I had to stop reading about paragraph 14, or so, to correct something you wrote.
Nestle does NOT make Ensure. Abbott Laboratories makes Ensure. Nestle does NOT own Abbott Labs, Vanguard Group does, now there's a rabbit hole for you to go down.
ANYway, Nestle makes Boost. NOT saying Boost is any better than Ensure, other than taste. Neither, IMHO, should be drunk for your health. They are both conglomerations of chemicals and oils. However, if an aged person will not eat, the chemical version of vitamins MAY help them feel a little better in their last days.
Chocolate Boost High Protein, is so creamy and chocolately, I can't wait to have it again when I'm dying. 😋 (I worked at Nestle for years and did comparison taste testing on product before release.)
There is an old saying that might apply here: it's best to put your brain in gear before you put your mouth (pen) in action. It's also better to do your research thoroughly before you criticize someone who has.
Ah, thank you! I always get Boost and Ensure manufacturers mixed up. But I did not know about Vanguard, although not surprised. Oh interesting on the taste comparisons.
I recall going into into Kroker oncr when the guy ahead of me in a wheelchair was trying to live as healthfully as he knew how. He had his marked down meats, about a dozen Ensures, pints of commercial cocomut milk, and Tropicana orange juice. If only he knew. I tried make a suggestion. How about some of these, showing him my 1-lb clamshells of organic baby greens. "Nah, I don't like those." Few people listen to me.
And I'm talking Boost, not Ensure. There's another company that makes an upscale version of called Kate Farms. They use coconut milk and other food fractions. What I really prefer to get all vitamins and minerals are the colloidal minerals sold by Elemental Resear, Inc. Their Daily Basics, Morning & Evening, plus Magnesium and occasional Boron, then a red sea vegetable for the trace minerals. Another alternative I use is Youngevity's Beyond Tangy Tangerine, but it lumps everything together, including the minerals that conflict with each other, leaving the body to sort things out. Finally, brown flaxseeds for their omega-3s, enough to keep my eyes lubricated, and pepitas for their zinc and antimicrobial qualities. I'd like to have an organic avocado daily, but I can't always afford them. Tata Raw brand sprouted walnuts, and Wild and Organic brand Ginkgo biloba liquid extract daily. For B-12, I like Livewise Naturals brand liquid because it only has 3 ingredients: methly & adenosyl cobalamin, and grapeseed oil.
It’s just so nice for you to say to find a holistic nutritionist. But some people live in areas where none exist. And many older folk are on fixed income and can barely afford to buy groceries, let alone a nutritionist and the high priced supplements they recommend.
I agree. Many of us work remotely so we can see people from all over. Also some of us will do free educational presentations such as at a senior setting, will take on probono clients or sliding scale fees. They should ask. But it is a dilemma with rising food costs. A good nutritionist will work with “where that person is at.”
Wow! I'd just like to add - when diagnosed with hoshimotos, I was given many 'good' quality supplements to strengthen my system and after 6 months of careful eating, changing my diet, my bones were regrowing, along with other positive signs that all the nutrients I'd been taking helped me become stronger.
It is interesting, but expected, that someone who sells a product is criticizing someone who can be objective because they don't sell the product. You have provided not a single bit of evidence to support your statements. In contrast, Agent131711 even provides the chemical profiles and every bit of evidence we need to research for ourselves.
So we can surmise that because you push supplements that you cannot be 100% objective. Because you provide not a single bit of evidence to support your statements, we can surmise .... well, I'll leave that up to readers who read Agent's great content to compare it to your self-serving drivel.
You need to show proof that any vitamin has ever been isolated from nature...any. You can't, therefore every supplementary Vitamin is synthetic. No matter how they are mixed together, the combination is synthetic and made by pharmaceuticals that profit from making us sick. And Agent proved they were made from industrial waste.
A true healer helps people find the foods they need to take in more of, or eliminate some nutrients, in order to balance their 'deficiencies' naturally and safely.
Nutrients works synergistically, thus supplementing one vitamin, even if you could isolate it from nature, which you can't, will throw all the others out of balance.
Summary: IF the supplement is not a pure, whole food, don't go near it. If a nutritionist/healer/doctor claims a supplement that is not a pure, whole food is healthy, run.
I can say all this because I have been 100% healthy for 7 decades, and even 30-year olds on their supplements and gym routines cannot keep up with me.
You owe Agent131711 an apology and the 2nd part of your article should do that.
Grace, I want to address a few more points from your comment that seem to be in error.
(Please note that I have provided links and sources that did not link in this comment. This same comment is in a substack as well, and has the links/sources).
It sounds like you are getting confused about synthetic and processed. All supplements, even food-based ones like Standard Process, would be considered processed products. If you make homemade orange juice, you process the whole food and turn it into juice, so even freshly squeezed juice is processed. All supplements (food-based or not) require processing. The word "processed" does not always equate with "unhealthy."
A synthetic supplement does not come from food. For instance, many vitamin D supplements are sourced from lanolin (sheep wool) or a culture base of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae or lichen. Lichen is harvested in the wild and is often over-harvested in an unsustainable way.
Therefore, a person can choose a vitamin D3 product from various sources. But ALL supplements are processed. Food-based brands such as Garden of Life, NOW, and Nordic Naturals are considered “natural,” many other brands not extracted from whole foods are considered synthetic. There are also some disadvantages to whole food supplements that may apply to some people. I suggest you read this post.
Grace, you stated that I did not provide any evidence proving synthetic supplements are safe and that the Agent substacker somehow proved that they are all made by pharmaceutical companies and are dangerous.
Please show me evidence which indicates ALL supplements are produced by Big Pharma. Many are, but not all of them. If you have read any of my other posts, I mention companies that do not have big pharma ties, such as Standard Process, Euromedica, Xymogen, and the NOW brand, to name a few.
You also stated that the Agent post proved synthetic supplements are dangerous. I have not gone back to re-read the post, as I am already taking way too much time to offer clarification to you. Still, if I recall correctly, he did not cite anything from the published literature that indicated synthetically made supplements are unsafe. From memory, I believe he showed pictures of big piles of ingredients and people in protective gear, which does not prove a supplement is dangerous.
We would need extensive population studies examining the intake of synthetic supplements for a specific duration to determine this. Even then, it would be not easy due to many other variables that must be addressed. If I missed something in his post, please redirect me to the studies he cites. From what I recall, he used scare tactics.
Which leads me to my next point.
To say that we do not need any supplements (and use scare tactics in the process) is a lot like (in my view) saying that we all need to wear a mask or take a C19 injection. Those are all absolutes and guidelines for the masses, not for the individual.
Sounds a lot like socialism to me.
Some people can get all their nutrients from food, but many cannot. The needs of a person on active duty in our special forces has very different nutrient needs than the 85-year-old person who walks a mile per day. I cannot stress enough the importance of individualized nutrition!
Considering the fact that our food contains fewer minerals than it once did due to numerous reasons and the stressful lives many lead, to say that no one should take a synthetic supplement is an ignorant statement.
Ultimately, you need to do what is best for your health during this time in your life.
Your comment on my post has incorrect assumptions. You state that I “push” supplements and am biased because of this. Since you do not know me or how I practice professionally, I want to enlighten you. I do use a supplement apothecary, and for my clients, I take quite a bit of time to find the right supplements for that individual free of charge. Sometimes, they need a product, and sometimes they do not, but I do not “push” supplements, which indicates someone is pushing something for profit, not for the best interest of the patient/client. I make a meager profit from supplements.
Furthermore, all my clients receive a discount, reducing any profit I may receive. Additionally, the research and time needed to find suitable products for each individual can take me an hour or more, for which they do not pay any fee. Additionally, I do not have any product affiliations.
In my post, my point was that some people need to take a vitamin D supplement. Kudos to you if you do not need one and can obtain all the D you require via the sun, but most people cannot do so for many health reasons. Additionally, are you aware of all the medications that deplete vitamin D?
Rather than listing research article after article that supports vitamin D in supplement form for numerous health issues such as cancer and psoriasis to bone health and immune support, I suggest you look at the resource link at https://www.grassrootshealth.net. Another professional resource is Dr. Vazquez, who has extensively researched vitamin D.
Big Pharma was concerned back in 2009 regarding the use of vitamin D supplements and how it could hurt their income and profit. Imagine all the people who would take vitamin D and now reduce their risk of health issues such as AI, CA, and CVD. (https://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v20n02.shtml)
Why is the RDA for D so low? Is it so we can be dependent upon modern medicine? Why do we fear the sun and put on toxic sunscreen that can prevent D absorption? Why does modern medicine encourage very low TC levels when sufficient cholesterol is required to make vitamin D from the sun?
Thus, from my perspective, I have to ask why a non-health professional suggests to its readers that they should avoid vitamin D in supplement form at all costs. We should never speak in absolutes. Some people are going to need it; some are not.
Vasquez et al. (2004) state that D3 (cholecalciferol) is the D form produced in the skin and from our diet. Irradiated fungi produce D2 (ergocalciferol) as a precursor, which is less biologically active and more toxic than cholecalciferol; thus, cholecalciferol is the preferred form. (link to his paid courses where this information is retrieved from vhttps://inflammationmastery-com-ichnfm-org.dpdcart.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawHmb2hleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHY3Bj8X9EhJN18CQCf7Y6kWAEUEwyMNZK0AvTKm85KnTENybLgNjsEU57g_aem_yvu9yWPWhwo1nDsZLQ7h9A).
To be clear, my argument was that some people would need to supplement with vitamin D. If they need it and cannot get it via sunlight, food, or special lights, they should look for a D3 supplement that does not contain a list of added ingredients. These products do exist.
Realize your comments about your health only apply to you and what has worked for you.
As a professional, I specialize in individualized health, meaning our needs differ.
Also, I owe the Agent substacker absolutely nothing. Since I cannot comment on his posts unless I pay him, I sent him a friendly email when he posted on vitamin D, to which I did not receive a reply. Also, my posts are free, take a great deal of time and effort to put together, and everyone can comment.
You can find Agent131711 on X. I agree with him about cholecalciferol. I see no flaw in his research. In fact, I'd been using livewisenaturals.com liquid D for years. The label says, "Use drops, not a dropperful." [8 dops is the limit.] I believr it damaged my kidneys [BPH], but I haven't read your Part 2. This is his email address: Agent131711@Proton.me. Say thank you.
Ok. So I’m asking…what’s your fee? What will be an estimate of any supplements you recommend? Do you get kickbacks from those companies? Just asking.
I would hire you if cost were similar to cost for my hair. $20 haircut 5-6 times a year. Husband does car and home maintenance. We don’t eat out. I don’t get my ‘nails done’. Senior centers around here only do mainstream health screenings or seminars. We are on a fixed income and what used to be a 59 cent stalk of celery now costs $4.
A medical doctor can get paid hundreds of dollars for a 15 minute visit. I am a Phd so you cannot compare the cost to a few haircuts. Supplement cost depends on the persons needs and their budget which I'm mindful of. I don't receive kickbacks, rather the small amount I make on supplement sales covers the time and research into supplements for my clients. At times, based on their medication use, I may spend over an hour researching any possible drug-supplement interactions, so the dollar or two I may receive on a sale does little to cover my time and expertise. I agree, food prices are insanely high making it difficult to stay healthy. My skeptical side believe this is done by design.
You can find Agent131711 on X. I agree with him about cholecalciferol. I see no flaw in his research. In fact, I'd been using livewisenaturals.com liquid D for years. The label says, "Use drops, not a dropperful." [8 dops is the limit.] I believr it damaged my kidneys [BPH], but I haven't read your Part 2. This is his email address: Agent131711@Proton.me. Say thank you.
I had to stop reading about paragraph 14, or so, to correct something you wrote.
Nestle does NOT make Ensure. Abbott Laboratories makes Ensure. Nestle does NOT own Abbott Labs, Vanguard Group does, now there's a rabbit hole for you to go down.
ANYway, Nestle makes Boost. NOT saying Boost is any better than Ensure, other than taste. Neither, IMHO, should be drunk for your health. They are both conglomerations of chemicals and oils. However, if an aged person will not eat, the chemical version of vitamins MAY help them feel a little better in their last days.
Chocolate Boost High Protein, is so creamy and chocolately, I can't wait to have it again when I'm dying. 😋 (I worked at Nestle for years and did comparison taste testing on product before release.)
And I corrected my error in this substack-again, thank you for pointing that out. An extra set of eyes always is helpful!
There is an old saying that might apply here: it's best to put your brain in gear before you put your mouth (pen) in action. It's also better to do your research thoroughly before you criticize someone who has.
Thanks for the update!
Ah, thank you! I always get Boost and Ensure manufacturers mixed up. But I did not know about Vanguard, although not surprised. Oh interesting on the taste comparisons.
I sampled all 3 flavors, settled on vannila, eventually threw them all away. I'm still alive, so they didn't kill me.
Very glad you didn't die!
I recall going into into Kroker oncr when the guy ahead of me in a wheelchair was trying to live as healthfully as he knew how. He had his marked down meats, about a dozen Ensures, pints of commercial cocomut milk, and Tropicana orange juice. If only he knew. I tried make a suggestion. How about some of these, showing him my 1-lb clamshells of organic baby greens. "Nah, I don't like those." Few people listen to me.
And I'm talking Boost, not Ensure. There's another company that makes an upscale version of called Kate Farms. They use coconut milk and other food fractions. What I really prefer to get all vitamins and minerals are the colloidal minerals sold by Elemental Resear, Inc. Their Daily Basics, Morning & Evening, plus Magnesium and occasional Boron, then a red sea vegetable for the trace minerals. Another alternative I use is Youngevity's Beyond Tangy Tangerine, but it lumps everything together, including the minerals that conflict with each other, leaving the body to sort things out. Finally, brown flaxseeds for their omega-3s, enough to keep my eyes lubricated, and pepitas for their zinc and antimicrobial qualities. I'd like to have an organic avocado daily, but I can't always afford them. Tata Raw brand sprouted walnuts, and Wild and Organic brand Ginkgo biloba liquid extract daily. For B-12, I like Livewise Naturals brand liquid because it only has 3 ingredients: methly & adenosyl cobalamin, and grapeseed oil.
It’s just so nice for you to say to find a holistic nutritionist. But some people live in areas where none exist. And many older folk are on fixed income and can barely afford to buy groceries, let alone a nutritionist and the high priced supplements they recommend.
I agree. Many of us work remotely so we can see people from all over. Also some of us will do free educational presentations such as at a senior setting, will take on probono clients or sliding scale fees. They should ask. But it is a dilemma with rising food costs. A good nutritionist will work with “where that person is at.”
Wow! I'd just like to add - when diagnosed with hoshimotos, I was given many 'good' quality supplements to strengthen my system and after 6 months of careful eating, changing my diet, my bones were regrowing, along with other positive signs that all the nutrients I'd been taking helped me become stronger.
Wonderful!
It is interesting, but expected, that someone who sells a product is criticizing someone who can be objective because they don't sell the product. You have provided not a single bit of evidence to support your statements. In contrast, Agent131711 even provides the chemical profiles and every bit of evidence we need to research for ourselves.
So we can surmise that because you push supplements that you cannot be 100% objective. Because you provide not a single bit of evidence to support your statements, we can surmise .... well, I'll leave that up to readers who read Agent's great content to compare it to your self-serving drivel.
You need to show proof that any vitamin has ever been isolated from nature...any. You can't, therefore every supplementary Vitamin is synthetic. No matter how they are mixed together, the combination is synthetic and made by pharmaceuticals that profit from making us sick. And Agent proved they were made from industrial waste.
A true healer helps people find the foods they need to take in more of, or eliminate some nutrients, in order to balance their 'deficiencies' naturally and safely.
Nutrients works synergistically, thus supplementing one vitamin, even if you could isolate it from nature, which you can't, will throw all the others out of balance.
Summary: IF the supplement is not a pure, whole food, don't go near it. If a nutritionist/healer/doctor claims a supplement that is not a pure, whole food is healthy, run.
I can say all this because I have been 100% healthy for 7 decades, and even 30-year olds on their supplements and gym routines cannot keep up with me.
You owe Agent131711 an apology and the 2nd part of your article should do that.
Grace, I want to address a few more points from your comment that seem to be in error.
(Please note that I have provided links and sources that did not link in this comment. This same comment is in a substack as well, and has the links/sources).
It sounds like you are getting confused about synthetic and processed. All supplements, even food-based ones like Standard Process, would be considered processed products. If you make homemade orange juice, you process the whole food and turn it into juice, so even freshly squeezed juice is processed. All supplements (food-based or not) require processing. The word "processed" does not always equate with "unhealthy."
A synthetic supplement does not come from food. For instance, many vitamin D supplements are sourced from lanolin (sheep wool) or a culture base of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae or lichen. Lichen is harvested in the wild and is often over-harvested in an unsustainable way.
Therefore, a person can choose a vitamin D3 product from various sources. But ALL supplements are processed. Food-based brands such as Garden of Life, NOW, and Nordic Naturals are considered “natural,” many other brands not extracted from whole foods are considered synthetic. There are also some disadvantages to whole food supplements that may apply to some people. I suggest you read this post.
Grace, you stated that I did not provide any evidence proving synthetic supplements are safe and that the Agent substacker somehow proved that they are all made by pharmaceutical companies and are dangerous.
Please show me evidence which indicates ALL supplements are produced by Big Pharma. Many are, but not all of them. If you have read any of my other posts, I mention companies that do not have big pharma ties, such as Standard Process, Euromedica, Xymogen, and the NOW brand, to name a few.
You also stated that the Agent post proved synthetic supplements are dangerous. I have not gone back to re-read the post, as I am already taking way too much time to offer clarification to you. Still, if I recall correctly, he did not cite anything from the published literature that indicated synthetically made supplements are unsafe. From memory, I believe he showed pictures of big piles of ingredients and people in protective gear, which does not prove a supplement is dangerous.
We would need extensive population studies examining the intake of synthetic supplements for a specific duration to determine this. Even then, it would be not easy due to many other variables that must be addressed. If I missed something in his post, please redirect me to the studies he cites. From what I recall, he used scare tactics.
Which leads me to my next point.
To say that we do not need any supplements (and use scare tactics in the process) is a lot like (in my view) saying that we all need to wear a mask or take a C19 injection. Those are all absolutes and guidelines for the masses, not for the individual.
Sounds a lot like socialism to me.
Some people can get all their nutrients from food, but many cannot. The needs of a person on active duty in our special forces has very different nutrient needs than the 85-year-old person who walks a mile per day. I cannot stress enough the importance of individualized nutrition!
Considering the fact that our food contains fewer minerals than it once did due to numerous reasons and the stressful lives many lead, to say that no one should take a synthetic supplement is an ignorant statement.
Ultimately, you need to do what is best for your health during this time in your life.
https://trufoods.substack.com/p/vitamin-d-what-this-commenter-had?r=1g7jjo
Hello Grace
Your comment on my post has incorrect assumptions. You state that I “push” supplements and am biased because of this. Since you do not know me or how I practice professionally, I want to enlighten you. I do use a supplement apothecary, and for my clients, I take quite a bit of time to find the right supplements for that individual free of charge. Sometimes, they need a product, and sometimes they do not, but I do not “push” supplements, which indicates someone is pushing something for profit, not for the best interest of the patient/client. I make a meager profit from supplements.
Furthermore, all my clients receive a discount, reducing any profit I may receive. Additionally, the research and time needed to find suitable products for each individual can take me an hour or more, for which they do not pay any fee. Additionally, I do not have any product affiliations.
In my post, my point was that some people need to take a vitamin D supplement. Kudos to you if you do not need one and can obtain all the D you require via the sun, but most people cannot do so for many health reasons. Additionally, are you aware of all the medications that deplete vitamin D?
Rather than listing research article after article that supports vitamin D in supplement form for numerous health issues such as cancer and psoriasis to bone health and immune support, I suggest you look at the resource link at https://www.grassrootshealth.net. Another professional resource is Dr. Vazquez, who has extensively researched vitamin D.
Big Pharma was concerned back in 2009 regarding the use of vitamin D supplements and how it could hurt their income and profit. Imagine all the people who would take vitamin D and now reduce their risk of health issues such as AI, CA, and CVD. (https://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v20n02.shtml)
Why is the RDA for D so low? Is it so we can be dependent upon modern medicine? Why do we fear the sun and put on toxic sunscreen that can prevent D absorption? Why does modern medicine encourage very low TC levels when sufficient cholesterol is required to make vitamin D from the sun?
Thus, from my perspective, I have to ask why a non-health professional suggests to its readers that they should avoid vitamin D in supplement form at all costs. We should never speak in absolutes. Some people are going to need it; some are not.
Vasquez et al. (2004) state that D3 (cholecalciferol) is the D form produced in the skin and from our diet. Irradiated fungi produce D2 (ergocalciferol) as a precursor, which is less biologically active and more toxic than cholecalciferol; thus, cholecalciferol is the preferred form. (link to his paid courses where this information is retrieved from vhttps://inflammationmastery-com-ichnfm-org.dpdcart.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawHmb2hleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHY3Bj8X9EhJN18CQCf7Y6kWAEUEwyMNZK0AvTKm85KnTENybLgNjsEU57g_aem_yvu9yWPWhwo1nDsZLQ7h9A).
To be clear, my argument was that some people would need to supplement with vitamin D. If they need it and cannot get it via sunlight, food, or special lights, they should look for a D3 supplement that does not contain a list of added ingredients. These products do exist.
Realize your comments about your health only apply to you and what has worked for you.
As a professional, I specialize in individualized health, meaning our needs differ.
Also, I owe the Agent substacker absolutely nothing. Since I cannot comment on his posts unless I pay him, I sent him a friendly email when he posted on vitamin D, to which I did not receive a reply. Also, my posts are free, take a great deal of time and effort to put together, and everyone can comment.
You can find Agent131711 on X. I agree with him about cholecalciferol. I see no flaw in his research. In fact, I'd been using livewisenaturals.com liquid D for years. The label says, "Use drops, not a dropperful." [8 dops is the limit.] I believr it damaged my kidneys [BPH], but I haven't read your Part 2. This is his email address: Agent131711@Proton.me. Say thank you.
Ok. So I’m asking…what’s your fee? What will be an estimate of any supplements you recommend? Do you get kickbacks from those companies? Just asking.
I would hire you if cost were similar to cost for my hair. $20 haircut 5-6 times a year. Husband does car and home maintenance. We don’t eat out. I don’t get my ‘nails done’. Senior centers around here only do mainstream health screenings or seminars. We are on a fixed income and what used to be a 59 cent stalk of celery now costs $4.
A medical doctor can get paid hundreds of dollars for a 15 minute visit. I am a Phd so you cannot compare the cost to a few haircuts. Supplement cost depends on the persons needs and their budget which I'm mindful of. I don't receive kickbacks, rather the small amount I make on supplement sales covers the time and research into supplements for my clients. At times, based on their medication use, I may spend over an hour researching any possible drug-supplement interactions, so the dollar or two I may receive on a sale does little to cover my time and expertise. I agree, food prices are insanely high making it difficult to stay healthy. My skeptical side believe this is done by design.
You can find Agent131711 on X. I agree with him about cholecalciferol. I see no flaw in his research. In fact, I'd been using livewisenaturals.com liquid D for years. The label says, "Use drops, not a dropperful." [8 dops is the limit.] I believr it damaged my kidneys [BPH], but I haven't read your Part 2. This is his email address: Agent131711@Proton.me. Say thank you.