We are often told by the mainstream media, who invariably give greater weight to the advice of conventionally-trained doctors, pharmacists and dieticians, that so long as a person is taking a well-balanced diet, is physically active and has adequate exposure to sunlight, supplements are not necessary.

Nothing can be further from the truth!

The following is a quote from Energy Times (October 2007):

"The fact is, nutritional supplements pose a threat to Big Pharma.  Imagine if everyone diligently took a wide range of nutritional supplements and adopted a healthy lifestyle.  With these preventive health measures in place, cancer, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and other conditions would dramatically decrease in incidence.  Proportionally, Big Pharma's profits would plummet—because without sickness, drugs don't sell.  As such, many in Big Pharma—along with thier regulatory and mass media cohorts have regarded nutritional and herbal supplements with chilly disdain.  The irony of this stance:  hundreds of synthetic drugs worldwide are created from plant-derived sources, while in the US up to 25% of pharmaceuticals have plant chemicals as their active ingredients.  In fact, the entire pharmaceutical industry was launched by natural substances:  aspirin came from willow bark, penicillin from penicillium mold, quinine from the bark of the cinchona tree [statins from red yeast rice, etc.].  Why would Big Pharma create a drug from a plant, instead of simply using the plant itself?  Because such an approach would simply not be as profitable.  Plants—nature's gifts to us—cannot be patented or owned in their whole, naturally growing form.  Without such ownership, they are freely available, as they should be, and reasonably priced in supplement form.  However, a pharmaceutical company can take a plant compound, alter it chemically and voila!—they have a patentable substance with huge profit potential."

The commercial food & agricultural industry has done the same thing with its development of genetically modified seeds.  These are no longer freely available to mankind.  You have to buy the seeds from them!

Here is an extract from the Dietary Supplement Information Bureau (USA) that is very relevant to this debate:

Q: Are dietary supplements safe?

A: According to a study published in the April 14, 1998 issue of The Journal of the America Medical Association (JAMA), adverse drug reactions, resulting from prescription and over-the-counter drugs, cause more than 100,000 deaths a year. Furthermore, the study estimates that 2.2 million people annually experience a serious adverse drug reaction.

In contrast, the FDA has on file approximately 2,500 "adverse event reports" (AERs), including 79 deaths, that may be related to dietary supplements. However, the FDA admits that these AERs may be flawed since there is "no certainty that an adverse event can be attributed to a particular product or ingredient." In addition, these AERs for supplements represent all reports to the FDA of adverse incidents allegedly connected to dietary supplements.
In addition, the February/March 1998 issue of Nature's Impact reports that dietary supplements are far safer to consume than foods, causing 1/60,000 as many deaths as foods each year. Consumers can check the safety of dietary supplements over the last two decades by comparing the incidence of deaths from all causes that are reported in either the Journal of Emergency Medicine or by the American Association of Poison Control Centers in Washington, D.C.

Q: What scientific studies show the efficacy of dietary supplements?
A: Each year, numerous studies are published in major medical journals that support the use of dietary supplements for the treatment of specific conditions, prevention of diseases or for general nutritional enhancement. Such studies can be found in The Journal of the American Medical Association, New England Journal of Medicine, American Journal of Cardiology, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, and The Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
In addition, several leading research institutes and national associations such as John Hopkins University and the American Heart Association, have conducted and released studies on the benefits of dietary supplements.

Q: Are dietary supplements regulated by the FDA?
A: Dietary supplements are regulated, although not in the way prescription or over-the-counter drugs are. Because dietary supplements are foods, and not drugs, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has the power to ensure that products on the market are both safe and accurately labeled. Before a product can be sold, a manufacturer must first notify the FDA of all intended label claims and ensure that they can be substantiated.

Q: How did the passage of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994 effect the FDA's enforcement powers over the dietary supplement industry?
A: The passage of the DSHEA actually increased the FDA's enforcement powers over dietary supplements by establishing new labeling and potency standards. Violations of these standards are crimes. Under the DSHEA, the FDA has the power to:

• Refer for criminal action any company that sells a dietary supplement that is toxic or unsanitary [Section 402 (a)].
• Seize dietary supplements that pose an "unreasonable or significant risk of illness or injury" [Section 402 (f)].
• Stop a new dietary ingredient from being marketed if the FDA does not receive enough safety data in advance [Section 413].
• Stop the sale of an entire class of dietary supplements if they pose an imminent public health hazard [Section 402 (f)].
  " Obtain an injunction against the sale of a dietary supplement that has false or unsubstantiated claims [Section 403 (a), (r6)].
• Require dietary supplements to meet strict manufacturing guidelines (Good Manufacturing Practices), including potency, cleanliness, and stability [Section 402 (g)].

In addition, there are industry self-regulatory efforts that supplement these governmental powers (see NNFA Leads the Industry's Self-Regulation), and the Federal Trade Commission has power over advertising and safety laws.

To read more about why supplements are absolutely necessary if you want to enjoy superlative health, please click and read the following articles:

Why Nutritional Supplements Are Necessary
About Dr. Weston A. Price and the Weston A. Price Foundation
Nutrition and Dr. Weston A. Price

Of course, if a person wishes to have average health like the rest of the population, suffer the same kind of degenerative diseases at the prevailing rates (which are going up), then listen to mainstream advice, which is guaranteed keeps the pharmaceutical industry coffers ringing.

For more evidence of the tremendous benefits of supplements, this age-old debate and the ongoing battle between Big Pharma and the supplement industry:

We Become Silent (We Highly Recommend You Watch This Video!)
Most Healthcare Professionals Take Supplements, Says CRN Survey
Health And Cost Benefits For Older Americans Taking Dietary Supplements
Without A Trace:  Food Nutrient Shortage Makes Case for Supplementation (A Must Read!)
Mel Gibson Expresses His Concern
Victoria Principal: Don't Let the FDA Take Away Your Rights
Celebrity Concerns: Anger and concerns of Americans at what the FDA is attempting to do. Celebrity speakers include: Mel Gibson, Whoopi Goldberg, James Coburn, Jenny Jones, Laura Dern, Randy Travis, James Avery, Wings Hauser, Leslie Ann Warren, Linda Blair, Paul Murad and more! Part 1 (7.63mb)  Part 2 (7.11mb) Part 3 (4.61mb) Part 4 (8.23mb)  Part 5 (5.49mb) Part 6 (8.59mb)  Part 7 (7.20mb)