Losing weight is a challenge. It requires the same careful consideration that you would give to any serious endeavor; don't fail to plan. But, create a plan that is realistic. Allow for interruptions such as sickness or travel. Plan to start during a quiet time in your life, not when work and family responsibilities are likely to be at their peak.
You may prefer to start with an exercise program and then add in dietary changes. Or you may want to do it the other way around. If you're really motivated, you may want to start both the exercise and diet segments simultaneously.
Your diet
Very few aspects of your life are as emotionally charged as securing your right to choose for yourself. From early childhood until today, one of the most frequent choices you make concerns your diet. You must have choices and they must be your own. Recognize that restricting yourself from available choices goes against your very nature. A restrictive diet is doomed to failure. Select a diet that is uncomplicated and appealing to you and you will have a greater chance for success.
The first challenge we face in diet selection is committing to the discipline of thinking ahead instead of eating impulsively. So, start with something small and attainable:
• Many health experts recommend fresh fruits and vegetables daily
o 5 servings for children
o 7 servings for women
o 9 servings for men
• Add high quality protein to your diet
• Drink plenty of water
These are easy steps that you can accomplish today! Remember, the time you spend selecting the right diet for yourself is an investment in your health and your future. Give it the attention it deserves.
Calories in – calories OUT!
We must burn more calories than we consume in order for weight loss to occur.
Exercise is the key to permanent, lifetime weight control. There is no way around it. However, exercise does not have to be a punishment; it can really be pleasurable. The key is finding something you enjoy doing. I suggest that you start with three forms of activity; this prevents exercise boredom. Add more activities every month. Get in the habit of participating in at least 30 minutes of activity every day.
There are basically two types of exercise that you need every week:
Aerobic exercise is defined as any activity that increases your need for oxygen. Aerobics make you breathe harder. You need at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise most days of the week.
Aerobic exercise can balance hormones, relieve anxiety and depression, and mobilize your energy for the great works of your life. Aerobic exercise speeds up your metabolism.
But where does metabolism originate? It comes from your lean body mass – your muscles! That is the domain of resistance training.
Progressive resistance training is defined as any exercise where the load to the muscle is increased by some mechanical means – weights, bands, springs, and many other methods. The key is to progressively increase the weight or resistance over time. This results in more lean body mass and less fat mass. If you increase your muscle strength, you increase the "engines" that produce muscle energy. Nothing builds metabolism (muscle energy) as well as progressive resistance training.
Supplements for weight loss
The Leanology Smart Weight Loss System can also be an important part of your weight loss plan. For many people it represents the critical difference between success and failure in lifetime weight control.
Fat burning capsules – Leanology Weight Loss Capsules help increase metabolism and energy to support your body's ability to burn more calories. Plus, they help limit cortisol production – the stress-induced hormone that can lead to abdominal fat.
Snack replacement chews – Leanology Appetite Control Chews contain ingredients that are clinically proven to help curb the appetite.
Nutritional shakes – Leanology Nutritional Shakes can be used as a low calorie meal substitute; they provide a healthy balance of wholesome carbohydrates, proteins, good fats, fiber, vitamins and minerals.
However, you must always remember that these are supplements; they supplement a healthy diet and exercise program. Use them wisely as an important part of your total wellness program.
Take Control of Your Health
Plan a balance of calories and activity for lifetime weight control.
Eat 5, 7 or 9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
Plan 30 minutes of aerobic activity most days of the week.
Do resistance training 2 to 5 times per week.
Supplement your weight loss program with Leanology.
__________________
Start TriVita no matter where you live. Coming to Australia Feb 2011.
Weight loss is the number one "resolution" people make when they decide to improve their health. When weight loss occurs it comes from a loss of body mass: water, fat, lean body tissue and bones. Wouldn't it be great to focus weight loss on fat only? It certainly would. In fact, weight loss that selectively targets fat and preserves or increases lean body tissues and bones is the only way to permanently lose weight.
Sounds difficult, right? Well, don't worry: We have a solution!
Suicidal weight loss
Many people lose weight rapidly by starving themselves. I call this suicidal weight loss for three reasons:
Rapid weight loss is water loss; water loss is dehydration and dehydration is death.
Rapid weight loss comes from lean body tissue (brain, heart, muscle, collagen, etc.). Sarcopenia (age-related loss of lean body tissue) is death.
Rapid weight loss comes from bone. Bone loss is osteoporosis; osteoporosis kills more women in North America than breast cancer!
Rapid weight loss by starving yourself is slow suicide.
Lifetime weight control
An alternative to this kind of weight loss madness is to select a strategy that focuses on weight loss from fat only. This is not done by accident. We must select fat loss by choice. This choice implies knowledge; knowledge means that we must learn the lesson of obesity and battle it for the rest of our lives.
Calories – Obesity in simplistic terms is about consuming more calories than you burn in a single day. Multiply these extra calories over time and you have what we all see: an obesity epidemic. However, it is not merely the number of calories we eat; we must include the right kind of calories for lifetime weight control. Organizations such as the American Heart Association and the America Cancer Society recommend eating 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily (5 for children, 7 for women and 9 for men). These are the best calories.
Movement – Our body is made to move. Daily exercise is necessary for lifetime weight control and targeted fat loss. Aerobic training for 30 minutes on most days of the week and weight training (resistance training) 2 to 5 times per week will keep the fires of your metabolism burning fat.
Other tips:
Deep breathing for 20 minutes daily reduces fat-building hormones like cortisol.
Get your sleep: The less you sleep, the more you will weigh.
Eat small meals: Eating more than 400 calories at a single meal causes our cells to suffocate from insulin.
Why supplementation is important
Taking certain supplements can help you lose weight, but you really have to be careful! One supplement that was heavily advertised on television was shown to cause 74% weight loss from lean body tissue. Another supplement that seemed to be the most popular weight loss supplement of the time caused 55% lean body loss. That is suicidal weight loss!
Beneficial supplements exist. For example, Leanology Weight Loss Capsules were studied in a top-of-the-line, scientific clinical trial through Arizona State University. They were shown to reduce weight entirely from fat! Yes, 100% of the weight loss came from fat!
Also, the plant antioxidant ECGC (found in Energy Now!) can increase metabolism by over 200 calories per gram.
My favorite fat loss supplement to "jump-start" a weight loss program is Vital C. This is primarily because of the nature of fat: a toxic dumping ground for chemicals and poisons your body could not eliminate. Vital C is a pH-balanced form of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C). Ascorbic acid neutralizes many of the toxins we store in our fat cells. For rapid weight loss that targets fat cells, use a Vitamin C Flush, Energy Now! and, especially, Leanology.
Conclusion
Good health only comes from healthy living. Take time to learn the rules of healthy living. Practice healthy habits every day. Soon, the "deposits" you make into your health account will begin to yield real dividends: a lean body functioning at peak efficiency!
Nopalea and Stem Cells
I attended an anti-aging conference recently. The discussions were about natural and pharmaceutical ways to slow the aging process and extend the vitality/longevity of humans. There were 20 speakers from around the world. All 20 of these physicians and professors eventually discussed stem cells as a way to slow aging and speed healing.
What are stem cells and how can they help us live long, healthy lives? Are there natural products that can assist us as we age?
What are stem cells?
At conception, cells begin to divide into what will become a person. Along the way the cells "differentiate" – that is, they become different tissues. Some become the heart, others the brain and so on until the complete human is formed. These are called "embryonic" stem cells. Highly controversial experiments are being conducted with samples of these cells.
Once a person is formed, does the human body stop making stem cells? No, because stem cells are part of our miraculous healing process. We make stem cells every day of our life. These are different from embryonic stem cells because they actually replace other cells. You see, every cell in your body has a life span. When that cell dies it needs to be replaced. Stem cells made in your bone marrow and other places in your body follow a chemical trail back to the place where the cell dies and "differentiate" into the type of cell that died.
Aging can be defined as the process of cell death and cell replacement. Premature aging is when more cells die than you can replace in a single day. Chronic disease and disability often accompany premature aging, as you might imagine. Stem cells replace dead cells. So, the more stem cells you can make in a day, the slower you are aging, the more vital you may be, and the less likely you are to experience the chronic diseases associated with premature aging. All 20 of the experts at the anti-aging conference endorsed doing all we can to promote stem cell production by our own body.
Making stem cells
As I mentioned, we make stem cells every day. Dying cells release enzymes into your bloodstream. Your brain interprets the level of enzymes and sends an appropriate amount of Human growth hormone (HgH). When the HgH reaches the bone marrow or other stem cell "nursery," it triggers the release of a number of stem cells that roughly correspond to the amount of HgH. The stem cells follow the chemical trail left by the enzymes of the dying cell. They follow the trail back to the space left by the dead cell and nestle into the tissues. Once there, they differentiate into the cell they replace – they literally become the exact type of cell they replaced.
Nutrients are required for making cells (including stem cells). If you are deficient in any critical nutrient at the moment you create stem cells, one of two things will happen:
Your bone marrow will refuse the order to meet that quota of stem cells, causing premature aging, or
The cells will be made, but without the nutrients critical for the health and longevity of the cell. When a deficient cell matures it becomes the target for inflammation and disease.
Cells need nutrients. Without all of the appropriate nutrients on board at all times, we will not be able to make as many healthy cells as we lose in a day. The disparity between how many cells we lose and how many we can replace is premature aging.
More stem cells
Nutrients serve as the foundation for stem cells. However, specific nutrients also stimulate the production of stem cells. At the anti-aging conference, six stem cell-stimulating nutrients were identified. As one speaker neared the end of his presentation, he talked about "a curious bioflavonoid" found in great abundance in prickly pears from the Nopal cactus. Of course, he was talking about Betalains! It turns out that Betalains along with Vitamin B-12 may help your body increase the production of stem cells.
More healthy stem cells close the gap between the numbers of cells that die and the number of cells we replace every day. That equals slower aging. So, take your nutrients every day: Men's and Women's Wellavoh for the nutrient foundation we need, Super Sublingual B-12 and Nopalea to encourage an abundant crop of anti-aging stem cells!
Take Control of Your Health
Get your sleep: HgH is released during deep sleep.
Exercise vigorously: HgH is released during strenuous exercise.
Eat a rainbow: colorful foods contain nutrients needed for stem cell
Take Men's and Women's Wellavoh for a solid foundation of nutrients.
Are you nutrient deficient? Your parents can partly be to blame
For the first time in recorded history, children born in North America today are not expected to live as long or as well as their parents. This startling trend may have its roots in the nutrition of our parents or grandparents. The trend continues through our generation. Truly, the "sins of the parents" are visited upon their children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren.
How did we get into this predicament and what can we do to change the trend?
Poisonous fruit
Along with the advances in agriculture that reduced famines and starvation, the farming practices of the last century produced some pretty scary trends. For example, food grown in mineral-depleted soil has fewer nutrients to offer us. Food processed for increased storage is further reduced in nutrients. Flavor-enhancing additives, such as refined sugar, further impose a burden on our system. It is as if we are over-taxing our personal health resources and the "deficit spending" of this course is being passed on to our children.
Some scientists recognized this disastrous course 100 years ago. General awareness of the importance of nutrition has increased significantly in the past 50 years. However, commercial and other interests have kept the debate suppressed until recently. A landmark article was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) June 19, 2002. It defined the need for nutrients in disease prevention. Though it was met with resistance, this article clearly opened the door for debate while confirming the truth we have known for a century: A body deprived of nutrients and nurturing will be prone to disease, disability and untimely death.
Further scientific exploration into the link between low nutrient reserves, a shortened lifespan, increased disease and unhealthy children was published that same year in the European Journal of Human Genetics. It clearly detailed the link between poor nutrition in a person and the increase in disease in their children and grandchildren.
The "root" of poor nutrition has erupted into obesity, heart disease, diabetes and other diseases that extend through generations. Habits and practices of 100 years ago are bearing "fruit" in our children!
Solutions
With this knowledge, the discussion around human nutrition has never been more important. We simply must change our habits if we are to change our destiny. For example, we must select food grown in mineral-rich soil and endorse farming practices that support ecology.
We must also discipline ourselves to take our nutrients every day. By doing this, we increase the opportunity for having healthier children. If we are past childbearing, taking our nutrients daily will improve our health and give us the opportunity to "model" responsible behavior for our children and grandchildren. Healthier kids mean a healthier family, a healthy community and even a healthier species.
The power to change the trend is in the choices you make every day.
Wellavoh Men's and Women's Wellavoh (wel-lah vōh) is a multi-nutrient complex built upon the science of proper nutrition. Wellavoh is constructed to give you the nutrients you need today to help your body change the trend: the trend toward wellness. It contains the classes of nutrients we need to fill in the gaps left by poor diet and foods grown in nutrient-depleted soil.
Wellavoh is designed for adults and children age 10 and over. Take your nutrients every day and model healthy behavior for your children and grandchildren. Become part of the solution to declining health by making better choices in nourishing and nurturing your body today!
Regardless of what complaint a person has when they visit their doctor, 85% of all patients complain of fatigue. It is one of the "Top 10" reasons for seeking medical help.
People feel tired. We need energy. So, where does energy come from? And, once we get energy, how do we keep it? Let me explain the process by which we produce energy and how we may form strategies to feel energetic every day.
The process of energy
First of all, there is a difference between having energy and feeling energetic. We produce a significant amount of energy even when we are asleep. Yet, most of us don't feel particularly energetic when we wake up. There are times when we may feel energetic and yet scientific tests actually measure less energy. A good example of this may be seen when a person uses a caffeine-based stimulant such as a cup of coffee or a soft drink. They may feel more alert. Yet, they have less mental energy and they typically score poorly on mental performance tests. That means they cannot really think as well and solve problems as well when they are under the influence of caffeine. More than that, the alertness that they feel comes at a high price: drinking caffeinated beverages will ensure that you feel more fatigue later. The energy that you feel is not real energy.
Metabolism
Real energy is a process of burning calories found in foods and releasing the energy contained within them. This is the process of metabolism. The word metabolism is drawn from a Greek word meaning change. Metabolism changes food into heat. Heat is a form of energy. Therefore, the first step in producing lasting energy is to eat properly so we will have enough fuel to keep our inner fires burning. Betalains, found in Nopalea, prevent these fires of metabolism from becoming fires of inflammation.
Metabolism is governed by hormones that originate in a region of your brain called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus determines your energy needs and sends this information to your pituitary gland. The pituitary gland (often called the Master Gland) translates these signals into hormones and sends these messenger hormones on their way to other various glands. The two prominent glands for energy production are:
Adrenal glands – The adrenal glands respond with adrenaline when the hypothalamus detects danger. This process is often called the "fight or flight" response to stress. Adrenaline sends your body into an energy spending spree where it virtually cannibalizes your organ reserves for all of their stored energy. The fires of metabolism are turned down. Your hands and feet get cold and your core body temperature may drop below normal. Even when we are not in danger, caffeine and sugar (as well as other stimulants) mimic this process and trick your system into releasing adrenaline. The adrenaline rush is very addictive but it robs us of true energy. So, the second step in energy production is to turn down the stress response. We do this with adaptogens: plants known to help us reduce the impact of stress.
The thyroid – The thyroid gland is responsible for regulating your body temperature by adjusting your metabolism. Two primary fuel sources keep the thyroid gland functioning properly: Iodine and Tyrosine. Iodine is a mineral and Tyrosine is an amino acid – a building block of protein. Tyrosine is considered a non-essential amino acid because we do not need to get it in our diet. We can make it from an essential amino acid (one we must get in our diet) called Phenylalanine (LPA). However, getting Tyrosine in our diets is not a bad thing; it means that we will use less energy making Tyrosine from LPA.
Nopalea is a good source of dietary Tyrosine and Energy Now! contains both LPA and Tyrosine to fuel healthy energy production. Energy Now! is a nutrient, not a stimulant. The ingredients in Energy Now! can help us feel energetic by supporting healthy metabolism.
Into the brain
Tyrosine and LPA fuel metabolism by supporting healthy thyroid function. Further, these important amino acids foster the sensation of energy and euphoria by serving as the building blocks for other brain chemicals, such as PEA and Nor-Epinephrine. PEA is the "hormone of love" and it is likely the reason why our energy is increased, our pain-perception reduced and even our appetite reduced when we fall in love. We want to support PEA metabolism to feel energetic! Nor-Epinephrine fuels the creation of energy in the brain and supports our nerves as we translate that energy into action.
To get energy from our brain to our body requires healthy nerves. Often, our metabolism is normal – our stress level is low and our nutrient reserves are high and still we do not feel energetic. The problem may not be as much in creating energy as it is in translating that energy through our nerves. Nerve health is supported by Vitamin B-12. People feel fatigued when they lack enough B-12 because they cannot transfer the creation of energy into the sensation of energy.
Conclusion
Health only comes from healthy habits practiced every day. Our bodies rely on nutrients and nurturing to remain healthy. Fatigue is a message from our body that something is wrong – and we need to learn to listen to our body to have energy and to feel energetic!
When I am asked, "What products do you take?" I always begin with OmegaPrime. In North America, the nutrients we are most likely to be deficient in are Vitamin B-12, Vitamin C, Magnesium, Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids (EFA) and Vitamin D. We have formulated our Healthy Aging Pack to provide foundational nutrients for wellness and to fill these basic needs.
But what is so special about OmegaPrime? The answer to this question resides in the ingredients. Let's take a look at the different kinds of Omega EFA in our product and what they do for you.
Fish oil
A key ingredient in OmegaPrime is fish oil. There are many fish oil supplements and most of them are good for you. (Always be sure your fish oil is from a trusted source – PCB-free and mercury-free.) Almost every cell in your body is made of an envelope of fat. These cell fats come directly from your diet. So, cellular fats are dietary fats. Cells are healthiest when the majority of the fat is Omega-3. Fish oil contains Omega-3 fatty acids.
Your brain is two-thirds fat; the majority of the fat in your brain is Omega-3. A chief Omega-3 is DHA. DHA is the most abundant fat in the human brain. Three-fourths of the fat in a healthy brain is DHA. This gives us some real insight on the benefits of OmegaPrime: to supply DHA for brain development and function. In fact, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) archives over 20,000 articles on Omega-3 EFA with 2,300 articles related to brain function, 522 articles related to depression, 141 articles related to memory loss and 56 articles related to chronic behavioral disorders.
Omega-3 from fish oil is healthy for your body and it shows a special affinity for your brain. Fish oil contains fully metabolized Omega-3. It is absorbed very quickly.
Flax oil
Flaxseed oil is a vegetarian source of Omega-3. But unlike fish oil, it must be slowly metabolized over several hours. Think of fish oil as "fast-acting" and flaxseed oil as "sustained release."
While all Omega-3 oils are good for cardiovascular health, flaxseed oil has particular benefits when it comes to heart health. According to articles archived by the NIH, flaxseeds reduce cholesterol and LDL ("bad" cholesterol) significantly when taken daily.
Flaxseeds also contain lignans, a special plant hormone that reduces inflammation. Lignans improve health outcomes when combined with certain treatments for breast cancer.
There are over 1,400 references to the health benefits of flax in the NIH library. Nearly 400 of these are references to cardiovascular health, as flaxseed oil harmonizes fats in the blood like cholesterol and triglycerides. More than 130 articles reference the ability of flaxseeds to support hormone health in men and women and 30 of these articles demonstrate how flax improves breast health.
Perilla seed oil
Humans cannot synthesize two essential fatty acids: Omega-3 ALA (alpha linolenic acid) and Omega-6 LA (linoleic acid). We must get them from our diet and that is why they are called "essential." Perilla seeds contain a balance of Omega-3 ALA and Omega-6 LA.
There are nearly 500 articles in the NIH database on perilla. Scientists from all over the world are studying this amazing anti-inflammatory seed. Over 100 articles refer to the work being done with perilla seeds and cancer; over 80 of these papers detail its use with the specific genes associated with various cancers. Over 50 articles discuss the anti-inflammatory benefits of perilla seed oil concerning allergy, breathing problems, and other immune and cardiovascular concerns.
Evening Primrose oil
Evening Primrose oil (EPO) is a primary source of LA in OmegaPrime. LA goes through a long process of metabolism that results in intense anti-inflammatory activity. For example, many inflammatory conditions are associated with Prostaglandin E-2 (PGE2), an inflammatory hormone. EPO blocks the creation of PGE2 and diverts the energy into anti-inflammatory PGE1 and PGE3.
A common problem of inflammation is chronic inflammation of the outer skin. In this condition, the fat cells in the skin break down and the immune system over-responds by attacking both sick and healthy skin cells. Omega EFA helps us develop normal, healthy skin. Further, LA reduces the inflammation associated with this condition by reducing PGE2. Evening Primrose oil is an excellent source of LA and OmegaPrime is an excellent source of EPO.
There are over 500 articles in the NIH database on Evening Primrose oil. Common inflammatory conditions are discussed over 60 times. Breast health ? including breast pain ? is likewise discussed over 60 times, and cardiovascular health is discussed more than 45 times.
Conclusion
Essential fatty acids are ESSENTIAL to wellness! We cannot make them; we must get them from our diet. The healthier our fat intake is, the healthier our body will become. People in North America are woefully deficient in Omega EFA. Eat healthy fats and supplement your diet with OmegaPrime (like I do!) every day.
Take Control of Your Health
Eat at least 5 grams of Omega-3 daily
Salmon, tuna, herring, etc.
Walnuts (especially English walnuts).
Eat foods rich in Vitamin D.
Get 20 minutes of morning and evening sunshine every day.
Exercise for at leat 30 minutes, most days of the week.
Keep your mind sharp with games, crafts and other interests.
__________________
Start TriVita no matter where you live. Coming to Australia Feb 2011.
Less than a hundred years ago the common health challenges we faced were infections. With the discovery of pathogenic bacteria and the advent of proper hygiene, death from these problems became less common. Inflammation has become the new epicenter of disease, disability and death.
Inflammation and the immune system
Our immune system uses heat to destroy invading bacteria. A specialized cell called a macrophage douses the invader with inflammatory enzymes (like acids) and the heat generated in this battle destroys the invading bacteria.
Sometimes our own healthy cells become the focus for disease. This often happens because of toxic exposure. When we eat, drink or breathe a toxin, or if it is absorbed through our skin, our detoxification system works to remove it before the poison can compromise our health. Unfortunately, many of today's poisons are simply too strong and they overwhelm our detoxification system and enter healthy cells. These cells now become the target of disease, infection and inflammation. Our immune system must treat them as hostile and use heat to destroy them.
Autoimmune diseases arise when our immune system becomes so overworked that it can no longer tell the difference between healthy cells and sick cells. It attacks all cells of a particular type equally. This body system is never able to heal and chronic inflammation sets in.
The weakest link
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. You are only as healthy as your weakest body system. How robust you are depends mostly on lifestyle choices, somewhat on your environment and a little on your genetics.
When a toxin overwhelms your detoxification process it will likely settle in your weakest system. The immune system melts these polluted cells in an effort to save healthy cells. This is acute inflammation. With chronic toxicity comes the opportunity for chronic inflammation. In the case of chronic inflammation, the immune system attacks any sick cell as well as any healthy cell that looks like the sick one. If the immune system attacks connective tissue we say a person has lupus. If it attacks the beta cells of the pancreas we say they have type 1 diabetes. If it attacks the joints we say they have rheumatoid arthritis.
These are only a few of the more than 200 autoimmune diseases. Yet they all share one common attribute: inflammation.
Putting the fire out
Inflammation arises because of:
Toxins
Injuries
Emotional distress
Nutrient deficiency
We simply must reduce our toxic exposure to reduce the chances of developing an autoimmune disorder. And we must also develop emotional coping strategies and have all of the nutrients we need in our body in the right quantity - every moment of every day. These are the first steps to reducing inflammation.
We can help douse the fire with anti-inflammatory Betalains such as those found in TriVita's Nopalea. A Betalain is a protein-antioxidant complex found in certain plants grown in hot climates. The hotter the climate, the more Betalains the plant needs to survive and the more we can benefit.
Nutrient strategies
According to most authorities, everyone needs to be taking a multiple vitamin and mineral supplement every day. This is even more important for people trying to tame their immune system in an autoimmune flare-up. We also need to eat foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and take Omega EFA supplements. These fats not only help reduce inflammation but they also make your immune system work smarter, not harder. Antioxidants are critical to putting out the fire of inflammation. Betalain "protein-antioxidants" are extremely powerful anti-inflammatory nutrients. Finally, Vitamin B-12 and adaptogens form a bulwark against the blues and physical stress.
We are a nation on fire. This is at the heart of the near epidemic of autoimmune disorders we are facing. Strategies of nutrients and nurturing will help us fight inflammation and help us with what we do best: heal!
Take Control of Your Health
Remove household cleaners from your living space
Keep clear of chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides
The process of inflammation starts with injury, toxicity, deficiency or emotional distress. One particular deficiency that causes inflammation is a genetic deficiency called MTHFR. This deficiency is relatively common – perhaps the most common genetic deficiency in North America. It is related to the way we manufacture proteins. A sign that we have MTHFR deficiency is elevated homocysteine.
MTHFR deficiency creates pools of homocysteine that ignite inflammation like bonfires in specific tissues of your body. The strategies for reducing this inflammation depend greatly on where the bonfire starts. And, like many forest fires, inflammation often features multiple fronts that require different strategies for quelling its flames.
Burning brain
The delicate tissues of the brain are common victims of inflammation from an MTHFR deficiency. Elevated homocysteine feeds the fire that melts fragile neurons. Movement disorders like Parkinson's disease and dementias such as Alzheimer's disease are associated with elevated homocysteine. Further, inflammation in the brain associated with MTHFR and elevated homocysteine are also implicated in autism, ADD/ADHD, bipolar depression and schizophrenia.
MTHFR deficiency is addressed by increasing folates in the diet. Folates describe a B vitamin from foliage – leafy green vegetables. Actually, all fruits and vegetables contain some folate. Eating the optimum amount of folate can go a long way to filling the deficiency associated with MTHFR and elevated homocysteine. Remember, the optimum number of servings for fruits and vegetables is:
5 servings for children
7 servings for women
9 servings for men
Make sure you eat vegetables of every color – eat a rainbow!
Supplements such as HCY Guard® provide nutrients that help "re-methylate" homocysteine in the presence of this MTHFR deficiency. Inflammation is normalized by the anti-inflammatory Betalains found in Nopalea™. Essential fatty acids and EFA supplements such as OmegaPrime® serve as primary building blocks for a healthy brain. Also, Omega-3 EFA, Betalains and ECGC polyphenols in Energy Now!® serve to help the body protect DNA strands and create stem cells that are needed to repair delicate, fragile brain tissues.
Burning bones
Bones are living tissue. Osteoblast cells lay down a matrix of collagen proteins and build minerals around it. Collagen provides tensile strength for the bones and minerals provide compression strength for the bones. Homocysteine shatters this matrix and melts the collagen in your bones (and elsewhere), resulting in brittle bones. Further, without collagen, minerals cannot form and the bones become porous. The end result is often osteoporosis.
Folates and plant hormones such as Vitamin K found in leafy green vegetables help reduce the impact of MTHFR deficiency and increase the opportunity for osteoblasts to make healthy bone. Healthy bones also require significant amounts of Vitamin D. Sunshine is the best source of Vitamin D; however, in North America it is not always possible to get enough healthy sun exposure to meet our Vitamin D needs. Supplements such as Bone Growth Factor and VitaCal-Mag D can help give us the nutrients we need for healthy bones. HCY Guard can help the body reduce inflammatory homocysteine and Betalains from Nopalea can help reduce the impact of inflammation.
Burning blood
MTHFR deficiency was discovered when scientists began searching for the reasons why heart disease and stroke seemed to cluster in certain families. It was discovered that these families shared a genetic deficiency that required far more folate than their diet provided. Folate deficiency depletes Vitamin B-12 and compounds the homocysteine problem. Homocysteine ignites LDL ("bad") cholesterol in the bloodstream and creates the inflammation at the root of cardiovascular disease, heart attacks and stroke.
A high folate diet focusing on leafy green vegetables can fill this deficiency. Supplements such as HCY Guard, Nopalea and OmegaPrime can help the body ease' the fire in the delicate tissues lining the blood vessels. According to the VISP study (Vitamin Intervention for Stroke Prevention) this comprehensive strategy can fill the deficiency created by MTHFR, put out the fire fueled by homocysteine, and reduce the likelihood of heart attack and stroke.
Conclusion
Inflammation hot spots build fires around your body in places like your brain, your bones and your heart.
A high folate diet can fill the deficiency that causes these body bonfires.
Safe daily sun exposure along with exercise and peaceful sleep can help build a solid foundation for wellness.
Appropriate supplementation can help satisfy the needs created by MTHFR while putting out the fires of inflammation and creating vigorous cells for health today and a healthier tomorrow.
Take Control of Your Health
Eat 5, 7 or 9 servings of fruit and vegetables
Eat a rainbow – include leafy green vegetables (see "Dietary Sources of Folate" below)
Supplement appropriately:
HCY Guard to help reduce inflammatory homocysteine
With your thumb, press on your sternum (breastbone). Is it tender or painful? Now, press on the tibia (shin bone) of both your legs. Is it sore or tender? If the answer is "yes" to both of these tests then you have a 93% chance of being Vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D may be the most prevalent vitamin deficiency in our culture. What is Vitamin D and what does it do for us?
Function of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is both a vitamin (vital amine) and a hormone. It acts as a vitamin when it binds with calcium for proper absorption. Humans cannot digest calcium without adequate amounts of Vitamin D.
Vitamin D is a hormone (a messenger inside your body) because it directs cells, organs, muscle and bone in daily activity. It is a hormone because your body creates it in response to sunlight on your skin. It participates in weight loss, the function of your immune system, blood sugar regulation and basic human metabolism.
Humans mobilize essential fatty acids, such as Omega-3, with Vitamin D. In order to properly use calcium and Omega-3 you simply must have enough Vitamin D. Yet, many people don't.
Signs of deficiency
The test above is one way of checking for low levels of Vitamin D. You see, calcium and other minerals are delivered to an area in your bones that is like a gelatin matrix. This gelatin matrix hardens into sturdy bone. Calcium can only arrive in this matrix if it is escorted by Vitamin D. If you are deficient in Vitamin D, this matrix will revert back to gelatin near the surface of the bone. Tenderness and bone pain will result.
This kind of bone pain can be seen in cases of osteomalacia (softening of the bones), as well as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and even the pain associated with chronic depression.
Further, Vitamin D deficiency can result in:
Obesity
Type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Psoriasis
Eventually, Vitamin D deficiency may lead to cancer (especially breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer), osteoporosis and Alzheimer's disease.
Reasons for deficiency
The primary reasons people become deficient in Vitamin D are cultural. For instance, women that wear veils in certain cultures are almost universally deficient in Vitamin D, as are submariners who spend extended time submerged. Neither group spends much time with their skin exposed to direct sunlight. The most common reasons for Vitamin D deficiency in North America also relate to lack of exposure to sunlight and infrequent consumption of cold-water fish. Cold-water fish such as wild salmon, mackerel and sardines are good food sources of Vitamin D – as well as good sources of calcium and Omega-3 fatty acids.
Many foods have been supplemented with Vitamin D, but this has not resulted in an overall increase in Vitamin D levels. This is likely because food and supplement manufacturers rely on an inexpensive form of synthetic Vitamin D called "ergocalciferol" – a form of Vitamin D-2. Food sources of Vitamin D and supplements such as TriVita's Bone Growth Factor, VitaCal-Mag D and Leanology Capsules use Vitamin D-3 (cholecalciferol), which is the same form that your body makes from sunshine.
What to do?
If your bones are tender or if you have a low blood level of Vitamin D the solution may be as simple as increasing your sun exposure (see the Weekly Wellness Report, "Is the Sun our Enemy?"). Spend 20 minutes daily in the sunshine with 40% of your skin surface exposed. Morning and evening sunshine is best; afternoon sun is acceptable. Never allow yourself to sunburn.
When supplementing with Vitamin D always choose D-3. It is also good to remember that this is a "fat soluble" vitamin. That means that you can store the nutrient for many days.
I will often suggest two capsules of TriVita's Bone Growth Factor or two tablets of VitaCal-Mag D to be taken at every meal. Test the tenderness in your sternum and shin bones every 6 months. Reduce your supplements to one capsule or tablet per meal when the tenderness has disappeared from the sternum and shin bones.
If Leanology Capsules are a more appropriate source of Vitamin D for you (if you are overweight and otherwise in a low-risk category for osteoporosis), taking two capsules at each meal is a good strategy. However, since most overeating occurs in the evening and since Vitamin D reduces appetite, it may be best to take three to six Leanology capsules all in the evening.
It is good to get a blood test for appropriate blood levels of Vitamin D twice a year and a DEXA scan of your bones at least every two years to help you structure a supplement program.
Eventually, health comes down to healthy habits practiced every day. Every day we should nourish our body and nurture our spirit for sustained health.
How is your energy level? The World Health Organization (WHO) states that "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. It is the ability to lead a socially and economically productive life."
Does that describe you? Or, like many people in North America, are you just too tired to think about being socially and economically productive?
The scope of the problem
If you feel too tired to do much more than read this article, thank you very much. I appreciate your time and I will hopefully give you a few good ideas on how to increase your energy. You don't have to feel alone. Up to 85% of the people who visit a doctor for any reason also complain of being chronically tired. It seems that we are in the middle of an energy crisis that has nothing to do with petroleum production!
When we talk about energy we need to distinguish between the ability to survive and the feeling of being energetic. We must admit that even the sickest person is converting nutrients to energy in order to survive. Yet, we want to do more than survive – we want to feel energetic. We want to thrive! We want to have the energy to dream and then have the energy to live those dreams. We want to feel our best every day.
Food and energy
As I mentioned, energy comes from the way our body burns nutrients; nutrients such as fats, protein and carbohydrates must be metabolized. The word metabolism is from a Greek word that describes the process of burning wood to create heat. It also describes creating energy from food. So, an energetic life is possible with a healthy diet and healthy metabolism.
This description outlines the two-steps needed to create and sustain an energetic feeling: Improve our "burn" rate (metabolism) and improve our "fuel" source (diet).
Polyphenols increase metabolism. Polyphenols are extremely rare nutrients found in certain foods and concentrated in Energy Now!®. Energy Now! increases the burn-rate of the food we eat. A balanced diet must include:
7 to 9 servings of fruit and vegetables (for adults)
30+ grams of high quality protein
20 to 35 grams of fiber daily
However, when it comes to providing energy, fat is the undisputed champion.
Sugar from the foods we eat provides us with ready energy, but it doesn't last very long. Proteins are converted to energy at a much slower pace and provide us with a more stable supply of energy – five times as much energy per gram as sugar. Fats provide us with stamina. Healthy fats burn slowly and steadily up to eight times longer than sugar. So, for stamina that lasts all day and into the evening hours, select foods high in "good" fats and take an EFA supplement.
Many experts say that we should get as much as 30% of our total calories per day from fat. This may mean more than 70 grams of fat for a 2,200 calorie per day diet. That's a lot of fat! But don't reach for the French fries just yet. You see, all foods contain fat. Fat is as important for plants as it is for humans. So, select fats from foods that are known for high energy, such as vegetables, seeds, nuts, legumes and certain types of fish.
A note on metabolism
Metabolism occurs inside the cell in a tiny energy factory called mitochondria. Other cell functions are dependent on DNA, with half of the DNA coming from your mother and half from your father. Mitochondria have their own DNA, inherited only from your mother's side of the family. (Your energy level will likely be similar to your mother's energy level.)
The mitochondria DNA is very easily damaged and very slowly repaired. The antioxidant ECGC is shown to repair mitochondria DNA damaged by stress, deficiency or toxins. Energy Now! is a concentrated source of ECGC.
With the proper nutrients, you can help restore both the energy of metabolism and the feeling of being energetic!
Linear Mode
