I found an interesting blog that contained some good advice about starting your day. Typically I usually start my day with a cold glass of water followed by my bowl of fruits shortly afterward and/or Usana Nutrimeal Shake. I think I will try this method now where you can potentially improve your digestion and skin to start each day with warm water and fresh lemon juice.
"A VERY quick way to improve your digestion, skin and overall health is to start each morning with a cup of warm water and some squeezed fresh lemon.
Before your breakfast, boil the kettle or heat water to almost boiling, fill your cup 1/2-3/4 of the way. Add some freshly squeezed lemon juice (and maybe a little purified water) and drink before your breakfast.
Not only does this give you a quick cleanse first thing (most models and nutritionists swear by this, it gets your digestive enzymes ready in preparation for food."
It helps to make you feel better and starts your day in the right direction of optimal health and vitality.
Cycling Blog
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Vitamin supplements help prevent chronic diseases and cancer
An article that was published in the JAMA 2002 that recommended every adult should be on nutritional supplements to achieve optimal health. I have made the article available to read and decide for yourselves whether taking a vitamin supplement or not will be beneficial for your health over the long term.
Vitamin supplements help prevent chronic diseases, including some cancers
On June 19, 2002, the Journal of The American Medical Association (JAMA) contained a scientific review article by R.H. Fletcher, MD, MSc, and K.M. Fairfeld, MD, DrPH, that addressed the current debate regarding the use of vitamin supplements and the prevention of chronic disease in adults. After reviewing the body of evidence on this controversial subject, the researchers advised their medical colleagues that the use of vitamin supplements is a prudent intervention in the fight against many chronic degenerative diseases. They stated that vitamin deficiency syndromes such as scurvy and beriberi are uncommon in Western societies. However, suboptimal intake of some vitamins, even above levels causing classic vitamin deficiency, is a risk factor for chronic diseases. This scenario is common in the general population, especially the elderly.
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Fletcher and Fairfeld conclude, "Suboptimal folic acid levels, along with suboptimal levels of vitamin B6 and vitamin B12, are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, neural tube defects, and colon cancer and breast cancer; low levels of vitamin D contribute to osteopenia and fractures; low levels of the antioxidant vitamins (A, E, and C) may increase risk of several chronic diseases. Most people do not consume optimal amounts of all vitamins by diet alone. Pending strong evidence of effectiveness from randomized trials, `It appears prudent for all adults to take vitamin supplements."'
Later in their discussion, the researchers suggest that physicians should make specific efforts to learn about their patients' use of vitamins, to ensure that they take what they should (such as folic acid supplementation for women in childbearing years, avoiding high doses of vitamin A during pregnancy or massive doses of fat-soluble vitamins at any age).
Many health experts regard this research article as a significant turning point for the medical profession. The recommendation of vitamin supplementation has long been a common practice among chiropractors and other complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practitioners, who have often been criticized by members of the medical community for using such unproven, potentially dangerous interventions to help prevent and treat various ailments.
The medical profession appears to be gearing up to acknowledge that the safe and responsible practice of nutritional supplementation represents an important self-care strategy, through which patients can reduce their risk of many common chronic degenerative diseases that plague modern society. This turnaround in posturing is likely to benefit consumers, who are often given conflicting information about the use of nutritional supplements from their medical (vs. CAM) practitioners. However, it appears that American and Canadian consumers are sold on the science that suggests that certain nutritional supplements can improve well-being; enhance energy; reduce risk of degenerative diseases; and help manage or treat a number of health conditions.
Surveys indicate that 60 percent of adult Americans, and approximately 70 percent of adult Canadians, regularly take supplements, and many adults take three or more different supplements on a daily basis. Helping patients decide which nutritional supplements best suit their individual needs should take into consideration a patient's age; gender; health history; current health afflictions; family health history; co-morbidity issues; and possible drug-nutrient interactions. Undoubtedly, it will take much more time before nutritional supplements are recommended by the vast majority of medical practitioners; however, many indicators suggest that the medical profession is slowly moving toward acceptance and promotion of this widely utilized health intervention.
The ultimate challenges will be to help consumers choose supplements best suited to their individual circumstances, and to avoid wasting money on supplements that are not effective bioactive agents to treat, mitigate or help manage a broad spectrum of health conditions. Medical and CAM practitioners must have easy access to relevant evidence-based literature and continuing education programs. In turn, this will enable practitioners to make safe and effective nutritional supplement recommendations, and help standardize the practice of supplementation across the spectrum of various health care practitioners.
Vitamin supplements help prevent chronic diseases, including some cancers
On June 19, 2002, the Journal of The American Medical Association (JAMA) contained a scientific review article by R.H. Fletcher, MD, MSc, and K.M. Fairfeld, MD, DrPH, that addressed the current debate regarding the use of vitamin supplements and the prevention of chronic disease in adults. After reviewing the body of evidence on this controversial subject, the researchers advised their medical colleagues that the use of vitamin supplements is a prudent intervention in the fight against many chronic degenerative diseases. They stated that vitamin deficiency syndromes such as scurvy and beriberi are uncommon in Western societies. However, suboptimal intake of some vitamins, even above levels causing classic vitamin deficiency, is a risk factor for chronic diseases. This scenario is common in the general population, especially the elderly.
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Fletcher and Fairfeld conclude, "Suboptimal folic acid levels, along with suboptimal levels of vitamin B6 and vitamin B12, are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, neural tube defects, and colon cancer and breast cancer; low levels of vitamin D contribute to osteopenia and fractures; low levels of the antioxidant vitamins (A, E, and C) may increase risk of several chronic diseases. Most people do not consume optimal amounts of all vitamins by diet alone. Pending strong evidence of effectiveness from randomized trials, `It appears prudent for all adults to take vitamin supplements."'
Later in their discussion, the researchers suggest that physicians should make specific efforts to learn about their patients' use of vitamins, to ensure that they take what they should (such as folic acid supplementation for women in childbearing years, avoiding high doses of vitamin A during pregnancy or massive doses of fat-soluble vitamins at any age).
Many health experts regard this research article as a significant turning point for the medical profession. The recommendation of vitamin supplementation has long been a common practice among chiropractors and other complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practitioners, who have often been criticized by members of the medical community for using such unproven, potentially dangerous interventions to help prevent and treat various ailments.
The medical profession appears to be gearing up to acknowledge that the safe and responsible practice of nutritional supplementation represents an important self-care strategy, through which patients can reduce their risk of many common chronic degenerative diseases that plague modern society. This turnaround in posturing is likely to benefit consumers, who are often given conflicting information about the use of nutritional supplements from their medical (vs. CAM) practitioners. However, it appears that American and Canadian consumers are sold on the science that suggests that certain nutritional supplements can improve well-being; enhance energy; reduce risk of degenerative diseases; and help manage or treat a number of health conditions.
Surveys indicate that 60 percent of adult Americans, and approximately 70 percent of adult Canadians, regularly take supplements, and many adults take three or more different supplements on a daily basis. Helping patients decide which nutritional supplements best suit their individual needs should take into consideration a patient's age; gender; health history; current health afflictions; family health history; co-morbidity issues; and possible drug-nutrient interactions. Undoubtedly, it will take much more time before nutritional supplements are recommended by the vast majority of medical practitioners; however, many indicators suggest that the medical profession is slowly moving toward acceptance and promotion of this widely utilized health intervention.
The ultimate challenges will be to help consumers choose supplements best suited to their individual circumstances, and to avoid wasting money on supplements that are not effective bioactive agents to treat, mitigate or help manage a broad spectrum of health conditions. Medical and CAM practitioners must have easy access to relevant evidence-based literature and continuing education programs. In turn, this will enable practitioners to make safe and effective nutritional supplement recommendations, and help standardize the practice of supplementation across the spectrum of various health care practitioners.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Should Energy Drinks Carry a Health Warning?
Should Energy Drinks Carry a Health Warning?
written by James LaValle, R.Ph, ND, CCN
The US has become a "caffeine-dependent nation". As if the traditional coffee, tea, and soft drinks were not enough, we have added caffeine to mints, gum, and a variety of "energy drinks." These drinks happen to be enjoying tremendous sales not only in the US, but in other countries as well. So it caught my eye when Australian researchers recently reported that the energy drink, Red Bull, has the potential to increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.1
The study conducted on college age adults found that Red Bull not only increased blood pressure, it increased the stickiness of blood cells -- after consuming only one can of the drink. It is known that increasing the stickiness of blood cells means our blood will be more prone to forming clots, which can cause a heart attack or stroke. The authors of the study concluded that drinking Red Bull could be dangerous, especially for anyone who may already be predisposed to heart disease.
After the study was published, a spokesperson for Red Bull stated that these effects are similar to the changes found with drinking a cup of coffee, and so the long-term risks of energy drinks could not be determined from these results alone.2
It's true that each can of Red Bull contains about 80 mg of caffeine, the amount typically found in one cup of brewed coffee. Caffeine is a stimulant, and in moderation it has been shown to have some benefits. For instance, it slightly increases the body's rate of metabolism and enhances mental focus and clarity. However, in comparing coffee to energy drinks, are we really comparing apple to apples?
Both drinks contain caffeine. Stimulants in general increase the production of the stress hormones, adrenaline, nor-adrenaline, and cortisol. (Remember, anything that increases the production of stress hormones in the long run has potential for harm, as they are known to interfere with sleep, increase waist to hip ratio, and increase one's risk of heart disease and stroke.)
Nor-adrenaline causes blood vessels to constrict, and that increases blood pressure. One study found that in rats, caffeine and other stimulants increased the production of renin, a hormone made in the kidneys, which also increases blood pressure.3 But the difference between coffee and energy drinks is that coffee is coming from a plant and contains other natural substances that may be moderating its effects.
For instance, while some studies have found that coffee increases blood pressure in occasional drinkers, in habitual coffee drinkers, that effect seems to wear off.4 Longer term studies would need to be conducted on energy drinks to see if this effect would the same.
But what about the blood stickiness? So far there are no studies showing that coffee increases blood platelet stickiness. In fact, it has been found to have the opposite effect. Italian researchers have found that coffee makes blood platelets less sticky, and they have narrowed that effect down to the phenolic compounds contained in coffee.5
Phenolic compounds are the natural antioxidants found in many plant foods -- and coffee is very high in these antioxidants. So this may be part of the reason coffee is not as harmful. (But that does not mean you should drink more than a moderate amount.)
Obviously, the combination of ingredients in Red Bull is somehow exerting an effect resulting in increased blood stickiness -- and this is enough reason to avoid it, even if the blood pressure raising effects are only temporary. The manufacturers of Red Bull even warn consumers not to drink more than two cans a day. I think we would all do well to heed that advice.
However, I must say the negative results of the Red Bull study surprised me. Red Bull does not contain excessive caffeine and even contains some B vitamins and taurine, which should help counteract any of the effects of the caffeine. So when asked if these drinks are OK, I have considered them to be like any other stimulant.
Since they promote the increased production of stress hormones, they should be used with moderation and individual tolerance should be assessed and used as a guideline. For instance, some people don't clear the caffeine as well through their liver, and can't sleep at night with any caffeine at all.
In the meantime, I think we all need to consider why these drinks have become so popular in the first place. People are stressed out, burned out, and are not getting enough sleep. The use of these energy drinks will not remedy that. In fact, another study found that in people who were sleep deprived, the energy drinks were not effective in counteracting feelings of sleepiness, and even slowed reaction times compared to a placebo.6
This may explain why some people keep trying with more and more of these drinks. I see many people consuming ungodly amounts of caffeinated drinks -- 3 pots of coffee or 20 Mountain Dews daily. Even worse, I have seen patients drinking anywhere from 5 to 15 Red Bulls or other energy drinks per day.
Unfortunately, the attempt to get more energy in this way is very short-sighted and it can end up contributing to adrenal fatigue or exhaustion. And I must add that none of this discussion includes consideration of the long term effects of stimulants on our neurotransmitters. In general, we need to remember that too much constant stimulation over time will deplete vitamins and minerals and increase anxiety. It can also contribute to adrenal exhaustion, while increasing other health risks.
So, what should you do if you need more energy?
Consider using the adaptogenic herb, Rhodiola. It has been well-studied and found to increase energy by supporting adrenal function. An added benefit is that at the same time, it reduces the effects of stress on the body.
Finally, if you desire a little caffeine, so far the safest and most beneficial way to get it, seems to be with tea. Tea contains caffeine, but is balanced by the naturally occurring and calming substance, theanine. In addition, tea is very high in health-promoting antioxidants. And that's no bull!
References
1. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/579188?sssdmh=dm1.378116&src=nldne.
2. http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSSYD584612008081.
3. Tofovic SP, J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1991 Mar;256(3):850-60.
4. Science Daily. New Buzz On Coffee: It's Not The Caffeine That Raises Blood Pressure. American Heart Association, 2002, November 19.
5. Natella, F et al. British Journal of Nutrition. 28 Apr 2008.
6. Anderson C. and Horne J. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental. July 2006, 21 (5): 299.
[Ed. Note: James LaValle, R.Ph, ND, CCN, is the founding Director of the LaValle Metabolic Institute, one of the largest integrative medicine practices in the country. He was named as one of the 50 most influential pharmacists in the US by American Druggist magazine. Dr. LaValle is the Executive Editor of THB's The Healing Prescription and the author of more than a dozen books including the bestseller, Cracking the Metabolic Code: 9 Keys to Optimal Health. To learn more, click here.]
written by James LaValle, R.Ph, ND, CCN
The US has become a "caffeine-dependent nation". As if the traditional coffee, tea, and soft drinks were not enough, we have added caffeine to mints, gum, and a variety of "energy drinks." These drinks happen to be enjoying tremendous sales not only in the US, but in other countries as well. So it caught my eye when Australian researchers recently reported that the energy drink, Red Bull, has the potential to increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.1
The study conducted on college age adults found that Red Bull not only increased blood pressure, it increased the stickiness of blood cells -- after consuming only one can of the drink. It is known that increasing the stickiness of blood cells means our blood will be more prone to forming clots, which can cause a heart attack or stroke. The authors of the study concluded that drinking Red Bull could be dangerous, especially for anyone who may already be predisposed to heart disease.
After the study was published, a spokesperson for Red Bull stated that these effects are similar to the changes found with drinking a cup of coffee, and so the long-term risks of energy drinks could not be determined from these results alone.2
It's true that each can of Red Bull contains about 80 mg of caffeine, the amount typically found in one cup of brewed coffee. Caffeine is a stimulant, and in moderation it has been shown to have some benefits. For instance, it slightly increases the body's rate of metabolism and enhances mental focus and clarity. However, in comparing coffee to energy drinks, are we really comparing apple to apples?
Both drinks contain caffeine. Stimulants in general increase the production of the stress hormones, adrenaline, nor-adrenaline, and cortisol. (Remember, anything that increases the production of stress hormones in the long run has potential for harm, as they are known to interfere with sleep, increase waist to hip ratio, and increase one's risk of heart disease and stroke.)
Nor-adrenaline causes blood vessels to constrict, and that increases blood pressure. One study found that in rats, caffeine and other stimulants increased the production of renin, a hormone made in the kidneys, which also increases blood pressure.3 But the difference between coffee and energy drinks is that coffee is coming from a plant and contains other natural substances that may be moderating its effects.
For instance, while some studies have found that coffee increases blood pressure in occasional drinkers, in habitual coffee drinkers, that effect seems to wear off.4 Longer term studies would need to be conducted on energy drinks to see if this effect would the same.
But what about the blood stickiness? So far there are no studies showing that coffee increases blood platelet stickiness. In fact, it has been found to have the opposite effect. Italian researchers have found that coffee makes blood platelets less sticky, and they have narrowed that effect down to the phenolic compounds contained in coffee.5
Phenolic compounds are the natural antioxidants found in many plant foods -- and coffee is very high in these antioxidants. So this may be part of the reason coffee is not as harmful. (But that does not mean you should drink more than a moderate amount.)
Obviously, the combination of ingredients in Red Bull is somehow exerting an effect resulting in increased blood stickiness -- and this is enough reason to avoid it, even if the blood pressure raising effects are only temporary. The manufacturers of Red Bull even warn consumers not to drink more than two cans a day. I think we would all do well to heed that advice.
However, I must say the negative results of the Red Bull study surprised me. Red Bull does not contain excessive caffeine and even contains some B vitamins and taurine, which should help counteract any of the effects of the caffeine. So when asked if these drinks are OK, I have considered them to be like any other stimulant.
Since they promote the increased production of stress hormones, they should be used with moderation and individual tolerance should be assessed and used as a guideline. For instance, some people don't clear the caffeine as well through their liver, and can't sleep at night with any caffeine at all.
In the meantime, I think we all need to consider why these drinks have become so popular in the first place. People are stressed out, burned out, and are not getting enough sleep. The use of these energy drinks will not remedy that. In fact, another study found that in people who were sleep deprived, the energy drinks were not effective in counteracting feelings of sleepiness, and even slowed reaction times compared to a placebo.6
This may explain why some people keep trying with more and more of these drinks. I see many people consuming ungodly amounts of caffeinated drinks -- 3 pots of coffee or 20 Mountain Dews daily. Even worse, I have seen patients drinking anywhere from 5 to 15 Red Bulls or other energy drinks per day.
Unfortunately, the attempt to get more energy in this way is very short-sighted and it can end up contributing to adrenal fatigue or exhaustion. And I must add that none of this discussion includes consideration of the long term effects of stimulants on our neurotransmitters. In general, we need to remember that too much constant stimulation over time will deplete vitamins and minerals and increase anxiety. It can also contribute to adrenal exhaustion, while increasing other health risks.
So, what should you do if you need more energy?
Consider using the adaptogenic herb, Rhodiola. It has been well-studied and found to increase energy by supporting adrenal function. An added benefit is that at the same time, it reduces the effects of stress on the body.
Finally, if you desire a little caffeine, so far the safest and most beneficial way to get it, seems to be with tea. Tea contains caffeine, but is balanced by the naturally occurring and calming substance, theanine. In addition, tea is very high in health-promoting antioxidants. And that's no bull!
References
1. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/579188?sssdmh=dm1.378116&src=nldne.
2. http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSSYD584612008081.
3. Tofovic SP, J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1991 Mar;256(3):850-60.
4. Science Daily. New Buzz On Coffee: It's Not The Caffeine That Raises Blood Pressure. American Heart Association, 2002, November 19.
5. Natella, F et al. British Journal of Nutrition. 28 Apr 2008.
6. Anderson C. and Horne J. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental. July 2006, 21 (5): 299.
[Ed. Note: James LaValle, R.Ph, ND, CCN, is the founding Director of the LaValle Metabolic Institute, one of the largest integrative medicine practices in the country. He was named as one of the 50 most influential pharmacists in the US by American Druggist magazine. Dr. LaValle is the Executive Editor of THB's The Healing Prescription and the author of more than a dozen books including the bestseller, Cracking the Metabolic Code: 9 Keys to Optimal Health. To learn more, click here.]
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Physical exercise & health
It appears that alot of people mistakenly believe that exercise is only for aesthetic reasons and not for medical health reasons. However, more and more people are realising the health benefits of regular exercise when they take action to reverse threatening health problems.
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association (1995) it showed that a lack of regular physical exercise is the attributed as the cause of approximately 12% of the 2.1 million deaths in the United States each year. This translates to about 250,000 people. High numbers of research studies have shown the direct relationship between lack of physical exercise and heart diseases, cancer, diabetes, anxiety and depression. Despite these studies proving this direct link, only 15% of US adults take part in regular vigorous activity and 60% report that getting effectively no exercise at all from a regular or sustained leisure activity (Pilzer 2003).
When I was growing up most of us did not have the internet or the vast array of computer games etc available, so we went outside to pursue our leisure activities. This was back in the late 80s and early 90s. As the internet age has developed and also increasing shortage of time available to people has resulted in less time for active leisure activities and an increase in eating fast food. Most people do lead sedentary lifestyles - their occupations require them to sit at a desk for most of the day and thus have little time for exercise outside of work.
Today, more than 65% of American adults are considered obese with over 80% overweight. These numbers are shocking and I believe that people need to think about taking charge of their own health with proper whole food diets supplemented with high quality vitamins and regular exercise. For those people who are serious about losing weight and regaining their health, there is a RESET program that you can follow to jump start your weight loss and eliminate un-necessary cravings for carbs or sweet foods. This program lasts for 5 days and the average weight loss is 5 pounds for most people and this number can be greater depending on how overweight you are. Once you have reset your metabolism for that 5 day period, you can now enter the transform phase where you continue with developing healthy eating habits and regular exercise. Find out more information via this website: http://www.oneplanet.usana.com/
This is an excerpt taken from the book "The Wellness Revolution" (Pilzer, 2003)
"The best we can do today when it comes to preventive or wellness medicine is to seek out the natural type of diet and natural program of exercise originally prescribed by Hippocrates. Today, this means the following:
1. Eating the proper amount (calories) and types of foods (e.g unsaturated fats, soy, fibers) to maintain optimal health and avoid obesity
2. Avoiding harmful chemicals and hormones in our food--especially those contained in dairy and animal foods
3. Eating foods (including supplements)that yield a daily supply of our requisite vitamins, minerals, and basic amino acids (proteins)
4. Exercising throughout the day to yield the equilivant of a natural amount of exercise
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association (1995) it showed that a lack of regular physical exercise is the attributed as the cause of approximately 12% of the 2.1 million deaths in the United States each year. This translates to about 250,000 people. High numbers of research studies have shown the direct relationship between lack of physical exercise and heart diseases, cancer, diabetes, anxiety and depression. Despite these studies proving this direct link, only 15% of US adults take part in regular vigorous activity and 60% report that getting effectively no exercise at all from a regular or sustained leisure activity (Pilzer 2003).
When I was growing up most of us did not have the internet or the vast array of computer games etc available, so we went outside to pursue our leisure activities. This was back in the late 80s and early 90s. As the internet age has developed and also increasing shortage of time available to people has resulted in less time for active leisure activities and an increase in eating fast food. Most people do lead sedentary lifestyles - their occupations require them to sit at a desk for most of the day and thus have little time for exercise outside of work.
Today, more than 65% of American adults are considered obese with over 80% overweight. These numbers are shocking and I believe that people need to think about taking charge of their own health with proper whole food diets supplemented with high quality vitamins and regular exercise. For those people who are serious about losing weight and regaining their health, there is a RESET program that you can follow to jump start your weight loss and eliminate un-necessary cravings for carbs or sweet foods. This program lasts for 5 days and the average weight loss is 5 pounds for most people and this number can be greater depending on how overweight you are. Once you have reset your metabolism for that 5 day period, you can now enter the transform phase where you continue with developing healthy eating habits and regular exercise. Find out more information via this website: http://www.oneplanet.usana.com/
This is an excerpt taken from the book "The Wellness Revolution" (Pilzer, 2003)
"The best we can do today when it comes to preventive or wellness medicine is to seek out the natural type of diet and natural program of exercise originally prescribed by Hippocrates. Today, this means the following:
1. Eating the proper amount (calories) and types of foods (e.g unsaturated fats, soy, fibers) to maintain optimal health and avoid obesity
2. Avoiding harmful chemicals and hormones in our food--especially those contained in dairy and animal foods
3. Eating foods (including supplements)that yield a daily supply of our requisite vitamins, minerals, and basic amino acids (proteins)
4. Exercising throughout the day to yield the equilivant of a natural amount of exercise
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Independent video about vitamin supplements on the market
You might be taking an ineffective brand of vitamin and this video from Today Tonight talks about the quality of nutritional supplements.
Benefits of Using Quality Nutritional Supplements
Most people are not aware of the tremendous benefits that can be obtained from being on a quality nutritional supplement program. People have questions about vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and the essential fatty acids; the most common question, "Why do I even need nutritional supplements?" However, if you knew what I know about the power of quality supplements, and the differences between various brands, you would NEVER go a day without supplementing your body with the health-promoting nutrients that I personally take.
What benefits can I expect by using quality nutritional supplements?
(info from MD Ladd McNamara)True health! That's the bottom line. Quality nutritional supplements, if taken regularly, in proper doses and balance will help maintain your health and longevity along with a proper diet and exercise program.
If you smoked cigarettes you can expect more oxidative damage to the cells and organs throughout your body. Disease and death are increased and accelerated. The more you smoke, the longer you smoke, the more the risk of disease and death. Pretty simple to follow.
Just as simple to follow is that the proper use, doses, spectrum, and balance of quality nutritional supplements, that work the exact opposite on the cells and organs of your body as cigarettes, will help maintain your health more than you could possibly imagine; and certainly more than you've been told. With cigarettes you get disease and death mostly caused by oxidative damage. With nutritional supplements you can expect improvement and maintenance of health from many biological pathways, including the antioxidant effect.
One word of common sense; nutritional supplements are not a panacea. They cannot make up for a poor and negligent lifestyle. One should never expect to have true health simply by taking nutritional supplements. True health only comes through a combination of proper eating, avoiding toxic substances, regular exercise, and a properly balanced, quality nutritional supplement program. ALL these components are necessary. None can be eliminated if you want optimal health. Even then, there are no guarantees in life. Disease and death can come at any time no matter what we do. However, disease and death are less likely, and can be post-poned as long as possible by following the principles of TRUE HEALTH. That is our message, and our business.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Some Thoughts on Kissing
This was an interesting blog piece taken from Collette Larsen's website
Posted: 07 Nov 2008 05:21 PM CST
I awoke early this morning, sat in front of a crackling fire and turned on CNN. Several experts were commenting on the state of the U.S. economy - the topic that seems to be on everyone's mind of late. The statistics are sobering: a 6.5% unemployment rate - the highest in over 14 years; 240,000 jobs lost just last month, 650,000 lost over the past six months and a staggering 1.2 million U.S. jobs lost since the beginning of the year. That's roughly the population of Dallas, Texas!
The reporter got my attention and I must admit...as dire as the news seemed, my reaction was mixed. Of course, I felt genuine concern for people across the country...those who've received pink slips and still have families to support, but I also felt sincere gratitude for the situation I find myself in...earning solid residual income with USANA due to a decision I made in 1994 to add an additional stream of income to my life.
The CNN journalist cut to an expert on the economy - a woman with a list of tips and suggestions for keeping your job. Believe it or not, her number one suggestion for making yourself indispensable in your current job was...drum roll, please...kiss up to your boss! I'm not kidding. Honestly, as the columnist Dave Barry would say, I'm not making this up. That really was her number one tip! Wow. Let that advice sink in for a moment. Empowering, isn't it? All I could do was shake my head in disbelief.
Now I'm not a CNN journalist or an "expert" on the economy (although I probably earn more income than most experts, particularly those who refuse to kiss up to their bosses!)...but I have built a business that has weathered a number of economic storms over the past fifteen years and I have a tip for you: kiss up to yourself! Do yourself and your loved ones a favor and get serious about improving your health while building your USANA business. Yes, you can! Right now - today. There are hundreds of thousands of people across America and around the world who want exactly what we've got: a superior product line based on solid science, a compensation plan with a total of six different ways to earn income that's fair across the board, an enviable track record and outstanding credibility within our industry and an army of volunteers who've taken control of their own lives willing to help support and mentor anyone who's decided kissing up to their boss should not be part of their job description.
So go out there today and kiss someone...anyone but your boss!
Collette Larsen
Why Take Nutritional Supplements?
Although many doctors and nutritionist still maintain that we can get everything we need from our diet alone, medical research shows this is not the case. Also, it depends upon how much you "need" to do what. Most people think that getting 100% the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) is all that we need, or that it is "enough." In fact the RDAs were first established by the National Academy of Sciences during World War II (and revised in 1968) to determine the MINIMUM levels deemed necessary to prevent the soldiers from acquiring the classical nutrient deficieny diseases, such as night blindness, beriberi, pelegra, rickets, and scurvy (a disease that claimed the lives of many sailors before the 1800's).
It is indeed possible to prevent night blindness, beriberi (a neurological disease), pelegra, scurvy, and rickets by eating 5 to 7 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables. Is this all you "need," or even want? Most people are not too concerned about the classical nutrient-deficiency diseases. People are concerned about the chronic degenerative diseases: heart disease, stroke, atherosclerosis, cancer, diabetes, lung disease, Alzheimer's disease, autoimmune disorders, osteoporosis, etc. These diseases are associated with increased oxidative damage, inflammation, and a lack of nutritional supplementation.
In addition, due to processed foods, poor eating habits, and the depletion of nutrients in some of our foods, people are getting less than the minimal recommended doses of vitamins and minerals. Our lifestyle choices, including inadequate nutrient intake has led to the rise of chronic degenerative diseases.
The RDAs have been updated several times, and have been replaced by the Recommend Daily Intake (RDI). Also, a new term, "Daily Value" (DV) has entered the lexicon of nutritional science as a means to help us understand what we should attain. However, medical research shows tremendous health benefits for obtaining vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants above any and all these "recommended" levels and values. (See the question about the benefits of supplements below.)
Due to the chronic vitamin, mineral, and omega-3 fatty acid deiciency epidemic in North America, in June 2002 researchers published their conclusions and recommendations in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association that everyone should take vitamin supplements to prevent disease and optimize health. However, most multi-vitamins contain only 100% the RDAs (or RDIs) of many nutrients. Although this sounds "healhty," as mentioned above, these are the levels that prevent the classical nutrient deficiency diseases. These are NOT the levels that can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, lung diseases, Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis, or slow the aging process.
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