Introducing a new authoritative report on Dietary Supplements from the editors of the University of California, Berkeley Wellness Letter…

 

Dear Reader:

Are you a big believer in taking nutritional supplements?

Or are you skeptical ... but c onsidering trying dietary supplements to improve some aspect of your health?

Either way, you're not alone:

More than half of Americans use dietary supplements on a regular basis to improve their health.

These men and women spend nearly $20 billion a year -- on herbs, vitamins, minerals, hormones, and other pills -- bought without a doctor's prescription.

According to the FDA, there are more than 29,000 different nutritional supplements on the market today.

But before you invest your money -- and your health -- in dietary supplements, I urge you to listen to this timely warning from the Federal Trade Commission...

"Unfounded and exaggerated claims for dietary supplements have proliferated," according to Howard Beales, former Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Beales notes that the FTC has challenged deceptive advertising for health care products with more than $1 billion in sales -- mostly for dietary supplements.

3 biggest myths about "safe" natural medicines

The nutritional supplement marketers and the pharmaceutical industry seem to be at war.

At stake: billions of dollars in revenue from the sales of pills -- medicines we take to protect and improve our health.

Advertising from the dietary supplement industry often makes out the pharmaceutical industry to be an "evil empire" -- raking in billions by poisoning consumers with expensive, dangerous chemicals they shouldn't be taking.

But some of the myths and half-truths all this expensive advertising has implanted in the public awareness can be downright dangerous to YOUR health...

MYTH #1: Dietary supplements are far safer than prescription drugs because they are "natural."

THE REALITY: The fact that a supplement is derived from an herb or other plant, and is therefore "natural," doesn't necessarily make it safe.

If everything that was made from plants was safe, we wouldn't be told to avoid eating certain berries or mushrooms while hiking in the woods. And would you consume arsenic or hemlock?

MYTH #2: Dietary supplements are rigorously tested, and their effectiveness backed by all sorts of studies and scientific proof.

THE REALITY: To gain FDA approval, any new prescription drug has to pass a series of strict clinical trials. But dietary supplements are sold without FDA approval.

Worse, they either undergo no testing at all -- or the "testing" to which they have been submitted typically does not meet the standards required by the scientific community.

Example: Supplement advertisements frequently boast that a particular herb has been used for a thousand years in Asia. In reality, many of these Chinese herbs can cause liver damage and other dangerous side effects.

MYTH #3: Supplement makers are knights on white horses riding to our rescue, while the pharmaceutical industry is "evil."

THE REALITY: Both the pharmaceutical and the dietary supplement industries spend millions of dollars trying to get us to buy their products.

So the question comes down to: who -- and what products -- do you trust?

Available now:

The Wellness Report on Dietary Supplements

With thousands of different dietary supplements to choose from -- from alpha-lipoic acid to zinc -- no one person can keep up with all the new developments in nutritional therapies.

And unless you're an M.D. yourself, do you really have the background to separate the good science from the hype?

That's where the University of California, Berkeley Wellness Reports can help save you time and money while improving your health.

Our editorial advisors, all M.D.'s or Ph.D.'s with impressive credentials in their specialties, conduct an exhaustive search of the medical literature on a particular topic -- in this case, dietary supplements.

They then carefully review the research to ensure that it's based on scientifically sound methods ... and to confirm the accuracy and reliability of the findings.

Next, our editors painstakingly convert medical jargon, formulas, and statistics into clear, plain English.

You'll find it fascinating reading -- and useful. Our experts tell you exactly what you need to know about the particular dietary supplement you're thinking of taking ... plus, how to apply key research findings to improving and maintaining your own health.

Here's just a sampling of what you'll discover in the UC Berkeley Wellness Report on Dietary Supplements

  • What's behind all those ads for resveratrol -- it is really the secret weapon against aging?  Page 10.
  • This B vitamin is a nutritional chameleon -- sometimes protective, sometimes dangerous. Page 11.
  • Why you should think twice about claims made for supplements made from these hugely popular "super fruits."  Page 14.
  • How vitamins C and E can suppress some of the beneficial effects of exercise. Page 15.
  • Uh-oh, here's still more disappointing news about antioxidant supplements. Page 17.
  • Considering calcium supplements?  We look at the benefits and options and give you 5 important tips. Page 17.
  • Many people have low blood levels of vitamin D, according to recent studies.  Should you have your blood levels tested?  And how much D do you need to raise your blood levels to the desirable range?  Here's the latest research.  Page 20.
  • These two amino acid supplements are supposed to protect against everything from heart disease and diabetes to dementia and obesity.  Do they live up to the hype? Pages 20 and 24.
  • The five groups who should take fish oil supplements, and how to choose one.  And what about those warnings concerning contaminants? Page 26.
  • We rate 9 cholesterol busters:  from niacin and sterols to red yeast rice and policosanol.
  • This supplement packs plenty of antioxidant power, and is prescribed in Europe to treat leg ulcers and varicose veins.  It may also lower blood sugar levels, LDL ("bad") cholesterol, and elevated blood pressure.  Should you try it for any of these problems? Page 50.
  • If you have cardiovascular disease, this is the best, most scientifically proven dietary supplement for helping prevent arrhythmias and heart attacks. Your doctor might advise you to take it daily.  Page 26.
  • When you're shopping for multivitamins, it is absolutely important to check the label for one vitamin in particular -- since getting too much of it could actually weaken your bones. Page 34.
  • Which is better for hot flashes and menopausal night sweats -- black cohosh or hormone replacement therapy?  The answer may surprise you. Page 32.
  • Even though studies of feverfew as a migraine perventive have mixed results, you may want to try it next time you have a migraine, anyway.  Turn to page 43 to find out why.
  • This element is used to strengthen steel alloys.  Can it also help you lose weight, as supplement marketers claims? Page 37.
  • The ads say this amazing new vision supplement can actually help prevent blindness in certain patients.  And amazingly, it's true!  We name the supplement brand on page 42.
  • Even primrose and borage oils are well-known folk remedies and they're cheap, so you may think, why not try them?  Here are 7 compelling reasons why you should think twice.   Page 42.
  • Why you must tell your doctor which supplements you are taking if he or she prescribes medication for you. Page 9.
  • Discover what a definitive clinical trial found out about whether these two "natural arthritis cures" -- glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate -- can really increase your mobility and relieve joint pain. Page 47.
  • Taking St. John's Wort instead of a prescription drug to combat your depression?  Who should consider it -- and who should not. Page 51.
  • This "natural" statin, made by fermenting red yeast on rice, can actually lower your cholesterol levels.  Find out about it on page 31.
  • The truth about one of the supplements that is promoted to people who take statin drugs:  coenzyme Q-10.  Page 39.
  • Magnesium, essential to good health, can lower your blood pressure, prevent heart disease, and strengthen your bones.  Bur certain patients shouldn't take magnesium supplements.  Are you one of them? Page 48.
  • One out of every hundred Americans develops a potentially serious deficiency of one of the major vitamins.  How to tell if you're one... and what to do if you are. Page 56.

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  • Calcium supplements, in the right amount, are important for maintaining strong bones, but they cannot be absorbed unless you get enough of one other nutrient.  To find out what this is, see Page 20.
  • Alzheimer's disease.  But the only thing it's likely to do for you is give you body odor -- and possibly liver damage.  Page 48.
  • Echinacea is frequently marketed as an immunity-booster than can prevent -- or even cure -- colds.  Should you keep a bottle handy in your medicine chest?  Page 41.
  • This trace mineral is often recommended to reduce the risk of prostate cancer, and it may have other benefits.  But the difference between a safe dose and a toxic one is very small.  Page 53.
  • 10 early warning signs that an ad for a dietary supplement is full of hot air.  If you see any of these words or phrases, don't buy it.   Page 7.
  • Garlic may lower cholesterol and reduce blood pressure.  So why do researchers say you shouldn't bother with garlic pills? Page 44.
  • Unlike most supplements, this "natural" remedy for relieving cold symptons is patented and standardized -- you know what's in it and how much.  (And it doesn't contain zinc.). Page 46.
  • Scientists have been experimenting with this trace mineral as a treatment for diabetes -- and studies have shown it has potential as a treatment for high blood suar.  Shouldn't you ask your doctor about it? Page 55.
  • Have trouble sleeping?  Taking melatonin -- a hormone producted in the brain by the pineal gland -- can promote sleep, prevent insomnia, and overcome jet lag.  Or can it? Page 49.
  • Ginseng has been used medicinally for thousands of years.  Here's why it may be time to stop.  Page 46.
  • Six groups of people are most likely to benefit from taking multivitamins.  Are you in one of them? Page 35.
  • Is creatine a safe alternative to steriods for building muscle and increasing athletic performance?  Turn to page 40 and see what it can, and cannot do.
  • Ads for "Airborne" convincingly make the case that the tablet can prevent or cure the common cold.  Should you take Airborne the next time you get the sniffles?  Page 36.
  • The supplement label lists the contents as "standardized," supposedly ensuring that you get a precise dosage of the active ingredient.  But here's why you shouldn't believe these labels.  Page 6.
  • Is this "all-natural" cholesterol fighter -- derived from such wholesome sources as sugar cane, beeswax, wheat germ, and rice bran -- better and safer than prescription statin drugs for lowering cholesterol? Page 31.
  • Male potency supplements often contain zinc, because a zinc deficiency can reduce your testosterone levels.  But did you also know that taking zinc supplements can double your chances of developing prostate cance?  Page 59.
  • What you might try to relieve urinary problems -- such as urgent or frequent urination or urinary leaking --  caused by an enlarged prostate.  Page 52.
  • This popular dietary supplement, promoted to boost immunity and prevent heart disease, can not only turn your skin yellow -- more importantly, it could increase the risk of lung cancer.  Page 37.
  • Ginkgo biloba has been promoted to improve memory, sharpen mental function, and stave off dementia.  Has modern science confirmed or debunked these claims? Page 45.

And so much more ...

Of all the decisions you make pertaining to your health, selecting dietary supplements puts you on less secure ground than anything else:

Advertising for "alternative medicine" is often filled with hyperbole.

You can buy and take any supplement without a doctor's prescription or even recommendation.

The clinical proof of the efficacy of supplements is often sketchy, and sometimes virtually nonexistent.

Now, the UC Berkeley Wellness Report on Dietary Supplements can help you make better-informed choices when deciding whether to take supplements -- and which to buy.

Plus, order now, and you'll receive a

FREE Bonus GIFT:

Vitamins in the News: C, D, and A

Which Should You Take? Which Should You Avoid?

  • C Is for Controversy. Many people endow vitamin C with almost magical powers. Claims and controversy about vitamin C are never ending, and no vitamin has been the subject of more research. Here are the latest findings.
  • Vitamin D: Are You Getting Enough? You can't have missed the news about this vitamin and its potential to reduce the risk of everything from cancer and multiple sclerosis to diabetes, hypertension, and age-related muscle weakness. This one seems to be for real, or is it just a bandwagon effect? How much do you really need? Should you have your blood level tested?
  • Vitamin A and Your Bones. The news traveled fast a few years ago: A high intake of vitamin A from food and supplements (not much more than the 5,000 IU found in most multivitamins) increases the risk of hip fractures in women. Here's what you need to know about this vitamin -- and why you shouldn't worry about beta carotene, even though it is converted into vitamin A in the body.
  • Are the supplements you choose doing you more harm than good? Are they a necessity for maintaining health or even curing your illness?

    Why aren't traditional medical doctors more enthusiastic about nutritional supplements? Can taking vitamins, minerals, and herbs really work? Or are they a colossal fraud -- a waste of time and money?

    You'll find the answers in our UC Berkeley Wellness Report on Dietary Supplements ... which you may preview risk-free in the privacy of your own home.

    Download this money-saving, health-building report
    risk-free in the privacy of your home

    As soon as we hear from you, you'll be able to instantly download your Wellness Report on Dietary Supplements, examine it carefully.

    Read through the studies. Examine the facts, figures, numbers, and test results on the dietary supplements you take.

    I'm betting our new report will be one of your most valuable -- and important -- health resources.

    If you are not 100% satisfied with your new Dietary Supplements report for any reason ... simply contact Customer Service within 30 days for a full refund.

    But don't delay. The longer you put off doing your "due diligence" on your dietary supplements, the longer you could be throwing your money -- and your good health -- down the drain.

    Plus, the Wellness Report on Dietary Supplements costs just $19.95.

    So what are you waiting for? To download your risk-FREE copy of the UC Berkeley Wellness Report on Dietary Supplements ... just click below now.

    Sincerely,

    Tim O'Brien
    Publisher, The Wellness Reports

    P.S. Even if you do nothing but follow the advice in "Vitamins in the News: C, D, and A" -- your free gift -- you will be well on your way to protecting your health. Just click below to get your FREE GIFT and your Wellness Report on Dietary Supplements.