Taking Care of Your Heart

by Michael R. Ellison, CEO & Founder of TriVita, Inc.

February is Heart Health Month. Because of the significant rise in heart disease, Congress passed a resolution on December 30, 1963 that each year the President would declare February our National Heart Health Awareness Month.

Heart disease is still the number one killer in 2009. With 64 million Americans, plus millions more in Canada being affected by cardiovascular disease, we want to inspire you to take action to create a lifestyle that will give you a healthy heart. Your heart health is also crucial to your overall health and well-being.

While your heart is a small organ about the size of your fist, it has major responsibilities. Every 60 seconds it must pump two gallons of blood through an entire cycle: from the heart, through the arteries, veins and capillaries, and back to the heart. Every cell in your body relies on the blood to carry oxygen and the nutrients your body needs to function properly as well as resist disease.

With us being so dependent on our heart functioning properly, isn’t it wonderful that the decisions we make can determine if we have a healthy heart. Some people act as if their heart is a machine that either works or doesn’t work – and there is nothing they can do about its health. Well, there is good news for all of you who care about your heart and want better health.

The American Heart Association and the world-renowned Mayo Clinic have much to say about improving heart health by choosing a lifestyle that promotes heart health. Basically, it comes down to three things you can do:

1. Think smart
2. Eat well
3. Move more

That provides a simple guideline to the daily decisions we must make.

I would like to add that thinking smart is being aware of what we are thinking; many people do not realize the thoughts and feelings they dwell on are also a part of their daily diet for heart health. Every thought and emotion triggers a chemical reaction that is either good or bad for the heart. For example, when you have an angry thought or a fearful, anxious thought, your body releases significant adrenaline to help stimulate the muscles and mind for the fight or flight response needed.

That was great for our ancient ancestors when faced with a saber-toothed tiger, but where I live in Scottsdale, Arizona that is not likely to happen. However, there are plenty of opportunities for adrenaline rushes from rude drivers, snarled traffic, construction delays, or the fear of a poor economy that seems to be impacting many people. Thoughts and feelings from all kinds of issues we face create chemicals that are not healthy for the heart when they bombard us on a daily basis.

I would encourage you to read the article by Dr. Lundell on pages 4 and 5 [ of this issue of the TriVita VitaJournal]. Here is a viewpoint of one of the most outstanding heart surgeons who spent much of his career performing thousands of heart surgeries and consulting with his patients about heart health. We are pleased to bring this information to you as it gives another view as to what really will bring healthy hearts to those of us in the U.S. and Canada.

I am very excited about the development and introduction of our new product line Sonoran Bloom™, which we have been working on for the last two years. In fact, I am so enthusiastic about the wellness benefits of these products, that we are going to 30 cities in a pre-launch campaign to introduce the product to our Members. We will be giving a 32-ounce bottle of the delicious Opuntia liquid concentrate FREE to each person who attends. We want to hear about the amazing results our Members will experience from the product. This product has helped people with arthritis, joint and back pain, foot pain, muscle soreness, and overall aches and pains that are caused by inflammation.

This product addresses the hottest issue in medical research today: inflammation. Inflammation is being linked to many diseases. It weakens the body and enables disease to set in. You will learn a lot about what you can do to reduce and monitor inflammation. Our mission is to inspire people to experience wellness and create wealth for their life purposes! Helping people live a vibrant and healthy life is why TriVita was founded. Let us help you!

There will also be a brief introduction of the income opportunity for Affiliates who want to share information with those they know and care about. TriVita is proud of the way we do business with our customers in that we provide opportunities based on the desires of each Member: opportunities to simply purchase products for their own wellness as well as the chance to be involved with the sharing opportunity. It is simple and rewarding to help someone enjoy and experience greater wellness with TriVita products.

If you want to know more about this product in our prelaunch campaign and our mission of helping people experience wellness, please plan to join us in a city near you. On page 30, you will find a listing of some of the cities we will be visiting.

Make 2009 your year of experiencing greater wellness and take someone with you on your wellness journey!

Source: TriVita VitaJournal February 2009 pg 2.

TriVita Article: Get a Big Boost From a Little Activity

In an article written by TriVita’s correspondent Jan 2009 it relates -

Experts agree: Exercise is one of the best things you can do for your health! It can help lower your risk of everything from cardiovascular disease and diabetes to depression and certain types of cancer. Plus, it can help:

• Give you energy
• Enhance your mood
• Improve your sleep
• Strengthen your heart and lungs
• Restore your libido
• Put zest in your life – because it can be fun!

Big benefits from just a little time

Adults gain “substantial health benefits” from 2.5 hours a week of moderate-intensity physical activity or 1.25 hours of vigorous physical activity, according to the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Examples include:

Moderate

• Brisk walking
• Water aerobics
• Ballroom dancing
• Gardening
• Slow biking Vigorous
• Race walking
• Running
• Jogging
• Swimming laps
• Jumping rope
• Martial arts
• Tennis (singles).

For even more health benefits, try to get five hours of moderate-intensity exercise or 2.5 hours of vigorous exercise a week. Try to include strength training in your exercise regimen at least twice a week. If you have a medical condition or disability, talk to your healthcare provider before beginning an exercise program. But everyone can benefit from exercise!

Keeping out of the cold

Is the winter chill keeping you indoors? Try any of these fun (and warm!) activities:

Dance – Dancing is a great way to stay active during the winter months. Community centers, municipal recreation departments and community colleges offer low-cost dance classes to suit any preference. Whether you want to waltz, swing or cha cha, there’s sure to be an option you’ll enjoy.
Walk the mall – Check with your local mall to see if they have a mall walkers program. Gradually increase your laps around the mall so that your body is constantly challenged.
Work out at the gym – Many health clubs offer reasonably priced memberships. You can use cardio machines such as treadmills and elliptical trainers, lift weights, take water aerobics, swim laps, or even drop in on a yoga or Pilates class.

As a side note the same TriVita article goes on to say :

Staying Safe and Avoiding Injury These tips can help you stay safe while you are active:

• If you haven’t been active in a while, start slowly and build up
• Learn which types and amounts of activity are right for you
• Choose activities that are appropriate for your fitness level
• Build up the time you spend on one activity before switching to a more strenuous one
• Use proper safety gear and sports equipment
• Choose a safe place to exercise
• Do a warm-up before beginning your activity.

Source TriVita VitaJournal January 2009 pg 10.

Trivita’s 10 Secrets To A Healthy Heart

Like the Tin Man, your heart is one of your most valuable possessions. But, it’s not as simple as going to the Wizard of Oz and asking for a new one. You only have one heart, and it’s your job to make sure it lasts. These 10 helpful hints will help increase your chances of having a strong, healthy heart. 1.The American Heart Association (AHA) has reported that testing levels of an enzyme called GGT may predict the risk of death from cardiovascular disease. High levels of GGT indicate an increased risk of future cardiovascular disease. The risk is even higher for people under 60. You should be able to request the test from your doctor, along with other critical heart markers such as CRP, LDL, and Homocysteine. 2. A healthy marriage reduces job-related stress, and lowers blood pressure, according to a recent report from the AHA. Keeping blood pressure low through emotional satisfaction, healthy diet, and exercise is critical in the healthy functioning of your heart. 3. Excessive body fat at a young age is an indicator of future cardiovascular problems. As a parent, grandparent, or caregiver for the young, be sure you are supporting children’s heart health by encouraging exercise and a healthy diet. 4. For adults, excessive body weight frequently leads to cardiovascular problems, including high blood pressure. High blood pressure in turn increases an already risky situation for your heart. Consult your health care provider to find your best weight range, and keep your weight at that level to avoid complications from cardiovascular problems. 5. For obese or overweight men and women, the risk of heart attack and stroke was twice as high when high blood pressure was also a factor. 6. High cholesterol levels are never healthy, but the AHA has reported that men who keep themselves physically fit can cut their risk of cardiovascular-related death in half – even if they have high cholesterol. 7. Before visiting your health care provider, you may find it helpful to take a test online to calculate your risks for heart disease. The AHA offers a free quiz at www.americanheart.org/cld. 8. Men, in particular, have a well-deserved reputation for “toughing it out” whenever something hurts. When it comes to chest pain, there is no worse course of action. Particularly after age 40, all chest pains should be evaluated by your health care provider. If chest pain persists more than two minutes, or includes a feeling of heaviness in your chest, call 911 immediately. 9. Know all the signs of heart attack. Besides chest pain, symptoms can include: shortness of breath, nausea, lightheadedness, cold sweats, and pain in the neck or arms. (Heart attacks start slowly with mild symptoms, leading to easy dismissal.) Never ignore the signs! 10. The amino acid homocysteine – which normally is an essential and good chemical in your body – can build up to harmful levels, and requires B-12, B-6 and folic acid to bring them back to safe levels. Eating whole foods such as citrus, tomatoes and other vegetables, and supplementing your diet with B vitamins is key to lowering homocysteine and protecting your heart. Source: VitaJournal January 2007 pg 11

Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs: Do They Help?

Healthcare professionals continue to debate the benefits of statin drugs

Statin drugs have become big business. The use of these cholesterol-lowering drugs increased by 156% between 2000 and 2005, rising from 15.8 million people to 29.7 million people.

Statins are currently the best-selling medicines in history, used by more than 13 million Americans and more than 12 million additional patients around the world, producing $27.8 billion in sales in 2006. Half of that amount went to Pfizer alone for its leading statin, Lipitor.North Americans are bombarded with messages from doctors, pharmaceutical companies and the media saying that high levels of bad cholesterol are the ticket to an early grave and must be brought down now. Yet, many respected healthcare professionals question the benefits of these drugs. They point out that different clinical trials were biased or only showed marginal benefits. Some researchers even have doubts about the need to drive down cholesterol levels in the first place. The debate about the effectiveness of statins continues and each side offers statistics to support their position. Statin proponents point to studies that suggest these medications may prevent heart attacks and strokes among people who don’t already have cardiovascular disease or elevated cholesterol levels. And there are even studies that claim statins can help protect against dementia or Alzheimer’s. However, there are just as many respected healthcare professionals who feel that statin drugs are unnecessary and possibly even dangerous. Some of these people question whether cholesterol automatically is the culprit in most heart diseases. “Cholesterol is just one of the risk factors for coronary disease,” explains Dr. Ronald M. Krauss, director of atherosclerosis research at the Oakland Research Institute, in a Business Week article. “Higher LDL levels do help set the stage for heart disease by contributing to the buildup of plaque in arteries. But something else has to happen before people get heart disease. When you look at patients with heart disease, their cholesterol levels are not that much higher than those without heart disease.” Still others point to the ever-growing body of evidence that shows potentially serious side effects from statins. The most common side effect is muscle pain and weakness, most likely due to the depletion of CoQ-10, a nutrient that supports muscle function. Some healthcare providers suggest taking a CoQ-10 supplement to help protect against statin side effects. To find out more about TriVita’s CoEnzyme Q-10 product, call a Wellness Consultant at 1-800-991-7116. Other potential side effects from large statin doses may include anemia, acidosis, frequent fevers, cataracts and lessening of mental acuity. Now there’s even more controversy about statinsJust recently the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) started recommending cholesterol-lowering statin drugs to obese children as young as age eight. Statins have long played a role in the fight against a childhood disease called familial hyper-cholesterolemia. However, the AAP is now making widespread recommendations for a whole generation of eight year olds. The AAP has been strongly criticized for its statement by the food and nutrition industries. Some say that no studies have been performed to show that this course of action is both necessary and successful. They suggest that doctors should emphasize the value of dietary approaches. An article in Nutraingredients.com states, “The lifestyles of these children have got them into this state; their lifestyle must get them out of it. And that means changing their diet.” How to lower cholesterol naturally Here are a variety of ways to lower your cholesterol naturally without any potentially dangerous side effects: • Make sure you get plenty of high quality, Omega-3 fatty acids • Reduce grains and sugars in your daily diet • Include soluble fibers containing psyllium seed • Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables: five servings for children, seven for women and nine for men • Try to eat a good portion of your food raw • Get the right amount of exercise – this will help increase blood flow throughout your body and also raise HDL, the protective “good” cholesterol • Avoid smoking and drinking excessive alcohol • Don’t become overwhelmed by emotional challenges – use prayer, meditation or relaxation techniques to lower stress level being overused and oversold to the wrong people. Source VitaJournal October 2008 pg 29 For more on this subject visit TriVita for more information.

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

Are You At Risk? What’s Your Homocysteine Level?

High homocysteine often leads to serious, debilitating conditions including: Stroke Heart Attack Coronary Heart Disease Diabetes Osteoporosis Dementia Alzheimer’s

Help reduce the risk of degenerative diseases Homocysteine (HCY) is like cholesterol. An elevated homocysteine level is very dangerous… it can wreak havoc when it’s too high! You can’t feel dangerous, elevated HCY levels 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!