How often have you visited your favorite cosmetic counter at a large department store and spent money hoping to disguise a sagging face?  Those sculpting powders and primers, while promising miraculous results, sadly aren't powerful enough to stop the droopy jowls that make your face look old and tired. Maybe you've tried those eye strips designed to prop up eyelids that are cascading toward your lashes and have decided they are too much trouble. There are so many choices with little or few actual results.

It's a hard lesson but money spent and spent on the huge array of cosmetic and skin care items probably have not produced the remarkable differences you are seeking.In fact, when you look in the mirror, the minor problems you were hoping to fix with skin care items five years ago have now escalated into major situations. That wattle keeps growing, the eyebrows are sinking and the jowls at the edge of your mouth make you look pudgy.

Are you tempted by plumping injections that inflate your cheeks hoping for contour and better shape? Did you know that paralyzing injections can create bunny lines on the sides of your nose when you smile? They're cute on a 5 year old but not so much when you're 40.

What other youth enhancing trappings have you considered? Facial plastic surgery?

The "stars" of film and TV, in their quest to maintain a youthful visage, have had their share of mishaps using surgery and injections. Surely, they have more disposable income than most "regular" people but even some of their well-paid doctors have somehow missed the mark leaving the recipients with irregular features and tweaked faces that scream, "Botched!"

Perhaps you have a friend, an acquaintance or a co-worker with whom you've discussed the subject of aging. It seems that when women, especially those over the age of 30, get together, one hot topic that is usually discussed is the latest and greatest anti-aging products they have either used or want to use. Not many want to look old in their ensuing years and genuinely want to stave off the ravages of Mother Nature's tromp across their faces.

So how does one turn back the clock without the dangerous, toxic injections and facial plastic surgeries that require more than money?  

With facial exercise of course!

Spending thousands of dollars each year for procedures that must be repeated time and time again means that you are playing a game that resembles Russian roulette. One of these days, it is likely that you won't like the results or there could be a misstep that causes you disfigurement. That is why it is important that you know that facial exercise is a viable and proven alternative to injections and surgery.

Without drugs or anything harmful or invasive, you can turn back the clock using simple exercise movements that can help you look 5, 10 even 15 years younger. Your cheeks will lift and contour, your eyebrows will lift, your forehead will smooth and those unsightly pouches, jowls and chins will recede. By using your thumbs and fingers - your age erasers, you can systematically lift, tone and tighten the sagging facial muscles that can make you look older than your years.

Exercise is natural and it cannot harm you or put your beauty at risk. Learning a facial exercise routine is easy because the movements are simple and they hardly require any time at all to complete. In fact, in just minutes a day, all 15 regions of your face and neck can be thoroughly exercised.

Some facial exercise programs try to convince you that their contortions, twists, puckers and funny faces will act like a natural facelift. Do not be fooled. Facial exercises that shorten, tighten and lift sagging facial muscles require isometric contraction with specialized anchoring techniques performed using exercise gloves.

"I was a facial injection 'junkie' years ago before I discovered a fantastic facial exercise program," says Jackie Silver, founder and president of AgingBackwards.com *"Thank goodness for this – it really IS magic! I have restored my face to the way it looked at age 25 using only exercises. I haven't had any injections in years and I look like myself, only younger."*  

Facial exercise works and it will work for you. Stop spending money needlessly on frivolous gimmicks and look better than you have in years!

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Wow! I am honored that Jackie Silver used some of my thoughts and quotes for this article. Surgery in any form should always be the last resort. It just makes sense to exercise your face before you ever consider surgery or anything invasive – yes, injections are invasive!!!
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Chin augmentation surgery has skyrocketed.

BY: JACKIE SILVER 

Chin augmentation, such as implants or "chinplants" as they're being called, are the new beauty obsession to reshape or change the size of the chin. In fact, this surgical procedure grew more than breast augmentation, Botox and liposuction combined in 2011, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

Chinplants are the fastest growing trend among all major demographics – a phenomenon that the ASPS says is possibly sparked by the increased usage of video chat technology, a growing middle age population and wish for success at work. Chin surgery saw a staggering 77 percent increase from 2010 to 2011 in the 40 – 54-year-old age group.

"The chin and jaw line are among the first areas to show signs of aging. People are considering chin augmentation as a way to restore their youthful look just like a facelift or eyelid surgery," said ASPS President Malcolm Z. Roth, MD. "We also know that as more people see themselves on video chat technology, they may notice that their jaw line is not as sharp as they as they want it to be. Chin implants can make a dramatic difference."

Cynthia Rowland, creator of Facial Magic facial exercise program, thinks the chinplant is a rather radical choice. The New York times Health Information Web site lists 14 different possible complications and side effects to the procedure. Rowland says, "A better, more economical approach to creating a prettier profile would be to use facial exercise 

She adds, "Learning a facial exercise program that employs isometric contraction will certainly lift, contour and shape not only your soft, spongy neck muscles, these exercises will taper and strengthen all muscles in the neck and face. When you use this type of natural enhancement rather than an invasive procedure, there is no room for mishap or disappointment."

Combining facial exercises with skin care could delay or even take the place of the need for surgery. Olay has two products for firming – the Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream and Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum, a peptide-packed duo used to restore volume and shape across millions of skin cells.

Aveeno offers its Positively Ageless Restructuring Treatment Cream to help fight the aging signs of sun damage while rehydrating, reinforcing surface structure and improving skin firmness and elasticity on the face and neck.

Original Post: http://style.lifegoesstrong.com/article/chin-augmentation-newest-beauty-obsession

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Water, natural, unprocessed foods and small meals can greatly enhance your efforts to be slim and healthy. Don't forget your exercise!
_________________________________________________________________________________

Tip No. 1: Drink plenty of water or other calorie-free beverages.  

Before you tear into that bag of potato chips, drink a glass of water first. People sometimes confuse thirst with hunger, so you can end up eating extra calories when an ice-cold glass of water is really all you needed. If plain water doesn't cut it, try drinking flavored sparkling water or brewing a cup of fruit-infused herbal tea.

Tip No. 2: Be choosy about nighttime snacks.  

Mindless eating occurs most frequently after dinner, when you finally sit down and relax. Snacking in front of the TV is one of the easiest ways to throw your diet off course. Either close down the kitchen after a certain hour, or allow yourself a low-calorie snack, like a 100-calorie pack of cookies or a half-cup scoop of low-fat ice cream.

Tip No. 3: Enjoy your favorite foods.  

Instead of cutting out your favorite foods altogether, be a slim shopper. Buy one fresh bakery cookie instead of a box, or a small portion of candy from the bulk bins instead of a whole bag. You can still enjoy your favorite foods — the key is moderation.

Tip No. 4: Eat several mini-meals during the day.  

If you eat fewer calories than you burn, you'll lose weight. But when you're hungry all the time, eating fewer calories can be a challenge. "Studies show people who eat 4-5 meals or snacks per day are better able to control their appetite and weight," says obesity researcher Rebecca Reeves, DrPH, RD. She recommends dividing your daily calories into smaller meals or snacks and enjoying most of them earlier in the day — dinner should be the last time you eat.

Tip No. 5: Eat protein at every meal.  

Protein is the ultimate fill-me-up food — it's more satisfying than carbs or fats and keeps you feeling full for longer. It also helps preserve muscle mass and encourages fat burning. So be sure to incorporate healthy proteins like seafood, lean meat, egg whites, yogurt, cheese, soy, nuts, or beans into your meals and snacks.

Tip No. 6: Spice it up.

Add spices or chiles to your food for a flavor boost that can help you feel satisfied. "Food that is loaded with flavor will stimulate your taste buds and be more satisfying, so you won't eat as much," says American Dietetic Association spokeswoman Malena Perdomo, RD. When you need something sweet, suck on a red-hot fireball candy. It's sweet, spicy, and low in calories.

Tip No. 7: Stock your kitchen with healthy, convenient foods.  

Having ready-to-eat snacks and meals-in-minutes on hand sets you up for success. You'll be less likely to hit the drive-through or order a pizza if you can throw together a healthy meal in five or 10 minutes. Here are some essentials to keep on hand: frozen vegetables, whole-grain pasta, reduced-fat cheese, canned tomatoes, canned beans, pre-cooked grilled chicken breast, whole grain tortillas or pitas, and bags of salad greens.

Tip No. 8: Order children's portions at restaurants.  

Ordering a child-size entree is a great way to cut calories and keep your portions reasonable. This has become such a popular trend that most servers won't bat an eye when you order off the kids' menu. Another trick is to use smaller plates. This helps the portions look like more, and if your mind is satisfied, your stomach likely will be, too.

Tip No. 9: Swap a cup of pasta for a cup of vegetables.  

Simply by eating less pasta or bread and more veggies, you could lose a dress or pants size in a year. "You can save from 100-200 calories if you reduce the portion of starch on your plate and increase the amount of vegetables," says Cynthia Sass, RD, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.

Tip No. 10: Always eat breakfast.  

It seems like an easy diet win: Skip breakfast and you'll lose weight. Yet some studies show the opposite can be true. Not eating breakfast can make you hungry later, leading to too much nibbling and binge eating at lunch and dinner. To lose weight — and keep it off — always make time for a healthy morning meal, like high-fiber cereal, low-fat milk, and fruit.

Tip No. 11: Include fiber in your diet.  

Fiber aids digestion, prevents constipation, and lowers cholesterol — and can help with weight loss. Most Americans get only half the fiber they need. To reap fiber's benefits, most women should get about 25 grams daily, while men need about 38 grams — or 14 grams per 1,000 calories. Good fiber sources include oatmeal, beans, whole grain foods, and a variety of fruits and vegetables.

Tip No. 12: Clean the cupboards of fattening foods.  

If you have chips in the pantry and ice cream in the freezer, you're making weight loss harder than it has to be. Reduce temptation by purging the cupboards of fattening foods. Want an occasional treat? Make sure you have to leave the house to get it — preferably by walking.

Tip No. 13: Lose weight slowly.  

If you're losing weight but not as fast as you'd like, don't get discouraged. Dropping pounds takes time, just like gaining them did. Experts suggest setting a realistic weight loss goal of about one to two pounds a week. If you set your expectations too high, you may give up when you don't lose weight fast enough. Remember, you start seeing health benefits when you've lost just 5%-10% of your body weight.

Tip No. 14: Weigh yourself once a week.  

People who weigh themselves regularly tend to have more weight loss success. But most experts suggest weighing yourself only once a week, so you're not derailed by daily fluctuations. When you weigh yourself, follow these tips: Weigh yourself at the same time of day, on the same day of the week, on the same scale, and in the same clothes.

Tip No. 15: Get enough sleep.  

When you're sleep deprived, your body overproduces the appetite-stimulating hormone ghrelin but under-produces the hormone leptin, which tells you when you're full. Getting enough sleep may make you feel rested and full and keep you from doing unnecessary snacking.

Tip No. 16: Understand portion sizes.  

We're so used to super-sizing when we eat out that it's easy to carry that mind-set home. To right-size your diet, use a kitchen scale and measuring cups to measure your meals for a week or two. Use smaller plates and glasses to downsize your portions. Split restaurant servings in half — making two meals out of one big one. Portion out snack servings instead of eating them directly from the container.

Tip No. 17: Eat more fruits and vegetables.  

The best "diet" is one where you get to eat more food, not less. If you eat more fruits and vegetables, you shouldn't feel as hungry because these nutrient-rich foods are also high in fiber and water, which can give you a feeling of fullness. Snacking can be a good thing as long as you choose smart snacks.

Tip No. 18: Limit alcohol to weekends.  

Alcohol contains empty calories: a five-ounce glass of wine has 125, a bottle of beer about 153. Because our bodies don't use those calories well, they usually get converted directly into fat. If you enjoy an occasional drink, consider a compromise. Enjoy your favorite alcoholic beverage on weekends only, with just one drink for women per day, two for men.

Tip No. 19: Chew sugarless gum.  

The next time you want to grab a fattening snack, reach for some sugar-free gum instead. Chewing some types of gum gives you fresh breath and can also help manage hunger, control snack cravings, and aid in weight loss. (Keep in mind, however, that excess sorbitol, a sugar alcohol sometimes used in low calorie gums, can have an laxative effect in some people.) Although gum might make you eat less, it doesn't mean you can stop eating right. A good diet and exercise are still important.

Tip No. 20: Keep a food diary.  

A simple pen and paper can dramatically boost your weight loss. Studies show the act of writing down what you eat and drink tends to make you more aware of what, when, and how much you're consuming — leading you to ultimately take in fewer calories. One study found that people who kept a food diary six days a week lost about twice as much as those who only kept a diary one day a week or less.

Tip No. 21: Celebrate success (but not with food).  

You lost five pounds this month and walked every other day? Time to celebrate! Rewarding weight loss success really can encourage more success, so revel in your achievements. Buy a CD, take in a movie, and set a prize for the next milestone. Just don't celebrate with a sundae or deep dish pizza.

Tip No. 22: Get help from family and friends.  

Getting support can help you reach your weight loss goals. So tell family and friends about your efforts to lead a healthy lifestyle. Maybe they'll join you in exercising, eating right, and losing weight. When you feel like giving up, they'll help you, keep you honest, and cheer you on — making the whole experience a lot easier.

Original Post: http://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-best-diet-tips-ever?ecd=wnl_wlw_042512

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Florence Colgate beat 8,000 beauties for title of Britain's most beautiful face.

Natural beauty encompasses many facets and Florence Colgate, who is only 18, has such perfect features along with her peaches and cream complexion. I hope she maintains her natural beauty all of her life without resorting to risky procedures that sometimes miss the mark.

Original Post: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/london-competition-seeks-perfect-natural-beauty-16209060

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Is your face a victim of too many injections? More and more we see shocking results develop from repeated use of injections that plump and paralyze.

In the case of Anita (her name has been changed) who works for a reputable plastic surgeon, who has had his share of face time on TV, her face appears grotesque. What happened? This doc Botoxed her forehead and one eyebrow sunk. Two weeks later it's still sunken. She looks like she has paralysis or a type of Bell 's palsy just over one eye. In addition, her lips have been over-injected and the lumps and bumps coupled with the sagging eyebrow are very hard to witness. Her "bunny lines" on the sides of her nose were certainly in evidence each time she talked and smiled.

This is not the first time Anita has had a procedure go wrong while working for this physician for twenty years as an aesthetician in his office. Two years ago a laser procedure left the orbital around her eyes red and disfigured. She still has to wear layers and layers of makeup and concealer to disguise the mishap which adds a type of clownish aspect to her appearance.

The blame is solely on the physician for her altered appearance. She believes her job is in jeopardy. She is likely correct because her face is wearing the results of her employer's handiwork and it isn't pretty. With her droopy eyebrow, her splayed lumpy, bumpy mouth and raccoon-type eye makeup, her great beauty has been robbed from her. Now she is a liability to his continued fortune.

She is not alone.

Recently a well-respected music titan was interviewed and her surgically mutilated, disfigured face was so shocking that it was difficult not to stare with an open mouth. Her once beautiful lips were enlarged across her face, her forehead did not move and she appeared to be so full of fillers that talking was a challenge for her. The left side of her face was basically without movement. The voice sounded the same but her appearance was severely altered. Her appearance reminded the viewers of the Joker in Batman.

What are doctors thinking? Is this the look of beauty they want us to adopt?

Surely not.  

Dissatisfaction with one's appearance takes on many facets from psychological to physical to emotional. The range of feelings when one looks in the mirror or glimpses their appearance unintentionally can send some running to the plastic surgeon's office thinking that the only way to stop sagging cheeks, brows and chins is with surgery, lasers and injections.

They would be mistaken.

Sagging faces are a result of sagging muscles. Muscles in the face support our skin. If they are losing their oomph, strength and resilience then your facial features will begin to appear more mature as the muscles lengthen and drag down the skin. This dragging causes pooling of one set of muscles into another and where they collide is typically where a wrinkle is formed.

Facial exercise will tighten and strengthen the sagging muscles. By firming and lifting these muscles, the youthful contours of your face return, so skin looks younger, healthier and fresher. These proven exercise movements will help you look better than you have in years without invasive and irreparable procedures.

Facial exercise is natural and will immediately go to work to correct those droopy facial features quickly and easily. You will develop a younger, more vibrant appearance in just weeks as your face refines, tones, lifts and firms. The youthful contour returns as your face drops 5, 10, even 15 years.

Imagine simple exercises with noticeable results almost immediately. The routine takes only minutes a day and you create dramatic, lasting results without risk, harm or disappointment.

People will recognize you, your confidence will soar and you will be proud of your accomplishment.

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My mother was a Shaklee Distributor so I grew up knowing how potent vitamins are for our continued health. When I was a young adult, I went to work for Jack LaLanne's President's and First Lady's Health Clubs and guess what we learned? More about the efficacy of vitamins! Vitamin C, E and A were our mainstays but over the years, I learned that Spirulina, Alpha Lipoic Acid, COQ10 and more were needed for our body. Vitamins are safe, zero deaths recorded, while pharmaceutical drugs have side effects and contribute to death and disability. Help us keep vitamins available! Send the recommended letter to your representatives!
_____________________________________________________________________________

By Dr. Mercola  

Vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements have a tremendously safe track record, yet they are often singled out as being potentially dangerous by government agencies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

This – the notion that dietary supplements are unsafe — is the premise behind the FDA's Draft Guidance on New Dietary Ingredients, which would require the supplement industry to prove the safety of natural ingredients that, in many cases, have been on the market and used safely for decades.

As new research from the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System reveals, there were zero deaths linked to nutritional supplements in 2010, the most current data available.

Zero Deaths Linked to Vitamin Supplements

However, in the FDA's new Draft Guidance, the FDA is essentially claiming that dietary supplements are unsafe, and implying that in order to "protect consumers" the agency must place a stranglehold on the dietary supplement industry by requesting exorbitant safety testing.

These ludicrous safety thresholds are in excess of those required by pharmaceutical drugs — despite extensive toxicological data showing supplements are far safer than drugs.

The most recent data comes from the U.S. National Poison Data System's annual report, which tracked data from 57 U.S. poison centers and showed vitamin and mineral supplements caused zero deaths in 2010.i

As noted by Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, Americans easily take more than 60 billion doses of nutritional supplements every year, and with zero related deaths this is an outstanding safety record:

"Well over half of the U.S. population takes daily nutritional supplements. Even if each of those people took only one single tablet daily, that makes 165,000,000 individual doses per day, for a total of over 60 billion doses annually. Since many persons take far more than just one single vitamin or mineral tablet, actual consumption is considerably higher, and the safety of nutritional supplements is all the more remarkable.

Over 60 billion doses of vitamin and mineral supplements per year in the USA, and not a single fatality. Not one. If vitamin and mineral supplements are allegedly so "dangerous," as the FDA and news media so often claim, then where are the bodies?"  

In striking contrast, drugs are known to cause well over 125,000 deaths per year when taken correctly as prescribed – yet the FDA allows "fast-track" approvals and countless new additions to the marketplace. So why are dietary supplements on the chopping block?

Why is the FDA Attacking Dietary Supplements That Have Been Used Safely for Decades?

Back in the early 1990s, the FDA threatened the availability of dietary supplements to the point that consumers staged a massive revolt, which resulted in the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA).

The law specifically protects your access to dietary supplements by classifying them as foods, not food additives or drugs, and it grand-fathered in dietary supplements that were already in use as of 1994. Only novel ingredients introduced after October 15, 1994 are required to seek FDA approval.

The FDA's new proposed mandates directly contradict what DSHEA sought to prevent, and the FDA is using its authority in direct violation of Congressional intent. As explained in an article by Alliance for Natural Health, the proposed regulations turn what was clearly supposed to be a pre-market notification system into a pre-approval system, just like that of drugs.ii

As a result, dietary supplements that have been freely available for nearly two decades can now be forced off the market until they receive New Dietary Ingredient (NDI) approval. And the NDI approval process is a lengthy affair that may take months or years to complete, and cost a small fortune. Bringing a drug from the pre-clinical (or discovery phase) all the way to market can easily take more than a decade and cost significantly more than $1 billion! This despite the fact that contrary to drugs, fatalities from vitamins and other supplements are minuscule.

According to the 2001 report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC), of the substances implicated in fatal poisonings in 2001, 84.6 percent were pharmaceutical drugs, with analgesics being implicated as the primary cause of death in 32 percent of fatalities or 341 deaths. This compares with 0.8 percent for all dietary supplements combined, even including substances such as dinitrophenol, a dangerous (and illegal) substance banned in 1938, as well as the central nervous system stimulant Ma Huang (Ephedra). Interestingly, the anti-asthma drug theophylline alone was responsible for 15 deaths, 66 percent more than all the available dietary supplements combined.

What might make an "old" ingredient "new," under the new regulation?

The methods of production and extraction, for example ... As bizarre as that sounds, the mere fact that a product is being extracted or produced by improved means compared to methods used in the past, could reclassify any grandfathered nutrient as an NDI that would now have to undergo the same type of safety testing and approval process as a drug.

FDA Seeking Outrageous Safety Studies from Tried and True Supplements

In some cases, the FDA will require manufacturers to conduct outrageously expensive studies using absurdly high doses, in some situations multiplied by a "safety factor" up to 2,000-times the recommended dosage on a per product basis. Further, the FDA proposes that new dietary supplement ingredients should adhere to aggressive safety margins, which are typically reserved for chemical compounds known to be dangerous in all but the most miniscule concentrations.

Since food additives or preservatives such as aspartame, monosodium glutamate, and sodium nitrate are known to cause cancer or other severe health problems, the FDA has implemented safety guidelines that limit allowable concentrations of these food additives to levels that are supposed to be physiologically inert.

The fact that the FDA is trying to impose the same limits upon dietary supplements seems to be arbitrary and completely unfounded. In fact, when someone takes a dietary supplement, their intent is to positively affect the structure or function of their bodies in some way — limiting dosages of dietary supplements to physiologically inert levels defeats the entire purpose of supplementation with health-sustaining nutrients.

And, since supplements are not patented drugs, virtually no supplement manufacturers will be able to afford these "safety" studies, which means that many of the nutrients you now purchase at low prices will convert into high-priced drugs, or simply disappear from the market entirely.

The Drug Industry is the Real Safety Threat

While the U.S. National Poison Data System's annual report showed zero deaths from nutritional supplements, this was not the case for prescription and over-the-counter drugs. The top categories associated with the largest number of fatalities were ALL medications, including:

1. Analgesics, sedatives, hypnotics, and antipsychotics
2. Cardiovascular drugs
3. Opioids
4. Acetaminophen combinations
5. Antidepressants

Slightly lower down on the list were more drugs, including muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory drugs, hormones, antacids, anticoagulants, antihistamines and more. Out of a total 1,366 reported fatalities, pharmaceuticals were involved in over 1,100 of these deaths (again, compared to zero for supplements). Keep in mind that this is not an estimate of all the deaths attributed to pharmaceuticals in the U.S., only those reported to 57 poison control centers. The total figure is closer to 125,000 deaths from pharmaceuticals per year. iii

If you extrapolate this number out over 30 years this is well in excess of 3 million people who died from taking appropriately prescribed legal drugs. It is simply incomprehensible that any rational approach would seek to vilify supplements over drugs when the data in no way, shape or form supports it. The most likely motive for this position is financial greed that can put your life in jeopardy.

Defend Your Right to Continue Taking Safe Supplements

No one can sit on the sidelines with an emergency of this magnitude about to befall everyone who depends on dietary supplements. As citizens, we have the constitutional right to petition the government to redress our grievances. In this case, the FDA NDI proposals pose a direct threat to our health and longevity by threatening free access to dietary supplements with exemplary safety records.

We therefore have to take extraordinary measures to defend our right to continue using supplements that our very lives depend on, and to gain access to new natural ingredients that demonstrate efficacy in scientific studies. I ask each one of you to contact your representatives by following this link:

https://secure3.convio.net/aahf/site/Advocacy?alertId=911&pg=makeACall

Recall how consumers revolted back in 1994 and the result was a glorious victory over FDA tyranny! Let your voice be heard by exercising your right to petition the government against these serious violations of the law and scientific principle. Please be sure to call, fax, or send a certified letter to your representative — emails can be easily dismissed. Here is a set of talking points for your consideration:

• My name is [Name] and I am a constituent of [Congress Member’s name].
• I am very concerned about the new FDA draft guidance on dietary supplements and new dietary ingredients.
• I request that Congress hold hearings and take action to review the FDA's draft guidance and stop their overreach of power.
• The FDA's draft guidance flies in the face of the original congressional intent of the Dietary Supplement Health Education Act: The guidance turns what was meant to be a simple notification system for new dietary ingredients into a preapproval scheme that Congress did not intend to create.
• Congress recognized that dietary supplements are natural ingredients and therefore inherently safer than drugs and chemical food ingredients. It did not intend that the FDA would have the power to approve or reject dietary supplements.
• The FDA's draft guidance creates unnecessary regulations that limit my access to dietary supplements I rely on. The expensive and burdensome process will force between 20,000 and 42,000 dietary supplements to be removed from the market and will increase the cost of those supplements that remain.
• The draft guidance hurts our economy. Expert analyses show that this guidance will cause a total economic loss of $21.2 billion to $39.8 billion annually.
• Thank you for your time.

Tips:  

• Be courteous and respectful.
• Keep your comments brief and focused on the facts.
• Always thank the staff member for their time taking your call.

SAMPLE LETTER TO CONGRESS:

The Honorable _____________________ Washington, D.C.

In direct violation of the law, the FDA is threatening to ban my access to new dietary supplements.

The FDA defines dietary supplements as being "new" if they were introduced after October 15, 1994. That means that nutrients that I have been safely using over the course of three decades will be subject to the FDA's oppressive policies that mandate costly animal testing, which translates into forced withdrawal from the market, and higher prices for me if the supplement is ever allowed to be sold again.

The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act  of 1994 states that:

"The Federal Government should not take any actions to impose unreasonable regulatory barriers limiting or slowing the flow of safe products and accurate information to consumers."

It says that Congress finds that:

"dietary supplements are safe within a broad range of intake, and safety problems with the supplements are relatively rare."

And it says that:

"legislative action that protects the right of access of consumers to safe dietary supplements is necessary in order to promote wellness."

This draft guidance does the exact opposite of what Congress intended. It imposes unreasonable barriers that limit and slow the flow of safe products and accurate information to consumers. I call upon Congress to:

• Uphold the landmark legislation it passed seventeen years ago, and to direct the FDA to revise its New Dietary Ingredient draft guidelines to reflect DSHEA's (and Congress's) stated values and goals.
• Vote against the newly introduced Dietary Supplement Labeling Act as this would give the FDA even greater arbitrary powers to remove safe dietary supplements from the market, and will profoundly impact this nations' health in a negative way.

All of these proposals result in wasteful federal spending, while at the same time impose a massive new "regulatory tax" on consumers and the vitamin industry.

Kindly let me know what actions you are taking in response to the urgent issues raised in this letter.

Sincerely,

Name________________________________________

Address______________________________________

City______________________ST____ Zip__________

References:  

“i 2010 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System (NPDS): 28th Annual Report“:http://www.aapcc.org/dnn/Portals/0/2010%20NPDS%20Annual%20Report.pdf/

ii Alliance for Natural Health July 12, 2011 

iii U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Poisoning Factsheet 

Original Post: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/04/23/defend-your-right-to-access-safe-dietary-supplements.aspx?e_cid=20120423_DNL_art_2

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