Xtend-Life-Questionst
2nd November 2004
Please click on the question of interest:
Question: From Gwen. (Subject: FDA regulations?)q1
Which of the ingredients in your Total Balance Formula is FDA regulated?
Answer: From Warren.
The US FDA does not regulate any raw ingredients in supplements other than issue restrictions on certain ones which may be banned such as ephedra, or restrict the quantities that a supplement may contain, such as folic acid. The FDA in other countries may have different policies, such as Thailand for example where we have just last week received FDA approval for our Total Balance after many months. In that country the FDA examines every single ingredient and goes into great detail including the method of extraction for herbals and the manufacture of the tablet. However, the US FDA is much more relaxed on those issues.
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Comment: From Matt. (Subject: Male Pattern Baldness.)q2
As always, I'm taking and appreciating greatly the Total Balance product. While this inquiry might seem rather superficial in comparison to the serious health issues which you normally address, it is of great importance to me professionally and psychologically.
Recently I've noticed that my front hairline has thinned a bit. I seem to be slowly but steadily losing hair above the temple, and the frontal hairline overall is going back a bit. I know this is normal and quite common in men, and I suppose at 28 years old I had better acknowledge that I can't look youthful forever. However as an actor and model, you might imagine my concern.
My internet research has led me to learn that DHT (Di-Hydro Testosterone) is largely responsible for male pattern baldness. Also I've learned that the drug finasteride (used in prescription medications like Propecia and Proscar) blocks the production of DHT. In addition, supposedly there are herbal remedies that claim to behave much like the prescription drugs.
I am loathe to take medication of any sort, and I am highly skeptical of herbal websites and the like, aside from yours of course, in which I have complete confidence. I realize my life isn't over, and that I anticipate a long and healthy life (thanks to Total Balance and my exercise and diet). However, this is causing me some frustration, chagrin, and uncertainty for the future.
If you have any comments, knowledge, or advice to share, I would be inestimably grateful. Please feel free to share this email with others, only concealing my name and email address.
Answer: From Warren.
Male pattern baldness is certainly an annoying phenomenon. I lost a fair bit of my hair when I was 21 (36 years ago)for this reason. Ultimately, I figured if I couldn't grow it I would relocate some, so, many years ago I had a series of hair transplants... and they worked very well. My problem was like that of many men in that I was affected in the front and middle of the scalp but had good hair growth around the edges and the back.
People have no idea that I had transplants and I now have a reasonable head of hair and its all my own. As a point of interest, did you know that hair transplanted from the back or side of your head will not fall out as you get older? The same principle applies (but in reverse) that should you transplant hair from the front of your head to the back and in the event of you going bald on top you would end up with a small bald patch where you transplanted that hair on the back of your head. Weird eh?
I also have three sons ranging from your age to 35 who have problems with receding or thinning hair, so it is a subject which I have an interest in and have done quite a lot of work on.
Here are the bottom lines:
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DHT (Di-Hydro Testosterone)is indeed considered to be the major factor in contributing to male pattern baldness.
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There are herbal remedies that will block the formation of DHT, saw palmetto and beta sitosterol being the main ones. Other general nutrients can also contribute.
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The herbal alternatives can be as effective as Propecia which I would be very wary of. For example, did you know that Propecia carries a warning that should a pregnant female even touch a tablet of it she must refer to her Doctor as it could results in birth defects?
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Whereas the oral remedies may help some people, my experience with many people including my sons is that the effect is minimal even when combined with topical applications of which there are a number in the market.
Is it worth taking herbal products specifically for this problem? In my opinion no! We have tried them because we were going to produce such a specialty product but the results based on our testing were not good enough to warrant doing so.
Total Balance Men's Plus contains enough ingredients to effectively block DHT, provided it is taken in the full dose or 6 tablets per day. It also has many other nutrients that help with the health of the hair. I'm not sure if you are taking the full dose or not, but if you are then you will not get any further benefit to your hair by adding more herbals or even Proscar.
Sorry to say, but you may have to face the option of ultimately doing what I had to do... and what my sons are considering... relocating some.
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Question: From Pam. (Subject: Chromium...)q3
My husband was concerned about an ingredient in the Total Balance Men's Plus supplement. Chromium is in there and he says that is toxic. He was a little concerned. What can you tell me about this?
Answer: From Nicolien.
There are different forms of chromium, of which hexavalent chromium (Cr 6+) is toxic. Trivalent chromium (Cr 3+) is found in foods (such as in for example asparagus, apples, brewer's yeast, cheese, egg yolk, grape juice, nuts, peppers, potato, wheat and shrimp) and is used in supplements. This is the chromium we use, we use 300 mcg of Chromium chloride in 6 tablets of Total Balance. This is a safe amount.
Chromium is an essential trace element needed by the body. Factors that increase demand are aging, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, excess intake of refined foods and sugars, high cholesterol levels, high phosphate diets (such as when drinking carbonated drinks), hypoglycemia, diabetes, and stress.
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