Category Archives: Nutritional Supplements

Them Bones

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Wellness To-Do List: Keep Bones Strong and Healthy

by Dr. Jamie McManus

When you think about getting healthy, what comes to mind first? If you are like most Americans, you first think about losing weight or maybe trying to eat less fat to lower cholesterol levels. While these are both important, in my opinion there is probably nothing more critical to your health than having strong bones! Your skeleton holds you up and together. The 236 bones that make up your skeleton anchor your muscles in place and protect your vital organs—including your brain. And did you know your skeleton completely replaces itself every 12 months or so? That’s right—the cells of your bones are constantly being broken down and rebuilt again. Your highest bone density is reached in your 20s—after that, it is a lifelong process to maintain that bone density. Factors such as aging, menopause, smoking, and anorexia can increase bone loss, but everyone— yes, men and women—is at risk to develop osteoporosis, a condition in which bones become porous and less dense, and are more likely to break. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, this condition affects 44 million Americans, and by 2020, half of all American over age 50 are expected to have osteoporosis. In honor of Osteoporosis Awareness Month, here are the THREE most important things you can do to keep your bones strong and healthy:

1) Consume adequate amounts of calcium. Men and women between the ages of 18 to 50 need about 1,000 mg of calcium per day. Women over age 50 and men over age 70 should increase that total to at least 1,200 mg per day. This equates to 4 servings of dairy products such as milk or yogurt. If you don’t consume dairy products, consider fortified soy products or soy milk, and dark, leafy green vegetables (broccoli is my personal favorite). To ensure your calcium intake is adequate, consider a calcium supplement. Supplemental calcium is best absorbed when consumed in amounts of 500 mg or so and taken with a meal.

2) Get plenty of vitamin D. Vitamin D is absolutely essential for your body to absorb and utilize calcium. Recent studies suggest up to 80% of adults may have insufficient vitamin D levels in the blood. This may be due to a number of factors. Although scientists don’t know exactly what the optimal daily intake of vitamin D is yet, a good starting place is between 1,000 and 2,000 IU per day, and I urge all adults to ask your doctor to run a vitamin D blood test.

3) Exercise, exercise, exercise. It not only helps build strong bones, but it slows down bone loss. Strength-training exercises that work your upper body—your arms and upper spine—are great, especially when combined with weight-bearing activities such as walking, jogging, and stair-climbing that work your lower body—including your lower back, hips, and legs. Osteoporosis is not an inevitable part of getting older. Although some risk factors—such as age, race, and family history—can’t be changed, it’s never too late to start improving your eating habits, increasing your exercise levels, and taking supplements to help maintain your bone strength and integrity.

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Hate to Floss?

Posted by Healthy Wealthy Help in Healthy Living, Nutritional Supplements and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

As someone constantly getting in trouble for not flossing, I found this article from articlesbase.com by Ruth Butters interesting…

CoQ10 And Gum Disease

Having problems with your teeth and gums? Coenzyme Q10 may help. Clinical research indicates that CoQ10 benefits periodontal disease, both as a treatment and a preventative. Periodontal disease – a widespread problem characterized by swelling, bleeding, pain, and redness of the gums – is the most common cause of tooth loss in adults. The disease is caused by plaque-forming bacteria, which create inflammation and deterioration of the gum tissue. This deterioration often results in the loss of teeth. It’s estimated that 90% of Americans will experience gum disease during their lifetime, and 25% of Americans over 60 will lose teeth due to the disease. But bad as loss of teeth is, it isn’t the worst possible result of gum disease. Studies suggest that the natural inflammatory response to the bacteria may have adverse effects throughout the body, including damage to the heart.

Low levels of CoQ10 associated with gum disease

Dentists agree that good oral hygiene is the first line of defense against gum disease, but research has shown that the coenzyme can also play an important role in both prevention and treatment.
A natural substance found in every cell, the coenzyme plays two important roles in overall health. Its primary function is to assist in the production of energy at the cellular level, and it is also a powerful antioxidant, capable of neutralizing the damaging effects of free radicals (chemically unstable molecules formed during the process of cellular oxidation). In both respects it is important to tissue health.
In the early 1970s pioneering studies indicated that gum tissue taken from patients with periodontal disease was low in the coenzyme, and since that time studies have repeatedly confirmed that low CoQ10 levels are definitely associated with periodontal disease.

Supplementation effectively halts disease and may reverse it

Numerous animal studies and clinical trials involving human periodontal disease patients indicate that supplemental dosage of the coenzyme can effectively halt the progression of the disease. In addition, several small studies have shown that additional CoQ10 can actually reverse the effects of the disease, and when used in conjunction with other treatments can result in faster and more complete healing than expected with standard treatments alone.
CoQ10 is known to boost the immune system, which in turn enables the body to more effectively fight infection. It is believed that supplements promote faster healing by increasing the amount of cellular energy available for tissue repair.

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Are All Vitamins Created Equal?

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Is a vitamin just a vitamin? Watch and see…

Interested in reading more? Visit our ShakleeShop.com

The Fishy Facts

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Are you considering adding a fish oil supplement to your diet?

Here are some of the facts: According to the Centers for Disease Control and the American Heart Association (AHA), heart disease—specifically coronary artery disease—is still the number one cause of death of men and women in the United States. And while it was once considered a man’s disease, today more women than men die from heart disease. And unfortunately, at least 100 million Americans have one or more risk factors for heart disease. To reduce the risk of heart disease, the AHA recommends eating two servings of fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids each week. But most Americans eat fish only three times per month or less. Moreover, there are growing concerns about unsafe levels of contaminants such as mercury and lead that are now commonly found in many fish.

Did You Know:

Over 4,500 research studies on omega-3 fatty acids’ effects on overall health have been conducted in the last 25 years.

  •  The average American intake of EPA and DHA is only 0.1 to 0.2 g/day, even though the American Heart Association recommends at least two fish meals per week to provide an intake of about 0.3 to 0.5 g/day of EPA and DHA.
  •  Most American diets provide more than ten times as much omega-6 than omega-3 fatty acids, even though there is general scientific agreement that individuals should consume more omega-3 and less omega-6 fatty acids to promote good health.
  •  Research shows that high levels of omega-3 fatty acids promote cardiovascular health and help retain normal blood pressure and triglyceride levels.
  •  According to the AHA, certain types of fish may contain high levels of mercury, PCBs, dioxins, and other environmental contaminants. Generally, older and larger fish contain higher levels of contaminants.

The following is taken from an article by Dr. Andrew Weil:

New research from England suggests that fish oil may help slow the progression of osteoarthritis – the “wear and tear” version of arthritis that often is an unwelcome feature of getting older. In fact, based on their study in guinea pigs, the investigators from Britain’s University of Bristol say that fish oil may help to prevent arthritis from occurring in the first place. The study team fed omega-3 rich diets to guinea pigs that have a genetic pre-disposition to develop osteoarthritis and found that compared to a control group of animals eating a standard guinea pig diet, the fish oil diet reduced incidence of the disease by 50 percent. Positive effects of the diet included a reduction of the degradation of collagen in cartilage and better retention of the molecules that give cartilage its shock-absorbing properties. Evidence also indicated that omega-3 influences the biochemistry of arthritis and as a result can help prevent osteoarthritis and slow progression where it has already occurred. The study was published in the September 2011, issue of the journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage.

OmegaGuard delivers a full spectrum of ultra-pure, pharmaceutical grade omega-3 fatty acids, which studies show help support healthy heart, joint, and brain function. It is made with a proprietary multistep molecular distillation process for the utmost purity and potency. OmegaGuard contains all seven omega-3 fatty acids, including EPA and DHA, which studies show help: reduce the risk of heart disease, retain healthy triglyceride levels, maintain normal blood pressure, and support brain, eye and joint health.

Shaklee Omega Guard contains natural fish oil derived from small, cold water fish. it contains more EPA and DHA than other selected brands, contains no cholesterol, and comes in a small size for easy swallowing. To ensure purity and potency, the fish oil in OmegaGuard undergoes a multi step molecular distillation process, which: Concentrates and refines the omega-3 fatty acids, Removes lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, dioxins, and PCBs, and other contaminants, reduces oxidation and formation of trans fats, and minimizes odor and fishy aftertaste.

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Good Day Sunshine

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Winter is still here, and some of us are feeling the blues. Here is some helpful information on vitamin D and how we can use it to lift our mood during these sometimes gloomy months. The following is an excerpt from Genevea-Health.com.

Vitamin D – The Amazing “Sunshine” Vitamin

Vitamin D is truly the “sunshine” vitamin! The most natural source of this vitamin is sunshine. When the sun’s ultraviolet rays reach our skin, they trigger our body’s production of vitamin D. However, most of us simply don’t get enough of this vitamin. As a group we spend most of our time indoors, thus limiting our exposure to the sun. When we do venture outside we are warned to use sunblock to prevent UV rays from penetrating the skin (there is new sentiment in scientific circles that it’s important to receive some level of UV light). And during winter months, the opportunity for receiving the sun’s light is reduced due to shortened days. This can lead to low mood conditions such as the “winter blues” or even seasonal affective disorder.
New research suggests that vitamin D is more important to our health than previously thought. Practitioners are alarmed at a recent increase in vitamin D deficiencies, and at the same time researchers are discovering how this nutrient is important to nearly every tissue in the body! Recent studies have looked at vitamin D’s role in helping to prevent depression, breast cancer, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and even gum disease! What follows is a summary of the latest vitamin D research.

About Vitamin D and …

Depression & Mood The connection between mood disorders and vitamin D deficiency is well-established. A study at the University of Newcastle in Australia tested the effects of supplemental vitamin D intake versus a placebo in a group of healthy subjects in late winter. The subjects receiving vitamin D had a dramatic improvement in mood scores versus the placebo group. Another recent study tested the effects of vitamin D supplementation on subjects suffering from seasonal affective disorder (“SAD”) for a one-month period. Again, the subjects receiving vitamin D had a measurable improvement when evaluated using depression scale tests versus subjects not receiving supplementation.
Muscle & Bone Pain Research at the University of Minnesota found that 93% of all subjects with non-specific musculoskeletal pain were vitamin D deficient. The study authors note that this kind of pain is the most common type of complaint seen by primary care doctors. A study of 150 children and adults with undetermined muscle or bone pain found that 100 per cent of African-American, East African, Hispanic, and Native American subjects were vitamin D deficient. And all study patients under the age of 30 were deficient in the vitamin. Of these, 55 per cent were severely deficient. Five patients unexpectedly had no vitamin D at all. Researcher Greg Plotnikoff said that study results support the need for more routine testing for vitamin D deficiency. “We found the worst vitamin D deficiency in young persons – especially women of childbearing age,” he added. U.S. and European researchers are becoming increasingly alarmed by vitamin D deficiency, which is associated with significant risks for osteoporosis, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and auto-immune diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
Gum Health A Tufts University study showed that vitamin D could be very important for oral health. The researchers studied data on over 11,000 men and women aged 20 or older who participated in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Eighty percent had deficient levels of vitamin D, and the higher the defiency, the greater the likelihood of tooth loss. The researchers believe that the vitamin may reduce the inflammatory response that leads to periodontal disease. Vitamin D has also been associated with auto-immune diseases such as diabetes, as well as prevention of cancer and fractures.
Muscular Sclerosis (MS) A study from the Harvard School of Public Health suggests that women who take vitamin D supplements are 40% less likely to develop multiple sclerosis (MS) than women who do not take the vitamin. It’s estimated that of the 2.5 million people in the world with MS, it is more common in women, who make up 60% of that group. Also, researchers note that the number of MS cases increases the farther you get from the earth’s equator, leading to the hypothesis that sunlight exposure and high levels of vitamin D may reduce the risk of the disease. This study examined data from two large studies involving women, the 20-year Nurses’ Health Study and the 10-year Nurses’ Health Study II. Nearly 200,000 subjects were examined, and those who developed MS after the start of the study were compared against their vitamin D intake. Those with the highest intake of vitamin D from supplements (400 IU or more per day) were 40 per cent less likely to develop MS than those who used no supplements
Rheumatoid Arthritis A recent study of rheumatoid arthritis in postmenopausal women found that those consuming at least 400IU of supplemental vitamin D daily had a 34% reduction of risk of the disease. Rheumatoid arthritis is thought to be caused by a cellular immune response, and this is one of the first studies that ties vitamin D to the health of the body’s immune system. The study examined a group of nearly 30,000 women over an eleven year period, and focused on those subjects who acquired the condition after the start of the study period.
Breast Cancer A new British study says that vitamin D can help fight breast cancer. It was previously believed that calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D and a potent anti-cancer agent, was made only in the kidney. But this study found breast tissue also contains the enzyme that activates vitamin D and increased levels of the enzyme were found in breast tumors. The researchers believe this ability to activate vitamin D is part of the breast’s natural immune response to a tumor. The researchers suggested that vitamin D supplementation could be very important in daily nutrition due to common deficiencies of the nutrient in most of the population.

Vita-D3 Promotes heart, immune and bone health

Add some sunshine to your day with Vita-D3™! Recent research shows that vitamin D—the “sunshine vitamin”—offers a multitude of benefits including supporting healthy heart function, immune and bone health. But, up to 80% of Americans may have insufficient levels of this essential nutrient. Boost your level of vitamin D with Shaklee Vita-D3. The perfect choice for overall health and well-being, Vita-D3 provides 1,000 IU of high potency vitamin D3 to help your body thrive!

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Trillions of Reasons to Supplement

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Your body contains trillions of cells. Billions of new cells are created every single day. Each cell is like a high performance engine. It needs high quality raw materials (nutrients) to function properly. The quantity and quality of nutrients you ingest affects every system in your body: cardiovascular and digestive, muscular and skeletal, lymphatic and endocrine, reproductive, urinary, and even your nervous system. In other words, how you look, feel and perform is directly affected by your daily nutrient intake.

Your Body Can’t Manufacture All The Nutrients It Needs On Its Own

Scientists define a vitamin as a compound essential for life. Since your body cannot manufacture most of these vitamins on its own, it can come by them only from the food you eat and the supplements you take every day. Over the long term, proper nutrition impacts every aspect of your health – from its ability to maintain health to its role in preventing nutrition – related diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.

Proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle can prevent many major diseases 60-90% of the time.

Every day you make choices that will either improve your health or harm it. Studies show that if you don’t eat right, get to a healthy weight, exercise regularly, and supplement your diet with proper nutrients, you increase your risk of developing certain diseases, such as heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes. Good health is a choice, which means that disease (in many cases) also is a choice.

 

Heart Disease is the number one killer in the US.

Every minute of every hour of every day, someone dies from a heart attack. According to the American Heart Association, 80% of all heart disease in women is preventable with proper nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices.

Cancer is the number two killer in the US.

Approximately one of every two adults will be diagnosed with cancer sometime during their life. The American Cancer Society reports that 60% of all cancer-related deaths can be prevented by improving lifestyle choices – by being physically active, losing weight, stopping smoking, and getting proper nutrition

Diabetes: The illness multiplier.

Diabetes contributes to more than 230,000 deaths every year. Plus, if you have diabetes, you are two to four times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke and 10 times more likely to have a limb amputated. Also, diabetes is the number one cause of kidney failure and blindness. A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine suggests that 90% of all type 2 diabetes is preventable with proper nutrition, achieving a healthy weight and engaging in other healthy lifestyle behaviors.

Our standard American diet (S.A.D.) is a big, fat problem.

The standard American diet is causing a plethora of health challenges. The United States is ranked 37th in longevity behind countries such as Cuba, Chile, and Greece, even with all of the medical technology and pharmaceutical innovations available today. A major consequence of our S.A.D. is the obesity epidemic, which even affects our children! The American Society of Pediatrics issued a statement recently that suggests, unless current trends reverse, one third of all children born today can expect a shorter life than their parents due to type 2 diabetes.
Our food is fast, and our metabolisms are slow. Our drinks are soft and our arteries are hard. Our nerves are fried and so is the junk we put into our bodies.
Fast food sales have increased nearly 2,000% over the past 30 years. One third of our total calories come from fast food, which is lacking in good nutrition. Not only does high fat, high carbohydrate fast food deliver a lot of calories, but the latest research shows that it also may result in acute inflammation. Consuming these high fat, high calorie fast food meals regularly may lead to chronic inflammation, which may put you at risk for many diseases, linked to inflammation, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, certain cancers, and Alzheimer’s disease.

90% of Americans fall short in getting essential nutrients in our diets.

98% of Americans do not eat the recommended seven to nine servings of fruits and vegetables each day. What might surprise you even more is that, even when you try to do the right thing, the nutritional value of our produce isn’t what it used to be. In fact, a 2004 study of 43 crops showed a decline in the nutrient content of up to 38% over the past 50 years.

The proven benefits of nutritional supplementation:

The good news is that the very latest research suggests that you can positively influence you health every day through lifestyle changes you make and through the quality of your nutritional intake.

RECENT GROUNDBREAKING LANDMARK STUDY CORRELATES LONG-TERM SUPPLEMENT USE WITH BETTER OVERALL HEALTH

A recent study of people who took a wide range of high quality nutritional supplements for 20 years or more showed dramatic benefits compared to those who took just a multivitamin or no supplement at all. These long term supplement users were 73% less likely to have diabetes, 39% less likely to have high blood pressure, and were nearly four times more likely to describe their health as “very good” or “excellent” compared to nonusers. In other words, consuming a wide variety of high quality supplements is associated with better health and a reduced risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes and more.

Countless Studies Can’t All Be Wrong
Many of the world’s leading experts in medicine, biochemistry and nutrition believe nutritional supplementation positively affects overall health. Doctors from Harvard, Stanford and Yale, and researchers from the American Heart Association, the American Medical Association and the American Cancer Society can’t all be wrong. if you want to improve your health, be sure to get some of the most important nutrients your body and your brain need to function optimally: a multivitamin, vitamin D, calcium, B vitamins, vitamin C, omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and probiotics. Start today and make an investment in yourself.
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