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Welcome to my blog. I have a unique perspective on life after working in the business of building and operating factories for my own company and before that for Zapata Corp. since 1973. I have been fortunate to be able to make direct use of my 5 years of study in college and grad school where I focused on biology and the economics of renewable natural resources which became my field of work. It is therefore no accident that Seagate produces its own ingredients from renewable natural resources. |
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I hope this blog will give you some insight into the vision and energy behind Seagate, our views on the natural foods industry, the economy, and how we as a company deal with each. You are welcome to post comments and questions on subjects of interest to you that are related to your own health issues, the health food industry, this company or the economy. There is one rule – I am not a doctor and therefore do not give medical advice. To begin, I have chosen the one area of most concern to all: |
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Seagate operations during this economy downturn |
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Economic times are now rough for everyone. Unfortunately the U.S. economy has been built during the last 20 years on inflated asset values and the subsequent mortgaging of these inflated values to allow consumers to over-extend themselves. The bubble burst and we now face a period of deflation. So how are we prepared and what does Seagate do to cope with this changing economy? Seagate has the advantage of producing all of its own raw materials from our fishing and farming operations and processing them in our own factory. During the past 27 years, we have struggled with periods of inflation, recession, reorganization of our product lines, and even changing from one industry to another. As a fishing company, we retain the fishing philosophy – during the good years you save and pay off your debts so that you can survive the bad years. All of our earnings during the good years went to pay off debt and the remainder was invested into machinery and equipment to produce new products and to make existing production at lower and lower cost. In order to lower our costs and become a more efficient producer, Seagate needs to maintain a steady volume. Therefore it has been no accident that you have seen us provide buy 1 get 1 specials, 10% discounts on large orders, free shipping … etc. Not only does this provide for good customer relations, the added volume helps our company to be more a more efficient manufacturer. During the past year, we have reversed a growing trend in the health food industry by shipping some of our products into China, where they are able to compete with Chinese-made health food products. |
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New Products under Development |
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| I have found that the best way for Seagate during hard times is to continue to develop new innovative products and to improve our efficiency at producing existing products. Seagate has 2 new products under development. Stop Athlete’s Foot will be a natural homeopathic medicine designed to compete with the over-the-counter chemical-based remedies. Also under development is an Olive Leaf homeopathic Vaginal Spray for yeast infections. This is water-based, easily absorbable, and needs no panty liners because it eliminates the mess of the suppositories currently sold over-the-counter. The only missing component to finish this product is the development of an acceptable pump spray cap. | ||
 A lot of the artwork produced for Seagate, including the painting of Monet’s Garden appearing on the boxes of Smooth Skin were done by Michelle, who is a professional artist known for her flowers and outdoor lanscapes. You can visit her work at www.MichelleLentz.com |
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Thank you for taking the time to visit. |
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Anything goes (except medical advice)
23 Responses
Leave a Comment
November 22nd, 2008 at 9:30 am
What products might be good to help with uterine cancer? Can you give me a list of items I can purchase? Please suggest a regimen to follow for healthy treatments.
Richard responds — Danny, this question violates the one and only rule I made for this page — “Anything goes (except medical advice)” so that the FDA does not shut us down. But I can answer you this way: If I had this problem, I would be taking 20-40 grams/day of (click) shark fin cartilage plus 5-10 capsules/day of (click)Beta Glucan GS with shark cartilage and I would closely follow Doug Kaufmann’s Phase I diet. I hope these ideas help.
January 7th, 2009 at 11:00 am
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR INFORMATION.THIS IS A GREAT WEBSITE!!
January 7th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
I have fibromyalgia. I also follow the theory of “The Zone” diet eating plan by Barry Sears PHD. I love your extra virgin olive oil softgels. This is a great antioxidant for daily use and part of the theory of The Zone diet. It would be great if the softgels were made in a smaller size (250 or 500) as the 1,000 mg is so large and more than I want to take with every meal. No one can touch your “quality” of product and it could be a great marketing opportunity for you. I would purchase them and tell everyone I know. There is not much available on the market in these sizes.
Seagate replies- Hi Gayle - Seagate puts the oil into this size capsule (1 gram) in order to give the largest dose. The FDA allows us to put a statement on the label that taking 23 grams of olive oil per day can reduce the incidence of secondary heart attacks. So we are encouraging people to take more, but swallow fewer capsules to get up to these levels.
January 7th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
A Jan. ‘09 Reader’s Digest article, pg.80 regarding sinusitis caught my attention. It reads that possibly arthritis, fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue may be a misdiagnosis of recurring sinus infections. I have all three along with thyroid malfunction and have had a swelling under my right eye for over 35+ years. Too shorten this story, I’ve gotten most of the body pain and other systoms under control. I’m excited because I’ve recently started working on the lump under my right eye with your Olive Leaf Nasal Spray and perhaps I might get even diminished symptoms. Up to now, I didn’t use it as often as directed - but it still was helping. I’ll start taking it as directed. Can you build a tolerance to continuous sprays? I’m also going to try your shark cartilege, I’m sure my immune system is over-reacting. Wish me luck? Thanks.
Seagate replies - Hi Anna- There is no problem using the Olive Leaf Nasal Spray continuously. We have many customers using it on a daily basis for allergies, as a preventative, and for general maintenance. We would wish you luck with the shark cartilage, except that with our 16 years producing it and seeing it help so many people, it is not a matter of good luck. It generally works for most people.
January 8th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
Hello Richard,
Just a testimonial to say that the Smooth Skin
product applied daily to my arthritic knees keeps
them moving and pain free!
Thanks for superior products and your
personal dedication!
Richard replies - Hi B.J. - That is a new application for the Smooth Skin that I have never heard of before your email. It must be the shark liver oil in this product that is helping. My first choice for arthritic knees (which I have) would have been the shark cartilage. I use it for my knee which is bone on bone — and do not have any pain. There is a longer explanation if you go to the link above to the shark cartilage page and click on research and read the bottom paragraph about the work of rheumatologist Dr. Salvatore Albani of UCSD Medical School. Thank you for your posting and kind words.- Richard
January 9th, 2009 at 11:37 am
Thank you SO much for what you do! Seagate products are the BEST; and I will buy from no one else. Do you know of a good site to seek medical advice from someone who won’t just “push the drugs”? I’m trying to get answers for my dad with thrombocytosis: too many red blood cells…
Richard replies- Hi Brooke - I don’t know of any site providing free medical advice. Doctors need to see their patients in order to make proper diagnoses. However here is a site we use at Seagate to research the latest medical research on all disease — Pub Med run by the Natitional Institute of Health. You can do a lot of research here on your own.
I hope this helps. - Richard
January 9th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
I am so glad to see this blog and the good discussion. It is a wonderful way to learn! Thank you so much for the insight and information.
May you prosper even as your soul prospers-no matter what the economy does now or in the future.
Hi Billie - Seagate has been fortunate that we are staying very busy. Many of these products fall into the category of necessities — inexpensive subsitutes for prescription medicines, especially subsititutes for antibiotics. Providing the specials and the free internet shipping has helped our customers. But most important, we have slowly built the company without bank loans. We expanded the plant and equipment only as we could pay for things with cash. This is tyical fishing company mentality — take advantage of when you have good times to be prepared for the bad times. Thank you! Richard
January 11th, 2009 at 10:31 am
My daughter was diagnosed with mono recently. I know her immune system could use a big boost. If you had mono, what products would you suggest . I watch Doug Kaufman every day on my computer, totally agree with him on fungus. Before we knew she had mono, she had problems with vaginal infections.(new for her)
I think your products would help.
Thanks for your advise.
Richard replies - Hi Carolyn - If I had mono, I would first bombard it with the Olive Leaf Extract. It seems to work on all sorts of viral-related problems. I would also take the Beta Glucan - Beta 204 for children as mentioned in the email above to help stimulate the immune system. I would also get plenty of rest and drink a lot of fluids …. and follow any other doctor’s instructions. Since this is a virus-related, I would stay away from antibiotics.
PS- Since you mention vaginal infections, we are working on the packaging for a new product under development since last year — it will be an Olive Leaf Vaginal Spray — to treat yeast (candida) infections. We should be in production with this by April or May.
January 11th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Just to note above not asking for medical advise. Just asking about what products are best to build up immune system. Have just recently been introduced to your companies product. Thanks
Richard replies - Dear Carolyn - We have 2 primary immune support products: the Beta GS which has 20 mg of maitake beta glucan plus 650 mgs of shark cartilage is our “therapeutic” level immune support product; the Beta 204 is what we recommend as a maintenance dose beta glucan which contains 4 mgs beta glucan plus 200 mgs of carrot powder. The Beta 204 comes in child-sized capsules and is specifically made in this dosage with carrot powder for children.
January 11th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
I feel very blessed to have found you through Doug Kaufman’s show!
I am wondering if you have a product that I could give to my little 4 lb Chihuahua, who is suffering with extreme sinus allergies?
Thank you for your dedication to produce superior products!
Richard replies - Hi Christine - First of all, thank you for the kind words and for watching Doug’s show. We appreciate your support!
We do not do any animal testing of our products. However, you could try using the Olive Leaf Nasal Spray. I doubt the dog will like to have anything sprayed up into its nose. But it might help. The Nasal Spray seems to help most adults and even children’s sinus problems and infections. So I would not see any harm in trying it on a dog. Let us know the results.
February 20th, 2009 at 8:42 am
Hi Richard,
I’m new to Seagate, and just recently placed my first order with your company. I discovered you through Doug Kaufmann.
I have a very important concern I’d like to ask your opinion on. I notice that you avoid using any excipients or fillers in your supplements (which I greatly appreciate). I take a lot of supplements, and notice most all of them contain the filler ‘magnesium stearate’ (listed as a “vegetable source” on the labels). Recently, I’ve been coming across a few reports on the health hazards of ingesting this particular substance. Is this a legitimate concern, or overblown? I’d appreciate your take. Thanks. -Brian
Richard replies - Hi Brian, - Magnesium stearate is used by a lot (most) supplement companies as a filler which acts as a lubricant during the encapsulation process. In other words, they use it to make their machinery run faster. It has also been used by companies as a filler to substitute for the real product since it is a white powdery substance and tends to blend in. This was quite common 14 years ago when some of our other competing shark cartilage manufacturers used it as a filler to dilute the amount of shark cartilage in their capsule (and make more $). While it is common in the supplement and pharmaceutical industries, it is not necessary. Some sites claim that taking a lot of it can be hazardous. There is still a debate about that. We at Seagate just run our equipment a little slower and don’t need to be exposing our customers to these chemicals. One other important point is that while magnesium stearate does come from a vegetable source, mostly from hyrdrogenating cottenseed or palm oil, a lot of that oil has been taken from plants that have been sprayed with pesticides. Anyway, we at Seagate don’t use it or any other filler or excipient for all of the above reasons. Good question. Thank you, Richard
March 25th, 2009 at 10:59 am
I am seeking natural products that affect trigger points that produce nodual’s of pain in the muscle’s. If you can’t do you know of any websites. I have used tens machines and seen doctors with no real results. Thank you for any help.
Seagate replies - I can’t address your trigger points and nodules of pain specifically because we are not allowed to prescribe to you since we are not doctors. But I can answer you this way … what I might use if if I had this is the shark cartilage and the shark liver oil.
April 25th, 2009 at 6:10 am
Do you have a report, or information on what Olive leaf will do for “MRSA”? Thank you for any information you can give me.
Seagate replies - Hello Barbara. We tested 6 products in an independent lab against the MRSA. Since we are not allowed to claim these products are antibiotics, we have not placed the results on the blog. A copy of the results has been emailed to you. Anyone else wanting to see the results, can sign on and leave a message and we will email you the report. These is now an ER doctor in Tenesee using the Olive Leaf Nasal spray for topical MRSA rashes. Thank you.
May 6th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Hi,
Just a question about your olive leaf nasal spray. I would like to get it for my husband because he has alot of sinus trouble. I think it would really help him. The only problem is that he breaks out in hives when he drinks grapefruit juice and the spray has grapefruit seed extract in it. Do you have the nasal spray without this. I enjoy watching Know the Cause online. Thanks.
Seagate replies - Hi Beth, Sorry we only make one nasal spray. However, the amount of grapefruit seed extract in the formulation is less than 1%.
September 2nd, 2009 at 1:01 pm
I just have a question regarding a child dose of Olive Leaf Extract. My 7 year-old son has allergies and asthma and it has been recommended that he take olive leaf extract but he will not be able to swallow the capsules. I was wondering if we could open the capsule and pour it into some applesauce or something so he could get the benefits of the OLE without taking the capsule. If so, what would be the dosage for a 7 year old who weighs about 55 lbs? Thanks so much for your help and your products!
Seagate replies — Hello Jill — remember, we are not doctors and the olive leaf is a supplement not a medicine. Therefore there is no specific “dosage”. However, I would use 1 -2 capsules a day opening the capsules and pouring the powder into applesauce.
October 20th, 2009 at 6:37 am
I am looking for an immune support supplement as well as a good multivitamin for my 6 and 8 yr olds. the 8 yr old is a very picky eater. He plays soccer but seems like he’s so much slower (he’s very lean and weighs approx 65 lbs)than the other kids his age and doesn’t seem to have the energy levels as other boys his age. Wondering if it could be some sort of deficiency? Thank you so much!
Seagate replies - You would need to have someone diagnose the problem to see if there is some sort of dietary problem. However, we can help you with the immune support withBeta 204 a combination of carrot powder and beta glucans from the Maitake mushroom. Thank you.
October 20th, 2009 at 6:40 am
Hello again, my niece (18 yrs old) suffers severely from allergies (seasonal as well as food, mainly nuts, grains and most fruits) She has been on Zyrtec for years and is prone to sinus infections thereby being on antibiotics fairly regularly. What do you recommend? I am sure her diet is a key factor in helping but wanted to try and get her off these precription meds and eventually have her cured completely!! Thanks again for all of your help and your service in helping others get well the way God intended us to…NATURALLY!!!
Seagate replies- The first thing we recommend is to deal with getting her off the things that you know are causing the problems especially all those prescription … if you believe they are causing a problem. Then you should reevaluate her and see how much that has helped. For her sinuses we do have a good solution - Olive Leaf Nasal spray.
October 29th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Your products are the best. I have used and have trusted them from the beginning. I always got a kick out of Richard when he answered the phone and took my orders! I continue to buy & promote your products to everyone, and trust them for my grandchildren.
My question: If you had Tinnitus (ringing in the ears), would you try any of the liquid olive leaf, or the ear drops?
Thanks in advance for your comments, and most of all, THANK YOU for your products and a company I know I can trust to do business with.
Irish Blessings,
Jan McGrath
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Seagate replies- Hello Jan - Nice to hear from you. The nasal, throat, and earache products all have liquified olive leaf extract as a component. However, I would use only the Earache Remedy in my ears because that product and its applicator are specifically designed for that application. Regarding tinnitus, there can be a variety of causes which may or may not be helped by the Earache Remedy. It can caused by things as diverse as issues with nerve problems, blood pressure, or infection. While I recommend that you try and get a proper diagnosis from a professional, I also realize that this is a problem whose cause is poorly diagnosed. We have had customers give us feedback that in some cases the Earache Remedy helped their tinitis … but in other cases, it did not. If I had the tinitus, most likely I would first try the eardrops and see if they helped before going to the doctor. Hope this helps you
Regards - Richard.
March 26th, 2010 at 10:12 am
I have had a goiter for about 6 years now. My blood work is normal and I have no symptons for hypo or hyper. The doctors do not know the cause. They are basically just watching it. I had thought about iodine. I know back in the day low iodine was the cause for goiters. What would you recommend?
Thanks,
Seagate responds — Rule #1 of this blog happens to be our only rule which is also the name of this blog page — “Anything goes (except medical advice)”. Were we to recommend a treatment for goiters using one of our products, the following series of events would soon follow: #1 The FDA would shut down our website, fine us, and then depending upon their mood, say that each product we listed for the treatment of goiters would now be redefined as a medicine requiring drug-testing and approval before they could again be put on the market; and #2 the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) would learn about us from their friends at FDA and would take us to Court for falsely advertising a food as a drug.
So, I can answer you this way. We have only one product that has a high iodine content – seaweed . We cannot tell you whether seaweed treats anything.
June 13th, 2010 at 8:23 am
Been taking OLE, nasal spray, throat spray, shark cartilege for the dogs,etc. of your products for years with superb results. Recently “temporarily” put on lisinopril for high blood pressure and metformin for diabetes. Are there any drug interactions with any medications and any of your products? Wishing your company the best!
Seagate replies - Hi Rosemary - We do not test our food products, supplements or homeopathic medicines for drug interactions. However, we can say that in all the years we have been processing these products we have not had any report of any of the products having any drug interaction. Thank you for the support.
June 15th, 2010 at 4:58 am
Thank you for the speedy reply!
July 6th, 2010 at 4:13 pm
Just curious as to why your products are not standardized and under GMP compliance?
Seagate replies — Hello Brandon - We have 29 different products. They are all produced in factories that are either GMP certified or have a pharmaceutical license. With regard to standardization, there are “two schools of thought”. One belief is that that there is some magical single ingredient active in a supplement product (ie. oleuropein in the olive leaf extract) that should be concentrated and standardized. We happen to disagree because there are many components of the olive leaf extract that together give this supplement its properties. You can see a longer explanation of this specific product and standardization vs. non-standardization by going on our website discussion of oleuropein standardization . We similarly do not standardize our other products like shark cartilage, grape seed extract … etc. Standardization usually requires concentration using chemicals that will select one component and reduce another. We believe in the idea that Nature made it right and it is not our job to be altering the composition of these products by guessing that there is any one single component that should be concentrated. Thank you for your comment.
August 9th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
my grandaughter is 4 and has low iron but when she takes it she gets constipated what can she take from you
Seagate replies - Our Seagate Marine Minerals composed of minerals concentrated from seawater, fish bones and kelp contains 155 mcg/3 capsule serving. This might not be as harsh on her digestion as taking a mineral supplement that comes from rocks.