Nutritional supplements, scam or what?

To be fair, opinions are like bottoms, every one has one! The thing about the area of health called ‘alternative’ is that it isn’t an area trusted or believed by everyone. Holistic or natural remedies are viewed with scepticism and caution and the word quack is often used in association. Many herbal or complementary therapies have been in existence for thousands of years and if they were utter garbage or nonsense there is absolutely no way the methodologies to use them would still be here, they would have been buried thousand of years ago. Perhaps we should try to be a little more open minded and less ‘Western’ in our attitudes especially as the vast majority of the world’s population still use ancient remedies and medicinal preparations. The vast majority of multi-millions of people can’t all be wrong, can they?

The thing with us sophisticated and civilized westerners (said with tongue firmly in cheek!) is that we have wonderfully packaged and scientifically proven pharmaceuticals to use for when we are ill. We go to our doctor or pharmacist and take whatever they recommend. We do not have to think about it or even consider the alternatives. The reason as to why you became was more than likely your own fault but hey, who cares, when I get ill, I’ll pay for the cure. But where are these medical professional recommendations born?

Mainstream medicine is a blinkered and indoctrinated industry dominated by the desires of the huge pharmaceutical companies. It costs time and millions of dollars to get approval for pharmaceuticals and these costs need to be recouped. These guys need their investment money back. Have you ever considered where the majority of investment in medical colleges comes from? Yep, the pharma giants – why do you think that is? Additionally, who recommends products to doctors or pharmacists, yep sales reps from pharma giants. The thing is, the pharmaceutical industry is a gigantic business. One giant, GSK is apparently considerably wealthier than quite a few countries added together!

I recently heard that last year in the US alone approximately 150,000 people died from the prescription drugs given to them by their doctors. Conversely, I have never heard of anyone dying from taking a supplement.

To a certain degree I feel quite sorry for our doctors. They are busy and they have to make important decisions on a variety of symptoms and illnesses daily. It must be stressful having to cope with the work load. Having little time to keep up to date with the latest drugs its no wonder they take on board what the pharma sales reps tell them. In our recent history, as soon as somebody walked in the doctors feeling a little blue, the next thing they knew they were on Prozac for 6 months! This drug had a lot of investment and marketing, so they needed to make a hell of a lot of money out of this one. Nowadays it’s all about cholesterol. In the West, apparently we are nearly all suffering with this problem called elevated ‘bad’ cholesterol levels. Ignoring the fact that the ‘correct’ level keeps changing (it keeps lowering – I wonder why?) suddenly we all need statins. My goodness what did we do without these wonder drugs! The pharma giant has done a great job on this one and the doc has bought the hype! This course of action is to prevent (my goodness I didn’t think they understood the word!) heart problems. But high cholesterol has little to do with heart problems and the actual statistics show the link is ridiculously tenuous. In Japan they typically have much higher ‘bad’ levels and yet, not only do they live longer but they have considerably less heart issues. There are so many other ways to maintain a healthy heart, surely taking a drug is a bit sledge-hammer. It leaves a bit of a bad taste with me.

I am not against mainstream medicine, if you need to take a drug and it works then great. If you need surgery, have it. My gripe is basically with the blinkered attitude which is passed through our society which builds mistrust of anything offered by a non-white coat wearing professional. Taking the course of prevention is surely much better than waiting until you fall ill but alas this is now the way of the rich and lazy West. Optimal health isn’t that difficult to achieve but of course this isn’t the goal of everyone. To make some positive changes only requires a little common sense and a small amount of effort to use nutritional supplements and vitamins, eat a healthier more balanced diet, take a little regular exercise, relax and get some decent sleep.

When anti-aging is mentioned, most people immediately think of anti-wrinkle face creams. This is the power of big business and marketing. When I talk of anti-aging I mean the slowing of age and combating all the aging diseases which most of us will inevitably encounter or suffer from. Anti-aging medicine is a proven area of medicine and science. If you believe in prevention being better than cure and the possibility to protect against the aging disease, then we are talking the same language. But this is not just about popping some pills, this is to do with an all round effort to fight the causes of aging. It is as much about good mental health as it is a healthy body. It is about whatever helps you relax and feel good whether it be meditation, breathing exercises, yoga, massage, sports, having a glass of red or walking the dog. It is about cutting down on the naughty foods and adding some more fresh fruit and vegetables. It is about stopping smoking and cutting down on your alcohol consumption and it’s about taking nutritional supplements and good quality vitamins.

Did you know that the Recommended Daily Allowance for vitamins was created during the First World War to establish the absolute bear minimum vitamin intake humans need to survive! Hardly optimum health!

Now this brings me to Can-C eye drops. Can-C eye drops are not a miracle drug or cure. They are a clinically proven, specially formulated supplement, created to deliver the super –antioxidant n-acetyl-carnosine (NAC) to the part of the eye which needs some help to fight the ravages of age. As we age the balance between oxygen, protein and sugar gets out of sync, causing massive amounts of free radicals. Free radicals cause an enormous amount of damage throughout our bodies, bringing on the aging process, and antioxidants are the slayers of free radicals. Carnosine has proven to be a powerful anti-oxidant that helps most of our organs but has little benefit to the eyes. It was the desire to create a delivery system for carnosine to reach the eyes that started the research 20 years ago that finally brought us the breakthrough that is Can-C, 10 years ago.

Can-C eye drops rid the age related ‘debris’ through its powerful antioxidant action. This leaves the eye clear to begin the process of healing itself. The drops could be used by anyone interested in protecting their eyes against the inevitable onslaught of aging. They have proved to be an excellent supplement for humans and pets wanting to naturally reverse aging conditions like senile cataracts. Also, by providing the healthiest environment for your eyes, Can-C helps with many other ocular conditions from Dry Eye or Presbyopia to Macular Degeneration and Computer Vision Syndrome.

Can-C not only offers an alternative to mainstream remedies like cataract surgery or practically useless drops for dry eye like artificial tears, but they are an excellent investment for the future health of your eyes. Can-c eye drops should be part of your anti-aging regime from your late thirties onwards.

Can-C – 10 years of the ultimate anti-aging super antioxidant eye drops

The research to find an eye drop to combat aging eye disorders was started nearly 20 years ago by Dr Mark Babizhayev. The results of the clinical trials were amazing. Dr Mark created an eye drop that effectively breaks down the debris caused by age, thus allowing the eye to begin the process of healing itself. He showed that these natural eye drops protect against potential future eye disorders but also that they combat existing age related conditions including cataract in both humans and animals, especially dogs. Dr Mark’s research foundation, Innovative Vision Products (IVP) in Delaware released Can-C eye drops to the world a decade ago. They have proved to be a worldwide success with over a million bottles sold so far.

Can-C eye drops are the original patented drops containing the all important N-alpha –acetylcarnosine (NAC) a di-peptide that works as a ‘carrier’ for L-Carnosine, an anti-aging super-antioxidant that helps to fight age-related changes in the skin, brain, heart, eyes, muscles and other tissues. The only clinically proven way to deliver L-Carnosine directly into the area of the eye which is damaged by time and age, is to use IVP’s approved, specially formulated, N-acetyl-carnosine Can-C eye drops.

Cataract formation is an almost inevitable symptom of aging. The imbalance of proteins and an over exposure to damaging free radicals as we age cause the lens to be starved of important anti-oxidants thus making the lens hard and non-transparent. Being part of the brain, the eye has an incredible ability to heal itself especially in the correct ‘environment’. The super antioxidant qualities of n-acetyl-carnosine get to work where needed, purging age-related ‘debris,’ clearing the way for the eye to begin the process of healing itself.

Although cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed surgeries in the world, 5% of procedures are unsuccessful. For thousands of people this expensive, evasive surgery could prove to be extremely costly especially if they fell into this 5% category. For age related cataract, IVP's NAC eye-drops provide treatment without surgery allowing the patient to keep their natural lens rather than cope with an artificial one. To avoid the anxiety, stress and concern of an expensive operation, why not consider using an eye drop? Per affected eye, just 2 drops in the morning and 2 drops in the evening using this soothing, lubricating eye drop is a fantastic alternative to surgery.

Can-C eye drops are a nutritional supplement used not only by humans but also in animals, especially dogs, as they share many of the same ocular disorders. The drops need to be taken on a daily basis, 2 or 3 times a day. For age related cataract reversal this can mean daily administration for up to a year. Most people notice an improvement in their vision at the 3 month stage, reporting better color clarity and improved night glare and vision.

In the same way people take nutritional supplements and vitamins, the drops are very popular with those who are interested in the prevention aspect to ocular health and also with professionals who rely on excellent eye sight like pilots. Since Can-C came to market 10 years ago, most of the excitement surrounding the drops is with the age related cataract reversal but these remarkable drops are not just for cataracts. They have demonstrated positive results with those suffering with Dry Eye, Contact Lens Disorders, Computer Vision Disorder, Blurred Vision and Retinal Disease.

Are pilots aging prematurely?

There has been a lot of media coverage recently regarding the air quality in aircraft. There are the usual complaints and issues regarding recycled air and the jury is out as to whether this is or isn’t harmful to health. Very recently there has even been a court case which has compensated an air stewardess who was exposed to a 20 minute smoky air ‘bleed’ (which is the term for air contamination within the aircraft) and consequently she has been with ill health ever since.

The topic of air quality is quite controversial as there seems to be a groundswell of opinion and examples against the airlines for their lack of duty of care to their employees and customers by allowing regular toxic bleeds and general poor air quality and pollution within their aircraft. Stuck in between the fighting groups are the professionals at the helm of the aircraft – the pilots.

Whether or not the toxic air situation is proven to be harmful to all those exposed, pilots still face various health hazards. I think most would agree that recycled air isn’t the best quality air one could inhale and it could be compared to air conditioned air. These ‘types’ of air definitely dry out your skin, nose and throat and could be classified as an environmental disaster for your eyes. Regular exposure to either ‘type’ is a recipe for Dry Eye. If you know a pilot or a member of cabin crew there is a likelihood that they are already regularly grabbing for their (ineffective) artificial tears. (Author -See my other articles on Dry Eye).

Another health hazard for pilots is sun exposure on the flight deck which increases the risk of developing cataracts due to cosmic and UV radiation. A research team at the University of Iceland studied a group of men over the age of 50, 79 of which were pilots. 20% of the pilots were found to have cataracts. The results demonstrated that pilots were three times more likely to get cataracts compared to the rest of the group.

The kind of cataracts found in the pilots were 'nuclear cataracts’ a type of cataract characterized by the opacity (clouding) being in the central nucleus of the eye. The most common reason for nuclear cataracts to form is aging. This type of cataract could be seen as a natural eye aging disorder. Certainly in the study mentioned above the pilots seemed to be getting the cataracts younger than the non-pilots, so does this imply that the exposure to the sun and the environmental conditions faced by pilots is aging them prematurely? That is not for this author to conclude.

To keep your eyes in a condition of optimal health, perhaps the use a super-antioxidant eye drop would be the best course of action. N-acetyl-carnosine (NAC) is the all important antioxidant found in the clinically proven Can-C eye drops. These NAC eye drops were formulated to specifically reach the part of the eye most susceptible to age related damage. The antioxidant properties help to clear away the age related debris leaving the eye in a healthy, younger condition ready to begin the process of self-healing. It’s no wonder that those who are most concerned about eye health and eye age prevention use Can-C.

Dry Eye in Dogs

Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) or keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) is a common, potentially blinding condition in dogs. If a dog is struck down with this condition it usually affects both eyes. As with humans DES in canines is the reduction of lubricating tear production. This type of tear is extremely important as it assists with clear vision.

Although DES could affect any breed of dog there are a number of breeds that are more susceptible. These tend to include the small or miniature breeds such as: Pug, Cocker Spaniel, Dachshund, Shih Tzu and Pekingese.

Should you own such a dog please ensure you take your dog for regular check ups and be aware of the initial signs of canine DES. These symptoms include discharge from the eye, conjunctivitis, inflammation of the cornea and obvious signs of distress or pain from your dog, especially if regularly pawing at its eyes.

There are various reasons as to why your dog may get DES or KCS. In the majority of cases the cause is attributed to an immune disorder which affects the tear film. Other auto-immune diseases such as Hypothyroidism or Cushing’s disease can cause the condition. Other causes may include:

Canine Distemper

Viral or bacterial conjunctivitis

Trauma

Sulfonamides drugs (used for bacterial infections)

Anaesthetic agents

DES or KCS can lead to blindness in breeds such as Pug and Dachshund who are particularly prone to the chronic or most severe strain. Due to the lack of bacteria clearing, lubricating tears, the corneal surface thickens causing potential ulceration or erosion and an intolerance to light before blindness occurs.

Conventional treatment presently consists of drug therapy and/or surgery. As with the so-called treatment in humans, artificial tears or eye ointments like Cyclosporin, do not really offer much in the way of healing help as they are similar to your ‘crying’ tears. This type of tear does not contain the correct components for eye lubrication. Other drugs include antibiotics, hormones and mucolytics which reduce the thickness and quantity of mucous. Surgery could involve an operation to move the salivary duct from the mouth up to the eye in order to keep the eye wet by saliva rather than tears. Obviously this is not an ideal solution and it will not cure your dog’s DES / KCS. Sadly there is no cure for this condition and as with humans if you have DES you have it for life.

Using an eye drop like Can-C could help to prevent such conditions developing because the powerful antioxidant properties keep the eye healthy and resilient. Should you or your dog already have DES, Can-C eye drops could assist by giving the eye the best possible environment for self-healing.

What will you do about your dog’s cataract?

Cataracts are one of the most common problems affecting the eyes of dogs. Affecting all breeds and ages of dogs, there are many different types and causes of cataract formation. Despite the fact that they are very common, a lot is still unknown about canine cataracts. Up until now the only treatment option has been surgery and the procedures and equipment used to remove cataracts in dogs are the same as those used in humans.

Once the affected animal has undergone a thorough examination to determine if it is a good surgical candidate, a small incision is made in the eye and a hole is made in the capsular bag that holds the lens. A special probe ultrasonically emulsifies and removes the cataract. This procedure is called phacoemulsification. Once the lens is removed, an artificial intraocular lens or IOL, is placed in the bag.

There is a limited choice of IOLs available for dogs and an exact replacement of the original lens is not possible. So an operation will usually show some degree of success but it is far from a perfect solution. Post-op dogs will have more inflammation in their eyes than humans and more scarring. This scarring does slightly decrease vision and although most owners notice an increase in their dog’s vision after cataract surgery, they can still detect certain visual difficulties.

Similar to cataract operations in humans, in the majority of cases the outcome is relatively successful. In dogs 5% to 10% will not regain good vision due to complications, and could actually be permanently blind in the operated eye.

If you suspect your dog is developing cataracts - visit a veterinary ophthalmologist.

Once a lens has developed a cataract, you could choose to have the immature or mature cataracts surgically removed or treat your beloved pet in the same way you would choose to treat your own cataract(s). If there was a chance to reverse a cataract using a soothing eye drop rather than going under the knife in a potentially risky operation, what would you do? There is a choice.

If you have determined that your dog has cataracts your next step should be to ask the veterinary ophthalmologist about the cost to your dog (risks) and to your bank account (ouch!). It is highly improbable that the vet will recommend an eye drop as he/she will not have had experience in treating a dog in this way. Eye drops containing the super antioxidant n-acetyl-carnosine (NAC) are a breakthrough product. As with virtually all vitamins, supplements, natural and holistic products the drops have not been ‘approved’ by the FDA because they are NOT a drug and therefore nothing to do with the FDA. What is likely though, is that your vet will probably advise you to go down the only route they know – surgery.

We encourage people to have an eye test before and after using the eye drops to gain the hard evidence that they actually work. The same should be done for your dog.

Those dog owners already using NAC eye drops on their dogs are copying the same daily dosage regimen needed in humans. Clinical studies have proved that there can be no over-use with these natural, specifically formulated NAC eye drops.

In the study conducted by Innovative Vision Products (IVP), the clinical effects of a topical solution of N-acetyl-carnosine on lens opacities were examined in patients with cataracts and in canines with age-related cataracts. The data showed that N-acetyl-carnosine is effective in the management of age-related cataract reversal and prevention both in human and in canine eyes.

Snapshot of macular degeneration and treatment suggestions

It is often thought that when you are diagnosed with macular degeneration it means you will inevitably lose your eyesight, but thankfully this is not necessarily the case. The word degeneration means the ‘deterioration of a tissue or an organ in which its function is diminished or its structure is impaired’ which in itself conjures a grim image. The macula is a small area near the center of the retina; therefore macular degeneration means the deterioration of the cells of the Macular.

Macular degeneration affects central vision but not your peripheral vision and there are two types - dry and wet. 90% of people with macular degeneration have the dry variety with the symptom being yellow spots forming underneath the macular. Sometimes this dry type can evolve into more serious and severe wet type, which causes blood vessels in the eye to grow toward the macular, which in turn causes rapid vision loss.

Sadly at present there are no cures for macular degeneration. This highlights the importance of prevention or should it be too late for this, then action is needed to slow down its progression. It is generally recognised by the medical establishment and eye specialists throughout the world that antioxidants play a vital role in eye care and protection. They recommend high doses of the most popular antioxidants like Vitamin C & E along with zinc, copper and beta carotene. The importance of Green Tea and Omega Oils certainly should not be overlooked as more and more clinical studies are proving their benefits for excellent eye health. Of course the best way to deal with an eye problem is to use an antioxidant specifically designed to be delivered into the area of the eye where needed. N-acetyl-carnosine (NAC) is a super antioxidant specifically formulated for such delivery via an eye drop (Can-C).

Should you experience any of the following symptoms seek medical advice promptly. Symptoms of macular degeneration include:

Straight lights looking wavy,

Colors looking less vibrant or dull,

The blurring of shapes,

Difficulty when reading due to blurring of words,

Blank or foggy areas in your central vision.

Some doctors are attempting to treat macular degeneration with laser surgery but this comes with many potential serious complications (as does all laser surgery according to this author – buyer beware!). In fact The National Eye Institute has stated that treatment with laser can make vision problems worse for those suffering with macular degeneration.

Other methods presently being used to help with the symptoms of macular degeneration are Photodynamic Therapy and the use of injectable antiangiogenesis drugs. Please consult your medical professional before making your informed judgement.

Those with high blood pressure, diabetics with poor blood sugar control and smokers are at the highest risk.

This author recommends you have a yearly eye check and start your antioxidant regime.

Loads of tears but no relief from dry eye – why?

Loads of tears but no relief from dry eye – why?

The importance of tears cannot be understated. They are enormously important to your vision by keeping your eyes healthy, moistened and clear. Tears for lubricating your eyeball are actually more complex than you may imagine and are made up of three layers – oil, water and a fatty layer. The eyes need to be lubricated in order to focus. Without effective tears you cannot see properly.

The fatty layer makes the cornea smooth for clearer vision, the water layer plays the important role of protection and the oily layer stops the watery layer from evaporating. Dry Eye can be the result of when this three tier system gets out of sync or unbalanced. If the surface of the eye becomes irritated due to the lack of the oily layer the body responds by flooding the eye with tears released from the lacrimal gland. This sounds like a perfect solution but unfortunately the tears from this gland are the same as those when you cry and guess what? These tears are not the same and do not have the magic three layers!

Dry Eye cannot be cured, once you have it, you have it for life. That’s a lifetime of inconvenience and irritation and for some a considerable amount of pain. Unfortunately, once the horse has bolted your choices are limited. Artificial tears are about as helpful as your ‘crying’ tears, so what can you do? How about using an eye drop developed specifically to promote excellent eye health?

L-Carnosine is an amino acid which is found naturally in foods and in human cells. It could be described as an anti-aging super-antioxidant that helps to fight age-related changes in the skin, brain, heart, eyes, muscles and other tissues. L-Carnosine also protects against glycosylation (the cross linking of proteins). Unfortunately, carnosine levels decline with age and this decline is linked to the onset of certain aging disorders like cataract formation.

The important ingredient in the Can-C.biz eyes drops is N-alpha-acetylcarnosine (NAC) as this works as a carrier for L-carnosine to reach the fluid surrounding the lens of the eye called the aqueous humor. In the aqueous humor the drops activate into becoming an anti-oxidant delivering the L-carnosine where it is needed. It is only NAC that has been clinically proven to be suitable for use in eyes. NAC transfers the carnosine to the correct area. Simply using a topical L-carnosine should not be used in the eye. It has been clinically shown that topical administration of pure L-carnosine to the eye does not lead to an accumulation of this compound in the aqueous humor. In fact the L-carnosine is excreted and destroyed by a dipeptide enzyme called carnosinase. Also, a topical eye application of L-carnosine would release histamine which is a toxic compound and this could result in eye-problems.

NAC penetrates the cornea gradually, thus enabling a longer active therapeutic concentration of carnosine directly into the aqueous humor and therefore the lens. Importantly, NAC is highly resistant to hydrolysis by carnosinases.

NAC is the only known antioxidant able to protect structural proteins of the lens from the free-radical induced oxidation process. Can-C eye drops help the eye achieve the best and most protective environment for optimal eye health.

Having been researched and approved by Innovative Vision Products, Can-C eye drops containing NAC, are the only drops that are clinically proven to be effective in slowing and reversing aging eye-disorders, including senile cataract. If Can-C works on aggressive disorders like cataract it is fair to say that its health-promoting anti-oxidant actions are excellent for disorders such as Dry Eye and Macular Degeneration. The only way to be sure that you are buying and using the correct clinically proven formulation is to check that the box carries the statement ‘approved by Innovative Vision Products’.