We'd recommend that you continue your twice a day dose of Pentabosol™ until you've reached your weight and/or body fat goals. After that time you may quit taking the product. Many people opt to continue taking the product occasionally or at bedtime. (Because Pentabosol™ also helps to promote a healthier blood cholesterol level, many people continue taking it nightly for that reason.) For some people, reaching their body fat goal will be a matter of a few weeks or months. For others, it may be a number of months or even a year. It just depends on how much weight you have to lose to reach your ideal.

No, certainly not. And it can be especially useful to help you recover from holidays, vacations, and other extended falls from the sound diet wagon.

One action of Pentabosol™ appears to be an increase in your liver's production and storage of glycogen (the storage form of glucose or blood sugar). As the liver's storage tank fills up, that sends a signal that you're well fed and full, turning off your appetite. While it's grand not to feel hungry, when you're used to being hungry on a most diets, this effect is a bit of a double edged sword; despite your lack of hunger, you really must make an effort to eat all the protein and other nutrients your body needs to function optimally. Even though you're not as hungry, don't skimp on your protein intake—be sure to eat your required daily portions of meat, poultry, eggs, fish, dairy, or soy along with plenty of good low-starch and -sugar vegetables and fruits. Lack of incoming protein gives a starvation signal to your body, slowing your metabolism down and, sometimes, stalling your weight loss progress.

There are no stimulants in Pentabosol, but everyone reacts differently to supplements. We recommend that you start with half a scoop of Pentabosol™ twice a day to see if you have any adverse reaction and if not, increase your dose to a full scoop twice a day.

Certainly, you could do this if you took the individual ingredients in the proper ratios, however, we used this method ourselves when we first developed the product to make our first tests on it. And we can assure you that Pentabosol™ offers you two distinct advantages over any homemade version. First, you'd have to take a rather large handful of pills twice a day to get the correct amounts of these nutrients individually; we think a single scoop of pleasant tasting powder is far superior. And secondly, the cost of purchasing these nutrients becomes prohibitive. We've worked diligently with our formulating manufacturer to get the cost of this combined product at its rock bottom level. Cobbling together your own version of Pentabosol™ from the health food store—even at cut-rate prices—would triple or even quadruple your cost of the product. We know—we tried it ourselves.

Although Pentabosol™ appears to be safe and has not been shown to adversely affect any of these conditions, if you are under the care of a physician for any of these problems and taking medication to control the disorder, it's always wise to speak with your physician before taking any new supplement or medication or even before beginning a new diet or exercise program in case your medication doses have to be adjusted. It is unwise and unsafe to attempt to adjust medications on your own.

Studies have not been done to address the safety of Pentabosol™ in these two groups or to determine whether Pentabosol™ appears in human breast milk. For these reasons, we do not recommend that women take the product during these times. That said, after delivery in women who elect not to breast-feed or after weaning in those who do, Pentabosol™ is of great help in losing the baby weight

A few customers have reported that their morning sugar levels go up initially, but after a week or so on Pentabosol™, they come back down to their "normal" levels. In fact some diabetics are reporting that their sugar levels are dropping as they continue the product. It's important to let your doctor know you are taking Pentabosol™ and to monitor your blood sugar regularly (especially your morning and before dinner levels) to help your doctor adjust your medications.

If you are on some form of medication for acid indigestion, take your reflux medication about a half hour before taking your Pentabosol™. It may also help to dilute the Pentabosol™ in more water than the 6 to 8 ounces recommended or to take it with meals instead of on an empty stomach.

First, if you aren't following a sound low-carb diet, you should begin one—begin by reducing the amount of bread, cereal grains, potatoes, sugars and other starchy foods in your diet. If you are on a low-carb regimen, take a look at the amounts of calorie dense foods you're eating, especially cream, cheese, nuts, and nut butters. You have to create some sort of calorie deficit to lose weight effectively. Simply becoming more mindful of food choices—eating good quality proteins, fresh low-starch and low-sugar fruits and veggies as described in Low Carb Basics in this guidebook—may be all it takes.

If you appear to be doing everything right and still not losing, try taking a third dose of Pentabosol™ about 30 minutes before lunch or adding the Pentabosol™ partner products, Metabolic Optimizer and Herbal Enhancer to turbo-charge your weight loss.

Currently, no medications have been identified that interact adversely with Pentabosol™. The product contains no stimulants and therefore it should not raise blood pressure or heart rate or interfere with blood pressure or heart medications.

Although we'd all like to believe that once we've adopted a nutritional strategy, we'll stick with it unfailingly, the reality is that almost all of us fall off the wagon once in a while. In fact, it's not so bad to do that from time to time, just to preserve your emotional balance. Since Pentabosol™ works best if blood sugar and blood insulin are low—as they'll be on a lower carbohydrate diet—you won't get the maximal power of the product if you've strayed too far from your low carbohydrate ideal. However, you must remember that an overnight fast (no food coming in after dinner) will go a long way toward restoring your metabolic balance. If for a special occasion—and we encourage you to try to make all your falls off the wagon meaningful ones—you've eaten more carbs than you'd intended, go right ahead and take your evening dose of Pentabosol™ on an empty stomach before bed, certain in the knowledge that your elevated blood sugar and insulin will fall during the night and you should be back on the fat burning track by morning—not too much worse for the wear, and perhaps a little wiser.

When you become adapted to a lower carbohydrate intake and your body fuels its energy needs with fat, it would make sense that being able to shove fat into the furnace faster would help you along. But to enhance performance—if you're really in shape and not overly fat—you may need to actually eat a fair amount more good quality (healthy) fat than most of us. Fat has become your primary fuel source for energy while exercising and if your body fat isn't elevated, you may find that you "run out of gas" on this product. Just remember that on a low carbohydrate diet, the "gas" you're running on is dietary fat and body fat. With that in mind, you'll want to follow the lead of the triathlete training camps and fat load before endurance events—guacamole, olives, cheeses, meats. You may even want to eat some fat during the event. A good source, easily portable for the athlete, is macadamia nuts, a source with plenty of fat calories to sustain you, and not many carbs to get in the way of effective fat burning. That way, you can get a boost from Pentabosol™.

Vitamins and minerals are essential for life. Yet, how can we be sure that we are getting adequate amounts? Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs) were established as guidelines. They indicated the smallest amount of each nutrient that was required to prevent overt deficiency symptoms. These have been updated over the years. In 1993 Reference Daily Intakes (RDIs) replaced RDAs. They represent the average person's need for each nutrient. The RDAs and RDIs are essentially the same values

There are two problems associated with the reliance upon the RDA/RDI guidelines. They merely reflect amounts needed to prevent overt deficiency symptoms, not requirements for optimal health or prevention of chronic degenerative diseases such as stroke, cancer, diabetes and heart disease. These represent the major health challenges facing us today, not nutrient deficiency states like scurvy, rickets, beriberi or pellagra.

RDIs reflect the minimal needs of the average healthy person. This is a "one size fits all" approach. We currently live in a "toxic" world. Air, water and food are all tainted. Physical and mental stress cause nutrient depletion. Many disease processes increase nutrient requirements. Medications frequently cause nutrient depletion. Changes that make the body function less efficiently occur with aging. The elderly are generally sicker, eat less, take more medication and thus require more nutrients, not fewer. Women are especially at risk for nutrient deficiencies. We are all genetically different and are differentially exposed to these factors that increase individual requirements for optimal health. This makes the current RDIs even more woefully inadequate.

The RDIs were developed with the intent that they be met solely through dietary means. For numerous reasons, it is virtually impossible to meet even these minimal standards by eating the food available today. The belief in a well balanced diet is impractical. Many published reports show significant portions of even affluent societies are nutritionally deficient.

Even if a balanced diet containing the RDIs for each nutrient is consumed, deficiencies may still occur. This is because of depletion of nutrients in the soil, loss during processing, lack of bioavailability (meaning that the nutrient is in a form that is inaccessible to our bodies) and loss during food preparation.

When people begin taking nutritional supplements, they generally don't know what to expect. The most common response is, "I just feel better." Having more energy, fewer colds, better concentration, and enhanced well-being are common observations. Vitamins and minerals start working immediately, but it takes time to reverse a longstanding subclinical deficiency. In general, beneficial effects are often noted within three to six weeks.

As long as you want to look and feel your best.

No, there is a great variability in multivitamin formulations. Just as a great salad is best when the ingredients are organic, wholesome, and fresh, multivitamins are only as good as their individual ingredients. Each should be tested for authenticity. This means you get what you are paying for—that which is listed on the label, exactly as each dosage is stated. There should be no impurities, toxins, or pollutants. All components should be bio-available, meaning in a form that the body may absorb and utilize.

Prevailing scientific thought should be used to calculate appropriate amounts of each ingredient necessary for optimal health in today's lifestyle. This is not always taken into account during the formulation process. Many multivitamin preparations provide only the RDI. As has been discussed, this may only prevent vitamin deficiencies from developing but is far from providing optimal health.

Select Multi was formulated not only to meet, but to exceed, the needs of modern active Americans, taking into account their stressful lifestyles, eating habits, sleep-deprived state, environmental concerns, and disease risk factors. This includes attention to the quality and handling of the raw materials, bioavailability, mechanical factors (how well it dissolves), augmentation, balance of key nutrients, and shelf life.

Obesity is epidemic in America. It will soon overtake smoking as the major cause of health-related morbidity and mortality. Two out of every three Americans are overweight, and pediatric obesity has doubled in the last ten years. Adult onset diabetes is now being seen in children, and increasing obesity is the reason why. Many Americans who are not yet overweight may expect to be within the next five years.

We have developed Select Multi to meet the special needs of this segment of our population. This is reflected in the choice of each of the ingredients, amounts, ratios, and specific formulation. In addition to the vitamin and mineral supplements, we have included antioxidants. These nutrients play key roles in cellular defense against dangerous free radicals—compounds responsible for aging, chronic disease, and cancer. In addition, this is the first and only multivitamin to include a specially formulated network of nutrients called antireductants that help to prevent the formation of free radicals. This is something antioxidants cannot do. Hence, antioxidants and antireductants provide synergistic benefits. This represents a significant advance in personal preventative medicine.

Many diseases are associated with nutrient deficiencies. Multivitamin supplementation helps meet these additional nutritional requirements and many even make medications work more effectively.

It is always wise to consult with your physician or healthcare practitioner, because there are infrequent adverse interactions with medications. For example, blood thinners may not be as effective, or doses may need to be increased, if the multivitamin contains Vitamin K.

Multivitamins should be taken in divided doses twice a day with meals. Either just before, during, or within 20 minutes after meals works best.

Multivitamins don't last forever; their potency gradually diminishes over time. Unopened vitamins generally last for a couple years. Six to twelve months may be expected after they are opened. Multivitamins should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place. The refrigerator is not optimal because it may be too cold and often has enough moisture to adversely affect certain vitamins.

Vitamins and minerals are nutrients that we cannot live without. At the beginning of the 20th century, several researchers wondered whether certain foods contained factors that prevented disease. Based upon earlier investigations, they believed these food factors belonged to a group of organic nitrogen compounds named "amines." Hence they called them "vital amines," or vitamines. Further study ultimately proved that these compounds were not amines at all, but the name stuck and was subsequently shortened to vitamins. Minerals, unlike vitamins, are inorganic. They are not produced by plants and animals. Like vitamins, minerals act with enzymes, helping critical reactions occur throughout the body.

Initially, vitamins were studied through the observation of animals and humans who were on diets devoid of one specific compound. Each vitamin deficiency resulted in an identifiable and reproducible disease or disorder. This type of insight confirmed their essential character.

Digestive enzymes allow us to break down food for absorption. Enzymes also form the basis for each metabolic process in the body. They make things happen, and happen fast. Without enzymes hearts wouldn't beat, brains wouldn't think and we wouldn't be able to breathe, smile or walk. Without vitamins, enzymes can't do their job. Consider a particular enzyme that is needed to transmit feeling from your finger to your brain. No matter how plentiful the enzyme is, if vitamin B6 is deficient, the enzyme cannot be activated. The result could be numbness or tingling in the fingers.