Michael T. Murray N.D. is a naturopathic physician regarded as one of the world’s top authorities on natural medicine. An educator, lecturer, researcher, and health food industry consultant, he is the author of more than 30 books, including his newest with co-author Joseph Pizzorno N.D., The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine (Atria, Third Edition, 2012). Learn more at www.drmurray.com. 
 
Health E-Insights: Why do drugs make us sicker?
 
Dr. Murray: Trying to treat the symptoms of a disease with a drug (a biochemical band-aid) often fails to address the underlying cause and as a result often leads to side effects as well as fails to halt the progression of the disease. Many drugs disrupt important physiological actions. For example, drugs used in the treatment of osteoarthritis, a condition that results from loss of cartilage structure and function, not only inhibit enzymes that cause the formation of pain and inflammation causing compounds, but also enzymes that are responsible for building cartilage. As a result, symptoms improve, but there is an acceleration of cartilage destruction. In addition, these drugs can cause serious side effects. About 7,000 people die each year from ulcers caused by drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen. Newer drugs like Celebrex, Vioxx, and Bextra have killed more Americans than the Vietnam war. Over 60,000 people.
 
Health E-Insights: What alternatives do we have?
 
Dr. Murray: Most health conditions Americans are facing owe their origin to diet, lifestyle, attitude, and lack of nutritional support. That is where the focus should be. There is a huge body of scientific evidence that supports the natural approach has being not only safer, but more effective for most common health issues.
 
Health E-Insights: What is it going to take to reverse the obesity epidemic?
 
Dr. Murray: It’s going to take complete reformulation of the American diet and lifestyle. I have been promoting what I feel is the “Holy Grail” for weight loss – it’s a newly developed matrix of soluble fibers known as PolyGlycoPlex (PGX®) – the most viscous and soluble fiber ever discovered. In fact, calling it a dietary fiber is almost a disservice as PGX performs so much better than any other fiber source. For example, PGX is able to bind roughly six hundred times its weight in water resulting in a volume and viscosity three to five times greater than other highly soluble fibers. To put this in perspective, a small, five gram serving of PGX in a meal replacement formula or on its own produces a volume and viscosity that would be equal to as much as three or four bowls of oat bran. In this way, small quantities of PGX can be added to foods or taken as a drink before meals to have an impact on appetite and blood sugar control equivalent to eating enormous and impractical quantities of any other form of fiber. Published clinical research has shown PGX to exert the following benefits: reduces the glycemic index of any food or meal up to 35 to 70%; promotes satiety and effective weight loss; increases the level of compounds that block the appetite and promote satiety; decreases the level of compounds that stimulate overeating; reduces postprandial (after-meal) blood glucose levels when added to or taken with foods; increases insulin sensitivity; stabilizes blood sugar control in the overweight and obese; and lowers blood cholesterol and triglycerides. In short, PGX addresses the key underlying factors that lead to insulin resistance and weight gain.
 
Health E-Insights: In what direction do you see the supplement industry moving?
 
Dr. Murray: We are seeing increased sophistication of products being offered. For example, more and more products are taking into consideration pharmacokinetics – the absorption, metabolic conversion, and elimination. Companies are starting to ask the question ‘How can we improve the efficacy of a natural compound by enhancing its absorption?’ It’s exciting.
 
Health E-Insights: What to you value most in your day-to-day life?
 
Dr. Murray: When it comes to answers to health questions, American’s most often look for a single magic bullet to achieve wellness – the single thing that will make all the difference. But, it is not that simple. Instead effective answers are those that contribute to a beautifully constructed web of interrelated factors. Each day our thoughts, actions, practices and habits weave together the canvas upon which our level of wellness is established and lives are painted. This undeniable fact allows us great opportunity to almost daily be able to create a life filled with a greater level of passion and interest, and a higher level of wellbeing. So, in my daily life I value the opportunity to create a life filled with health and passion. In particular, I consciously look for opportunities to express gratitude frequently and deeply. There is a large body of recent scientific work showing that people who are more grateful have higher levels of well-being and are happier, less depressed, less stressed and more satisfied with their lives and social relationships. In fact, researchers from the school of psychology at the University of Manchester in England have shown that gratitude appears to be the strongest link to health and happiness of any character trait. There is something magical that happens by being grateful.
 
Health E-Insights: What do you consider your greatest achievement?
 
Dr. Murray: Wow, I have never been asked this question. There is much that I am proud of both in my personal and professional life. My greatest achievement has been creating effective vehicles to promote achieving greater health and wellness through natural approaches. In 2012, the fourth edition of the Textbook of Natural Medicine was published as well as the third edition of The Encyclopedia of Natural. I also received the Natural Product Association’s president’s award in 2012 signifying the considerable contributions that I have made within the natural products industry.
 
Sheldon Baker is well known for creating nutraceutical brand marketing and public relations campaigns. For Health E-Insights interview consideration, contact him at [email protected]. And follow him on Twitter @NutraInk.