TriVita Article: The Dance of Hormones in Men and Women

by Dr Brazos Minshew, Trivita’s Chief Science Officer
Hormones are natural messengers produced by our bodies. They are responsible for successful development, normal behavior, maintenance of normal body processes and reproduction.

As messengers, the hormones affect all parts of your body. They monitor and manage the repair and maintenance of your muscles, bones, blood vessels, skin and every other system. They also aid in recovery from injuries and help you resist diseases.

• Estrogen
  The hormone with which you are probably most familiar is estrogen. Both men and women need estrogen to be healthy. For example, your heart needs estrogen in order for the heart valves to close properly. You may be surprised to learn that estrogen is not a single hormone; rather, it is a group of hormones. Each type of estrogen has a different function in your body.

• Progesterone
  Unlike estrogen, progesterone is a single hormone. It affects fertility and is used to make the anti-stress hormone DHEA in both women and men.

• Testosterone
  You may have associated testosterone with men, but women actually produce testosterone as well (just as men also produce estrogen). Some benefits of testosterone in men and women include maintaining muscle mass, reducing body fat, growing healthier hair and, of course, a healthier libido.

• Cortisol
  Another important steroid hormone at work before, during and after stressful events is cortisol. Made in the adrenal glands, cortisol regulates blood sugar levels, determines immune system response and provides responses to stresses of all sorts. Unfortunately, many people have very stressful lives; this leads to an overproduction of cortisol, which can result in poor immune function, obesity and type 2 diabetes.

• DHEA
  DHEA is also made in the adrenal glands, and along with testosterone, DHEA is responsible for sexual development in men. In women, however, DHEA serves as a precursor to the estrogen, estriol. DHEA imbalance can result in male pattern baldness and increased facial and body hair in women.

• Fat cells
  While they are not endocrine glands, fat cells increase estrogen levels in men and women. Fat cells store fat-soluble toxins. This deadly cargo is released during stress. Releasing stored toxins and producing inflammatory estrogen is why excess fat is associated with certain types of cancer.

Hormone Basics
These hormones are not the whole “hormone picture.” In fact, they represent broad categories of hormones that may encompass hundreds of other hormones. Also, they interact in such a way that a relative excess in one hormone may make another hormone seem deficient even though blood tests say it is “normal.”

Estrogen, progesterone, DHEA and testosterone are examples of trophic hormones. They are made of the same substance: cholesterol. If your body is unable to convert cholesterol into these hormones you may see your blood levels of cholesterol rise. You can bring your cholesterol down and your low hormones up by helping convert cholesterol to trophic hormones.

Balancing hormones is simple, though it is not always easy: We make them, use them and get rid of (detoxify) them. This is the cycle of balanced hormones. The vast majority of people using this procedure achieve balanced hormones in just a few months.

1. Making hormones
   We make good hormones from good fats. Most doctors recommend over 1,200 milligrams of Omega-3 fats for building healthy hormones. TriVita OmegaPrime^® contains Omega-3 fats. OmegaPrime also contains Evening Primrose oil to help convert cholesterol to any of these hormones that may be low. You may find that you need higher levels of OmegaPrime every day to properly convert cholesterol into trophic hormones.

2. Using hormones
   TriVita’s Balanced Woman^® (for women) and Prostate Health Formula (for men) along with Vitamin E help direct the hormones where they need to go. Once there, Balanced Woman, Prostate Health Formula and Vitamin E help the hormones complete their work: building up the body and mind.

3. Detoxifying hormones
   Finally, the hormones must be excreted from your body to prevent them from building up to toxic levels. Balanced Woman and Prostate Health Formula nourish this detoxification process.

Conclusion
One final note: imbalanced hormones can cause uncomfortable symptoms, which creates stress. Stress all by itself creates hormone imbalances. Add the insult of a toxic world to the daily traumas, nutrient deficiencies and stresses from inside and outside our bodies and we have a recipe for disaster. The 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness replenish your reserves through nutrients and nurturing. Embrace the 10 Essentials and practice them daily for a healthy mind, body and spirit.

Take Control of Your Health For signs of hormone imbalance: Increase your rest Increase your exercise (aerobic and resistance) Increase consumption of vegetables and legumes Make hormones from healthy fats Leanology® shakes for Omega-3 OmegaPrime to convert fats to hormones Use and detoxify hormones with targeted nutrition Balanced Woman Prostate Health Formula Vitamin E

Source: TriVita Weekly Wellness Report Jun 06, 2009.

TriVita Article on Toxins: A Major Source of Inflammation

by Dr Brazos Minshew, Trivita’s Chief Science Officer
Have you ever walked down the cleaning aisle at the supermarket? What was your experience? I hate it! In fact, I completely avoid that aisle. If I need something, I hold my breath, quickly get what I need and beat a hasty retreat from that toxic soup.

The soaps, bleaches, softeners and fragrances in the cleaning aisle are all in sealed containers. Yet, they still give off an overwhelming, nauseating stench that may make a person sick for hours. What happens when we bring those containers home? They continue to give off toxins. Only now, the containers are open and the process happens 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Our toxic environment

In North America we are inundated with toxins every moment of every day. Pollution in our air, water and food challenges our ability to detoxify and adapt. Worse still, the place we think of as a haven from stress – our home – is likely the most toxic environment we face in our daily routines. Toxins released from household chemicals, fabric, carpet, fragrances and pesticides seep into our body in tiny amounts even as we sleep.

Toxic waste, like barnacles on the hull of a ship, drags us down. It slows the efficiency of our mitochondria (the energy-producing engines inside our cells). Noxious chemicals create fatigue, headaches, digestive disturbances and moodiness. Eventually, toxins become the focus for inflammation.

Inflammation

Your body uses acute inflammation to try to neutralize toxicity. Think of your reaction to a bee sting: redness, swelling, heat and pain. This is not caused by the toxins in the bee venom. It is the reaction of your body as it tries to eliminate the toxicity:

• Redness is the increase in blood supply to bring in immune system antibodies and remove the neutralized venom.
• Swelling is the lymphatic fluid that dilutes the concentrated poison while providing proteins for repair of the tissue damaged by the toxins.
• Heat comes from immune system activity as it battles the invading contaminant.
• Pain causes us to guard that area from further damage.

Chronic inflammation occurs when the toxins are not completely removed from an area. A good example of this may be found in simple lawn chemicals, like fertilizers and pesticides. Certain fertilizers are potassium-based. Potassium is important for human health. When we are exposed to these fertilizers, our cells may accept the potassium along with the toxic “attachments.” Your immune system will constantly attack these contaminated cells until it destroys them. Clusters of diseases like Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis have been linked to these fertilizers.

Home sweet home – isolate and insulate

Neutralizing toxins in the body begins with isolating ourselves from chemical exposure. We must be diligent if we are to protect our family from toxic overload. Chemicals should be stored out of the living area in a place that is well-ventilated. This is especially true if there are children in the home, as developing brains are up to 10 times more likely to suffer damage from toxins than an adult nervous system.

Insulating ourselves against toxic exposure is equally important. Two nutrient classes shine when it comes to protection from pollution:

• Essential fatty acids – Many of the toxins we face are fat-soluble. We need “clean” fats in abundance to displace toxic fats in our brain, liver and other regions of our body.
• Antioxidants – Antioxidants neutralize toxins and Betalain antioxidants found in Nopal figs have two added benefits over standard antioxidants:
  • Betalains drain away the toxin from an affected area
  • Betalains shore up the cell membrane to help promote healing.

Betalains turn out to be our best tool in combating the causes of inflammation: toxins, stress, injury and nutrient deficiency. Use this excellent tool liberally to help you resist the increasing onslaught of toxins both inside and outside of our home sweet home!

Take Control of Your Health Breathe deeply Remove toxins from your living area Use HEPA filters for cleaner air Drink pure water Granular carbon filters remove many toxins Ultraviolet light kills many pathogens Mineralized, alkaline water displaces poisons Eat nutritiously Select organic foods Pre-soak fruits and vegetables Focus on high-antioxidant fruits and vegetables Supplement with Nopalea Betalains help your body neutralize toxins Betalains help your body drain away toxic waste Betalains help your body repair tissue damaged by toxins Supplement with TriVita OmegaPrime; at least two capsules per day helps you resist fat-soluble toxins

Source: TriVita Weekly Wellness Report May 30, 2009.

TriVita Article:Diabetes and The Glycemic Index

There is no doubt that type 2 diabetes is an epidemic in North America. Every year the number of people with this disease rises dramatically – and it does not appear to be slowing down. How can we protect ourselves against this trend? It is only with the vigorous application of the 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness.

Essential #4 encourages us to eat nutritiously. This requires a little education concerning the difference between a nutritious food and an “empty calorie.” Much of the information about the way particular foods impact diabetes is found in the Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load.

Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load
Several years ago a group of researchers decided to create a chart based on the impact of carbohydrates on a person’s blood sugar. This would help people with diabetes select foods that would have the least impact on their disease. The Glycemic Index (GI) measures the impact of foods on blood sugar when compared to pure sugar: glucose. The higher the GI number, the greater the impact on blood sugar and the worse a food was supposed to be for a person with diabetes. Later, the GI was used as a tool for weight loss and cardiovascular health.

Glycemic Load is a way of refining the information of the Glycemic Index to find a truer nutritional value for food. For instance, the Glycemic Index may rate the carbohydrate value in a food as very high. This would seem to make the food unacceptable for people who want to restrict sugar. The Glycemic Load gives us a more global value of your food beyond sugar content.

Glycemic Load takes into account the fiber, fat and water content of a food. Let’s take the example of parsnips:

Parsnips are creamy-colored root vegetables in the carrot family. They are delicious and have therapeutic value as well. Parsnips have a GI rating of 97, compared with pure glucose at 100. That would seem to make parsnips “bad” – unacceptable as a healthy carbohydrate source. However, parsnips contain so much fiber and water, as well as protein and fats, that they have only a tiny impact on the total load of carbohydrates (the Glycemic Load). Because of their protein and fat, they help keep your appetite satisfied for so long that you may even eat less at your next meal. So, parsnips are really very healthful despite their high GI number.

Potatoes have become taboo in most low-carb diets. Yet, potatoes have attributes similar to parsnips. They are good for you as long as you don’t deep-fry them and load them with bacon, sour cream, gravy, cheese and other high-calorie, high-fat condiments.

Compound carbohydrates – the true “bad” carbs
Though many fruits and vegetables are high on the Glycemic Index they are “good” complex carbs because they are low in Glycemic Load. Refined starches, such as pastries, pastas, pudding and pancakes, as well as gravies and similar sauces are a different story.

These foods:

• Contain low amounts of water and fiber
• Contain high amounts of “bad” carbohydrates and bad fats
• Quickly turn to sugar in your bloodstream
• Trigger insulin and inflammation
• Increase your risk of heart disease, obesity and diabetes

These are truly sources of “bad” carbohydrates. They are examples of “compound” carbohydrates: foods which have been processed beyond recognition from their original whole food sources. They are never good in any amount.

Diabetes epidemic
In conclusion, the way to place yourself in the lowest risk category for type 2 diabetes is to eat whole foods which minimally impact your blood sugar. But that’s not all; did you know that stress alone may cause diabetes? Breathing deeply breaks the cycle of stress. And, since type 2 diabetes and obesity are related, getting enough sleep is essential. Add in the lessons from all 10 Essentials and you have a bulwark of protection against the epidemic of type 2 diabetes.

Take Control of Your Health Get 7 ½ to 9 hours of sleep every night Eat a nutritious diet 7 fruits and vegetables for women 9 fruits and vegetables for men High quality protein every day Get active doing things you love Volunteer Mentor younger ones Never stop learning Take your healthy aging nutrients Help balance carb cravings with GlucoBalance and Leanology

Source: TriVita Weekly Wellness Report April 11, 2009.

TriVita Article: What To Look For On Food Labels

by Brazos Minshew, TriVita Chief Science Officer

Many people have asked which is better for weight loss: low fat or low carb? Well, that question has finally been answered: neither… and both!

As it turns out, calories are the key. Whether they are from fat or carbohydrate is not as important as the total number of them. To lose weight and keep it off, we simply must adhere to the simple rule of “calories in, calories out.”

Be cautious about cravings
Our bodies were designed to communicate nutrient needs through cravings. Our bodies need protein, carbohydrates, fats, fiber and water to be healthy. These are called macro-nutrients because they are large categories of food that contain smaller categories called micronutrients. A micronutrient is something we need in a very small quantity, like salt (sodium). We crave what we need.

Food manufacturers create products to tempt these cravings the way a fisherman uses a lure to catch a fish. We can be induced to buy one food over the other because of added ingredients. Three common additives that tempt our taste buds:

• Sugar
• Fat
• Salt

Salt has its own issues (see link below) but sugar and fat are often hidden sources of calories.

Hidden calories
Are you watching your calorie intake? Use these tips when looking at labels:

Watch out for added-sugar foods. Recommendations for carbohydrate intake range from 60 to 250 grams daily for the average adult. These carbohydrates should come from whole foods to avoid the “empty calories” of added sugar. If the label lists “sugar” as an ingredient, select another food without the added sugar.

Watch out for added-fat and high-fat foods. Fat contains very few nutrients. While it is a good source of energy, a little goes a long way. Protein and carbs contain four calories per gram, yet fat contains a whopping nine calories per gram. Fat is often added to improve the “mouth-feel” of foods. If a label lists the daily value (DV) at 20% or higher, it is a high-fat food. The DV should be between 2% and 10% for a single serving. Never eat trans-fats.

Conclusion
As with most elements of life, selecting your diet is both a science and an art. Take a little time to learn the science behind food selections and then you can enjoy the endless, artistic variety of foods. Remember, moderation is the key!

Take Control of Your Health Get your nutrients from plant-based foods 5 servings of fruits and vegetables for children 7 servings of fruits and vegetables for women 9 servings of fruits and vegetables for men Take Leanology to help curb cravings Take VitaDaily AM/PM, Daily Men or Daily Women to fill in nutritional gaps Read the articles below on hidden salt and sugar and how to eat nutritiously.

Source: TriVita Weekly Wellness Report April 4, 2008

TriVita’s Mission: Inspiring People to Experience Wellness

Inspiring people to experience wellness and create wealth for their life purposes
by Michael r. Ellison, CEO & Founder of TriVita, Inc.

Every day at TriVita® our leadership and staff are dedicated to fulfilling this mission. We are passionate about our mission and believe the world must find a healthier way to live. We believe that the diseases we are experiencing are not our heritage, but are influenced by the North American lifestyle. We believe we can change the way we think about health and wellness, that we can move from being treatment-focused to being wellness-focused. We believe every person has purposes that are meaningful and important in their lives – and that wellness and wealth resources can help them fulfill those purposes.

It was about thirteen years ago when I returned home from Mayo Clinic with the words of my physician team ringing in my ears: “Michael, you must change the way you think about health and life. You will not have any quality of life and will die a premature death if you don’t change.” I started my wellness journey seeking out the secrets that seemed hidden from me – the secrets to living with optimal wellness.

I sought out health experts from every professional category that would cover physical, emotional and spiritual health. I sought the secrets that would be simple to practice but would be profound in their results. I had reached a level in which wellness seemed impossible for me to achieve – and that lack of wellness was dramatically impacting the quality of my life. It was a period in my life in which I
could not function properly as a husband, father or businessman. I could not really live to fulfill my life purposes without finding these wellness secrets. This journey of discovery brought me to the 10 Essentials of Health and Wellness. One by one I discovered them, applied them and thus began a journey to the greatest wellness of my life.

I wanted others to experience this wellness. I desired to find leading wellness experts who could help develop our nutraceutical products. I wanted to find experts who could write and inspire people to find greater wellness – by providing information that embraced an overall health philosophy. I had a vision of people experiencing wellness who wanted to share their wellness experience with others.

From that desire we founded TriVita 10 years ago with a simple mission: to inspire people to experience wellness and to create wealth for their life purposes. What I mean by wealth is having the resources you need to fulfill important purposes in your life. It is not about extravagant living. It may be as simple as having enough money to buy the quality of foods and supplements that create the most positive health experience you can have.

As you will see on pages 4 and 5, I am going to cities across North America with Brazos Minshew, our Chief Science Officer, to introduce our new Sonoran Bloom™ product line and to inspire people to experience greater wellness. We are launching the line with Nopalea™, a product that promotes optimal cellular health. Strong cells promote strong body system functionality, greatly enhancing a person’s health. Nopalea has powerful anti-inflammatory, detoxification and antioxidant benefits, delivering a better aging result.

My wife has had what I consider an amazing, almost miraculous healing from taking this product during the product trial period. The last couple of years she has suffered extensively from inflammatory arthritis in her feet, to the point that she had to give up all cardio impact exercise – even those considered low-impact like the treadmill and elliptical machine. Nopalea™ addresses the number one topic today among medical science researchers: inflammation. Nopalea has dramatically proven to lower high C-reactive protein, an indicator of inflammation.

We are coming to a city near you to invite you to experience greater wellness through this product and to join our Affiliate network to help launch this product throughout North America. Will you join us in our mission? People all over North America can experience greater wellness with this product and other products in the Sonoran Bloom™ product line. Research from the University of Arizona led us to the
wonderful healing plants in the Sonoran Desert; we have been studying these plants for several years, as well as the ancient peoples who have lived there and enjoyed incredible health with almost no obesity or diabetes.

Please join us in one of the cities listed on page 5. Be sure to RSVP so we can reserve your seat and your free 32 ounce bottle of Nopalea. If you would like to bring a guest, please do so, but RSVP for them as well. These events are all pre-launch introductions; the product will not be released in the catalog until later this year. We have a limited supply for those who are interested in joining us in our mission. At the event, you will also receive a free DVD that is a fully packaged message of all the benefits of the Nopalea product and the Share and Earn Bonus Program.

Enhance your spring rejuvenation wellness program by attending one of these exciting events! All around you are the reminders of nature rejuvenating itself to bloom and blossom – enriching the quality of life for everyone. We are offering special springtime pricing on Energy Now!® and VitaDaily AM/PM™. This is a great opportunity to stock up on these quality products.

May you experience greater wellness in 2009!

Source: TriVita VitaJournal March 2009 pg 2.

TriVita is Embracing Wellness

Each month a Member, Business Affiliate and TriVita employee share their insights on health, wellness and more

This new monthly feature creates an open forum for Members, Business Affiliates and TriVita staff to respond to a variety of provocative questions about a wide range of subjects. Join the discussion! Your response could earn you a $25 gift card; see details at the end of this article.

We’re bombarded with negative news. Whether you turn on the television, radio or log onto the Internet – there it is… bad news on the stock market, housing market, job market and even grocery prices at the market. The result is a chain reaction of negativity that spreads doom and gloom to others and may even damage our own ability to function in a healthy manner.

This month’s question:
How do you stay positive in tough times?

 

Cheryl Cole, Member
“I first turn to my spirituality which is a mainstay in my life and which has taken me through every tough time I have endured. But the flesh is sometimes weak so as I am feeding my spirit through prayer, I increase my exercise from three times a week to most days of the week. This always improves my outlook on any situation. I also make sure that I eat six small nutritiously balanced meals a day to boost my post-menopausal metabolism, and take my vitamin supplements religiously.

I’m glad that I added Super Sublingual B-12 to my supplements. It makes me more mentally focused, energized and better able to deal with the stress of planning a wedding, a job change and preparing to move to another state, all while still working full-time as a nurse practitioner.”

 

Terry Johnston, Business Affiliate
“First, I count my blessings and stay focused on all the things I am grateful for; my wife, our family, our friends and our good mental and physical health.

Second, I work on keeping my brain and body tuned up with proper nutrition and exercise. TriVita’s 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness play an enormous part in this effort. I concentrate on what I can control, how I look after myself, how I treat others, how I spend money and how I can enjoy simple pleasures from everyday living. During tough economic times with so many people affected, it is so important to stay healthy in body and mind. If I can look after myself and somehow inspire someone else each day, that’s a great day.

People are looking for ways to reduce their costs, reduce their weight, reduce their stress, reduce illnesses and get back to a simpler, more wholesome way of life. Through TriVita, we can show them the way.”

 

Pam Knox, Staff Member, Managing editor
“For me, staying positive means staying in a constant state of gratitude. I also surround myself with fun, happy people. I have a very close group of girlfriends who meet on a regular basis. We actually have an agenda at our meetings, but nothing too serious in nature. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard in my life as I have with these grown women!

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hide my head in the sand; I am aware of what is going on in the world, but I choose to not focus on those things. I am making financial adjustments in my life, just as everyone is, but I concentrate on the wonderful blessings I have – my beautiful family (and very soon, a grandchild), my friends, my career and the knowledge that God is in control.

Yes, the current times are hard and yes, they may get harder. Still, laughter and having a heart of gratitude not only keeps me from feeling fretful, but also gives me hope for the future.”

We invite you to answer our upcoming question: “What’s your favorite memory of summer as a child?” Your response could earn you a $25 TriVita gift card! Just email your response to vitajournal@trivita.com, or write to: VitaJournal, 16100 N. Greenway Hayden Loop, Ste. 950, Scottsdale, AZ 85260. Please include your Member ID, your address and daytime phone number (along with email address, if you have one). Note: When you submit a letter or email, you are also giving TriVita full rights to it, including the right to publish it in future publications and to edit it as needed.

Source: TriVita VitaJournal March 2009 pg 22.

TriVita Article: Don’t Let a Weak Economy Weaken Your Health

Why smart lifestyle habits are even more important now

Are you worried about jobs, housing or shrinking investments? These days it seems most of us are, and it might be easy to let this stress push aside healthy habits. The best advice in one word is, don’t. It’s more important than ever to protect your health by continuing to make smart lifestyle choices.

Here’s a look at some of the ways that financial woe can chip away at the best health habits, and some strategies for fighting back.

Too much stress, not enough money?

In the workforce, the economic meltdown has led to overwork for many who still have jobs. This burden makes it easy to trade healthy meals for a fast-food filler, to reach for “comfort” in high-calorie treats, to skip exercise and to look for escape through drinking or smoking.

If you find yourself or a loved one starting to develop one or more of these behaviors, there are several steps you can take to get back on track. Some counter-strategies:

• Fix healthy lunches and snacks at home, and keep them on hand every day. You’ll be safeguarding your health and your wallet by not paying for over-processed, packaged foods.
• Avoid sugary, high-fat foods and snacks. They’ll just pack on the pounds and leave you feeling low.
• Can’t afford your gym membership? Walking is free and great for you; ditto taking the stairs instead of the escalator, working out at home to DVDs from your local library, dancing (solo or paired) and dozens of other possibilities – get creative.
• Smoking, as you know, is a killer for your body and wallet. What a great, moneysaving time to stop. Ask your healthcare provider about free local resources to help.
• Alcohol does not relieve stress – it boosts your stress level, and can lead to a cycle of over eating, smoking and other dangerous habits, such as more drinking. Save your money and tip a few glasses of water instead.

Preventive health today, savings tomorrow

Given the wobbly economy, who can afford to miss work, or put themselves at risk of illness by not safeguarding their health? If nothing else, the financial incentives for staying healthy should make us all even more determined to eat right, exercise and keep taking quality supplements. It’s encouraging to know that many people who use supplements intend to keep right on going.

In a recent survey, a majority of supplement users said they would maintain their daily regimen. And of those people, a sizable number said that the supplements are “an essential part of my wellness regimen, and I cannot do without them.”

“It’s encouraging to see that, despite the current economic climate, such a large percentage of adults are continuing to invest in their health by including dietary supplements as a part of their wellness regimen,” said a researcher with the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), which sponsored the survey. The CRN staffer continued, “Engaging in preventive health measures today, such as incorporating supplements into a healthy lifestyle, may help avoid potential healthcare costs down the road.”

The smart 72%: are you one of them?

Avoiding future healthcare costs is the reason that many people, instead of reducing their healthy habits, are now taking an even more proactive role in protecting their health. A survey of over 10,000 people conducted in the U.S. indicated that fully 72% were taking preventive steps to stay healthy. These steps included taking vitamin and nutrient supplements, exercising more and eating healthier.

Clearly, economic woes should motivate us all to keep up or increase our healthy lifestyle habits, including taking the highest quality supplements. After all, no matter what’s happening in the world of finance, who can afford to cut back on health?

Source: TriVita VitaJournal March 2009 pg 21

Weight Loss with TriVita’s Leanology

What makes Leanology capsules so great?
by Dr Brazos Minshew, TriVita Chief Science Officer

Leanology weight loss capsules provide nutrients, instead of stimulants, to assist you in your weight loss goals. Moreover, the effectiveness of our weight loss capsules has been confirmed through a clinical study. During the four months of this study, participants lost weight every week and actually gained lean tissue at the same time.

The formula features a four-stage blend of nutrients that target specific areas of concern that impact weight loss.

Stage 1: Energy & metabolism
Key ingredients: Green Tea, L-Theanine, B Vitamins, Vitamin C, Manganese

Thermogenic nutrients increase lean body mass in older age groups – even without exercise. This is a critical component to the formula because as one ages, lean muscle mass becomes more difficult to attain – and lean muscle mass is essential for a healthy metabolism.

For example, L-Theanine helps increase our body’s natural energy-producing capabilities. Mitochondria, sometimes described as “cellular power plants,” are found within our cells. They help convert food molecules into energy. L-Theanine is an antioxidant that specifically recharges the mitochondria to help it reproduce energy.

Stage 2: Cortisol & anti-stress
Key ingredients: GABA, Korean Ginseng, Poria Cocos, Vitamin D, Dimethylglycine, Copper gluconate

Stress is a problem at any age, though stress-related obesity seems to be more prevalent after age 40. Many trophic or “muscle-building” hormones begin to decline as we age. Stress accelerates this process. Fat-storage hormones are produced in response to stress.

Modern biochemistry has discovered that a protein receptor in your brain called a “GABA receptor” is responsible for stress sensitivity. By increasing GABA, a simple amino acid, we reduce the impact of stress on our nervous system and hormone balance.

Stage 3: Appetite control
Key ingredients: Glucommanan, Biotin, Magnesium, Zingiber rhizome (Ginger)

Leanology contains specific nutrients that signal your brain to recognize signs of “fullness” earlier in the meal. It also restores the balance of signaling chemicals from your stomach to your brain. These chemicals can be weakened after a long, exhausting, stressful day. Therefore, Leanology minimizes evening cravings.

Weight gain is a direct response to a calorie surplus. If you do not burn the calories you consume, they will be left behind as fat – especially if the calories are from unhealthy sources. Leanology works to minimize your cravings and therefore assist you in lowering your total caloric intake.

Stage 4: Blood sugar control
Key ingredients: Garcinia camobogia, Gymnema sylvestre, Bitter melon, Cinnamon bark, Alpha Lipoic acid, Chromium polynicotinate, Vanadyl sulphate, Zinc gluconate

Blood sugar control is the most critical component of any weight loss program. Elevated blood sugar causes the body to store sugar as fat rather than using it as energy. Leanology contains nutrients that help to utilize the carbohydrates and sugar we consume as energy – to keep them from being stored as fat. It also helps reduce the cravings for sweets and carbohydrates.

We are more likely to develop insulin resistance as we age. The more processed and refined food we eat, the more insulin we require to metabolize it. The more insulin in our blood, the less responsive our cells become. As we age, this continual exposure wears out our tolerance for refined carbohydrates and sugar, and reduces our sensitivity to insulin. Therefore we are less likely to convert sugar and carbohydrates into energy, and more likely to convert them into fat.

Take Control of Your Health Commit yourself to the process of weight loss Learn the important steps you will need: Calorie content of common foods Calories burned in common exercises The effect of stress, sleep and hydration on weight Use Leanology Capsules for effective weight loss Use Leanology Appetite Control Chews as needed Use Leanology Shakes to control calorie intake Continue your healthy aging supplements Most important: Record the reason WHY you want to lose weight. Hint: the more compelling the “why,” the more likely you are to be successful!

Source: TriVita Weekly Wellness Report March 28 2009

TriVita Celebrates Women’s History Month

Celebrating women’s contributions to health

Not so long ago, women were barred and discouraged from pursuing careers in medicine. In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re spotlighting some true pioneers: These women faced social barriers, discrimination and other hardships, yet persevered to make great strides in medicine and healthcare. Not only did they change their world, they created a new world of possibilities for future generations of women.

 

A reformer in the field of nursing
Florence Nightingale
Against the wishes of her parents, Florence Nightingale chose to become a nurse, a profession which was considered “un-ladylike.” When the Crimean War broke out in 1854, stories about conditions at the front prompted Nightingale to volunteer for service. Through her efforts, sanitary conditions at the hospitals improved greatly and casualties decreased.

Upon her return to England, Nightingale established a school of nursing; her greatest contribution was to make nursing a respectable profession. Her 1860 book, “Notes on Nursing,” is still in print today. An accomplished statistician, she is also credited with inventing the pie chart.

Source: TriVita VitaJournal March 2009 pg 20.

TriVita Article: How Much Caffeine Is In Your Daily Diet?

This stimulant can actually “zap” your energy in the long run

North Americans love their coffee. Whether you live in a big city or small town, you can always find plenty of places to get your daily caffeine fix. While some people know when to put a lid on their coffee drinking, there are many self-confessed “addicts” who need continual jolts of caffeine just to make it through the day.

If you have more than 500 to 600 milligrams (mg) of caffeine a day, or about four to seven cups of coffee, the consequences can include restlessness, anxiety, headaches and stomachache.

More and more people are drinking so-called “energy” drinks which contain large doses of caffeine. Energy drinks can boost the heart rate and blood pressure, dehydrate the body and prevent sleep. What they don’t do is give you healthy, lasting energy.

Energy Now!® is a great natural alternative because it lets you enjoy quick energy without the stimulants. Find out how much caffeine is in your food and drinks:

Soft drinks
Soft drink brand (12 oz) Caffeine (mg)
A&W Creme Soda ………………………………… 29
Barq’s Root Beer ………………………………. 23
Coca-Cola Classic ……………………………… 35
Code Red Mountain Dew ………………………….. 54
Diet Coke …………………………………….. 47
Dr Pepper, Diet Dr. Pepper ……………………… 41
Diet Pepsi ……………………………………. 35
Mountain Dew, Diet Mountain Dew …………………. 54
Pepsi ………………………………………… 38
Sunkist Orange Soda ……………………………. 41
Tab…………………………………………… 47

Coffee
Type of coffee Caffeine (mg)
Caribou Cappuccino, 12 oz ………………….. 160-200
Decaffeinated, instant or brewed 8 oz …………….. 2
Espresso, 1 fluid oz ………………………….. 64
Instant, 8 oz …………………………………. 62
Plain, brewed, 8 oz ……………………………. 95
Starbucks Caffe Latte, 16 oz …………………… 150
Starbucks Coffee, 16 oz ……………………….. 330

Tea
Type of tea Caffeine (mg)
Black tea, brewed, 8 oz ………………………… 47
Green tea, brewed, 8 oz ……………………… 30-50
Nestea, sweetened or unsweetened, 12 oz ………….. 17
Snapple Iced Tea, 16 oz ………………………… 18
Sobe Green Tea, 8 oz …………………………… 14
Starbucks Tazo Chai Tea Latte, 12 oz …………….. 75

Sports/Energy drinks
Sports/energy drink brand Caffeine (mg)
AMP Tall Boy Energy Drink, 16 oz ……………….. 143
Full Throttle, 16 oz ………………………….. 144
Monster Energy, 16 oz …………………………. 160
Red Bull, 8.3 oz ………………………………. 76
Rockstar, 16 oz ………………………………. 160
SoBe Adrenaline Rush, 16 oz ……………………. 152
SoBe No Fear, 16 oz …………………………… 174

Food and other products
Product name Caffeine (mg)
Excedrin, Extra Strength, 2 tablets …………….. 130
Foosh Energy Mints, 1 mint …………………….. 100
Haagen-Dazs Coffee Ice Cream, 1/2 cup ……………. 30
Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate, 1.45 oz ………… 18
Jolt Caffeinated Gum, 1 stick …………………… 33
NoDoz Maximum Strength, 1 tablet ……………….. 200
Charts credit: mayoclinic.com

Source: TriVita VitaJournal March 2009 pg 15

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