Now that Henry Waxman is retiring from Congress, it is clearly Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL). State Action Alert! Sen. Durbin has long demonstrated a bias against dietary supplements. Here’s a taste of his career-long attempt to give FDA the power to sweep thousands of supplements off the shelves: In 2004, Sen. Durbin proposed an amendment […]
The agency has responded to comments from ANH-USA activists and other stakeholders. Here’s what they’re proposing now. Action Alert! In May we reported that the FDA is currently drafting rules that implement the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). As we noted then, some of the rules that have been proposed so far have brought […]
Contrave has terrible side effects, is expensive, includes a hidden antidepressant, and barely even works. So why did the FDA approve it? Action Alert! The FDA approved two weight loss drugs in 2012, Qsymia and Belviq, but sales have been sluggish. This week FDA approved Contrave, even though the FDA initially denied approval to Contrave in […]
A powerful subcommittee says a new FDA proposal on medical testing will stifle innovation and may not be legal. Action Alert! Three months ago we told you about laboratory-developed tests (LDTs)—inexpensive diagnostic tests for patients that are developed and performed by local labs. They include standard tests but also new ones, genetic tests, tests for […]
First we asked our trusted natural health doctors and integrative physicians about supplement brands they recommend. We then added to the list based on our staff and board experience. Please note that our list is not exhaustive; there are many excellent companies who pay a great deal of attention to quality and efficacy, and not […]
How could we have left out naturopathic physicians, readers wondered? We wonder ourselves. Here’s an update. In August we brought you a list of leading integrative physicians who have excellent, easily digestible newsletters, blogs, or websites on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) available to patients and the general public. In this update, we add NDs […]
Scientists are no longer even sure how antibiotics work. We have the latest research. Action Alert! According to Dr. David Williams, antibiotics may prevent the body from excreting mercury, which is found in fish and in many vaccines. This was documented in a study by Boyd Haley, PhD, from the University of Connecticut Medical Center. […]
Grass-fed, organic, free-range. But are you undermining those benefits with the way you cook your food? Last week we told you about the research indicating that, although not essential, it might be a good idea to cook mushrooms before eating. This week we discuss what happens when you cook other food at higher temperatures. Advanced […]
A new Senate bill introduced last week by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) called the “Older Americans CARE Act” provides funding for programs that support the elderly. The bill states that those services can be provided by “a nurse, registered dietitian, case manager, health coach, or social worker.” As introduced, “nutritionist” is not included in that […]
Some experts suggest that even edible, everyday mushrooms should be cooked. We consider some evidence. Dr. Andrew Weil says that all mushrooms are essentially indigestible if eaten raw because of their tough cell walls, and that to release their nutrients, they must be cooked. More importantly, he says, certain mushrooms contain small amounts of toxins, […]