Congratulations Better Nutrition Magazine!

She's looking pret-ty spry for 75!

And by "she" I am referring to my editorial alma mater, Better Nutrition magazine, where I proudly served as editor in chief from 1995 to 2002, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary beginning with the August 2013 issue.

Better Nutrition has always stayed true to its mission and has constantly worked very hard to never let down its readers. It has a unique and trustworthy way of getting into people’s hands, too, via consumers’ favorite health-food stores.

James Gormley's "Earth Watch" column in 1995

The magazine has never been afraid to be out first on issues of great importance to its readers, whether breaking an environmental health story about the dangers of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository (‘Physicists warn: nuclear waste-site dangers exist,’ September 1995), or a commentary on nutritional genocide (‘Iodine deficiency in China --- a crucial lesson for the U.S.’, August 1996), or an editorial in total support of St. John’s wort when most media outlets were publishing unfounded hit pieces (‘St. John’s wort is safe,’ June 2000).

With its editorials and its articles, Better Nutrition also helped re-popularize integrative medicine in the U.S. and was on the vanguard of the successful fight (between 1997 and 1998) to force the USDA to propose new USDA Organic standards that adhered to the right principles. 

The magazine has also never shied away from publicly defending the science and safety behind dietary supplements, whether in testimony I had an opportunity to deliver at the New York City Council ephedra hearings in 2000 or when I had a chance to "take on" pharma industry attorneys on FOX-TV’s ‘Good Day New York.’

Better Nutrition was the first health and nutrition magazine to commit to a rigorous focus on science in all of its reporting, an approach that was later emulated by other magazines. In addition, the magazine has been part of a movement that changed the nation’s mind-set from ‘5-a-day’ and mainstream ‘healthcare’ to optimal nutrition and integrative health.

The magazine has also never been afraid of getting personal, either, whether the topics were fear, the inspiration of Patch Adams, happiness, hope or thankfulness. In fact, readers have consistently shown their appreciation for Better Nutrition articles that inspired them, encouraged them or gave them hope.

James Gormley's "Editor's Desk", 1999

In January 2000, Better Nutrition printed a letter from Ronee Groff, president of the Learning Disabilities Association (LDA) of New Jersey, who wrote in about my December 1999 editorial, ‘Pass the squash, hold the fear: Meditations on racoons and a fear-free holiday season.’ She pointed out in her letter how fear, anxiety, worry and apprehension are a great part of the lives of people who are struggling with learning disorders. She wrote: ‘We believe it [the commentary] to be a wonderful piece, and we would love to communicate your words to those we believe would enjoy, and receive some strength from, the message.’

In July 2001, a reader from Mission Hills, Kansas, send in a card about the February 2001 commentary, which was entitled, ‘Never stop dreaming.’ His card, which I have kept on my own bulletin board for the last 12 years, reads: ‘I want to congratulate you on a most wonderful editorial, ‘Never stop dreaming.’ It is kept at my desk as a reminder to stop and look up. Thank you for putting a simple thought into words.’ ”

James Gormley's "Editor's Desk," 2001

Better Nutrition gave me the chance to learn quite a lot about nutrition: where we are, where we should be, and what can help get us there nutritionally. I’ve had such amazing opportunities, too, to learn and grow, including a press trip to China in 2001, a life-changing experince that I will never forget.

I have met so many caring and committed health-food retailers over the years, people who are truly on the front lines of health freedom. 

It’s given me the chance to learn about the regulations which support our right to high-quality, high-potency and innovative dietary supplements and about the political and economic forces which are taking aim at those rights, one of the reasons I decided to write Health at Gunpoint.

I am thankful to editor-in-chief of Better Nutrition today, Nicole Brechka, who gave a shout-out to me in the anniversary issue's editorial and to Vera Tweed in her history of the natural products industry this same issue.

Vera Tweed, Better Nutrition, August 2013

From the bottom of my heart, I wish Better Nutrition another 75 groundbreaking, conscious-raising years of commitment and service to American consumers and the health-food stores where they shop!

The Next Ephedra is Ephedra?

[Note: Adapted from an article which originally appeared in Natural Products INSIDER Supplement Perspectives]

By James J. Gormley

It would seem so based on recent ads in the musclehead magazines.

In a recent issue of one mag, there are double-page ad spreads from a company that one would think has had enough enforcement actions against it to last several lifetimes. The ads feature images and cartoons of women who look either like Vegas strippers or hookers along with ad language screaming that these products have 25 mg of ephedra extract, but with caveats that say "we're not breaking the law, folks; these things are perfectly legal."

The only way these products could not be in direct and flagrant violation of the law is if: 1.) they are not dietary supplements but are instead special classes of OTC remedies (which they are not); or 2.) the so-called ephedra is not really ephedra but some other botanical.

Well, there are a few big problems here. If the main active is not ephedra, then the FTC could slam the company for false and deceptive advertising and for claiming their products have a banned ingredient. If the flagship ingredient is ephedra, well the enforcement pathway on that is pretty clear!

If, however, the so-called ephedra extract is actually derived from the Acacia rigidula plant (as one of the ads suggests), it may not contain ephedra alkaloids but it may well contain methamphetamine, mescaline and nicotine, not the safest profile, to say the very least.

Seeing these ads really got me mad, and I wound up calling Marc Ullman, who was equally incensed. I sent these ads to the FTC, FDA and the USDA import-export officials, in addition to copying the trade associations.

Precisely because the vast majority of supplement manufacturers are responsible and ethical, it behooves us as an industry to do everything we can to not only protect consumers from misinformation and harm but to also shine a light on gray-market profiteers who are taking advantage of the DSHEA regulatory pathway yet whose products are merely masquerading as nutritional supplements.

It’s hard for us to stand tall when these bottom-feeders are muddying the waters for all of us.

There have been astounding advances in athletic-performance-related nutritional research along with the introduction of powerful, science-based sports supplements, but until we call out, shame and shun these jokers, we will have our treadmill set to “uphill” for a long time.