Health & Fitness

Well, that didn’t take long! Mere weeks after my announcement that I was reintroducing my deleted article archives and moving them to the Substack Library for paid subscribers, the mainstream press started calling on Substack to censor and cull vaccine critics from its platform.

There are very good reasons why my content has moved to Substack under a Private Membership Agreement. All proceeds will be donated to our nonprofits, just like the profits from my book — there is no financial motivation for doing this. The reasons for doing this will be revealed in due time.

To their credit, Substack CEO Chris Best and his two cofounders have brushed off calls for censorship, saying that allowing “the presence of writers with whom we strongly disagree” is a “necessary precondition for creating more trust in the information ecosystem as a whole,”¹ and that:

"We believe that critique and discussion of controversial issues are part of robust discourse, so we work to find a reasonable balance between these two priorities."²

Hit Piece Parade

A recent hit piece by The Washington Post titled “Conspiracy Theorists, Banned on Major Social Networks, Connect with Audiences on Newsletters and Podcasts”^3,4 highlights how, after social media platforms have been successfully scrubbed of counternarratives, alternative platforms like Substack are now beginning to face the same kind of scrutiny:

“Joseph Mercola, a leading anti-vaccine advocate whose screeds have been restricted by YouTube and Facebook, this month warned that the unvaccinated might soon be imprisoned in government-run camps. The week before, he circulated a study purporting to use government data to prove that more children had died of COVID-19 shots than from the coronavirus itself.

Shut down by major social media platforms, Mercola has found a new way to spread these debunked claims: on Substack, the subscription-based newsletter platform that is increasingly a hub for controversial and often misleading perspectives about the coronavirus.

Substack, which researchers from the nonprofit Center for Countering Digital Hate say makes millions of dollars off anti-vaccine misinformation, last week defended its tolerance for publishing ‘writers with whom we strongly disagree.’

Prominent figures known for spreading misinformation, such as Mercola, have flocked to Substack, podcasting platforms, and a growing number of right-wing social media networks over the past year after getting kicked off or restricted on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.”

As noted in the article, there’s a fundamental difference between social media platforms like Facebook and platforms like Substack. On Substack, our information goes specifically to those who have opted in to get it. Those who want full access actually pay for that access. But even that is unacceptable to those who want to control every thought in your head.

According to the WaPo, censored content is censored because it could “potentially lead people to engage in behaviors that endanger themselves and others.” Hence, you shouldn’t even be allowed to get it even if you want it so badly that you’re willing to pay for it.

Mashable⁵ and The Guardian⁶ also recently published near-identical hit pieces, calling me out by name as one of the primary “anti-vax” profiteers on Substack. What these and other articles like them so clearly show is that when they can’t win an argument, or they’re on the wrong side of history, they simply try to shut the opposition down to cover up their own inadequacies.

On a quick side note, the rapid growth of paid subscription platforms has now led to Twitter and Facebook making plans for their own paid subscription-based newsletters. What they seem to have completely overlooked is the REASON why people are turning to paid platforms.

They flock there because that’s where the truth — the censored information — is. No one in their right mind is going to pay for more Twitter and Facebook propaganda.

Same Shady Propaganda Tactics as Always

As is the norm with hit pieces, the WaPo sent us a request for comment at 4:52 p.m. and then published early in the morning stating that “Mercola did not respond to a request for comment.”

Leaving no time to respond and then claiming no response could be obtained, as if they actually tried, is a classic move to avoid giving the person they’re defaming the chance to say something that makes THEM look like idiots.

Another classic propaganda tactic employed in this piece is the projection that closed forums, including newsletters, are “plagued with misinformation because they are essentially echo chambers in which users share similar viewpoints.” Meanwhile, calling for censorship is by default a call for the creation of an echo chamber!

Dark Money Hate Group Wags the Media Dog

Also rote by now is the media’s reliance on statements made by the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), which claims Substack is generating “at least $2.5 million a year in revenue from just five anti-vaccine leaders who have amassed tens of thousands of subscribers, each paying $50 a year.”^7,8

The CCDH also claims the content on Substack is “so bad no one else will host it.” That seems pretty illogical, if you ask me, considering people are willing to pay for content they were used to getting for free.

Normally, people aren’t willing to pay for something they think is useless, or worse, will harm them if followed. When it comes to health in particular, it usually only takes one or two failed recommendations to turn people off for all time. So, why would people follow me onto a paid platform?

Funny enough, in its latest report,⁹ the CCDH claims “The New York Times described the osteopathic physician Joseph Mercola as the most influential spreader of coronavirus misinformation online in 2021.” Meanwhile, The New York Times cites¹⁰ the CCDH as the source of that claim! So, the CCDH is using media reports of its own fabricated claims about me to support yet another set of defamatory claims.

They’ve obviously failed to update their lies as they never integrated Joe Rogan into their equation. His interviews with Peter McCullough and Robert Malone together garnered over 100 million views, putting him far, far ahead of me in reaching the public.

A Coordinated Brainwashing Campaign

The fact that all multiple news outlets rely on the CCDH’s reports, while never asking any questions about the group itself, or how it justifies its fake claims, is a surefire indication that a PR company is directing this censorship campaign.

That’s what PR companies do — they craft the messaging and coordinate the timing of the publication of that information. Reporters, meanwhile, have surrendered to this top-down dissemination of “news” and ceased to even pretend that they’re following journalistic standards. None of them points out that Facebook itself has called out the CCDH as a fabricator of lies.

August 18, 2021, Facebook’s vice president of content policy, Monika Bickert, issued a statement^11,12 saying there is no evidence to support the CCDH’s claims that 12 people were responsible for 73% of vaccine misinformation on Facebook. After an investigation, they found we were in fact responsible for only a tiny fraction — 0.05% — of all vaccine content on Facebook. Here’s an excerpt from Bickert’s statement:¹³

“In recent weeks, there has been a debate about whether the global problem of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation can be solved simply by removing 12 people from social media platforms. People who have advanced this narrative contend that these 12 people are responsible for 73% of online vaccine misinformation on Facebook. There isn’t any evidence to support this claim …

In fact, these 12 people are responsible for about just 0.05% of all views of vaccine-related content on Facebook. This includes all vaccine-related posts they’ve shared, whether true or false, as well as URLs associated with these people.

The report¹⁴ upon which the faulty narrative is based analyzed only a narrow set of 483 pieces of content over six weeks from only 30 groups, some of which are as small as 2,500 users. They are in no way representative of the hundreds of millions of posts that people have shared about COVID-19 vaccines in the past months on Facebook.

Further, there is no explanation for how the organization behind the report identified the content they describe as ‘anti-vax’ or how they chose the 30 groups they included in their analysis. There is no justification for their claim that their data constitute a ‘representative sample’ of the content shared across our apps.”

Who and What Is the CCDH?

So, just what is the CCDH? It’s one-man organization with undisclosed funding and highly suspect connections to the technocratic “deep state.” Since the beginning of the COVID pandemic in 2020, the CCDH has been on the forefront calling for censorship and deplatforming of anyone who questions experimental COVID jabs.¹⁵

Indeed, there’s reason to suspect that’s why this organization was founded in the first place. It fabricates “reports” filled with opinions not backed by any solid data, and those reports are then used by mainstream media and government leaders to justify this censorship racket.

Aside from its founder and CEO Imran Ahmed, an unregistered foreign agent, the CCDH consists of a seven-person board of directors that “supports and scrutinizes” Ahmed’s work. And, while funding is stated as coming primarily from “philanthropic trusts,” no specific trusts are listed.

Digging into the composition of the board of directors provides us with some interesting clues as to its purpose. Through the connection of cofounder Morgan McSweeney — who left the CCDH for a chief of staff position with Labor Pary leader Keir Starmer — we can deduce that the CCDH is connected with the technocratic hub that is the Trilateral Commission, where Starmer is a serving member.¹⁶

The group can also be linked to other technocratic centers within the globalist network through its board chairman Simon Clark and board member Kirsty McNeill.¹⁷

Clark is a senior fellow for the policy think-tank Center for American Progress and chairman of Foreign Policy for America, other members of which include Stephen Grand, a senior fellow of the Atlantic Council, and Avril Haines, former deputy director of the CIA and a participant in Event 201.¹⁸

Simon also served as the first director of web services for Reuters, one of the three global news agencies responsible for curating a vast majority of the world’s news. McNeill, meanwhile, is a member of the European Council of Foreign Relations — another key player behind The Great Reset — and director of policy for Save the Children Fund, which is funded by the Gates Foundation and a partner of Gates’ GAVI Vaccine Alliance.

Another board member is Damian Collins, a member of the British Parliament and former chair of the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee. Collins also founded Infotagion, which “seeks to fight the disinformation contagion about COVID-19.”¹⁹

CCDH Protects The Great Reset Agenda

When you think about it, isn’t it rather curious that the Constitutional rights of American citizens are violated based on the opinions of an unregistered foreign agent who runs a tiny little pop-up group funded by dark money?²⁰ As noted in a July 20, 2021, Drill Down article:²¹

“According to its website, the left-wing Center for Countering Digital Hate prides itself on ‘researching, exposing, and then shutting down users and news sites it deems unacceptable in the digital sphere.’ Users and news sites it deems unacceptable? That seems potentially dangerous, considering we know very little about the CCDH. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) expressed his concerns on Twitter with the following post:

‘Who is funding this overseas dark money group — Big Tech? Billionaire activists? Foreign governments? We have no idea. Americans deserve to know what foreign interests are attempting to influence American democracy’ …

No one knows who funds them. No one knows who is driving their research. But their findings are being used in censorship efforts under the guise of controlling misinformation?”

Who’s Behind the Attack on Joe Rogan?

Spotify is another platform under fire thanks to the extraordinary reach of Joe Rogan, who continues to interview doctors and scientists about all the things mainstream media refuse to touch. With each passing blockbuster interview, the call to take Rogan off the air grows louder. Even U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has called on Spotify to ban Rogan’s show.²²

In the video at the top of this article, Saagar Enjeti, host of “Saagar’s Breaking Points,” takes a deep dive into the hedge funds behind the campaign by Neil Young and other artists to cancel Rogan and hurt Spotify’s bottom-line.

It all began when Young posted an open letter on social media, demanding Spotify make a choice — Rogan or him. Unless they ditch Rogan, Young would pull his music off Spotify. Spotify complied and pulled Young’s material.

The problem with Young’s apparent virtue signaling is that he doesn’t own all of his music anymore. In January 2021 he sold 50% of his worldwide copyright and income interests in his 1,180 song catalogue to a company called Hipgnosis.²³ Hipgnosis, in turn, was bankrolled a few months later, in October 2021, with $1 billion from private equity giant Blackstone,²⁴ which is seeking to gobble up real estate in the U.S. and turn us into a nation of renters.²⁵

And, just one month after that, in November 2021 — perhaps not so coincidentally — the world’s largest asset management firm, BlackRock, decided to “short” sell Hipgnosis by betting £8.9 million (approximately $12.1 million) against Hipgnosis’ £1.5 billion investment trust.²⁶

Among Blackstone’s senior advisers is Jeffrey Kinder,²⁷ a former chairman and CEO of Pfizer. Hipgnosis/Blackstone, with their intimate Pfizer connection, now own and profit from Young’s music. So, as suggested by Enjeti, it appears there may be far more to this story than Young deciding it’s too dangerous to rock in a free world.

Spotify Is Not a Supporter of Free Speech

Ironically, while Spotify is trying to maintain the illusion that they’re pro free speech and support Rogan, they’ve not only eaten away at Rogan’s valuable library that they paid so heftily for (as of April 13, 2021, 42 episodes had been quietly removed²⁸), they also canceled my “Take Control of Your Health” podcast in April 2021 for saying the same things Rogan and his guests discuss today.

The takedown notification stated my podcast was in violation of their content policies, which include a prohibition of infringing content, illegal content and hate content — none of which applies, but the entire channel was taken down anyway, without recourse.

Now, Joe Rogan is sharing the same exact information that I was banned for. Spotify will, however, place “misinformation” warning labels on any show that might not toe the line of the official COVID narrative — another sign that Spotify isn’t the safe haven for free speech that Rogan thought it would be.

In the past, my team challenged Spotify in arbitration after they removed a couple of my episodes, including one on the topic of electromagnetic fields (EMFs). They made specific statements about why certain content could be removed, and the episodes did not fall under any of those categories.

The judge at arbitration, however, said Spotify’s terms of service allowed them to remove anything, for any reason, so there was nothing we could do. We may have been one of the only ones in history to have challenged Spotify on arbitration, as they’ve since updated their terms of service and changed arbitration so that it must take place in New York.

They’ve changed all their policy on this and have continued to blatantly censor content with no explanation other than a vague “violation” of their terms of service.

A ‘Religion of Censorship’

In a January 30, 2022, ZeroHedge article, independent journalist Glenn Greenwald, himself a Substack refugee, noted:²⁹

“Pressure campaign to remove Joe Rogan from Spotify reveals liberal religion of censorship. American liberals are obsessed with finding ways to silence and censor their adversaries.

Every week, if not every day, they have new targets they want de-platformed, banned, silenced, and otherwise prevented from speaking or being heard (by ‘liberals,’ I mean the term of self-description used by the dominant wing of the Democratic Party).

For years, their preferred censorship tactic was to expand and distort the concept of "hate speech” to mean "views that make us uncomfortable,” and then demand that such “hateful” views be prohibited on that basis. For that reason, it is now common to hear Democrats assert, falsely, that the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech does not protect ‘hate speech.’

Their political culture has long inculcated them to believe that they can comfortably silence whatever views they arbitrarily place into this category without being guilty of censorship.

Constitutional illiteracy to the side, the ‘hate speech’ framework for justifying censorship is now insufficient because liberals are eager to silence a much broader range of voices than those they can credibly accuse of being hateful.

That is why the newest, and now most popular, censorship framework is to claim that their targets are guilty of spreading ‘misinformation’ or ‘disinformation.’ These terms, by design, have no clear or concise meaning. Like the term ‘terrorism,’ it is their elasticity that makes them so useful ...

Corporate outlets beloved by liberals are free to spout serious falsehoods without being deemed guilty of disinformation, and, because of that, do so routinely. This ‘disinformation’ term is reserved for those who question liberal pieties, not for those devoted to affirming them ...

It is not hyperbole to observe that there is now a concerted war on any platforms devoted to free discourse and which refuse to capitulate to the demands of Democratic politicians and liberal activists to censor. The spear of the attack are corporate media outlets, who demonize and try to render radioactive any platforms that allow free speech to flourish.”

Case in point: Chelsea Clinton — who was born into the lap of luxury and handed a cool $9 million to serve on a corporate board — tweeted out The Guardian’s hit piece about anti-vaxxers making at least $2.5 million a year from publishing on Substack, with the comment, “Anti-vaxx grift going strong — why is Substack facilitating science denialists’ ability to profit from destructive lies?”

As noted by Alex Berenson³⁰ — another Substack refugee named by The Guardian aside from myself — “Chelsea apparently expected Twitter high-fives for her denunciation of ‘anti-vaxx grift.’ 5,600 replies later, things did not go as planned.”

People had no problem finding articles pointing out Chelsea’s own inclination for grift — and some were more popular than her original tweet. As noted by Berenson, “When the first reply ripping you gets more likes than your tweet, you might want to reconsider whether your position is as popular as you thought.”

Will the Censored Library Survive on Substack?

Whether Substack will keep to its course and resist demands for censorship remains to be seen. For now, I’m optimistic.

“Last year, in an interview with the New York Times, anthropologist Heidi Larson, founder of the Vaccine Confidence Project, said that efforts to silence people who doubt the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines won’t get us very far,” Substack cofounders Hamish McKenzie, Chris Best and Jairaj Sethi wrote in a January 26, 2022, post.³¹

“’If you shut down Facebook tomorrow,’ she said, ‘it’s not going to make this go away. It’ll just move.’ Public health solutions, then, would have to come from a different approach. ‘We don’t have a misinformation problem,’ Larson said. ‘We have a trust problem.’

This point rings true to us. That’s why, as we face growing pressure to censor content published on Substack that to some seems dubious or objectionable, our answer remains the same: we make decisions based on principles not PR, we will defend free expression, and we will stick to our hands-off approach to content moderation.

While we have content guidelines that allow us to protect the platform at the extremes, we will always view censorship as a last resort, because we believe open discourse is better for writers and better for society ...

We are living through an epidemic of mistrust ... Trust in social media and traditional media is at an all-time low. Trust in the U.S. federal government to handle problems is at a near-record low. Trust in the U.S.’s major institutions is within 2 percentage points of the all-time low.

The consequences are profound. Declining trust is both a cause and an effect of polarization, reflecting and giving rise to conditions that further compromise our confidence in each other and in institutions ...

To put it plainly: censorship of bad ideas makes people less likely, not more likely, to trust good ideas. The key to making this all work is giving power to writers and readers. That’s why at Substack we focus on subscriptions instead of advertising, and it’s why Substack writers own and control their relationships with their readers.”

Without doubt, Substack is presently one of the best sources of “good ideas” available, for the very reason that free speech is allowed. In the end, leadership that depends on censorship to succeed tends to fail, for the simple reason that it erodes trust.

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Indigenous cultures have used traditional herbal medicine for the treatment and prevention of diseases for thousands of years.¹ The bioactive compounds found in medicinal plants have gone on to become primary points of research for drug therapies² and have been replicated in the lab by Big Pharma.³

Holy basil, or tulsi, (Ocimum sanctum) is a medicinal herb favored in Ayurvedic medicine because of the vast health benefits it offers.⁴ It has been widely used in Southeast Asia and today is making a name for itself in Western medicine.

Tulsi is a powerful adaptogenic herb with known antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antioxidant properties. There are several products utilizing tulsi available on the market today, including tea, extract and essential oil.⁵

Holy basil is a flowering plant in the mint family. It is sacred in Hinduism because of its association with Lord Vishnu, one of the principal deities of the religion⁶ In addition to medicinal uses, tulsi is also widely grown and used as a culinary herb.⁷ The peppery mint flavor strengthens and concentrates during cooking. Outside of its native region, it is considered an invasive species.

Tulsi can grow up to 5 feet in the intense heat of India but normally reaches up to only 2 feet in more temperate areas.⁸ It is a short-lived perennial shrub or annual plant depending on the region. By comparison, sweet basil is a popular culinary herb that grows in many areas and can be cultivated indoors. Although they are from the same genus, they are distinctly different in taste and appearance.⁹

Tulsi May Help Lower Risk of Diabetes and High Blood Pressure

Diabetes increases your risk of high blood pressure¹⁰ and vice versa.¹¹ There is evidence that holy basil influences blood glucose and may help reduce high blood pressure.

In 1996, researchers studied the effect of holy basil on the blood glucose of albino rats.¹² Their results indicated that administration of holy basil could reduce blood glucose after fasting and eating. Reduction in urine glucose levels followed the same trend.

These results are similar to those found in the many years of using holy basil in ayurvedic interventions for diabetes. A review of ayurvedic literature¹³ revealed many studies in which the practice of using holy basil included treatment for diabetes, hepatitis, cardiovascular diseases and infectious diseases.

More recently, scientists reviewed several plants with antidiabetic potential and bioactive compounds, including holy basil.¹⁴ The leaves of the plant contain eugenol, ursolic acid, carvacrol and linalool. Tulsi is also rich in vitamins, minerals, chlorophyll and other phytonutrients, including flavonoids, saponins and triterpenoids.

The leaves are reported to stimulate insulin secretion and reduce the serum levels of cortisol and glucose in an animal model.¹⁵ It also demonstrated a dose-dependent hypoglycemic effect in another animal study.¹⁶ In a database search of human studies,¹⁷ results showed tulsi was effective at reducing fasting blood glucose and reduced cholesterol levels in patients over 40 years without changing the overall lipid profile.

Holy basil has anti-inflammatory properties, which may help to reduce blood pressure.¹⁸ One study¹⁹ in 2016 showed holy basil and cloves could reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure in an animal model when compared against the control group.

Tulsi May Help the Appearance of Skin and Teeth

Tulsi can benefit the skin in several ways.²⁰ It can help reduce eczema and psoriasis and treat staph infections on the skin. The essential oil has antifungal and antibacterial activity.

As mentioned, the leaves have ursolic acid, a favorite of the cosmetic industry as it helps to remove wrinkles and improve elasticity. Ayurvedic medicine uses tulsi in a topical application with black pepper to treat ringworm and as a paste on the skin to help reduce irritation of insect bites.

Within ayurvedic medicine practice²¹ tulsi is called the “incomparable one,” “mother medicine of nature,” and the “queen of herbs.” The reference is to the wide range of health benefits practitioners have found. This includes the treatment of skin diseases, ringworm and a variety of other health conditions affecting the respiratory, digestive, circulatory and neurological systems.

Holy basil extract may also help the appearance of your teeth and gums. In one study²² published in 2014, researchers compared a mouthwash made of holy basil against sterile water and chlorhexidine. They found the holy basil extract inhibited periodontal pathogens at various concentrations with the same effectiveness as chlorhexidine.

The researchers suggest that the antiplaque effect may have prophylactic benefits. However, ayurvedic practitioners warn against chewing the leaves.²³ The leaves contain high amounts of mercury and iron which are released when you chew them.

They are also highly acidic. Practitioners recommend starting your day with two to three fresh leaves on an empty stomach. However, on a daily basis, this can cause discoloration and abnormal wear and tear on the tooth enamel.

Protects Against Infections

A review in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine²⁴ called tulsi an “herb for all reasons,” noting that it’s effective against “a range of human and animal pathogens” with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, even suggesting it may be considered for a hand sanitizer, water purifier or for wound healing.

Tulsi is also one of the herbs in Ayush Kwath, an Ayurvedic herbal formula recommended by the government of India to boost immunity and combat COVID-19.²⁵ At the conclusion of a literature review of Ayush Kwath, the researchers suggested that:

“Ayush Kwath due to its immune-modulatory, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-platelet, anti-atherosclerotic, hepato-protective, reno-protective properties; seems to be effective in immuno-regulation for controlling viral infections like COVID-19.”

Writing in a published paper in Nature Plants in 2017, researchers suggest²⁶ “While the plant kingdom continues to serve as an important source for chemical entities supporting drug discovery, the rich traditions of herbal medicine developed by trial and error on human subjects over thousands of years contain invaluable biomedical information just waiting to be uncovered using modern scientific approaches.”

The use of traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of respiratory ailments has taken on renewed interest during the pandemic. Herbal medicine is a powerful arsenal in the prevention and treatment of respiratory ailments like colds, flu and COVID-19. In China, herbal treatment is recommended for children and adults with COVID-19,²⁷ and interest in traditional remedies are growing in the U.S. as well.

Herbs are unique in that they contain multiple beneficial components that work synergistically to promote wellness. Tulsi is believed to help alleviate various bacterial infections, including urinary tract infections,²⁸ dermal infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus and other bacteria²⁹ and respiratory tract infections like pneumonia.³⁰

May Ease Stress, Anxiety and Boost Cognitive Function

Following the pandemic, more than 80% of people surveyed report they had emotions associated with prolonged stress. The report from the American Psychological Association³¹ in February 2021 revealed higher levels of stress than in previous years and many surveyed also reported feeling anxious, sad and angry.

The American Psychological Association's chief executive officer warned that, “Without addressing stress as part of a national recovery plan, we will be dealing with the mental health fallout from this pandemic for years to come.”³²

One of the symptoms of high levels of stress is drug use. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention³³ reports there were an estimated 100,306 drug overdose deaths in the 12-month period ending April 2021. This represents a 28.5% increase in the same number of deaths during the same period the year before.

One study³⁴ isolated extracts from holy basil, which were tested in an animal model in which acute stress was induced using biochemical changes. Several of the compounds showed promising antistress effects when used independently as they normalized the serum hyperglycemia, corticosterone, creatinine kinase and adrenal hypertrophy that occurs in high-stress situations.

A second study³⁵ tested tulsi against generalized anxiety disorders, in a group of 35 participants with an average age of 38.4 years. The results showed that the treatment significantly attenuated the anxiety disorders and the correlating stress and depression. The researchers concluded that holy basil could be a useful treatment and a “promising anxiolytic agent in the near future.”

Stress disorders can increase the risk of developing dementia by nearly threefold. The association was found to be more pronounced in men than women, except in women who had post-traumatic stress disorder.^36,37

Interestingly, one animal study³⁸ showed holy basil could help manage cognitive dysfunction that was induced in animals, therefore improving their cognitive function in those taking the intervention. In a human study,³⁹ researchers looked at the effect tulsi would have on cognition and stress when 300 mg capsules of leaf extract were administered over 30 days.

The researchers compared the intervention group against a placebo group, measuring reaction time and error rates in testing, as well as salivary cortisol and using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. They found those taking the leaf extract had potential cognitive enhancing properties.

Impressive Herb but Not a Magic Bullet

It's important to remember that while holy basil has an impressive list of health benefits, it is not a magic bullet. Overall, you cannot depend on one supplement or one herb alone to maintain your health and wellness. It is just as important to implement other lifestyle strategies to support your health.

These include optimizing your diet, getting regular exercise, minimizing your exposure to environmental toxins and getting quality sleep each night. There are several precautions you should take if you are considering using holy basil as a supplement.

There are little to no studies evaluating holy basil supplementation’s safety during pregnancy; while holy basil may look beneficial for your health, there is no clear indication whether it's safe for your unborn child. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not use holy basil.⁴⁰

Additionally, there have been two animal studies that suggest using it in large amounts could negatively affect fertility. A review of the effects on humans published in 2020⁴¹ found that large amounts of holy basil may trigger liver damage, nausea, diarrhea and rapid heart rate.

Herbs also have biologically active compounds, such as ursolic acid or eugenol in tulsi, that can react with compounds in other supplements or drugs. Since it can be complex to work with herbs, you’ll get your best results working with a knowledgeable natural health care practitioner who can guide you on the appropriate solutions for your circumstances.

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The 32-year old shared her truth on Instagram.

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As many as half a million Australians are suffering from constant tinnitus, with farmers, automotive workers, transport drivers, construction workers and other trades people at the greatest risk, a national survey has found.

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We investigate rumours that ED post-Covid could impact length long-term.

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In a new study, researchers show a correlation between vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 severity and mortality. The study is among the first to analyze vitamin D levels prior to infection, which facilitates a more accurate assessment than during hospitalization, when levels may be lower secondary to the viral illness.

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This article was previously published January 17, 2018, and has been updated with new information.

A 2021 survey¹ indicates that 80% of Americans are using supplements — a drastic increase from the 52% reported in a 2012 JAMA report,² a statistic that had remained stable since 1999. While at that time the use of multivitamins had decreased somewhat, from 37 to 31 percent, the new survey indicates that 75% of supplement users now use multivitamins. The use of vitamin D and omega-3 supplements have continued to rise through all these years as well.

In 2012 vitamin D use jumped from just over 5% to 19%, and fish oil supplements increased from just over 1% to 12%. In 2021, however, a whopping 52% of Americans were taking vitamin D, with zinc and vitamin C also being popular, at 22% and 40%, respectively.

Some of the other more popular supplements are probiotics, omega-3, multivitamins, vitamin C, turmeric, calcium and magnesium.³ In all, Americans spent an estimated $21 billion on nutritional supplements in 2015.⁴ By 2019, that number had doubled to $42.6 billion.⁵

While dietary supplements are generally safe, when and how you take them — such as with or without food, or before or after exercise⁶ — can make a difference both in terms of safety and effectiveness. Certain supplements may also be contraindicated for certain health conditions or if you're taking a particular drug. Following, you'll find helpful guidance on the use of common supplements.

Quick Guide to the Timing of Supplements

>>>>> Click Here <<<<<

On the Timing of Vitamins and Minerals

Since multivitamins contain an array of both water- and fat-soluble vitamins, and in some cases minerals as well, it's generally recommended you take half of your daily dose in the morning, with breakfast, and the other half with your main meal (dinner for most people, or lunch if you're intermittently fasting). While you may not notice any ill effects if you take it on an empty stomach, taking your multivitamins with food is a safer bet overall.⁷

Both B vitamins and nonliposomal vitamin C may cause stomach upset and nausea when taken on an empty stomach, for example, and fat-soluble vitamins will do you little good unless you take them with a small amount of fat, such as an egg or half an avocado. Avoid going overboard on the fat, however, as too much grease can interfere with the absorption of water-based vitamins.

When taking individual vitamins and minerals, you may need to pay attention not only to the timing of them, but also their combination with other supplements you're taking, and their ideal ratios. For example:

Timing of Fats and Fiber Supplements

Fiber may inhibit your body's absorption of fat, so most fiber supplements, including "green" supplements like powdered spirulina and kelp, are best taken separately from any fatty acid supplements you may be taking. If you're working out, remember that fiber supplements will slow the movement of food through your stomach and intestines.

For this reason, fiber is best taken at least three or four hours before exercise or competition. Alternatively, take it toward the end of the day. Whole husk psyllium, which is an excellent fiber supplement, is ideally taken two hours after a meal with a full glass of water.

As for omega-3 supplements such as fish or krill oil, these could potentially cause indigestion if taken immediately before a workout, so consider taking them with breakfast, along with any multivitamin you may be taking. Also keep in mind that krill oil supplements are contraindicated for those allergic to shellfish, and neither fish nor krill oil should be taken if you have a blood coagulation disorder or are on anticoagulant medication.

Timing of Enzymes and Probiotics

Enzymes such as bromelain, papain, trypsin and others are used not only as digestive aids, but also for enhancing muscle recovery and decreasing inflammation. Depending on your aim, you'll need to alter the timing. When taken with a meal, they will improve your digestion. For muscle enhancement and/or anti-inflammatory effects, you'll want to take them on an empty stomach post-workout, either in the morning or afternoon.

Probiotics help improve your gut microbiome by supplying beneficial bacteria. They are best taken on an empty stomach, two to three hours before your first meal, or after your final meal for the day. Also remember that to reap the benefits from a probiotic supplement, you need to reduce your intake of processed foods and sugar. Otherwise, you're essentially just throwing your money away.

On the Timing of Antioxidants

As a general rule, antioxidant supplements such as resveratrol, astaxanthin, vitamin E and ubiquinol (the reduced version of Coenzyme Q10) are fat-soluble and best taken with a fatty meal. Ubiquinol is best taken in divided doses with a fatty meal, while vitamin E and astaxanthin can be taken once a day with a fatty meal to increase absorption. Resveratrol-containing supplements can be taken on an empty stomach.

If you're an athlete, or work out regularly, several studies have shown that taking antioxidant supplements immediately before exercising has the curious effect of decreasing insulin sensitivity. It also hampers your body's ability to defend itself against oxidative damage. As noted by nutritionist and fitness coach Ben Greenfield:¹²

"By shutting down the body's need to for natural antioxidant activity that helps adapt to stress and respond to exercise, antioxidant consumption in high doses of a single isolated antioxidant (like vitamin C or vitamin E) could potentially blunt the workout benefit.

For this reason, antioxidant beverages and capsules should be A) full spectrum … and B) consumed only in moderation, and not as a consistent part of the pre-workout or during workout nutrition protocol. Take-Away Message: Take antioxidants with a pre-race meal, and only before very difficult workouts. Otherwise, limit antioxidants to low to moderate intake only, and attempt to consume as far as possible from an exercise session."

Do You Really Need All the Supplements You're Taking?

As a general rule, the better and more wholesome your diet, the fewer supplements you will need. Eating real food, ideally organically grown to avoid pesticide exposure, is really the most appropriate way to ensure you're getting all the nutrients your body needs.

Vegetarians and vegans, who may think they're eating the best diet possible, are perhaps among the few who actually have to pay really close attention to their nutritional needs, as many important nutrients are only found in animal foods.

The animal-based omega-3 fats DHA and EPA are just one example. B12 is another really important one that vegans forgo, which can wreak havoc on your health. Over time, chronic B12 deficiency can lead to serious, irreversible conditions, including depression, dementia, neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions, fertility problems, heart disease and cancer — all the things a vegan diet is thought to prevent.

That said, dietary supplements can be quite beneficial if you know or suspect you might have a particular deficiency, and/or if you're trying to address a particular health problem. Just keep in mind that the more supplements you take, the more complicated it gets to get it right. Are you taking each one at the most appropriate time and in the correct combination — and in the proper ratio — with other nutrients?

Eating a whole food diet circumvents most of these issues, as your body knows exactly what to do with the nutrients it obtains from food, regardless of the hour or combination (although a case can be made for food combinations and ideal meal times as well). If you're taking handfuls of supplements but still eat mostly processed foods, make this the year you start making changes.

That said, to ensure you're getting the most from the supplements you do take, make a list, and check the best timing and combination of each one. While I've given you a few examples above, you'll find more examples in the infographics provided at the beginning of this article, and below.

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