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What research did you do in order to develop your vitamins?
I have 25 years of clinical experience as a physician. In addition, I’ve studied nutrition and biochemistry for over 25 years. So, we have my knowledge and experience in combination with all of the knowledge and experience my partner, Hank Liers, has gained over the years. Hank is a Ph.D. in nuclear physics and one of the most intelligent, self-educated biochemists I’ve ever encountered. I bring the clinical skills and the knowledge of nutrition to the table. Hank contributes both biochemical knowledge and years of experience in formulating vitamins. So, between the two of us, you’re getting a formidable duo.-
Does it make a difference in the quality of your supplements if you use one source of say, Vitamin A as an example, over another?
It makes a tremendous difference. Many vitamins are not absorbable - often because they are in a compressed tablet form. All of our formulations are encapsulated powders. In addition, supplements must be in a form that the body can easily assimilate. As a classic example, all of the B vitamins contained in the “mighty multivite!” are predigested or, as we say, co-carboxylated. That means that the body doesn’t have to use energy or its enzyme systems to convert it to a useable form. Most people who take regular B vitamins are unable to absorb them because their enzyme systems are weakened by poor diet and toxicity caused by the chemicals in the environment and other factors. So, the fact that our formulation contains co-carboxylated B vitamins makes a tremendous difference in the health benefits gained from taking it.
Also, the form of B-12 that we use is called hydroxycobalamin. Most vitamins containing B-12 use a form called cyanocobalamin. Cyanocobalamin is cobalamin which is the B-12 molecule, which is a cobalt-derived molecule with cyanide attached to it. Although the body does have the ability to rid itself of the cyanide, it requires the use of the body’s enzyme systems to accomplish this - and that process creates some toxicity in the body. Why do other companies use cyanocobalamin? Very simple – it’s cheaper and whoever is formulating those vitamins doesn’t know the difference. At “hank & brian’s” - our goal is to provide the very best and most absorbable supplements available. And we don’t poison people.
That’s very helpful. Do you have a few more examples to illustrate that point?
Calcium is another very good example. Many people have heard of calcium citrate and while there’s nothing wrong with calcium citrate, it’s only one of the components of the Kreb’s Cycle of calcium Regarding the Kreb’s Cycle, you want to have a balance of all the different components of a nutrient, which is, yes - citrate but also includes malate, fumarate, succinate, alpha-ketoglutarate and ornitate.
All of the minerals in each of the “hank & brian’s” supplements are “chelated” or combined with all of the components of the Kreb’s Cycle for that specific nutrient. As a result, many who take our vitamins report that they feel more energized and really good and that’s not something they could claim when taking other brands of vitamins. In addition, we’ve just introduced a new product called “super E and absolutely essential fatty acids!” Most E vitamins available today are in the d- and alpha-tocopherol form and this is very....well, it’s cheap and not very effective.
The real vitamin E is alpha, beta and gamma tocotrienols that we’ve combined with mercury free organic anchovy & sardine oil. Most companies won’t use tocotrienols because they’re so expensive. At “hank & brian’s adventures in health!”, we’re dedicated to providing the best and highest quality nutritional supplements at the best prices. In fact, our vitamins cost the same or less than those that aren’t anywhere near the quality of our formulations. There really isn’t any thing comparable on the market.
You’ve explained how your vitamins are different than others. How do you compare your vitamins to some of the bestsellers, such as Centrum?
All “hank & brian’s” formulations are complete and are in the most absorbable forms. The dosing is more optimal unlike the average minimum daily requirement-type vitamins. The minerals, of course, are chelated and contain all the Kreb Cycle analogs that we discussed earlier. We’ve included a variety of minerals in our supplements along with amino acids and other wonderful antioxidants that you won’t find in any other formulation. In addition, our antioxidant formula, “really serious C!”, is one of the very few products on the market that has reduced glutathione and anthocyanidins.
These are the only antioxidants that work inside the cell to clean out the cell’s interior (intracellular antioxidant). In fact, the U.S. Government has just awarded a $30 million grant - the largest ever to study natural supplements - to look at glutathione. In this case, to study the intravenous use of glutathione to treat Parkinson’s Disease. So, our goal at hank & brian’s is to use glutathione, preventively, by including it in our “really serious C!” But, it doesn’t work unless it’s reduced glutathione and not unless anthocynanidins are included in the formulation - which we do.
Most supplements containing glutathione are not the reduced form nor do they include anthocyanidins. There’s only one other product on the market that does that. It’s called Recancostat by Tyler and it costs roughly six times more than ours does.
Let me explain. Our formulation is a combination of reduced glutathione and anthocyanidins and grapefruit seed extract called pycnogenol which is an extremely important nutrient. The health benefits you get from drinking red wine are in pycnogenols.
Then there’s green tree extract, which has the heart and anti-cancer benefits; lipoic acid which is incredibly important for the liver; n-acetyl cysteine which is a precursor for glutathione and important for the lungs; and then vitamin C. But, you must understand, this is “really serious C!”. It’s not just vitamin C - it’s so much more.
You’ve mentioned several times that you have developed a vitamin C product.
Is it time released?
No, and for a very good reason. Time-released - that the vitamin is extended over a longer period of time - is not a bad concept. But, it can make the nutrients a bit less absorbable. Also, vitamin C is the least important ingredient in our “really serious C!”.
Let me explain. Our formulation is a combination of reduced glutathione and anthocyanidins, grapefruit seed extract called pycnogenol which is an extremely important nutrient. The health benefits you get from drinking red wine are in pycnogenols.
Then there’s green tree extract, which has the heart and anti-cancer benefits; lipolic acid which is incredibly important for the liver; n-acetyl cysteine which is a precursor for glutathione and important for the lungs; and then vitamin C. All of these other ingredients are not available in a time-released form so we couldn’t develop a time-released C. But, you must understand, this is “really serious C!”. It’s not just vitamin C - it’s so much more. So, that just means you take this formulation two to three times a day. Each capsule contains 500 mg. and the recommended dose is four (4) capsules per day or 2000 mg.
If I take the “mighty multi-vite!”, the “really serious C!” and the “bon jour!”,
am I getting all the minerals that I need every day?
Yes. And all the vitamins. And when you add in the “super E and the “absolutely essential fatty acids!”, you’re getting the omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids which are absolutely essential for brain function, immune system function, heart function and other anti-inflammatory effects in the body. These four supplements fulfill all your basic nutritional needs.
What else does glutathione do?
Glutathione, in addition to being an intracellular antioxidant, is also a mild chelating agent. That is, it removes heavy metals, chemicals and other pollutants from the body. It’s also anti-viral and an immune system stimulant.
What is chelation and what is the importance of chelation?
There are different types of chelation. Chelation means claw in Latin. In the case of vitamins, it means that the Kreb’s Cycle components are clawed on to or attached to the minerals. In terms of chelating agents like DMPS, these agents grab onto heavy metals or chemicals and remove them from the body - usually through the urinary tract - but through other organ systems as well.-
You’ve previously described a little bit of your practice, but what kind
of things do you do on a daily basis?
Well, of course, I take histories and do physical examinations, review laboratories, etc. I also do cranial-sacral manipulation. I was a student of Robert Fulford - a very talented and famous osteopathic physician who created his own method of cranial manipulation. Dr. Fulford was a student of Dr. Southerland, who developed cranial-sacral manipulation.
The premise is that the body has an energy system that circulates throughout the entire body that has a pump. Part of the pumping mechanism is in the cranial bones of the skull and in the pelvis. The energy system can be balanced through specific osteopathic manipulation of the cranial bones and the pelvis. When it’s balanced, it helps certain disease states and enables the body to heal itself more efficiently. I’m one of the few M.D.’s who do cranial-sacral manipulation.
In addition, I’m very well-trained in European homeopathy and I use complex homeopathic remedies in various forms. I am a board-certified homeopathic physician in the State of Arizona and that gives me the right and privilege to practice homeopathic medicine.
Of course, the European model of homeopathic medicine is based upon being a very well-trained physician with a thorough understanding of pharmacology and all aspects of regular medicine. Homeopathy is a wonderful supplement to that whole body of medical knowledge. I also do relaxation techniques, specifically, Autogenic Therapy which is widely used in Europe to help with chronic stress. Autogenics is a progressive relaxation technique that was developed in Russia and extensively researched. It works with the mind/body connection by empowering people to use their mind to help heal the body. I’m also a nutritionally based physician and work with diet and supplements to help my patients achieve optimal health.
What is holistic healing?
Holistic healing is a form of medicine that looks at the whole person - it doesn’t treat diseases but instead, treats the person. We need to look at people as body/mind/spirit and emotions. That’s really what makes medicine fun because just treating diseases and masking symptoms with pharmaceuticals is not particularly, in my opinion, challenging or enjoyable. I think that’s why most doctors don’t like practicing medicine today. I love the practice of medicine, however, because I enjoy working with my patients and seeing them as being so much more than just physical bodies with physical symptoms.
Could you explain homeopathy a little more?
Homeopathy is actually a very ancient form of treatment that can be traced to Hippocrates. Samuel Hahnemann modernized homeopathy in the late l8th century. It’s the treatment of like cures like. If small amounts of a natural substance create harm, then smaller amounts of that same substance can entice the body to help itself achieve a healthier state.
Immunization therapy is a good example because you are introducing small amounts of an organism into the system to entice the immune system to work more effectively. The difference is that homeopathic remedies are not just working on stimulating the immune system and they’re not immunization based. There exists tens of thousands of homeopathic remedies and they’re incredibly effective to prevent as well as treat disease states.
You mentioned neural therapy before, could you explain what that is in more detail?
Neural therapy is a highly effective form of injection therapy that originated in Germany in the 1920's using homeopathic and other preparations. It can be used to treat conditions such as chronic pain, chronic infections and many other health problems.
Bit by bit, American medicine has adopted it. For example, nerve blocks were developed in Germany in the 1920's but weren’t used in the United States until the 1940's and 1950's. The epidural, which is used by all obstetric anesthesiologists today, was also developed in Germany in the 1920's but wasn’t accepted in the United States until the mid 1980's. Trigger point injection therapy, again, was used in Germany in the 1920's and came to the United States in the mid- to late 1990's. There are many other injection therapies using homeopathics that help people tremendously with a wide variety of health problems.
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