Hear Pharmaden President, Dr. Ron Schefdore, discuss the absorption of nutrients. Learn why you should opt for a high absorbing nutrient instead of “off the shelf” vitamins you would find at your grocery store. When it comes to your body you should be putting the best quality ingredients in it.

Pharmaden supplements do not cure, treat, or prevent disease. Always see a physician before taking any supplement.

We all tell “little white lies” from time to time…

For example: Apple thinks I actually read their Terms and Conditions before clicking ‘agree’, and most of my friends are under the impression that I have never seen an episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians. And yet here I sit, uncertain if my iPhone is spying on me, but absolutely convinced that Khloe K and I would be BFF’s if she would only respond to my letters.

We all tell these small untruths in order to protect the few shards of our dignity that survived into adulthood. It starts to get ridiculous however, when we issue a bold-faced lie to the very people who can easily find out the truth. In this case, I am speaking about every check-up I’ve ever had with my dentist.

Does this sound familiar? “Of course I floss, doctor; once a day and twice on Sundays.” [You then pause for your dentist’s judgmental glare as a cloud of skepticism fills the room]

Let’s get real: I don’t floss … According to recent statistics, YOU don’t floss … Your dentist’s wife? Yeah, I doubt even she does it. NO ONE FLOSSES! In fact, the only one I know who does scrub between her teeth regularly is my 8 year old golden retriever. AND that’s just because she’s usually within a “paws length” of her doggy dental treats; and because they taste like bacon.

We lie to our doctor’s about flossing because we’ve all been told that flossing is an essential element of our oral health regimen, and we feel bad for not doing it. Well, it’s looking like my fellow liars and I have one less thing to fib about because it seems like flossing may NOT be as big of a deal as we previously thought.

Firstly, why do our doctors tell us to floss? As explained by Dr. Elizabeth Palermo of livescience.com , “Cavities [and gum disease] … form when bacteria living in the mouth digest carbohydrate debris left on the teeth [and under the gums] after you eat.” Flossing can clear the spaces in your mouth where food debris accumulates, thereby depriving the (cavity and gum disease causing) bacteria of anything to digest. Pretty sound reasoning, right?

It turns out though, that the effectiveness of flossing has never actually been tested! The Dietary Guidelines for American’s, an agency under the federal Department of Health and Human Services, requires all of its recommendations to be “grounded in scientific evidence”. Flossing has failed to meet this standard. The Associated Press even took a look into this issue, and after reviewing 25 different studies, they found no definitive correlation between flossing and the prevention of oral disease.

Despite these revelations coming to light, most dentists are sticking to their guns on the flossing issue. Who know’s? They might even be right in the end. And that’s the point: Although flossing has been a professionally trusted (and highly recommended) health practice for forty years, all of the data STILL isn’t in yet.

So …

To floss or not to floss. That is the question – Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous guilt inflicted by our dentist’s or to take arms against a sea of unverified scientific claims.

The choice is yours.

SOURCES:

http://www.sciencealert.com/flossing-might-have-no-proven-benefits-report-finds

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/still-not-flossing-more-reasons-why-you-should

http://www.livescience.com/44081-does-sugar-cause-cavities-plaque.html

PICTURES:

Copyright: studiograndouest / 123RF Stock Photo

Pumpkin Spice Lattes and Their Effect on Teeth

Ah, autumn … It’s that special time of year when trees become beautiful mosaics of orange and yellow, where we take the time to revel in back yard bonfires and scary movies; and women nation-wide don their yoga-pants and Uggs to hunt down and devour their favorite seasonal treat: The Pumpkin Spice Latte.

I’m not going to argue that this magnificent drink of the Gods is anything other than a lip-smacking, caffeine-packed, sugary cup of delicious liquid bliss; because that would be a lie. However, as I stand in Starbucks, watching a horde of twenty-something girls waiting to have their name called (one of which I am SURE will be “Becky”) with the same quiet-intensity of a lioness stalking a fat and juicy gazelle, I have to wonder … What is this pumpkin-flavored potion doing to our health?

It should come as no surprise to you that it’s not exactly the drink of choice for people minding their waist-line. Nothing that’s healthy for you could possibly taste THAT good (for example: any salad).

Heck, you can probably feel your Lululemons growing tighter with each passing sip; however, Pumpkin Spice Lattes also play havoc on your teeth and gums. In this article, we will highlight the main smile-destroying components of Pumpkin Spice Lattes that should make you hesitate at your local coffee shop this fall … [WARNING: Anyone who wishes to continue their lives in blissful ignorance should stop reading right now. I’m looking at YOU Becky.]

     1)   Caffeine:

According to the Food Research Institute, caffeine alone can cause damage to your smile. It wears down enamel (the protective coating of the teeth) causing cavities, discoloration, foul breath, and painful inflammation. These side-effects are exacerbated by the stimulating nature of caffeine, which can cause you to clench your teeth; leading to an unnecessary amount of stress on the entire jawbone.

     2)   Artificial Food Coloring:

Although it is not often listed in the official list of ingredients, several of the items that are contained in lattes do contain artificial food coloring agents. Not only have many of these dyes shown to be cancer-causing, but they also stain the teeth the color of the dye. In the case of pumpkin drinks, that would be a lovely shade of yellowish-orange. Sexy.

     3)   Acid:

Calm down … When I say “acid” I am referring to neither the kind that the mob uses to make witness’s disappear, nor the Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas variety. I mean that Pumpkin Spice Lattes are, by their nature, an acidic drink. Acidic drinks dissolve the enamel of teeth. With the enamel gone, teeth are very porous; so they essentially become sponges for disease-causing bacteria and food-dye.  This means even more decay and discoloration.

     4)   Sugar:

A Grande Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks contains around 50 grams of sugar. Now, before you go Googling, “How much sugar is too much sugar?” thereby causing you to throw out all of your candy in a fit of teary eyed depression and rage; just trust me when I say that 50 grams of it in one drink is too much. This is a problem because sugar is the worst thing you can put in your mouth that doesn’t come with a detonator and a booklet about the safe handling of Uranium-235. Most oral disease (periodontitis, gingivitis, halitosis, etc.) is directly caused by eating too much sugar because it is food for bacteria. It is the digestion of sugar by the mouths bacteria that causes: cavities, bad breath, tooth/bone loss, pain, inflammation, and the panic-inducing text messages your mother sends you at 10pm. Wait, actually, I think it’s Chardonnay that causes that last one … But still!

     5)   “Natural” Flavors:

This last item on the list gets an honorable mention only because it is so damned cryptic. Speaking legally, food companies do not need to go into many details regarding what they consider “natural” … Which leaves A LOT of room for interpretation. For example, I had a college roommate who insisted that magic mushrooms couldn’t possibly be bad for you because it “comes from the earth, man.” As a rule, I generally do not trust health advice from someone who seems to be majoring in hacky sack. I now amend that decree to include food products that won’t tell me what “natural” means. So, use your best judgement.

Of course, moderation is the key. So, if you just can’t fight the urge to slam a delicious pumpkin concoction this autumn, I recommend doing so only every once in a while; and treat Pumpkin Spice Lattes like what they are … A treat. If you are concerned about your Pumpkin Spice in-take, we recommend incorporating a nutritional supplement to combat its effects, and keeping regular appointments with you dentist.

SOURCES:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/327662-the-harmful-effects-of-caffeine-on-teeth/

http://www.jeffersondentalclinics.com/blog.html/2014/06/19/coffee-and-your-teeth/

http://foodbabe.com/2014/08/25/starbucks-pumpkin-spice-latte/

http://www.starbucks.com/menu/drinks/espresso/pumpkin-spice-latte

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/reasons-vegans-read-labels-natural-flavorscastoreum.html

It’s no surprise to most of us that the quest for “total health” is an all-encompassing lifestyle change. You not only need to exercise regularly, but your diet also needs to remain in check, all while making sure that your body is receiving the essential nutrients that it needs to function. It’s a tough balancing act.

(It feels like this; except, when we fall, it’s usually into a pizza.)

When nutritional supplements and the best vitamins for bone health became popular several decades ago, it seemed heaven-sent. For the first time, the average person could control which nutrients are entering their body down to the microgram without having to memorize the nutritional facts of their favorite foods. And, as with all money-making idea’s, the market was soon flooded with frauds and scam artists. Vitamins promising longevity and vitality, nutritional supplements that guarantee super-hero-like muscle gains and weight loss that would make a supermodel jealous, and don’t get even me started on the gas station “natural male enhancement” pills. Nothing is off limits.

Since vitamin manufacturers are not required to follow FDA guidelines, they are self-regulated. Meaning all health benefits they claim, and even the list of active ingredients of their products, should be taken with a grain of salt. So, how do I know if a nutritional supplement is a scam?

Before we offer our advice on recognizing a fraud, you need to understand why this is so important for you …

1. The problem is wide spread. Even large, supposedly reputable, retailers have products on their shelves that have proven to have very little to zero health benefits. Take for instance this news article from 2015 that accuses stores such as Target and GNC of promoting fraudulent products (“What’s in Those Supplements” – Article). It doesn’t matter if you shop at a Walgreens, a GNC, or a shady online retailer, if you do not research your nutritional supplements there’s a good chance that it could contain useless ingredients like saw dust.
2. By relying on inaccurately labeled supplements as a part of your daily health routine, you put yourself at risk for malnutrition. Malnutrition leads to implications on both your immune system and your body’s growth rates in the short term. In the long term, if you take too much or too few nutrients, you can also experience autoimmune diseases, hormone imbalances, and major cognitive implications.

So, how do I know if my dietary supplements are frauds?

1. Do your research … and I don’t mean reading a few blogs or online reviews. The government created the Office of Dietary Supplements for a reason. If you want an unbiased, thoroughly researched analysis of your supplements, take a look at their online fact sheet.
2. Keep an eye out for “NSF,” “Consumer Lab,” or “USP” to be listed on the bottle. If your vitamins have any of those titles appearing on their label, then that means that they have been certified by third-party organizations after taking part in rigorous testing. Some nutritional supplements even go a step further and receive certification from third party University studies. For example, Pharmaden Health had a Loma Linda double-blind University-level study performed on their entire line of products which verified all of their ingredients as well as the absorption levels of their supplements.
3. Avoid products that make the type of health claims which are usually reserved for prescription medication, or if it sounds too good to be true. IE “Cures Cancer,” “Controls diabetes”, “Loose twenty pounds in a week,” etc.
4. Unless they have the research to back it up (IE Pharmaden products ), be wary of any product that offers over 100% of the total daily amount of any nutrient. If a supplement says it has 110% of the potassium you need every day, then chances are either A) It is lying or B) the supplements absorption rates are so low that the lion’s share of that 110% is just passing through your body as waste.
5. Use common sense. Avoid the prepackaged stuff at your local bodega or gas station, recognize that 99% of anything you see on an infomercial is total BS, and be skeptical of any advice given to you from someone who claims to be some sort of a Shamanistic Wiccan who heals people using “magic crystals”.

(Pictured: An unreliable source of health-care information)

If you follow these simple tips, you can avoid the “phonies” and get the nutritional support that you need.

SOURCES:

FRAUD: Walmart, Target & GNC Herbal Supplement Labels Are Lying

http://www.today.com/money/which-vitamins-herbal-supplements-can-you-trust-t491

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/list-all/

FRAUD: Walmart, Target & GNC Herbal Supplement Labels Are Lying

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dietary-supplements-a-37-billion-a-year-boondoggle-2016-01-22

Impact of Malnutrition on Health and Development

PICTURES:

Copyright: Prometeus / 123RF Stock Photo

There is a big difference between being thin and being healthy. In our “appearance obsessed” society, it is easy to forget that just because someone may be slender, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are also fit. It is because of this confusion that many people think that fasting is an excellent way to cut down on those last couple of pounds. However, by depriving yourself of important nutrients, you can very easily turn your situation from bad to worse.

In this article we will be addressing what happens when you are deficient in just one important building block for your body … Vitamin D.

Commonly referred to as the “sunshine vitamin”, vitamin D is a nutritional work horse. Utilized in the growing of bone and the maintenance of bone density and mineralization, most people are able to get enough Vitamin D through regular contact with natural sunlight. When the skin comes into contact with sunlight, it is forced to react to protect the body from the suns unique radioactive signature. This defense mechanism results in the body developing vitamin D. You can also take in additional vitamin D by eating: certain species of fish, fish liver oils, egg yolks, as well as fortified dairy and grain products. However, sometimes that isn’t enough.

Some people experience a vitamin D deficiency when they: actively avoid sunlight, have severe allergies to milk/grains, or keep to a strict vegan diet. But, so what? How much of an impact can one little vitamin have on your overall health?

1. Vitamin D Deficiency in Expecting Mothers
   As we mentioned before, the purpose of vitamin D is to grow bones and keep them healthy. This means that it is critical that soon-to-be moms take in enough of this bone-building-nutrient, so it is passed along to their gestating child. Among other dangerous complications, if a child does not receive enough vitamin D their bones may be smaller, weaker, and improperly aligned.
2. Vitamin D Deficiency in Adults
   It is now being confirmed that insufficient levels of vitamin D can result in serious, full body, diseases such as Rickets and Osteomalacia. Both diseases are caused by vitamin D deficiencies and have similar symptoms: delayed bone growth, pain in the spine, pelvis, legs and ribs, muscle weakness, bowed legs, and breastbone project. On top of those scary conditions, your entire mouth will be affected also.  Firstly, each individual tooth will be significantly weaker. Secondly, the jaw will have improper levels of mineralization and will not bond to the teeth strongly. This results in: small and/or crooked teeth, dental caries (cavities), foul taste and bad breath. In extreme cases, an insufficient amount of vitamin D can cause: severe periodontal disease, tooth loss, infection, fevers, chills and pain.

If you are experiencing these symptoms, it may be time to bring your concerns to your doctor. There are very simple tests that they can administer to see if a vitamin D deficiency is the culprit. If your team of health-professionals does find that you are insufficiently nourished, they may recommend a few different treatment options …

• Improve your regular diet: They will encourage you to eat more fish, egg yolks, as well as fortified dairy and grain products.
• Improve your lifestyle: By taking in some additional sunlight each day, and participating in regular exercise, you will take in more vitamin D and increase your overall bone density naturally.
• Supplements: Many doctors and dentists will often advocate incorporating high-grade nutritional supplements to your daily routine. For instance, Pharmaden Health has specifically designed their OsteoTherapy  supplement to combat bone density/mineralization issues. Pharmaden products are some of the more popular vitamins prescribed by medical professionals, and they are our top recommendation to get an immediate start on repairing your bones.

When you are considering making a lifestyle change in order to improve your health, we recommend consulting with your doctor/nutritionist first to make sure you are 1) Eliminating the things from your life that your body really doesn’t need/want and 2) Keeping the healthy nutrients so you don’t develop a serious condition like the ones mentioned above.

SOURCES:

How Vitamin D Levels Affect Teeth

http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/vitamin-d-deficiency#2

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_tooth_development

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rickets/symptoms-causes/dxc-20200468

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteomalacia/basics/symptoms/con-20029393