.>
Ken.W wrote:>> I would listen to your doctor...it wouldn't be the first time Remicade >> has>> been linked to Ken's attempt to sell pyramid-scheme vitamins as a >> substitute for medication.>
KEN WARD FAQ 2.3>
*******************> WHO IS KEN WARD?>
Ken WARD is a poster who claims to have Crohn's disease and to have> controlled it by stopping all medications and instead taking> supplements made by a corporation called USANA. Ken moonlights as a> salesman for that corporation.>
(It's a sideline job; Ken's main job is working in a warehouse,> carrying boxes back and forth. That gives you some idea of his IQ.)>
USANA has been called by some a "pyramid scheme." In a pyramid scheme,> the success of the company depends mostly on recruiting more and more> salesmen, rather than on actually selling the corporation's> merchandise.>
USANA itself admits that ***85 percent *** of its merchandise sales are>
between one salesman and another.>
*******************> WHAT IS KEN'S SALES GIMMICK?>
As part of Ken's campaign to sell USANA merchandise, he frequently> tries to encourage people in the newsgroup to stop taking medications> and instead substitute his products. A few sample posts of his> [spelling, punctuation, and capitalization are, sadly, Ken's]:>
"Instead of sticking with the meds i took the recommendation out there> to supplement my nourishment that will help me generate healthy cells> and to help keep them healthy. It has worked wonders for me!">
"If one can do with out them [medications], the better off he is in the>
long run.">
"The meds we are using for IBD are not going to cure us....Why not try> somethin that is much much safer?">
"My having not had to take any med's for the last 10 years for my> crohn's disease speaks oodles.">
"I went against the doctors advice when i did the nutrition> route...cause i was going to be building up my immune system instead of>
suppressing it.That immune system theory of suppressing it is old> medicine.">
"Drugs are bad whether they are prescribed, bought over the counter, or>
from the local pusher on the street.">
***************************> CAN I USE KEN'S MERCHANDISE AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR MEDICATION, AS HE> RECOMMENDS?>
Ken's merchandise is not appropriate for many people with IBD. For> instance:>
His products provide vitamins A, D, and E in FAT-soluble form. But> people with small-bowel Crohn's (e.g., Crohn's in the terminal ileum)> often have trouble digesting fat. In these people, fats--along with> those fat-associated vitamins--end up UNabsorbed and in the toilet.>
People with small-intestinal Crohn's should therefore find a product in>
which vitamins A, D, and E are present in WATER-soluble forms (also> sometimes called water-MISCIBLE). These products are not hard to find.>
As for the USANA fiber supplement that Ken sells (called "Fibergy"):> USANA brags that this product contains INSOLUBLE fiber. This is fiber> that cannot dissolve in water. Such fiber can be very rough on raw,> ulcerated, bleeding gut tissue. It can also have a very hard time> getting through a narrow intestinal stricture.>
Too much insoluble fiber is a common cause of the bowel obstructions> that occur in people with Crohn's strictures.>
************************> THE BOOKS KEN RECOMMENDS--ARE THEY CONNECTED TO USANA?>
Ken often recommends a book entitled "What Your Doctor Doesn't Know> About Nutritional Medicine May Be Killing You.">
The author of this book, Ray Strand, is a paid promoter of USANA> merchandise (the corporation prefers the term "member of the USANA> medical advisory board").>
Strand is a family practitioner with no advanced training in nutrition.>
In his entire career, he has never published a single paper--on> anytopic--in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.>
Strand claims that Crohn's disease is one of over 70 chronic> degenerative diseases that are caused by oxidative stress. One blurb of>
his book says:>
"[reading his book you will] learn...more about the 'root' cause of> over 70 chronic degenerative diseases--oxidative stress--you too will> realize that humanity's best safeguard against developing coronary> artery disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, hypertension, Alzheimer's> dementia, Parkinson's disease, lupus, MS, Crohn's disease, macular> degeneration, asthma, arthritis, etc, is not found in pharmacology, but>
is found within our own bodies.">
To counteract this oxidative stress, USANA promoter Strand> recommends--naturally--USANA merchandise. In his words:>
"Why I recommend USANA Products">
"I personally believe USANA Health Sciences has developed and produced> the most complete and balanced nutritional products on the market> today. In fact, all the clinical case study results documented in my> new book, "What Your Doctor Doesn't Know About Nutritional Medicine May>
Be Killing You," were achieved by using products developed and> manufactured by USANA.">
********************> Ken also likes to quote from and cite something called "The Comparative>
Guide to Nutritional Supplements" by Lyle MacWilliams.>
Lyle MacWilliams admits that he is an "independent associate"> (translation: salesman) of USANA.>
Purely as a coincidence, his book, "The Comparative Guide," ranks USANA>
merchandise as "Number 1.">
The "Comparative Guide" is self-published. The "publisher" has never> put out another book.>
These are the "experts" who ranked the vitamins in the "Comparative> Guide":>
1. PHYLLIS BALCHER. Holds no academic position whatsoever. Only> credential: member of something called the "American Association of> Nutritional Consultants." The group accepts anyone willing to pay the> $150 entrance fee. This organization has accepted a poodle, a cat, and> a hamster as members.>
2. MICHAEL COLGAN. Has published one (1) scientific paper in his entire>
career. Holds no academic position. Sells his own vitamins, tapes,> DVDs, books, newsletters, etc., at his traveling "seminars.">
Some of Colgan's fees:>
"Power Program Camp": $S1,225>
"Anti-Aging Intensive": $1,095>
"Power Program Certification Course":> Stage 1: $525> Stage 2: $650> Stage 3: $775>
3. EARL MINDELL: A "professor" at something calling itself "Pacific> Western University." Address for this school: 1650 Westwood Blvd.,> Suite 205. (Must be a TINY university.) Federal investigators at the> U.S. General Accounting Office have labeled this school a "diploma> mill"--an operation that essentially just prints up diplomas and sells> them to whoever is willing to pay.>
4. MICHAEL MURRAY. A "professor" at something called "Bastryr> University," which does not even have its own campus; it has to rent> one from the local Catholic diocese.>
Bastryr awards degrees in "natural healing," among other fields of> "expertise.">
5. RICHARD PASSWATER: A "professor" at "Bernadean University." Address> for this school: 21757 Devonshire, Suite 16 (apparently another tiny> university). Passwater received his "Ph.D." from Bernadean--an> operation that is not accredited by any group recognized by the U.S.> Secretary of Education.>
6. RAY STRAND: Paid USANA promoter. What a coincidence: The "book" he> contributes his opinions to just happens to rates his company #1!>
7. JULIAN WHITTAKER: Has created "a formula that has 17 ingredients> that help the eyes. It's called 'Vission Essentials,' and you can call> 1-800..."]>
*********************> KEN SAYS HIS MERCHANDISE IS "PHARMACEUTICAL GRADE." WHAT IS THAT? IS HE>
TELLING THE TRUTH?>
Ken likes to claim that his merchandise is "pharmaceutical grade"--made>
in accordance with the same manufacturing standards use to produce> prescription drugs. This claim cannot be verified.>
For a company to legitimately call its supplements "pharmaceutical> grade," it must allow its production facilities and its products to be> examined/inspected by a non-profit organization called the U.S.> Pharmacopeia.>
The USP operates a purely voluntary inspection/verification program> just for supplements. USANA will not participate in it. Because USANA> won't let the USP perform inspections, we have NO idea what is in USANA>
merchandise, let alone whether it is "pharmaceutical grade" or> "hog-feed grade.">
For more on the USP's program, and for a list of companies that DO> allow USP inspections, go to:>
Another source that tests supplements independently:>
***********************> USEFUL LINKS>
For more on pyramid schemes, check out:>
For information on USANA's Mexican "clinic," which treats desperate> cancer patients with wheatgrass enemas, colored-light "therapy," and> magnet "therapy," go to:>
