A Summary of TriVita Article: Bring Back Breakfast
March 15, 2009 by admin
Filed under Uncategorized
Bring Back Breakfast – The Neglected Meal
Gone are the days when it was unthinkable to start the day without a good hearty breakfast. Now, people have more excuses than you can shake a spatula at for why they can’t or don’t eat a morning meal. Do any of these sound familiar?
- I don’t have time
- I’m not hungry in the morning.
- I’m trying to lose weight
- I don’t like breakfast foods.
- When I eat breakfast, I’m more hungry mid-morning.
The Case for Breakfast
We’ve all heard it: breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Here are some reasons why:
Breakfast is the time to refuel. After fasting for the 8-12 hours after dinner and during sleep, your body needs to replenish its energy supply. Muscles also rely on glucose for a portion of their energy.
Eating breakfast is associated with better attitudes about work and school. People who pass on a morning meal are often tired, irritable, or restless in the morning. And kids who skip breakfast tend to be tardy or absent from school more often than those who eat breakfast regularly.
Eating breakfast is associated with greater productivity in the late morning. Kids who eat a morning meal perform better in school than those who don’t. This is because morning hunger interferes with concentration, problem solving, and muscle coordination.
Eating breakfast regularly is associated with maintaining a healthful weight. According to the American Dietetic Association, kids who eat breakfast are less likely to be overweight. There has also been extensive research to show that adults who skip breakfast are more likely to be overweight and obese.
Breakfast can add to the healthfulness of your diet. For example, research has found that people who eat breakfast regularly have higher total intakes of the following:
- Vitamin C
- Calcium
- Thiamin
- Riboflavin
- Iron
- Fiber
No More Excuses
Now it’s time to let go of those excuses.
I don’t have time. A little planning may help.
I’m not hungry in the morning. Eat something small, such as toast, juice, or an egg, at breakfast time. Bring along a snack for when you are hungry mid-morning.
I’m trying to lose weight. Several studies have found that people who eat breakfast tend to weigh less and be more successful at losing weight than those who do not eat breakfast. Skipping breakfast sets you up to be ravenously hungry later in the day, which can lead to overeating. Of course, you still need to make healthful choices. Be aware of portion sizes. For example, many bagel-shop bagels and muffins are much higher in calories than you think. Also, stay away from some of the traditional, fatty breakfast foods, including:
- Bacon
- Breakfast sausage
- Hash browns
- Biscuits with gravy
I don’t like breakfast foods. Anything can be a breakfast food:
- Last night’s leftovers and a piece of fruit
- Grilled cheese and tomato sandwich
- English muffin with peanut butter and banana
- Bagel topped with avocado spread and sliced fresh tomato
When I eat breakfast, I’m more hungry mid-morning. Hunger pangs are a healthy, normal signal from your body. Bring along a snack for these times. Or try eating a little more protein or fat with breakfast to keep you satiated longer.
Source: TriVita Weekly Wellness Report March 14, 2009
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• Time-Release Crystal Tablets are ideal in the evening to help protect your heart while you sleep
• Powdered Crystals are easy to take – simply mix into your favorite beverage
• Maximum absorption and potency
• Easy to digest and gentle on the body (non-acidic/neutral pH) Take Crystal Tablets and Powdered Crystals for 24-hour protection.
Are you prepared for a heart attack emergency? Check your knowledge with this fact sheet from the national heart, lung and blood institute
Discomfort or a heavy feeling in the chest can signal a heart attack.
TRUE: Chest pain is the most commonly reported heart attack symptom. But the pain may not feel severe or “stabbing.” It may feel more like a discomfort. Chest discomfort may be accompanied by or follow shortness of breath. Discomfort or pain may be felt in other areas of the upper body, such as one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. Other symptoms that can occur include breaking out in a “cold sweat,” nausea or light-headedness.
Women do not frequently experience heart attacks.
FALSE: Heart disease is the number one killer of American women, and nearly half of all heart attack deaths happen to women. Furthermore, women are less likely to survive a heart attack than are men. (Women are less likely than men to believe they’re having a heart attack and more likely to delay in seeking emergency treatment.)
Some people who are experiencing the symptoms of a heart attack may wait hours or even days before seeking needed medical care.
TRUE: Many people do not recognize their symptoms as life-threatening. That’s why it’s important to know the warning signs and take action quickly. (See warning signs below.)
Being treated within about an hour of the first symptoms can make a signifi cant difference.
TRUE: Heart attack deaths and heart damage can often be avoided when treatment begins within an hour of when the symptoms started.
Many heart attack victims say their heart attack wasnt what they’d expected.
TRUE: Most people expect a heart attack to be a sudden intense pain, but often heart attacks start slowly as a mild pain.
Most heart attacks occur in people over 65.
TRUE: However, 45% of all heart attacks occur in people under age 65. And 5% occur in people under age 40.
The major issue in delay is how long it takes for emergency medical personnel to find the address and deliver the patient to the hospital.
FALSE: The most significant portion of delay time is due to patient delay, the time it takes for an individual to decide to ask for help. Sometimes a patient does not want to believe anything bad is happening and dismisses the seriousness of the symptoms. Sometimes people do not know the symptoms of heart attack.
| Heart Attack Warning Signs |
Note to Women: As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain. even if you’re not sure its a heart attack, you should still have it checked out. Fast action can save lives – maybe your own. |
TriVita Weekly Wellness, Reduce Your Risk of Blood Clots
January 31, 2009 by admin
Filed under 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’s Chief Science Officer Writes Why Multivitamins Are So Important
January 17, 2009 by admin
Filed under Uncategorized
by Dr Brazos Minshew
As you review your diet of the past week, ask yourself, “Did I eat the right amount of fruits and vegetables every day?” (Five servings for children, seven servings for women and nine servings for men.) If you can say “yes” – congratulations! If you are like most people you did not reach that goal. And, if you are like most of us, you did not eat all of your fruits and vegetables from an organic source; so, the fruits and vegetables may have been lacking in nutrition. This is why I suggest TriVita NutraFruits. It’s the quick and easy way to help you reach your goals.
Staying on top of our nutrient reserve is important. Our bodies make millions of new cells every day: heart cells, brain cells, bone and blood cells. Every time a cell dies it should be replaced. If you do not have the right amount of nutrients to construct a new cell you will either make an incomplete cell or none at all. The outcome is bad in either case, so we really need to keep all nutrients on board at all times. This is why we suggest a multiple vitamin and mineral supplement.
Supplements
The word supplement means in addition to something – to make up for a deficiency. Vitamin and mineral supplements should be taken in addition to a healthy diet. They make up for the deficiency we face due to the poor nutrient density in our foods. They also help out when our diet is less than perfect.
However, supplements won’t make up for bad dietary choices. We simply must commit ourselves to eating healthier foods, especially fruits and vegetables. Still, most of us realize that we don’t always attend to our diet perfectly. We get busy and don’t always think ahead. After all, we eat to live; we don’t live to eat!
Balance
A multiple vitamin and mineral supplement should reflect the nutrient levels of a normal, healthy diet. In other words, if a nutrient normally appears in the diet at a particular level, this level should be reflected in the vitamin. Vitamins C and B-12 are notable exceptions because our ability to absorb them decreases with age. Even more important than the level of the nutrients is the balance of nutrients. The correct proportion of nutrients needs to be maintained. Otherwise, the supplement will create a greater imbalance than it was meant to solve.
A good example of this is the Norwegian Vitamin Trial for heart health (NORVIT). This trial involved a vitamin cocktail that had the right ingredients. But it was so horribly out of balance that it resulted in the deaths of some of the participants by creating severe nutrient imbalances.
How can you tell if your multivitamin supplement is imbalanced? One way is to notice your urine after you take the supplement. If it turns bright yellow or orange after taking a vitamin you can suspect that this supplement is imbalanced. Now, to be fair, the person taking the vitamin may be imbalanced instead. This happens if someone has eaten an imbalanced diet for some time. Still, it is more often the supplement that is imbalanced, not the person.
Conclusion
So, was that discussion about supplements valuable to you? I hope so. Remember, there are a lot of voices speaking to you about everything from which toothpaste to use to which car to buy. You simply must find a voice you can trust. My ultimate hope in writing the Weekly Wellness Report is to give you reliable, trustworthy information you can use to make the best choices!
Source: TriVita’s Weekly Wellness Report January 17, 2009.
What Are Adaptogens? Part Two
And other frequently asked questions about Adaptogen 10 Plus!
Adaptogens are unique plants that are genetically coded to adjust to environmental conditions, no matter how harsh. Adaptogens change in response to environmental stresses.
Q: Can vegetarians, vegans and people with gluten or yeast allergies take it?
A: Adaptogen 10 Plus contains no animal by-products and is completely plant based, so anyone with meat or wheat restrictions can take it.
Q: If I have deficiencies In my diet, will Adaptogen 10 Plus make a difference?
A: Although Adaptogen 10 Plus benefits nearly everyone, it cannot by itself make up for a nutritionally deficient diet. For optimum results, add Adaptogen 10 Plus to your healthy lifestyle that includes TriVita’s 10 Essentials.
Q: Will this product take the place of any other TriVita product?
A: If you’re using this product daily, you’re getting the nutrients found in Super Antioxidant Complex and AloeVita – along with many more nutrients.
Q: Are there TriVita products that are recommended to take with Adaptogen 10 Plus?
A: Its important to secure a nutritional foundation, which includes a good multiple vitamin such as VitaDaily AM/PM; Daily Men or Women; a good essential fatty acid product such as TriVita’s OmegaPrime, Vitamin C, and of course our patented sub-lingual delivery system TriVita’s Sublingual B-12, B-6 & Folic Acid for complete stress fighting protection. HCY Guard should be used in place of Sublingual B-12 if high homocysteine levels are a concern, For help with all of your nutritional and wellness needs, please call our Wellness Consultants at 1-800-994-7116.
Q: What are the primary benefits of Adaptogen 10 Plus?
A: It helps our bodies fight aging caused by cellular damage. Adaptogens provide nourishment to strengthen cells, Optiberry helps neutralize-free radicals to reduce cellular damage and nourishes our cells, and aloe vera helps us absorb nutrients better
Q: Will it help me sleep and focus mentally?
A: Adaptogens adjust to the needs of your body. If it’s time to sleep, they’ll help you ease into sleep. If it time for you to focus on a task, they’ll help you adjust to stress and support your need to concentrate. In most cases, Adaptogen 10 Plus nourishes the process programmed into our nervous systems; to be awake or asleep when you need to be.
Q: Will it enhance my athletic performance?
A: Yes. Adaptogens have been studied since the 1940’s in Russia. During the 1960’s and 1970’s, the Russian athletes so dominated the Olympic games that there were rumors they were using performance-enhancing drugs. In reality, they were using performance-enhancing adaptogens, not drugs. Adaptogen 10 Plus was formulated to enhance your body’s performance without drug.
Q: Will Adaptogen Plus help me deal with pain?
A: Yes Many botanicals are natural pain relievers because they act as cyclo-oxygenase 2, or Cox2 inhibitors, This means that certain plants directly target the enzyme responsible for inflammation and pain.
Q: How do I know if the product is working for me?
A: People often feel Adaptogen 10 Plus within minutes of taking it. Others report a gradual improvement in some aspects of their health over time. Short term benefits may be experienced, but its long-term health benefits are important.
Q: How should I store Adaptogen 10 Plus?
A: If your package was delivered on your doorstep in the heat/sun, don’t worry. Your product was shipped to you in an opaque bottle to protect it against sunlight, as antioxidants break. down much faster in extreme heat and direct sun. It’s only under extreme heat conditions (180 degrees or more) over an extended period of time that will accelerate a loss in antioxidant value. Once you receive your Adaptogen 10 Plus, you should store it in a cool, dark environment, and we recommend refrigerating it for optimal taste.
Source: TriVita Brochure BR007 Revised 8.06
Your World is Spinning! It Could Be Vertigo
by Dr. Brazos Minshew, Chief Science Officer
There are two times when your world will spin: When you are in love, and when you have vertigo! Since there is no cure for being in love, this Weekly Wellness Report will cover the remedies for vertigo.
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| Benign vertigo Vertigo is not usually a sign of a serious disease. It is typically transient (it comes and goes) and resolves on its own without medical care. The most common cause is an upper respiratory infection such as a sinus infection. Most people who suffer with vertigo learn instinctively to sit up slowly and avoid quick movements of the head. If benign vertigo is associated with allergies, Vitamin C is in my personal opinion an absolutely awesome antihistamine. Using the Vitamin C flush* will often bring relief from signs and symptoms of allergies. If the vertigo is associated with bronchial or sinus congestion, adding TriVita’s Breathe Easy formula to your supplement regimen can help. Breathe Easy works by drying out excessive mucous, and thinning normal body fluids. This is important because one of the causes of vertigo is abnormal movement of the fluid and crystals in the inner ear. During a recent TriVita event in Vancouver, Canada, I experienced vertigo following a head cold. I was dreading my presentation because of the dizziness. Fortunately, an enthusiastic TriVita supporter shared her Breathe Easy with me and the vertigo – as well as the head cold symptoms – cleared very rapidly. Dangerous vertigo Head trauma and clogged arteries require medical intervention. These conditions also require extra nutrients called antioxidants. An antioxidant is a special nutrient that reduces oxidation. Oxidation can be likened to rust in your blood vessels, brain and inner ear. One family of antioxidants has a special affinity for the tiny blood vessels in the frontal lobe of the brain, the inner ear and the eyes. These antioxidants are found in TriVita’s VisionGuard. A certain type of tumor called an acoustic neuroma may cause vertigo. These are rare tumors, but the incidence of acoustic neuroma seems to increase with cell phone usage. The evidence for this link is weak but troubling. Certainly, we should take appropriate precautions when using cell phones while scientists further investigate the link between cell phones and acoustic neuromas. Meniere’s disease Unfortunately, damaged nerves heal slowly. Vitamin B-12 may help speed the repair of damaged nerves. Certainly, the antioxidant remedies mentioned above may add to the health of the blood vessels in the inner ear. Learning to listen *Please check with your healthcare provider before starting the Vitamin C Flush. Source: TriVita’s Weekly Wellness Report December 6, 2008 |
TriVita’s Vitamin C Flush
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| Boost Your Immune System and Cleanse your body and help get rid of toxins
Over time, your body collects toxins, or poisons, that can damage your health. They collect in your lymphatic system and this can affect your body’s ability to heal itself . What is the lymphatic system? The lymphatic or “lymph” system is an important part of the immune system. It’s made up of vessels, organs, nodes and ducts that help maintain fluid balance in your body. Plus, the lymph system makes, stores and carries white blood cells throughout your body. Toxins can pile up in your lymph nodes. Two thirds of your immune system resides in these lymph nodes. If they are full of toxins, your body will not respond correctly to new stresses. Also, allergies and autoimmune diseases can start with these nodes when they are full of waste. A process called a “Vitamin C Flush” can help your body get rid of this waste. The Vitamin C flush The Vitamin C Flush can help stimulate your lymphatic system and help you calculate the maximum amount of Vitamin C that your body can use every day. Because Vitamin C is water soluble, it must be taken every day. It is an important antioxidant that helps protect cells against damage caused by free radicals (unstable atoms or molecules). It also supports the body’s immune system and plays a role in healthy gums, skin, vision and connective tissue. Here’s how the Flush works: 1. Start your Flush in the morning on an empty stomach; set aside at least 4 hours of uninterrupted time at home. It will not take that long but you want to have that time to comfortably recover from the Flush. 2. Take 1 teaspoon of TriVita Non-Acidic Vitamin C Crystals in a little water every 15 minutes until the lymph system “Flushes.” This is the point where your body can no longer absorb Vitamin C. Example: Maximum of 6 teaspoons 5. Finish the bottle of Vitamin C at this reduced serving. You may continue taking this amount daily for several months if desired. The average person can Flush 1-4 times per year. In time, and after several Flushes, you may see that your daily Vitamin C needs go down to what may be considered a more normal serving – one or two teaspoons, twice a day. Source: VitaJournal Jan 2008 pg 21 |
Cut Your Risk Of Heart Disease
December 22, 2008 by admin
Filed under Heart Disease, Vitamin C
“C” how simple: Five smart ways to keep your health on a steady beat
What’s at the heart of good health? Of course, it’s that amazing muscle that sets the rhythm of life: the heart. To keep our hearts beating strong and long, experts recommend several proven, simple approaches. You’ve probably heard many of them (and if you practice TriVita’s 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness, you’re already doing a lot to stay heart-smart). But one vital area – proper nutrients – may not always be part of the picture when it comes to lowering the risk of heart disease.
#1: vitamins like “C” are key
It’s a sad fact of modern life: Much of our food is so processed and preserved that it doesn’t really nourish us. So, we often miss out on the essential vitamins and minerals needed for good health. This is why it’s so important to take quality supplements that promote a healthy heart… especially Vitamin C.
Vitamin C helps our bodies in several key ways:
• Helps grow and repair tissues• Needed to form collagen for skin, scar tissue, tendons and blood vessels • Aids in healing wounds • Repairs and builds cartilage, bones and teeth.
If you asked your heart, though, it would say that Vitamin C’s best work is as an antioxidant. This means it blocks some damage caused by oxidation inside the cells of our bodies. The heart is dangerously vulnerable to this damage, which is often indicated by high levels of homocysteine (HCY).
Unfortunately, our bodies can’t make Vitamin C or store it. So, if you don’t always get the C you need from food, it’s important to take the highest quality Vitamin C supplement available: Non-Acidic Vitamin C Crystals and Time- Release Tablets from TriVita. (For a great savings offer, see the ad on this page).
#2: help your heart with knife and fork
It’s true: You can eat your way toward (or away from) better heart health. Try to limit the trans fats and hydrogenated oils in foods like margarine, fast foods and fried foods. Also, cut down on refined sugar from cakes, cookies and candy. To lower cholesterol, cook with extra virgin olive oil and garlic for flavor.
#3: Make exercise part of life
To help keep life – and your heart – pumping along, make exercise a regular routine: try for three to four times a week, for at least a half hour per activity. Remember to start off slow, stretch before and after exercising, and drink plenty of water. Be sure to check with your healthcare professional before beginning any exercise program.
#4: Don’t light up, lighten up
To lighten the load on your heart, don’t light up. If you smoke, do all you can to stop, and to avoid exposing yourself to secondhand smoke. Both of these can cause heart disease.
#5: Check in with check-ups
Your regular health check-ups should include blood tests for four different substances that can indicate possible heart disease. These are: cholesterol, triglycerides (fats), homocysteine and C Reactive Protein. Let these five steps move you toward a healthier heart, a healthier you.
Source: VitaJournal August 2008 pg 8
Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema
| by Brazos Minshew, TriVita’s Chief Science Officer A man with emphysema was asked about his experience with the disease. He answered by describing the desperation of never getting a full breath. “What if you went to take a breath and nothing happened?” he asked. That is what having emphysema is like: you breathe, but nothing happens. Oxygen cannot get in and carbon dioxide can’t get out. The result is a feeling of slow suffocation. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are also called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These two conditions affect more than 25 million people in North America. COPD is the #4 killer right now and, with the current rate of increase, it is destined to be the #3 killer in just a few short years. |
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| Common causes Emphysema is triggered by smoking and irritants in the air. Emphysema traps carbon dioxide in the lungs and prevents oxygen from getting into the bloodstream. An interesting facet of our lung physiology is that the urge to breathe is triggered by an increase in carbon dioxide, not a deficiency of oxygen. As carbon dioxide builds up, the urge to breathe reaches a point of panic and desperation. This is the experience of people with emphysema. Chronic bronchitis is caused by inflammation in the lungs from pollution, allergy, infection and certain enzyme deficiencies. Often, medications that open the airways and bring relief to people that suffer with chronic bronchitis cause great distress when they wear off and the airways snap closed again. The rate of COPD from chronic bronchitis is increasing every year as pollution and allergies increase. Reducing your risk Avoiding irritants. Triggers for COPD include smoke and pollution. One key to respiratory health is isolation from these irritants.
Using Vitamin C as an antihistamine can also help protect delicate lung tissues from damaging pollution – including pollen. If inflammation has already developed in the lungs, proteolytic enzymes such as those found in Breathe Easy can be helpful. Another enzyme called CoEnzyme Q-10 is critical for lung health as it helps increase energy in the lung tissues and helps reduce resistance in the transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Finally, antioxidants such as those found in Adaptogen 10 Plus and Super Antioxidant Complex can help improve your lungs’ ability to function under even the most difficult circumstances. The importance of breath
Source: TriVita Wellness Report, November 15, 2008 |
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.
