Supplementing Your Pet Q: Dear Trisca,
My dog is getting a bit older and I think he might benefit from supplements. Where do I start?
Noel A., Bellflower, CA

A: Dear Noel,
The first place to start is with your veterinarian. Before giving your dog any type of supplement you should first give him a good check up from a qualified veterinary professional.

My experience with vets has been that they have a much better understanding of supplementation than regular doctors. They also tend to be more open minded and often times they sell quality pet supplements right in their office. Your vet is going to be able to give you advice on the types of supplements appropriate for your pet along with dosage information (it’s typically based on your pet’s weight).

One suggestion to start, and this supplement is actually very safe, is to give your dog Omega Advantage™ fish oil supplement. A dog weighing about 50 pounds could take one capsule per day with their meal. A larger dog could take two capsules in divided doses. The omega 3 fatty acids contained in Omega Advantage are beneficial for your dog’s heart, brain, and coat.

Having said that, I still urge you to take your dog to the vet to get a list of appropriate supplements and their correct dosage, and then you can see which Health Freedom Nutrition supplements are right for your dog.

To your and your dog's health,
Trisca Arvidson, Technical Research & Product Development
Natural vs. Synthetic Q: Dear Trisca,
Does the human body absorb synthetic nutrients as thoroughly as natural nutrients?
Tammy R., New Orleans, LA

A: Dear Tammy,
The distinction between “synthetic” and “natural” vitamins can be confusing. Many of today’s vitamin and mineral supplements are synthesized through chemical processes, rather than derived directly from plants or other materials. A better question might be whether or not the resulting molecular structure is the same as the corresponding structure found in nature. When the synthetic molecule is identical to the form derived from natural sources, both forms will be indistinguishable from each other in all aspects—including their function and effects in the human body.

As for absorption, a good example is folic acid. The form of folic acid found in foods is actually called folates. Folates are made of folic acid combined with an amino acid. Folates are the naturally occurring form of folic acid. However, because folates must be digested in our bodies and turned into folic acid before being utilized, synthetic folic acid is actually much better absorbed than natural folates. Because of this, folic acid is the preferred and better utilized form of supplemental folate. The list of cutting-edge ingredients, and their forms and amounts used in Health Freedom Nutrition supplements are carefully considered to ensure optimum absorption and utilization.

To your health,
Trisca Arvidson, Technical Research & Product Development
Pectin-Based Oral Chelation Q: Dear Trisca,
What’s the deal with pectin-based oral chelation formulas and how do they compare to EDTA formulas like CardioClear®?
Julie A., Fairfield, CA.

A: Dear Julie,
To begin with, pectin-based formulas are not really specific chelators, so I am always surprised when I hear about companies marketing pectin-based oral chelation products. Instead, pectin is a fiber that, when taken in very large doses, traps and sweeps away minerals and heavy metals from the gastrointestinal tract.

Pectin is a great fiber, but as with any fiber, large amounts are needed to gain benefits. Recently I read a newsletter recommending a pectin formulation, and quoting the benefits of a clinical trial on the ingredient in the product. What they conveniently failed to tell the readers is that they would need to take 50 capsules a day to match what was given in the study.

Real oral chelation products like CardioClear contain calcium disodium EDTA, which has been clinically proven to remove toxic heavy metals from the blood stream AND the gastrointestinal tract. It does this through a true chelation process where the EDTA literally “latches” on to toxins like lead and mercury and carries them out of the body. Pectin products are not actually absorbed into the blood stream and thus can not remove toxins from the cardiovascular system.

While there certainly are health benefits to consuming pectin fiber products, I would never recommend replacing a true oral chelation product like CardioClear with a so called pectin-based chelation product.

To your health,
Trisca Arvidson, Technical Research & Product Development
CoQ10 and Statin Drugs Q: Dear Trisca,
I currently take a statin drug to keep my cholesterol under control. My doctor recently told me that I should take Coenzyme Q10 in conjunction with my statin drug. What’s the reasoning behind this?
Jean R., Harbor City, CA.

A: Dear Jean,
First let me congratulate you on your choice of doctor. There are so few traditional medical practitioners who understand that pharmaceuticals alone are not the key to good health. Dietary supplements often compliment pharmaceutical medications, and in some cases, the pharmaceutical drugs can cause a deficiency in a nutrient or substance important to human health.

That’s the case with statin drugs and Coenzyme Q10. Studies have shown that statin drugs disrupt the body’s ability to produce Coenzyme Q10, which is a major source of cellular energy. Your doctor knows that the statin drugs will lower your cholesterol, which is a good thing. But he also knows that if you don’t take additional Coenzyme Q10 in conjunction with your statin drug, your risk of heart disease will increase, and that’s not a good thing. My suggestion to you is to follow your doctor’s advice. He seems very knowledgeable in regards to both pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements.

To your health,
Trisca Arvidson, Technical Research & Product Development
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