Experience Health and Wellness

Do Nopalea and Diabetes Mix?

2012-01-28T05:40:00.000-08:00

Question: Can I take Nopalea if I have diabetes?
Answer: Yes! Here is how…

Diabetes
Diabetes comes in two types:

Type 1
The first type – Type 1 Diabetes – occurs when your immune system attacks the insulin producing part of your pancreas. It kills these cells and you can no longer produce insulin. The function of insulin is to take the glucose (blood sugar) from the bloodstream into the muscles and other cells where it can be burned to produce energy. When you don't have enough insulin, the glucose from your diet accumulates in your bloodstream. Glucose becomes toxic very quickly. Within a short time, this blood sugar overload can damage your eyes, brain, lungs and kidneys.

Type 2
The second type – Type 2 Diabetes – occurs when the pancreas functions just fine, but the cells in your muscles and the rest of your body become resistant to insulin. The insulin cannot signal the cells to open up and receive the glucose. Just as in Type 1 Diabetes, glucose (blood sugar) increases to dangerous levels. The fuel cannot be burned to create energy, so you feel tired. As the glucose level climbs in the bloodstream it can destroy your eyes, brain, lungs and kidneys.

Type 1 diabetes is characterized by low insulin and high glucose. Type 2 Diabetes is characterized by high insulin and high glucose. This extra high insulin hormone is very inflammatory. It can destroy your blood vessels, disrupt your entire family of hormones and make you fat.

Controlling diabetes
The key to controlling the damage from Type 1 Diabetes is to control your carbohydrate levels. Determine how many carbs you have eaten and adjust your supplemental insulin levels to match. Carbohydrates in Nopalea are listed on the Supplemental Facts Panel.

The key to controlling Type 2 Diabetes is to limit the number of carbohydrates per day: 1 gram of carbohydrate per pound of body weight daily. (Healthy people will often eat 2 grams of carbohydrate per pound of body weight daily.) Determine how many grams of carbohydrate you need and plan a diet to match. Include your servings of Nopalea in the final carb count.

In order to lose body fat, it is often necessary to employ a low-carb diet. Limiting carbohydrates to 60 grams or less will often result in reducing blood sugar and increasing insulin sensitivity. Reducing stress, increasing exercise and increasing dietary fiber help with insulin resistance as well.

Type 2 diabetes is at epidemic proportions in developed lands around the world. We all need to increase our activity, dietary fiber, good fats and lean proteins as well as reduce stress to improve our health. Once we lose our health it is difficult to get back. Guard it jealously. Take Nopalea* as needed and simply count the carbs in your total daily diet.

A note about the Nopalea sweetness
The sweet taste of Nopalea comes from both nutritive and non-calorie sources. Nopal prickly pear is a fruit and Agave is a root. These are the sources of nutritive sweetness in Nopalea. Stevia is a source of the non-nutritive sweetness in Nopalea. In the end, the Nopal fruit tastes sweet without adding sugar. It is the primary source of nutritive sweetness in Nopalea.
*Those with diabetes should consult with their doctor before taking Nopalea

Take Control of Your Health

Count your carbohydrates daily: 1 to 2 grams per pound of body weight
Increase your dietary fiber: 1/4 to 1/3 gram per pound of body weight
Reduce your carbohydrates even more when insulin resistance is a factor
Eat lean proteins: 1/4 to 1/3 gram per pound of body weight
Drink pure water: 1/3 to 1/2 ounce per pound of body weight
Reduce stress
Improve sleep
Increase daily activity: 30 minutes to 2 ½ hours daily

Get More Information: Click Here

Sinusitis Got You Down?

2012-01-28T05:37:00.000-08:00

Most conditions in medicine that involve inflammation end in the suffix “-itis.” For example, tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils, appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix, and so forth. Sinusitis is inflammation of the sinus cavities in your head. What causes sinusitis? How can we help our body to resolve the inflammation? Is there a way to protect against sinusitis?

The causes of sinusitis
Inflammation follows four states of imbalance in the human body: trauma (injury), toxicity, deficiency and stress.

Stress – Can stress cause sinusitis? Yes! A 2008 report of children with sinusitis and ear infections clearly showed a correlation between emotional stress and sinus infections from strep bacteria. Stress causes inflammation; inflammation provides fertile breeding ground for bacteria.

Trauma – Streptococcus (“strep”) is a primary bacteria associated with sinusitis. Of course, we all have strep bacteria living in our sinuses. Yet, we do not all have active sinus infections. Strep proliferates where there is inflammation. Any tissue injury can cause inflammation. Trauma is a cause of sinusitis.

Toxins – Toxins from our environment can also cause inflammation in our sinuses. Once again, inflammation allows strep and other bacteria to grow. Allergies are a form of toxin. A person with pollen allergy is more prone to sinus infection and sinusitis because of inflammation caused by pollen.

Deficiency – Certain deficiencies can cause sinus inflammation. A water deficiency (dehydration) paralyzes the cilia – tiny hair-like appendages in the sinus cavity. Vitamin A and Vitamin D deficiency have the same effect. Zinc deficiency is associated with sinusitis and people who don’t get enough sleep are also more prone to sinus infection.

Remedies for sinusitis
Very few people can point to one single cause of inflammation in their sinuses. With most of us it is a combination of factors that gang up on us and result in sinus inflammation. The key is for us to do a thorough – and honest – assessment of our primary causes and work to restore balance to that area of our life. It is as if our body is speaking to us through the symptom of sinus inflammation. If we learn to listen, we will relieve the inflammation as we work to support our natural healing ability.

Stress reduction
The first thing we need to do is address our needs. Is stress a likely contributor to sinusitis? Then 10 minutes of deep breathing three times daily, plus 20 minutes at bedtime can help reduce the impact of stress enough to improve our symptoms. Adaptogens also play a major role in rebalancing our body when stress pulls us off kilter.

Hydration
Are we drinking enough water? Targeting ½ ounce of water per pound of body weight will help us catch up on hydration. Taking zinc and other minerals can really help hold the water in tissues, much the same way as minerals in the soil hold water and allow for a healthy garden.

Supplementation
Trauma and toxins call for a reduction in inflammation and detoxification. Nopalea™ is an anti-inflammatory that supports the major pathways used by your body to reduce inflammation. Vital C™ and Super Sublingual B-12 act to help reduce histamines when toxins and allergens attack the sinuses. And, of course, Sublingual B-12 is a great stress-buster as well. We want to keep strep bacteria from colonizing. Probiotics are very important in this regard. FloraVita™ is an excellent probiotic.

Conclusion
Sinusitis is a message from your body that something is wrong. Instead of thinking of yourself as a victim of “bad” bacteria or inflammatory pollen, learn to listen to the message of inflammation and work to reduce its impact on your sinuses and your whole body.

Take Control of Your Health

Drink pure water
Take a multi-nutrient complex with Vitamin A, Vitamin D and zinc:
- Wellavoh™
- VitaDaily™ AM/PM
With stress:
- Breathe deeply
- Take Adaptogen 10 Plus®
With allergy:
- Vital C
- Super Sublingual B-12
With inflammation:
- Nopalea
With “bad” bacteria:
- FloraVita

Empower Your Life With Trivita

2011-11-16T14:05:00.000-08:00

Welcome to a whole new world of opportunity, rewards and satisfaction!
Our goal at TriVita is to help people everywhere achieve greater wellness – both in their physical lives as well as their financial ones. As a pioneering wellness company, we’ve created a unique opportunity where individuals like you can benefit financially by simply sharing TriVita’s products and wellness mission with others.

TriVita nutritional and dietary products will not only give you greater physical wellness, you’ll also enjoy their financial rewards to help you fulfill your life purposes – whether that’s earning a few hundred extra dollars per month to help pay the bills, or building a large business for you and your family’s future. No matter what your purposes are, as a TriVita Independent Affiliate Member you can achieve your dreams and goals.

Our program is very simple
One big reason why thousands of people just like you have joined as an Independent Affiliate Member is that it’s so simple. You don’t need to worry about having existing experience or super sales skills to be successful at sharing TriVita products. Our products get results and whenever most people have a positive experience with a particular product, they like to recommend the same product to others. So with TriVita’s premier quality wellness products, earning extra income can be as simple as just recommending to others the very products that worked so well for you (or for other people that you know). It’s that simple!

It’s so flexible, too
Our Affiliate Member program also works so well for so many because of its flexibility. Even if you only have a couple hours a week to work the program you can achieve positive results and start earning extra income immediately. By simply plugging into our simple 3 step success system you will find sharing TriVita’s premium line of products is fun and rewarding.

You can take it to another level with our Co-Op Advertising program For many Affiliate Members, sharing Trivita products is only one part of reaching their financial goals. By participating in our Co-Op advertising program you can leverage the power of media like TV, radio, internet and print to reach more customers. This proven program has helped thousands of Affiliate Members expand beyond their own personal warm market and acquire customers nationwide.

Why Affiliate Membership makes so much sense
You can join our Affiliate community with confidence – it’s a time-tested, income earning opportunity unlike any other. Below are some of the reasons to join and the benefits you’ll receive:

The wellness industry is booming and premium wellness products are in high demand
TriVita is a growing and established debt free company with a proven track record
Our products are effective, scientifically validated and physician-approved
We offer an unparalleled Co-Op Advertising opportunity
We offer generous sales bonuses and compensate on a weekly basis
Our Career Plan offers Affiliate Members an opportunity to grow their incomes to their desired level
Strong corporate support and recognition on so many levels to help you reach your specific goals

GET MORE DETAILS: CLICK HERE

Attention England-UK- Trivita Nopalea Has Arrived

2011-11-10T13:30:00.000-08:00

Hello England! Nopalea Has Arrived! Here We GO!!

For thousands of years, the people of the Sonoran Desert have tapped into the power of its native healing plants. And now, with Nopalea, you can too.

Nopalea helps your body:

Relieve pain and inflammation
Detoxify itself of daily toxins

Inflammation: the problem

A natural defence mechanism, inflammation can be triggered by injury, stress, nutritional deficiencies and even today's unhealthy world. You are relentlessly exposed to dangers such as toxins, pollutants, bacteria, viruses and chemicals from the air you breathe, the water you drink, the foods you eat and even the things you touch.

Due to all these causes of inflammation, inflammation may be present in your body right now. Although natural, inflammation can become a problem when it doesn't shut off: the inflammation just keeps going and going. This long-term inflammation has been linked to numerous health conditions.

Nopalea: a natural, anti-inflammatory solution

For thousands of years, the people of the Sonoran Desert of North America have tapped into the power of the desert's healing plants and cacti. And now you can too, with Nopalea, made with the fruit of the Nopal cactus. The Nopal cactus fruit contains high concentrations of anti-inflammatory bioflavonoids, which have been proven in hundreds of studies to help the body detoxify itself and reduce inflammation. When you drink Nopalea, its bioflavonoids enter your system and begin to help your body reduce the toxins surrounding its cells, allowing more essential nutrients to reach each cell. As a result, your cells are better fed and energized to repair and replace damaged tissues and reduce the reactive inflammation, keeping it from becoming chronic and leading to health problems.

If inflammation is the problem, Nopalea might be your Wellness Solution

"This is an exciting milestone in our mission of taking wellness to the world. We have committed to spreading the news of health and wellness to 100 countries in 10 years, and breaking into the Asian and European markets is an important step toward reaching that goal."

Experience wellness when you embrace a healthy lifestyle combined with effective, scientifically validated wellness products. Natural ingredients, quality control and third-party testing are just a few of the steps we take to ensure you have the best product
experience possible.

Need More Information: Click Here

: Drink Nopalea UK-Here We GO!!

Nopalea Opens In France

2011-11-10T09:46:00.000-08:00

NOPALEA

Découvrez les bienfaits de cette solution

Voici Nopalea, notre boisson révolutionnaire étonnante qui aide votre corps à :

apaiser la douleur
faciliter la respiration
expérimenter un mieux-être optimal

Ces changements peuvent entraîner un meilleur degré d’énergie.

L’utilisation quotidienne aide votre corps à :

réduire l’inflammation
se détoxifier
atteindre une santé cellulaire optimale

Si l’inflammation est le problème, Nopalea est une solution de mieux-être! Commandez-le dès aujourd’hui.
TIME Magazine l’a appelé « Le tueur sournois »
... et voici la façon de s’en protéger

En 2004, le TIME Magazine a publié un article étonnant sur l’inflammation et son effet destructeur sur la santé du corps.*

Dans les années qui ont suivi l’article du TIME, la science médicale a établi encore plus de liens entre l’inflammation chronique et des affections très débilitantes, dont les allergies, les maux et douleurs chroniques, le colon irritable.

Ces liens étaient abasourdissants : tant d’affections différentes peuvent découler d’un seul problème – l’inflammation chronique.

De plus, le type d’inflammation chronique étudié ne correspond pas seulement à la sensation d’une articulation ou d’un muscle douloureux ou enflé à laquelle bon nombre d’entre nous pense naturellement. Ce type d’inflammation comprend également les tissus irrités internes plus profonds qui influent sur les systèmes vitaux de l’organisme, comme :

l’inflammation cardiovasculaire chronique du cœur et des artères
l’inflammation pulmonaire chronique des poumons et des voies aériennes
l’inflammation digestive chronique de l’estomac, de l’œsophage et des intestins
l’inflammation chronique d’autres organes majeurs (foie, reins, etc.) et des glandes
l’inflammation cellulaire chronique généralisée à tout le corps

Tous ces types d’inflammation chronique peuvent mener à de nombreux types de problèmes de santé graves, comme :

des douleurs continues interminables dans différentes parties du corps
des réactions allergiques et asthmatiques
l’hypertension artérielle et la détérioration de la santé cardiovasculaire et des vaisseaux sanguins
les ulcères et le côlon irritable
une fatigue et une léthargie générales constantes

L’inflammation normale est bénéfique

Lorsque votre corps est assujetti à des éléments ou événements menaçants, il peut contrer ces attaques par l’un de ses mécanismes de défense – l’inflammation. C’est normal.

Les menaces susceptibles de déclencher la réaction inflammatoire du corps pourraient être de petites choses telles qu’une blessure, comme une élongation musculaire. Autrement, la menace pourrait être une intrusion de bactéries. Les sensations et les événements stressants peuvent également déclencher l’inflammation dans un certain nombre de tissus corporels. De plus, une alimentation pauvre en éléments nutritifs peut mener à des poussées inflammatoires actives.

Enfin, l’une des plus grandes causes de l’inflammation pourrait être le monde d’aujourd’hui, qui expose sans cesse votre corps à un déluge de microdangers, tels que les toxines, les polluants, les bactéries, les virus et les produits chimiques qui se trouvent dans... l’air que vous respirez... l’eau que vous buvez... les aliments que vous mangez... et même les choses que vous touchez.

Cependant, l’inflammation chronique est très mauvaise

En raison de toutes les causes d’inflammation, il est très probable qu’en ce moment, pendant que vous lisez ceci, votre corps soit sujet à de nombreux sites enflammés. Ce n’est pas ça le problème, cependant. Le problème, ce sont tous les sites de votre corps où, pour diverses raisons, votre inflammation ne se règle pas. Au contraire, l’inflammation se poursuit. Il s’agit de l’inflammation chronique.

Plusieurs facteurs peuvent empêcher votre corps d’arrêter sa réaction inflammatoire, mais trois facteurs sont particulièrement courants :

Le stress chronique – il garde votre corps constamment sur le qui-vive, gaspillant ainsi les éléments nutritifs et diminuant sa capacité d’empêcher l’inflammation de devenir chronique
Les carences nutritionnelles chroniques – sans une bonne nutrition, au quotidien, votre corps pourrait ne pas disposer des bonnes ressources pour arrêter l’inflammation continue
Le surchargement chronique de toxines – dans le monde d’aujourd’hui, votre corps résiste constamment aux toxines, aux polluants et aux contaminants provenant de nombreuses sources, à tel point qu’il peut être trop submergé pour arrêter l’inflammation incessante

Vous remarquerez un lien entre les trois facteurs ci-dessus : ils sont chroniques. Lorsque ces facteurs nocifs sont chroniques (constants), ils augmentent considérablement la possibilité que l’inflammation de votre corps soit également chronique. Et c’est exactement ce type d’inflammation – l’inflammation chronique – qui faisait l’objet de l’avertissement de l’article du TIME Magazine, parce qu’elle peut être si nuisible pour votre santé.

Voici quelques exemples de la façon dont vous pourriez souffrir de divers types d’inflammation chronique – et leurs problèmes de santé connexes :

Inflammation des muscles, des articulations et des os – causant une douleur corporelle continue
Inflammation respiratoire – causant des allergies et des difficultés respiratoires
Inflammation artérielle – causant des problèmes de santé cardiovasculaire
Inflammation du tube digestif – causant des ulcères et le côlon irritable
Inflammation cellulaire chronique généralisée – causant la fatigue généralisée.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: CLICK HERE

Nopalea Now Available In Hong Kong-Taiwan-Thailand

2011-11-10T09:36:00.000-08:00

HONG KONG -TAIWAN-THAILAND

CAN NOW PRE-ORDER NOPALEA AND SAVE!!

: Hong Kong Nopalea

This product is for personal use only and is not for resale. Each order is limited to a 3 month supply (8 bottles) per adult (18 years or older) with a single household

Nopalea helps your body:

Relieve pain and inflammation
Detoxify itself of daily toxins

Inflammation: the problem

Nopalea: a natural, anti-inflammatory solution

For thousands of years, the people of the Sonoran Desert of North America have tapped into the power of the desert's healing plants and cacti. And now you can too, with Nopalea, made with the fruit of the Nopal cactus. The Nopal cactus fruit contains high concentrations of anti-inflammatory bioflavonoids, which have been proven in hundreds of studies to help the body detoxify itself and reduce inflammation.
When you drink Nopalea, its bioflavonoids enter your system and begin to help your body reduce the toxins surrounding its cells, allowing more essential nutrients to reach each cell. As a result, your cells are better fed and energized to repair and replace damaged tissues and reduce the reactive inflammation, keeping it from becoming chronic and leading to health problems.

If inflammation is the problem, Nopalea might be your Wellness Solution!

GET MORE DETAILS HONG KONG: CLICK HERE

GET MORE DETAILS THAILAND: CLICK HERE

GET MORE DETAILS TAIWAN: CLICK HERE

Nopalea Expansion New Zealand-Australia Now Seen On Vimo TV

2011-11-10T07:43:00.000-08:00

SEE NEW ADD ON VIMEO TV-NZ-AUT: CLICK HERE

As Seen on Vimo TV-New Zealand and Australia Learn The Secrets Of Nopalea,
How It's Made and the Health Benefits Of This Incredible Wellness
Drink Called Nopalea-

Get More Information About Nopalea expansion

New Zealand: Click Here
Australia: Click Here

Trivita Expands To New Zealand and Australia

2011-11-09T09:00:00.000-08:00

Nopalea™ and Sublingual B-12

TriVita offers a premium line of products including Nopalea™ and Sublingual B-12, B-6 & Folic Acid. Our products are made from premium ingredients and are scientifically-formulated to meet the highest quality standards. TriVita's products have become a trusted and loyal brand for people who want the best to help them with their wellness needs.

GET MORE DETAILS: CLICK HERE

How To Reduce Inflammation In The Body

2011-11-08T15:50:00.000-08:00

by Todd

When you take a close look at the word ‘disease’, it is interesting to note that its roots are: ‘dis’ and ‘ease’ which reminds us that even the most serious medical conditions started out as a minor malfunction (or dis-ease) in the body.

Most doctors and scientists agree that the initial manifestation of virtually every illness known to man is inflammation in our cells. Therefore it is imperative for us to attain a better understanding of what causes inflammation and integrate lifestyle choices that prevent it from happening!

What is Inflammation?
Inflammation is usually associated with heat, swelling, redness and pain in the body. “Silent inflammation” is the more dangerous version because it falls under the radar screen of our senses, and causes illness to become more prominent without us noticing.

Symptoms (aching back, cough, headaches) are nothing more than the physical manifestation of silent inflammation. By the time we notice symptoms our cells have already been inflamed for quite some time.

Food As Medicine
Nutrition FAR exceeds medicine when it comes to treating and preventing silent inflammation (in fact, there are no “medications” that currently target it)!

Because of this, it can be a life-changing event to begin thinking of your food AS medicine, and intentionally eat foods that not only taste good, or are convenient, but serve a higher purpose for treating the body like a drug!

This is a truly revolutionary concept, and one that can transcend the way you look at your food choices over the long term. Here’s a simple guide of some common foods and how they relate to inflammation:

FATS
Although the word emits a negative connotation, FATS are essential to good health and consuming a fair amount of high quality fats is critical to reducing inflammation in the body.

Most omega-6 fats, found in margarine and corn and safflower oils, are inflammation-causing substances. In contrast omega-3 fats, found in fish (wild salmon, mackerel, sardines and anchovies especially) and vegetables, have an inflammation-suppressing effect.

Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) is an omega-6 fat that enhances the anti- inflammatory effect of omega-3 fats. Both GLA and omega-3 fish oils have been found helpful in arthritis and other inflammatory disorders. GLA is found in leafy green vegetables, olive oil, walnut oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil, canola oil, avocados, nut butters and macadamia nuts and (again) have anti-inflammatory properties.

When it comes to getting good fats, I highly recommend taking a high quality fish oil ever day. This can do wonders for your long-term health!

SIMPLE CARBS
One of the reasons inflammation occurs is from a rapid rise in blood sugar, which causes biochemical changes in the cell. Staying away from sugar and high-glycemic (simple) carbohydrates, which the body rapidly converts to sugar, is one of the best ways to decrease inflammation.
When blood sugar goes up rapidly, sugar can attach itself to collagen in a process called “glycosylation,” or the Browning Reaction, increasing inflammation

Good (complex) carbohydrates, which are low on the glycemic index include: apples, apsaragus, beans, broccoli, blackberries, blueberries, cabbage, cantaloupe, citrus fruits, green beans, honeydew melon, kiwi, leafy greens, peaches, pears, plums, raspberries, spinach, strawberries

Bad (simple) carbohydrates, which are high on the glycemic index include: bananas, breads, carrots, cereals processed with added sugar, corn, French fries, fruit juices, mangos, pancakes, papaya, pasta, peas, popcorn, white potatoes, white rice, sugar, waffles.

Get Plenty of Antioxidants to Fight Inflammation
One of the greatest things you can do to fight inflammation in the body is to eat foods that are flush with antioxidants, compounds that fight off free-radical cells. Free radicals are the pesky little devils that roam around your blood stream, getting into your tissues, causing damage to cell walls, certain cell structures, and genetic material within the cells.

In the worst case scenario and over a long time period, such damage can become irreversible and lead to disease (like cancer).

In my article The 5 Greatest Foods For Your Health, I talk about a bunch of foods that are very rich in antioxidants, like most forms of berries, raw cacao (chocolate) and leafy green vegetables.
Illnesses Caused by Inflammation

According to Barry Sears MD, author and creator of “The Zone Diet” inflammation can be the impetus for a great number if illnesses including: Arthritis, obesity, type-2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer, alzheimer’s, asthma and allergies.

According to Dr. Sears, there are 3 simple stages to disease: Wellness==> silent inflammation==> chronic disease. So the pathway to extended wellness lies in reducing and preventing the quiet irritations that disturb our normal energy flow.

Listening to your body for signs of inflammation is crucial for maintaining long-term health. Start becoming more aware of it, look at food as good tasting medicine, and get some antioxidants in your life!

More Information: Click here

5 Great Foods For Your Health

2011-11-08T15:47:00.000-08:00

The 5 Greatest Foods For Your Health

by Todd

At the Institute for Integrative Nutrition I was taught that there is no such thing as a good or bad food. My teachers explained that what makes some foods “evil” and others pristine has nothing to do with their individual morality and everything to do with how we use them.

After reading hundreds of books on food and attending dozens of lectures from some of the top minds in health and nutrition, I still hold this belief to be true.

However there are a few messages about food types that seem to be universal, even among differing branches of belief. In this article, I am providing what I believe to be the 5 healthiest foods for human health based on the theory of least resistance—meaning almost everyone who has written a book or considers himself/herself an expert in nutrition has no gripe with these foods:

1) SEA VEGETABLES, or “seaweed”
Quite frankly, sea vegetables are the most misunderstood and under-utilized food in Western culture! There are approximately 90 minerals identified in modern nutrition and ALL of them are represented in seaweed. Sea vegetables are higher in vitamins and minerals than every other food on the planet ounce for ounce; they contain 20-200% more minerals than land-based vegetables. Seaweed holds high levels of Vitamins C, D, K and B and has more Vitamin A than carrots.

Seaweed is also very rich in protein and strengthens the kidneys and nervous system. When eaten consistently, sea vegetables calm hyperactivity, reduce stress and are excellent for the thyroid gland. People complain about the taste and the general rule of thumb with seaweed is this: the worse it tastes for you, the more you need it. Dulse, Kelp and Nori are excellent types.

2) CACAO
Chocolate originates from a bean called “Cacao”, and is one of the most complex food substances on earth. According to Healing with Natural Foods author Paul Pitchford Cacao has over 300 chemically identifiable compounds. Energetics of Food author Eric Gagne claims raw chocolate has 700 naturally occurring chemicals and almost everyone agrees Cacao is one of the highest anti-oxidant foods on the planet (including the New York Times)!

This is beneficial because antioxidants fight “free radical cells” which cause inflammation and disease in our bodies. Cacao also contains 10x more magnesium and chromium than any other food in the world. Magnesium is the most important mineral for our health activating over 350 processes, according to Pitchford. So YES, chocolate is extremely healthy, just make sure to buy raw and organic chocolate from a health food store. An excellent way to integrate this food into your diet is by adding it to health shakes.

3) QUINOA

Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-WA) is an ancient whole grain, and has been consumed by people for more than 8,000 years. Quinoa has the highest nutritional profile of all grains. It contains high levels of dietary fiber and B Vitamins and has all 8 essential amino acids. Whole grains are some of the best sources for nutritional support, providing long-lasting energy (as a result of the body absorbing them slowly unlike simple carbs).

Quinoa is high in zinc, potassium, calcium and Vitamin E and is known to strengthen the kidney and heart!

4) KALE
It is well-known that leafy green vegetables are extremely nutritious and jam-packed with a wide array of vitamins. Energetically speaking, leafy greens contain a high concentration of chlorophyll, the “life-blood” of our planet…and Kale is the king of them! It’s never surprising to see studies on diet and disease that say “vegetables—especially green leafy vegetables—are associated with a lower risk of…” as they have a high concentration of Vitamins A, C and K, folate, potassium, magnesium, iron, lutein and phytochemicals. Phytochemicals are components of fruits or vegetables that may help to prevent disease, and perhaps even help to treat some disorders.

Kale goes a step further and is also an incredible source of calcium, folic acid, vitamin B6, manganese, and potassium. For a green, Kale is unusually high in fiber and in many ways is a true superfood, and certainly one of the most nutritious foods known to man!

5) BERRIES
According to raw food extraordinaire David Wolfe, berries are the most natural food for human consumption and a cleanser for the human body. We spend so much time thinking about what we put in our bodies we forget the importance of what comes out (David Wolfe calls himself the world’s biggest “gastronaut”…I love it)! Furthermore, berries are a wonderful source of Vitamins C, E, calcium and folic acid and are rich in phytochemicals.

Berries are also an excellent source of dietary fiber, which has been linked to lowered cholesterol levels. Some forms have even shown to have anti-cancer properties in laboratory settings The goji berry, the #1 food in Chinese medicine, is one of the highest anti-oxidant foods on the planet and well-worth looking into!
In conclusion, I am aware that the foods described in this article are not considered “main course” items in our society. However, learning more about these foods and integrating them into your diet can do absolute wonders for your health. Try them out, as they really are some of the most nutritious foods on the planet…

More Information: Click Here

Controversial Soy: What You Need To Know

2011-11-08T15:01:00.000-08:00

Soy is very controversial in the nutrition field. For years, the public has perceived soy as a health food, an ideal source of protein which lowers cholesterol, protects against cancer and heart disease, reduces menopausal symptoms and prevents osteoporosis. However, medical literature reflects risks as well as benefits of soy.

The bean part of the soy that we eat in its unfermented form (tofu, soymilk, edamame) is mildly toxic, which is why it’s well known in Asia to soak or ferment the seed/bean to remove the toxins. The only forms of soy that I recommend are those that have been fermented, which include: miso (to make soup, dressings for fish and salads), tempeh (a fermented soy and grain product) and tamari (a wheat-free soy sauce). Fermented soy contains higher amounts of B vitamins, probiotics and an enzyme that helps to open up arteries.
Concern over genetically modified soy

Unfortunately, 95% of the soy grown in the United States is genetically modified. GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) are organisms that have been created through the gene-splicing techniques of biotechnology.

In 30 other countries around the world, including Australia, Japan and all the nations in the European Union, there are restrictions or outright bans on the production of GMOs, because they are not considered proven safe. In the U.S., though, the Food and Drug Administration approved commercial production of GMOs based on studies conducted by the companies that created them and profit from their sale. Many health-conscious shoppers are concerned over the lack of independent, scientific examination on the impact of consuming genetically modified foods.

In nutritional supplements we sometimes see soy oil or soy lecithin. It is very hard to make lecithin from something other than soy. Neither form of soy creates hormone disruption. A micro amount of soy oil in your supplements is okay; just make sure you are not cooking with it.

Primary health concerns about processed soy

Blocks the uptake of essential vitamins and minerals. Included are calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, iodine and especially zinc. The phytic acid in soy binds to minerals, proteins and starch, and results in lower absorption of these substances. Vitamin B-12 analogs in soy are not absorbed and actually increase the body’s requirement for B-12. Phytic acid foods also increase the body’s requirement for Vitamin D.
Thyroid issues. Processed soy inhibits the uptake of one of the most important minerals needed for growth and metabolism, iodine, which is used by the thyroid gland in the production of thyroid hormones. Unfermented soy may also block absorption of thyroid medications if taken at the same time.
Hormone disruption. Perhaps the most disturbing of soy’s ill effects on health has to do with its phytoestrogens, which can mimic the effects of the female hormone estrogen. These phytoestrogens have been found to have both beneficial and adverse effects on various human tissues. For example, drinking two glasses of soymilk daily for one month is enough to alter a woman’s menstrual cycle. However, modest amounts of fermented soy do not show any hormone-disruptive effects.

Protein inhibitors. You do not get the protein listed on the label because soy is denatured and therefore not bio-available. Soy interferes with protein digestion and may cause pancreatic disorders.
MSG. Monosodium glutamate (MSG), a potent neurotoxin, is formed during soy food processing, and additional amounts are added to many soy foods.

While this soy information may not be good news to you, I hope it helps make you more aware. Read labels so that you can become an empowered consumer and take charge of your own health and wellness.

Get More Details: Click Here

What Are Blue Zones and Why Are They Important?

2011-11-04T13:04:00.000-07:00

I recently read a book called Blue Zones by the National Geographic Explorer, Daniel Buettner. It was fascinating. Mr. Buettner used a scientific approach that studied the communities in the world where people lived longer (to at least age 100) and reported the highest levels of well-being. He came up with 9 commonalities (i.e., habits they practiced) which led to their Wellness.

Let me share with you those commonalities, plus information on a ‘blue zone’ we have right here in the Sonora Desert!

Where are these Blue Zones?
Some of the Blue Zones Mr. Buettner studied are in Sardinia, Italy ... Okinawa, Japan ... Loma Linda, California ... Nicoya, Costa Rica ... and Icara, Greece. Please understand, Blue Zones are not the only places in the world where people live to be 100. But in these Blue Zone communities, in particular, there are higher incidences of people reaching 100 years of age and beyond.
Blue Zones are not magical places. Instead, they are communities where specific habits and practices combine in just the right way to foster greater longevity and wellness. So what are these habits?

9 Habits, 10 Essentials
There is a list of primary habits that make up the collection of Blue Zone longevity ‘secrets.’ They are called the Power-9. As you might expect, the 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness encompass these same points, and even perhaps explain them a bit better, too. The Power-9 are:

Move naturally
Know Your Purpose
Down-shift (stress management)
The 80% rule (only fill your stomach 80% full at mealtimes)
Plant Slant (primarily a vegetarian diet)
Wine at 5 (our Italian friends celebrate ‘happy hour’ with 2 glasses of wine daily)
Family First
Belong (nearly all centenarians were devout worshippers)
The Right Tribe (a collection of emotionally healthy friends)

We can readily see the nature of the 10 Essentials of Health and Wellness in comparison to the Power-9. For example, rather than saying that we should have an emotionally healthy Tribe of friends, the 10 Essentials teach us how to be an emotionally healthy friend: “Give and Receive Love; Be Forgiving; Develop Acceptance; Practice Gratitude.” Invaluable principles indeed!

Still, the Power-9 are an excellent set of habits that can help you improve and enrich both the quality and the quantity of your life years. Mr. Buettner – in true scientific fashion – even assigns a number of years you can expect to gain from adding each new habit to your lifestyle (e.g., 8 years added to your life by eating a plant-based diet).

Nurturing and Nutrients
The Blue Zones book says that you can add at least 4 years to your life as you realize your sense of Purpose. I especially appreciate that someone besides the TriVita Wellness Community recognizes the importance of Purpose as life benefit. As it’s been said, “It can add years to your life – and life to your years.” The disciplines of health, such as getting enough sleep and eating nutritiously, are really only sustainable if we have a powerful sense of Purpose driving us.

The same is true of getting the nutrients we need to correct deficiencies, support detoxification, reduce the impact of stress and break the cycle of inflammation: if a person has a clearly defined sense of Purpose they will craft a program of Foundational Nutrition to get them where they want to go.

This is what we learned from the Pima people right here in the Sonora Desert. Though they lack the genetics to reach 100 years of age, the Pima living in their traditional culture live nearly 50% longer than those living in our ‘civilized’ culture. Compare that to the 20% to 30% lifespan improvement of the other Blue Zones and you can see how the Purpose-driven, anti-inflammatory lifestyle of the Pima helps them create their own, personal Blue Zone.

We can travel on the same journey as our Pima friends. By realizing our Purpose, learning and living the 10 Essentials for Wellness, and supporting our journey with appropriate nutrients we can create our own one-person Blue Zone and stake our personal claim for a life of Passion, Mission and Purpose!

Take Control of Your Health

Claim your sense of Purpose
Learn and Live the 10 Essentials:
- Breathe Deeply
- Drink Pure Water
- Sleep Peacefully
- Eat Nutritiously
- Enjoy Activity
- Give and Receive Love
- Be Forgiving
- Practice Gratitude
- Develop Acceptance
- Develop a Relationship with God
Take your Foundation Nutrition daily:
- Vital C (1 tsp. in the morning; 1 tablet at bedtime)
- Sublingual B-12 (original, Super B or HCY Guard)
- Omega Prime (1 per 50 pounds of body weight)
- VitaDaily AM/PM or Wellavoh multi-nutrient complexes
- Essential D
Help reduce Inflammation and the impact of Stress:
- Nopalea
- Adaptogen 10 Plus
  
  More Information: Click Here

Cracked Skin: What Can It Mean?

2011-11-04T13:01:00.000-07:00

Do you have cracked skin around your heels, on your hands or at the corners of your mouth? Each of these conditions may be described as a failure in the protective nature of your immune system. And they each tell a story about life balance and lifestyle choices, as well as your environment and even genetics that affect your health.

Heel cracks
Fissures called xerosis form around the edge of the heel as the skin dries out. The more we stand on our feet – and the older we get – the more likely we are to experience heel fissures. However, xerosis is not an inevitable part of aging or standing. Many people who stand all day or survive to age 100 don’t have heel cracks. What is different between those who get them and those who don’t?

Frequently, it is nutrition, exercise, rest and stress management.

Heel cracks appear most commonly in people as they age, it is true. So does diabetes. My experience tells me that heel cracks commonly appear as we lose our ability to balance our glucose (blood sugar). They are more common in people with pre-diabetes and diabetes. Control your blood sugar and you can often help control the cracking in your heels.

Two nutrients are important in glucose management: zinc and Omega essential fatty acids. Zinc helps control blood sugar, helps improve mental function, helps reduce the number of colds and viruses that affect you and even helps with ringing in the ears (tinnitus). Essential fatty acids help produce more lubrication (sebum) in the skin of the heels and help speed up healing. GlucoManage® is a good source of zinc and, of course, OmegaPrime® is my favorite source of essential fatty acids.

Consult with your healthcare provider if heel cracks:

Become painful
Become so deep they begin to bleed
Become infected

Hand cracks
Fissures affect the hands as well as the feet. However, the causes are not the same. For example, cracked skin on the hands can be a sign of an autoimmune disorder such as Sjogren’s or psoriasis – inflammatory conditions appearing in the skin. I say “appearing in the skin” because psoriasis is a condition involving the whole body. Psoriasis and other skin disorders causing fissures in the hands and fingers may be autoimmune disorders – a condition where the immune system attacks normal, healthy skin and destroys it.

Interestingly, essential fatty acids are often effective in teaching the immune system to “work smarter, not harder.” They do not “boost” the immune system or bolster it in any way. (In an autoimmune disorder you do not want to “boost” your immune system because that causes more damage.) Instead, essential fatty acids along with Vitamin D help the immune system more clearly identify healthy and unhealthy tissues so it may react appropriately.

Not to be overlooked, the immune system is the most intrinsically involved body system in the mind-body connection. Any stress, large or small, is immediately reflected in the immune system. Adaptogens help mitigate the impact of stress on the immune system.

Mouth cracks
Infections from tooth abscess to thrush can cause cracks in the corners of your mouth. Autoimmune conditions including celiac disease can as well (celiac disease is triggered by an extreme allergy to wheat and other gluten-containing grains). Toxins also cause cracks in the corners of the mouth. For example, fluoride in toothpaste and too much Vitamin A can both reach toxic levels and cause cracking and fissures in the lips.

The most common cause of dry, cracked lips is dehydration. Drink pure water and make sure you have enough essential fatty acids and minerals to hold that water in your skin.

Conclusion
Our skin says much about our life. It is a special window into our immune system. For healthy skin we must learn to listen as our body speaks to us. If you have dry, cracked skin anywhere on your body, seek appropriate medical care and consider the impact that proper nutrients and nurturing will have as we strive to be like the people with perfect, beautiful skin!

Take Control of Your Health Click Here

Trivita Expansion On Squidoo

2011-11-03T12:56:00.000-07:00

Trivita's Global Expansion Now Featured On Squidoo

Check out Squidoo's Announcement: Click Here

Trivita Business Expands to 10 Countries

2011-11-03T07:20:00.000-07:00

As announced by CEO and Founder Michael Ellison on Tuesday’s worldwide webinar, TriVita launched in 10 new countries in Europe and Asia Pacific – Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium and the United Kingdom. Ellison explained how this historic launch can have a powerful impact on your TriVita Wellness Business.

Prospects and Affiliate Members in these 10 new countries can now order products, have access to valuable health and wellness information and sign up for Affiliate Membership with their own country-specific information. Global Affiliates also have their own customized International Back Office to access their virtual office and track sales with their group list. A new International Communication Centre has also been launched for Global Affiliates to keep abreast of the latest international corporate news.

TriVita has recently aligned with a global bank to better assist with its international expansion goals. As part of the transition, US direct deposit compensation payments will appear on Affiliate Members’ bank statements.

United States: Click Here

Canada: Click Here

Australia: Click Here

New Zealand: Click Here

Belgium: Click Here

France: Click Here

Germany: Click Here

Netherlands: Click Here

United Kingdom: Click Here

Hong Kong: Click Here

Thailand: Click Here

Taiwan: Click Here

Sinapore: Click Here

Malaysia: Click Here

For More Information : Click Here

Adaptogen 10 Plus®

2011-10-31T11:22:00.000-07:00

La vida es mucho mejor sin el nocivo estrés

Todas las personas quieren disfrutar de la vida, pero muchas tienen problemas para lograrlo debido a tanto estrés.

Hay estrés en el trabajo… en la familia y con los amigos… por la situación económica… la hora punta… los problemas emocionales, la ansiedad y los miedos… las deficiencias dietéticas… las enfermedades… y especialmente, hay estrés debido a que el medio ambiente está hoy mucho más contaminado.

Por ese motivo hemos creado para usted Adaptogen 10 Plus, cuya fórmula única ha sido elaborada para ayudarlo a :

Aliviar el estrés y sus efectos negativos sobre la salud
Restaurar el equilibrio de los sistemas del organismo para alcanzar mayor bienestar
Recibir 10 beneficios increíbles, como más tranquilidad mental, mejor salud cardiovascular, mayor resistencia física y mucho más (Vea la sección Más detalles a continuación)

Para empezar a disfrutar más de la vida mañana, haga su pedido de Adaptogen 10 Plus hoy mismo.

Más detalles

¿Quiere sentirse mejor que nunca?

Tiene la solución al alcance de la mano con Adaptogen 10 Plus ^®

Nuestro suplemento Adaptogen 10 Plus ^® puede ayudarle a sentirse mejor debido a su fórmula única con una increíble combinación de adaptógenos que promueve grandes beneficios, tales como:

Más tranquilidad mental
Mejor salud cardiovascular
Mayor resistencia física
Sueño reparador
Mayor energía localizada
Menos fatiga
Mayor rendimiento físico
Mejor digestión
Disminución de dolor crónico
Mayor bienestar general

¿No le gustaría obtener todos estos beneficios? Es posible con nuestro suplemento que contiene TODOS los 10 raros adaptógenos particularmente conocidos por ayudar al cuerpo humano a contrarrestar el estrés y normalizar (volver a equilibrar) sus sistemas. Con estos beneficios emprenderá el camino correcto para experimentar un mayor bienestar y sentirse mejor que nunca.

Si cree que no necesita ayuda para aliviar el estrés y normalizar los sistemas de su organismo, por favor lea la siguiente información.

Estrés – es una epidemia

Nadie quiere estar estresado, pero es inevitable en la sociedad de hoy en día. Según la American Psychological Association (2005) (Asociación de Psicología de Estados Unidos [2005]):

Un 43% de los adultos sufren efectos adversos para la salud debido al estrés
Un 66% de todas las consultas a médicos de medicina familiar se deben a síntomas del estrés

¿Está estresado o no?

Muchas personas creen equivocadamente que la causa del estrés son los problemas, las preocupaciones o la ansiedad. Sin embargo, el estrés es una consecuencia de muchas otras cosas, tales como una infección, una lesión física, una deficiencia nutricional y los incontables agentes contaminantes que existen en el aire que respiramos, el agua que bebemos, el alimento que comemos e incluso las cosas que tocamos

Si cree que no se estresa todos los días, con los factores estresantes del mundo actual es probable que sí lo haga; si no le presta la atención necesaria al estrés diario que normalmente pasa por alto, pondrá en riesgo su bienestar.

Es posible que le sea fácil reconocer el estrés cuando proviene de un evento importante, como la pérdida del trabajo, una lesión física importante o la pérdida de un ser querido. Y en estos casos, puede buscar activamente maneras para aliviar su estrés.

Sin embargo muchas más veces puede que no reconozca -y mucho menos busque ayuda- la cadena imparable de eventos más pequeños y menos notorios que mantienen al organismo estresado todo el tiempo. Fácilmente podemos no darnos cuenta de este estrés “pequeño e invisible” hasta que sea demasiado tarde y el daño a la salud ya haya ocurrido.

Qué es el estrés y cómo afecta al organismo

Básicamente, el estrés es cualquier cosa que afecte el equilibrio físico, mental y emocional. Cuando se enfrenta a un estímulo estresante, el organismo activa la respuesta de “combatir o huir” de esta situación. Así la glándula suprarrenal libera hormonas poderosas (adrenalina, cortisol, etc.) hacia el torrente sanguíneo que generalmente proporciona un aumento de energía y fuerza, pero que además puede afectar los sistemas y funciones del organismo.

La capacidad de ACTIVAR la respuesta de “combatir o huir” es tan importante como la de poder DESACTIVARLA para que todos los sistemas y funciones del organismo regresen a su estado de funcionamiento normal y equilibrado.

Sin embargo, cuando experimenta estrés crónico, esto no sucede. Cuando el estrés está siempre presente, la respuesta ante el estrés del organismo siempre está “ACTIVADA”.

El estado crónico de una respuesta siempre ACTIVADA es nocivo para el organismo, y puede conducir a serios problemas tales como una mala salud cardiovascular… trastornos nerviosos… afecciones respiratorias agudas… sistema inmunológico debilitado… y mucho más.
Una solución extraordinaria para el estrés

La clave para contrarrestar los efectos negativos del estrés y normalizar los sistemas del organismo se encuentra en nuestro poderoso Adaptogen 10 Plus. Los adaptógenos son una categoría de plantas únicas que viven en regiones frías e inhóspitas de Rusia y Asia. Los indígenas, que se encuentran entre las personas más saludables del mundo, los han utilizado durante siglos. Sin embargo, su descubrimiento por científicos modernos data solo hacia los años 40. Estas notables hierbas conocidas por su capacidad para ayudar al cuerpo humano a sobrellevar el estrés no solo viven y se adaptan a los entornos más difíciles, pero incluso florecen en ellos.

Adaptogen 10 Plus – cómo funciona poderosamente para usted

El nombre de nuestro suplemento indica justamente cómo funciona.

La parte de su nombre “Adaptogen 10” se refiere a los 10 raros adaptógenos que contiene nuestra formula única. TODOS son conocidos por ayudar al cuerpo humano a contrarrestar el estrés y a normalizar (volver a equilibrar) sus sistemas.

La normalización de los sistemas implica que los adaptógenos no solo actúan en una sola dirección, pero en la dirección que sea necesaria para ayudar al organismo a restablecer el equilibrio (lo que se conoce como homeostasis) de muchos de sus sistemas. Por ejemplo:

Si el estrés produce un aumento de la presión sanguínea, los adaptógenos ayudan al organismo a bajarla. Si está muy baja, los adaptógenos ayudan al organismo a elevarla.
Lo mismo sucede con los niveles de glucosa: Si están elevados, los adaptógenos ayudan al organismo a bajarlos.
Si sufre de tensión muscular relacionada con el estrés, los adaptógenos le ayudan a aliviar la tensión.

La otra parte del nombre de nuestro producto, “PLUS” (más) se refiere a que la increíble fórmula de Adaptogen fue mejorada con dos potentes adiciones:

Una potente mezcla de antioxidantes (entre ellos OptiBerry™). El estrés produce muchos radicales libres destructivos por lo que la mezcla de antioxidantes ayuda a neutralizarlos y a reparar su daño.
Aloe vera (sábila). El aloe vera sirve para contrarrestar el efecto nocivo que produce el estrés en el proceso digestivo del organismo. Funciona mucho mejor que el agua para maximizar la absorción de todos los adaptógenos y nutrientes antioxidantes. Además, mejora el proceso digestivo en general, lo que permite que el organismo absorba más nutrientes provenientes de una dieta diaria regular.

Adaptogen 10 Plus: los 10 adaptógenos – MÁS una potente mezcla de antioxidantes y aloe vera que mejora la digestión, todo en uno.

Para sentirse mejor mañana, haga su pedido de Adaptogen 10 Plus hoy mismo.

MÁS INFORMACIÓN: HAGA CLIC AQUÍ

Sufre usted de inflamación y problemas de salud relacionados?

2011-10-27T15:27:00.000-07:00

¿Sufre usted de inflamación y problemas de salud relacionados?

*Inflamación muscular, articular y ósea – que causa dolor muscular, articular y corporal

*Inflamación respiratoria – que causa alergias y dificultades para respirar

*Inflamación arterial – que causa problemas cardíacos

*Inflamación del tracto digestivo – que causa distensión abdominal, calambres

y sensación de quemazón

*Inflamación celular extendida – que causa fatiga general

La inflamación descontrolada y los radicales libres (moléculas inestables que son también

dañinas para las células) son el resultado de la exposición del organismo a toxinas,

traumatismo directo, deficiencias de nutrientes y estrés. Una célula demasiado agotada

por la inflamación se puede dañar definitivamente, causando su muerte prematura.

Las células dañadas y muertas deberán eliminarse del organismo o se convertirán en

el foco de infecciones y enfermedades.

Las betalaínas que contiene Nopalea pueden ayudar a proteger contra la toxicidad y a

reducir la inflamación que conducen a padecimientos graves.

Haga clic aquí

Descubra los beneficios de esta increíble solución natural contra la inflamación

2011-10-26T14:13:00.000-07:00

Nopalea es nuestra increíble y revolucionaria bebida para el bienestar. Ayuda a su organismo a experimentar un estado de bienestar ideal y a:

Aliviar el dolor
Mejorar la respiración
Disminuir la inflamación de las articulaciones y de los músculos

Estos cambios pueden ayudar a que su organismo se sienta cada vez con más energía.

El consumo diario de Nopalea, ayuda a su organismo a:

Disminuir la inflamación
Destoxificarse
Alcanzar una salud celular óptima

Si la inflamación es el problema, ¡Nopalea es la solución para el bienestar! Haga su pedido hoy mismo.

Más detalles

La revista TIME lo llamó “El asesino secreto”
... y así es cómo se puede proteger de él

En 2004, la revista TIME publicó una asombrosa historia acerca de la inflamación y su destructivo efecto sobre la salud*.

En los años que siguieron al artículo del TIME, la ciencia médica continuó hallando aún más conexiones entre la inflamación crónica y trastornos sumamente debilitantes como las alergias, los dolores crónicos, el síndrome de colon irritable (IBS, por sus siglas en inglés) y otros.

Estos vínculos eran sorprendentes: trastornos tan diferentes pueden originarse de un mismo problema: la inflamación crónica.

Y el tipo de inflamación crónica que se está estudiando no es solo la de las “articulaciones y músculos doloridos e inflamados”, en la que la mayoría piensa. También abarca tejidos profundos e internos inflamados que afectan a los sistemas vitales, como:

Inflamación crónica en el corazón y las arterias
Inflamación crónica en los pulmones y en las vías respiratorias
Inflamación crónica en el estómago, el esófago y los intestinos
Inflamación crónica en otros órganos importantes (hígado, riñones, etc.) y glándulas
La inflamación celular generalizada y crónica en todo el organismo

Todos estos tipos de inflamación crónica pueden conducir a distintos problemas de salud graves, como:

Dolor persistente y continuo en partes del cuerpo
Alergias y reacciones asmáticas
Hipertensión y salud cardiovascular deteriorada
Úlceras y síndrome del colon irritable
Cansancio y letargo general y constante

La inflamación normal es buena

Cuando su organismo está sujeto a la amenaza de ciertos elementos o fenómenos, contrarresta dichos ataques mediante uno de sus mecanismos de defensa: la inflamación. Esto es normal.

Las amenazas que desencadenan la respuesta inflamatoria pueden ser cosas pequeñas, como un esguince muscular. También podría deberse a la intrusión de bacterias. Los sentimientos y los sucesos estresantes también pueden producir inflamación en ciertos tejidos del organismo. Y, una alimentación nutricionalmente deficiente también puede conducir a brotes inflamatorios.

Por último, una de las principales causas de la inflamación podría ser las condiciones del mundo actual, que de forma implacable expone a su organismo a un exceso abrumador de peligros en la forma de micropartículas y microorganismos: toxinas, contaminantes, bacterias, virus y productos químicos procedentes... del aire que usted respira... del agua que bebe... de los alimentos que come... e incluso de las cosas que toca.

Pero la inflamación crónica es perjudicial

Debido a la existencia de todas esas causas de la inflamación, es muy probable que ahora mismo, mientras usted lee esta información, su cuerpo presente muchas zonas inflamadas. Pero ese no es el problema… El problema se genera en todas esas zonas del cuerpo en las que, por una serie de razones, no se puede desactivar la inflamación. Y la inflamación continúa activada día tras día. Esto es lo que se denomina inflamación crónica.

Existen varios factores que impiden al cuerpo detener la respuesta inflamatoria, pero tres de ellos son especialmente comunes:

El estrés crónico; este mantiene al cuerpo constantemente “acelerado”, consumiendo los depósitos de nutrientes y deteriorando la capacidad del organismo para detener la inflamación e impedir que se vuelva crónica.
Carencias nutricionales crónicas; sin una nutrición diaria correcta, puede que el cuerpo no tenga los recursos adecuados para frenar una inflamación en curso.
Sobrecarga crónica de toxinas; en el mundo actual, el cuerpo está en constante lucha contra las toxinas, la polución y los contaminantes, procedentes de tantas fuentes que, sencillamente, puede resultar demasiado agotador como para detener la inflamación que se desencadena constantemente.

Notará que hay algo en común entre los tres factores anteriores: cronicidad. Cuando estos factores adversos son crónicos (constantes), aumenta enormemente la posibilidad de que la inflamación en su organismo también se haga crónica. Y este es precisamente el tipo de inflamación, la inflamación crónica, sobre el que advertía el artículo de la revista TIME, porque puede ser bastante perjudicial para su salud.

Algunos ejemplos habituales de cómo usted podría estar padeciendo diversos tipos de inflamación crónica, y los problemas de salud relacionados, son:

Inflamación muscular, articular y ósea que causa dolor corporal constante
Inflamación respiratoria, que causa alergias y dificultades para respirar
Inflamación arterial, que causa problemas cardíacos
Inflamación del tracto digestivo, que causa úlceras y el síndrome del colon irritable
Inflamación celular extendida, que causa fatiga general.

Una solución superior para la inflamación crónica
Si la inflamación crónica es el problema, Nopalea™ es la solución. Es su principal aliado en el bienestar, en la batalla diaria e interminable que lidia su organismo para mantenerse sano. Con sus sorprendentes betalaínas, Nopalea funciona de dos formas vitales: ayuda a neutralizar las toxinas internas del organismo y ayuda a reducir la inflamación crónica.

Nopalea le ayuda a darle a su organismo el gran alivio que necesita hoy… y a protegerse para que debilitantes trastornos de salud no se manifiesten mañana.

Nopalea... una potente solución sana para el poco saludable mundo de hoy

More Information: Click Here

TriVita In Espanol-

2011-10-26T14:08:00.000-07:00

Su bienestar es importante

Mayor bienestar… algo tan deseado.

Al disfrutar de mayor bienestar, uno se siente mejor, rinde mejor y también aprovecha la vida más que nunca.

Pero mayor bienestar no solo se trata de salud física, sino que también de salud emocional, salud espiritual al igual que de riqueza económica.

Que usted alcance mayor bienestar es precisamente nuestra misión en TriVita. La nuestra es una doble misión. Primero, queremos inspirar y ayudar a personas como usted a experimentar mayor bienestar general. Segundo, queremos ofrecerles la oportunidad de crear riqueza económica para que así puedan hacer realidad sus planes de vida. Todo lo que hacemos y creamos es en función a nuestra misión y para su beneficio.

Para ayudarlo a alcanzar mayor bienestar, en todas sus formas, le ofrecemos respaldo fundamental de tres maneras cuidadosamente desarrolladas:

La información adecuada – Le ofrecemos la información importante sobre bienestar que usted necesita, a la cual puede tener acceso a través de nuestras publicaciones, nuestros informes por e-mail y nuestro Centro de Bienestar en línea donde encontrará una amplia biblioteca de videos, audios, artículos, materiales interactivos y testimonios reales de gente de verdad. Ponemos todos estos recursos a su disposición para que alcance el mayor bienestar que tanto se merece.

Los productos adecuados – Nuestros productos son los adecuados para alcanzar mayor bienestar debido al cuidado especial con que los creamos. De acuerdo con nuestros Diez principios por los que nos regimos, todos nuestros productos contienen fórmulas aprobadas por médicos, métodos únicos de absorción de nutrientes y los ingredientes naturales más puros. Además, han sido probados y certificados por terceros. Le ofrecemos una calidad en la que puede confiar que tiene el respaldo de nuestra garantía de satisfacción total de 60 días.

La oportunidad adecuada – Queremos que goce de la clase de prosperidad que le permita realizar los propósitos que tiene para su vida ya sean mantener mejor a su familia… contribuir con una causa u organización benéfica en particular… alcanzar mayor libertad financiera… o lo que sea importante para usted. Por este motivo, hemos creado un Programa para Afiliados único que le permite generar ingresos y a su vez llevar más bienestar al mundo.

Esperamos ayudarlo en su travesía hacia la búsqueda de mayor bienestar y una vida mejor.

Trivita En Espanol: Click Here

2011-10-26T14:02:00.000-07:00

For greater cholesterol health, TriVita announces new product - Cholestria™

TriVita announced today that it has a brand new product to help people manage their cholesterol. Called Cholestria, this product is a result of listening to what TriVita’s Members were asking for in a natural, cholesterol health product. After extensive product development, the new Cholestria product was created, with a special, natural formulation designed to address cholesterol concerns in four key areas:

Reduce total cholesterol
Reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol
Reduce triglycerides
Increase HDL (good) cholesterol

One of the reasons why Cholestria’s so effective at lowering cholesterol is its ability to target both the dietary and genetic reasons for cholesterol problems. In other words, its ingredients help hinder the body’s absorption of cholesterol from consumed foods (diet), plus they help to lessen the excess cholesterol produced by the body’s liver (genetic). In addition, and especially noteworthy, is the fourth point above. Many cholesterol health products work to reduce the bad elements of cholesterol, but few, if any, are formulated to help the body increase its good cholesterol.
Taking a cholesterol health product like Cholestria is important because of the alarming statistics: Half of American adults have high blood cholesterol and a recent report showed that 41% of Canadian adults have high total cholesterol.* But because high cholesterol has no symptoms, many people are unaware that their cholesterol levels are too high – and that their health is at risk in ways like these:

People with high cholesterol have about twice the risk for heart disease as people with lower levels – and heart disease is the #1 killer in the world.
Nearly 2,200 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each day, an average of one death every 39 seconds.
Nearly twice as many women in the United States die of heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases as from all forms of cancer, including breast cancer.

For anyone looking for a natural way to better their cholesterol health, Cholestria is an ideal solution. More information about cholesterol, its risks, and the new product is available from Cholestria’s webpage on trivita.com (to go there now, click this link).
Individual results may vary. Foods and supplements containing at least 400 mg per serving of plant sterols, taken twice a day with meals for a daily total intake of at least 800 mg, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, combined with an increased level of activity may reduce the risk of heart disease. A daily serving of TriVita’s Cholestria provides 2,000 mg of plant sterols.
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, cure, prevent or treat any diseases.

More INformation: CLick Here

Nopalea Questions and Answers

2011-10-26T12:38:00.000-07:00

What is Nopalea?

Nopalea™ is a deliciously unique concentrated wellness drink that blends antioxidant-rich Nopal cactus, naturally sweet Agave nectar and an array of beneficial nutrients. These fresh ingredients are carefully harvested from the Sonoran Desert and aseptically bottled to deliver scientifically proven health benefits.

What are the key benefits to Nopalea?

What are the key benefits of Nopalea?

Betalain antioxidants in Nopalea have been scientifically proven to help your body:

Reduce inflammation
Detoxify
Promote optimal cellular health
Protect against premature aging

As a result of these actions, Nopalea helps your body with:

Relieving pain
Improving breathing
Reducing swelling in muscles and joints

What Makes Nopalea Unique?

Nopalea contains a rare and potent class of antioxidants called Betalains. Of all the known sources for Betalains, the Nopal cactus fruit supplies some of the highest amounts found in all of nature.

What are Betalains?

Betalains are a rare and potent class of antioxidants found in extremely high, concentrated levels in the Nopal cactus fruit. When you drink Nopalea, you take these Betalains directly into your system, where they work on the cellular level to restore your vitality.

Scientific research shows that the Betalains found in the Nopal cactus fruit can help to detoxify your body, eliminating the poisons you encounter every day. By helping the body reduce the toxins surrounding your cells and enabling essential nutrients to reach each cell, the Betalains in Nopalea can reduce the inflammation in your body that leads to disease.

How else can I get Betalains antioxidants into my diet?

There are 24 types of Betalains known to science each one having a different function. Beets contain up to 6 of the 24 Betalains; Rainbow Swiss chard contains 12 Betalains. The Nopal fruit isn’t just included in this small group of special plants, it actually leads the group by containing one of the highest amounts of Betalains in all of nature. Nopal fruit can contain up to all 24 Betalain types, especially the Opuntia Ficus Indica Nopal fruit from the Sonora Desert. There are many species of Nopal that grow around the world. Opuntia Ficus Indica thrives in the extreme environment of the Sonora Desert and when wild-harvested at the peak of ripeness, it can contain all 24 Betalain types.

How is Betalains Antioxidants different from other superfruit antioxidants?

Betalains are a protein-bound antioxidant that does more than help slow aging. Betalain antioxidants can help the body reduce inflammation, detoxify the cell and restore the balance between the inside and outside of the cell for optimal cellular function. While many antioxidants have been claimed to have different health benefits, the Betalain antioxidant is specifically studied to help the body reduce inflammation on a measurable and therapeutic level. Multiple studies show that Betalain antioxidants can help the human cell detoxify and remove unwanted and dangerous toxins which help reduce inflammation.

Why is Nopalea so Effective?

Quality! Nopalea is made from premium, antioxidant-rich Nopal cactus fruit. This fruit is carefully harvested from the Sonoran Desert, using the same techniques the native Sonorans have been using for thousands of years. From there, the fruit is juiced to a puree and bottled in a state-of-the-art facility, which ensures quality and freshness while also preserving the antioxidants and their potency.

How is Nopalea different from other Superfruit concentrate products?

While many Superfruit liquid wellness concentrates are available today such as Noni, Mangosteen, and Acai, Nopalea is made from the purest and freshest Opuntia Ficus Indica (Nopal) cactus that produces a antioxidant rich Superfruit. This powerful Superfruit is unique in that it contains a rare class of antioxidant called Betalain. The Betalain antioxidant is scientifically studied and proven to help the body detoxify itself from harmful environmental toxins which help reduce and protect against inflammation. Inflammation is now considered the number one precursor to dangerous and life threatening disease.

How is Kosher Different?

Kosher Nopalea meets the needs of people who seek kosher certified foods as part of their diet. Production processes are observed and certified by the world’s largest and most widely recognized kosher certification agency, OU (Orthodox Union). All elements of this Nopalea version are kosher, otherwise, both Nopalea products are exactly the same.

With so many SuperFruit products available why should I use Opuntia Ficus Indica (nopal) over an Acai.,Noni or Mangosteen product?

There are many Superfruit products available and they all contain antioxidants to help slow the aging process and fight free radicals. However, none of them have the clinical research that Opuntia Ficus Indica does on helping the body detoxify and reduce inflammation. Because science has proven inflammation is a serious cause for disease, Opuntia Ficus Indica could be a more prudent selection.

What type of Fruit is Nopalea made from?

When the Nopal cactus blooms and ripens, it lights up the desert with its brilliant pink fruit. It’s at this point when our harvest begins – just as it has for thousands of years by the ancient peoples of the Sonoran desert.

Low-impact harvesting for high-impact wellness

By following the sustainable wildcrafting techniques learned from native Sonoran ancestors, we take only what’s needed from the extraordinary Nopal cactus. That means we take only a small amount for fruit from each cactus, leaving the majority of it to supply nourishment for desert animals and ensure reseeding for an abundant crop in the future. It’s our way of ... giving back ... respecting the cycle of life ... and celebrating the harvest season.

Immediately after our harvest, the Nopal fruits are transported to our state-of-the-art processing plant. Here, the fruits are juiced and blended with other natural ingredients to create a deliciously unique, concentrated wellness drink. Plus we use aseptic bottling techniques (low heat and rapid cooling) to sterilize and preserve the fruits’ purity, freshness and potency of its powerful antioxidant Betalains.

Is it safe to take Nopalea with other Medications?

There are no known contraindications with Nopalea and medications. However, Nopalea is a dietary supplement. If you are taking any medications or have a known medical condition, it’s best to consult with your health care provider before drinking Nopalea.

Is Nopalea safe for everyone?
Yes. Nopalea is a natural, concentrated wellness drink made from Nopal cactus fruit, which is harvested from the Sonoran Desert at the peak of its freshness. From there, the fruit is juiced to a puree and bottled in a state-of-the-art facility, which ensures quality and freshness while also preserving the antioxidants and their potency.

More Information: Click Here

The Vital C Flush*... help boost your immune system with it

2011-10-26T12:16:00.000-07:00

Over time, your body collects toxins, or poisons, that can damage your health. They collect in your lymphatic system and this can affect your body’s ability to repair itself.

The lymphatic or “lymph” system is an important part of the immune system. It’s made up of vessels, organs, nodes and ducts that help maintain fluid balance in your body. Plus, the lymph system makes, stores and carries white blood cells throughout your body.

Toxins can pile up in your lymph nodes. Two-thirds of your immune system resides in these lymph nodes. If they are full of toxins, your body will not respond correctly to new stresses. Also, allergies and autoimmune diseases can start with these nodes when they are full of waste. Our “Vital C Flush” can help your body get rid of this waste.

The Vital C Flush can help stimulate your lymphatic system and help you calculate the maximum amount of Vitamin C that your body can use every day.

Because Vitamin C is water soluble, it must be taken every day. It is an important antioxidant that helps protect cells against damage caused by free radicals (unstable atoms or molecules). It also supports the body’s immune system and plays a role in healthy gums, skin, vision and connective tissue. Here’s how the flush works:

Start your flush in the morning on an empty stomach; set aside at least 4 hours. It will not take that long but you want to have that time to comfortably recover from the flush.
Take 1 teaspoon of TriVita Vital C Crystals in 4 or more ounces of water every 15 minutes until the lymph system "flushes."

Important note: Some people report loose stools or even diarrhea with large amounts of Vitamin C. The lymph flush is not to be confused with diarrhea. Lymph fluid is plasma – mostly water. You will know your lymph system has flushed when you release large amounts of fluid through your bowels. This is the point where your body can no longer absorb Vitamin C.
Multiply the number of teaspoons of Vital C it took to flush by 0.75. This is the maximum number of teaspoons you can use in a day.
- Example: 8 teaspoons to flush x 0.75 = 6
- Take no more than 6 teaspoons of Vital C per day
Divide the number of daily teaspoons by 3; this will be your serving in the morning, midday and evening. Example:
- Maximum of 6 teaspoons
- 6 ÷ 3 = 2 teaspoons
  - 2 teaspoons in the morning
  - 2 teaspoons at midday
  - 2 teaspoons in the evening
Finish the bottle of Vital C at this reduced serving. You may continue taking this amount daily for several months if desired.

The average person can flush 1-4 times per year. In time, and after several flushes, you may see that your daily Vital C needs go down to what may be considered a more normal serving – one or two teaspoons, twice a day.

*Please check with your healthcare provider before starting the Vital C Flush.

More Information: Click Here

Acid/alkaline Balance: A Healthy Aging Tool

2011-10-26T12:13:00.000-07:00

Health is truly a balance among all the systems of the body. The cells of our body are so interconnected that when you improve the balance of any one system, it improves the balance and vitality of the rest of the organ systems. For example, improving cardiovascular health improves digestive function. Improving the function of the nervous system will improve the lymphatic system, and possibly most important, when you improve the acid/alkaline balance of the body, you simultaneously improve every other system in the body at the same time.

Finding balance begins in our bloodstream, as does repairing injuries, reducing inflammation, burning fat, building strong bones (reversing osteoporosis), and increasing energy and vitality.

In order to function properly, the blood and other body fluids must maintain a very narrow acid/alkaline balance, which is measured by the pH factor (potential hydrogen). pH ranges from 0-14 (very acidic to very alkaline). A pH below 7.0 is acid and above 7 is alkaline. Keep in mind when and if you test your pH, that there is a tenfold difference between each number. For example, a pH of 5.0 is 10 times more acidic than a pH of 6.0.

Blood pH does not shift easily. The pH of our blood is between 7.25-7.45 and if the blood’s pH falls below or above that range, the body cannot function properly. This is because a tremendous amount of energy is expended to maintain pH levels, all the while pulling from the body’s alkaline mineral reserves, causing deficiencies and health disorders.
When we maintain proper pH levels, injuries heal faster and health challenges improve quicker because the body is oxygenated and therefore can detoxify and heal itself. If cells are energized in this way, we develop a strong immunity to diseases and a significantly lower propensity for cancer.

The best way to maintain optimal pH levels and optimal vitality is through what we eat and drink and how we react to stress. For the diet, if you follow an 80/20 rule, 80% alkaline-forming foods and 20% acid, you should experience all the benefits that body balance has to offer. Check the following lists to see which foods do what and where you might be able to increase your alkaline-forming foods. Keep in mind that the foods must be organic because ALL pesticides are very acidic. Remember: just because a food is acidic does not mean you should not eat it. When looking at acid-alkaline balance, shoot for an 80% alkaline and 20% acid-forming diet.

Alkaline-forming foods

Dairy: Acidophilus, whey, kefir/yogurt
Fruits: Apples, apricots, avocados, bananas, berries, cantaloupes, cherries, currants, dates, figs, grapes, grapefruits, guavas, lemons, limes, mangoes, melons, nectarines, oranges, papayas, passion fruits, peaches, pears, persimmons, pineapples, raisins, strawberries, tangerines
Veggies: Bamboo shoots, green beans, lima beans, string beans, sprouts, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, celery, cauliflower, chard, chicory, chives, collard greens, cucumber, dandelion greens, dill, dulse (red seaweed) eggplant, endive, escarole, kale, garlic, leeks, legumes, lettuce, okra, onions, parsley, parsnips, sweet potato/yam, bell peppers, white potatoes, pumpkin, radish, rutabaga, turnips, watercress
Nuts: Almonds, chestnuts, coconuts
Miscellaneous: Ginger, honey, kelp, alfalfa, clover, mint, sage, green tea, quinoa, flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, all seaweed/sea veggies
Minerals: Calcium, magnesium, potassium, manganese
Note: All meats are non-alkaline.

Acid-forming foods

Grains: All white flour products, buckwheat, wheat corn, barley, oats, rye
Dairy: Butter, eggs, cheese, cottage cheese, cream, ice cream, custards, milk
Fruits: Jams/anything preserved, cranberries, pomegranates, olives
Veggies: Artichokes, asparagus, garbanzo beans
Meat: All
Nuts: Peanuts, pistachios, walnuts, macadamia
Miscellaneous: Alcohol, brine, coffee and cocoa/chocolate, candy, many dressings because of the vinegar, drugs, jams/jellies, mayo, some spices, soda

More Information: Click Here

Women: What You Should Know About Strokes

2011-10-26T12:09:00.000-07:00

Did you know that stroke kills twice as many women each year as breast cancer? And yet many women don’t rate stroke as a health concern. More women than men have strokes – and are more likely to die from a stroke. Stroke is the third leading cause of death and one of the leading causes of disability. By arming yourself with knowledge, you can help reduce your risk – and recognize the symptoms – of stroke.

What is stroke?
Stroke, sometimes referred to as a “brain attack,” occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted. Within minutes, brain cells begin dying: up to two million per minute. There are two types of stroke:

Ischemic: The most common, ischemic stroke occurs when blood clots block or plug a blood vessel in the brain. Over 80% of all strokes are ischemic.
Hemorrhagic: Hemorrhagic strokes are caused by blood vessels that break and bleed into the brain. Over 30% of stroke deaths are attributable to this type of stroke.

Major risk factors for stroke:

High blood pressure
Smoking
Diabetes
Heart disease
Age – Although anyone can have a stroke, your risk increases with age.
Race and ethnicity – Strokes occur more often in African American, Alaska Native, and American Indian adults than in Caucasian, Hispanic or Asian American adults.
Personal or family history of stroke

Other risk factors include obesity, unhealthy diet, a sedentary lifestyle and alcohol and illegal drug use.

Unique risk factors for women:

Gender – More women have strokes than men and are more likely to die from a stroke.
Birth control pills – Birth control pills can raise the risk of stroke for some women, especially women over 35; women with high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol; and women who smoke.
Hormones – Hormonal changes with pregnancy, childbirth and menopause are linked to an increased risk of stroke.

Stroke prevention
There are steps you can take to help protect against stroke. Though some risk factors can’t be controlled, others can be modified:

If you smoke, stop
Work with your healthcare provider to come up with a plan for controlling high blood pressure
Eat a healthy, balanced diet
Keep alcohol intake to a minimum
If you are overweight, adopt a healthy weight loss plan
Increase your daily physical activity

What are the signs of a stroke?
A stroke happens fast. Most people have two or more signs. The most common signs are:

Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg (mainly on one side of the body)
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance
Sudden confusion or trouble talking or understanding speech
Sudden bad headache with no known cause

Women may have unique symptoms:

Sudden face and arm or leg pain
Sudden hiccups
Sudden nausea (feeling sick to your stomach)
Sudden tiredness
Sudden chest pain
Sudden shortness of breath (feeling like you can’t get enough air)
Sudden pounding or racing heartbeat

More Information: Click Here

Getting Off the Menopause Roller Coaster

2011-10-25T13:51:00.000-07:00

Getting Off the Menopause Roller Coaster

We are the sum total of every experience in our life. As we appear right now, we are the accumulation of every meal we have ever eaten, every injury we have ever sustained, and each and every thought that has washed over our DNA to influence its expression.

We are also the accumulation of every toxin in our system. This includes a relatively new family of toxins called xenoestrogens – foreign chemicals in our environment that mimic natural estrogens. Xenoestrogens start a fire of inflammation and disrupt normal hormone signals. This leads to a roller coaster of symptoms that amplify the hormone disruptions of menopause.

Toxic origins
Xenoestrogens (XOs for short) may start their life as pesticides, plastics or medications. Many are deemed useful, beneficial and certainly not harmful – at least in the short term. However, with long-term use the results can be deadly. Let’s use DDT as an example.

DDT was a chemical pesticide discovered more than 100 years ago, though it was not used as a pesticide until 1939. DDT was used around soldiers and civilians in war-torn regions during World War II. After the war, DDT was used generously in many neighborhoods. Many people remember the trucks that would drive through mosquito-infested regions emitting a DDT-laced fog. After several years of this practice – where we were all assured it was perfectly safe – apex predators like the American Bald Eagle began to go extinct because of DDT poisoning.

DDT is one example of many, many XOs that disrupt the cycle of reproductive hormones in animals and humans. Others include industrial chemicals like PCBs, plastics such as BPA and phthalates, and medications such as Diethyl Stilbesterol (DES) and Ethinyl Estradiol. Although the short-term effects of these chemicals are relatively minor, the “law of unintended consequences” rears its deadly head when humans are exposed to these chemicals long term.

One significant effect of XOs is problematic menopause.

Brilliant minds – brilliant solutions
In 1962 Rachel Carson sounded the alarm about xenoestrogens in her book “Silent Spring.” About the same time, a Medical Doctor named Alfred Libby began his quest to find ways of restoring chemical balance following disruptions with foreign chemicals. Working alongside Nobel Laureate Linus Pauling, he discovered that Linus Pauling’s immune-boosting Vitamin C also worked as a powerful detoxification agent when taken in its non-acidic form.

Non-acidic Vitamin C may actually help remove stored, toxic XOs that cause so much hormone misery.

As time went along, Dr. Libby eventually discovered that more than non-acidic Vitamin C was needed to further remove XOs. These XOs are deceptive chemicals that hide out, disguised as normal hormones. The only sure way to facilitate their exit from our body and restore hormone balance is by supporting the liver – the place where XOs are detoxified. Dr. Libby began working with branched-chain amino acids and developing the product that would eventually become Balanced Woman®.

I was privileged and honored to work with him on completing this product and successfully filing the U.S. patent application. We also tested Balanced Woman on over 300 women suffering from problematic menopause. More than 9 out of 10 women reduced or eliminated their distressing symptoms using this outstanding XO detoxification product.

Make ‘em, use ‘em and get rid of them!
How many times through the years have I heard this chant! With hormones, we need to detoxify XOs so our body can clearly see how many hormones it needs to “make.” (We also need Omega EFAs for “making” them.) Then, we need to detoxify the XOs so our body can understand how to “use” them appropriately. Finally, with all hormones – good and bad – we need to get rid of them: we need total detoxification and elimination of all hormones to find balance and relief.

Use the Vital C Flush to help eliminate XOs. Use OmegaPrime® to help “make” healthy hormones. And, use Balanced Woman to help complete the detoxification cycle. What a brilliant solution to years or even decades of toxic XO accumulation!

Take Control of Your Health

Reduce XO exposure from:
- Pesticides
- Plastics
- Other chemicals
Increase detoxification
- Complete the Vital C Flush annually
- Try branched-chain amino acids like those in Balanced Woman
Make ‘em, use ‘em and get rid of them!
- OmegaPrime: 2 to 6 daily
- Balanced Woman: 2 daily with juice, away from protein
- Vital C: A teaspoon of Crystal Powder in the morning and a Crystal Tablet at bedtime

More Information: Click Here

Women: What You Should Know About Strokes

2011-10-25T13:47:00.000-07:00

Ischemic: The most common, ischemic stroke occurs when blood clots block or plug a blood vessel in the brain. Over 80% of all strokes are ischemic.
Hemorrhagic: Hemorrhagic strokes are caused by blood vessels that break and bleed into the brain. Over 30% of stroke deaths are attributable to this type of stroke.

Major risk factors for stroke:

High blood pressure
Smoking
Diabetes
Heart disease
Age – Although anyone can have a stroke, your risk increases with age.
Race and ethnicity – Strokes occur more often in African American, Alaska Native, and American Indian adults than in Caucasian, Hispanic or Asian American adults.
Personal or family history of stroke

Other risk factors include obesity, unhealthy diet, a sedentary lifestyle and alcohol and illegal drug use.

Unique risk factors for women:

Gender – More women have strokes than men and are more likely to die from a stroke.
Birth control pills – Birth control pills can raise the risk of stroke for some women, especially women over 35; women with high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol; and women who smoke.
Hormones – Hormonal changes with pregnancy, childbirth and menopause are linked to an increased risk of stroke.

Stroke prevention
There are steps you can take to help protect against stroke. Though some risk factors can’t be controlled, others can be modified:

If you smoke, stop
Work with your healthcare provider to come up with a plan for controlling high blood pressure
Eat a healthy, balanced diet
Keep alcohol intake to a minimum
If you are overweight, adopt a healthy weight loss plan
Increase your daily physical activity

What are the signs of a stroke?
A stroke happens fast. Most people have two or more signs. The most common signs are:

Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg (mainly on one side of the body)
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance
Sudden confusion or trouble talking or understanding speech
Sudden bad headache with no known cause

Women may have unique symptoms:

Sudden face and arm or leg pain
Sudden hiccups
Sudden nausea (feeling sick to your stomach)
Sudden tiredness
Sudden chest pain
Sudden shortness of breath (feeling like you can’t get enough air)
Sudden pounding or racing heartbeat

Get More Information: Click Here

Prepare Now For Flu Season!

2011-10-22T14:01:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed that some people never seem to get sick? Really, only about 10% of the people you know will get the flu in any normal year. Even in an epidemic year, only about 50% of the people around you will get the flu.

How would you like to be one of the people who do not get the flu this year? Well, it’s possible to reduce your risk and improve your chances of staying healthy with two simple steps: insulation and isolation.

Isolation
We don’t need to be quarantined to be isolated from the flu. In fact, the number-one technique for isolation from the flu is right in your hands! Yes, hand washing is the most important thing you can do to protect yourself from the flu. Wash them thoroughly in hot, soapy water for 20 seconds (sing your alphabet) and dry them completely. You may also use alcohol-based hand sanitizers between washings.
Other isolation pointers include:

Don’t be near sick people
Cover your face when you cough or sneeze
Use a disposable tissue rather than handkerchief
Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth

These commonsense strategies can help protect you from infection and reduce your risk of getting sick.

Insulation
More important than isolation is insulation. Most people don’t get sick when the flu comes around because they are sufficiently insulated, not because they were “lucky” and never exposed. We are all exposed. When we make it through the season without an infection it is probably because we are sufficiently insulated, not because we are completely isolated.

Insulation is about nutrients and nurturing; it is about the 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness. For example, stress makes people more prone to infection; Deep Breathing reduces the impact of stress. Toxicity is a common trigger for infection; Deep Breathing and proper hydration (Drink Pure Water) help detoxify us. Eventually, the symptoms we feel from influenza infection are modulated by our immune system.

Sleeping Peacefully is the primary way we reset our immune system. In fact, peaceful sleep of the right quantity and quality is the key to becoming infection-resistant. Sleep well and avoid infection; sleep poorly and increase your risk of getting the flu.

Other Essentials are significant contributors to our immune system: moderate exercise reduces our risk and eating our fruits and veggies does as well. Emotional health reduces our risk and social support may also. In the end, insulation is your best protection from illness. Coupled with your isolation program, insulation Essentials are the best tools available to help avoid getting sick.

Nutrients?
It is critical that we build a solid foundation for wellness in order to avoid illness. This includes satisfying nutrient deficiencies. In the industrialized world, the top deficiencies are: Vitamin C, Vitamin B-12, Vitamin D, Magnesium and Essential Fatty Acids. At the very least, supplements to meet these deficiencies should be part of your insulation strategy.
A few other nutrients I suggest include Peaceful Sleep™ (if you can’t sleep, you can’t repair!), Nopalea™ to help reduce the chance for inflammatory symptoms in your lungs, and Adaptogen 10 Plus® to help reduce the contribution stress may have toward lowering and weakening your immune system.

These insulation and isolation suggestions will give you the best chance to come through this season as one of the people who simply did not get sick!

Take Control of Your Health

Get your rest:

7.5 to 9 hours every night
Get to bed early!

Wash your hands at least every 4 hours

Use alcohol-based sanitizers between washing

Eat your fruits and veggies, drink plenty of water, get moderate exercise
Use Healthy Foundation Supplements to fill deficiencies
Add Peaceful Sleep, Nopalea and Adaptogen 10 Plus as needed

Get More Information: Click Here

Is Homocysteine Your Titanic Iceberg?

2011-10-19T14:38:00.000-07:00

By Brazos Minshew
TriVita Chief Science Officer

If the word “homocysteine” is new to you, let’s step back a minute and talk about the Titanic. Yes, the cruise liner that sank after hitting an iceberg in 1912. Imagine what would have happened if the captain of that ship changed his course before the icebergs appeared. Would the outcome have been different? My point is this: The earlier you change your course with respect to your health, the better your chances for a healthy life! And that’s why it’s important to know about homocysteine (HCY) sooner rather than later.

Homocysteine (HCY) has been studied in medicine "behind the scenes" for more than 40 years. Excessive levels of HCY have been linked to many serious conditions, from heart attacks and stroke, to osteoporosis and Alzheimer's disease. We know that low homocysteine equals a low risk of disease. We also know that TriVita's HCY Guard may help your body reduce homocysteine 35% in just six weeks for most people. How does this affect you?

Protection is the key
According to major medical studies, the risk of disease goes up as HCY levels go up. Further, the nutrients in TriVita’s HCY Guard, when added to a lifestyle program, were found to help people avoid illness over time.
Sadly, many people with advanced heart disease wait until they are "too close to the iceberg." For them, it is often too little, too late. Still, 40 years of medical research tells us that changing the course of our health journey earlier (before a serious health crisis occurs) will result in a healthier life.

How HCY kills
Homocysteine is a fraction of protein like a sliver of broken glass. When it gets into your bloodstream in high concentrations it slices the delicate lining of your blood vessels. When the tissues supplied by these blood vessels lose circulation, they will die. If this happens in your heart it is called a heart attack. If it happens in your brain it is called a stroke, or "brain attack." Arteries damaged by homocysteine may spasm under stress.

Basic nutrients from a healthy diet improve HCY levels in the bloodstream. TriVita's HCY Guard contains specific nutrients, such as Vitamin B-12, B-6, folic acid and biotin, which further help to reduce HCY levels and the destruction HCY causes to your bones, blood vessels and heart, as well as your delicate brain cells.

Additional nutrients in HCY Guard such as Choline, Inositol, CoEnzyme Q-10 and Dimethylglycine keep the HCY levels down over time. The protein Methionine promotes a healthy HCY cycle, and other proteins such as Lysine, Taurine and Cysteine remove roadblocks to healthy HCY elimination. These roadblocks may include lead, mercury and other toxins.

Reduced homocysteine by 35%
In 2004 we undertook a study of HCY Guard. Our research partner in this study was Mark Mattie, M.D., Ph.D., of Bridgeport University and Yale University. The results of our study demonstrated that the complete ingredients found in HCY Guard helped the body reduce homocysteine an incredible 35%!

Remember, HCY Guard is protection, not treatment. Health only comes from healthy living. As captain of your ship, you simply cannot afford to wait until you "see icebergs" to change the course of your health. Have your homocysteine levels tested frequently. If they are low, keep them low with TriVita's Sublingual B-12. If they are too high, help reduce them by taking HCY Guard, the only supplement proven in university studies to help reduce HCY by 35%!

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Calorie Restriction a Key to Longer Life?

2011-10-19T14:36:00.000-07:00

Imagine cutting out 25 to 35% of your daily calories… with the remaining calories covering all your nutritional bases. The promise of a longer, healthier life is leading to a growing movement of people who are embracing this so-called calorie restriction. A typical Western diet consists of 2,000 to 3,000 calories per day; on a severely restricted diet, that goes down to about 1,800 calories for men and 1,500 to 1,700 for women. Why the drastic measures? More and more research is pointing to calorie restriction as a key to longevity. Or at the very least, a way to greatly reduce the risk of age-related conditions and diseases, particularly diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Mounting evidence
Although scientists don’t know the mechanics behind it, a calorie-restricted, nutrient-rich diet has been shown in a multitude of animal studies to extend the lifespan and reduce the risk of age-related chronic disease.

Since the 1930s, researchers have been studying the effects of calorie restriction on numerous species, including rats, worms, spiders and most recently, primates. The results of one 20-year study involving rhesus monkeys showed that not only did the monkeys on the restricted diet reduce their risk of developing age-related diseases, but their overall incidence of cancerous tumors and cardiovascular disease was less than half that in the monkeys who ate freely. Researchers reported that they saw the complete prevention of diabetes in the calorie-restricted animals, whereas diabetes and impaired glucose regulation were common in the unrestricted monkeys. Calorie-restricted monkeys showed greater insulin sensitivity, lower glucose concentrations and improved glucose tolerance.

The monkeys’ brains showed differences as well: restricted diets seemed to better preserve the areas of the brain involved in motor control, working memory and problem solving – areas often affected by aging.

Calorie restriction in humans
Studying the effects of calorie restriction in humans presents challenges due to our longer lifespan (rhesus monkeys live an average 27 years in captivity) and the difficulty of sustaining such a restricted diet (a person is often hungry). However, a few studies have been undertaken with promising results.

In one study, researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis studied the heart function of members of an organization called the Calorie Restriction Society, and found that their hearts had the same level of functioning found in people years younger. Scientists speculate that a calorie-restricted diet may even have a rejuvenating effect on people’s hearts, as most of the participants averaged only six years on the calorie-restricted diet but exhibited heart function typical in people as much as 15 years younger.

Is calorie restriction for you?
Though there’s no definitive proof that eating less will extend your life, calorie restriction has certainly been promising in terms of better health. However, most people are unable to sustain such a diet. Because it is an extreme dietary measure, calorie restriction of this caliber should only be attempted under the direction of a healthcare provider or dietician.

For most people, consuming fewer calories in general can help improve health. In fact, the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggests that you enjoy your food, but eat less of it and avoid oversized portions. Simple ways to cut calories from your diet include choosing low- or no-fat dairy, avoiding snack foods, fatty meats and pastries, and opting for more fresh fruits and vegetables.

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Keep Your Heart Healthy

2011-10-19T14:33:00.000-07:00

Death is Nature’s way of saying, “Slow down, take it easy”
Ahh, to slow down for a moment… To go through life relaxed instead of pedal-to-the-metal!

We call the cycle of chronic stress Fight or Flight. It describes the reaction of our nervous system when we are confronted with a life-threatening circumstance. Our nervous system governs homeostasis – which controls our hormones, sugar balance and energy production. Our nervous system controls our heart and vascular system as well.

The gas, the brakes…
Our car is equipped with an accelerator to make it go and brakes to make it stop. Our nervous system is divided into two separate systems that function in much the same way. The sympathetic nervous system reacts and responds to stimuli from outside our body such as noise, cold and heat. It reacts to pain or even the threat of pain and loss. It reacts when you are tickled. It is “sympathetic” to emotions such as fear and anger.

Our parasympathetic nervous system works to bring us back into balance when stressful circumstances are past and the hormones of stress start to drop. The parasympathetic nervous system runs everything in your body: heart, brain, immune system, digestion, reproduction – everything!

The sympathetic nervous system may tear your body apart to try to solve a momentary crisis. The parasympathetic nervous system builds your body up and allows you to heal when the crisis has resolved.

We need to put the brakes on stress or it will put the brakes on our life!

Hormones, stress and heart attacks
If our body is parasympathetic-dominant we experience all the colors of life from an optimum state: our breathing is relaxed, our digestion is complete and our circulation is wide open. Our thyroid is busily building up our muscles, bones and organs and our heart is cooperating by ensuring a nutrient-rich supply of blood.

If our body is sympathetic-dominant it is stressed. Our thyroid cannot complete its building function so our brain pumps out more and more stimulating hormones. Our liver releases huge amounts of sugar and cholesterol. Our blood pressure increases and our heart rate increases as nutrients are choked off from non-Fight or Flight systems, such as breathing, reproduction and digestion.

One of the most vulnerable of all systems to sympathetic dominance is the cardiovascular system – your heart and blood vessels. If they have been constricted for too long because of stress, they will lose their ability to return to normal when you relax. Soon, semi-permanent changes will occur in these systems as we become accustomed to stressful living.

Running the engine of your car at top speed exhausts your fuel supply very quickly. Running your body in sympathetic dominance exhausts your nutrient reserves as well. This is especially true of your antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients, such as Vitamins C and B-12, as well as essential fatty acids that serve as the primary fuel for your heart.

When your car runs out of fuel, it sputters and dies. It is the same way for your heart!

What to do

Deep breathing
Unlike your car, your body is designed to heal given the right circumstances. We can switch our nervous system to parasympathetic dominance by practicing deep breathing. Take “breathing breaks” for 10 minutes, twice daily. Practice deep breathing for 20 minutes before sleeping. This is a major step toward relaxing. Keep it up every day and in four to six months your cardiovascular system can begin to heal.

Activity
Enjoy low-stress exercise for at least 30 minutes daily. This will open your blood vessels and even help your body to build new blood vessels.

Nutrients
Use antioxidant nutrients such as Vital C™ and eat antioxidant-rich foods at every meal. Use anti-inflammatory supplements: Cholestria™ to help raise HDL (“good” cholesterol) and help reduce inflammatory LDL (“bad” cholesterol), and HCY Guard® (homocysteine is a very inflammatory toxin!). And fuel your heart with essential fatty acids from OmegaPrime®.

Take your foot off the gas with anti-stress exercises. Put more fuel in your tank with nutrients and nurturing. Slow down a little – or Nature will send you an unwanted message!

Take Control of Your Health

Recognize the danger of stress – don’t trivialize it!
Practice deep breathing
- 10 minutes, twice daily
- 20 minutes at bedtime
Enjoy activity – 30 minutes daily, most days of the week
Eat fruits and vegetables as well as Vital C for antioxidants
Use Cholestria to help increase “good” cholesterol and help reduce “bad” cholesterol
Use HCY Guard to help reduce toxic homocysteine
Eat healthy fats and OmegaPrime to help nourish your heart

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The Superfood You Need to Try Now

2011-10-16T10:24:00.000-07:00

You’ve probably heard of chia. If not, catch up fast, because chia can give you more energy than you’ve ever experienced, boost strength and endurance, induce weight loss, and level blood sugar.

Here’s a recap: Long before there were telephones or the internet, during the days of the Aztec empire, tribes could only communicate via runners, men who literally ran from one tribe to the next. But how did these men who ran for days on end survive? Legend has it that these men subsisted on chia, an ancient herb making new waves in nutrition circles because of its superfood status.

Chia, the Mayan word for strength, is a flowering plant native to Mexico and Guatemala. Though commercially harvested for its seeds, its sprouts are perhaps better known from the Chia Pet, a small porcelain animal that sprouted chia for hair.

More commonly, the sprouts are consumed like alfalfa sprouts—in salads, sandwiches and other dishes—but it’s the seeds that are the real nutritional superstars.

Why is it a superfood?

Chia seeds have:

-2 times the protein of any other seed or grain.

-5 times the calcium of milk, plus boron, which is a trace mineral that helps transfer calcium into your bones.

-2 times the amount of potassium as bananas.

-3 times the reported antioxidant strength of blueberries.

-3 times more iron than spinach.

-Copious amounts of omega-3 and omega-6, which are essential fatty acids (one ounce of these power-packing seeds contains more than eight times the amount of omega-3 fatty acid found in a similar measure of wild salmon).

With all this nutritional goodness, it’s no wonder that some medical studies have shown important cardiovascular and other health benefits from consuming chia. Despite some promising results, however, research on chia is still largely lacking and more work needs to be done until anything can be said conclusively.

Chia Recipes

Hearty Chia Breakfast Eggs:This makes a very satisfying, tasty and nutritious breakfast. The egg/chia mixture has a consistency similar to couscous when cooked.

Ingredients per person

* 1 egg

* 1 tablespoon of chia seeds (preferably white)

* Half a small onion

* A handful of baby spinach

* A splash of milk (about a dessert spoon)

Method

1-Whisk the egg and milk, and soak the chia seeds in the mixture for 15 minutes.

2-Chop the onion finely and gently fry in a non stick frying pan with a little butter or oil until soft and slightly brown.

3-Add the egg/chia seed/milk mixture to the pan and stir until set.

4-Add the baby spinach leaves and stir the mixture until leaves are slightly wilted.

5-Season to taste (it's great with a little sea salt and ground black pepper), serve and enjoy.

Merry Berry Smoothie

Ingredients

* 1 1/2 cups of apple juice

* 1 cup of mixed berries, frozen or fresh

* 1 tablespoon of chia seeds

Method

1-Soak the chia seeds in the apple juice for 10 minutes or so.

2-Blend all ingredients together until smooth.

To make a creamier smoothie, add 2 tablespoons of yogurt or half a banana.

Where do I buy it?

You can find chia seeds, chia flour or chia oil at most health food stores and online.

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What is Blood Inflammation

2011-10-07T07:30:00.000-07:00

TriVita Chief Science Officer Brazos Minshew talks with Donovan Kerr, a Live Blood Cell Microscopist and Molly Chin, his client, about what blood inflammation looks like and identifies two things that create pain and inflammation in the blood stream. Learn about sickle cell anemia and some of the care options that are helpful and effective in reducing the symptoms.

Donovan Kerr has been involved with various aspects of natural medicine for 20 years. He studied naturopathic principles under Dr. Joel Robbins in Tulsa, OK and spent four years under the mentorship of the late Dr. Stan Bynum, where he gained certification in live blood cell microscopy and nutrition. Donovan, a gifted speaker and healer, has lectured all over North America. His talks include, "What will we do about the coming plagues", "Energetic Medicine", "Health benefits of enzymes and Probiotics."

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The Secret To Aging Well

2011-10-07T07:19:00.000-07:00

“The key to successful aging is to pay as little attention to it as possible.” ~ Judith Regan

The choice to stay youthful while you age is an attitude of the heart. For me, this is a commitment I have made to myself. To age gracefully, yet retain the curiosity and enthusiasm for life that will keep me young.

It was some time ago that I made the decision to not share my age. I attended graduate school in midlife and the student population was a lot younger than I was. I had lots of friends and everyone treated me as a peer until one day I happened to mention my age. They were shocked and things changed after that. They treated me differently. I wasn’t “one of them” anymore.

So now, when asked how old I am, I reply, “I am ageless.” Or if they press further, I say, “I am 39 forever,” because that is the age I feel closest to. My family has become so accustomed to my attitude and comments that at my birthday party last year, my father was praying the traditional blessing on my life and he said, “Bless Judy on her 39th birthday… again.”

The reason I am passionate about staying youthful and having a zest for life is what I have observed in others over the years. When people reach certain age milestones in their lives they begin to use phrases like, “I’m not as young as I used to be,” or “At my age, I can’t do that anymore,” and “I’m too old for that.” These are messages to the body to shut down to life and soon an “old age” mentality develops.

“Studies on successful aging have shown that only one-third of what predicts how well we age is controlled by genetics. The other two-thirds is based on lifestyle choices… and is under our control,” says psychologist Gary Small, director of the UCLA Center on Aging and author of The Longevity Bible.

You are the director of your aging process by the attitude, words and images you choose. However, in our society, we are surrounded by negative images and attitudes about aging and it takes diligence to protect our mindset. The main three messages that are communicated through the media to the senior population is slowing down, retiring and dying. Wouldn’t it be better to view aging as a season of positive growth and continued development?

The secret to living long and strong is to fall in love with life. This attitude will affect the biochemistry of your body and suspend traditional patterns of aging. You can live happier and healthier by indulging in things that make you truly happy, the thrill of new adventures, the beauty of nature and the enjoyment of friends and family.

You can maintain your youthfulness by the attitudes and practices you encourage every moment of every day.

Dr. Judy Ellison, Ph.D. is a psychologist, research scientist, life transformation expert, published author and motivational speaker, who earned her doctoral degree in psychology from Saybrook Graduate School in San Francisco, California. She is a leading expert in the mind/body/spirit connection. Merging her experience from twenty-five years of personal counselling along with her education, Dr. Ellison is passionate to lead individuals into personal growth and life transformation.

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Celebrate the Bounty of Fruits and Vegetables

2011-09-04T06:02:00.001-07:00

It’s no mystery that eating lots of fresh fruit and vegetables improves our health, moods and well-being, but yet, it can be a bit of a challenge to get enough of these foods into our diet.

Since June is National Fruits and Veggies Month, let’s re-commit to eating these life-giving foods on a regular basis.

One of the best tips I can give to make this happen is to do something with your produce when you get it home from the store. Budget 30 minutes for food prep each time you grocery shop. For fruit, wash all the fruit you get so that it will be ready to go when you’d like to eat it; that includes rinsing berries in a strainer.

Greens are a big one and the single most missing food in the modern North American diet. When you get home from shopping, wash, dry and de-stem your greens (like kale, collards, Swiss chard, etc). Store them in either plastic ware or a zip-top bag with a paper towel. The paper towel will absorb moisture that would otherwise wilt the leaves. This will give you three extra days out of your greens, especially the softer ones that tend to wilt quicker.

Now that the hard work is finished, you can just grab a handful of greens and mix them into your eggs in the morning, include them in a wrap or a sandwich or make a 10-minute stir fry.

Sprouts are proliferating this time of year; they’re a nutrition powerhouse to add freshness and vitality to any meal. Broccoli sprouts are my favorite because they have 30-50 times the cancer- fighting ability as mature broccoli.

Berries are officially in season and a great snack idea with a handful of nuts. Green apples are always a tasty, low-glycemic fruit choice as well.

We’ve all heard it before, but it is advice that is worth repeating. Make sure you eat “a rainbow a day” to get all of your necessary daily vitamins and minerals. The choices are endless: red bell peppers, orange carrots, yellow squash, leafy greens, rich, dark almost bluish broccoli, and purple cabbage or eggplant.

To buy organic or not buy organic?
A report issued in 2010 by the President’s Cancer Panel recommended eating produce without pesticides to reduce your risk of cancer and other diseases. According to the Environmental Working Group (an organization of scientists, researchers and policymakers), certain types of organic produce can reduce the amount of toxins you consume on a daily basis by as much as 80%.

Yes, buying organic can be very expensive, so many of my clients like to know which fruits and veggies are most important to buy organic. In these cases, I refer them to “The Dirty Dozen” and “The Clean Fifteen” to help them decide where their shopping dollars should go. These lists were compiled using data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on the amount of pesticide residue found in non-organic fruits and vegetables after they had been washed.

If you don’t want to consume a chemical cocktail of at least 47 different additives, memorize and avoid the items below if they are non-organic:

The “Dirty Dozen”

Celery
Peaches
Strawberries
Apples
Domestic blueberries
Nectarines
Sweet Bell peppers
Spinach, kale, collard greens
Cherries
Potatoes
Imported grapes
Lettuce

You’ll be safer buying these fruits and vegetables even if they are non-organic:

“The Clean Fifteen”

Onions
Avocados
Sweet corn
Pineapples
Mango
Sweet peas
Asparagus
Kiwi fruit
Cabbage
Eggplant
Cantaloupe
Watermelon
Grapefruit
Sweet potatoes
Sweet onions

10 reasons to shop for and eat organic foods

Keep chemicals off your plate. Pesticides are poisons designed to kill living organisms, and can also be harmful to humans. Many EPA-approved pesticides were registered long before extensive research linked these chemicals to cancer and other diseases. Organic agriculture is one way to prevent any more of these chemicals from getting into the air, earth and water that sustain us – not to mention our plates.
Protect future generations. Children receive four times more exposure than adults to cancer-causing pesticides in foods.
Prevent soil erosion. Three billion tons of topsoil are eroded from croplands in the U.S. each year, much of it due to conventional farming practices, which often ignore the health of the soil.
Protect water quality. The EPA estimates that pesticides pollute the primary source of drinking water for more than half the U.S. population.
Organic farmers work in harmony with nature. Organic agricultural respects the balance demanded of a healthy ecosystem: wildlife is encouraged by including forage crops in rotation and by retaining fence rows, wetlands and other natural areas.
Save energy. More energy is now used to produce synthetic fertilizers than to till, cultivate and harvest all the crops in the U.S.
Help small farmers. Although more and more large-scale farms are making the conversion to organic practices, most organic farms are small, independently-owned and -operated family farms.
Support a true economy. Organic foods might seem expensive; however, your tax dollars pay for hazardous waste clean-up and environmental damage caused by conventional farming.
Promote biodiversity. Planting large plots of land with the same crop year after year tripled farm production between 1950 and 1970, but the lack of natural diversity of plant life has harmed soil quality.
Flavor and nourishment. Organic farming starts with the nourishment of the soil, and well-balanced soil produces strong, healthy plants that taste great. Conduct your own taste test!

When considering what other fruits and vegetables you should buy organic, it’s helpful to consider a handy guideline: how thick is the outer, protective layer of skin? For example, mushrooms are like a sponge so I always suggest buying those organic, whereas you will likely be okay with bananas.

Definitely wash all produce, but don’t think that washing your produce is going to eliminate pesticides. Washing will reduce, but certainly not eliminate, pesticides.

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Healthy Foods that Can Kill You

2011-09-02T06:51:00.000-07:00

Most everyone admits that they don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables but before you start trying to increase your daily intake, there are a few things you should know, especially if you like to grow-your-own food or if you're a start-from-scratch cook: some of the healthiest vegetables have relatives that could kill you.

Seeds, Pits & Kernels
The unsavory seeds, pits, and kernels of some of our favorite fruits and vegetables contain a naturally occurring substance called amygdalin which in large amounts can be fatal since amygdaline can turn into hydrogen cyanide. Apples, pears, mangoes, peaches, and apricots, all contain this chemical, but don’t worry because accidental swallowing or the occasional ingestion is not dangerous since the amount needed to induce a reaction is very high.

“Green” Potatoes
Another common toxin found in our kitchens includes potatoes that have turned green. Solanine, a natural glycoalkaloid, can occur when potatoes are exposed to too much light. The green color just under the skin strongly suggests that toxic build-up may have occurred. If you notice a slight green layer just under the potato skin, cut away the green portions of the potato skin before cooking and eating; there is no need to discard your favorite tuber since the non-green portion is safe to eat. It is recommended not to consume potatoes with a bright green layer just under the potato’s skin since it may cause headache, nausea, fatigue and GI issues. You can avoid this problem by storing potatoes in a dark, cool, dry place.

Raw Red Kidney Beans
Raw, uncooked, almost impossible to eat, and certainly not very tasty, red kidney beans, contain a natural toxins called lectins. With many Americans converting to a more unprocessed or “raw” diet, it's important for the home cook to soak red kidney beans in water for at least five hours before cooking. Eating as few as four or five raw beans can cause symptoms which are usually marked by extreme nausea, vomiting, and upset stomach.

Rhubarb Leaves
If you are an adventurous gardener, be aware that rhubarb leaves are not the healthy bitter green you might assume. There is a reason that rhubarb sold in your grocery store is sold without its leaves. Rhubarb leaves contain dangerously high levels of oxalic acid which can cause serious kidney damage potentially leading to death. Even though a 140 pound person would need to eat about 10 pounds of rhubarb leaves to die, a small amount still has the ability to make a person sick. When you're making a salad with fresh greens from your garden, steer clear of rhubarb leaves.

Raw Cassava
One of the most consumed carbohydrates in the world, cassava, contains naturally occurring cyanogenic glycosides. Also known as yucca, this starchy tuber must always be dried, soaked, and cooked properly. In Africa, improperly processed cassava is a major problem and is associated with a number health disorders, particularly among people who are already malnourished. The toxin is primarily found in the leaves which protects it from being eaten by insects or animals, but the roots still contain a significant amount of natural poison and long-term exposure to this raw food can lead to deadly consequences. The proper processing of cassava includes drying, soaking in water, rinsing or cooking very soon after it is harvested.

“Wild” Mushrooms
Most people know that many varieties if mushrooms are toxic. This does not include cultivated wild mushrooms that you find at the grocery store. The problem is that there is no easy way to distinguish a poisonous from nonpoisonous wild mushroom. Plus, you can't make toxic mushrooms nontoxic by cooking, canning, freezing, or any other means of processing. The only way to avoid mushroom poisoning is to not eat wild mushrooms.

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7 Best Foods for Women

2011-09-02T06:48:00.000-07:00

The first step in any healthy diet is eating a balanced variety of foods, so everyone should start there. But for women, science is showing that there are some foods that can help ward off osteoporosis, heart disease, breast cancer, and even tone down a hot flash or two. Find seven “wonder women” foods and recipes to get them cooking in your kitchen.

1. TomatoesRipe and juicy, heirloom and cherry tomatoes are an easy food to love. So it's just icing on the cake that observational studies suggest lycopene-rich foods like tomatoes may play a role in warding off breast and cervical cancers. Since no clinical trials have tested the hypothesis, it's not proof positive. And maybe the protection comes from a diet rich in vegetables rather than just one vegetable. If that's the case, consider tomatoes for heart health. After following nearly 40,000 women, Boston researchers conclude lycopene or other phytochemicals eaten as oil-based tomato products may protect against cardiovascular disease.

. FlaxseedA "hot" ingredient in foods targeted to women, scientists are teasing out three potentially beneficial compounds in flax: plant based omega 3 fats, fiber, and disease-fighting compounds called lignans. A Mayo Clinic study finds 40 grams of crushed flaxseed can cut down on hot flashes, and several reports suggest flax can lower "bad" or LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. (Interestingly, in one Chinese study, the cholesterol-lowering impact was more pronounced in women.) The brown or gold seeds may even play a role in fighting breast cancer. One caution: if you're pregnant or nursing, some experts suggest avoiding flax until more studies are done.

The right dose: 1-2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed per day since whole seeds aren't readily digested.

3. KaleAn underappreciated leafy green, kale is chock-full of a lot of good things for health in general, and some for women in particular. Antioxidants like lutein and zeazanthin protect the eye. Add to that a day's worth of vitamin C and small amounts of calcium. But tag its womanly superstar status to vitamin K, a potent bone builder. Researchers find that women who eat diets rich in vitamin K are at lower risk of hip fracture. Seems the body requires vitamin K to activate bone proteins needed to ward off osteoporosis, the crippling bone disease that strikes women four times more often than men.

4. SalmonWhile the omega 3 fats in salmon do everyone a lot of good, women net a few unique benefits. Pregnant? Studies find the oils in fatty fish like salmon can help you beat the post-partum blues, particularly if you ratchet up intake during the third trimester. Building blocks for the brain and nervous system, omega 3 fats are also critical for the developing fetus. In your forties and beyond? Keep in mind that heart disease is still the number one killer of women. And once estrogen levels begin to plummet, eating fatty fish can help keep the ticker healthy.

The right dose: Two servings (about 4 ounces) of salmon, or other fatty fish, per week.

5. Cranberry JuiceSometimes natural cures really do work because when it comes to treating women's urinary tract infections, cranberry juice is a recommended strategy. Not because it's acidic or has a lot of vitamin C. Instead, antioxidants called proanthocyanins are the real medicinal heroes. These tannins prevent bacteria from adhering to the walls of the bladder where they can multiply and cause, or intensify, an infection. This just in: New studies are testing concentrated cranberry extracts and finding they can also help fight UTI's. No word on when these could be available, so stick to berries or juice for now.

The right dose: Varies. But drink unsweetened 100% cranberry juice (60 calories per cup) to avoid excess sugar.

6. Greek YogurtThick and creamy, Greek yogurt offers double the protein of most yogurts and far less sugar. The lower carb levels (7 grams versus 25 grams in fruited yogurt) help keep blood sugar on an even keel. But protein may be the real advantage since many women have no clue, or rarely think about, how much protein they eat. And they should. Studies suggest that eating higher levels of protein (30 percent of calories) helps women with weight loss, muscle maintenance, and promotes healthier aging. The Institute of Medicine suggests 0.8 grams per kg body weight or 68 grams for a 150-pound woman.

The right dose: Any amount. At a skinny 90 calories per six ounces and zero fat, it's a perfect portable snack.

7. WalnutsNoshing on a handful of walnuts may fight both breast cancer and osteoporosis. In one new study, just two ounces of walnuts per day helped delay development of breast cancer and slow tumor growth in mice. Speculation is antioxidants called phytosterols, already known cancer fighters, could be the culprit. Or protective benefits might come from plant based omega 3 fats (walnuts are the only nut to harbor these fats.) If it's the latter, another study finds diets rich in these same plant based omega 3s are adept at preventing excessive bone turnover which keeps bones strong and healthy.

The right dose: Since nuts are calorie dense, one ounce (20 halves/185 calories) is a good place to start.

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What Your Heart Wants You To Know

2011-08-23T04:52:00.000-07:00

Key Points on Cholesterol, Blood Pressure and More

The pump that powers our amazing bodies is literally at the heart of our health – but, sometimes, we just make its job difficult. When we eat the wrong kinds of food in excess, don’t exercise, don’t manage our weight, and don’t have medical examinations performed regularly, we neglect and over-work our heart. This can be a fatal mistake.

If a heart could talk, it would probably say, “treat me with care in four key areas: cholesterol; blood pressure; homocysteine, and cardiovascular inflammation.” I’m hopeful this brief overview of these four areas will encourage you to learn more.

Cholesterol: what’s the problem?
This waxy substance isn’t in and of itself “bad”; actually, our bodies need it in order to function. Cholesterol becomes a problem only when its different forms are either out of balance or in excess. Of the many “forms” of cholesterol that make up the total cholesterol in our blood, there are two forms that healthcare professionals speak of most: HDL and LDL cholesterol. In short, HDL, or “good” cholesterol, lowers the risk for heart disease while LDL or “bad” cholesterol increases the risk. When there’s too much bad LDL cholesterol in the blood or too little good HDL cholesterol in the blood or just too much in total, cholesterol can be deposited in the walls of arteries. This causes lumps of material called atherosclerotic plaques to form. These plaques can block and harden our arteries, resulting in a condition called atherosclerosis, which can lead to heart disease and stroke - two of the top three major causes of death in the United States.

There are many factors that can increase our chances of developing cardiovascular disease. Collectively, we call these risk factors. A high level of LDL cholesterol is one example of these risk factors. Some factors which increase our chance of developing disease, such as age and heredity, are beyond our control, while others can be influenced by a change in lifestyle. A healthful diet (e.g., lower salt and fat), weight control, exercising regularly, and cessation of smoking can all help promote a healthy cardiovascular system. Since high cholesterol doesn’t usually have any symptoms until it’s too late, it’s important to have your healthcare professional conduct a simple blood test to keep track of your cholesterol levels.

High blood pressure
Your doctor may refer to this condition as “hypertension,” but by any name, it can be serious. Blood pressure is simply the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps. If this pressure is too high, over time, it can damage the heart, blood vessels and kidneys. Unfortunately, hypertension is another condition that usually doesn’t have any symptoms until it’s too late.

You may be familiar with the way blood pressure is measured, as one number “over” another. The top number represents the systolic pressure - the surge in pressure that occurs when the heart contracts and forces blood through the vessels. The bottom number represents the diastolic pressure - the pressure within the vessels when the heart rests between contractions. Pressures constantly higher than the ideal of 120/80 can promote cardiovascular disease as well as other serious problems. For this reason, you should have your blood pressure checked regularly.

As with so many health issues, lifestyle choices can have a major impact on blood pressure. Healthful eating (e.g., lower salt diet), exercise, regular medical care and treatments recommended by your healthcare professional can help prevent or lessen the rise in blood pressure that often comes with age.

Homocysteine
Homocysteine (HCY) is an amino acid that, when in high concentrations, may promote damage of many tissues, including the walls of blood vessels. Research has linked high HCY to heart attacks, stroke, osteoporosis, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Your healthcare professional can determine your HCY level with a blood test. However, you will probably need to ask for this test specifically; not all health insurance providers will cover the costs of this test.

Once again, healthful living can help lower blood HCY and its associated problems. I was part of the research team studying TriVita’s HCY Guard a few years ago. In clinical trials, the complete ingredients of HCY Guard reduced homocysteine concentrations by an impressive average of 35%. Supplementing with this product can be a great way of reducing HCY levels quickly.

Cardiovascular Inflammation
An increasing number of medical researchers suspect chronic inflammation as the cause of many serious conditions and diseases, including cardiovascular disease. C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is a marker or indicator of inflammation in our bodies – including in our blood vessels. CRP levels are measured with a simple test called Cardio-CRP or High Sensitivity CRP. An increase in CRP levels usually means our tissues are inflamed somewhere and, therefore, it comes as no surprise that higher levels of CRP are associated with the development of cardiovascular disease.

Left unchecked, conditions such as high cholesterol, high HCY, hypertension and inflammation can dramatically increase the risk for cardiovascular disease. A healthful lifestyle, proper supplementation, and regular visits to our healthcare providers can help us avoid putting ourselves at unnecessary risk.

More Information: Click Here

Man Talk: What You Need To Know

2011-08-23T04:48:00.000-07:00

Expert advice for men’s health month
As men age, they face certain medical conditions and general wellness issues. Fortunately, most men's health threats are largely preventable. The key to lessening risk and enjoying a vibrant and healthful existence is to make healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating a diet rich in variety, fruits and vegetables, avoiding smoke and quitting smoking, moderating alcohol consumption and including physical activity in the daily routine.

The #1 issue affecting men is cardiovascular disease and its prevention. One-third of all men will develop cardiovascular disease (CVD) by age 65; 60% will develop CVD by age 75. Preventing this seemingly inevitable outcome is easier said than done, but can be achieved through these lifestyle changes that add up to a healthier heart and vascular system:

Eat a low-fat, calorie-conscious diet
Low-fat diets, especially low-saturated fat diets, have been shown to lower risk for almost all Western world diseases, including heart disease and cancers. Foods of animal origin, including red meats and high-fat dairy products, are known contributors to excess saturated fat in the diet. Eat less of these foods and more fruits and vegetables.
Exercise and stay active
Physical activity on a daily basis, whether walking 30 minutes or doing more intense types of activity, is what your body and muscles need to stay “young at heart.”
Keep your cholesterol down
Please note that eggs, although they contain cholesterol, are not the primary source of cholesterol in the diet. High-fat meats and dairy products are the typical culprits.
Pay attention to your risk for diabetes
People with a family history of diabetes are more likely to develop this condition. If you do have diabetes, check your blood sugars after meals and any time your doctor advises. Take all of your diabetes medicines on time, as needed.
Watch your weight
A staggering 60% of all American adults are either overweight or obese. Losing weight, even only 10% of your weight, will bring dramatic benefits, including lower blood pressure, improved cholesterol, stabilized blood sugar and a reduced workload on your heart.

Exercise is key
Apart from the obvious benefits to one’s heart, exercise can also do the following:

Improve your mood and fight depression
Lower risk for osteoporosis – yes, men are at risk, too!
Keep weight in check
Enhance energy levels
Promote better sleep (but don’t exercise too close to bedtime as this may jazz you up!)
Improve intimacy, allowing for more pleasurable romantic activity
Make life more fun

Health conditions unique to men
Low testosterone, also known as “manopause,” affects many men as they enter the latter half of their lives. Some men get this condition for no apparent reason, but most men suffer from low testosterone due to unhealthy lifestyle. Symptoms of low testosterone may include fatigue, moodiness, low energy, low sex drive and erectile dysfunction. Treatment can be as simple as improving the diet, eating whole grains and a wider variety of fruits and vegetables, and weight loss, if needed. Administration of male hormones is sometimes required.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is also a men’s health issue and usually begins to afflict men over the age of 40. For the most part, physical causes such as diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension and the medications used for these conditions are the direct causes of ED. Psychological causes tend to afflict younger men more often. ED is a harbinger of more severe cardiovascular conditions, such as coronary artery disease. If you know someone who has ED, encourage a full evaluation by a trusted health care provider.

Prostate disease is increasingly discussed among men and their physicians. The risk of an enlarged prostate, also called benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH, increases about four percent a year after age 55. By age 60, half of men will have BPH. That number jumps to 95 percent by age 85. Symptoms of BPH include decreased urinary flow, hesitancy of urinary stream, inability to fully empty the bladder, increased frequency of urination and night-time awakening to urinate.

These lifestyle factors are associated with a lower risk of BPH: High level of physical activity and no "belly fat", a low-fat diet, five or more servings of vegetables a day and two glasses or less of alcohol a day. Increasing vitamin C from vegetables in the diet also lowers risk for prostate enlargement and symptomatic BPH.

Finally, maintaining health for life is enjoyable if the brain stays healthy, too. Unfortunately, men are at higher risk for strokes and the consequences of poor circulation, including dementia and brain dysfunction. Certain brain diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s Chorea, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and Lou Gehrig’s disease, are genetic and are inevitable in some unfortunate few.

Additionally, deficiencies in certain vitamins, such as Vitamin B-12, folic acid, and B-6, may lead to a neurochemical imbalance and less than optimal brain function. But for most men who have some control over their brain’s health, these steps can all contribute to alertness and brain function:

Watch your diet, and be sure to get sufficient vitamins and minerals
Mentally challenge yourself daily with crossword puzzles, brain teasers and the like
Exercise

Enjoy your health and wellness!

More Details: Click Here

The Six Steps Toward Wellness

2011-08-20T08:42:00.000-07:00

Don't you just hate it when someone answers a question with a question? For example, if you ask a number of healthcare professionals what it means to be "well" they would likely ask, "What does it mean to you?"

So, what does it mean to be healthy? It means that we need to look at multiple aspects of our life through various viewpoints and find the balance that helps us accomplish important things. In other words, we need to answer a question with a question! To determine what wellness is, we must determine "what matters to you most?"

The six blind men
When I was younger I heard a poem by John Godfrey Saxe about six blind men who went to "see" an elephant. Each one described the animal from his unique perspective, so all of the observations were different. As it turns out, each one was right in his observations about the elephant as he experienced it, but wrong in his perception of the elephant as a whole.

With this background, the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted a Canadian observation that to define what health is, you must first look at what health is not. Health is not the absence of disease. Wellness is not the absence of illness.

It is more – much more!
Health is having the physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual and financial resources to do the thing or things that are most important to you. These are the six aspects of wellness. Any one person could blindly stumble against one of these aspects of health and decide – blindly – that it was all that matters. And they would be as erroneous as one of our six blind men. As it turns out, health and wellness are the cumulative balance of these six aspects of health and wellness at any given moment in time.

So, health begins with determining what is important. That is your purpose. (Actually, your purpose is not so much about what you are doing; rather, it is more about who you are as you do what you are doing!) We need a positive reason for living in order for any long-term commitment to wellness to be successful.

The steps
Stephen Covey noted that the most successful people in the world "begin with the end in mind." We must also begin with our sense of purpose – the end – if we are to be successful in our first steps toward wellness. Once you are clear about your purpose, the first thing you need is the physical strength to complete the necessary tasks associated with this purpose. You need physical health, which is built through the physical Essentials:

Breathe deeply
Drink pure water
Sleep peacefully
Eat nutritiously
Enjoy activity

Next, you need the safety of consistent finances. Now, I am not saying that you need to be rich or that you need any specific amount of money. But, to be healthy, you need a consistent income to put a roof over your head, provide medical and dental care, give you transportation and pay for Essentials 1-5.

The third step toward wellness is social: you must have people around you who love you, support you and call you to be the best possible example of who you are. They must make it safe to try because they make it safe to fail.

The fourth step of our wellness journey is that you must stretch yourself intellectually and fully grasp the scope of your sense of purpose. You must master the details of your journey as well as take a global perspective so you can see the "entire elephant," rather than master a single aspect.

The fifth step in our journey is spiritual because it clarifies the motive for us to embark on the Journey in the first place: the motive to reach our full potential – becoming who we can be at our best, every moment of every day of our healthy life!

The beginning of our wellness walk, our journey of health, is also the end of our voyage. Step six is also step one: purpose. Our purpose should demand of us that we become 100% of who we can be in a physical, financial, social, emotional, intellectual and spiritual sense. It is our motive that drives us onward toward realization that purpose is not what we do but, rather, who we are as we do what matters most.

The obesity epidemic
Can we apply this logic to the obesity crisis? Let me answer a question with a question: Are people really lazy and self-indulgent or are they merely unclear and un-motivated about their purpose? Purpose demands that we have the wellness we need to meet our destiny. A great purpose demands great health. Great health demands attention to the 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness as well as the other steps we have discussed. Clarify your purpose. Implement the necessary steps. Claim your future!

We have heard it said many times: Health is a journey, not a destination! So, there is no end to our trek as long as we hold dearly to our sense of purpose.

Take Control of Your Health

Decide what you really, really want
- Write it down
Now, decide WHY you want it
- Write it down
List your goals
- Write them down
Use the Leanology system to achieve the healthy body you need
- Decide why you want to lose weight
- Decide how you want to lose weight
- Recruit your wellness team
- Plan a strategy – then ACT!
Plan a strategy including the six steps above
- Use the 10 Essentials to structure your wellness journey

Click Here

Chronic Inflammation

2011-08-20T05:45:00.000-07:00

It’s long been a secret problem
– now scientist are discovering it’s the cause of so many different kinds of pain and serious disease

Chronic inflammation is linked to a wide variety of conditions, including many types of pain, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s and even gum disease!

For the longest time, chronic inflammation remained hidden and unknown as an extremely serious health problem. It wasn’t until not too long ago that it was discovered to be so dangerous. So much so that TIME Magazine even published a story about it on its cover.* Now, scientists are finding more and more links between chronic inflammation and a wide variety of conditions including:

Many types of pain
Heart disease
Diabetes
Cancer
Alzheimer’s disease
Gum disease

Although inflammation hasn’t been pinpointed as the cause of all these conditions, it has been well-documented* as playing a part in them – often intensifying the symptoms and effects.

So what exactly is inflammation, how can it affect you and how can you help reduce it?

First things first: What is inflammation?
Inflammation is your immune system’s response to damage. This damage can arise from trauma, bacterial, viral or parasitic infection, stress, genetic abnormalities, metabolic disorders and a host of other sources. Certain lifestyle conditions can also contribute to inflammation: poor diet, stress, being overweight, a sedentary lifestyle and smoking. Inflammation can cause redness, swelling, heat, pain and loss of function.

When you’re injured, the inflammatory response immediately moves into action. White blood cells rush to the scene of the damage and begin to destroy the damaged cells, while sending out chemical signals that call for more help. Part of this response process creates free radicals, which attack the damaged area and help correct the problem. Finally, at a certain point, the body overcomes the damage, repairs the tissues, and equilibrium is restored.

However, if the body can’t overcome the damage and restore equilibrium, then the inflammation continues unabated. Those free radicals, instead of stopping, continue attacking the body’s tissues, and now start damaging healthy cells. This new damage leads to yet the continuation of inflammation, which mistakenly causes more damage, which results in further inflammation, and so on. This is the cycle of chronic, never ending inflammation. And it’s what causes all the serious trouble.

How chronic inflammation worsens your health over time
Though you may not see or even feel chronic inflammation, it could be silently causing trouble within your body right now. Over time, it can result in two kinds of damage: first to the immediate area of your body that’s chronically inflamed; and second to your overall health as well. Common problems can include:

Heart Problems – chronic inflammation is believed to contribute to the formation of plaque in blood vessels, as well as the formation of blood clots. When these blood clots break free into the blood, they can block blood flow to the brain or heart, resulting in a heart attack or stroke.
Brain Problems – chronic inflammation plays a role in Alzheimer’s disease, yet scientists are still uncertain what that role is. However, one theory is that inflammation kicks into gear because of the plaques and tangles in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. In trying to solve the problem, inflammation just makes matters worse.
Joint Problems – chronic inflammation of the joints can result in destroyed ligaments and tendons, damage to joint cartilage and bone and even bone erosion. This leads to pain, deformity and an inability to perform daily tasks – drastically affecting quality of life.
Mouth and Gum Problems – dental researchers once thought bacterial infections caused gum disease, but now it is thought that some of the more severe symptoms of gum disease are attributable to chronic inflammation. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, part of the National Institutes of Health, report that inflammation can even break down bone and connective tissue that keep the teeth in place.
Emotional Health Problems – chronic inflammation may even play a role in your emotions. Scientists at the University of Illinois (Champaign/Urbana) discovered that an enzyme secreted by the immune system caused inflammation-related, depression-like symptoms in mice. Because inflammation is linked with conditions often accompanied by depression – such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease – researchers expect that this study will provide insight into chronic inflammation’s role in depression.
Cancer Problems – although researchers haven’t discovered the exact mechanism of chronic inflammation’s role in cancer, they believe it encourages cancer growth. According to the American Cancer Society, inflammation creates just the right conditions for cancer cells to grow and multiply.

http://www.envirotabsinfo.com/

The Secret Killer (Inflammation Report) Click Here

More Informaton: Click Here

How to Slow Down Aging Skin

2011-08-20T05:37:00.000-07:00

We have a tool immediately at our disposal that can help us assess our internal wellness: our skin. The health of our skin can tell us much about the health of our entire body. If our skin is aging rapidly, we are also aging rapidly on the inside. If our skin is aging slowly and retaining its youthful exuberance, we are likely aging slowly on the inside as well.

All we have to do is learn to listen to the message of healthy skin to slow – and in many cases repair – the problem of rapid aging inside and outside our body.

Inside first…
As we age we are likely to experience skin that wrinkles and becomes blotchy. It may start to get pigment spots and become easy to injure. This is your skin sending you the message to increase healthy aging/foundation nutrients.

Collagen: The structure of your skin is made from collagen. Collagen is based in Vitamin C and bioflavonoids. TriVita’s Vital C™ contains a non-acidic form of Vitamin C that nourishes skin without contributing to the excess acid most of us have. Nopalea™ contains special, rare bioflavonoids called Betalains that help reinforce healthy skin.

Glucosamine: Glucosamine is a structural protein in skin. TriVita’s Joint Complex™ contains the glucosamine needed to help firm and tone your skin when wrinkles make it sag.

Healthy fats: Robust, healthy looking skin has a base of healthy fats. The best way to have a healthy base for your skin is to take essential fatty acids such as those in OmegaPrime®.

Other nutrients: Other critical nutrients such as Vitamin E, Vitamin A and Niacinamide are found in multi-nutrient complexes such as VitaDaily™ AM/PM and Wellavoh® for men and women. Use these nutrients to give your skin the help it needs from the inside out!

From the outside…
There is a huge industry that provides cleansers, peels and emollients for the outside of your skin. Use of skin treatments is important only after you have been nourished from the inside. Then your skin will have beauty long after the makeup has been removed.

Skin exfoliant: Try this simple Vital C and Nopalea cleanse to exfoliate your skin while you protect it; it is perfect for your weekly beautiful skin routine. To make a natural deep moisturizer treatment and skin exfoliant, add 1 teaspoon of the Vital C Crystals to one ounce of Nopalea and mix thoroughly. Liberally apply the blend to your face, neck and arms, massaging gently. Leave on for 10 minutes. Wash off completely with warm water; follow with a splash of cold water to close your pores. Afterward, your skin should have a lovely glow.

Topical antioxidants: Vitamins D and E also benefit the skin greatly as topical antioxidants. Essential D™ contains an abundance of both nutrients. Simply pierce an Essential D softgel and apply the oil directly on your skin. The longer you leave Essential D on your skin, the more protection it can impart.

Safe sun exposure: Our skin normally makes Vitamin D in response to safe sun exposure. Our skin needs sunlight. Plan your sun exposure so that you maximize the benefits while minimizing the risks. Early morning sunlight does not have the high ultra-violet intensity that destroys our skin. So, take a 20 minute walk in the early part of the day with your skin exposed to sunlight. This will give you the benefits without the risks of over-exposure.

Never expose your skin to mid-day sun for long periods of time. Wear clothing that covers most of your skin and wear a hat that provides shade for your face and ears.

Total health
The health of our skin can tell us much about the health of our entire body. We naturally desire that “healthy glow” and beautiful skin, because beautiful skin is a good indicator of healthy reserves of critical nutrients.

Our skin can be a tool to assess our internal wellness. All we have to do is learn to listen to the message of healthy skin!

Take Control of Your Health

Use healthy aging/foundation nutrients daily
Eat healthy fats and take OmegaPrime to help form the foundation of healthy skin
Drink plenty of water
Eat an antioxidant-rich diet
Try our topical Nopalea/Vital C protective cleanse
Apply Essential D to your skin for Vitamins D and E
Get your sun exposure early in the day – never burn!

More Information: Click Here

The Link Between Blood Sugar, B-12 and Energy

2011-08-20T05:34:00.000-07:00

In times past we have discussed the link between Vitamin B-12, homocysteine (HCY) and several health conditions. Now, let’s discuss how diabetes and high blood sugar can affect B-12 levels and effectiveness.

Vitamin B-12 assists in creating enzymes in your body that keep you healthy and full of energy. One key enzyme is MMAM (methylmalonic acid mutase). If this enzyme is not nourished by B-12, dangerous levels of MMA (methylmalonic acid) build up in your bloodstream and choke your energy. The cells in your body and brain suffocate from toxic MMA. B-12 detoxifies MMA. Diabetes and high blood sugar prevent B-12 from detoxifying MMA.

Understanding B-12 levels
When a person has a blood test for Vitamin B-12 they are usually given a range that is within normal or too low. In my opinion, a blood test for Vitamin B-12 by itself is among the most worthless blood tests we do for three reasons:

The values are wrong. People experience a loss of energy, inability to concentrate and bad moods when B-12 drops below 400 pg/ml. Yet, labs say that a person is still normal when their blood levels drop to 200 - less than half of what is really ideal!
B-12 is very dependent on its family of B vitamins (folic acid, biotin and Vitamin B-6). Even if B-12 blood levels were normal, you would be functionally deficient in B-12 if your levels of these other B vitamins were too low. You may see this imbalance because of elevated levels of toxic homocysteine (HCY).
As your blood sugar rises (and generally among people over 50), toxic levels of MMA can accumulate in the bloodstream because high levels of blood sugar and, possibly, high levels of stress hormones, blunt the effectiveness of B-12. Your blood levels could be normal for B-12, but you are still functionally deficient in B-12!

A true picture of blood levels of B-12 can only be seen in the context of HCY levels (ideal: 6.3), MMA levels (methylmalonic acid - ideal 0.17) and Vitamin B-12 levels above 400 (ideal above 450). Anytime a fasting blood sugar (glucose) is above 99 (ideal: 85), you should also have your B-12, HCY and MMA levels tested.

What to do?
The real key in understanding Vitamin B-12 metabolism is in understanding its function. Vitamin B-12 must have B-6, biotin and folic acid in order to energize your brain and lift your mood. This is why we have formulated both Sublingual B-12 and Super B with this family of B vitamins.

If your HCY is elevated above the ideal range, you should consider adding extra HCY factors - nutrients called “methyl donors.” These can “plug the holes” where HCY may escape from your liver or kidneys. TriVita’s HCY Guard is designed to supply methyl donors along with B-12.

If your MMA is elevated or you don’t “feel” the energy of B-12, consider taking GlucoManage. As mentioned earlier, high blood sugar (as seen with a high fasting glucose and when you experience carbohydrate cravings) can choke the effectiveness of B-12 in creating energy. GlucoManage contains nutrients that help nourish healthy blood sugar levels.

Conclusion
It is the birthright of every human to feel energized and enthusiastic. If you don’t, something may be wrong. During your normal annual physical, ask your doctor to test your blood sugar (glucose), Vitamin
B-12, HCY and MMA levels. Be a wellness “sleuth” and optimize the function of your body and mind with nutrients and nurturing.

Take Control of Your Health

Get regular medical check-ups, especially for:
- Serum B-12
- Fasting Glucose
- Homocysteine (HCY)
- Methylmalonic acid (MMA)
Use B-12 for energy, mental clarity and mood support
Use HCY Guard to help detoxify homocysteine
Try GlucoManage to help support carbohydrate metabolism

More Information: Click Here

TriVita Secures TGA Listing for Nopalea™ in Australia

2011-08-18T10:07:00.000-07:00

Effective May 5, 2011, TriVita officially received a Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) listing in Australia for its Nopalea anti-inflammatory juice. TriVita is pleased to have received this listing from such a world renowned regulatory agency of the highest standards. Many companies have failed or do not even attempt to go through the rigorous process for listing.

TriVita is committed to helping the people of Australia experience wellness and enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Receiving a TGA listing for Nopalea is great news for Independent TriVita Business Owners (Affiliates) throughout Australia and a giant step in the company’s mission to take wellness to the world. Your future with TriVita has never looked brighter!

Below is some information about Nopalea that can be found on Australia’s TGA website.

The natural Nopal Cactus Fruit (juice) found in Nopalea:

• Helps maintain or improve general well-being
• Shown to be inflammatory response mediator
• Balances or modifies the body's response to inflammatory triggers
• Contains natural antioxidants which help protect against free radical-induced inflammation
• Promotes optimum cellular health
• Has been used for thousands of years by the Pima Indians of the Sonoran Desert to promote health and wellness

More Information: Click Here

Johns Hopkins, Mayo & Harvard researchers agree on Vitamin D

2011-08-18T05:03:00.000-07:00

Vitamin D is considered a vitamin and a hormone. It is classified as a vitamin because the body cannot absorb calcium without it. This important vitamin is a hormone because the body manufactures it in response to the skin’s exposure to sunlight and it carries messages to practically all of your body systems.

Are we getting enough Vitamin D? Apparently not! Recent studies show that almost everyone is deficient in Vitamin D: the young, the elderly, athletic people and hospitalized people all test “low” for healthy Vitamin D levels. About 2/3 of the people you see around you are clinically low in Vitamin D, contributing to all sorts of Vitamin D-related health concerns.

For healthy cholesterol and hormone balance, we must have adequate levels of Vitamin D
The journey of Vitamin D is long and complicated. It begins in a familiar place: cholesterol. Many of the common hormones in your body are made from cholesterol. When a cholesterol fraction (called dehydro-cholesterol) circulates close to the skin, it reacts with ultraviolet rays called UVB. This activates the cholesterol fraction and turns it into the foundation molecule called pro-Vitamin D.

For healthy cholesterol and hormone balance, we must have adequate levels of Vitamin D.
Pro-Vitamin D begins its work in the immune system immediately by joining the Macrophages (white blood cells) in the battle against infection. Soon, other immune fractions accept Vitamin D and because of the message Vitamin D carries they quickly learn how to deal with viruses, bacteria, cancer cells, allergies and more. This immune system education is one reason why we need to keep our Vitamin D levels high and why low blood levels of Vitamin D are associated with so many diseases of the immune system.

For a healthy immune system, we must have adequate levels of Vitamin D
Pro-Vitamin D now travels to the liver where Vitamin D from the skin joins with Vitamin D from the diet and dietary supplements. Here in the liver, calcium absorption is activated and messages are sent to intestines to tell them how much calcium from our diet we can absorb and use. Messages are also sent to the parathyroid glands which govern the calcium levels in the bloodstream and bones. Vitamin D in the liver also works with detoxification enzymes, glucose control and blood sugar. This is why Vitamin D is important in managing diabetes and obesity.

For healthy weight and blood sugar, we must have adequate levels of Vitamin D
Finally, pro-Vitamin D makes it to the kidneys: the final step in converting pro-Vitamin D into its final form, called 25(O)HD. After this final step in conversion, Vitamin D is accepted into the cells of many vital organs: your brain, heart, skin, reproductive tract and bones. Actually, almost all the cells in the human body have receptors for Vitamin D. For example, Vitamin D creates energy inside our cells through a process called ATP synthesis. ATP (adenosine tri-phosphate) is the ultimate unit of energy. Vitamin D also tells our cells when it is time for them to divide and make new cells and when it is time to commit suicide if they become diseased.

For a healthy brain, heart and reproductive tract, healthy bones, skin and energy levels we must have an adequate supply of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is very important! The best sources for Vitamin D are safe sun exposure, cold water fish, eggs and natural supplements of Vitamin D3, cholecalciferol. Vitamin D supplements should always be delivered with healthy fats.

I mention “safe” sun exposure because we never want to sunburn; this increases our risk of skin cancer. (Of course, low Vitamin D also increases our risk of skin and other cancers.) Usually, 20 minutes of early morning or late afternoon sun exposure to 40% of your body is enough to achieve healthy levels of Vitamin D – provided you have all other critical nutrients in your system at the time you need them!

Please understand: many people who have the right amount of sun exposure have low levels of Vitamin D because of poor diets. To be properly metabolized, Vitamin D must have other nutrients to work with; Vitamin D cannot work alone. These other nutrients (found in Brassica vegetables, nuts and seeds) facilitate the transformation of Vitamin D through all of the cycles of change.

It is very important to understand that simply exposing your skin to sunlight will not get you the Vitamin D you need; and, overexposure to solar radiation (sunburn) increases your risk of skin cancer. You must have all the nutrients you need at the right time and in the right amount if you are to achieve and maintain healthy levels of Vitamin D.

* Researchers at Johns-Hopkins University link Arthritis, Low Back Pain and late-life Depression to low levels of Vitamin D.

Medical Experts at The Mayo Clinic link Heart Disease and High Blood Pressure to low levels of Vitamin D..
Harvard University Research links Autism with low levels of Vitamin D.

Cancer Research at UCSD School of Medicine and prestigious Creighton University School of Medicine state that higher levels of Vitamin D are needed to reduce cancer risk.

More Information: Click Here

Fibromyalgia Syndrome Part I

2011-08-17T13:08:00.000-07:00

In this five part series, TriVita Chief Science Officer Brazos Minshew discusses the concerns we have regarding fibromyalgia and will drill down piece by piece into the separate elements of this family of disorders. Learn what you can do to help reverse these conditions.

See The Rest of the 5 part Series: Click Here

http://www.envirotabsinfo.com/

Aging Well, Part 1 - Healthy Blood Sugar

2011-08-12T04:24:00.000-07:00

Healthy Blood Sugar Levels May Be the Secret to Staying Young

“Laurie” (the fictitious name of a real patient) is a lean, active young mother of three. An avid tennis player, she looks great and she says she feels great. But, we uncover a dark reality lurking within her body… she has elevated AGEs. If she doesn’t turn things around, she is at increased risk for heart disease, stroke, cataracts, cancer and premature death.

AGEs are compounds that contribute to organ damage, impair memory and make you old before your time. So what are these destructive compounds? AGEs stand for advanced glycation end products. AGEs form in your body when there is an uncontrolled chemical reaction between glucose and a protein, lipid or DNA. AGEs help create wrinkles: they destroy the skin’s suppleness, due to their damaging effect on collagen and elastin proteins in the skin.

You may have heard of a common AGE called hemoglobin A1C. This AGE occurs when sugar destructively interacts with the oxygen carrying protein hemoglobin in your red blood cells. Doctors commonly test A1C levels in diabetics.

However, even if you don’t have a family history of diabetes, it’s important to keep reading: Laurie didn’t have a family member with diabetes, either.

Most people know that too much sugar can contribute to health issues. Children bounce off the walls the day after Halloween from sugar overload. Weight-conscious people switch from regular sugar to the “pink” packet as a sweetener for their coffee. But, most people don’t know that “sugar” ages you and directly contributes to organ damage. I put “sugar” in quotes because this issue is not just about powdered sugar, but also includes foods that turn into glucose once the food has gone through the digestive process. I tell patients to choose “chewy” foods over “smooshie” foods. If you have to chew a food more before swallowing, such as an apple, whole grain bread or oatmeal, it does not cause a spike in your blood sugar like a food that requires little chewing, such as a banana, white bread or corn flakes.

Some sugars, like fructose, more readily turn into AGEs. I ask patients to read labels and avoid “high fructose corn syrup” like the plague. I also encourage people to eat whole food. A high-calorie diet contributes to AGEs as well; people who follow a reduced calorie diet are found to have less AGEs.

Another source of AGEs is foods that are browned, such as the brown crust that forms on food during cooking. The browning adds flavor but adds AGEs to your diet.

So how does this relate to Laurie? She has been experiencing tingling in the soles of her feet. She is not overweight, sedentary, nor has a family history of diabetes. She is not tired and isn’t experiencing any increase in urination or weight loss. Her one bad habit is her diet: she does not meet the minimum daily recommended intake for fruits, vegetables and fiber. I ordered lab tests, including an A1C to give me information on her average blood sugar over a three-month time span. Surprisingly, her A1C was elevated at 5.8, correlating to an average blood sugar of 118. A healthier goal is an average blood sugar in the 80-90 range and A1C in the more normal 5.0 range.

An elevated blood sugar puts Laurie at risk for developing diabetes as well as AGE damage to her body. The good news is that her tingling greatly improved with a Vitamin B complex supplement. AGEs caused by elevated blood sugar inflicted the nerve damage contributing to the tingling in her feet. Additionally, she is now aware of the dangers of elevated AGEs. Now, she can choose to eat healthier so she can be as young on the inside of her body as she appears on the outside.

A Functional Medicine physician, Dr. Pon received her medical degree from the University of Texas in Houston. She completed specialty training in Healthy Aging.

More Information: Click Here

Forget the "Fountain of Youth"

2011-08-03T10:16:00.000-07:00

True vitality comes through healthy aging

Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon spent much of his life searching in vain for the "Fountain of Youth." Today, the cosmetic industry would have you believe that there are several fountains you can sip from. What's in the water? Lifts, sculpts, tucks, peels and a host of other unpleasant surgeries and procedures. Although they may make you appear more youthful, do they really extend your life or increase your vitality? The answer is a resounding "NO!" True, lasting vitality comes from taking care of yourself physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Healthy aging
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 80% of older adults have at least one chronic condition, and 50% have at least two. We define healthy aging as living with vitality instead of disability! That means having the strength and vigor you need to engage in the normal functions of life including love, play, work and worship. But how exactly do you go about it? The best way to start is by making some healthy lifestyle changes. Include these keys to good health:

Nutrients
Exercise
Sleep
Involvement

Nutrients...and more nutrients!
Chances are good you've been advised to eat more fruits and vegetables. That's actually great advice; fruits and vegetables provide a host of healthy-aging nutrients. They are packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other health-boosting compounds. Scientists are finding more and more links between healthy foods -- and a healthy body. Some of the best nutrients for healthy aging include:

Antioxidants -- Antioxidants neutralize free radicals which can cause premature aging, among other negative effects. Vitamin C is one of the most powerful antioxidants you can take; it extends the life of every other antioxidant in your body as well as nourishes most of your body systems.
B vitamins -- B vitamins are your body's feel-good vitamins -- and they nourish your heart and brain health. As you age, it becomes increasingly difficult for your body to absorb these critical nutrients so you may want to consider supplementation.
Omega-3 essential fatty acids -- These nutrients are called essential because they are vital to good health! These "good" fats do everything from acting as anti-inflammatories to helping build hormones.

Exercise your right to healthy aging
In a 2003 statement before the United States Senate, the Deputy Director of the National Institute on Aging stated, "Compared to their sedentary counterparts, older exercisers are not only more likely to live to an advanced old age, but are more likely than non-exercisers to remain independent right up to the end of their lives, according to a 1999 study by Luigi Ferrucci, now head of the NIA's Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging."

The following four types of exercise are a necessary part of your fitness regimen, according to The National Institute on Aging:

Endurance -- aerobic exercise that gets the heart, lungs and circulatory system working optimally
Strength -- this helps build muscle, which can help reduce frailty
Balance exercises -- these can help reduce your risk of falls
Flexibility -- keeps the body limber and may help reduce your risk of injury.

Wake up to fresh possibilities
Sleep is when your body rejuvenates and repairs itself. But sleep patterns tend to shift with age and many people report that it becomes harder to fall asleep -- and stay asleep. Although sleep may become more elusive as you age, research shows you need just as much as you did when you were younger. Aim for 7 ½ to 9 hours of sleep every night.

Keep your bedroom cool and dark.
Don't read or watch television in bed.
Engage in a soothing activity before you go to bed; take a warm bath or listen to relaxation tapes.

Get involved
A recent study from the Harvard School of Public Health showed that people with more social connections had a slower rate of memory decline than people with few social connections. And in general, people who engage in activities report fewer illnesses -- and have greater energy. Try volunteering or join a social group. Take a class to help stimulate your mind while you meet new people. It's also important to have a healthy outlook on life; this includes feeling and expressing gratitude, giving and receiving love and practicing forgiveness.

Start living the life you imagined -- and start today! Cosmetic changes are only superficial. Work on your health from the inside out -- you'll be amazed by the energy, vitality and well-being that will follow.

More Details: Click Here

Men's Health: Testosterone

2011-08-03T10:14:00.000-07:00

"Why I love testosterone"
Really, who wouldn't love a naturally produced hormone that gives you energy, lifts your mood, and supports strong bones and healthy muscles? Testosterone in men and women is the anti-aging miracle many of us lack. Do you want to feel younger and more vibrant as you age? Then fall in love with testosterone!

Hormone basics
Testosterone is in a family of hormones made from cholesterol. Usually, the higher your cholesterol is, the lower your testosterone is. The testosterone family includes various estrogens, progesterone and the anti-aging hormone DHEA. These hormones are not the whole hormone "picture." In fact, they represent broad categories of hormones that may encompass hundreds of other hormones.

There is a simple cycle to testosterone and other hormones as well: We make them, use them and get rid of (detoxify) them. This is the cycle of balanced hormones. Balancing hormones is simple, though it is not always easy. What causes the imbalance? The same four disruptions that cause all imbalances: trauma, toxins, deficiency and stress.

Stress creates one-sidedness in your hormone profile because it focuses the attention of your body on survival. Many important hormone cycles and body functions are turned off to feed the fight-or-flight hormones associated with acute and chronic stress. This includes the testosterone family of beneficial hormones. During chronic stress, a testosterone is switched off and a competitive cousin is switched on: cortisol.

Cortisol is part of the lifesaving fight-or-flight survival response. With chronic stress, however, cortisol is responsible for high levels of insulin, low levels of testosterone and high levels of body fat. Cortisol makes you fat. Body fat produces an enzyme called aromatase. Aromatase turns good testosterone and estrogen into bad hormones. This is one reason why high body fat is associated with hormone-driven cancers, such as breast cancer and prostate cancer.

Nourishing testosterone
We make good hormones from good fats. As a foundation for healthy levels of testosterone, we need Omega Essential Fatty Acids (EFA). OmegaPrime® contains all elements of Omega EFA. OmegaPrime contains Evening Primrose oil to help convert cholesterol to any of these hormones that may be low. You may find that you need more OmegaPrime every day to properly convert cholesterol into trophic hormones.

Prostate Health Formula™ helps OmegaPrime build good hormones. Then, Prostate Health Formula helps direct the hormones where they need to go. Once your testosterone has been distributed to your body and brain, Prostate Health Formula helps the hormones complete their work: building up your body and lifting your mood. Finally, testosterone must be excreted from your body to prevent it from building up to toxic levels. Prostate Health Formula helps nourish this detoxification process as well.

The enemies: cortisol and aromatase
Stress triggers the release of cortisol; cortisol suppresses testosterone. You must reduce stress to have healthy hormones. Further, stress is a common cause of high levels of body fat and obesity. Fat cells produce aromatase; aromatase mutates good testosterone into bad testosterone, increasing your risk of disease. You must achieve a normal level of body fat to have healthy hormones.

Our Leanology® program really, really helps you lose fat (without losing muscle). In a clinical trial on 128 obese men and women, Leanology capsules helped them lose about 1.5 pounds of body fat per week. 100% of the weight loss came from fat! Further, as the testosterone cycle normalized, the participants added muscle and bone: a predictable effect of testosterone!

TriVita's Adaptogen 10 Plus contains the adaptogenic plants known to protect us from stress. Stress is a cause of obesity and stress triggers high levels of cortisol. Stress is the enemy of healthy, balanced hormones.

I love testosterone! It gives me energy, strengthens my body and lifts my mood. Try implementing these suggestions and I think you will come to love this amazing hormone, too!

Take Control of Your Health

Reduce stress and body fat
- Practice breathing deeply 10 minutes, three times daily and 20 minutes at bedtime
- Enjoy activity daily for 30 minutes to 2 hours or more
- Eat nutritiously, avoiding stimulants and sugar
- Take 3 Leanology capsules daily
- Drink 1 to 3 ounces of Adaptogen 10 Plus daily
Build healthy hormones
- Take 2 OmegaPrime capsules daily
- Take 2 Prostate Health Formula capsules daily on an empty stomach with Adaptogen 10 Plus
Build a solid foundation
- Don't neglect your foundation nutrition: Wellavoh® for Men

Click Here

Eating Healthy on the Run

2011-08-03T10:11:00.001-07:00

Are you looking forward to some spring or summer travel? Don’t forget to put healthy eating in your plans – yes, even at airports and highway food courts. After some of my own recent travels, I was reminded of how fast and easy it is to make unhealthy eating choices when we’re on the go. Cheeseburgers, fries, fried chicken and pizza are everywhere! But happily, so are smarter options, too. These tips, grouped by eating places and common menu choices, will help you bring healthy eating along for the journey.

Coffee shops

Many coffee shops are now offering oatmeal with nuts (skip the sugar by using honey instead and save the dried fruit for later in the name of proper food combining: combining fruit and grain together can cause fermentation in the gut and bloating). Many menus don't advertise the oatmeal or the honey, so you need to ask.

Pizza places

Lots of pizza places now have gluten-free options or even flours made from protein and iron-rich chickpea flour. Go cheese-less and add lots of veggies. Or choose a salad option with an olive oil-based dressing. Many of the major pizza chains can put any kind of cooked veggies offered on pizza in your salad as well. Many of the airport chains have at least five great salads to choose from.

Smoothie stops

If you're craving something sweet, try a fruit smoothie with antioxidant-rich pomegranates, raspberries, blueberries, bananas and/or apple juice. Berries are a low-glycemic option and a better choice than the tropical fruits like mango, papaya and pineapple. Skip the sugary sorbets and frozen yogurt additions and ask for whey protein instead, along with a boost of spirulina (a type of algae high in trace minerals, protein and Vitamin A), or greens. This will turn a “sugar-bomb”into a filling, healthful snack. Some of the major nationwide chains also offer wheat grass, which of course is a super nutrient and a great way to boost your daily nutrition (although an acquired taste). Look for salads or healthy wraps at these locations, too.

Sandwich carts and restaurants

Choose a wrap or sandwich with a lean meat like turkey (turkey is less likely than chicken to have hormones and antibiotics in the meat), rich in amino acids and B vitamins (oven roasted is the best choice). Make sure they include a nutrient-dense vegetable like artichokes or arugula. Wheat, rye or sourdough bread are healthier options (eat only half the bread), with a bowl of garden vegetable or black bean or lentil soup, or a salad with the dressing on the side and a cup of soup. Whenever possible, get avocado and/or olive oil as a spread instead of mayo or cheese – this way you trade a saturated fat that takes a long time to digest for an unsaturated fat loaded with Vitamin E.

Mexican/Tex-Mex options

A burrito bowl without cheese (add extra guacamole instead as a healthier fat option) is a good choice. Look for healthful options that are popping up on menus nationwide. They include things like chili-lime salmon burritos with a whole wheat tortilla, blackened/grilled mahi burritos wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla and Health Mex bowls without rice (get cabbage instead; if you get a burrito with rice, unwrap it and don’t eat the tortilla but eat the rice). Corn tortillas are better than flour tortillas, and guacamole is a better choice than cheese. If you have a taste for Tex-Mex, fajitas are always a healthy option – choose salmon or chicken, load up on the veggies and a side salad and eat only one of the flour tortillas. A side of black beans is a better carbohydrate choice that will keep you full for hours.

Finally, come prepared! Make sure you have at least one healthy snack with you to curb your hunger, because we all know that as hunger progresses, we get less and less choosy with our choices. You can circumvent a poor choice by carrying an apple and some nuts (or a package of nut butter which is sold in snack packs at health food stores). Or, even easier, tote a healthy, whole food-based protein bar.

Travel healthy!

More Information: Click Here

Man Talk: What You Need To Know

2011-08-03T10:09:00.000-07:00

Eat a low-fat, calorie-conscious diet
Low-fat diets, especially low-saturated fat diets, have been shown to lower risk for almost all Western world diseases, including heart disease and cancers. Foods of animal origin, including red meats and high-fat dairy products, are known contributors to excess saturated fat in the diet. Eat less of these foods and more fruits and vegetables.
Exercise and stay active
Physical activity on a daily basis, whether walking 30 minutes or doing more intense types of activity, is what your body and muscles need to stay “young at heart.”
Keep your cholesterol down
Please note that eggs, although they contain cholesterol, are not the primary source of cholesterol in the diet. High-fat meats and dairy products are the typical culprits.
Pay attention to your risk for diabetes
People with a family history of diabetes are more likely to develop this condition. If you do have diabetes, check your blood sugars after meals and any time your doctor advises. Take all of your diabetes medicines on time, as needed.
Watch your weight
A staggering 60% of all American adults are either overweight or obese. Losing weight, even only 10% of your weight, will bring dramatic benefits, including lower blood pressure, improved cholesterol, stabilized blood sugar and a reduced workload on your heart.

Exercise is key
Apart from the obvious benefits to one’s heart, exercise can also do the following:

Improve your mood and fight depression
Lower risk for osteoporosis – yes, men are at risk, too!
Keep weight in check
Enhance energy levels
Promote better sleep (but don’t exercise too close to bedtime as this may jazz you up!)
Improve intimacy, allowing for more pleasurable romantic activity
Make life more fun

Watch your diet, and be sure to get sufficient vitamins and minerals
Mentally challenge yourself daily with crossword puzzles, brain teasers and the like
Exercise

Enjoy your health and wellness!

More Information: Click Here

Samuel N. Grief, M.D., CCFP, FCFP, a member of TriVita’s Medical Advisory Board, is the Medical Director for Campus Care at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He received his medical degree from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, and is a Continuing Medical Education instructor.

A Possible Cure for Age-Related Muscle Loss?

2011-08-02T13:32:00.000-07:00

Ever notice – as you grow older – that things just seem to get heavier? Ever watch a person of advanced age struggle to hoist a carry-on bag into the overhead compartment of an aircraft?

As we age, our muscles become weaker. It starts at around age 40 and progresses until 75, when muscle strength pretty much falls off a cliff.

Doctors recommend exercise to counter the loss, but it inevitably progresses. Some people have tried hormone supplements – testosterone, human growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 to hold off Mother Nature. But the long-term safety of those therapies is in question.

Exciting new research released Tuesday by doctors at Columbia University Medical Center may have found a novel new way to prevent age-related muscle weakness. Dr. Andrew Marks has been targeting something called the “ryanodine receptor” in muscle cells.

Without getting too complicated, muscle cells use calcium to contract. Each cell has a little “gas tank” of calcium in it. When the brain sends a signal to the muscle to contract, the ryanodine receptor acts like a fuel pump and releases calcium into the cell, where it’s used to pull muscle fibers together. When the brain tells the muscle to relax, the receptor pumps calcium back into the tank, and the fibers separate.

As we age, the mechanism becomes damaged from stress and allows an unusual amount of calcium to leak out of the cell. Think of it in terms of a rusty old gas tank developing a small leak. Eventually enough calcium (gasoline) leaks out that the muscle (car) can’t function properly.

Basically, the muscle runs out of gas and over time, withers away.

Using a new drug (s107) developed by pharmaceutical startup ARMGO Pharma, Marks treated mice that were 24 months old – the equivalent of 70 in human years. The mice, which were becoming weak and sedentary could spend 50 percent more time on the exercise wheel than before. The drug had slowed the calcium leak in their muscles and improved muscle function.

So – how is this different from exercise or hormone treatments? Dr. Marks says they build muscle mass. But they don’t necessarily improve muscle function the way this drug does.

What if people didn’t wait until old age to begin treatment? What if the drug was used as a preventive beginning at say – age 50? Could age-related muscle loss be prevented altogether?

Marks said that’s very possible.

There’s another aspect of Marks’ research that is very interesting. Age-related muscle weakness occurs by much the same mechanism as muscular dystrophy in children. As people grow old, they literally acquire a form of MD.

Which begs a question. If the drug reverses some of the effects of age-related muscle loss, could it be a possible treatment for Muscular Dystrophy? That’s something Dr. Marks told me he is looking into.

He’d also like to see his therapies used in developing countries where heart failure and other age-related muscle conditions go untreated.

The other big question: When could this be available for human use?

The drug is currently in Phase II trials for treatment of heart failure. Dr. Marks says he hopes to begin Phase II trials among people of advanced age for muscle-weakness/loss within a year.

It should also be pointed out that Dr. Marks is a founder of ARMGO Pharma and stands to become a very rich man if the FDA approves this new drug. That said, he is also a noted and well-respected researcher who has received numerous awards and citations for his ground-breaking research.

More Nutritional Information: Click Here

Trivita Independent Business Owner Infomerical

2011-08-02T08:25:00.000-07:00

The professionally-produced ITBO infomercial showcases the Independent TriVita Business Owner (ITBO) opportunity and encourages viewers to “Discover the Possibilities” of owning your own TriVita Wellness Business.

NEED MORE INFORMATION: CLICK HERE

Body Systems 101

2011-08-02T04:31:00.000-07:00

You and those you love are affected by the decisions you make every day. Healthy decisions eventually become healthy habits. Health is built on healthy habits as you practice them day by day. Your future is built on your health.

Every dream you have, every hope and aspiration, as well as every duty and responsibility in your life, depends on you getting healthy and staying healthy. Remember, it is as inevitable as gravity: A body deprived of nutrients and nurturing will get sick.

Which nutrients do I need to take?
Humans were designed to get their nutrients from foods. "Eating Nutritiously" is an Essential for Wellness. Supplementing with whole food nutrition, such as TriVita's Fruits 'n VegEZ™ respects this design, as does whole-food based supplements like Wellavoh® and VitaDaily™ AM/PM. In addition to these Healthy Foundation supplements, other nutrients are needed. Here is a brief description of the most common nutrient deficiencies and the signs that can help you determine if you may be deficient:

Vitamin C
Among the greatest deficiencies in the diet of people over 50 is Vitamin C. Signs of Vitamin C deficiency include:

Weakness
Weariness
Unhealthy gums
Nosebleeds
Bruising
Slow healing

Vitamin B-12
Our ability to absorb Vitamin B-12 declines as we age. Supplement your diet with TriVita's Sublingual B-12 daily. Remember, after age 30 our brains literally begin to shrink. The more B-12 we have in our bloodstream, the less brain erosion we may experience.

Signs of low B-12 include:

Mood and memory problems
Mental fatigue and poor concentration
Irritability
Poor circulation
Un-refreshing sleep

Omega-3 fatty acids
Speaking of "brain erosion," our brains are primarily made of fat. The most common signs of Omega-3 deficiency include mood disorders, such as depression and Attention Deficit Disorder. Other signs that we may need more Omega-3 include hormone imbalance in women and men, immune system imbalance such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, and chronic fatigue.

Vitamin D and Magnesium
Vitamin D comes from both dietary sources and healthy sunshine exposure. It is activated by exercise. Vitamin D is responsible for hardening your bones. Signs of Vitamin D deficiency include poor blood sugar balance, chronic pain and clumsiness.

Magnesium is found abundantly in plant-based foods, such as sea vegetables, nuts and seeds, avocados and leafy green vegetables. Signs of deficiency include:

Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
Migraine
Poor muscle recovery following exercise

Because Vitamin D and magnesium usually cooperate in nature, we put them in cooperative supplements such as VitaCal-Mag D™ and VitaDaily AM/PM. They are available in higher levels in Wellavoh, Bone Growth Factor® and Leanology® Capsules. With osteoporosis at epidemic levels, we need more Vitamin D and magnesium to help support healthy bones!

Essential D™ provides pure Vitamin D and cofactors to make it work in our polluted environment.

Healthy foundation program
To feel better today and healthier tomorrow, we all need to cultivate healthy habits every day. This includes eating nutritiously and taking our supplements to make up for the deficiency in our diet. Select a multi-nutrient complex, an appropriate B-12 and a magnesium/Vitamin D supplement suited to your needs. Add Vital C™ and OmegaPrime® to build the healthy foundation your life's purpose demands!

Take Control of Your Health

Take a multi-nutrient complex:
- Wellavoh for Men and Women
- VitaDaily™ AM/PM
- TriVita Kids Multi-Vitamin
- Fruits 'n VegEZ
Add a Sublingual B-12:
- Sublingual B-12, B-6 & Folic Acid
- Super Sublingual B-12
- HCY Guard
Take Vital C
- A teaspoon in the morning
- A tablet at bedtime
Add OmegaPrime for healthy fats
Consider special needs for extra nutrition:
- VitaCal-Mag D or Bone Growth Factor
- Essential D
- Leanology Capsules

More Information: Click Here

Trivita-Fruits ‘n VegEZ

2011-07-11T05:45:00.000-07:00

Gives you 5 servings of fruits and vegetables in every scoop

Fruits ‘n VegEZ packs a powerful blend of 30 fruits and vegetables from around the world, providing a variety of nutrients your body needs for optimal health.

Fast and convenient – simply mix with water or your favorite beverage
At only $1.33 per scoop, an affordable alternative to rising food costs
Contains rare, antioxidant-rich superfruits including mangosteen and acai
Includes vegetable powerhouses such as broccoli, spinach, artichoke and carrots
Only 20 calories and less than 1 gram of sugar per serving
No artificial flavors, sweeteners or colors

Bursting with delicious, tropical flavor, Fruits ‘n VegEZ contains the crucial nutrients you need – the way you’d find them in healthy, natural foods.

Are you getting enough fruits and vegetables? Most people aren’t.

If you find it difficult to get your recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables, you’re not alone. A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report revealed that more than 75% of Americans don’t meet the minimum recommendation of five servings of fruits and vegetables per day. With all the time and commitment involved in shopping and prep work, not to mention the rising cost of food, that statistic isn’t surprising – although it is alarming.

Evidence continues to grow regarding fruit and vegetable consumption and disease risk. Study after study shows that those who eat more fruits and vegetables lower their risk of chronic disease, compared to those who eat fewer fruits and vegetables.

Bottom line? Getting the vital nutrients fruits and vegetables provide is crucial to good health.

Fruits ‘n VegEZ can help!
Fruits ‘n VegEZ can help supplement your daily intake of fruits and vegetables – so you get the nutrients you need each and every day. Simply mix a scoop of Fruits ‘n VegEZ in with your beverage of choice and you instantly have the equivalent of five servings of fruits and veggies.
Fruits ‘n VegEZ combines whole food concentrates of 30 different fruits and vegetables to give you a wide range of nutrients – and health benefits. Taking Fruits ‘n VegEZ every day can help:

Boost your immune system
Increase energy
Support a healthy digestive system
Support cardiovascular health
Increase overall vitality and well-being

A rainbow of color in every scoop
Health experts recommend eating different-colored fruits and vegetables for optimum nutrition. Fruits ‘n VegEZ helps cover your nutritional bases with a variety of colors:

Reds – Goji berries, strawberries, cherries and tomatoes
Purples – Beets, grapes, mangosteen and blackberries
Oranges – Carrots, papaya, mangos and oranges
Greens – Green tea, spinach, broccoli and kiwi

But that’s not all! Fruits ‘n VegEZ also includes:

Artichoke
Maqui
Cauliflower
Cabbage
Cranberry
Apple
Guava
Peach
Apricot
Pomegranate
Raspberry
Lemon
Prickly pear
Bilberry

Fruits ‘n VegEZ contains no artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners. Simply nutrients as they occur in healthy, natural foods.
If you find yourself falling short in the fruit and vegetable department, try Fruits ‘n VegEZ today! It’s the fast, convenient and affordable choice for those concerned with their overall health and well-being.

Tell Me More: Click Here

Fruits + Vegetables = Healthy Aging

2011-07-08T04:22:00.000-07:00

You've probably heard about antioxidants and how healthy they are for you. But what exactly are they and how do they contribute to healthy aging?

The trouble with oxygen
Oxygen is vital to our very existence. But, it has a downside. Consider an apple. If you eat half of it and leave it out, it turns brown. This is how it reacts when it comes into contact with oxygen. Just like the apple, our cells can be adversely affected by oxygen. This is called oxidative stress. When a cell comes into contact with oxygen, the cell can become unstable: it becomes what is called a free radical.

Free radicals can result from natural processes such as metabolism, as well as unnatural influences like environmental toxins. Free radicals don't like to be alone so they destabilize and damage other cells around them. This is when the trouble begins. They can attack everything from proteins and fats to your DNA. As this damage multiplies, it can contribute to premature aging as well as a variety of diseases.

Antioxidants to the rescue
One way to help? Antioxidants! Antioxidants are substances that can help stabilize free radicals. They come in the form of vitamins and minerals, as well as other organic compounds. You will find them in a variety of foods including fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes and whole grains. Antioxidant-rich foods may help reduce the risk of cancer, heart attack, strokes and premature aging.

Here are some common antioxidants and the foods you'll find them in:

Vitamin C

Found in: Strawberries, papaya, kiwi, oranges, green peppers, broccoli, cantaloupe, kale, brussels sprouts, mango, grapefruit, snow peas

Additional benefits: Helps keep your natural defenses up, promotes heart health, aids in the growth and repair of tissues and is essential for repairing wounds and maintaining cartilage, bones and teeth.
Vitamin E

Found in: Almonds, wheat germ, broccoli, mangos, mono-unsaturated oils, corn, asparagus, seeds, olives

Additional benefits: Helps maintain the immune system, boost energy, maintain youthful skin, keep the heart strong, maintain brain health and balance excess hormones.
Vitamin A

Found in: Liver, sweet potatoes, carrots, milk, egg yolks

Additional benefits: Promotes night vision, helps form and maintain healthy teeth, skeletal tissue, mucous membranes and skin.
Lycopene

Found in: Tomatoes, watermelon, guava, papaya, blood oranges, pink grapefruit

Additional benefits: Lycopene has been associated with a reduced risk of heart disease, macular degeneration and certain cancers. It may also play a role in reducing blood pressure and LDL cholesterol.
Beta-carotene

Found in: Carrots, sweet potatoes, apricots, pumpkin, kale, collard greens, spinach

Additional benefits: The body can convert beta-carotene into a form of Vitamin A, helping to ensure your body has the Vitamin A it needs.

Fruits and Veggies
As you can see, fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of antioxidants. But that's not all they're good for; they are brimming with vitamins, minerals and fiber. Not only will you get the nutrients you need for healthy aging, you can eat them without worrying about your waistline because they are naturally low in calories and fat.

Your best bet? Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables each day to maintain optimal health. However, because it can be difficult to get in all your recommended daily servings (men should get nine; women, seven; and children, five) supplementing with a quality antioxidant like TriVita's Fruits ‘n VegEZ can help fill the gap.

More Information: Click Here

The Whys of Fruits and Vegetables

2011-07-08T04:20:00.000-07:00

The Whys of Fruits and Vegetables
Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, said “Everyone has a doctor in him or her; we just have to help it in its work. The natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force in getting well. Our food should be our medicine. Our medicine should be our food.”

It’s no secret that eating fruits and vegetables is a wonderful way to support and build vibrant health. However, so many of us forsake this easy tool at our disposal for the convenience that processed foods provide. This month’s article is an homage to real food, a gentle, yet inspirational reminder that it is worth taking the time to connect with your food, to prepare it, to sit down to eat it and to feel its healing effects working within you.

Top reasons to eat more fruits and vegetables
1. They will help you live a longer, better, happier life. Fresh fruits and vegetables are loaded with antioxidants, which extinguish free radicals (those pesky molecules that degrade cell health and force the aging process). Nature makes all of these beautifully colored fruits and vegetables to attract our attention – heed the call and avoid the brightly colored packages trying to sway you!
2. Fiber. Fruits and vegetables contain a lot of fiber and it is proven that diets high in fiber are associated with a reduced risk of coronary artery disease. Also, fiber helps to pull excess estrogen out of the body, which can lower chances of breast cancer. Leafy greens of all kinds are my number one choice here.
3. Folate. Wonderful for women who are of reproductive age as folic acid will boost mood during premenstrual syndrome and help protect against birth defects of the brain or spinal cord. Folic acid also does wonders to clear bacteria from the urinary tract. Asparagus is very high in folic acid and a good vegetable to eat once or twice per week.
4. Potassium. We need this mineral to maintain healthy blood pressure and good electrolyte balance in the body. Go beyond bananas and add sweet potatoes, beet greens and carrot juice to your routine to boost dietary potassium.
5. Vitamin A. This is the single nutrient that helps us most to protect our eyes as well as to keep the skin healthy. Since our skin is our barrier to the world and our primary immune organ, Vitamin A has a crucial role in protecting against infections. Load up on all the orange foods, not just carrots. We love cantaloupe, pumpkin and sweet potatoes for their high Vitamin A content.
6. Vitamin C. This vitamin aids in wound healing and helps to keep teeth and gums healthy. The health of our mouth correlates to the health of our heart because when we have an infection of the mouth, it travels down into the bloodstream and many times to the heart. Excellent sources of this powerhouse vitamin are strawberries, broccoli, kiwi, mangoes, oranges, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower.
Here’s one of the best tips I can give you: carve out two hours on a weekend for washing and preparing your produce for the week to ensure that you will eat them and not watch them go bad in your fridge. Store your lettuce or washed, cut leafy greens in a container with a piece of paper towel in it so that the moisture that would otherwise wilt the leaves will go into the paper towel and keep your veggies fresh longer. You are much more likely to add a handful of greens to your morning egg scramble if they are already washed and cut than if there is another work step involved. Go enjoy nature’s bounty and let these vibrant foods be your best medicine.

If you’re concerned about getting enough fruits and vegetables in your daily diet, you may want to supplement with TriVita’s new Fruits ‘n VegEZ.
Recipes

Cabbage Carrot Salad

One head of red or green cabbage (sliced fine)
Two or three carrots (shredded)
One bunch of scallions (diced small)
One tsp. of crushed ginger
One bunch of cilantro (chopped)
½ cup apple cider vinegar
One orange, lime or lemon (juiced)
1 Tbl. Shoyu or Tamari
¼ cup olive oil

Mix all ingredients together and enjoy.
Tomato-Basil Soup

2 Tbl. coconut oil
1 onion, chopped
4 carrots, peeled & chopped
1 leek, white part only, thinly sliced
3 stalks celery, diced
3 cloves garlic, chopped
4 cups veggie broth
2 cans 28-oz fire roasted whole tomatoes
Leaves from 4 thyme sprigs
1 bay leaf
1/2 cup coconut creamer or unsweetened coconut milk
Handful of freshly chopped basil
Sea salt & pepper to taste

Heat the coconut oil in a large stockpot, over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, celery and garlic; cook for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the veggie stock, tomatoes with juice, thyme and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 30 minutes. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper. Remove bay leaf and puree soup in blender or with hand blender. Add coconut creamer or coconut milk and fresh basil. Stir well to combine.

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The Six Steps Toward Wellness

2011-06-14T07:13:00.000-07:00

Breathe deeply
Drink pure water
Sleep peacefully
Eat nutritiously
Enjoy activity

Decide what you really, really want
- Write it down
Now, decide WHY you want it
- Write it down
List your goals
- Write them down
Use the Leanology system to achieve the healthy body you need
- Decide why you want to lose weight
- Decide how you want to lose weight
- Recruit your wellness team
- Plan a strategy – then ACT!
Plan a strategy including the six steps above
- Use the 10 Essentials to structure your wellness journey

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Foods That Can Save Your Life

2011-06-09T04:00:00.000-07:00

In today’s Western society it’s much easier, and not to mention quicker, to spend a few bucks at the McDonald’s across the street than it is to make a satisfying dinner.

In a world of Big Macs, KFC and Häagen-Dazs ice cream, who really wants to eat their spinach and celery sticks? As a result, however, our fat-filled diets have brought about an epidemic of heart disease, which has become North America’s No. 1 killer.

Fortunately, over the years scientists and nutritionists have studied the foods that are good for the heart, and some of these might come as a surprise. So, here's a list of the best heart foods that you should include in your diet, and maybe it will help you avoid a trip to the doctor’s.

1. OatsOats belong to a larger category of foods referred to as whole grains. Whole grains contain the entire kernel as opposed to refined grains that have been processed to remove the bran and the germ. While this process allows certain grains to last longer on store shelves, it also removes much of the good stuff like B vitamins, vitamin E, fiber, and antioxidants. Oats, in particular, as found in your morning oatmeal, contain a soluble fiber known as beta-glucan that decreases the total cholesterol in your blood as well as your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. This is important because it is the LDL or “bad” cholesterol that’s responsible for heart attacks. Some studies that required people’s diets to be supplemented with oat bran showed a decrease in total cholesterol by as much as 18 percent while others have found a drop in LDL cholesterol by as much as 9 percent.

In addition, whole grains have a low glycemic index, which is a measure of how high a food raises your blood sugar level. Foods with a low glycemic index have a clear health advantage, particularly in helping to prevent diabetes (a major risk factor for coronary heart disease). Next time you reach for that cereal bar for breakfast, maybe you should reconsider and make a bowl of oatmeal.

2. Red wineWant to have your cake and eat it too? Then drink red wine. In moderation (4 to 8 ounces/day), red wine is cardio-protective. This effect comes from antioxidants found in red wine, particularly resveratrol. This compound found in grape extracts has several beneficial effects on the heart, including reducing LDL as well as total blood cholesterol. Moreover, resveratrol, as well as other polyphenols found in red wine, have been shown to reduce blood clots by inhibiting a component found in blood known as platelets. Similar to the action of aspirin, which is one of the mainstay therapies in heart attack prevention, red wine helps to prevent platelets from clumping together, which is a key event in coronary artery blockage.

More recent scientific studies have shown that red wine has the ability to relax arteries and, therefore, lower your blood pressure. In addition, wine consumption is also associated with lower levels of C-reactive protein, which is a marker of coronary vessel inflammation. This means that drinking wine could decrease your risk of CHD.

3. SpinachSpinach, and many other green leafy vegetables such as lettuce, contains folate, also known as vitamin B9. Although folate deficiency is well known for its effects in causing spinal malformations in newborns, recent studies reveal that folate may have a role in heart disease by reducing circulating levels of homocysteine in the blood. High homocysteine levels increase your risk of heart attacks as well as stroke; therefore, increasing your dietary intake of folate-containing foods may help reduce the risk of CHD.

In general, a diet rich in vegetables as well as fruit can significantly reduce hypertension, a major risk factor for CHD. In the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension study, those who consumed more fruits and vegetables showed a drop in blood pressure over only an eight-week period.

4. AlmondsAlmonds and other nuts are a rich source of mono and polyunsaturated fats that can not only reduce total cholesterol but also raise your high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the “good” cholesterol. Almonds also contain phytosterols that are naturally occurring plant steroids that block the intestinal tract from absorbing all types of fats. In 2003, the FDA claimed that “foods containing at least [a] 0.4-gram per serving of plant sterols, eaten twice a day with meals for a daily total intake of at least 0.8 grams as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.” One pooled study showed that subjects in the group with the highest nut consumption had reduced their risk of CHD by 35 percent.

One drawback of almonds and other nuts, however, is that they are calorie-rich, so not more than a handful of nuts should be consumed per day.

5. SalmonSalmon and other fish are the foods with probably the most scientific evidence for heart protection. The active ingredient in salmon is omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids may reduce risk of CHD by several mechanisms including reducing blood pressure, blocking platelet function and clot formation, and preventing plaque formation in artery walls. One study in the Netherlands following men over a 20-year period showed an obvious inverse relationship between fish consumption and CHD.

Omega-3 fatty acids also help to regulate the electrical activity of the heart, thereby reducing the likelihood of sudden cardiac death. How much fish do you need to eat to reap these benefits? Only two or more servings of fish per week have been associated with a reduced risk of CHD by as much as 30 percent.

Take HeartHealthy eating requires a change in behavior as much as a change in what we eat. For example, simply substituting foods with trans fats with unsaturated (mono or polyunsaturated) fats have been shown in some studies to reduce the risk of diabetes. Similar benefits can be met by replacing red meats with fish and poultry. Diet is only one modifiable factor in the development of coronary heart disease, and so we have to remember that regular exercise and smoking cessation should always be incorporated in promoting a healthy lifestyle.

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How Exercise Can Alleviate the Pain of Fibromyalgia

2011-06-07T06:43:00.000-07:00

A significant body of research shows that, for people with fibromyalgia, exercise can improve their physical and emotional well-being, prevent the muscle wasting that avoiding activity can bring, and for some even alleviate pain. Fibromyalgia sufferers often become less and less active as the pain takes over, scared to do any kind of movement that could make the pain worse. That starts a vicious, debilitating circle.

"This fear, which is seen to varying degrees among people with fibromyalgia, is a huge obstacle to getting people to be more physically active," says Daniel Rooks, PhD, who studied fibromyalgia as an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, and now works with musculoskeletal diseases at the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, in Cambridge, Mass.

In 2007, Rooks and his colleagues published research showing that walking, strength training, and even stretching can improve physical pain and emotional well-being in fibromyalgia patients.

One patient finds relief through movement

Diana Tolton says her pain, which intensified around age 30, was "excruciating. On a scale of one to 10, I would tell my pain doctor '20.'"

Before fibromyalgia, Tolton, 51, of Tucson, Ariz., was an active woman who loved running and bicycle racing. After the syndrome developed, her day-to-day pain levels became more of a "roller coaster," with unpredictable swells that would pose major speed bumps.

But in the 20 years since the pain began, Tolton has found exercise to be one of the critical tools in managing her neck and shoulder pain.

"Exercise is number 1 for me," explains Tolton. "Mostly it's cardiovascular and then weights. I ride, I jog. Walking, even, as I get older … anything where I'm conditioning the muscles seems to help me."

Good pain versus bad painTolton acknowledges that exercise does cause her pain, but she sees it as "good pain"—pain that allows her body to release its own painkillers, endorphins.

"It's easier for me to run than it is for me to do the chores, because the endorphins really help. I can run and get an endorphin hit and feel pain-free for a while. I try to exercise at least four times a week and hopefully more."

The challenge of going it alone

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Symptoms of Fibromyalgia: What It Feels Like

2011-06-07T06:41:00.000-07:00

Fibromyalgia sufferers will tell you that they hurt. Often they hurt all over. They have pain in their muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints, as well as back and neck, and tenderness when certain spots on the body are pressed.

Often they have no energy. And when they go to sleep to recover, it doesn't help. They wake up completely unrefreshed.

"I would feel like I got hit by a truck when I woke up in the morning," says Phyllis Talarico, 61, of Yorba Linda, Calif. "I just felt like somebody had beat the tar out of me. I felt like I had a hangover. I would have to set my alarm an extra hour earlier, because it would take me that much time to properly wake up."

Below are the constellation of symptoms that fibromyalgia can bring on.

The range and severity of symptoms caused by fibromyalgia vary from person to person. Widespread, chronic pain—often described as deep or burning—is the most common symptom. Pain is considered to be widespread if it is above and below your waist and on the right and left sides of your body. Fibromyalgia pain is more common in the trunk, neck, low back, hips, and shoulders. And it is rare in the hands and feet. It usually develops gradually and can interfere with even simple daily activities.

Other symptoms that can occur along with pain include:¹

Fatigue that interferes with work and daily activities.
Sleep problems (difficulty falling or staying asleep, waking up feeling tired).
Morning stiffness lasting less than an hour.
Headaches.
Constipation or diarrhea related to irritable bowel syndrome.
Memory problems and difficulty concentrating.
Anxiety or depression.

Fibromyalgia can sometimes feel like the flu. You may experience body aches, tiredness, and intestinal problems. The pain in your joints and muscles may be especially bothersome at night, waking you from sleep, or in the morning, when you may feel very stiff and sore. You may have trouble concentrating because of fatigue. Symptoms can last from days to months or years.

People with fibromyalgia have periods when their symptoms become worse and periods when they have milder or no symptoms. Flare-ups of fatigue and muscle and joint aches are common, especially following physical or emotional stress. Many people with fibromyalgia report that cold or damp weather, poor sleep, fatigue, stress, or overexertion makes their pain worse.

Because symptoms of fibromyalgia are similar to so many other disorders, your doctor may try to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms before he or she can properly diagnose fibromyalgia. In some cases, you may have another condition in addition to fibromyalgia.

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11 Ways to Kick Stress to the Curb.

2011-06-06T08:42:00.001-07:00

While a little stress can sometimes be a good motivator to get you moving or complete a project at work (just think of all those papers you wrote in college at the last minute—or was that just me?), too much stress is bad, news bears. Not only can it wreak havoc on your mental state (anxiety, ahhh!!!), it can also disrupt your sleep, increase carb cravings, store more fat in your belly and generally make you pretty miserable. Which pretty much stinks. So read on for our top tips to say good bye to unnecessary stress!

11 Tips to Kick Stress to the Curb

1. Move your body. This is pretty obvious but exercise is mad-good for reducing stress and getting those happy endorphins going!

2. Focus on one thing at a time. Multitasking is great and all, but it’s not very efficient when it’s making you crazy, is it?

3. Sleep! A good night’s rest makes everything better, so be sure to make hitting the hay a priority.

4. Talk to yourself like your best friend. Are you your own worst critic? Retrain that brain and love yo’self!

5. Mediate. This isn’t just for the hippity-dippity, mediation is for everyone. And the good news? There’s no right or wrong way to do it. So just try it!

6. Understand stress’ effect on your body. When there’s too much, stress can be a nasty beast. Learn howstress can affect your weight and cause cravings, so that you don’t just think you’ve lost all self control. It’s body-chemistry, baby!

7. Eat the right foods. A clean and healthy diet can help your body deal with stress. As can these little extras!

8. Just say no. If you’re spread too thin, it’s time to start doing what you love and saying no to the rest—despite any and all obligations. It’s hard at first but gets easier once you feel the results of your nay-saying.

9. Try yoga or Pilates. If you want to calm those racing thoughts, there’s nothing better than a calming yoga or Pilates workout that gets you more in touch with that mind-body connection. You don’t even have to leave your home for it!

10. Do it. No really, do the horizontal mambo, tango, two-step. Whatever you call it, sex reduces stress!

11. Laugh out loud often. Whether it’s a funny movie, chatting with a hilarious friend about your ridiculous day or watching one of our fit funnies or belly laughs, a good giggle-fest always makes everything better.

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Which Workout Burns More Calories?.

2011-06-06T08:40:00.000-07:00

From kayaking to surfing to hiking—find out how many calories you burn during these and more popular outdoor sports.

Running vs Swimming
The winner: Running
Swimming has many benefits, including giving you a great full-body workout while keeping it easy on your joints. But, if a super-high calorie burn is what you're after, you're going to have to sweat it out. Running at a 7-mile per hour pace for one hour burns nearly 700 calories, while swimming at 50-yards-per-minute burns around 550 calories per hour.

Biking vs. Inline SkatingThe winner: Biking
Turns out two wheels are better than eight. Ride to the office at about 12 to 14 miles per hour for one hour and you'll burn around 560 calories, approximately 60 more calories per hour than inline skating. Whatever way you roll, we suggest keeping a continuous speed and not coasting for maximum burn.

Frisbee vs. Beach Volleyball
The winner: Beach Volleyball
Get that game going! An hour-long game of beach volleyball will burn about 484 calories, while that Frisbee toss will only burn approximately 208 calories per hour.  

Kayaking vs. Surfing
The winner: Kayaking
Both kayaking and surfing are great for your core and your arms, but kayaking actually burns more than 100 more calories per hour, 346 compared to surfing's 208, so pick up that paddle!

Hiking vs. Horseback Riding
The winner: Hiking
Horseback riding is a great core workout, but for the ultimate calorie burn you'll want to hit the hills without the horse. Hiking burns 400 plus calories per hour, while horseback riding only burns around 270. Just make sure you have a good pair of hiking shoes (check out our favorite gear here!) or your hike and your calorie burn won't get very far.

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6 Little-Known Headache Facts.

2011-06-06T08:38:00.000-07:00

Think you’re a victim of sinus headaches? Think again. According to research, there’s no such thing. Read on to find out what else you didn’t know about all that throbbing and pounding.

1. Fifty percent of people with migraines don’t realize they have them. Current stats show that more than 29.5 million Americans suffer from migraines, with three times as many women affected as men. This type of headache causes throbbing pain on one side of your head as well as nausea or vomiting and sensitivity to light— but you don’t have to experience all of these symptoms for the headache to be a migraine. “Many people mistakenly assume they’re having tension headaches,” says Jason Rosenberg, MD, director of the Johns Hopkins Headache Center. If the pain is bad enough to make you skip work or other activities, definitely talk to your doctor. You may need a prescription drug in the triptan class (like Imitrex). For chronic migraines, you may also need to take a preventive medication (like nadolol, a beta-blocker) daily to ward off attacks

2. There’s no such thing as a “sinus headache.” Over 90 percent of people who think they have sinus headaches (not sinus infections) have migraines; the others are probably experiencing tension headaches. Migraine pain is often located over the sinuses, which is why people frequently mistake it for sinus pain, says Brian Grosberg, MD, a director at the Montefiore Headache Center in New York City. If you get better with so-called “sinus” medications, it’s because these contain a pain reliever. For long-term relief, you’ll need specific migraine treatment.

3. What you eat could be to blame. Many foods contain chemicals that can trigger migraines and possibly other types of headaches, says Dr. Grosberg. Some foods to watch out for: deli meats and hot dogs (which have nitrates), Chinese food (which may contain monosodium glutamate, a.k.a. MSG) and sugar-free foods sweetened with aspartame or sucralose. If you’re headacheprone, also avoid tyramine, a natural compound in foods such as citrus fruits, bananas, avocados, processed meats, aged cheeses, onions and nuts. Keep in mind that triggers are individual; track what you eat in a journal to sort it out.

4. Smokers are at higher risk for a rare but scary type of headache. Only 1 in 1,000 people get cluster headaches, but they happen to smokers more often. Symptoms include intense pain on one side of the head and feeling agitated or angry (sufferers may even harm themselves or others). Think you’re having a cluster headache? Go to your doctor’s office or the ER immediately—you’ll probably need an oxygen mask or an injection of Imitrex.

5. Some headaches warrant a visit to the ER. If you experience any of these symptoms, a hospital visit may be in order: It’s severe and comes on extremely suddenly (experts call this a “thunderclap”); it crops up immediately after exerting yourself (like after lifting a heavy piece of furniture); or it’s so bad that it wakes you up from sleep. Any of these could indicate a life-threatening condition like an aneurysm (a ballooning blood vessel in the brain), so best get immediate attention.

6. Botox can treat migraines. Although Botox is best known as a cosmetic treatment for minimizing lines and wrinkles, headache specialists have successfully been using it “off-label” to treat painful and debilitating migraines for over 10 years, according to Peter McAllister, MD, clinical assistant professor of neurology at Yale University School of Medicine. Last year it finally received FDA approval specifically for the treatment of chronic migraines in adults. It’s not a permanent fix—you’ll need to return for additional injections about every three months—but it can be very effective. Experts believe that it works by blocking nerve signals that cause the pain. The downside: Each visit entails getting a total of 31 small injections in seven different spots around your head and neck, and no, they won’t also make you look younger (the injection sites are different from those used for cosmetic treatment). You might also have a hard time getting your health insurance to pay for it. Currently, close to 50 percent of insurers won’t cover Botox for migraines, and those that do tend to have some pretty strict criteria. The requirements can differ for each insurer, but you may have to suffer from at least 15 migraines a month, with each one lasting at least four hours.

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Health Benefits Of Sugar

2011-06-05T09:08:00.000-07:00

Over the past few decades sugar has been categorized as a tempting but hazardous ingredient, indulged in by the undisciplined and avoided by the virtuous. Expanding waistlines, increased health problems and hyperactivity in children were all chalked up to America’s increasing consumption of sugar. Recently, The New York Times featured an article detailing the ways in which this indulgence is being recast as a healthy alternative to synthetic and corn-based sweeteners -- sugar’s days as a “bad guy” may be coming to an end, at least for now.

Fructose, otherwise known as high-fructose corn syrup, has replaced sugar as the sweetener that consumers are shunning.

Is this the right way to go?
Is sugar really the healthier alternative?
What are the health benefits of sugar?

Calorie content

Since total calorie intake is what will impact body fat levels and weight gain, it’s the first factor to assess when comparing two foods. Both fructose and sugar are forms of carbohydrate, and contain four calories per gram consumed. Both also lack dietary fiber (which goes partially undigested through the body) and are generally lacking in nutritious value. There's not many health benefits of sugar or fructose here.

Sugar and high-fructose corn syrup are both composed of glucose and fructose; the only difference is that high-fructose corn syrup has a higher degree of fructose in it by about 5%.

Impact on insulin and blood glucose levels

While total calorie content is important, it’s not the entire story. Different nutrients also have varying impacts on how we feel after we consume them, and that can impact how much we eat at mealtime.

Fructose wins the race when it comes to blood glucose levels, as it’s sent to the liver after consumption and has minimal impacts on insulin and blood sugar levels. This makes it a better option if you want to avoid the highs and lows typically associated with foods that contain pure glucose.

Sugar, while composed of partial fructose, will still send the glucose straight to the blood, causing insulin levels to increase while you experience a quick burst of energy.

Unfortunately, this burst of energy is frequently followed by a drop, which often just leaves you hungry and craving more. That, in turn, can cause you to consume more food during the day, increasing your calorie intake.

One downside to fructose is that it does not have as much of an impact on the hormone leptin, which regulates the sensation of hunger. So while you won’t get the blood sugar spike and crash from eating fructose, you may not feel as full after eating higher fructose foods compared with foods higher in sugar.

Degree of processing

Many people are starting to turn to sugar rather than high-fructose corn syrup because sugar isn't as processed. As more people are trying to keep their food intake as unprocessed as possible, this seems to make sense.

It’s important to keep in mind, however, that the best form of sugar will be the natural sugars found in fruits and vegetables, which also supply antioxidants as well as fiber. A high intake of either sugar or fructose can potentially lead to issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Minimizing the damage from consumption

When it comes to choosing which sweetener you should be using, you’re going to face some trade-offs. Do you want to control blood sugar levels? Or are you trying to prevent feeling drained come 2 p.m. after you’ve downed your lunchtime sugar-laden coffee?

Either way you look at it, both of these sweeteners are providing excess calories to the body, and when these calories are not burned, they are going to be stored as body fat. Additional body fat puts you at risk for a whole number of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and osteoporosis.

You’re always going to be best off to try and remove both sweeteners from your diet and instead focus on complex sources of carbohydrates such as vegetables, potatoes, whole grains, and brown rice, along with the natural sugars found in fruit. These will give you well-rounded nutrition without all the excess calories.

If you must have sweeteners in your diet, try to eat them around your workout, as this is when they will be used up by the muscle tissues, decreasing the negative impact on your body.

a sweet deal?

Just because sugar’s reputation is being burnished, don’t be too quick to start adding sugar into your diet thinking it’s somehow good for you. Regardless of whether high-fructose corn syrup is worse than sugar, there are still far superior forms of carbohydrates out there to be putting into your body, such as oatmeal, whole grain breads, brown rice, sweet potatoes, fruits, and vegetables.

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The Truth About Sugar & Artificial Sweeteners

2011-06-05T09:06:00.000-07:00

People may tell you to watch your sugar intake or curb your sweet tooth, or may even go as far as to lament about sugar addiction. However, believe it or not, you need sugar to survive. Why? Simple and complex carbohydrates, including sugars, are the body's main source of energy.

In fact, an average intake is about 20 teaspoons of sugar a day, either from complex carbohydrates, like pasta, bread or rice, fruits and vegetables or in its refined form, as found in cookies and candies.

Do you know enough about sugars? Well, here's the deal -- there are two types of nutritive sugars (providing 4 calories per gram) that we eat: naturally occurring sugars in fruits and dairy products, called fructose and lactose, and refined sugars, such as molasses, honey, white, brown, or powdered sugar, corn syrup and maple syrup solids.

However, if you want to avoid the calories and potential blood sugar spiking effects of some refined sugars, you can opt for non-nutritive sweeteners, also called artificial sweeteners or sugar substitutes. These substances do not provide calories and will not influence blood sugar levels. These include: saccharin, aspartame, cyclamate, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, and stevia.

nutritive sugars

To begin, below is a list of different types of caloric sugars and the substances they are normally found in.

Naturally occurring sugars

Fructose: Also known as fruit sugar, fructose occurs naturally in fruits, vegetables and honey, and high fructose corn syrup.
Calories per teaspoon: 16

Honey: Another naturally occurring sugar, honey is made up of glucose, fructose and water.
Calories per teaspoon: 22

Lactose: Also called milk sugar, lactose is a mixture of glucose and galactose, and is found in milk and milk products, like cheese and yogurt.
Calories per teaspoon: 16

Refined sugars

Sucrose: Once extracted from sugar cane or sugar beets, sucrose is a combination of fructose and glucose and is found in white, brown, yellow, raw, turbinado, and powdered sugar. The color of sugar depends on the quantity of molasses left in the sugar in the refinement process.
Calories per teaspoon: 16

Maltose & dextrose: Maltose, also called malt sugar, is a white crystalline sugar formed during the digestion or fermentation of starch, and is usually extracted from corn. It is found in some commercial cereals, baked goods, and beer. Dextrose is derived synthetically from starch and is made up of glucose combined with water.
Calories per teaspoon:16

Glucose: Normally found in dextrose, corn syrup, maple syrup, and glucose syrup.
Calories per teaspoon: 16

Sugar alcohols: There are four types of sugar alcohols: sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, and maltitol, which are derived from fruits or produced commercially from dextrose. They are usually found in chocolate, candies, some table syrups, chewing gum, and jams.

Calories per teaspoon: 9 to 12 (at 1.5 to 3 calories per gram)

artificial sweeteners

Just as there are many types of nutritive sugars, there are numerous sugar substitutes, which are all metabolized in the body in such a way as to contribute few to no calories. And, despite Internet folklore, most sugar substitutes have not been found to cause cancer. If you respect the accepted daily intakes (or ADI) set out by the FDA, and consume them only in moderation, they are healthy ways to reduce calories and add sweetness without altering blood sugar levels.

Although non-nutritive sweeteners taste like sugar, they typically cannot be substituted directly for sugar in recipes because their chemical properties are different from sugar, and they do not affect texture or consistency in the same ways. Usually manufacturers of sweeteners provide specific recipes that work with the different chemical structure of their products.

All of the sweeteners described below have few to no calories or are used in such small amounts that they contribute little to no caloric value to foods. It is unnecessary to give the calories per teaspoon, as most sweeteners are used in such small quantities that a teaspoon would be a very large amount.

Saccharin

Brand names: Sweet'N Low & Hermesetas

Three-hundred times sweeter than sucrose, saccharin was discovered in 1879, and was used during WWI and WWII, to make up for sugar shortages and rationing. The FDA proposed a ban on saccharin in April 1977, after it was linked to an increase in instances of bladder cancer. However, recent research has yet to reveal the same conclusion, and it has been re-approved and employed in dietetic food and beverage products since May of 2000.

Aspartame

Brand names: Nutra Sweet & Equal

One of the most widely employed FDA approved sweeteners, aspartame is found in breakfast cereals, soft drinks, desserts, candy, and in powdered format for home use. Although aspartame contributes four calories per gram, it is 200 times sweeter than sugar, therefore very little is needed to achieve sweetness.

Aspartame is made up of two amino acids, the building blocks of protein: aspartic acid and phenylalanine. It is therefore digested and metabolized the same way as any other protein food. However, people diagnosed with phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare hereditary disease, need to limit phenylalanine intake and therefore should avoid aspartame, hence the warning on the label: Contains Phenylalanine . Also, despite the hype generated by a 1996 study, there has been no statistically significant association between the use of aspartame and an increased incidence of brain tumors.

Cyclamate

Brand names: Sugar Twin & Weight Watchers (marketed as Sucaryl)

Cyclamate is 30 times sweeter than table sugar and has no aftertaste. It is heat stable, so it can be used in hot and cold foods. Also, it can be used as a tabletop sweetener in coffee or tea, or as a sweetening additive in medication. Cyclamate is another sweetener whose use has been linked to an increase in bladder cancer. Therefore, the FDA banned the use of cyclamate in 1969. However, results of animal studies conducted in more recent years have failed to demonstrate that cyclamate is a carcinogen, and it continues to be available in certain products.

Sucralose

Brand name: Splenda

Sucralose, approved by the FDA in 1998, is a white crystalline powder 400 to 800 times sweeter than sugar, but is made from sugar itself. Sucralose remains stable in hot or cold foods and can be used in a variety of products, from canned goods to baked items. Although its chemical structure is very close to that of sucrose or table sugar, sucralose is not recognized by the body as a carbohydrate and has no effect on insulin secretion or overall carbohydrate metabolism.

Acesulfame potassium

Brand names: Sunett & Sweet One

One of the most recent additions to FDA approved artificial sweeteners is Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K). It is found in beverages, fruit spreads, baked goods, dessert bases, tabletop sweeteners, hard candies, chewing gum, and breath fresheners. It is 200 times sweeter than table sugar. People who are on a potassium-restricted diet or have sulfa-antibiotic based allergies should check with their doctors before consuming Ace-K.

Stevia

No Brand Name -- Unregulated Herbal Product

Stevia, is an herbal sweetening ingredient made from a South American shrub whose leaves produce the substance stevioside, that is hundreds of times sweeter than sugar. It has been used in food and beverages by South American natives for many centuries and in Japan since the mid-1970s. Because Stevia is not FDA-approved, it cannot be sold as an artificial sweetener; however, it is sold as a dietary supplement and is found in some teas. Because these supplements are not regulated as well as those that have received FDA approval, it is wise to exercise caution when using Stevia products, as Stevia has been shown to pose potential cancer and reproductive-health problems in laboratory animals.

sweet nothings

Fear not, neither sugar, nor artificial sweeteners are your enemies. Now that you know more about sweeteners, you can decide for yourself whether or not you want to go the naturally sweet or calorie-free route.

Reducing calories by cutting carbohydrates or opting for artificial sweeteners will likely lead to weight loss, but sometimes a guy wants to know that the sugar in his Snickers is still okay too.

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