New Hope For Diabetes Sufferers
Proper nutrition, exercise and vitamin supplementation can help people with diabetes enjoy a healthy, productive life By Dr. Samuel N. Grief, M.D., CCFP, FCFP
Diabetes is a silent enemy
Every year, millions of Americans live their lives not noticing that they have subtle warning signs of diabetes. These less obvious signs, such as change in vision, fatigue, sleepiness and trouble fighting off infections, may not necessarily make you think of diabetes… but they should! It is usually the more obvious symptoms, such as unintentional weight loss, excess thirst and urination and fainting that signal the onset of diabetes and spur people to action.
Remember, if you are diagnosed with diabetes, life does not end! However, change is required in order to correct some of the imbalances that led to the development of diabetes in the first place.
First, take stock of your weight
Obesity causes approximately 60% of all cases of type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes. Losing weight is very likely to lessen the need for prescription medicine to control diabetes. Second, learning to count carbohydrates is necessary for all people with diabetes in order to keep the blood sugar relatively stable and free of any wild fluctuations. Limiting carbohydrate intake may also minimize the need for insulin.
Third, exercise will help improve your body’s natural sensitivity to its own or to any injected insulin you provide. Many people are not sure why they end up with diabetes. For most, a combination of genetic predisposition and lifestyle habits sets off a slow and steady decline in pancreatic function. This decline is inevitable unless the above lifestyle modifications are introduced. Taking supplements to help keep diabetes away is tempting. But do they really work?
Good news from the scientific world regarding vitamins and diabetes prevention
A recent study of middle-aged and older men and women was undertaken to see whether the rate of developing diabetes would be affected by how much Vitamin C was circulating in the blood among the study population’s participants. Vitamin C is a known antioxidant and promotes the well-being of several organ systems, including the heart, blood vessels, skin, gums, teeth and the immune system. This particular study concluded that those individuals with the highest blood levels of Vitamin C were significantly less likely to develop diabetes over the 12-year study than those with the lowest levels.
This is outstanding news! Translating this news into real-world practical advice, if you or any member of your family would like to lessen the risk for developing diabetes, consider eating more Vitamin C-rich foods. Specific Vitamin C-rich foods include:
• Oranges and other citrus fruits
• Sweet and hot peppers
• Cantaloupe
• Potatoes (baked, not fried)
• Cherries.
Vitamin C can also be obtained through supplements
If you choose to supplement, be sure you take a high-quality one that contains the appropriate amount to boost your blood level. Healthcare professionals recommend anywhere from several hundreds to several thousands of miligrams of Vitamin C per day.
Finally, diabetes is a known risk factor for heart disease, eye disease, skin infections and kidney disease. Fortunately, Vitamin C is known to help improve blood flow and as an antioxidant protects against sun damage to the eyes and skin, as well. The bottom line is this: eat a healthy and balanced diet, stay active and supplement with the right combination of vitamins and minerals to help stave off or keep your medical conditions under control, especially diabetes.
Source VitaJournal November 2008 pg 10.
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November 29, 2008 by admin
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Women, Make Health Your Top Priority
November 28, 2008 by admin
Filed under Women Health
Summary
Taking care of yourself is essential to living a longer, healthier life
By Dr. Tammy Pon, M.D.
Only a few short years ago the life expectancy for women reached a peak in modern history, with most women living to an average 79 years of age! In honor of this very special issue that addresses women’s health, I’d like to discuss a few of these issues and the strategies needed to meet this new future of longevity and vitality.
Heart disease
Heart attacks and heart disease kill more women than any other cause. Women have a death rate from heart attacks that is 70% higher than men. There are two reasons for this: One is that a heart attack in a man does not look like a heart attack in a woman. The second is that women’s heart attack symptoms are often misdiagnosed in the emergency room (ER).
A heart attack in a woman is not always the “elephant sitting on my chest” feeling that accompanies a heart attack in men. Instead, there may be an “impending sense of doom” accompanied by shortness of breath, fatigue and low back pain, jaw pain and shoulder pain. Also, if a man comes into the emergency room sweating, with shortness of breath and chest pain the ER staff will automatically assume “heart attack.” When a woman enters the ER with similar symptoms, many in the ER staff will assume “panic attack!” The delay in treatment to differentiate these two conditions may cost a woman her life.
A woman is not a man. Yet, medicine assumes that the heart attack symptoms commonly presented by men are the standard for measuring ER reactions. With aging women outnumbering aging men by more than 2:1, it’s time for emergency room staff to be more aware of women’s unique health needs.
How women keep healthy hearts
The key to heart health is to recognize our need for nutrients and nurturing. Women of average size should eat seven servings of fruit and vegetables every day and sleep from 7 ½ to 9 hours every night. And women need exercise, too. Weight-bearing exercises are important, too because they strengthen your bones and prevent osteoporosis.
Talk about your anxieties with another woman. Why? In one study, talking with a woman reduced the blood pressure of both men and women, while talking with men did not. Stress management along with consistent exercise, proper rest and plenty of fruits and vegetables holds the promise of a healthy heart. Be diligent about testing risk factors as well: blood pressure, triglycerides, blood sugar, body composition, homocysteine, C-Reactive protein and lipids.
Bone health
Another risk that comes with the blessing of a longer life is osteoporosis: thinning bones. Take Vitamin D supplements as well. Eat calcium-rich foods – especially fruits and vegetables. Remember, cows get the calcium for their own bones from vegetation. I’ve already mentioned exercise for heart health. Weight-bearing exercise becomes critical now for bone health. The extra weight increases bone metabolism and draws nutrients to the weakest areas of bone to strengthen them. Don’t rely on medications alone to promote healthy bones. Take charge of your bone health now to protect against osteoporosis.
Dealing with menopausal symptoms
At a certain age, a woman ceases to be fertile and her periods stop. Menopause is a new experience this century for women in our culture. A hundred years ago most women simply did not live long enough to experience menopause. Find expert healthcare providers who can guide you through these changes with a maximum focus on nutrients and nurturing and a minimum focus on medications. With proper care, heart health and bone health can be improved and menopausal symptoms may be reduced or even eliminated. Taking the appropriate supplements can help us face our increased longevity with enthusiasm and vitality.
Source: VitaJournal October 2008 pg 6.
For more information on menopause, visit trivita.com, click on health articles and then the VitaJournal archive.
Vitamin C, A Boost To Your Health & Well-Being
Summary
As cooler temperatures arrive, many people like to load up on Vitamin C to ward off colds.
Vitamin C and your body
Humans are one of the few mammals that can’t produce Vitamin C. That’s right; your body doesn’t make or store this vital nutrient so you must replenish your body’s supply of it every day. Why?
Bones – All the minerals in your bones require Vitamin C to turn them into health-building materials.
Blood – Your blood needs Vitamin C to convert iron into hemoglobin, a protein in your red blood cells.
Collagen – Vitamin C is required to form collagen; collagen in turn forms the body’s connective tissues such as blood vessels, tendons, ligaments and bones.
Gums – Vitamin C helps maintain healthy teeth and gums.
Immune system function – Vitamin C activates immune cells called lymphocytes. Vitamin C also acts as a powerful antioxidant, protecting your body from free radicals; these damaging molecules can result from metabolism, environmental toxins and stress. Free radicals have been implicated in conditions ranging from heart disease and cancer to arthritis and inflammation. In addition to protecting against free radicals, Vitamin C can help expand the lifespan of other antioxidants such as Vitamins A and E.
Vitamin C and diabetes
A study in the July 2008 Archives of Internal Medicine showed that those with higher Vitamin C levels had a 62% lower risk of developing Type II diabetes than those with lower levels of Vitamin C. That’s great news considering that 24 million people in the United States alone have diabetes (according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
Vitamin C and cancer
A 2008 study from the National Institutes of Health and the University of Kansas showed that when Vitamin C was administered intravenously to mice, it reduced the weight of ovarian, brain and pancreatic cancer tumors by 41 to 53%! The body will only allow a certain amount of Vitamin C to be absorbed when it’s taken orally, so researchers wanted to test the results of intravenous Vitamin C. What they found is that while Vitamin C shrank cancer tumors, it did not affect normal cells. Other conditions that Vitamin C has been shown to help include:
• Cardiovascular disease
• Stroke
• High cholesterol
• Macular degeneration
• Aging skin.
Vitamin C and you
So now the question is: How much Vitamin C do you need? Individual needs for Vitamin C depend on a variety of factors; one way to determine how much your body can use is by doing the Vitamin C Flush. savings on TriVita Non-Acidic Vitamin C, see page 12.) The Vitamin C Flush helps you figure out how much Vitamin C you should be taking each day. Plus, the Vitamin C Flush can help detoxify your system. Your need for Vitamin C may diminish when you eat more fresh fruit and vegetables. You may need more Vitamin C if you are:
• Sick
• Running a fever
• Recovering from surgery
• Pregnant
• Breastfeeding
The bottom line? A diet rich in fruits and vegetables as well as high-quality supplements can help ensure you get the Vitamin C you need for optimum health. By actively taking control of your health now, you can help avoid the usual sniffles, sneezing and coughing that come with colder weather – and you can reap the protective health benefits of this amazing vitamin
Source: VitaJournal November 2008 pg 4.
See how TriVita can help in your health & wellness needs by clicking here
What Is Pandemic, Flu And How To Protect Yourself
Summary
Avian flu or “bird flu” has been getting a lot of attention in the news. Some experts are concerned that it could turn into a worldwide outbreak among humans – a pandemic. Since 1997, the H5N1 bird flu strain has killed millions of birds. Understanding the facts about pandemics can also help you better prepare for this potentially life-threatening disease.
What is Pandemic Flu?
Pandemic flu is a term used to describe a virulent human flu that causes a global outbreak, or pandemic, of serious illness. Currently, there is no pandemic flu, but health officials are concerned that the bird flu which has caused about 250 illnesses and deaths among people in Asia, Africa, and Europe could become a pandemic flu.
What is the modern history of Pandemics?
• 1918-1919 – This outbreak of Spanish flu was linked to bird flu, as is the current pandemic threat. It caused an estimated 50 million deaths worldwide.
• 1957-1958 – This pandemic was caused by the Asian flu. It was moderately severe and caused nearly 2 million deaths worldwide.
• 1968-1969 – The Hong Kong flu caused this pandemic which claimed 700,000 deaths worldwide.
There have been several pandemic threats, including swine flu in 1976, Russian flu in 1977, and the current threat of bird flu.
How serious is the current bird flu threat?
Influenza pandemics typically occur at approximately 25-30 year intervals. A flu pandemic occurs when a virus changes so drastically from previous strains that people have little natural immunity, and large numbers of people get sick or die. Because there would be little natural immunity to the bird flu, the effects could be devastating
How likely is it to spread rapidly worldwide?
Infected birds shed the bird flu virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Domesticated birds may become infected through close contact with infected birds, or from contaminated cages, water, or feed.
What causes bird flu in humans?
Most cases of bird flu infection in humans have resulted from direct contact with infected poultry, such as chickens, ducks, or birds. virus spreading from one person to another.
What are the symptoms of Pandemic flu?
Signs and symptoms are similar to common flu, but could be more severe, with increasingly serious complications.
Is there an effective vaccine for bird flu?
Several companies are in the development and testing phase for a bird flu vaccine. There are currently two anti-viral drugs that might help treat the disease. regular seasonal influenza. It’s not clear how effective this drug will be against bird flu. The other drug that may help is zanamivir (Relenza) which is also used for regular flu. Its effectiveness against bird flu is also uncertain.
How could life change if there is a pandemic?
The normal routines of life may change completely during a pandemic. • Food shortages at supermarkets
• Outages of electricity and water
• Hospitals and clinics overwhelmed and possible delays in medical treatments
• Service disruption from banks, government offices, post offices and telephone companies
• Workplace and school closures
• Breakdowns of transportation networks and travel restrictions.
Source VitaJournal, January/February 2007 pg 12.
If you enjoyed this article and would like to read more, go to trivita.com.
Critical Information About Your Bone Health
November 25, 2008 by admin
Filed under Bone Builder
| Summary
Learn about the processes that break down and rebuild bone to help prevent bone loss and maintain bone health Your body is constantly changing. Bone remodeling is a natural process that breaks down and rebuilds bone While you’re growing, the nutrients you take in from food contribute to your body’s growth – including your bone growth. This process is called modeling. During childhood and adolescence, if you don’t give your bones the nutrients they need to grow (primarily calcium and phosphorus), the structure of your bones won’t be as strong when you reach adulthood. Instead of a healthy, dense structure your bones may be porous, which can contribute to breakdown and fragility of your bones (osteoporosis) later in life. |
Normal Bone Bone with Osteoporosis |
| By the time you reach your adult size, around age 20, the growth (modeling) process ends and a new process called “bone remodeling” begins. This is a normal process that breaks down and rebuilds bone. In the best circumstances, you’ve contributed enough calcium and phosphorous to your bones while you were growing, and the food you eat and the supplements you take now will contain enough calcium and phosphorous to rebuild the bone and store away these minerals for future use.If you don’t eat foods that contain calcium and phosphorous or take supplements, your bones will experience a deficiency. Every time these essential minerals are withdrawn and there isn’t a mineral deposit made to help your body rebuild bones, your bones weaken. Natural processes within your body guarantee that your bones will weaken over time
After 30, if the normal remodeling process is allowed to continue, your bones will naturally break down at a faster rate than they’re rebuilt. If you don’t add additional nutrients that are proven to rebuild bone, your bones will grow increasingly weak, will eventually become brittle (osteoporosis), and you’ll be at greater risk for fractures. Most supplements on the market only maintain current bone structure. There are three primary reasons why you need a supplement that will rebuild bone: In childhood, when bones build and grow, did your diet include enough bone-building calcium (dairy, kale, broccoli)? Were you active enough to provide a strong foundation for healthy bones? If not, then you probably reached your full growth at age 20 with some bone weakness. Did you do enough weight bearing exercise to keep bones strong? If not, then your bones weakened even more. After age 31, did you supplement daily with a bone-building formula to help support bone rebuilding? The TriVita Bone Builder helps rebuild bone. Bone Builder contains Bone Growth Factor, an exclusive blend of ingredients proven to improve bone density. Third-party, scientific tests prove that TriVita Bone Builder, with Bone Growth Factor, builds bone. Bone Growth Factor is a proprietary blend of nutrients selected using the latest science. The nutrients were researched, tested, and blended in the exact proportions to help grow bone. In addition to Bone Growth Factor, TriVitaTM Bone Builder combines highly absorbable minerals and nutrients known to promote bone strength. A clinical trial conducted by Larry A. Tucker Ph.D. shows that TriVitaTM Bone Builder helps rebuild bones. The 114 women subjects were required to be healthy non-smokers between the ages of 25 – 65 years of age; the average age was 48.5 years. The subjects were not allowed to participate in the study if they were taking any prescription drug to manage low bone density or osteoporosis. At the beginning of the study, each subject was given a bone density exam to measure bone mass. After 9 months of taking Bone Builder, subjects showed significantly greater bone mass density (gain) in their hips and necks when compared with subjects who did not take Bone Builder (placebo). The results of the study show that Bone Builder improved bone mass, helping subjects who consistently took Bone Builder to rebuild bone mass. Along with a good diet, weight-bearing exercise, and not smoking, take TriVitaTM Bone Builder, with Bone Growth Factor, to help rebuild bones and protect against osteoporosis. Regular use of Bone Builder will help protect your bones in three ways: 1. Helps maintain current bone mass with highly absorbable minerals known to promote bone health 2. Our patented formula encourages the body’s natural internal mechanisms to rebuild bone in women over 40 3.Speeds the bone building process while helping to reduce the break down process Osteoporosis is a silent disease – the first noticeable sign that you have osteoporosis could be a fracture. We recommend asking your health care practitioner to schedule regular bone scans to track your bone health after age 50. Source: VitaJournal, November 2006 pg 6. |
Help Protect Yourself From Everyday Stress
Maintain Your Weight Loss Goals Through The Holidays
| It’s the time of the year when your healthy diet is sabotaged by holiday parties, family get-togethers and church socials – all featuring a tempting cascade of fattening goodies. This year, you don’t have to feel guilty about overindulging – TriVita’s Leanology provides you with the tools to help you control portions or resist temptation altogether. | |
| Leanology nutritional Shakes help you feel full for hours
Drink a delicious Leanology Shake for lunch, dinner, or an hour before a holiday gathering to help take the edge off your hunger and limit trips to the buffet table. |
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| The balanced nutrition in Leanology Shakes includes:
• Whole Food Complex – supplying important phytonutrients for overall health • Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids – good fats boost metabolism, helping you burn more calories and enjoy more energy • Fiber – helps improve digestion and metabolism, balances blood sugar levels and minimizes cravings |
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| Leanology Weight Loss capsules with converta™ help suppress appetite For added appetite control, take two Leanology capsules with meals. They are the only capsules with Converta™, our proprietary blend of ingredients which actually converts stored fat into energy! Leanology Capsules target these four key areas of weight loss:
• Energy and metabolism • Cortisol and anti-stress • Appetite control • Blood sugar balance use Leanology to lose weight the smart and healthy way It’s great for your regular daily weight loss plan… and it also helps keep you on track before special occasion meals. Members are finding a variety of creative ways to make their shakes even more flavorful and nutritional! Blend frozen berries, cubed pineapple or a banana into a Creamy Vanilla flavored shake. Or add a couple of tablespoons of concentrated orange juice to your usual vanilla shake recipe for a yummy creamsicle flavor. Source: VitaJournal, November 2007 pg 13. |
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Are You At Risk? What’s Your Homocysteine Level?
High homocysteine often leads to serious, debilitating conditions including:
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| Help reduce the risk of degenerative diseases
The damage can rarely be reversed. Most North Americans are poorly prepared to handle the effects of a stroke. It’s hard to fully recover from a stroke, so that’s a good reason to start taking TnVita’s HCY Guard immediately to help reduce your risk. When your homocysteine level is too high, your body suffers During the methylation cycle, when HCY fails to recombine the “leftover’ protein into methionine, this excess HCY escapes into your bloodstream. It may begin to build up and cause destructive explosions to the most delicate tissues in your body. For example, it can damage your arteries, brain, bones and even your DNA. The results can be devastating This is the kind of damage that high levels of homocysteine can cause inside your body and brain: Thickening and hardening your arteries and weakening heart tissue —this can lead to strokes and heart attacks by shredding your most delicate tissues and inflicting thousands of tiny paper cuts inside your arteries and brain • Building fibrous webs in the synapses of your brain — this may lead to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease • Impacting DNA function, causing potentially dangerous cell or DNA mutations • Leaving your bones unable to absorb calcium, causing weak bones and osteoporosis • Contributing to the damage done by many degenerative diseases. Risk Factors A family history of: Cardiovascular disease, Stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, Osteoporosis, Diabetes • Low Vitamin B-12, B-6 and Folic Acid levels • Gastric disturbances, breathing difficulties or kidney issues • Age aver 50 • Pregnancy • High stress • Poor eating habits • Lack of exercise • Excessive smoking or coffee drinking. Source: TriVita Magazine, November 2008 pg 10. TriVita’s HCY Guard helps maintain healthy homocysteine levels, get yours here today! |
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The Truth About Alzheimer’s Disease
November 20, 2008 by admin
Filed under Alzheimers, Diseases
| In recognition of Alzheimer’s Awareness Month the follow article is an excerpt taken from November 2008 VitaJournal Pg 22.
Summary |
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| Myth: Alzheimer’s disease is genetic; there is nothing we can do about it.Truth: AD is the accumulation of many years of damage to your brain, causing plaque to build up and nerves to tangle. There are prevention strategies that work to help reduce the damage to our brain and to reduce the chances of AD. The chances of being diagnosed with AD increase as we age. AD affects about half of people age 85 and older. |  |
| A gene defect that predisposes a person to AD is called the MTHFR defect. This gene pumps out HCY in very high amounts. What is the solution for elevated HCY? Foods and food supplements rich in B vitamins. (A published clinical trial of HCY Guard demonstrated that it reduced elevated HCY levels by 35% in just 42 days!)
So, while there are definite genetic markers to help us determine our AD risk, there are also proven strategies to help us protect against the damage that may lead to AD. Reduce your risk by reducing toxic, inflammatory, brain-destroying levels of homocysteine. Myth: Only drugs are powerful enough to stop Alzheimer’s disease Truth: AD prevention depends to a large extent on the choices we make every day. According to the National Institutes of Health, the majority of AD prevention strategies rest in our own hands. o Reduce toxins, including toxic levels of HCY o Meticulously manage your blood pressure, blood sugar and LDL (“bad” cholesterol) levels During National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, let’s use this opportunity to learn all we can about AD prevention strategies and implement them daily. To view this article in its entirety click here |
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