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Obama's Healthcare Debate and Dr. Chao's 8 Herbal Ounces of Prevention

Posted on: Thursday, 1 October 2009, 07:30 CDT

CLAREMONT, Calif., Oct. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- President Obama's healthcare reform effort dominates American news. From raucous meetings to Sen. Max Baucus' suggested legislation, front-page stories, headlines, op-eds, talk radio, TV talking heads and blogs chronicle and wrangle over proposals to change America's medical insurance. Republicans fight Democrats, liberals battle conservatives. U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson interrupts the President during a joint session of Congress and "teabagger" protesters denounce Obama for plotting "death panels" and big government takeover of America's healthcare. Progressives endorse single payer, while the public option, a co-op plan, doing nothing at all, etc., are debated.

Amidst all this sound and fury something crucial is overlooked: prevention. One commentator who hasn't neglected this essential factor is comedian Bill Maher, host of HBO's "Real Time." During the presidential race Maher observed on his cable TV program, "none of the [candidates'] plans address the real problem. We won't stop being sick until we stop making ourselves sick. Because there is a point where even the most universal government health program can't help you. They can't outlaw unhealthy food or alcohol... "

Maher added, "the government isn't your nanny." Indeed, even if Washington insures everyone, individuals pursuing unhealthy lifestyles can fall ill. As Maher observed: "Fifty years ago, children didn't even get Type 2 Diabetes. Now, it's an emerging epidemic. As are a long list of ailments which used to be rare... " (A 2004 Journal of the American Medical Association report found: "Higher consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with ... weight gain and an increased risk for development of type 2 diabetes in women... ")

In his televised rant, Maher asserted, "diet and exercise don't fail ... [A] new Duke University study showed exercise ... is just as effective a cure for depression as Paxil and Zoloft ... [I]f Republicans can sell the idea of preemptive war, Democrats have to at least get us interested in ... preventive medicine."

The HBO humorist's notion is older than the U.S. In 18th-century colonial America Dr. Benjamin Franklin noted: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." While universal health insurance may be worthwhile, individuals must also be active participants in their own wellness, instead of passive victims complicit in their sicknesses.

Among those who believe soda is an addictive silent killer loaded with sugar, preservatives, carbs and often caffeine that's responsible for much of America's obesity and diabetes is Chinese herbalist Ted Chao. Previously herbs -- plants with healing properties -- were consumed in tablet, pill or powder form. But drawing upon his family's herbal heritage, as well as China's 5,000-year-old medical tradition, Ted has rendered herb-based recipes into liquid form to be consumed in eight-ounce flip-top cans.

The Dr. Chao Herbal Drink Line is a healthy soft drink alternative of 100% natural and vegan beverages, without sugar, caffeine, calories, glutens, artificial sweeteners or preservatives, featuring numerous health benefits. "Dr. Chao" refers to Ted's illustrious ancestor, Baoyin Chao, a famous 1870s herbalist from Guizhou Province in Southwest China.

Ted and his family followed in his famous great-great-grandfather's footsteps. When Ted grew up, his family "always used herbs for nutrition and treatment, and knew their uses very well." They established a hospital, institute, clinic and herbal school at Guizhou, where Ted worked in 1989 when he was 24, after graduating with a master's from the Guiyang College of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

In 2007 Ted came to America, pondering how to make "the consumption of herbs more convenient for consumers." The entrepreneurial herbalist started working with California's National Food Laboratory, "a consulting organization specializing in transforming inspiration and experience into innovative food and beverage development," according to NFL's website. They looked into the best way to preserve herbs' beneficial properties and providing convenience to users. Ultimately, they hit upon the idea of liquefying the herbs - which keeps them fresher than powders and pills - and the Dr. Chao Herbal Drink Line was born. The China-grown herbs are processed into soft drinks at a FDA-certified factory in Wisconsin that also produces V8 juice.

Doctor Chao, who spent years studying plants' healing powers, compiled an herbal encyclopedia. The Dr. Chao Herbal Drink Line formulas come from this manuscript, hundreds of parchment pages bearing handwritten recipes in Chinese characters. Like the Kentucky Colonel's "secret recipe" for "finger lickin' good" chicken, Ted declines to disclose the closely guarded formulations of his forebear.

However, in an interview at the Claremont, California headquarters of his firm, U.S. People Foods & Beverages Company (http://www.uspfb.com, 877-2DR-CHAO), Ted revealed the recipes, ingredients and benefits of the Dr. Chao Herbal Drink Line. "The 'Stress Reliever' alleviates symptoms caused by stress, such as headaches, insomnia, irritability, frequent urination, diarrhea, muscle spasms, neck and back pain," Ted explained. "It has Cordyceps [caterpillar fungus], saffron, Fructus Momordicae [Grosvenor Momordica fruit], Herba Hyperici Japonici [St. John's Wort], Herba Hottuyniae [Heartleaf], Rubus suavissimus [Sweet Leaf extract] and Lavender."

According to Ted, "The 'Adult Drink' is similar to Viagra, but in a natural way. It's designed to increase sexual health, by stimulating healthy production of sexual hormones and glands, and combating sexual exhaustion." The herbs include Herba Epimedii (Horny Goat Weed), Cordyceps, Fructus Lycii (Wolfberry Fruit), Herba Cynomorii (Cynomorium Stem) and Fructus Momordicae.

"The 'Lady Drink' is as an herbal detox beauty drink with anti-oxidants for removing impurities from women's internal systems, improving facial skin and alleviating PMS symptoms. It excretes toxic substances, combats aging, promotes blood circulation and ovarian health, regulates the endocrine system, enhances kidney and liver functions, and helps with weight loss. Lady Drink is made with Herba Leonuri [Motherwort Herb], Saffron, aloe and Fructus Momordicae," stated the U.S.P.F.B. president. A new drink to cure hangovers' effects will be launched soon called "21."

Ted plans to bring Eastern wisdom to the West in the shape of healthy soft drinks to replace sugary sodas, caffeine-laced energy drinks, etc. "Herbs can supplement healthcare. I want to introduce herbal drinks to the whole world. When the public knows their value, they'll love it," he proclaimed. If Ben Franklin's prevention proverb is true, Ted Chao believes the Dr. Chao Herbal Drink Line provides eight herbal ounces of preventive healthcare per can. For more info see http://www.uspfb.com or contact Jane Zheng: 877-2DR-CHAO.

Image: http://www.uspfb.com/articles.php

This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE U.S. People Foods & Beverages Company

Source: PR Newswire

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