Editorials & Other Articles
In reply to the discussion: That herbal supplement may not be what you think it is, scientists find [View all]Bill USA
(6,436 posts)a total of 12 companies products were checked. OF the twelve companies whose products were reviewed (4 from each company) "two of the companies provided authentic products without substitutions, contaminants or fillers". Nothing was mentioned about the selection process, random or was their a heavy weighting of known suspicious characters (from complaints received).
There definitely are companies involved in 'herbal supplements' industry which are sloppy or engage in questionable practices. But, really, I think the results show that if you make an effort to find reputable companies who do care about thier reputation you can find them.
I wonder what percentage of problems come from "diet" products. People will take anything from anybody based on the wildest and completely unsupported claims if they think it will enable them to lose weight without giving up their sweets or fried foods and without any additional exercise. I also wonder how much, on a dollar basis of the sales in the "herbal products" industry is in diet products. I wouldn't be suprised in diet products represented half the entire 'herbal supplement' industry.
People who buy products over the phone, advertized on tv, by loud-mouthed fast talkers are pigeons weighting to be shot down.
The Pharmaceutical companies really run FDA and they would like to put supplement manufacturers out of business. Pharmaceutical industry is predicated on providing pharmaceuticals (often based on natural products with proprietary modifications to the molecules) to sick people. They are scared of people taking products BEFORE they get sick with an eye to preventing sickness or significantly reducing the likelyhood or seriousness of a given disorder.
Life Extension Foundation
A company which does not make any herbal supplements itself, but is a buyers club which offers for sale products by manufacturers whose products they have tested and continually monitor for quality (what is in the bottle is exactly what the label says is in the bottle) is Life Extension Foundation.
LEF has a team of experts who are continually monitoring current research into natural products to see what the latest, verifiable developments are in the enhancement of human health in many areas such as cardiovascular, brain and nervous system health and longevity. IF research shows certain substances provide consistent benefits to human health, if the product (as demonstrated effective in research) is not available on the market - in the concentrations or formulation used in the research, being a large buyers club, LEF goes to trusted natural product suppliers to get them to supply a product which is consistent with the concentration/formulation used in the research studies showing verifiable, consistent, beneficial results. Thus, LEF has been instrumental in bringing products to market that provide solid benefits to people - if the product is used as prescribed. (LEF always advises customers to check with their doctors before taking products which may affect the action of any prescribed pharmaceuticals they may be taking). NOte most natural supplements are meant to be taken bfore you get sick
LEF Scientific Advisory Board
http://www.lef.org/featured-articles/advisory.htm?source=search&key=advisory%20board
Medical advosry board
http://www.lef.org/featured-articles/medadv.html?source=search&key=advisory%20board
http://www.lef.org/featured-articles/track.htm
The Life Extension Foundation is helping to fund the development of stem cell technologies designed to eliminate atherosclerosis, which will prevent many premature deaths caused by occlusive arterial disease (coronary atherosclerosis and ischemic stroke).
Pluripotent stem cells (cells capable of creating any type of cell) will be used to differentiate into endothelial progenitor cells that will replace the aged, damaged, and plaque-laden cells on the walls of blood vessels. These new cells will not only be young, but may remain young indefinitely by the use of the telomere-lengthening enzyme telomerase.
When perfected, this technology may enable doctors to inject progenitor cells that will regenerate every tissue in the body, thus restoring aging humans to youthful health and vigor.
The Life Extension Foundation is also providing funding to create and differentiate pluripotent stem cells into immune system cells that could treat patients afflicted with certain cancers and HIV. This technology has the potential to rejuvenate everyones immune system.
A grant was made in January 2013 to researchers working at the State University of New York Upstate Medical University to fund research into developing immune system blood stem cells (hematopoetic stem cells or HSCs) from undifferentiated stem cells. The primary challenge of this project will be to make undifferentiated stem cells develop into the specific HSC stem cell type. Once that objective has been achieved, the second objective will be to get the HSCs to multiply into large numbers of HSCs.
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Scientific Research Supported by The Life Extension Foundation
http://www.lef.org/research/index.htm
[font size="3"]On September 4, 2001, the world found out it is possible to successfully challenge some aspects of aging in old mice, as measured by changes in gene expression. Articles about this breakthrough appeared in the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Washington Post, and on major television networks. What gave the study credibility was its publication by the National Academy of Sciences. It was the Life Extension Foundation that funded this pioneering age-reversal study.[/font]
The Life Extension Foundation is funding genetic aging research because we think we can develop techniques to challenge the aging process. Our latest discovery, published by the National Academy of Sciences, is evidence that we are on the right track. Our mission is to conquer aging and death within the next 20 years. The reason for our sense of urgency is that we may be the last generation to face death as individuals based upon our genetic limitations. In other words, it may become possible to reprogram our genes to enable us to grow younger biologically, instead of suffering the devastating consequences of aging.
The Life Extension Foundation is an influential source of funding in the world for lifespan studies in mice to determine the effects on aging and life span of potential antiaging therapies. These studies are being conducted by gerontologists at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, the University of California in Riverside, and the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. Researchers are testing the anti-aging potential of vitamins, drugs and hormones now being used by life extensionists.
Through Life Extension Foundation-funding, scientists have found ways to support healthy cardiovascular and neurological function as well as many other anti-aging strategies. These types of discoveries can to improve the quality of life for all of us as we grow older.
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