physical exercise in healthy humans. And that by "neutralizing" those radicals with antioxidants, we prevent that insulin-sensitizing response.

One reader of this newsletter- David Langford-- summed it up quite well: "Dr. Ristow believes that if you spare your body of the normal consequences for, say, a hard workout, then it won't respond as favorably, at least as far as glucose metabolism is concerned" he wrote me. "Ristow seems to be saying that if you stress your body to instruct it to respond, but then save it from the stressors, you've defeated something. You may improve your strength, your endurance, your health in many ways, but not your insulin resistance."

OK, maybe. But before you go throwing out your antioxidants, consider a few things:

This is a four week study of healthy young men who, presumably, were not insulin resistant in the first place.
The study didn't address the dozens of other benefits of exercise which presumably were unaffected by taking antioxidants (i.e. mood elevation, improved circulation, strengthening of the heart and bones and muscles)
While this study appears to be very well done, let's not forget the hundreds- if not thousands- of other studies on the beneficial effects of antioxidants on protecting cells and DNA.
The researchers admit that high intakes of fruits and vegetables- which have a ton of antioxidants in them- don't have any of the negative effects seen in this 4 week study.
The study does not discount the value of vitamins, nutrients and phytochemicals that can be helpful for a variety of health conditions, prevention of disease and maintenance of health.

While I'd hardly say this study is definitive, I admit it raises some very interesting questions about antioxidants and exercise that will almost definitely stimulate further research. It'll be interesting to see the comments of some of my respected colleagues as they analyze the data. You can be sure I'll report those comments to you as soon as they come in.

Conflict of Interest in Cancer Studies

2009-05-18T11:04:00.001-07:00

WASHINGTON, May 11, 2009 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- A U.S. study have found that nearly one third of cancer research articles published in medical journals have financial ties with pharmaceutical companies.

As the great comedian Lenny Bruce might have deadpanned- "I'm so shocked".

The study, published online on Monday in the journal Cancer, indicates that conflicts of interest may cause some researchers to report biased results that are favorable to pharmaceutical companies.

Reshma Jagsi of the University of Michigan and her colleagues reviewed 1,534 cancer studies published on eight medical journals, including Cancer, the New England Journal of Medicine and the Lancet.

According to the researchers, 17 percent of the studies declared industry funding while 12 percent had a study author who was an industry employee. Randomized trials with reported conflicts of interest were more likely to have positive findings.

"It's becoming increasingly clear that we need to look more at how we can disentangle cancer research from industry ties," said Jagsi. "If we wish to minimize the potential for bias, we need to increase other sources of support."

"Medical research is ultimately a common endeavor that benefits all of society, so it seems only appropriate that we should be funding it through general revenues rather than expecting the market to provide," she said.

Many medical journals now require researchers to disclose potential conflicts of interest in the articles they submit for publication, but the researchers urged that "journals should embrace both rigorous standards of disclosure and heightened scrutiny when conflicts exist."

My New Daily Drink!

2009-05-18T11:00:00.001-07:00

It's not too often I get excited about the addition of a new product to the vitamin store, but this one is worth getting excited about.

Innate Response has come out with one of the best tasting drink mixes I've ever sampled, but the real news is what's in it. Each 100 calorie serving contains:

15 grams of fiber (in an almost unheard of perfect mix of 8 grams soluble and 7 grams insoluble)
5 grams of protein
3 billion probiotics
over a gram of plant-based omegas.
Not only that, it's only 100 calories.

Here are some of the reasons why I'm so excited about Clinical Metacore:

Number 1: Most of us don't get nearly enough fiber. The average American gets between 4-11 grams a day and every major health organization recommends between 25-38 grams. Our Paleolithic ancestors got at least 50 or more. In virtually every study, high fiber diets are associated with better health outcomes. Fiber helps control blood sugar, makes you feel full so you don't overeat, and helps protect against colon cancer. Clinical Metacore offers a remarkably easy (and tasty!) way to get a whopping 15 grams of healthy fiber into your diet on a daily basis.

Number 2: More and more nutritionists are putting "probiotics" on their short list of the most important health-promoting supplements you can take. Probiotics help support a healthy gut, contributing to better digestion, assimilation of nutrients, and a stronger immune system. Clinical Metacore contains a whopping 3 billion probiotics from the important families of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium.

Number 3:
Clinical Metacore also contains over a gram of plant-based omegas, not to mention 5 grams of protein. And because of all the fiber, it's as low glycemic as you can get. Plus it only has 100 calories.

Number 4: Best of all Clinical Metacore tastes great. It comes in four flavors. The cacao bean and cinnamon chai are out of this world. And while I'm personally not a huge fan of the berry vanilla, thers love it. (I'm looking forward to trying the vanilla bean as well- I'll let you know what I think.)

You can try these in single serving sizes, which are also terrific for travel. Try a few and see which you like best then get the large size of that flavor. Or trust me- you can't go wrong with the Chai or the Cacao!

Along with Barlean's Greens, this is my new "daily drink." When you try it, you'll see why."

Try Clinical Metacore »

The Awful Truth About CoQ10

2009-05-13T14:11:00.000-07:00

The following is a guest article by my friend Al Sears M.D.:

The many health benefits of taking Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) - increased energy, improved metabolism, weight loss, cell protection, and better cardiovascular health - are already well established.1 In fact, research shows CoQ10 may promote neurological health as well.1

As it happens, most of the CoQ10 they are taking never makes it to their cells where it can do the most good. In fact, most people over 50 have a hard time converting CoQ10 into its usable form. The lion's share of the valuable CoQ10 enzyme disappears - making it impossible to give your cells the protection and nourishment they need.

Fortunately, I've found a simple way to solve this problem forever … make sure you maintain healthy levels of CoQ10 in your cells all year long … and enjoy the increased energy, vitality, and health that CoQ10 can deliver when it actually gets absorbed into your bloodstream and delivered to your cells!*

Which of these CoQ10 supplements is in your medicine chest?

The trouble with most brands of commercially available CoQ10 supplements is that they use a cheaper form of the enzyme - known as ubiquinone - that is extremely difficult for your body to absorb.

So the label says the pill contains X amount of CoQ10. And it probably does. But only a tiny fraction of that is actually absorbed by your body. The rest is passed as waste, and is in fact wasted - never reaching the cell membranes and walls were it is needed most.

We solve this problem with my best-selling CoQ10 supplement - Accel.

Accel is composed 100% of a form of CoQ10 known as ubiquinol - vastly superior to ordinary store-bought CoQ10 supplements. With ubiquinol, your body absorbs up to 8 times more CoQ102 than with ordinary CoQ10 supplements:3 Better absorption means you can get more CoQ10 in your system while actually taking fewer pills. CoQ10 has been around for years. And it's been helpful. But there are major drawbacks to the old type of CoQ10: it's both weak … and expensive.

Accel makes a difference because it's in a stronger reduced form - so it is much more easily absorbed. I remember when I had to tell some patients to take 400 mg of the old CoQ10 every 8 hours to keep their blood levels high enough. It worked out. But it was very expensive. They could easily go through a bottle or two a week.

With Accel, most people can get all the anti-aging power of coenzyme Q10 with just one caplet a day. That makes the health benefits of CoQ10 available to you at a fraction of the cost.*
Accel consists of pure ubiquinol - CoQ10 in its reduced form. As a result, the beneficial CoQ10 enzyme remains in your blood stream much longer than with ordinary CoQ10 tablets.4

The "delivery system" used in Accel speeds and maximizes absorption even further. How does it work? The outer caplet is a soft gel encasing a precisely measured dosage of 50 mg - my daily recommended requirements - of liquid ubiquinol CoQ10. The smooth outer caplet is easy to swallow. Once inside your body, the gel quickly dissolves, rapidly releasing liquid CoQ10. This highly water soluble liquid is rapidly - and fully - absorbed into your system.

The adventures of "Super Mouse"

Remember the old Adventures of Superman TV series with George Reeves?
In one episode, a scientist invents an energy pill that gives a laboratory mouse super strength similar to Superman's - turning the ordinary mouse into "Super Mouse."

Taking Accel won't give you super strength or super speed. But it can boost your energy by a degree you can notice and feel.*

How can I be so sure? Several months ago, I had a private meeting with Dr. Tatsumasa Mae here at my Florida medical offices. Dr. Mae is the world's leading CoQ10 researcher.
He showed me a videotape of the test subjects he used in an animal study of the anti-aging properties of CoQ10. The video showed that after several months, his lab mice taking no CoQ10 all died of natural causes. All of the untreated mice showed typical signs of oxidative stress.

A second group of test mice took conventional CoQ10. They were still alive, but showed signs of aging. These mice lasted longer than the first group, but when they died, they had similar conditions.

But the third group of lab mice in the video had been given my "super-absorbable" Accel CoQ10.
And what I saw was nothing short of a small miracle….

The test subjects taking Accel were not just alive. They actually looked younger than the mice in the other groups! The Accel mice also had more energy. They were running around in their cages with all the vigor of mice half their age.

And in spite of being "old" (for mice), they showed almost no sign of aging. After a year, the "super mice" on Accel aged 22% slower than mice taking conventional CoQ103.

Researchers also measured the effect of CoQ10 supplementation on stamina. They found that mice taking ubiquinol were able to run continuously on their treadmills two and a half times longer than mice taking conventional CoQ103.

The many health benefits of taking Accel CoQ10

Increased energy … improved metabolic function, cell protection, better cardiovascular health and weight loss are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the health benefits my patients and I receive by taking our Accel CoQ10 daily (yes, I take Accel, as does everyone in my family!).*

Here are just some of the other ways Accel can help you live longer and feel better:

Heart health ... according to the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, a number of clinical studies have found CoQ10 promotes cardiovascular health.5
Blood sugar … an Australian study showed that patients who took CoQ10 were able to maintain blood sugar levels that are already within the normal range.6
Vision ... in a recent clinical trial, taking CoQ10 for a year helped them see more clearly.7
Cognition ... an animal study performed at Johns Hopkins University found that CoQ10 supplementation improves learning and memory.7
Bronchial Health … researchers in Texas found CoQ10 promotes bronchial health.7

Gum health … CoQ10 can improve gum and oral health.7

Clear-headed comfort ... in one study, more than 6 out of 10 patients treated with CoQ10 daily reported feeling more clear-headed comfort.7

Oxidative stress ... Accel is a powerful antioxidant, eliminating the free radicals that can cause damage to cell membranes and mitochondria.3

Skin care … a German study shows that CoQ10 can help reduce wrinkles and protect skin from the damaging effects of too much exposure to sunlight.8

Accel is the quick and easy way to get
100% of the CoQ10 you take daily….

Just look at all the advantages Accel gives you:

50 mg CoQ10 daily - each Accel caplet contains a precise dosage of my daily recommended CoQ10 requirement.

Small softgel caplets - easy to swallow. Outer gel cap dissolves in minutes, instantly releasing easily absorbed liquid CoQ10 into your system.

Greater bioavailability - Accel is up to 8X more absorbable1 than conventional store-bought CoQ10.

Lower cost - Accel's superior bioavailability means you have to take fewer caplets to get the amount of CoQ10 you need.
Guaranteed - if you do not agree that Accel makes you feel better and have more energy, simply return it to us for a complete refund.

Convenient - Accel is delivered straight to your door. No need to drive to the pharmacy or health store.

We know from years of research that CoQ10 has a direct effect on human metabolism and physiology. I've seen the evidence of clinical tests first-hand. And I've seen the effects in my patients.

May I share a secret with you? I intend to have the energy and vitality of a teenager well into my 60s, 70s, and even my 80s! That's my goal, anyway. And it's the whole point of anti-aging medicine: to retain the power of youth well into our old age.
That's why I take Accel every day. CoQ10 is one nutrient I plan to take every day for as long as I live. You should, too. And now we've made taking daily CoQ10 more convenient, affordable, and effective than ever….*

Act now and save up to $82.86

For a limited time only, I'm offering special volume discount on Accel CoQ10:

Best Deal. Get a 6-month supply of Accel (6 bottles of 30 caplets each) for only $167.82. You save a hefty $82.86 off the list price - a 30% discount off the regular rate. That comes to less than 94 cents a day! Plus, you get FREE shipping & handling along with our money-back guarantee.
Order Your Best Deal!
Great Deal.Order a 3-month supply of Accel. You get 3 bottles (90 caplets) for only $95.88 - a savings of $31.92 - 20% off the regular rate. Free shipping & handling plus the same money-back guarantee.
Order Your Great Deal!
Good Deal. Get a single bottle of Accel (30 caplets) for $39.95 plus shipping and handling. And as always, if you're not happy, you pay nothing….
Order Your Good Deal!

Use it risk-free for a full 2 months!

When your shipment of Accel CoQ10 arrives, open a bottle and take one 50 mg caplet. Do that every single day. Then, in a week, look in a mirror and take a quick self-assessment. I bet you'll notice some subtle - and maybe not so subtle - changes. Most obviously, you'll have more energy. You may feel better. When you step on the scale, you might see that you've lost a pound or two. But whatever the results, you are the final judge. If for any reason … or for no reason at all … you do not want to continue taking Accel CoQ10, just return the unused portion - or even the empty bottles - to me within 60 days.

I'll cheerfully give you a complete and prompt refund of every penny paid, without question or quibble. That way, you risk nothing.

Make your selection below to take my Accel CoQ10 risk-free for a full 60 days.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, M.D.

1 CoQ10 Health Benefits September 1, 2008.

2 Hemmi N. Bhagava and Raj K. Chopra. Plasma coenzyme Q10 response to oral ingestion of coenzyme Q10 formulations. Mitochondrion. Volume 7, Supplement 1, June 2007, Pages S78-S88

3William Fallon.Has Your CoQ10 Become Obsolete? January 2007. Life Extensions Magazine.

4 Super Ubiquinol CoQ10. September1, 2008.

5http://www.cardiovascularpharm.com

6Hodgson JM, Watts GF, Playford DA, Burke V, Croft KD. Coenzyme Q10 improves blood pressure and glycaemic control in a controlled trial in subjects with type 2 diabetes. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2002 Nov;56(11):1137-42.

7http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.