By David Blyweiss, M.D., Advanced Natural Wellness

March 02, 2012

• Your access to health information is at risk
• What you can do about it… before it’s too late
• Q&A with Dr. B: “Are my supplements making me constipated?”

Imagine if your tax dollars went to fund the schools in your neighborhood… but you couldn’t send your children there. And you couldn’t drive on the highways built on your dime. Or check out a book from the public library your taxes support.

You wouldn’t put up with that, right?

Well, that scenario’s exactly what two members of Congress are proposing…

They want to take away your access to results of the scientific studies funded by your tax dollars.

Add this to the restrictions the FDA has placed on what supplement companies can tell you about the products you buy, and you are essentially cut off from health information… other than what pharmaceutical companies want you to know, of course…

Just three years ago, the hallowed halls of science research became accessible online through a resource called PubMed. This website provides unrestricted, free access to federally-funded research for all. Before then, the only way to gain access to the research funded by your tax dollars was through pricey subscriptions to scientific and medical journals.

The journals are protected as public access to full articles and complete research studies is restricted to the journals for a full year. This allows them to maintain their subscriber base of researchers and scientists, while still allowing the public to remain informed so they can make intelligent health decisions.

This new legislations is called the “Research Works Act” and was introduced by two members of Congress, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA). This legislation would at least partially restrict your access once again.

Now, here’s what’s a little tricky about this particular bill …

The language of the bill itself does attempt to distinguish between privately-funded and publicly-funded research – and only restrict access to research that is privately-funded. But the way it is written – and the way it may be interpreted – is a slippery slope.

The truth is, tax dollars find their way into just about every study that has scientific significance. And most privately-funded research doesn’t make it into the types of publications and journals that are lobbying for this bill. Certainly not enough to make it worth the time and effort it takes to pass legislature.

Something smells fishy about this one to me. Here are the red flags…

• More and more, the FDA is allowing drug companies and big businesses, like Monsanto, to monitor the safety and efficacy of their own products. Meaning the research they use to determine public policy could be deemed private and never released to the public, even though it is determining public policy and affecting your health.

• Funding for research is a complicated web of grants from both public and private sources, such as universities and other entities. Upholding the guidelines of this bill – and ensuring that if even a dollar of taxpayer money was spent on the research the results will remain accessible will be an expensive and time-consuming exemption to enforce.

And the one worrying me the most…

• The FDA already severely restricts the information supplement companies can share with you regarding natural products, which makes consumers of natural products reliant on public information to make responsible choices about their health. If access is further restricted, you will no longer have a way to make an informed decision about your health!

Every industry needs to adjust to the internet – and some have been hit harder than others. But while I am sympathetic to the plight of traditional publishers to hold onto their economic model, I am much more committed to your health than their bottom line.

That’s why I am alerting you to this legislation, and suggesting you take action. The Alliance for Natural Health has made a simple form available online for you to use in contacting your local representative.

And consider this…

Right now, the leading cause of death in America is heart disease, with cancer coming in at a close second. Much of the research performed in this country is related to these two causes of death. When the access to information is available to everyone, more people have the opportunity to become informed and proactive in managing their own health.

If we take that access away, it is quite possible heart disease and cancer will no long be the leading causes of death. Instead, it will be ignorance.

Q&A with Dr. B:

Q: I have had chronic constipation for a number of years, and it seems to have gotten worse recently. I’ve tried a colon cleanser, oat bran, probiotics, etc., but nothing seems to work that well. I don’t drink milk and eat very few sweets. I do take lots of supplements, but nothing with iron. Are there other supplements that can cause constipation?

A: It might not be a bad idea to review everything you’re taking – both supplements and any over-the-counter medications, and look up each ingredient separately to determine if any of them might be contributing to your problem. For example, many people don’t realize acetaminophen (Tylenol) and antacids can cause constipation.

If you are taking more Vitamin D than you need, that could cause constipation – having your levels checked and adjusting your dosage accordingly is a good idea. Calcium can be constipating… but it is also vitally important. You can try reducing the dosage to see if that is the culprit. Or, perhaps more important, take steps to improve your calcium absorption, which would include limiting oxalic acid foods (such as rhubarb, cranberries, plums, spinach, chard and beet greens) in your diet, and increasing other dark, leafy greens such as kale and collards.

Keep in mind, Vitamin D enhances calcium absorption – so if you play with these two, keep a log of both your supplement changes and changes in your bowel movements so you can better detect what works and what doesn’t.

Be sure you are taking the most basic steps for addressing constipation: drinking plenty of fluids, eating fresh fruits, and getting plenty of exercises. Also, since you mention it is getting worse, backtrack to see if you have made any changes in your diet or other routines that might have compounded the problem.

And of course, any time you notice a significant change in bowel movements, it is a good idea to check with your doctor. Constipation can be a symptom in other underlying diseases – some that you might not realize would even be related to your bowels. Best to get checked.