With concerns about soaring health care costs in America -- leading to heated debate about serious reforms at the federal level -- more sectors of conventional medicine are realizing how dietary supplements can be an inexpensive and important part of a healthy lifestyle, the theme of a lecture presented by William Cooper, MD, an assistant professor of cardiothoracic surgery at Emory University's School of Medicine at a recent meeting of the Congressional Dietary Supplement Caucus.

Cooper's talk underscored the importance of taking dietary supplements, in concert with exercise and good nutrition, focusing the discussion on preventative care as a way to avoid becoming one of his cardiac patients. "When you get to me," Cooper says, "you really don't want to buy what I'm selling."

"As a nation, we are consistently inconsistent. But there are simple things that all of us every day to better our health -- and that includes taking dietary supplements." In fact, the first step toward true health care reform will happen, Cooper adds, "when you and I change our habits to be healthier."

Cooper's talk was well received by Reps. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) and Jared Polis (D-Colo.), who co-chair the caucus. "I know that these products provide so much benefit for consumers. I'm a product of it," Chaffetz says.

Nutraceuticals World June 16, 2009

NPI Center June 15, 2009