Browse Category: Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs and Supplements
Published: March 04, 2010
Do you take any dietary supplements? It seems everywhere you look these days, dietary supplements are being sold. You can find them at your local pharmacy, the neighborhood drugstore, and all over the Internet. There are hundreds of varieties of supplements that do everything from fill nutritional gaps to increase energy and enhance mental and physical capacity. But how do you that the supplements you’re interested in are safe? Let’s take a closer look at the FDA’s role in ensuring supplement safety.
Published: January 25, 2010
Fatty acids are needed in your everyday diet. So much so, that many food companies enhance their products with the ever-important omega-3 fatty acids. There are three types of these omega-3 acids: ALA, EPA and DHA. Each has their own health benefits and come from different sources. But is one (or two) more effective than the other? Looks like it. Recent reports indicate that EPA/DHA is winning out over ALA in the Omega-3 battle.
Published: January 11, 2010
Though you may believe that choosing a natural or herbal supplement over a chemical one is the safer choice, this is not always true. Due to the fact that dosages can be incorrect, many supplements are not FDA approved, and other significant variables, you must be more aware of what you are putting in your body in regards to herbal health supplements. Here are some valuable supplement safety tricks and tips for anyone considering purchasing herbal supplementation for general wellness and specific health conditions.
Published: December 08, 2009
Europe is effectively the most influential entity at Codex and the EU Food Supplements Directive is essentially the de facto blueprint for the Codex Guidelines for vitamin and mineral supplements.
As a result of international trade agreements such as the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement), Codex texts, guidelines and standards are effectively mandatory for all WTO Members.
Published: December 07, 2009
L-Carnitine is a natural nutrient that stems from the amino acids Lysine and Methionine. A suitable supply of L-Carnitine is necessary to support the maintenance of good health. It also can aid in the energy level of a person during intense physical workouts. Muscle contraction, the regulation of protein balance and maintenance of a healthy heart are also helped with L-Carnitine. Keep reading to discover where L-Carnitine is found and the many health benefits associated with taking this supplement.
Published: December 07, 2009
A great deal of discussion is taking place within the natural products industry on this subject. Arguably, there appears to be no single and categorical obligation for governments to adopt Codex standards and guidelines.
However, the preamble to the SPS Agreement (to which all WTO Members are signatories) specifically mentions Codex and states that WTO Members (and hence all SPS signatories) desire:
"To further the use of harmonized sanitary and phytosanitary measures between Members on the basis of international standards, guidelines and recommendations developed by the relevant international organizations, including the Codex Alimentarius Commission."
Published: December 04, 2009
Originally designed by military and business leaders from the pharmaceutical industry in Germany shortly after World War II, historically, Codex was evolved from a collection of standards and product descriptions for a wide variety of foods developed in the Austro-Hungarian Empire between 1897 and 1911. Austria subsequently pursued the creation of a regional food code, the "Codex Alimentarius Europaeus" between 1954 and 1958.
Published: December 03, 2009
The European Union is without doubt the single most powerful influence on international Codex conferences and discussions. European Council documents acknowledge the increasing legal relevance that the various Codex Alimentarius guidelines and standards have acquired:
"... by virtue of the reference made to the Codex Alimentarius in the WTO Agreements and the presumption of conformity which is conferred on relevant national measures when they are based on such standards, guidelines or recommendations adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Likewise, we also acknowledge that one of the objects of the Codex Alimentarius Commission is to harmonise worldwide health standards."
Published: December 02, 2009
In the United States, the European Food Supplements Directive and Codex would appear to be completely irrelevant largely due to massive efforts that lead to the passage of the Dietary Supplements Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994.
In fact, Codex is barely even on the radar as a real threat to the natural health industry in the U.S. DSHEA is perceived to be an unbreakable steel barrier to Codex or Europe's legislative influence or any other "foreign" attempt to breach America's "safe haven" status for the natural health and nutritional innovative industries.
Published: December 01, 2009
Part One: A storm is brewing...
The future of each nation's natural health industry, nutritional innovation and each individual's personal freedom of choice regarding access to a wide range of vitamin supplements, amino acids, herbs and ancient and modern traditional medicines, appears with little doubt to be at genuine risk in the not-too-distant future. One can later speculate and even try to reason the intentions and motivations that have brought about this situation; however, it is certain that the situation exists and is no accident of circumstances.
