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

TriVita Asks What’s The Connection Between Mental, Dental Health & Your Heart

by Brazos Minshew, TriVita’s Chief Science Officer

Previously, we discussed the effect of loneliness on heart health. Powerful chemicals from the brain alter the way the heart functions. The heart and blood vessels respond with inflammation. Arteries harden, the efficiency of the heart muscle is reduced as the heart enlarges, and heart failure results.Heart health, dental health
Coronary artery disease (CAD) usually progresses slowly over many years. The first sign of CAD is often a fatal heart attack. Because CAD is silent, it becomes imperative to practice preventive medicine such as testing for C-reactive protein (CRP), as well as blood pressure and cholesterol. However, another form of heart disease progresses quite rapidly. It is called “single-artery disease.”

Other triggers of heart disease are related to dental health. Curiously, dental health and mental health are also strongly related. How does this happen? Which comes first in this triad of triggers for heart disease?

 

Single artery disease clogs a single artery while all or most other blood vessels remain clean. It can happen when injury or infection creates inflammation in the absence of disease:

• Dental infection: One of the most common bacteria comes from a dental infection. Bacteria from inflamed gums can escape into the bloodstream and attack a single blood vessel in or near the heart.
• Inflammation: Inflammation in the gums attracts white blood cells by means of protein messengers called cytokines. Some of these messengers leak into the bloodstream and attract white blood cells. White blood cells infiltrate the infected area because of the messenger cytokines. Cytokines that leak into the bloodstream and enter the heart may send the wrong message. It may also result in white blood cells attacking an artery in the heart. This is the beginning of single artery disease: white blood cells attracted by cytokines penetrate a single artery in the heart and cause blockage.

Smoking increases the number of bacteria in the mouth and causes LDL cholesterol to become stickier. This bad habit also increases inflammation in the entire body. Bacteria, LDL and inflammation make for a lethal combination for CAD and single artery disease.

Dental health, mental health
Mental illness comes in a variety of different forms: from anxiety and bipolar disorder to depression, schizophrenia and beyond. Among the common manifestations of these disorders is lack of attention to dental care. Irregular brushing and flossing will lead to a buildup of potentially lethal bacteria. As a result, cardiovascular disease is a common companion of mental illness.

Other aspects of personal care suffer from this same inattentiveness, including diet, exercise and rest. As you know, these habits are foundations for physical and mental health. Without these essentials in place, the health spirals downward and heart failure is one of many possibilities.

Conclusion
It seems that illnesses such as CAD and heart failure are much more complex than we ever imagined. Emotional distress, dental neglect, smoking and inflammation may all combine to create vascular disease. Constant attention to the 10 Essentials of Health and Wellness and normal biological needs like dental care can help us avoid many triggers for CAD and heart failure.

Essential #4 concerns nutrients that every body needs. Essential fatty acids like those found in TriVita’s OmegaPrime can help protect against inflammation. Vitamin C can also help reduce inflammation by cooling oxidative stress and TriVita Sublingual B-12, TriVita HCY Guard helps reduce inflammatory homocysteine. I especially like TriVita Adaptogen 10 Plus because it helps reduce the impact of stress while providing antioxidant protection. Nutrients and nurturing – including proper dental care – give us the best foundation for a life of meaning and purpose.

Take Control of Your Health

• Practice good dental hygiene
  • Brush at least twice daily for two minutes
  • Floss after meals
  • Get dental cleanings and checkups twice a year
• Take Healthy Aging nutrients
  • A multiple vitamin/mineral supplement
  • TriVita Omega-3 supplement
  • A Sublingual Vitamin B-12
  • A Vitamin C supplement
• Reduce stress and use adaptogens when needed
• Learn and live TriVita’s 10 Essentials!

Source: TriVita Weekly Wellness Report February 28, 2009

Protect Yourself From Stress, The Silent Killer

Stress is an engineering term. It describes the forces that try to tear a structure apart such as weight, wind, temperature and pressure. In humans it is much the same: Certain pressures try to tear us apart. Sometimes these stresses come from inside of us; sometimes the pressures tearing us apart come from the outside.

Homeostasis is a gift that humans and other living creatures possess but bridges and buildings do not have. Homeostasis is the force that moves resources from our reserves to wherever they are needed to combat stress.

Where stress begins

Stress is caused by change – any change. Change requires us to rearrange our priorities to meet new circumstances. Stress can also be the same circumstance over time because time itself is change.

An easy way to conceptualize stress is to say it comes from inside of us and outside of us. Some examples:

Stress from inside

• Hunger
• Aging
• Time pressure

Stress from outside

• Air pollution
• Water pollution
• Noise pollution

Stress is the accumulation of all the things that pull us apart.

Homeostasis
The antidote to change is homeostasis. The Greek word “stasis” means to stand still or to stand equally. It describes a point where the tug-of-war balances out and motion ceases. Homeostasis is the ability of living organisms to adjust their internal environments to create balance. Of course, people can adjust their external environments as well (at least to some extent).

Just imagine all of the stresses pulling you apart every day: gravity, temperature, emotional upsets and expectations, etc. What balances that tug-of-war? The 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness!

Nutrients and nurturing
A body and mind deprived of proper nutrients and nurturing will be more prone to disease. “Disease” is the joining of two words. “Ease” is the freedom from difficulty, hardship or effort. “Dis-ease” is the opposite of ease: the things that make life more difficult and hard. It is also the abnormal functioning of the body or mind when the balancing forces of homeostasis fail to meet the demands of change.

The 10 Essentials create a reservoir of energy to combat the destructive forces of stress. For example, the simple act of breathing deeply can reduce the level of toxicity in our body and therefore reduce the state of imbalance.

Vitamins and minerals
Nutrients create a bulwark against stress as well. A reservoir of vitamins and minerals can help protect you from deficiency. Nutrient deficiency means specifically that you lack the nutrients you need to meet the stress imposed on your system. Without nutrients you will be weakened and you will lose the tug-of-war with stress. You will develop disease.Adaptogens
Specific plants called adaptogens help pull us back into balance. Adaptogens help us adapt no matter what the situation is – no matter where stress tugs at our body and mind. A recent conference of psychiatrists and psychologists demonstrated that a single adaptogen (Rhodiola rosea) was as effective at reducing emotional stress as several popular medications.

Another paper published by the University of Toyama in Japan demonstrated that in animal models, the adaptogen Eleutherococcus senticosis hindered the brain plaque associated with Alzheimer’s disease. It even helped slow some of the brain damage. Given the safety of adaptogens and the extreme nature of this stress-related disease, supplementing with these nutrients should be a daily routine for anyone concerned about the possibility of Alzheimer’s.

Conclusion
Stress pulls us apart. Homeostasis struggles to put us back together. Disease is the result of an imbalance between stress and homeostasis. Nutrients and nurturing support homeostasis and help build a bulwark against stress – the silent killer!

Source: TriVita Weekly Wellness Report February 14, 2009

TriVita Weekly Wellness, Reduce Your Risk of Blood Clots

by Dr Brazos Minshew, TriVita Chief Science Office

Over 300,000 people in North America die each year from stroke. Another 700,000 die each year from heart attack. The most common type of both stroke and heart attack is ischemic disease, caused by a blood clot. Damage occurs when the blood clot reduces – and then totally blocks – circulation in an artery. The tissue nourished by that artery begins to die almost immediately.

The nature of blood clots
Blood clots are a miracle when they occur in the right place at the right time. If a blood vessel is injured it sends out chemical distress signals that cause platelets to seal the leak. Platelets are small, white cells that are normally very slippery. They become sticky when the lining of the blood vessel (the endothelium) is damaged.

1. The endothelium sends chemical messages to the platelets.
2. The platelets send chemical messages to attract fibrin proteins.
3. Fibrin proteins are like string that becomes very sticky and ties the groups of platelets together. This is an immature or “white” blood clot.

If the leak is not sealed by this “white” clot, larger red blood cells are tied to the platelets by fibrin to form a “red” clot.

Blood clots in the wrong place – at the wrong time
Problems occur when these clots happen in the wrong place at the wrong time. For example, one probable cause of migraine headaches is inappropriate communication between blood vessels and platelets. If a single blood vessel cramps or spasms it can signal platelets to become so sticky that they restrict circulation in the rest of the brain. Ischemic strokes and heart attacks are often caused by mature red clots breaking free of the injured area and blocking arteries in the heart or brain.

Interestingly, blockages from blood clots can occur in any area of the body. For instance, a person can have a “stroke” that injures the lungs or kidneys. Deep vein thrombosis in the legs is the exact same kind of vascular disease that causes stroke or heart attack.

The key to preventing damage is to make sure that the clots form only when and where they are supposed to. This is only possible with accurate communication between the endothelium in the blood vessels and the clotting mechanisms in the red blood cells, platelets and fibrin. Simple nutrients can have profound effects on improving this communication – and I make several suggestions later in this report.

Working smarter, not harder
Blood thinners force platelets and fibrin to ignore clotting signals from the endothelium. When a person is having a stroke these drugs are life-saving because the blood vessels, platelets and fibrin are getting the message to clot in the wrong place at the wrong time. One new class of drugs triggers the release of nitric oxide to open the blood vessels. Nitric oxide also helps the blood vessels, platelets and fibrin proteins communicate clearly. To prevent blood vessel miscommunication in the first place, high nitric oxide levels are needed.

Nitric oxide is made from nitrogen; nitrogen comes from fruits and vegetables. Eating up to nine servings of fruits and vegetables every day will make your clotting system very smart! Plant-based foods have been proven to improve your health – including the health of your circulatory system.

Smart nutrients

TriVita Adaptogen 10 Plus® Dr. Nathan Bryan, cardiologist and specialist in nitric oxide communication, recommends TriVita Adaptogen 10 Plus to help increase nitric oxide. Adaptogen 10 Plus also helps protect against stress. Stress alone – without any help from cholesterol – causes blood vessel spasms which may result in blood clots. So, a good first step in improving the health of your circulatory system is to eat your fruits and vegetables every day and take whole-food supplements like Adaptogen 10 Plus.

TriVita OmegaPrime® Essential fatty acids such as those in OmegaPrime can help keep the platelets from getting sticky at the wrong time. Dr. Dwight Lundell, cardiologist and specialist in bypass surgery, recommends the Omega-3 EFA in TriVita OmegaPrime as a prime tool to help protect against inappropriate clotting. We need 1–4 grams of Omega-3 every day (2–6 OmegaPrime soft gels).

TriVita HCY Guard® Dr. Kilmer McCully, cardiologist and specialist in vascular health, recommends the protective nutrients found in TriVita HCY Guard to help your body reduce homocysteine (HCY). HCY is one culprit in forming clots at the wrong place and time. Taking a single HCY Guard sublingual lozenge daily can help your body reduce homocysteine up to 35% – in as little as 42 days!

Other nutrients such as Vitamin E, turmeric and ginger, and Vitamin C all provide information for your blood clotting system to work smarter. Smart nutrients are the key to making good decisions about where and when to activate this miraculous system!

Source: TriVita Weekly Wellness Report January 31, 2009.

TriVita makes the Connection between Vitamin B & ADD

The Sublingual B-12 you’ve come to love could help your kids and grandkids overcome a common behavior disorder by Dr. Brazos Minshew High homocysteine levels and high stress go hand in hand. A recent study in Sweden tested children between the ages of 9 and 15. They found that the children with the lowest test scores had the highest levels of homocysteine, a stress-related hormone usually found in adults! The impairment associated with elevated homocysteine was called “neurocognitive.” Neurocognitive disorders include Attention Deficit Disorder (A.D.D.), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (A.D.H.D.), Oppositional- Defiant Disorder (O.D.D.), Tic Disorder (TD) and many others. Neurocognitive disorders are directly linked to elevated homocysteine in children.

There are many signs and symptoms associated with these brain disorders. The key is to distinguish between being energetic and being hyperactive. For instance, all children are easily distracted by exciting events. A child with brain impairment may be distracted by insignificant sights, sounds and smells. All children and adults make mistakes. A child impaired by a neurocognitive disorder will carelessly make mistakes even when the risk of injury is obvious. Learning disorders, depression and emotional fragility are all consequences of brain inflammation associated with elevated homocysteine. What can be done for elevated homocysteine levels? Homocysteine is a protein used in crafting a healthy foundation for all cells – brain cells, heart cells, bone cells – all of your cells. The problem with homocysteine occurs when it escapes from the cells and gets into the bloodstream. This happens because of nutrient deficiencies. One cause of nutrient deficiency is poor diet. Another cause is stress because stress uses up nutrient resources. When you run out of nutrient reserves, homocysteine can escape into your bloodstream where it goes on a rampage. It damages the cells our young ones are trying to build – including brain cells. Exposure to toxins (like lead) and injuries can also create homocysteine. The nutrients most closely associated with reducing homocysteine are Vitamins B-12, B-6, folic acid and biotin. These B vitamins form a balanced family of nutrients responsible for keeping homocysteine in the cell where it belongs. If one of these nutrients – especially Vitamin B-12 – is deficient for any reason, homocysteine will escape into the bloodstream. As the homocysteine levels rise, performance declines. Hyperactivity may be the result. Several medical studies have demonstrated that a balanced combination of B-12, B-6, folic acid and biotin can dramatically reduce blood levels of homocysteine. So far, no prescription drugs reduce homocysteine. Certainly, the common drugs given to children with behavior disorders (Ritalin, Strattera, Focalin, Adderall) will not reduce homocysteine, though they may change behavior. The B-12 family of vitamins is proven to reduce homocysteine. Nutrient deficiency leads to Neurocognitive disorders , such as A.D.D. and A.D.H.D. What is more, the B-12 family of vitamins can reduce the impact of stress. This works for children as well as for adults. If your young ones start to fidget or get a little moody, if they can’t concentrate or are not performing at school as well as they used to, try supplementing a healthy diet with TriVita’s Sublingual B-12. In addition to a healthy diet and balanced B-12 supplements, families can benefit from strategies to help improve organizational skills and relationships while reducing stress and frustration. These services are usually provided by health care professionals. Some children – especially as they enter their teen years – benefit from coaching. Nutrients (such as Sublingual B-12) and nurturing (encouragement and coaching ) go a long way in improving behavior . Most of us have experienced the benefits of supplementing our diet with balanced nutrients. Doesn’t it make sense that our stressed-out children and grandchildren could benefit too? Let’s give our kids the very best chance possible to develop into healthy adults without the damaging effects of stress and elevated homocysteine by supplementing with Sublingual B-12 as early as age eight. Children and teenagers will love the sweet, berry taste of TriVita Sublingual B-12. An appealing taste makes it more likely that they’ll use Sublingual B-12 consistently, which is important if you want to see behavioral changes. Adults with a family history or recent diagnosis of high homocysteine levels should consider supplementing with TriVita HCY Guard rather than TriVita Sublingual B-12, B-6 & Folic Acid. Source: VitaJournal July 2007 pg 8

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

Top Stress-Busters

These easy-to-use tips can help you keep your cool when you get hot under the collarStress can get to you everywhere… at home, work and even when you’re supposed to be having fun. We’re all stressed out to certain degrees… but some of us handle stress better than others.Most of us think that stress is caused by big problems, but that’s not always the case. Actually, stress can be caused by the constant accumulation of little irritations. Examples include misplacing items such as your keys, being slighted by someone in a conversation, or getting frustrated by a slow moving car ahead of you. Anytime your body tenses or you “blow a gasket” your stress level builds. Add up all the daily stresses and you can feel exhausted, even without physical activity. When your stress levels go up, your enjoyment of life goes down. Plus, stress can create a wide variety of physical and emotional problems such as: • Increased blood pressure, heart problems and nervous tics • Irritability, constant fatigue and disturbed sleep • Lowered immunity, headaches and muscle aches. So, what can you do about stress? You can start by correcting those bad habits that cause added stress in your life. Here are some of the more common habits – and some helpful ways to correct them: if you’re disorganized – you may be irritated every time you can’t find something you need. To correct this bad habit: • Use lists and notes to write down the things you need to do – it’ll help keep you organized, focused and on top of things • Avoid clutter by tidying up your home, your desk and your car – this will make it easier to find important items without going into a frenzy • File important papers when you receive them, instead of heaping them in different piles and shred them when you don’t need them anymore • Store your car keys and cell phone in the same place every time, so you can easily find them – it’s a small way to rid yourself of frantic runarounds. if you’re constantly running late – you’re likely to feel agitated, bothered and possibly anxious each time you get to your destination. To correct this habit: • Plan ahead by scheduling enough time to get to any meeting or appointments • Write down appointments 15 minutes earlier than they’re scheduled. Add in extra time for traffic problems or last minute phone calls. • Trick yourself – set your watch ahead a few minutes. if you’re procrastinating too much – you’re likely to be worried about getting important things done on time. To correct this habit: • Do the 20-minute challenge. Take 20 minutes to work on a project, doing as much as you can, and then give yourself permission to quit after 20 minutes is over. If you do several of these challenges every day, you’ll be surprised how much you accomplish. • Make your “big” projects more manageable by breaking them down into smaller tasks. You can use a group of “20-minute challenges” to finish a big project in smaller steps. • Create “to do” lists, and as you complete tasks, update them constantly. if you’re a perfectionist – you’re likely to be taking on too many extra tasks and responsibilities. To correct this habit: • Let go – understand that perfectionism makes you want to be in control all of the time, and this brings you lots of extra stress. Try this: On less important tasks, let others take the lead role while you play a supporting role. • Delegate tasks – here, you won’t even be playing a supporting role. Instead, you’ll give up the entire task to someone else. And try to be okay with any task’s end results, even if they’re not quite up to your perfectionist standards. You can help lower the stress from your life by following these tips. It’s important because by lowering your daily stress, you’ll have more energy, sounder sleep and a better mood throughout the day. Source: VitaJournal April 2008 pg 6.

Brain Erosion Can Start As Early As Age 30

by Dr. Scott Conard, M.D. Most everyone has “senior moments.” You’ll be talking with someone and suddenly you can’t remember your best friend’s name or the movie you saw last night. These are fairly common place occurrences for people as they age and nothing to worry about as long as they don’t happen very often. However, if your age is creeping up to 40, 50 or 60 then you have reason to be concerned if: • Your memory is starting to slip • Your agility, coordination and balance may be off • It’s harder for you to focus and concentrate • Your attention span is shorter • Your concentration is scattered • It’s more difficult for you to start or sustain a conversation • Your handwriting is becoming sloppy or illegible • You are starting to wonder whether you are getting dementia.

If one or more of these is happening to you, it could be the result of brain erosion. Brain erosion means that the brain actually erodes or shrinks. Can the brain really shrink? Yes it can! The human brain may lose from 10 to 25 percent of its total volume due to the effects of stress. That’s scary enough, but now brain erosion is happening to people at a much younger age than in the past. Statistics from the 1970s and 1980s found brain erosion only in people over 50. However, a major study conducted by Washington University (St. Louis, Missouri) detected brain volume loss as early as age 30. Researchers also discovered that this brain volume loss often leads to dementia. People under the age of 30 may also lose cognitive function as a result of asthma, ADHD, allergies, digestive issues or diabetes. These medical issues can result in a much lower B vitamin absorption rate. That means the brain is literally “starving” for the right kind of nutrition. B vitamins, especially B-12, are so important because they help increase the effectiveness of other essential nutrients like Omega-3 fatty acids. Why are we seeing this dramatic change over a few decades? Stress and its damaging effects on our bodies is a major reason. Stress may come from the pollution in our environment, lack of nutrients in our foods, the accumulation of small and large injuries that we carry with us, the relentless expectations that we place on ourselves and the pressure of other people’s expectations of us. Stress places such a demand on us that it overcomes our body’s ability to cope. Brain erosion is one result. How can you tell if your brain is shrinking? You may initially have a nagging feeling that your mental performance is starting to slide – that you are no longer at your peak. When this happens, it’s easy to feel frightened, depressed or frustrated, thinking that your mental abilities are slipping away. But don’t despair or lose hope, because there is a lot you can do to slow and even repair brain erosion. Vitamin B-12 is the answer Your brain may be lacking some of the essential building blocks it needs to thrive – especially B-12 or Omega-3 fatty acids. This lack can cause your brain volume to shrink. But Vitamin B can help protect against this. This was confirmed by a University of Illinois study which stated that people with greater B-12 intake were also able to maintain greater brain volume for a longer period of their life. So, how eager are you to do whatever it takes to improve brain fitness now and help protect against much worse problems like dementia from developing? I know I’m dedicated and that’s why I’m such a strong believer in B-12 supplementation. Based upon research studies, it should begin as early as age 30. While there’s nothing that’s going to stop you from having an occasional “senior moment”, you should feel heartened to know that Vitamin B-12 is readily available and easy to take. Now’s the time to turn back the clock on brain erosion. Don’t lose any more brain cells to poor nutrition, stress and bad habits. Reclaim your mental energy, ease irritability and slow brain erosion with Vitamin B-12. B-12 is the key to reclaiming your mental energy Source: VitaJournal June 2008 pg 6

Study Confirms The Value Of Adaptogen 10 Plus

Our research team discovered that it helps raise nitric oxide levels – essential for good health
By Dr. Nathan S. Bryan

Nitric oxide or NO is one of the most important molecules in our body. Like a policeman directing traffic in a busy intersection, nitric oxide directs the communication between the busiest cells in the body: brain cells, blood cells, immune system cells and cells from every body system where communication is critical. Nitric oxide is so important that no organ in your body could function without it. In fact, a Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to three scientists in 1998 responsible for discovering its actions. It keeps our blood pressure normal, helps us think clearly, helps our body fight off infections, and even prevents the development of blood clots and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Many of the “diseases of aging” are no more than a deficiency of nitric oxide.

Recently, my team tested Adaptogen 10 Plus for nitric oxide activity. This study helps confirm the incredible value of Adaptogen 10 Plus. We discovered that it contains natural NO metabolites that help to restore normal nitric oxide biochemistry within our body. This important benefit is in addition to its high antioxidant capacity and adaptive stress molecules.

As we age, our body gradually loses its ability to produce nitric oxide. Stress, pollution and a nutrient-deficient diet also reduce our nitric oxide reserves. A healthy diet, sleep, exercise and the rest of the 10 Essentials (see pg. 2) contribute to nitric oxide activity – and to good health!

As a professor of medicine, I supervise cardiovascular research in the heart health field. My field of specialty is nitric oxide: how to get it and how to keep it. The people in our research center suffer from a host of nitric oxide-related disorders including heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease – the list seems endless.

In every case I see that the higher we can raise the nitric oxide levels, the better the patient responds. Restoring nitric oxide production has become one of the main strategies at treating and protecting against many diseases.

It makes sense that Adaptogen 10 Plus would activate a high amount of nitric oxide because research has revealed that most high-antioxidant foods nourish NO. TriVita’s Adaptogen 10 Plus helps us combat stress, a nitric oxide killer.

The amount of NO in Adaptogen 10 Plus has been shown to help protect against vascular inflammation, reduce injury from a heart attack or stroke and restore NO homeostasis (a sense of balance) in animal models. This unique blend of antioxidants and nitric oxide metabolites is essential for brain and heart health. Combining a regimen of Adaptogen 10 Plus with the 10 Essentials will help ensure optimal health.

Source: VitaJournal December 2008 pg 20.

Calm Your Holiday Worries With Simple Stress-Relieving Techniques

 

The holiday season is a time of joy we look forward to, but it also represents a time of heightened stress. Stress can have a negative effect on us, both physically and mentally, so it’s important to find ways to cope with it. It’s easy to turn to unhealthy behaviors such as over-eating or smoking, but this will only worsen the problem. This year, commit to make a change in your life that will benefit you positively.

There are several stress-relieving techniques that will help trigger the body to relax. Practiced regularly (daily is best), these techniques will help reduce stress and boost feelings of happiness and calm. Choose the one that best suites you.

Deep breathing

• Sit in a comfortable position, with your back straight. Place one hand over your chest, the other over your abdomen.

• Breathe in through your nose, and notice as your hand on your stomach moves. The hand on your chest should move very little. This means you are breathing in from your stomach and filling your lungs with air.

• Exhale through your mouth to let out all the air (you might count to get a good rhythm). Notice how your stomach goes back in.

• Concentrate on peaceful, deep breathing one to two times a day for stress relief.

 

Guided imagery

• Close your eyes and use your senses to imagine a serene and tranquil place. This could be a tropical island, a quiet cabin in the woods, a favorite childhood spot; any place that makes you feel calm and at ease.

• See the details around you (the sun rising, the palm trees waving). Hear the wind blow or the waves reaching the shore. Feel the cool air on your skin, or the water at your feet. Smell the flowers or trees beside you. Taste the clean, fresh air.

• Whenever you feel stressed, take a few minutes to close your eyes and think of this peaceful place. Your mind will travel there with you for a moment, and your body will begin to relax.

 

Massage therapy for stress relief

• Soothing your scalp: place your fingers on the back of your head, with your thumbs resting behind your ears. Make circles on your scalp with your fingertips for 15-20 seconds. This is a simple, quick exercise to massage your scalp and relax your body tension.

• Eye Relaxation: Close your eyes. Place your ring fingers under your eyebrows at the bridge of your nose. Press down slowly for 5-10 seconds, and then gently release. Repeat two to three times.

• Relieving sinus pressure: Place the tips of your fingers at the bridge of your nose. Slowly move your fingers down your nose and across your upper cheekbones, to the outside of your eyes.

• Tension relief for your shoulders: With one arm, reach over the front of your body to your opposite shoulder. Press firmly, using a circular motion, on the muscle above your shoulder blade. This should release bottled-up tension. When stress builds up (especially during the holidays), our health can wear down. It’s important to take the time to relax in this and every season.

For answers to this and other Health & Wellness issues visit TriVita for more infomation.

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