I read the info on Magnesium Stearate not long ago, and FINALLY felt like I got the real info on what it's about!! WOW. I do have a question for Dr. Ben, though:

Is vegetable magnesium stearate the same animal as the synthetic form, please? It seems there may be a difference, but I'm not sure. I would love to know, if possible...
 
Hello –

Great to hear you are receiving great assistance and products from www.HealthEGoods.com – always great to hear ;)

Regarding vegetable stearates, there are various forms of magnesium stearates, which are:

• Magnesium stearate
• Vegetable stearate
• Stearic acid
• Potentially others

The stearates and stearic acid encircle the powdered nutrients allowing them to slide.

To me, the issue is that magnesium stearate, in any of its forms, is used simply to lubricate the manufacturer’s machines.   A fat is a fat is a fat. Magnesium stearate = vegetable stearate = stearic acid.

Magnesium stearate, again, in any form, is a fat and may potentially impede absorption of the nutrien...

Q: My 17 year old has been very forgetful and unattentive all his life, but I have refused to put him on ADD meds. Are there any vitamins or supplements that can help him with his focus?

A: We do have some products that are designed to nutritionally support ADD.  BioFocus food powders from Biogenesis provide balanced nutrition for healthy meal replacement shakes and nutrients like ginkgo biloba, B vitamins, and magnesium that support adrenal and cognitive function.  Biogenesis also makes the BioFocus Bar, which is not as complete as the BioFocus shake, but it requires no preparation or refrigeration and can be tucked into a backpack for a healthy at-school snack.  BioFocus powder comes in two flavors, Rice Berry, which is dairy free if food sensitivities are an issue, and Whey Chocolate.

Another nutrient that is believed to be a factor in ADD/ADHD are omega-3 essential fatty acids.  You might find this study interesting; their results definitely suggest that ADD/ADHD persons may benefit ...

If you are living with lactose intolerance, using a lactase enzyme supplement allows you the freedom to enjoy dairy products again.  The use of micro-organism derived lactase enzyme with meals containing lactose has been confirmed to be safe and free from side effects.  Lactase enzyme is available in liquid, powder, and tablet forms.  When taken with meals, a potent lactase enzyme supplement will break down lactose into its two constituent simple sugars, galactose and glucose.  

Liquid and powdered lactase have the advantage of versatility; it can be taken with meals or added directly to liquids that contain lactose.  The liquid form, however, is the easiest to mix in evenly with milk.  The amount of lactase needed to sufficiently reduce the lactose in milk varies based on the lactase supplement used. 

In order to digest 70% of the lactose in one pint of milk, 1960 lactase activity units are needed, a per gram potency of 6160 LAU.  If you choose to use a lactase enzyme supplement, be s...

Q. I enjoyed meeting Dr Ben at the Dr Oz Event at Bastyr University.  I am looking for supplements to boost energy for a systemic lupus female with kidney and anemia of chronic disease.  So no zinc or magnesium.

Good to meet you as well! It is always good to go back to Bastyr and experience how it is growing and the people behind the scenes making it all happen.

Before I can suggest anything for supporting energy in an individual with SLE, I need to know more.

There are numerous things which can support energy; however, her fatigue can be caused from numerous things:
- poor dietary intake and lack of effective protein and complex carbohydrates. This is tricky with kidney disease but proteins need to be ingested in some form. And in early kidney disease, protein intake is fine.

- concurrent diseases such as Hashimoto's Thyroiditis which is a common 'rider' with other autoimmune diseases especially in women.

- environmental exposures can make one fatigued such as molds, formaldehyde, foam matt...

Dr. Ben,

I took your advice and ordered the book by Dr. Murray on diabetes. Very good! He recommended taking PGX before meals to lower the amount of glucose absorbed. There was nothing on the label about PGX interfering with the absorption of vitamins, supplements, and prescription drugs, but that issue concerns me. Do you know anything about PGX and how I can take that as well as my vitamin supplements and metformin?

Diane M

Answer:

Diane -

I have located the answers for you.

From the PGX website:

Can I take PGX with medications? "It is recommended that any oral medication be taken 1 hour before PGX and/or 2 to 3 hours after consuming PGX softgels or granules."

Can I take PGX with supplements?

"There is no problem taking PGX along with all your supplements including essential fatty acids (EFAs) and multivitamins/multiminerals. PGX slows down the rate of absorption of foods, vitamins or supplements, but ...