Dear Reader, This report from 60 minutes is a year old and the situations described, the people making the best of their situations, have had a year under their belt. I wish I knew how they are doing today.
Here's the story if you missed it back then. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAHgr9dY9BU
My own experience with the ups and downs of our financial situation is that it takes a tremendous toll on our health. The worry and stress caused by not having a secure financial future eats away at our sleep, our eating habits, our routine of exercise, all the things we know to do and faithfully do when our attitude is positive.
My intention with this blog is not to put you in a bad mood going in to Christmas, but to partner with you in staying the course in all the things you have put into place to alleviate the economic crisis in your life. Don't let a sudden longing for those days when we could lavish gifts on our friends and family cause you to load up your credit card. The promise of a special trip to a special park or museum, a craft making day with a grandchild, a couple hours going through old pictures with no phone or other distractions would make wonderful Christmas gifts and cost very little.
If you know someone for whom an extra $500 - %1000 a month could make a big difference, perhaps they'd be open to talking with me about building a retirement business with Shaklee.
Be well, take your Stress Relief along with those long walks. Extra B complex always helps.
Two weeks to go. Stay calm. Betsy
206 933 1889
Http://HiHoHealth.com
Http://HiHoWealth.com
Betsy Bell
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
What about your skin? Here's a wonderful story of healing
Dear Pursuer of Better Health,
This story just came across my desk at a time of year when people often have difficulty with their skin. It demonstrates how dependent the skin, our largest organ, is on the well being of our other organs, the stomach, liver, lungs, gall bladder. They all work together and when everything is working well, the skin is beautiful.
SKIN TESTIMONY
When I was 13 years old, my face started breaking out. My sisters (6 of them) had peaches and cream complexions. My mom felt badly for me, so she started taking me to dermatologists. Within a 10 yr span, I went to 14 different doctors.
Each doctor had his own solution; and all of them included some type of antibiotic. I had salves (that burned), shots in my arm and cortisone shots in my face, dry ice therapy, sun lamp treatments, etc. Each time my skin would clear up, but then after stopping the treatments, my skin would break out again and get worse. My few pimples turned into acne and I was eventually referred to the head of dermatology at Johns Hopkins. There, they put me on 6 tetracycline tablets a day for 2 yrs. Can you imagine taking antibiotics for 2 yrs – and at such high levels? I moved to New York when I was 23 yrs. old. One day at my new job, my mom called to say she had made an appointment for me with the head of Columbia Hospital. I started crying and said that I was done. I couldn’t take the ups and downs, the disappointments anymore – I would rather have the acne!
When I got off the phone, Helen, one of the secretaries in the office heard me on the phone. She said, “I have something that will clear up your skin for good. It may take a year, but it will get to the root of the problem.” She was a beautiful woman – beautiful hair and skin, but she was always taking pills and I thought she must be sick!!!!! There was something so genuine and caring about what she said and how she said it that I was willing to give it a try.
She was very honest and said that my skin might get worse before it could get better because of all the medications I had taken. That it all had to come out so I could get better. And, that made sense to me. Well, the products she was talking about was Shaklee. I took ONLY 3 products – Energizing Soy Protein, Vita-Lea and Herb-Lax.
At first my skin did start breaking out – but at the same time a lot of other things started happening. I started sleeping better, my PMS symptoms went away, the skin around my eyes started looking healthier – no more circles, and I had more energy. I started experiencing a feeling of well being that I had NEVER experienced before. Well, true to Helen’s word, my skin was clear within 7 months. SHAKLEE DID IN 7 MONTHS WHAT 14 DOCTORS COULDN'T DO IN 10 YEARS!!! Barbara Mulin
This blog is more to inform than sell. If you go out there and find products equivalent to the ones mentioned manufactured by Shaklee, by all means, get the results attested to in the stories I bring to you. My intention is to provide information that is alternative to the traditional allopathic standard medical approach.
Be well, Betsy
Betsy Bell's Health4u
206 933 1889
www.HiHoWealth.com for the biz opportunity
www.TiredNoMore.com for the product
www.HiHoHealth.com to shop
This story just came across my desk at a time of year when people often have difficulty with their skin. It demonstrates how dependent the skin, our largest organ, is on the well being of our other organs, the stomach, liver, lungs, gall bladder. They all work together and when everything is working well, the skin is beautiful.
SKIN TESTIMONY
When I was 13 years old, my face started breaking out. My sisters (6 of them) had peaches and cream complexions. My mom felt badly for me, so she started taking me to dermatologists. Within a 10 yr span, I went to 14 different doctors.
Each doctor had his own solution; and all of them included some type of antibiotic. I had salves (that burned), shots in my arm and cortisone shots in my face, dry ice therapy, sun lamp treatments, etc. Each time my skin would clear up, but then after stopping the treatments, my skin would break out again and get worse. My few pimples turned into acne and I was eventually referred to the head of dermatology at Johns Hopkins. There, they put me on 6 tetracycline tablets a day for 2 yrs. Can you imagine taking antibiotics for 2 yrs – and at such high levels? I moved to New York when I was 23 yrs. old. One day at my new job, my mom called to say she had made an appointment for me with the head of Columbia Hospital. I started crying and said that I was done. I couldn’t take the ups and downs, the disappointments anymore – I would rather have the acne!
When I got off the phone, Helen, one of the secretaries in the office heard me on the phone. She said, “I have something that will clear up your skin for good. It may take a year, but it will get to the root of the problem.” She was a beautiful woman – beautiful hair and skin, but she was always taking pills and I thought she must be sick!!!!! There was something so genuine and caring about what she said and how she said it that I was willing to give it a try.
She was very honest and said that my skin might get worse before it could get better because of all the medications I had taken. That it all had to come out so I could get better. And, that made sense to me. Well, the products she was talking about was Shaklee. I took ONLY 3 products – Energizing Soy Protein, Vita-Lea and Herb-Lax.
At first my skin did start breaking out – but at the same time a lot of other things started happening. I started sleeping better, my PMS symptoms went away, the skin around my eyes started looking healthier – no more circles, and I had more energy. I started experiencing a feeling of well being that I had NEVER experienced before. Well, true to Helen’s word, my skin was clear within 7 months. SHAKLEE DID IN 7 MONTHS WHAT 14 DOCTORS COULDN'T DO IN 10 YEARS!!! Barbara Mulin
This blog is more to inform than sell. If you go out there and find products equivalent to the ones mentioned manufactured by Shaklee, by all means, get the results attested to in the stories I bring to you. My intention is to provide information that is alternative to the traditional allopathic standard medical approach.
Be well, Betsy
Betsy Bell's Health4u
206 933 1889
www.HiHoWealth.com for the biz opportunity
www.TiredNoMore.com for the product
www.HiHoHealth.com to shop
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Belly Fat and your health
Today is Thanksgiving. I am filled with gratitude for all the many people and things in my life and wish the same for you. The turkey is stuffed. The families are gathering. It is a wonderful day of quiet family celebration.
So why am I bringing up the uncomfortable subject of belly fat on a day of sanctioned gluttony? Ah, you chastise, leave us alone today of all days. I'm not suggesting to anyone that we begin the changes we need to make to rid ourselves of belly fat. But I'm sure you have noticed that some quite slim people do have this belly. The adolescent ratio of hip to waist has reversed itself and then some.
Who cares, you ask. I'm going to let the good Dr. Chaney help us understand why belly fat is bad.
First of all it is dangerous because of the inflammation that results. This fat is not inactive like the fat on our rear ends or upper arms. This fat is a busy mass of free radicals behaving like bowling balls rampaging through a china shop destroying every cell in its path. but that's just the beginning.
"What happens next is even worse!
"We start storing fat in our muscles, our liver and our pancreas.
"And you really don't want to store fat there.
"When we store fat in those tissues it leads directly to insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
"When we think of abdominal obesity the solution is pretty simple - weight loss and exercise.
"But, what do you do when you have fat organs?
"And, recent studies suggest that fat accumulation in heart muscle may play a role in heart failure and susceptibility to the kind of arrhythmia that can lead to sudden death following a heart attack.
"A recent review (Perez-Martinez et al., Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1801: 362-366, 2010) suggests that diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids may help.
"Fat accumulation in the liver precedes and predicts type 2 diabetes independently of obesity and even of fat distribution - but omega-3 fatty acids appear to help.
"Animal studies show that omega-3 fatty acids prevent fat accumulation in the liver, and a human clinical study showed that 2g/day of omega-3 fatty acids gave a complete regression of fatty liver symptoms in 33% of patients.
"I could go on, but you get the point. Diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids help prevent fat build-up in our organs and that decreases the risk of several major diseases.
"I'm not suggesting that you eat whatever you want and rely on omega-3 fatty acids to overcome all of the health consequences of obesity.
"But this does give us one more reason to make sure that our diets contain plenty of omega-3 fatty acids."
To Your Health!
Dr. Stephen G Chaney
Dr. Stephen Chaney
Shaklee Master Coordinator
http://www.socialmarketingconnection.com
888.860.2075
P.S. The "Heart Health" CD that my son and I recently recorded is now available for order at:
www.socialmarketingconnection.com
Betsy Bell's Health4U
206 933 1889
www.HiHoHealth.com
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
.
So why am I bringing up the uncomfortable subject of belly fat on a day of sanctioned gluttony? Ah, you chastise, leave us alone today of all days. I'm not suggesting to anyone that we begin the changes we need to make to rid ourselves of belly fat. But I'm sure you have noticed that some quite slim people do have this belly. The adolescent ratio of hip to waist has reversed itself and then some.
Who cares, you ask. I'm going to let the good Dr. Chaney help us understand why belly fat is bad.
First of all it is dangerous because of the inflammation that results. This fat is not inactive like the fat on our rear ends or upper arms. This fat is a busy mass of free radicals behaving like bowling balls rampaging through a china shop destroying every cell in its path. but that's just the beginning.
"What happens next is even worse!
"We start storing fat in our muscles, our liver and our pancreas.
"And you really don't want to store fat there.
"When we store fat in those tissues it leads directly to insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
"When we think of abdominal obesity the solution is pretty simple - weight loss and exercise.
"But, what do you do when you have fat organs?
"And, recent studies suggest that fat accumulation in heart muscle may play a role in heart failure and susceptibility to the kind of arrhythmia that can lead to sudden death following a heart attack.
"A recent review (Perez-Martinez et al., Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1801: 362-366, 2010) suggests that diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids may help.
"Fat accumulation in the liver precedes and predicts type 2 diabetes independently of obesity and even of fat distribution - but omega-3 fatty acids appear to help.
"Animal studies show that omega-3 fatty acids prevent fat accumulation in the liver, and a human clinical study showed that 2g/day of omega-3 fatty acids gave a complete regression of fatty liver symptoms in 33% of patients.
"I could go on, but you get the point. Diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids help prevent fat build-up in our organs and that decreases the risk of several major diseases.
"I'm not suggesting that you eat whatever you want and rely on omega-3 fatty acids to overcome all of the health consequences of obesity.
"But this does give us one more reason to make sure that our diets contain plenty of omega-3 fatty acids."
To Your Health!
Dr. Stephen G Chaney
Dr. Stephen Chaney
Shaklee Master Coordinator
http://www.socialmarketingconnection.com
888.860.2075
P.S. The "Heart Health" CD that my son and I recently recorded is now available for order at:
www.socialmarketingconnection.com
Betsy Bell's Health4U
206 933 1889
www.HiHoHealth.com
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Plants really do work better than drugs and here's why
I follow Dr. Weil's tweets and today clicked his link http://weil.ws/b0XBub to an article about the complex nature of plants and their medicinal effect on humans as compared to the "active ingredient" scientists are so quick to extract, synthetically reproduce, patent and market through our doctors and television ads. Our human evolution is part of the whole ecosystem and natural plants evolved along with us. When we eat the whole plant, our bodies choose the plant's particular property for our use. As Dr. Shaklee was fond of saying, eat a range of raw and lighted cooked foods, add supplements as needed and our cells will self-select what they need for health.
The example Dr. Weil gives is the cocoa leaf which both stimulates bowel action if one is constipated and calms diarrhea depending on which elements of the leaf were taken up by the ailing body. We westerners know cocoa as producing cocaine. The indigenous in South American use it for much more. When my family was traveling in Peru years ago, Ruth who was 8 at the time, was nausated from altitude sickness high in the Andes. Our guide searched the rocky slopes for yerba mate plant and had her chew a little to regain her equilibrium.
Enjoy the article. The take away is whole food supplements may be able to balance your body so you can avoid having to take drugs for all sorts of physical problems. Check out www.HiHoHealth.com for the best source of whole food supplements in North America.
In good health, Betsy
Betsy Bell's Health4U
206 933 1889
The example Dr. Weil gives is the cocoa leaf which both stimulates bowel action if one is constipated and calms diarrhea depending on which elements of the leaf were taken up by the ailing body. We westerners know cocoa as producing cocaine. The indigenous in South American use it for much more. When my family was traveling in Peru years ago, Ruth who was 8 at the time, was nausated from altitude sickness high in the Andes. Our guide searched the rocky slopes for yerba mate plant and had her chew a little to regain her equilibrium.
Enjoy the article. The take away is whole food supplements may be able to balance your body so you can avoid having to take drugs for all sorts of physical problems. Check out www.HiHoHealth.com for the best source of whole food supplements in North America.
In good health, Betsy
Betsy Bell's Health4U
206 933 1889
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Victory for the Breast Cancer Fund Safe Cosmetics Campaign
You may remember my efforts to promote the advocacy work of the Breast Cancer fund a few years ago when many of you supported my climb up Mt. Shasta to raise money for that group's work. You helped me raise a huge sum of money for the Climb Against the Odds. The Breast Cancer Fund's mission is to educate consumers about cancer causing agents and the products that contain them. Their mission is also to help pass laws that prohibit manufacturers from including their cancer causing chemicals to exist in products we buy. Not everything our stylist sells us is healthy and harmless. They may not be aware of these hazards.
Let me share a wonderful victory from their faithful efforts. You know the Brazilian Blowout hair products? Well, read this report: http://californiawatch.org/watchblog/attorney-general-targets-brazilian-blowout-over-chemical-6586. If you were one of the many friends who gave money to support my climb, thank you for helping make this victory possible.
Now, pass the word along and encourage your hair stylist to stop promoting this product, for the sake of our children and our own health.
In good health, Betsy
Betsy Bell's Health4U
206 933 1889
www.HiHoWealth.com for the biz opportunity
www.TiredNoMore.com for the product
www.HiHoHealth.com to shop
Let me share a wonderful victory from their faithful efforts. You know the Brazilian Blowout hair products? Well, read this report: http://californiawatch.org/watchblog/attorney-general-targets-brazilian-blowout-over-chemical-6586. If you were one of the many friends who gave money to support my climb, thank you for helping make this victory possible.
Now, pass the word along and encourage your hair stylist to stop promoting this product, for the sake of our children and our own health.
In good health, Betsy
Betsy Bell's Health4U
206 933 1889
www.HiHoWealth.com for the biz opportunity
www.TiredNoMore.com for the product
www.HiHoHealth.com to shop
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Food for thought: Apples
Thanks to my friend and colleague, Kate McCoy, awesome massage therapist and horticulturalist for this up coming series on the great benefits of eating food. I mean real food, not canned, frozen, bottled or processed. Just straight food.
If you’re looking for a tasty snack, you should know that apples are in a league of their own as far as fiber content goes. They have a soluble fiber called “pectin”, and are also really high in insoluble fiber. Both kinds of fiber are absolutely essential for the health of your intestines and colon.
For a great scientific article about the health benefits of apples, just click here.
To your good health, Betsy
Betsy Bell's Health4u
206 933 1889
www.HiHoWealth.com for the biz opportunity
www.TiredNoMore.com for the product
www.HiHoHealth.com to shop
If you’re looking for a tasty snack, you should know that apples are in a league of their own as far as fiber content goes. They have a soluble fiber called “pectin”, and are also really high in insoluble fiber. Both kinds of fiber are absolutely essential for the health of your intestines and colon.
For a great scientific article about the health benefits of apples, just click here.
To your good health, Betsy
Betsy Bell's Health4u
206 933 1889
www.HiHoWealth.com for the biz opportunity
www.TiredNoMore.com for the product
www.HiHoHealth.com to shop
Monday, November 1, 2010
Help for you or your friend who's running a marathon
October 24, 2010 (from NPR )
About 200,000 Americans will run marathons this year, and by some estimates about 4 out of 10 of them will bonk. That's runner-speak for "hitting the wall," which is what happens when a long-distance runner runs out of gas, metabolically speaking.
Hitting The Wall
Ben Rapoport hit the wall while running the New York City Marathon five years ago. Here's how he describes it: "Somewhere in the Bronx, I started to feel like I couldn't keep up the pace," he says. "It was awful. I couldn't make my legs run any faster. And when I tried, it was very painful."
Rapoport is getting a Ph.D. in electrical engineering this year at MIT. He also happens to be a Harvard medical student who plans to be a brain surgeon. You might say he's pretty driven. So he decided to apply his brain to the problem of hitting the wall. It's all about carbohydrates, he says.
What Happens
"When an athlete hits the wall, [he or she is] essentially running out of carbohydrates in the leg muscles and in the liver," Rapoport says. "So when you bring the carbohydrate fuel tank to empty, the body is forced then to metabolize fat rather than carbohydrates."
Fat is a much less efficient fuel than carbohydrate. It takes more oxygen to burn. So an athlete needs to pump more oxygen to the muscles to keep going. As a result, the athlete needs to slow down dramatically.
There are all sorts of recipes to avoid running out of carbohydrates. They involve "carbo-loading" — eating a lot of rice and pasta and other carbs before the race. There are also protocols for how to time these carbo pigouts to maximize the amount of carbohydrate that gets stored just where it's needed: in the legs.
How To Avoid The Wall
But Rapoport is a precise guy. He wanted to quantify just how many carbo calories a particular runner is capable of storing, and how much he or she would need to run a marathon at a particular pace.
Running Endurance Calculator
Use Ben Rapoport's mathematical formula to calculate your own endurance potential and how much carbo-loading you should do before a race. His formula occupies eight pages in a scientific paper just published in a journal called Public Library of Science (PLoS) Computational Biology.
Understanding Rapoport's formula requires an advanced degree. But in principle it's pretty straightforward — and accessible to any runner interested in finding the answers to two questions:
1. How can I avoid hitting the wall?
2. How fast a marathon could I potentially run?
To illustrate how Rapoport's formula works, I recruited a young marathoner, Erin Wyner. She met Rapoport and me at an MIT gym. Wyner, 29, says she just completed her eighth marathon with a time of 3:08:06. "That's an excellent time!" Rapoport says. "Have you ever hit the wall?"
"I have crashed and burned and hit the wall in my first marathon," she replies. "It was a mindless struggle, a death march to the end." (You have to take such statements from dedicated marathoners with a grain of salt. In fact, she finished that race with the enviable time of 3:35. But to her that was a disaster.)
How The Formula Works
First, Rapoport has to determine Wyner's maximal oxygen uptake. The technical term is VO2-max. There are fancy methods for determining a person's VO2-max, but Rapoport says a good-enough estimate can be derived from clocking an individual's heart rate at rest and while exercising. Wyner's resting pulse is 63 beats per minute. After she runs on a treadmill for a few minutes, Rapaport measures it again — 120 bpm running at 6.1 miles per hour.
Next he asks her weight — 100 pounds. Knowing her weight allows him to estimate how many carbs her liver and leg muscles can store.
Rapoport plugs all of the numbers into his computer and comes up with an answer that impresses Wyner. "It seems that you're capable at full carbohydrate loading of running a 2:44 marathon," he says.
"Wow!" she responds. "I'm surprised! I may never live up to it, but it's very intriguing. It's out there for me!"
To run her best time — and avoid bonking — Rapoport tells Wyner she'll need to stoke up before the race with 1,900 calories worth of carbs. And of course, she'll need a lot more training, not to mention that hard-to-quantify quality called grit.
Rapoport's formula isn't just for elite athletes, he says. Any long-distance runner can use it. "And," he says, "you'd better believe I'm plugging my numbers into that formula to know how many calories of carbohydrates to load before the race."
The race he's talking about is the New York City Marathon on Nov. 7 — the one he plans to run in 2:50.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HEALTHY CARBS & PRODUCTS BASED ON RESEARCH THAT HAS SUPPORTED OLYMPIANS FOR YEARS:
About 200,000 Americans will run marathons this year, and by some estimates about 4 out of 10 of them will bonk. That's runner-speak for "hitting the wall," which is what happens when a long-distance runner runs out of gas, metabolically speaking.
Hitting The Wall
Ben Rapoport hit the wall while running the New York City Marathon five years ago. Here's how he describes it: "Somewhere in the Bronx, I started to feel like I couldn't keep up the pace," he says. "It was awful. I couldn't make my legs run any faster. And when I tried, it was very painful."
Rapoport is getting a Ph.D. in electrical engineering this year at MIT. He also happens to be a Harvard medical student who plans to be a brain surgeon. You might say he's pretty driven. So he decided to apply his brain to the problem of hitting the wall. It's all about carbohydrates, he says.
What Happens
"When an athlete hits the wall, [he or she is] essentially running out of carbohydrates in the leg muscles and in the liver," Rapoport says. "So when you bring the carbohydrate fuel tank to empty, the body is forced then to metabolize fat rather than carbohydrates."
Fat is a much less efficient fuel than carbohydrate. It takes more oxygen to burn. So an athlete needs to pump more oxygen to the muscles to keep going. As a result, the athlete needs to slow down dramatically.
There are all sorts of recipes to avoid running out of carbohydrates. They involve "carbo-loading" — eating a lot of rice and pasta and other carbs before the race. There are also protocols for how to time these carbo pigouts to maximize the amount of carbohydrate that gets stored just where it's needed: in the legs.
How To Avoid The Wall
But Rapoport is a precise guy. He wanted to quantify just how many carbo calories a particular runner is capable of storing, and how much he or she would need to run a marathon at a particular pace.
Running Endurance Calculator
Use Ben Rapoport's mathematical formula to calculate your own endurance potential and how much carbo-loading you should do before a race. His formula occupies eight pages in a scientific paper just published in a journal called Public Library of Science (PLoS) Computational Biology.
Understanding Rapoport's formula requires an advanced degree. But in principle it's pretty straightforward — and accessible to any runner interested in finding the answers to two questions:
1. How can I avoid hitting the wall?
2. How fast a marathon could I potentially run?
To illustrate how Rapoport's formula works, I recruited a young marathoner, Erin Wyner. She met Rapoport and me at an MIT gym. Wyner, 29, says she just completed her eighth marathon with a time of 3:08:06. "That's an excellent time!" Rapoport says. "Have you ever hit the wall?"
"I have crashed and burned and hit the wall in my first marathon," she replies. "It was a mindless struggle, a death march to the end." (You have to take such statements from dedicated marathoners with a grain of salt. In fact, she finished that race with the enviable time of 3:35. But to her that was a disaster.)
How The Formula Works
First, Rapoport has to determine Wyner's maximal oxygen uptake. The technical term is VO2-max. There are fancy methods for determining a person's VO2-max, but Rapoport says a good-enough estimate can be derived from clocking an individual's heart rate at rest and while exercising. Wyner's resting pulse is 63 beats per minute. After she runs on a treadmill for a few minutes, Rapaport measures it again — 120 bpm running at 6.1 miles per hour.
Next he asks her weight — 100 pounds. Knowing her weight allows him to estimate how many carbs her liver and leg muscles can store.
Rapoport plugs all of the numbers into his computer and comes up with an answer that impresses Wyner. "It seems that you're capable at full carbohydrate loading of running a 2:44 marathon," he says.
"Wow!" she responds. "I'm surprised! I may never live up to it, but it's very intriguing. It's out there for me!"
To run her best time — and avoid bonking — Rapoport tells Wyner she'll need to stoke up before the race with 1,900 calories worth of carbs. And of course, she'll need a lot more training, not to mention that hard-to-quantify quality called grit.
Rapoport's formula isn't just for elite athletes, he says. Any long-distance runner can use it. "And," he says, "you'd better believe I'm plugging my numbers into that formula to know how many calories of carbohydrates to load before the race."
The race he's talking about is the New York City Marathon on Nov. 7 — the one he plans to run in 2:50.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HEALTHY CARBS & PRODUCTS BASED ON RESEARCH THAT HAS SUPPORTED OLYMPIANS FOR YEARS:
Monday, October 25, 2010
Healthy Holloween treats: Is it possible?
Here we are, on the eve of one of the biggest sugar splurges we endure every year. Is there any way to avoid it? Dr. Weil is a tweeter I follow and he just put out this excellent article of suggestions I hope you find useful. http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART03149/Healthy-Halloween-Treats.html
If, Heaven forbid, you should find yourself eating up all that left over Halloween candy (who would do that?!), you might be happy to have a bottle of Vivix on hand. I'm going to quote the Dr. Stephen Chaney article about the Vivix study and Nrf2 so you can understand why Vivix anti-aging tonic could help if you should find yourself over indulging.
Shaklee’s study with Vivix was a randomized, placebo controlled clinical study, the most rigorous kind of clinical study. It was also an independent study performed not by Shaklee, but by scientists at State University of New York at Buffalo.
In short, this was the real deal! In this study, a group of volunteers consumed a 910 calorie breakfast from Burger King. One half of the group took Vivix immediately after breakfast and the other half took a placebo. For the group consuming Vivix a key genetic regulator of longevity called Nrf2 (pronounced Nerf 2) increased dramatically within the first 3 hours after the meal. For the placebo group Nrf2 levels actually declined.
If you are feeling a bit under whelmed at the moment, it’s probably because this is the kind of study that needs a bit of additional explanation before you can fully appreciate it. Let’s start with the breakfast, which I have somewhat jokingly referred to as the “breakfast of champions”.
You see that Burger King breakfast is loaded with the wrong kinds of fat – saturated fat & trans fat. That’s the kind of fat that clogs your arteries. Not only does it clog your arteries, but it also causes your arteries to contract dramatically right after the meal. If those arteries are already clogged from previous high fat meals…You guessed it…It can trigger a heart attack or stroke.
If you’re lucky it could mean a trip to the emergency room. But, the most frequent symptom of heart disease is sudden death – often triggered by that fat laden ”Happy Meal, If you’ll pardon the mixed metaphor” And it isn’t just Burger King. Almost any fast food meal will do.
Now that I have your attention, let’s talk about the protective effects of antioxidants.
In fact, you may have heard about previous clinical studies showing that supplementation with vitamin E or other antioxidants immediately after the “Happy Meal” can prevent that narrowing of the arteries and perhaps save you from that trip to the emergency room.
You might be asking “What does that have to do with Nrf2 and Vivix?” Be patient, I’m getting there. You see when we are young; a “Happy Meal” will trigger an increase in Nrf2 which in turn increases production of our body’s own antioxidant defense mechanisms. Nrf2 also triggers our detoxification pathways so that we can get rid of all of the artificial food additives and preservatives in that “Happy Meal”.
Nrf2 triggers our immune balance pathways (high fat meals depress the immune system and can also cause inflammatory and autoimmune responses). Finally, Nrf2 triggers our anti-stress pathways (high fat meals trigger cortisol production, which can accelerate the aging process) and much, much more.
But when we get older, Nrf2 is no longer triggered by those high fat meals and we lose our natural protective mechanisms. When that happens the aging process, and our risk of heart attack or stroke, is increased by every high fat meal that we consume.
By now you are probably starting to understand why the ability of Vivix to activate the Nrf2 gene is such a big deal. But, I don’t want you to think of Vivix as simply an antidote to a bad diet. You see Vivix turns on Nrf2 whether you are consuming a high fat meal or not.
Just think how much more beneficial it will be to keep your natural antioxidant defense mechanisms, your detoxification systems, your immune system, and your anti-stress systems in tip top shape without wasting those resources having to compensate for the effects of a bad diet.
So let me summarize what this study shows:
a) Vivix activates the Nrf2 gene, which is a master regulator of longevity.
b) This shows that the dosage of resveratrol and ellagic acid in Vivix is appropriate
c) That those beneficial polyphenols get into your bloodstream (they are bioavailable) and that they have their intended anti- aging benefits.
d) In short the study shows that Vivix works in real people like you & me.
Nrf2, in turn, activates the body’s antioxidant defense mechanisms, detoxification mechanisms, immune
balancing mechanisms and anti-stress mechanisms. These are all mechanisms that slow down cellular aging and reduce the risk of degenerative diseases.
Vivix can reduce the damage caused by a high fat diet, but will be even more effective at slowing the aging process if used along with a good diet and a lifestyle that includes weight control and exercise. The study actually shows much more than this, but Shaklee can’t release the other data until the manuscript has been accepted for publication. So stay tuned for even more exciting results in the future.
To your health!
Dr. Stephen Chaney, PhD
And Happy Halloween from me, Betsy Bell
BetsyBell's Health4U
206 933 1889
1 888 283 2077
www.HiHoHealth.com
If, Heaven forbid, you should find yourself eating up all that left over Halloween candy (who would do that?!), you might be happy to have a bottle of Vivix on hand. I'm going to quote the Dr. Stephen Chaney article about the Vivix study and Nrf2 so you can understand why Vivix anti-aging tonic could help if you should find yourself over indulging.
Shaklee’s study with Vivix was a randomized, placebo controlled clinical study, the most rigorous kind of clinical study. It was also an independent study performed not by Shaklee, but by scientists at State University of New York at Buffalo.
In short, this was the real deal! In this study, a group of volunteers consumed a 910 calorie breakfast from Burger King. One half of the group took Vivix immediately after breakfast and the other half took a placebo. For the group consuming Vivix a key genetic regulator of longevity called Nrf2 (pronounced Nerf 2) increased dramatically within the first 3 hours after the meal. For the placebo group Nrf2 levels actually declined.
If you are feeling a bit under whelmed at the moment, it’s probably because this is the kind of study that needs a bit of additional explanation before you can fully appreciate it. Let’s start with the breakfast, which I have somewhat jokingly referred to as the “breakfast of champions”.
You see that Burger King breakfast is loaded with the wrong kinds of fat – saturated fat & trans fat. That’s the kind of fat that clogs your arteries. Not only does it clog your arteries, but it also causes your arteries to contract dramatically right after the meal. If those arteries are already clogged from previous high fat meals…You guessed it…It can trigger a heart attack or stroke.
If you’re lucky it could mean a trip to the emergency room. But, the most frequent symptom of heart disease is sudden death – often triggered by that fat laden ”Happy Meal, If you’ll pardon the mixed metaphor” And it isn’t just Burger King. Almost any fast food meal will do.
Now that I have your attention, let’s talk about the protective effects of antioxidants.
In fact, you may have heard about previous clinical studies showing that supplementation with vitamin E or other antioxidants immediately after the “Happy Meal” can prevent that narrowing of the arteries and perhaps save you from that trip to the emergency room.
You might be asking “What does that have to do with Nrf2 and Vivix?” Be patient, I’m getting there. You see when we are young; a “Happy Meal” will trigger an increase in Nrf2 which in turn increases production of our body’s own antioxidant defense mechanisms. Nrf2 also triggers our detoxification pathways so that we can get rid of all of the artificial food additives and preservatives in that “Happy Meal”.
Nrf2 triggers our immune balance pathways (high fat meals depress the immune system and can also cause inflammatory and autoimmune responses). Finally, Nrf2 triggers our anti-stress pathways (high fat meals trigger cortisol production, which can accelerate the aging process) and much, much more.
But when we get older, Nrf2 is no longer triggered by those high fat meals and we lose our natural protective mechanisms. When that happens the aging process, and our risk of heart attack or stroke, is increased by every high fat meal that we consume.
By now you are probably starting to understand why the ability of Vivix to activate the Nrf2 gene is such a big deal. But, I don’t want you to think of Vivix as simply an antidote to a bad diet. You see Vivix turns on Nrf2 whether you are consuming a high fat meal or not.
Just think how much more beneficial it will be to keep your natural antioxidant defense mechanisms, your detoxification systems, your immune system, and your anti-stress systems in tip top shape without wasting those resources having to compensate for the effects of a bad diet.
So let me summarize what this study shows:
a) Vivix activates the Nrf2 gene, which is a master regulator of longevity.
b) This shows that the dosage of resveratrol and ellagic acid in Vivix is appropriate
c) That those beneficial polyphenols get into your bloodstream (they are bioavailable) and that they have their intended anti- aging benefits.
d) In short the study shows that Vivix works in real people like you & me.
Nrf2, in turn, activates the body’s antioxidant defense mechanisms, detoxification mechanisms, immune
balancing mechanisms and anti-stress mechanisms. These are all mechanisms that slow down cellular aging and reduce the risk of degenerative diseases.
Vivix can reduce the damage caused by a high fat diet, but will be even more effective at slowing the aging process if used along with a good diet and a lifestyle that includes weight control and exercise. The study actually shows much more than this, but Shaklee can’t release the other data until the manuscript has been accepted for publication. So stay tuned for even more exciting results in the future.
To your health!
Dr. Stephen Chaney, PhD
And Happy Halloween from me, Betsy Bell
BetsyBell's Health4U
206 933 1889
1 888 283 2077
www.HiHoHealth.com
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Discouraged about preventing Alzheimers?
My friend and colleague, Dr. Stephen Chaney has been reading the recent journal articles and research that suggest we can't prevent or slow down the onset of Alzheimers Disease. I appreciate his observations and wanted to pass them on to you:
I've read some pretty discouraging reviews on Alzheimers Disease lately.
Some experts are claiming that there's not much you can do to prevent it.
They say that exercise, diet, weight loss, Ginkgo Biloba, B vitamins and antioxidants have not been proven to be effective in decreasing the risk or slowing the onset of Alzheimers Disease and other forms of dementia.
That's pretty grim news for those of us who like to be proactive when it comes to protecting our health & well being. It almost makes you say "Why bother?".
But, the problem is that the studies that those experts are referring to were looking at one variable at a time.
Some of those studies show benefits, but others don't.
So it all seems pretty murky.
But what if you tried a more holistic approach? What if you looked at more than one variable at a time?
Well a group headed by Dr. Nikolaos Scarmeas did just that (JAMA, 302:
627-637, 2009). They looked at the effect of both diet and exercise on the risk of developing Alzheimers.
They enrolled 1880 elderly subjects from Northern Manhattan with an average age of 77 in their study.
All of the subjects were healthy and free of dementia at the start of the study.
They found that those subjects who most closely followed a Mediterranean diet were 40% less likely to develop Alzheimers over the next five and a half years than the subjects who were consuming a typical American diet.
And those subjects who were physically very active were 33% less likely to develop Alzheimers than the couch potatoes.
But those subjects who closely followed the Mediterranean diet and were physically active were a whopping 60% less likely to develop Alzheimers than the junk food eating couch potatoes.
In a smaller study the effect of diet alone or exercise alone might not have been large enough to approach statistical significance - which explains the ambiguous results obtained from many of those studies that have focused on only one variable at a time.
But, the effect of combining both diet and exercise is of obvious benefit.
So, if you'd like to prevent Alzheimers and other dementias as you age, my best advice would be to double up - follow a good diet and get plenty of exercise.
But why stop there? Why not try adding Ginkgo Biloba, B vitamins and antioxidant supplements for a triple play?
What the heck - Why not just pile on and aim for ideal body weight as well?
There is some evidence that each of those approaches reduces the risk of Alzheimers.
The evidence may not be good enough to recommend any one of them by itself, but they should all be considered as part of a holistic approach to reducing the risk of developing Alzheimers and other age-related dementias.
To Your Health!
Dr. Stephen G Chaney
So, take heart, don't be discouraged. Do what needs to be done and enjoy your good health while it lasts.
Betsy
BetsyBell's Health4U
206 933 1889
1 888 285 2077
www.HiHoHealth.com
I've read some pretty discouraging reviews on Alzheimers Disease lately.
Some experts are claiming that there's not much you can do to prevent it.
They say that exercise, diet, weight loss, Ginkgo Biloba, B vitamins and antioxidants have not been proven to be effective in decreasing the risk or slowing the onset of Alzheimers Disease and other forms of dementia.
That's pretty grim news for those of us who like to be proactive when it comes to protecting our health & well being. It almost makes you say "Why bother?".
But, the problem is that the studies that those experts are referring to were looking at one variable at a time.
Some of those studies show benefits, but others don't.
So it all seems pretty murky.
But what if you tried a more holistic approach? What if you looked at more than one variable at a time?
Well a group headed by Dr. Nikolaos Scarmeas did just that (JAMA, 302:
627-637, 2009). They looked at the effect of both diet and exercise on the risk of developing Alzheimers.
They enrolled 1880 elderly subjects from Northern Manhattan with an average age of 77 in their study.
All of the subjects were healthy and free of dementia at the start of the study.
They found that those subjects who most closely followed a Mediterranean diet were 40% less likely to develop Alzheimers over the next five and a half years than the subjects who were consuming a typical American diet.
And those subjects who were physically very active were 33% less likely to develop Alzheimers than the couch potatoes.
But those subjects who closely followed the Mediterranean diet and were physically active were a whopping 60% less likely to develop Alzheimers than the junk food eating couch potatoes.
In a smaller study the effect of diet alone or exercise alone might not have been large enough to approach statistical significance - which explains the ambiguous results obtained from many of those studies that have focused on only one variable at a time.
But, the effect of combining both diet and exercise is of obvious benefit.
So, if you'd like to prevent Alzheimers and other dementias as you age, my best advice would be to double up - follow a good diet and get plenty of exercise.
But why stop there? Why not try adding Ginkgo Biloba, B vitamins and antioxidant supplements for a triple play?
What the heck - Why not just pile on and aim for ideal body weight as well?
There is some evidence that each of those approaches reduces the risk of Alzheimers.
The evidence may not be good enough to recommend any one of them by itself, but they should all be considered as part of a holistic approach to reducing the risk of developing Alzheimers and other age-related dementias.
To Your Health!
Dr. Stephen G Chaney
So, take heart, don't be discouraged. Do what needs to be done and enjoy your good health while it lasts.
Betsy
BetsyBell's Health4U
206 933 1889
1 888 285 2077
www.HiHoHealth.com
Monday, October 11, 2010
Need help with allergies? One person's solution
Severe Allergies Helped Naturally
I'm allergic to pollen, dust, grass, weed, trees, feathers, fun, certain scents, dogs, cats and certain food (citrus, fish, cashews or anything processed in a plant with tree nuts). I also have asthma. I suffered oozy itchy rashes on my hands so bad I could hardly bend my fingers and couldn't work as a nail tech. For years I would break out all over my body every time the wind blew. I was always getting nosebleeds. I was constantly sick with bronchitis, and pretty much had no vice for 4-6 months out of the year. I tried over the counter, and every prescription med, inhalers, nose sprays, you name it. Zyrtec worked the best but made me absolutely crazy and I had to quit taking it. I was getting allergy shots for a while and they helped a lot, but the series were sporadic, due to red tape in the MediCal system, and a couple times I had anaphylactic reactions to the shots which was really scary! The last time MediCal stopped my shots was when the Nutriferon first cam out. I was freaking about the shots because if I didn't get them every week, I'd be back to the same symptoms and end up with bronchitis and losing my voice, etc.
I was a non-committed Shaklee user, but decided to give the Nutriferon a try at the urging of my sponsor. My God, what a difference! I doubled up on it the first few days, then took two a day regularly for a long time. I did go without it for about a week at one point, and that is where I really saw the difference because the symptoms came back!
Other than that, I've been basically symptom free since I started taking the Nutriferon, and I've gotten friends who were distributors for other companies taking it for their allergies and asthma because they saw the difference in me an how much better I was since I started taking the Nutriferon. I've only been taking one a day for a while now, along with the foundation vitamins (Vitalizer & Protein), plus Alfalfa & Calcium.
I have seven children, one with severe allergies who also takes Nutriferon. My oldest daughter, who is in college in Santa Cruz, takes it every day and she was the only on in school that didn't get sick the whole year, except once, and that time she recovered really fast when she double up on the Nutriferon. The other kids take it when others around them are getting sick at school and work. It feels good to be able to go outside on a beautiful day and not be afraid of breaking out in a rash. I even go outside when it is windy and still have my voice! Recently I went on a five-mile hike when everything was blooming and didn't even sneeze or get wheezy! Nutriferon is amazing stuff - I can't help but be excited about it!
God Bless the doctor who developed it!
T. Colvin
So what is NutriFeron? Developed by the doctor who discovered Interferon in the human body, NutriFeron is a blend of plant extracts that stimulate the production of Interferon. Interferon is the messanger that carries information about a pathagen (allergen) to the lymph nodes where antibodies are made to fight it. Our bodies need help doing this. Some bodies need more help than others. Dr. Kojima was sure he could isolate plant materials that would gently encourage the human body to make its own interferon more efficiently. It took him 40 years to find the right effective combination. Shaklee has the exclusive right to sell this product and it works.
Why not try it if you suffer from allergies? You get your money back if you are not satisfied.
Betsy Bell's Health4U
206 933 1889 1 888 283 2077
betsy@HiHoHealth.com
www.HiHohealth.com
I'm allergic to pollen, dust, grass, weed, trees, feathers, fun, certain scents, dogs, cats and certain food (citrus, fish, cashews or anything processed in a plant with tree nuts). I also have asthma. I suffered oozy itchy rashes on my hands so bad I could hardly bend my fingers and couldn't work as a nail tech. For years I would break out all over my body every time the wind blew. I was always getting nosebleeds. I was constantly sick with bronchitis, and pretty much had no vice for 4-6 months out of the year. I tried over the counter, and every prescription med, inhalers, nose sprays, you name it. Zyrtec worked the best but made me absolutely crazy and I had to quit taking it. I was getting allergy shots for a while and they helped a lot, but the series were sporadic, due to red tape in the MediCal system, and a couple times I had anaphylactic reactions to the shots which was really scary! The last time MediCal stopped my shots was when the Nutriferon first cam out. I was freaking about the shots because if I didn't get them every week, I'd be back to the same symptoms and end up with bronchitis and losing my voice, etc.
I was a non-committed Shaklee user, but decided to give the Nutriferon a try at the urging of my sponsor. My God, what a difference! I doubled up on it the first few days, then took two a day regularly for a long time. I did go without it for about a week at one point, and that is where I really saw the difference because the symptoms came back!
Other than that, I've been basically symptom free since I started taking the Nutriferon, and I've gotten friends who were distributors for other companies taking it for their allergies and asthma because they saw the difference in me an how much better I was since I started taking the Nutriferon. I've only been taking one a day for a while now, along with the foundation vitamins (Vitalizer & Protein), plus Alfalfa & Calcium.
I have seven children, one with severe allergies who also takes Nutriferon. My oldest daughter, who is in college in Santa Cruz, takes it every day and she was the only on in school that didn't get sick the whole year, except once, and that time she recovered really fast when she double up on the Nutriferon. The other kids take it when others around them are getting sick at school and work. It feels good to be able to go outside on a beautiful day and not be afraid of breaking out in a rash. I even go outside when it is windy and still have my voice! Recently I went on a five-mile hike when everything was blooming and didn't even sneeze or get wheezy! Nutriferon is amazing stuff - I can't help but be excited about it!
God Bless the doctor who developed it!
T. Colvin
So what is NutriFeron? Developed by the doctor who discovered Interferon in the human body, NutriFeron is a blend of plant extracts that stimulate the production of Interferon. Interferon is the messanger that carries information about a pathagen (allergen) to the lymph nodes where antibodies are made to fight it. Our bodies need help doing this. Some bodies need more help than others. Dr. Kojima was sure he could isolate plant materials that would gently encourage the human body to make its own interferon more efficiently. It took him 40 years to find the right effective combination. Shaklee has the exclusive right to sell this product and it works.
Why not try it if you suffer from allergies? You get your money back if you are not satisfied.
Betsy Bell's Health4U
206 933 1889 1 888 283 2077
betsy@HiHoHealth.com
www.HiHohealth.com
Monday, October 4, 2010
Vitamin D and autism, what most pediatricians don't know
As a consumer of medical care, you must take responsibility for your own health.
When this chronical of a mother with an autistic child came across my desk thanks to Dee T., a friend and client, I felt I had to share it. It is long. Read it if you are curious about autism and the role of diet, sunshine, Vitamin D. Read it if you would like to witness the fear and anxiety of a mother who is going way outside her comfort zone as she does not follow her doctor's advice. Read it if you have similar doubts and need courage to seek alternative paths for your health and the health of your children. Here's the link to the email thread.
Now, I'm not an expert, not a doctor, not a certified nutritionist. However I've been following the world of alternative health for 2 decades and learned a great deal that has benefitted my health and the health of many friends and clients. Probably the most significant findings in recent months have been about Vitamin D and what roles it plays in the body. Those who are working in this area are way out in front of the standard medical profession.
My primary driver for having a Shaklee business evolved from my own determination to take responsibility for my own health. I was convinced after being diagnosed with breast cancer at age 34 that the medicines I took for upper respiratory infections as a child and young adult had a contributing factor in weakening my immune system. When I finally found a company whose products gave me good health, I decided I had to share my growing knowledge and the solutions I was discovering with everyone I knew. Not everyone has been grateful for my enthusiasm!
I hope you enjoy this very interesting chronical.
In good health, Betsy
Betsy Bell'sHealth4U
206 933 1889
www.HiHoHealth.com
When this chronical of a mother with an autistic child came across my desk thanks to Dee T., a friend and client, I felt I had to share it. It is long. Read it if you are curious about autism and the role of diet, sunshine, Vitamin D. Read it if you would like to witness the fear and anxiety of a mother who is going way outside her comfort zone as she does not follow her doctor's advice. Read it if you have similar doubts and need courage to seek alternative paths for your health and the health of your children. Here's the link to the email thread.
Now, I'm not an expert, not a doctor, not a certified nutritionist. However I've been following the world of alternative health for 2 decades and learned a great deal that has benefitted my health and the health of many friends and clients. Probably the most significant findings in recent months have been about Vitamin D and what roles it plays in the body. Those who are working in this area are way out in front of the standard medical profession.
My primary driver for having a Shaklee business evolved from my own determination to take responsibility for my own health. I was convinced after being diagnosed with breast cancer at age 34 that the medicines I took for upper respiratory infections as a child and young adult had a contributing factor in weakening my immune system. When I finally found a company whose products gave me good health, I decided I had to share my growing knowledge and the solutions I was discovering with everyone I knew. Not everyone has been grateful for my enthusiasm!
I hope you enjoy this very interesting chronical.
In good health, Betsy
Betsy Bell'sHealth4U
206 933 1889
www.HiHoHealth.com
Monday, September 27, 2010
Plants that help and taste delicious!
My good friend and fellow health guru, Kate mcCoy, has shared some wonderful information about various plants we eat or at least know about. I'd like to share her mailing with you over the next few days and hope you will find the wisdom here that I have found. Better yet, begin to include these foods in your diet for great health benefits.
When time doesn't allow for eating right, you can rely on Shaklee's Vitalizer to provide the foundation.
Here we go with Basil
Did you know that basil, aside from being a delicious herb, is also a powerful antioxidant? Basil is rich in beta-carotene, which is a more powerful antioxidant than vitamin A and helps prevent cholesterol from getting oxidized in the blood stream – which keeps it from sticking to the walls of blood vessels.
For a great scientific article about the health benefits of basil, just click here.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Low Fat vs. Low carb????
So which is it? My favorite medical professor has some thoughts to share about this so read on:
You would think the question of low carb versus low fat
diets would be settled by now.
Literally dozens of studies have been published on the
subject and they are all in pretty much agreement that
initial weight loss (mostly water) is faster on the low
carb diets but that weight loss at one or two years is
essentially the same on the two diets.
The unique feature of the study just published in
Annals of Internal Medicine (153: 147-157, 2010) was
that it included an intensive behavior modification
program to optimize the weight loss over the two year
period of the study.
Here is how the study was conducted:
The low-carbohydrate group was instructed to eat no
more than 20 grams of carbohydrate per day for 3 months
and then to increase the carbohydrate by no more than 5
grams per day each week until they achieved their
desired weight.
The low-fat group was instructed to decrease calories
and restrict fat intake to no more than 30% of
calories.
All of the patients were enrolled in a lifestyle
program designed to help them improve their physical
activity and other lifestyle factors.
The program met weekly for 20 weeks, every other week
for another 20 weeks, and then monthly for the rest of
the 2-year study. In short, this was a very good
behavior modification program.
Weight, blood pressure, blood lipid levels and side
effects were measured at the beginning of the program
and at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months.
Considering the enormous effort put into behavior
modification, the results of this study were somewhat
disappointing.
The participants lost an average of only 22 pounds and
the end of year one and had gained back 7 of those
pounds by the end of year two.
And that only included the ~50% who stayed with the
program for the whole two years. Who knows how much
weight was gained by the people who dropped out of the
study?
Since the behavior modification program used in this
study did not significantly impact either weight loss
or weight maintenance, it's perhaps not surprising that
the other findings of this study are pretty much the
same as the findings from previous studies.
Weight loss was slightly greater in the low carb
group at 6 months, but did not differ significantly
between the two groups at either 1 year or two years.
Triglyceride levels and blood pressure were lower for
the low carb group at 6 and 12 months, but were the
same for both groups at 2 years.
The only significant differences between the two groups
at 2 years were LDL (bad) cholesterol levels - which
were significantly lower in the low fat group - and HDL
(good) cholesterol levels - which were significantly
higher in the low carb group.
Ironically, I've already seen blogs from proponents of
the low carb diets trumpeting the increase in HDL
levels as "proof" that low carb diets are better for
your heart.
But, it's not just HDL or LDL that's important, it's
the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol that
determines your risk of heart disease.
And at two years the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL
cholesterol was virtually identical on the two diets.
As for side effects, the patients on the low carb diet
reported more constipation and more problems with bad
breath. If you've beeen on a low carb diet before,
that's probably not news to you.
So what is the take home message from this study?
1) The laws of thermodynamics still work. It's all
about calories in versus calories out. Low carb and low
fat diets work equally well for weight loss.
2) If you just focus on blood lipid levels and blood
pressure there is also no significant difference
between the two diets.
However, I still recommend against high fat (low carb)
diets as a long term lifestyle strategy.
We know that high fat diets are much more likely to
cause inflammation - which is a risk factor for
multiple diseases.
We also know that long term consumption of high fat
diets is associated with increased risk of heart
disease, certain types of cancers & diabetes.
To Your Health!
Dr. Stephen G Chaney
P. S. Coming next week: "A Diet Plan That Works"
In good health, Betsy
Betsy Bell's Health4u
206-933-1889
www.HiHoHealth.com
www.TiredNoMore.com
You would think the question of low carb versus low fat
diets would be settled by now.
Literally dozens of studies have been published on the
subject and they are all in pretty much agreement that
initial weight loss (mostly water) is faster on the low
carb diets but that weight loss at one or two years is
essentially the same on the two diets.
The unique feature of the study just published in
Annals of Internal Medicine (153: 147-157, 2010) was
that it included an intensive behavior modification
program to optimize the weight loss over the two year
period of the study.
Here is how the study was conducted:
The low-carbohydrate group was instructed to eat no
more than 20 grams of carbohydrate per day for 3 months
and then to increase the carbohydrate by no more than 5
grams per day each week until they achieved their
desired weight.
The low-fat group was instructed to decrease calories
and restrict fat intake to no more than 30% of
calories.
All of the patients were enrolled in a lifestyle
program designed to help them improve their physical
activity and other lifestyle factors.
The program met weekly for 20 weeks, every other week
for another 20 weeks, and then monthly for the rest of
the 2-year study. In short, this was a very good
behavior modification program.
Weight, blood pressure, blood lipid levels and side
effects were measured at the beginning of the program
and at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months.
Considering the enormous effort put into behavior
modification, the results of this study were somewhat
disappointing.
The participants lost an average of only 22 pounds and
the end of year one and had gained back 7 of those
pounds by the end of year two.
And that only included the ~50% who stayed with the
program for the whole two years. Who knows how much
weight was gained by the people who dropped out of the
study?
Since the behavior modification program used in this
study did not significantly impact either weight loss
or weight maintenance, it's perhaps not surprising that
the other findings of this study are pretty much the
same as the findings from previous studies.
Weight loss was slightly greater in the low carb
group at 6 months, but did not differ significantly
between the two groups at either 1 year or two years.
Triglyceride levels and blood pressure were lower for
the low carb group at 6 and 12 months, but were the
same for both groups at 2 years.
The only significant differences between the two groups
at 2 years were LDL (bad) cholesterol levels - which
were significantly lower in the low fat group - and HDL
(good) cholesterol levels - which were significantly
higher in the low carb group.
Ironically, I've already seen blogs from proponents of
the low carb diets trumpeting the increase in HDL
levels as "proof" that low carb diets are better for
your heart.
But, it's not just HDL or LDL that's important, it's
the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol that
determines your risk of heart disease.
And at two years the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL
cholesterol was virtually identical on the two diets.
As for side effects, the patients on the low carb diet
reported more constipation and more problems with bad
breath. If you've beeen on a low carb diet before,
that's probably not news to you.
So what is the take home message from this study?
1) The laws of thermodynamics still work. It's all
about calories in versus calories out. Low carb and low
fat diets work equally well for weight loss.
2) If you just focus on blood lipid levels and blood
pressure there is also no significant difference
between the two diets.
However, I still recommend against high fat (low carb)
diets as a long term lifestyle strategy.
We know that high fat diets are much more likely to
cause inflammation - which is a risk factor for
multiple diseases.
We also know that long term consumption of high fat
diets is associated with increased risk of heart
disease, certain types of cancers & diabetes.
To Your Health!
Dr. Stephen G Chaney
P. S. Coming next week: "A Diet Plan That Works"
In good health, Betsy
Betsy Bell's Health4u
206-933-1889
www.HiHoHealth.com
www.TiredNoMore.com
Monday, September 13, 2010
Help after a brain injury
This is an unusual story I thought worth sharing as is shows two things:
First the power of supplementation for overcoming serious health problems.
Second, the value this person placed on buying Shaklee vitamins even when she lost her job.
Here's the story as passed along from Bob Ferguson by Miranda Mercuri:
Hi Bob,
Not sure what exactly you are looking for in terms of learning disabilities. I am a 2 year survivor of a brain injury due to a ruptured brain aneurysm. I lost my home and my job due to my cognitive difficulties. I started the shaklee business because i always knew the importance of creating a second source of income, I just didn't do it prior to my injury. The past is past.
I have noticed huge differences in my brain health when it comes to my cognitive disabilities. My brain injury affected me on the right side of the brain, more specifically the right frontal lobe. They corrected it through open head surgery. That right frontal lobe, is responsible for planning and organizing. When any part of the brain is affected, it disturbes the other parts of the brain, so memory became my disability. It put me out of a job. So you can imagine what my days were like. I wasn't able to do simple things like plan a meal. We don't think of it, but all the things we do involves planning and organizing. In addition with a brain injury, it is very common to fatigue quickly and want to sleep after doing any activity. It is not that you are physically tired after a brain injury, but you are mentally exhausted and the only way to correct it was to sleep a few hours. I have been taking the vitalizer and the omega 3's. What a difference Bob! Mentally I have more energy. What that means to me is I can focus longer on any specific task. It didn't cure me, as I still struggle with it, but I don't take as many naps. I am able to read now for 30 minutes straight without needing a nap from exercising my brain in a book. How long I will have these challenges no one knows. It's up to the brain and God. Wether I will have a permanent cognitive disability is unknown. But the omega's and the vitalizer are important in my day. I know when I don't take them. Wether I remember to take them or not, my body reminds me.
Miranda Mercuri
www.squidoo.com/livingwithbraininjury
613-255-5473
In good Health, Betsy
BetsyBell's Health4U
206-933-1889
www.HiHoHealth.com
First the power of supplementation for overcoming serious health problems.
Second, the value this person placed on buying Shaklee vitamins even when she lost her job.
Here's the story as passed along from Bob Ferguson by Miranda Mercuri:
Hi Bob,
Not sure what exactly you are looking for in terms of learning disabilities. I am a 2 year survivor of a brain injury due to a ruptured brain aneurysm. I lost my home and my job due to my cognitive difficulties. I started the shaklee business because i always knew the importance of creating a second source of income, I just didn't do it prior to my injury. The past is past.
I have noticed huge differences in my brain health when it comes to my cognitive disabilities. My brain injury affected me on the right side of the brain, more specifically the right frontal lobe. They corrected it through open head surgery. That right frontal lobe, is responsible for planning and organizing. When any part of the brain is affected, it disturbes the other parts of the brain, so memory became my disability. It put me out of a job. So you can imagine what my days were like. I wasn't able to do simple things like plan a meal. We don't think of it, but all the things we do involves planning and organizing. In addition with a brain injury, it is very common to fatigue quickly and want to sleep after doing any activity. It is not that you are physically tired after a brain injury, but you are mentally exhausted and the only way to correct it was to sleep a few hours. I have been taking the vitalizer and the omega 3's. What a difference Bob! Mentally I have more energy. What that means to me is I can focus longer on any specific task. It didn't cure me, as I still struggle with it, but I don't take as many naps. I am able to read now for 30 minutes straight without needing a nap from exercising my brain in a book. How long I will have these challenges no one knows. It's up to the brain and God. Wether I will have a permanent cognitive disability is unknown. But the omega's and the vitalizer are important in my day. I know when I don't take them. Wether I remember to take them or not, my body reminds me.
Miranda Mercuri
www.squidoo.com/livingwithbraininjury
613-255-5473
In good Health, Betsy
BetsyBell's Health4U
206-933-1889
www.HiHoHealth.com
Monday, September 6, 2010
Are you trying to reduce sugar cravings?
This seems to be one of the major problems people have when changing their diet to one that will support weight loss or a stable diet once ideal weight has been achieved. I've found that you can trick your body to not want sugar all the time by increasing your protein at breakfast, by cutting way down (eliminating gluten, ie. bread), and by eating less fruit than vegetables. One of my gurus, Barbara Lagoni, has just reminded me of her classic program to curb the sugar cravings. I offer it for you to read. It does contain several suggestions for Shaklee products, but is also generic enough to find guidance if you're not interested in products at this time.
Good luck. This is a hard one to crack. I had to work at it for several years before I found what works for me. Imagine having a bar of dark chocolate in your cupboard and being able to eat just one square after lunch. That can happen for you.
-----
Healthy Eating … Breaking the Sugar Habit
One of the biggest challenges of eating healthy is removing simple carbohydrates and sugars and empty-calorie snacks from our diet . Sweets and snacks, chips and pasta, crackers and pretzels, potatoes and rice, and soda pop and juices… are everywhere…
These foods are high-glycemic . That means they spike your blood sugar...only to see it plummet an hour or so later thus creating fluctuating blood sugars that lead to cravings and bingeing and no room for healthy choices.
Such cravings are not about will power. They are about metabolic imbalance that creates cravings for fast sugar and carbohydrate snacks.
The following are ways many people have successfully kicked that sugar habit and enjoyed good healthy food again.
Ideal Diet
The ideal diet emphasizes fresh raw vegetables, some fresh fruit and fish and poultry.
• Breakfast –Include high protein foods...
o eggs, turkey sausages, Swiss oatmeal ( rolled oats softened overnight in milk or plain yogurt and fresh fruit.. blueberries, strawberries, etc and almonds)
o or one of the Shaklee Protein shakes - Energizing Soy Protein, Cinch shakes, Meal Shakes
o Or Shaklee Cinch bars ( 10 grams of protein)
o Fresh fruit ( avoid high glycemic fruits such as pineapple, banana and grapes)
• Lunch -- a great place for a main dish salad
o Be sure to include lots of vegetables whether in salad or with a plate of fresh veggies, maybe with a dip.
o Ideas for salads --try a variety of at least 6 different ingredients to create crunch, color, and flavor…
lightly steamed green beans or asparagus, a variety of greens ( except no iceberg lettuce .. no nutritional value there) , sprouts, red cabbage, green cabbage , peas, shredded carrots, chopped broccoli, cauliflower, fresh white mushrooms, green onions, baby bok choi, spinach, jicama, etc
Add a little sweetness occasionally with dried cranberries or dried cherries, 1 fresh orange, rind removed and chopped, sliced apples, pears, grapes,
Add crunch with sliced almonds, pecans, walnuts, pistachios, pine nuts, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds…
Add flavor with sundried tomatoes, fresh herbs ( water cress, parsley, cilantro, ), pesto,
For protein …chopped, cooked chicken, turkey , tuna, Garbanzo beans, chopped hard-cooked eggs, etc
o Cinch shakes
• Mid afternoon snacks... Cinch bars, Cinch tea, vegetables and dip, fresh fruit, nuts, peanut butter fudge ( 1 cup organic peanut butter, 1 cup Energizing Soy Protein, 1/3 cup honey , )
• Dinner – avoid high glycemic starches like potatoes, pasta and rice, avoid fried foods… Include, LOTS of vegetables... fresh or lightly steamed, meat, poultry and fish
• Beverages… Get Clean filtered water in a pitcher with cinnamon sticks, ginger root slices, or fresh mint for flavor
• Evening snack – no popcorn... ( high glycemic carb) nuts, Cinch bars, veggies and dip, fruit,
Basic Supplements...to stop cravings for sweets and carbohydrates
• Vita Lea or Cinch 3-in-1 Boost
• B Complex ( consider one with each meal)
• Glucose Regulation Complex
• Fiber Tabs or Fiber Advantage Bars
• Optiflora Probiotic ( start with the capsule alone for 1 week before adding the Prebiotic )
• Energizing Soy Protein or Cinch shakes
• Vitalizer
Detoxifying
• Get Clean non-toxic cleaning products
• Shaklee Enfuselle and Minerelles skin care and cosmetics
• Liver DTX, Shaklee Alfalfa Complex, Herb Lax gentle colon cleanser, Optiflora
Breaking the Sugar Habit Programs
If you want to break sugar’s hold on you, get rid of those cravings, reclaim your energy and your health and just plain feel great, start with a healthy low carbohydrate diet, exercise and weight control. Then add one of Shaklee’s “Breaking the Sugar Habit” Programs for a holistic approach to optimal health.
Starter Program: Shaklee’s Vitalizer Pack
80 bio-optimized nutrients clinically proven to create a foundation for a longer, healthier life
Vita Lea - Because most of us do not get all the nutrients we need from diet alone -AND- the American Medical association recommends that every adult take a multivitamin/multimineral supplement daily to prevent chronic diseases.
Sustained Release B – C Complex:
Vitamin C - Because vitamin C helps protect us from the dangerous free radicals associated with high carbohydrate diets, which increase our risk of cancer and other degenerative diseases -AND- many of us do not get enough vitamin C from our diet.
B Complex - Because B vitamins support immune and brain health and help us fight food cravings -AND- most of us do not get enough B vitamins in our diet
Caroto–E-Omega:
Carotenoids - Because Caroto-E-Omega contains all 6 of the essential carotenoids found in those fresh fruits and vegetable that we are not eating on a regular basis - AND - carotenoids are important antioxidants that reduce risk factors associated with cancer, heart disease, and eye disease.
Vitamin E - Because all of the naturally occurring forms of vitamin E are important antioxidants, and Caroto-E-Omega contains all 8 naturally occurring forms of vitamin E in optimum balance. Clinical studies have shown that supplementation with vitamin E reduces the risk factors associated with many diseases and boosts the immune system -AND- we cannot get the amount of vitamin E used in the clinical studies from our diet alone.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids - Because Caroto-E-Omega contains all 7 naturally occurring omega-3 fatty acids in an ultra-high purity form. Omega-3 fatty acids combat the inflammation associated with high carbohydrate diets and overweight -AND- clinical studies show that omega-3 fatty acids reduce the risk of heart attack, inflammation & migraines, but cold water fish, which are the best dietary sources of omega-3 fatty acids are often contaminated with heavy metals, dioxin and/or pesticides.
.
Optiflora Probiotic - When harmful bacteria and yeast take up residence in our intestine, they metabolize the food that we eat into cancer causing substances and other toxins that harm our body and weaken our immune system - AND - Optiflora pearls contain Acidophilus and Bifidus, essential friendly bacteria that crowd the harmful bacteria & yeast out of our intestines. Optiflora guarantees delivery of 500 million live beneficial microflora to the intestines, due to its unique triple encapsulation which protects these essential bacteria from the acidity of the stomach.
For Better Results: Vitalizer Wellness Pack
Add:
Nutriferon - Because carbohydrates deplete the immune system, and a healthy immune system protects us from deadly diseases and cancer -AND- Shaklee’s revolutionary Nutriferon formulation both strengthens and normalizes the immune system – providing us with increased protect against disease and cancer while it reduces allergy symptoms.
Cinch Soy Drink Mix - Because we need to increase our intake of healthy proteins if we are to successfully reduce our dependence on carbohydrates -AND- Cinch Soy Drink Mix is particularly good at stabilizing blood sugar levels and helping with effective weight loss. [Note: We do have a Cinch Whey Drink Mix for those who are soy-sensitive].
For Best Results: The Optimal Health Program
Add:
Glucose Regulation Complex – Because high carbohydrate intake and obesity are associated with insulin resistance, which causes blood sugar swings, food cravings & mood swings and can lead to a number of serious diseases – AND – Glucose Regulation Complex is designed to reduce insulin resistance and help you regulate blood sugar levels more effectively.
The information in this pamphlet is not meant to be used in the diagnosis or treatment of disease. The recommendations are geared towards the prevention of disease. Furthermore, the descriptions of individual products in this pamphlet are not meant to indicate that they can significantly reduce the risk of disease by themselves. Rather the descriptions are meant to indicate the role that they may play as part of a holistic approach to optimal health.
Lagoni Health Associates Oct/ 10
Betsy Bell’s Health4U
206-933-1889
www.hihohealth.com
________________________________________
See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.
Good luck. This is a hard one to crack. I had to work at it for several years before I found what works for me. Imagine having a bar of dark chocolate in your cupboard and being able to eat just one square after lunch. That can happen for you.
-----
Healthy Eating … Breaking the Sugar Habit
One of the biggest challenges of eating healthy is removing simple carbohydrates and sugars and empty-calorie snacks from our diet . Sweets and snacks, chips and pasta, crackers and pretzels, potatoes and rice, and soda pop and juices… are everywhere…
These foods are high-glycemic . That means they spike your blood sugar...only to see it plummet an hour or so later thus creating fluctuating blood sugars that lead to cravings and bingeing and no room for healthy choices.
Such cravings are not about will power. They are about metabolic imbalance that creates cravings for fast sugar and carbohydrate snacks.
The following are ways many people have successfully kicked that sugar habit and enjoyed good healthy food again.
Ideal Diet
The ideal diet emphasizes fresh raw vegetables, some fresh fruit and fish and poultry.
• Breakfast –Include high protein foods...
o eggs, turkey sausages, Swiss oatmeal ( rolled oats softened overnight in milk or plain yogurt and fresh fruit.. blueberries, strawberries, etc and almonds)
o or one of the Shaklee Protein shakes - Energizing Soy Protein, Cinch shakes, Meal Shakes
o Or Shaklee Cinch bars ( 10 grams of protein)
o Fresh fruit ( avoid high glycemic fruits such as pineapple, banana and grapes)
• Lunch -- a great place for a main dish salad
o Be sure to include lots of vegetables whether in salad or with a plate of fresh veggies, maybe with a dip.
o Ideas for salads --try a variety of at least 6 different ingredients to create crunch, color, and flavor…
lightly steamed green beans or asparagus, a variety of greens ( except no iceberg lettuce .. no nutritional value there) , sprouts, red cabbage, green cabbage , peas, shredded carrots, chopped broccoli, cauliflower, fresh white mushrooms, green onions, baby bok choi, spinach, jicama, etc
Add a little sweetness occasionally with dried cranberries or dried cherries, 1 fresh orange, rind removed and chopped, sliced apples, pears, grapes,
Add crunch with sliced almonds, pecans, walnuts, pistachios, pine nuts, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds…
Add flavor with sundried tomatoes, fresh herbs ( water cress, parsley, cilantro, ), pesto,
For protein …chopped, cooked chicken, turkey , tuna, Garbanzo beans, chopped hard-cooked eggs, etc
o Cinch shakes
• Mid afternoon snacks... Cinch bars, Cinch tea, vegetables and dip, fresh fruit, nuts, peanut butter fudge ( 1 cup organic peanut butter, 1 cup Energizing Soy Protein, 1/3 cup honey , )
• Dinner – avoid high glycemic starches like potatoes, pasta and rice, avoid fried foods… Include, LOTS of vegetables... fresh or lightly steamed, meat, poultry and fish
• Beverages… Get Clean filtered water in a pitcher with cinnamon sticks, ginger root slices, or fresh mint for flavor
• Evening snack – no popcorn... ( high glycemic carb) nuts, Cinch bars, veggies and dip, fruit,
Basic Supplements...to stop cravings for sweets and carbohydrates
• Vita Lea or Cinch 3-in-1 Boost
• B Complex ( consider one with each meal)
• Glucose Regulation Complex
• Fiber Tabs or Fiber Advantage Bars
• Optiflora Probiotic ( start with the capsule alone for 1 week before adding the Prebiotic )
• Energizing Soy Protein or Cinch shakes
• Vitalizer
Detoxifying
• Get Clean non-toxic cleaning products
• Shaklee Enfuselle and Minerelles skin care and cosmetics
• Liver DTX, Shaklee Alfalfa Complex, Herb Lax gentle colon cleanser, Optiflora
Breaking the Sugar Habit Programs
If you want to break sugar’s hold on you, get rid of those cravings, reclaim your energy and your health and just plain feel great, start with a healthy low carbohydrate diet, exercise and weight control. Then add one of Shaklee’s “Breaking the Sugar Habit” Programs for a holistic approach to optimal health.
Starter Program: Shaklee’s Vitalizer Pack
80 bio-optimized nutrients clinically proven to create a foundation for a longer, healthier life
Vita Lea - Because most of us do not get all the nutrients we need from diet alone -AND- the American Medical association recommends that every adult take a multivitamin/multimineral supplement daily to prevent chronic diseases.
Sustained Release B – C Complex:
Vitamin C - Because vitamin C helps protect us from the dangerous free radicals associated with high carbohydrate diets, which increase our risk of cancer and other degenerative diseases -AND- many of us do not get enough vitamin C from our diet.
B Complex - Because B vitamins support immune and brain health and help us fight food cravings -AND- most of us do not get enough B vitamins in our diet
Caroto–E-Omega:
Carotenoids - Because Caroto-E-Omega contains all 6 of the essential carotenoids found in those fresh fruits and vegetable that we are not eating on a regular basis - AND - carotenoids are important antioxidants that reduce risk factors associated with cancer, heart disease, and eye disease.
Vitamin E - Because all of the naturally occurring forms of vitamin E are important antioxidants, and Caroto-E-Omega contains all 8 naturally occurring forms of vitamin E in optimum balance. Clinical studies have shown that supplementation with vitamin E reduces the risk factors associated with many diseases and boosts the immune system -AND- we cannot get the amount of vitamin E used in the clinical studies from our diet alone.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids - Because Caroto-E-Omega contains all 7 naturally occurring omega-3 fatty acids in an ultra-high purity form. Omega-3 fatty acids combat the inflammation associated with high carbohydrate diets and overweight -AND- clinical studies show that omega-3 fatty acids reduce the risk of heart attack, inflammation & migraines, but cold water fish, which are the best dietary sources of omega-3 fatty acids are often contaminated with heavy metals, dioxin and/or pesticides.
.
Optiflora Probiotic - When harmful bacteria and yeast take up residence in our intestine, they metabolize the food that we eat into cancer causing substances and other toxins that harm our body and weaken our immune system - AND - Optiflora pearls contain Acidophilus and Bifidus, essential friendly bacteria that crowd the harmful bacteria & yeast out of our intestines. Optiflora guarantees delivery of 500 million live beneficial microflora to the intestines, due to its unique triple encapsulation which protects these essential bacteria from the acidity of the stomach.
For Better Results: Vitalizer Wellness Pack
Add:
Nutriferon - Because carbohydrates deplete the immune system, and a healthy immune system protects us from deadly diseases and cancer -AND- Shaklee’s revolutionary Nutriferon formulation both strengthens and normalizes the immune system – providing us with increased protect against disease and cancer while it reduces allergy symptoms.
Cinch Soy Drink Mix - Because we need to increase our intake of healthy proteins if we are to successfully reduce our dependence on carbohydrates -AND- Cinch Soy Drink Mix is particularly good at stabilizing blood sugar levels and helping with effective weight loss. [Note: We do have a Cinch Whey Drink Mix for those who are soy-sensitive].
For Best Results: The Optimal Health Program
Add:
Glucose Regulation Complex – Because high carbohydrate intake and obesity are associated with insulin resistance, which causes blood sugar swings, food cravings & mood swings and can lead to a number of serious diseases – AND – Glucose Regulation Complex is designed to reduce insulin resistance and help you regulate blood sugar levels more effectively.
The information in this pamphlet is not meant to be used in the diagnosis or treatment of disease. The recommendations are geared towards the prevention of disease. Furthermore, the descriptions of individual products in this pamphlet are not meant to indicate that they can significantly reduce the risk of disease by themselves. Rather the descriptions are meant to indicate the role that they may play as part of a holistic approach to optimal health.
Lagoni Health Associates Oct/ 10
Betsy Bell’s Health4U
206-933-1889
www.hihohealth.com
________________________________________
See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Is it High fructose corn syrup, period? or how much we consume?
I just got a question about the High Fructose Corn Syrup in some of Shaklee's meal replacement drinks. Corn syrup has been in the news a lot lately. Here's what Dr. Stephen Chaney has to say about it. Perhaps this will shed some light and reduce the fear:
"How sweet it is"
Most of you are probably to young to remember that famous line from comedian Jackie Lesion's Honeymooners" show.
What brought that famous line to mind was a recent statement by Dr.Oz that we should avoid high fructose corn syrup because it will make us fat.
In recent years high fructose corn syrup has been characterized almost as if it were a poison to be avoided at all costs.
We've been told that it causes high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes - almost every ill of mankind. We've been told to avoid any food containing it. Are these dire warnings correct?
The answer is yes AND no. It is the amount - not the sugar that is important.
Before I explain myself, let me give you some historical perspective
In the 50s and 60s it was sucrose (table sugar) that was considered to be the root of all evil. Books like "Sugar Blues" popularized its villainy. We were told to avoid everything white - that would be sugar, white flour and milk.
But sucrose was never the villain that it was said to be. Sucrose is a perfectly natural sugar and it is perfectly healthy in small amounts.
The problem was that we were consuming way too much.
That "tablespoon of sugar to help the medicine go down"
had grown until sugar made up 10-15% of the calories in the American diet. In short, we had become addicted to sweetness.
Where was most of that sugar coming from? You guessed it - soft drinks, snack foods and processed foods.
The experts recommended that we cut back on all of those processed foods and start eating more fresh fruits and vegetables. They are a bit less sweet, but so much healthier.
But what did the American public do? We didn't want to give up the sweet stuff that we'd been accustomed to, so the food industry obliged us by substituting high fructose corn syrup for sugar in all of our favorite foods.
What's wrong with that?
After all, high fructose corn syrup contains approximately equal amounts of fructose and glucose - the same amounts of these two sugars that are found in honey. It is derived from corn. There is some processing required, but it meets the FDA's definition of natural. And, fructose is the major sugar found in many fruits, which are among the healthiest of foods.
The problem isn't in the sugar itself, it is in the amount that we are consuming!
Since 1983 the amount of sugar that the average person in this country consumes has increased by 30%.
We are now consuming 158 pounds of sugar per person in this country each year - and most of that is coming from soft drinks, snack foods & processed foods sweetened with high fructose corn syrup, not from fruits and milk.
Without going into the biochemistry (which is fascinating to me and boring to pretty much everyone else), let me just say that there is nothing wrong with foods containing fructose or high fructose corn syrup in moderation. But when we start consuming 158 pounds of any sugar a year - with most of that coming from highly processed foods - we are just asking for trouble.
In fact, if we were to consume 158 pounds of honey instead of 158 pounds of high fructose corn syrup per year, the health consequences would likely be almost the same. Of course, that will never happen. There just aren't enough bees.
The same can be said for sucrose (the original sin) and for the sugar alcohols (sorbitol, mannitol, malitol, erythritol, etc) that are starting to find their way into a lot of processed foods.
And, as for stevia, it appears to be perfectly safe in the amounts consumed to date, but nobody can predict the safety of 158 pounds of stevia a year!
It's time to ask if we really need to be consuming all that sugar in any form? Do we really need to consume all of those soft drinks, snack foods and processed foods?
Perhaps 2010 should be the year that we resolve to rediscover the joys of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables and whole grains.
To Your Health!
Dr. Stephen G Chaney
Dr. Stephen Chaney
Shaklee Master Coordinator
http://www.chaneyhealth.com
888.860.2075
Betsy Bell' Health4u
206 933 1889
www.HiHoHealth.com
"How sweet it is"
Most of you are probably to young to remember that famous line from comedian Jackie Lesion's Honeymooners" show.
What brought that famous line to mind was a recent statement by Dr.Oz that we should avoid high fructose corn syrup because it will make us fat.
In recent years high fructose corn syrup has been characterized almost as if it were a poison to be avoided at all costs.
We've been told that it causes high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes - almost every ill of mankind. We've been told to avoid any food containing it. Are these dire warnings correct?
The answer is yes AND no. It is the amount - not the sugar that is important.
Before I explain myself, let me give you some historical perspective
In the 50s and 60s it was sucrose (table sugar) that was considered to be the root of all evil. Books like "Sugar Blues" popularized its villainy. We were told to avoid everything white - that would be sugar, white flour and milk.
But sucrose was never the villain that it was said to be. Sucrose is a perfectly natural sugar and it is perfectly healthy in small amounts.
The problem was that we were consuming way too much.
That "tablespoon of sugar to help the medicine go down"
had grown until sugar made up 10-15% of the calories in the American diet. In short, we had become addicted to sweetness.
Where was most of that sugar coming from? You guessed it - soft drinks, snack foods and processed foods.
The experts recommended that we cut back on all of those processed foods and start eating more fresh fruits and vegetables. They are a bit less sweet, but so much healthier.
But what did the American public do? We didn't want to give up the sweet stuff that we'd been accustomed to, so the food industry obliged us by substituting high fructose corn syrup for sugar in all of our favorite foods.
What's wrong with that?
After all, high fructose corn syrup contains approximately equal amounts of fructose and glucose - the same amounts of these two sugars that are found in honey. It is derived from corn. There is some processing required, but it meets the FDA's definition of natural. And, fructose is the major sugar found in many fruits, which are among the healthiest of foods.
The problem isn't in the sugar itself, it is in the amount that we are consuming!
Since 1983 the amount of sugar that the average person in this country consumes has increased by 30%.
We are now consuming 158 pounds of sugar per person in this country each year - and most of that is coming from soft drinks, snack foods & processed foods sweetened with high fructose corn syrup, not from fruits and milk.
Without going into the biochemistry (which is fascinating to me and boring to pretty much everyone else), let me just say that there is nothing wrong with foods containing fructose or high fructose corn syrup in moderation. But when we start consuming 158 pounds of any sugar a year - with most of that coming from highly processed foods - we are just asking for trouble.
In fact, if we were to consume 158 pounds of honey instead of 158 pounds of high fructose corn syrup per year, the health consequences would likely be almost the same. Of course, that will never happen. There just aren't enough bees.
The same can be said for sucrose (the original sin) and for the sugar alcohols (sorbitol, mannitol, malitol, erythritol, etc) that are starting to find their way into a lot of processed foods.
And, as for stevia, it appears to be perfectly safe in the amounts consumed to date, but nobody can predict the safety of 158 pounds of stevia a year!
It's time to ask if we really need to be consuming all that sugar in any form? Do we really need to consume all of those soft drinks, snack foods and processed foods?
Perhaps 2010 should be the year that we resolve to rediscover the joys of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables and whole grains.
To Your Health!
Dr. Stephen G Chaney
Dr. Stephen Chaney
Shaklee Master Coordinator
http://www.chaneyhealth.com
888.860.2075
Betsy Bell' Health4u
206 933 1889
www.HiHoHealth.com
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Are Statin Drugs all they are cracked up to be?
Hi, there,
I'm back writing about health issues and ways to help you take control of your life in order to prevent illness. Why not get healthy and stay healthy instead of waiting for a disease state to manifest itself and then manage it for the rest of your life?
The LA Times just published an article questioning the value of using statin drugs to lower cholesterol in people who are otherwise not showing signs of heart disease. Please take a look
If you are seriously considering what to do about elevated cholesterol and want a natural course of action, you might try the FDA approved Cholesterol Reduction Complex, a new product just introduced by Shaklee Corp. Now you may be thinking after reading the article that statin drugs are pushed as a cash machine for pharmaceutical companies and here she is touting pills she's going to make money on. True enough. What I am also offering is a natural drug free approach with no side affects, an alternative to disease management. Let plant sterols and stanols take away your LDL!
I have trusted Shaklee for 25 years and my health is amazing because of the supplements and the changes I have made in my diet and the exercise I get. I just turned 73 and still don't take any prescription drugs.
I wish you the best of health.
Betsy
BetsyBell'sHealth4U
206-933-1889
1-888-283-2077
www.HiHoHealth.com
I'm back writing about health issues and ways to help you take control of your life in order to prevent illness. Why not get healthy and stay healthy instead of waiting for a disease state to manifest itself and then manage it for the rest of your life?
The LA Times just published an article questioning the value of using statin drugs to lower cholesterol in people who are otherwise not showing signs of heart disease. Please take a look
If you are seriously considering what to do about elevated cholesterol and want a natural course of action, you might try the FDA approved Cholesterol Reduction Complex, a new product just introduced by Shaklee Corp. Now you may be thinking after reading the article that statin drugs are pushed as a cash machine for pharmaceutical companies and here she is touting pills she's going to make money on. True enough. What I am also offering is a natural drug free approach with no side affects, an alternative to disease management. Let plant sterols and stanols take away your LDL!
I have trusted Shaklee for 25 years and my health is amazing because of the supplements and the changes I have made in my diet and the exercise I get. I just turned 73 and still don't take any prescription drugs.
I wish you the best of health.
Betsy
BetsyBell'sHealth4U
206-933-1889
1-888-283-2077
www.HiHoHealth.com
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