This video is about 20 minutes long, but it is a great introduction into the kinds of marketing tactics the pharmaceutical industry utilizes to make sure we keep taking their product.  Some prescription medications are helpful, and even life-saving, but how do we know when we have gone too far?  What kinds of gatekeepers do we need in place?  How is our current model working?  Please take the time to watch this PBS video and ask yourself these questions.

Bill Moyers of PBS discusses marketing tactics of Pharmaceutical Industry with Melody Petersen.

Heart disease has been the leading killer in America for many years, and stroke is not far behind as the #3 killer. In 47% of cases the first sign of a problem is DEATH. That's right; they felt fine on Sunday then Monday they died of a heart-attack!

The following are all Risk Factors for Heart Disease:

• Previous heart attack
• High Blood Pressure
• Family History of heart dis-ease, stroke, or diabetes
• Previous stroke
• Smoking
• Excess alcohol use
• High Cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Age (over 55)
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Certain medications

Heart disease is a 'lifestyle' disease which means it is both preventable and reversible. Until recently, there was no way to accurately measure (non-invasively) the health of a per-son's cardiovascular system. Furthermore, we didn't under-stand how to effectively reverse the plaque build up and high blood pressure often associated with cardiovascular disease. The Boise Spine Center now has access to recent Nobel prize research and an FDA approved diagnostic machine, that effectively measures the elasticity of your arteries.

A new technology that originated at Stanford University is an accurate way to objectively measure the age of a person's cardiovascular system. When your heart beats, it radiates a pulse wave down the lining of your arteries. The A-Pulse CASP device measures the resistance of this wave and gives an individual a benchmark of their actual cardiovascular age. This test is nearly as accurate as a femoral artery cardiac catheterization! We are so excited about this research; we have made arrangements to offer this test in our office. At Stanford medical center the test is normally $1600, but we will be doing the test for $40 for those individuals with risk factors for heart disease. This is our way of getting you involved in taking control of your heart health.

One of our top priorities in improving the health of your heart is to create a healthy environ-ment for your arteries. This means low blood pressure and a healthy vessel lining. Combining these two elements allows your circulatory system to respond to the stresses of life while mini-mizing the stiffness of your arteries. The key to this is the healthy production of nitric oxide, which relaxes the blood vessels and regulates blood vessel tone and flexibility. That is why Emergency rooms give nitroglycerin to patients with suspected heart attacks.

Fortunately, there are several ways for you to optimize the production of nitric oxide in your body. The first is regular exercise - this can have a profound effect on the health of your heart. You should also consume a diet high in vegetables, and low in refined salts and unhealthy fats. If you already have one or more risk factors for heart disease, more aggressive steps would include supplementation with L-Arginine and Citrulline. Citrulline is metabolized into L-Arginine, which in turn yields higher amounts of nitric oxide to optimize blood flow throughout the body. This essentially pumps the arteries to help decrease plaque build up and allow better blood flow to all areas of your body. The results can be dramatic. Everyone can benefit from following guidelines for a healthier heart, but those at risk require a more targeted approach. If you, or anyone you know, is at risk for heart disease, please Call Now to reserve a time for this important test.

Next Testing date is to be held on Saturday, October 17th around 6pm.

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Not all Nutritional Supplements are Created Equally

Are you wasting money on cheap supplements that won't improve your health?

The most daunting task before any health-conscious individual is deciphering the media hype, advertising bombardment, and conflicting recommendations made by healthcare providers about nutritional supplementation.  Do you feel comfortable in selecting the right supplement for your current condition? Do you know what else is in the pill, what dosage to take, and which form is most effective? To make it through this maze of information, and to get the expected results, it is essential for you to have a trained and qualified advocate to guide you through it.

Despite a struggling economy, one industry that continues to grow is the nutritional supplement market.  Not only have large retail stores tapped into the market by starting to dedicate large sections in their aisles to supplements, but we are now seeing complete enterprises built around this product trend.  With increasing consumer frustrations and skyrocketing costs in our current model of healthcare, more and more people are taking their health into their own hands.  This paradigm shift puts more focus on diet modification, exercise, and nutritional supplementation. This strategy can prove to be very effective for disease prevention, but doesn't come without risks and pitfalls.

Keep in mind that even though some supplements can have a profound therapeutic effect, they should still be seen as just that - a supplement. The foundation of your health should be built upon regular exercise and a quality diet that is right for your body type.

The media would have you believe that some vitamins are a cure-all, or that only their proprietary blend could possibly be effective for relieving your symptoms. If you have ever tried self treatment with supplements and been disappointed, it is very likely that you weren't using a quality product at the right dosage.  When you get a prescription from your medical doctor for an infection, you take the antibiotics on a very strict regimen, but do you ever grant your supplements the same respect?  Do your supplements deserve that respect?  Where you turn for advice on this subject is of vital importance.  You owe it to yourself to find a trusted source you can turn to with all of your questions about supplementation.  This source should not be an unqualified clerk at your local big box store, but rather an adequately trained healthcare professional.

Even among healthcare practitioners, there can be a wide range of opinions. Part of the reason for this is the lack of training required to give nutritional advice - think big box store clerk here.  You might also be surprised to find out that most MD's and DO's receive little to no formal nutritional training in medical school, but rather have their focus on prescription drugs as a treatment for disease.  You should not hesitate to ask your health care professional what kind of training they've had specific to diet and nutritional supplementation, as this will clearly affect how they respond to your questions on this topic.  Some providers may be very opinionated or defensive in order to discourage questions on a topic where they lack knowledge.

So, which healthcare providers are likely to have substantial training in nutrition?  Naturopathic Doctors, Doctors of Chiropractic, Dietitians, and Nutritionists would be a good place to start your search.  These professions typically have multiple classes about nutrition, and focus on the use of diet modification and supplements for the treatment of various conditions.  Regardless of what the individual learned in their core program, there are many informative seminars and certification programs now available on the topics of nutrition.  Ask your trusted source how they received their training.

Another advantage of working with a healthcare provider trained in nutrition is the quality of products they utilize. There is a big difference between nutraceutical grade supplements (found only through licensed healthcare practitioners) and those found at retail stores.  Part of the reason for this discrepancy is the lack of regulations within the supplement industry. To distinguish themselves as professional grade, some companies have imposed strict regulations upon themselves. These steps for quality control ensure better products.

Here are several key advantages of a quality supplement company:

- test for toxic metal contaminants like mercury and lead

- use only the most absorbable forms of minerals

- meet the latest FDA Good Manufacturing Processes (GMP) guidelines

- use therapeutic ratios and dosages

- don't allow any potential allergens such as wheat, soy, corn, nuts, and dairy

- is based on scientific evidence

- use vegetable-based capsules and fillers

Here are some key things to look for in your supplements:

- GMP certified label

- avoid FD&C color additives

- avoid any Stearate lubricants (decrease absorption)

- avoid lactose or other allergens

- avoid plasticizers like propylene glycol

- avoid synthetic forms of vitamins and minerals

- avoid animal-based gelatin capsules

- dissolve easily in diluted acid (try diluted vinegar)

A wonderful resource for comparing the various supplement brands is www.consumerlab.com.  They conduct tests on various supplements to verify ingredients, preservatives, and check for contaminants. The results from some of their tests are startling, as they have found many retail supplements that don't contain any of the nutrients they claim.

If you are seeking optimal health by adding nutritional supplements to your lifestyle, you will save yourself a lot of time, money, and frustration if you find yourself a qualified healthcare practitioner to guide you on your journey. Utilizing the right supplement to support the function of your body's physiology can have a profound effect on your health, while spending money on cheap imitators will only lead to frustration and disbelief in natural solutions to health issues.