Positive Health Online

In the Research Updates of this issue (see page 38 under Antioxidants), K Landmark from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway has published a review of the literature regarding the relationship of vitamins C and E and the development of Alzheimer's disease. The results of this literature review (several observational studies and two controlled clinical trials) indicated that vitamins C and E from both food and supplement sources, may have beneficial effects upon the development of Alzheimer's disease. In fact, one clinical controlled trial in which 2000 mg/day Vitamin E was given to patients with manifest Alzheimer's as the only vitamin, confirmed this. The author of this review states that the correct dosages aren't yet known, but that a diet rich in antioxidants can probably reduce the risk of dementia.

Read about another health effect from an antioxidant mineral, from David Marsh's feature Mineral Deficiency and Viral Mutation (see page 28) "Why do so many devastating influenzas such as Beijing flu and avian flu, originate from China? Could the answers lie with the mineral levels in the soil?

"Viral mutation rates increase in selenium deficient conditions. Soils world-wide, and in China particularly, became impoverished in the 20th century since artificial fertilizer use and intensive agriculture. Plants cannot make minerals, being able only to obtain minerals from the soil. Artificial fertilizers contain only three or four minerals; fertile soils contain upwards of 60, as does the blood of mammalian species. Mineral-starved soil produces mineral deficient crops, animal and human populations with poor immune function."

Combine the above with the incredible critique of the EU Food Supplements Directive, (see letters page 50):

"…Regulators have become increasingly preoccupied with managing their own political and professional risks and personal reputation. This so-called secondary risk management creates a regulatory culture that, in the case of European food supplements policies, engenders a lopsided focus on presumed risks of excess toxicity, while simultaneously lecturing Europeans to "eat a varied and healthy diet".

"According to Hanekamp, the dietary habits of individual citizens have a far greater impact on health than the Regulators' efforts to manage presumed risks of micronutrient intoxication. Whether looked at from the viewpoint of the classic micronutrient deficiencies or from the perspective of newly emerging healthy lifespan or optimum health concepts, micronutrient deficiencies pose an infinitely greater risk than intoxication."

In other words, at the same time as the international research community continues to discover evidence about, and begins to demonstrate in a conclusive manner the importance to life and health of vitamins and minerals, particularly antioxidants, so the politicians and regulators of Europe and Codex continue to interfere with the public's right to have access to health and life-providing vitamins, minerals and food supplements.

Anyone whose mother, father or other relative or loved one is a sufferer of dementia or Alzheimer's disease can surely attest to the cruelty and intense suffering caused by the loss of memory and mental function by previously intelligent and able-minded individuals. If it were the case that providing supplementation, including antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin E, could prevent, halt or even reverse the processes of dementia or Alzheimer's, and if government and EU-wide regulatory bodies were to outlaw, ban or curtail the availability of supplements, then reasonable-minded people would rightly accuse these authorities of at best abbrogating their responsibility and remit to protect and defend their citizens, and at worst of criminal offences.

In fact, it is not merely vitamins and minerals that can be health restorers. Read Dr Peter Rohsmann MD's feature Naturopathic Treatment Approaches for Candida Albicans (see page 32) which describes his tortuous naturopathic quest to eliminate Candida…" any therapy that is solely aimed at eliminating Candida as the 'culprit' can never have long lasting effects."

Along the way, Dr Rohsmann developed a successful holistic anti-candida protocol:

"The combination of colonic irrigation, mild anti-fungal substances like grape fruit seed extract, Regulat and a low carbohydrate diet, according to my experience, will not only eliminate Candida in over 90% of cases but also de-acidify the body in record time (average three months). Using this treatment concept, most of my patients were symptom free and full of energy after two or three months and I can highly recommend this approach."

I, for one, have been slow to understand why nutritional, naturopathic and herbal approaches, even those substantiated by research, have been ignored or pilloried by the medical establishment. Perhaps it is too late to try to understand; it is time to act to protect our health with all the political and financial tools at our disposal.