AntiAgingByDesign.com

Every day my email box gets bombarded with healthy topics that made news this week (yes, I know I signed up for all of this information), and of course we have newspapers sitting around the house (my husband likes these more than I do.. maybe because they really do ’sit around’ too long).  You may have heard a headline in passing, or maybe you had a busy week and didn’t get much news.  Either way, maybe you will see something that interests you or you would like to further research.

Let’s start with some anti-aging newsmakers:

I must say that it is fascinating to me to learn of the links between diet and illness, about nutrients in the body and how lack of them can cause disease, and how natural nutrition can build good health.  I have always been one to seek out the natural alternatives to address non life-threatening health challenges.  I believe that nature can heal the body, or just get it to function like it is intended to work.

One example is inflammation.  There are many scientists who believe that inflammation in the body is the root of many diseases that we get.  There are different causes of inflammation and one can be related to diet.  What we eat, and nutrients we add to our diets, can also manage inflammation.  It is a two-way street and there are answers to help us get the outcomes we want.

Arthritis

Arthritis is one such ailment that is associated with inflammation.  It is a chronic disease that results in pain, stiffness, swelling, and did I mention pain?  There may not be a cure, but there is help.  Losing weight is suggested, dietary changes are recommended, and there are natural remedies as well as pharmaceutical drugs that are used to manage symptoms.  The USA Weekend (print version) for January 22-24, 2010 included an article, ‘Getting Older & Better.  It noted a study where after dental problems that arthritis sufferers had were treated, their arthritis symptoms improved (another link to treating root of inflammation?).

Vitamin C

Vitamin C gets a boost for its help with aging skin in the same USA Weekend edition.  It talks about how there have been claims for a long time about Vitamin C benefits for skin.  Now researchers say that Vitamin C can not only promote skin healing but also protect against free-radicals that age skin.  The opportunity to undo DNA damage should put Vitamin C on close watch for aging baby boomers.

It never ceases to amaze me when I read something like this.. that we are always ahead of the industry!  We have talked about the fact that Dr. Shaklee (and now the Shaklee scientists) were many years ahead of their time.  We have had a unique, aging skin repair system WITH VITAMIN C for years now.  And Shaklee science found a way to stabilize the Vitamin C present in the product so that high levels will be available to the skin in order to provide such fantastic results.  And of course, like all products from this brand, there is a 100% money back guarantee (that’s how sure we are that you will get results!).

Vitamin D

Are you deficient?  There is an astounding 8 million American women and 2 million men who have osteoporosis, and 34 million more at risk (USA Weekend).  Wow.  Having enough Vitamin D in your body can help prevent osteoporosis, and also heart disease.  Many folks are finding out through regular blood work that they have low levels of Vitamin D.  It might be worth getting it checked out if you have symptoms like .  A supplement is recommended in many cases because it is hard for people to get enough from their diet, especially if they are already deficient.

Disease

Some new links to disease:  Cancer association with cholesterol?  New research links having high HDL (good) cholesterol to a 14% lower risk of cancer in men over 50; and for guys over 55 there was a 59% lower risk of prostate cancer when total cholesterol was less than 200 mg/dL.

Diet

Salt intake needs to be minimal for a number of reasons and studies show that one in particular is linked to heart disease and stroke.  People are salting their foods more than is recommended and simply cutting back by 5 grams per day – that is a little less than one teaspoon – can reduce the risk of having a stroke by 23% and lower cardiovascular disease risk by 17%.

Resveratrol

Book review on Aging Getting Better with Wine (resveratrol).

And last.  There was doubt posted this week about the benefits of resveratrol.  It was in reference to the ongoing research on a pharmaceutical product.  You have companies in competition with each other and one is saying that the research of the other is not holding up.  When you look closer, they are not doing the same studies and you always have to wonder what the agenda is when one company attacks another.

I choose to stick with the science and research of the supplement brand resveratrol that I use every day because 1) I trust the science and integrity of this brand, 2) I am getting great health results, and 3) there is no pharmaceutical product out yet – and maybe there never will be.  It might be just enough resveratrol in natural supplement form to help us live longer and healthier.

There is news every day about how to fight aging, more specifically the diseases of aging.  Many times the focus is on living a healthier lifestyle, eating the right foods, getting both  exercise and enough sleep every night, and of course our mindset.

We read about our bodies being deficient in something, having too much of something else, being exposed to environmental factors that cause illness, at risk because of smoking, alcohol, diet, and even about how our medications can make us sicker.

Being sick is not fun.  It can age us even faster than the normal process of growing older.  And it can also be very scary.  Growing old is scary also.  There is illness and disease and aging everywhere we turn.

So what can we do?  How do we fight aging?  The good news is that we have so much news.  Science has brought us revolutionary discoveries in terms of how we age, why we age, and some very real ways we can fight the process.  And,here in 2010, that information is right at our fingertips.

All we have to do is to listen to the news, Google for specific information we seek, and then take some action.  There are reputable news and education web sites that have every kind of topic imaginable.  There is almost too much information, but that shouldn’t hold us back.

We can tap into what we need to know in several ways:  1)  we can research aging in general and discover what people are doing successfully right now to fight the aging process; and 2)  we can research specific challenges that we are personally facing, that has already started in our bodies, and learn how we can impact what is happening or even reverse it.

For example, some aging processes that many people experience are memory issues, joint problems, and heart disease.  There are lifestyle choices including diet that play a huge role in our health, and also natural supplements for aging that have been proven to help people in significant ways – both produce great results for those types of aging issues.

What we feed our bodies many times determines not only how we feel throughout the day, but our overall health.  If you think about it, our food is the fuel our bodies need to perform many different functions in all of our organs.  Junk in, junk out.. so the saying goes.  And it does make sense.

Resveratrol and fish oil are natural supplements that have exciting research behind the results people are getting for joint pain, memory issues, and heart health.  The science and research is ongoing but that is not stopping people from using these ingredients in natural supplement form.  They are not drugs and do not have the side effects associated with prescription drugs.

The key to using supplements is that they must be taken everyday in order to get the desired outcome.  While not as potent as medication, they function very well in the body, working along with normal body processes and regulating them so that they work the way they are intended to work.  I remember hearing that same fact over 28 years ago.. about how starting a nutrition program will help the body work in the healthy way it should.  It is amazing the results you can get when you follow a plan.

I encourage you to use the resources that we have today, and find the answers that you seek in terms of aging and fighting disease.  We are privileged to be able to access that kind of information anytime that we want, and then be armed with the tools we need to get what we want.

If there is anything that I can help you with in regard to your personal health challenges, don’t hesitate to write or call.

Optimal health is something I think you will agree we would all like to feel even if we don’t actively work for it. We hear some of the same recommendations over and over again. For some, it may seem like it all sounds too easy. So why are we not getting the desired results in terms of youthfulness and feeling great?

First, even though it ‘all sounds easy’ – are we doing it? Second, are we doing it consistently?

Here are 5 Basics for feeling younger, high energy, and overall wellness.

1- DIET

Limit (LIMIT – you can cheat sometimes) the following foods: saturated fats, food additives, fried foods, smoked meats, high cholesterol foods, white sugar, white flour, alcohol, fast food, convenience food, skin of meats and chicken, organ meats.

Eat more (MORE): fruits, vegetables, gains, beans, seeds, nuts, lean proteins (soy is excellent) including fish, chicken and meat (make them smaller portions than your healthier side dishes. There are many choices within these groups (rice, noodles and pasta are ok in limited quantities).

You will not only have more energy from a diet like this, but you will lose weight and be fighting off certain diseases that could be life-long challenges.

2- DRINK

This is a category by itself because today more than ever we are drinking a lot of junk. It is so easy to consume many ounces of high calorie, low nutrition drinks that are making us both fat and sick – and providing us unbalanced energy like when we have spikes and then big drops in blood sugar levels.

Drink mostly pure, clean water. Sure you want more variety and it’s ok to add a glass or two of other liquids such as coffee, tea, natural juices (without a lot of added sugar) every day. However, overall, water is the healthiest choice. Sodas and other high sugar drinks have little or no nutrition and A LOT of hidden calories.

5 to 8 glasses of water each day is a great amount to target. Hydrate throughout the day so that you feel energized and aren’t tempted to reach for the soda or extra cup of coffee.

3- Exercise

Being active can not be underestimated in terms of health benefits, such as stress relief, better heart health including better cholesterol levels, bone health, and immune system – and reducing risks of diabetes, memory loss, depression, high blood pressure, and certain forms of cancer.

Plus, even people who resist exercising regularly because they can’t find time, or have some reason why they don’t exercise ‘enough’ will say that they FEEL BETTER when they do work out. It is a fact. There are chemical and hormonal reactions in our bodies that help us feel good when we exercise. SCHEDULE it into your day and your body will reap the benefits.

Include aerobic (cardio) and resistance – weights or some other form such as with bands or sit-ups, push-ups (I find that using a workout ball for sit-ups and push-ups is much easier on my back and I do it more often if it doesn’t hurt!!).

4- MIND

Did you know that what we THINK has a tremendous effect on our health? The positive or negative thoughts that are in our heads go hand in hand with how we feel each day.

Many scientists believe that virtually all of the diseases that we get can be linked to a defeat of our immune systems. In addition, the strength of our immune systems is related to how we manage our thoughts and feelings.

From depression to anxiety to stress or even sleeplessness, how we feel in terms of happiness can have an effect on all of these. Some effort in the area of positive thinking, relaxation, and everyday good self-talk can produce dramatic results in terms of how we feel and how healthy we are.

5- Natural Nutrition

Even though we eat an optimal diet, or try to, there is a very good chance that we don’t get all of the vitamins and all of the minerals and other nutrients that our bodies need everyday to build healthy cells.

Being healthy at the cellular level means that we can fight disease, both common and serious, and feel younger and healthier. There are now long-term (20+ year) clinical studies that have proved the fact that natural nutrition supplements produce better health overall than not taking any vitamins at all.

What goes in our mouths can determine our overall good health. Having that extra insurance of nutrition can help us fight current challenges and also target better health for the future.

We get energy from nutritious foods that we eat, from daily exercise, and from feeling good about ourselves. We have control over all of these things. Each of us has the power to decide what we eat, if we will work out today, and the thoughts that are going through our heads right now. That is power! Don’t you think so?

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Get Your Social Media Marketing Plan

Do you drag through part of your day? Do you get tired when you drive, or drive long distances? Do you need an extra boost to get through your workout? Yes, you should be working out on a regular basis – your body will love you for it!

Does your mind need sharpened or your mood improved? Are you an athlete who can use some extra energy for your sport? How can a little energy chew do that?

It’s all about the science.. the same as all products from this brand that we trust – because the research and science is behind every one of them. Ingredients like L-theanine and L-tyrosine help promote focus and alertness.

Then there is energy-releasing B vitamins, natural caffeine from green tea, and vitamin D.. a healthy combination that deliver energy without artificial flavors, sweeteners or added preservatives that are in other energy products.

There is a whole lot of healthy attitude packed into one of these citrus chews. I really liked the taste – seemed more like candy than something healthy!

Midterms. Back-to-back meetings. Big games. There are busy times in our lives when we can certainly use an extra boost of feel-good energy.

It is reported that 75% of people are concerned with issues relating to energy and vitality. We want to feel good. However, our busy lifestyles can leave us feeling run-down.

If we want to be careful of what we put in our body – so that we get the results that we want in terms of good health – we have to watch ingredients that we consume. A lot of energy drinks that are available today are not exactly healthy. And people consume quite a bit of these.

Now we have a healthy (gluten free) alternative to get focused, stay alert, think clearly, feel energized, stay awake, and improve your mood.

For those who want to compare brands, new energy chews have all of the following healthy ingredients: L-theanine, L-tyrosine, all 8 B-vitamins, and 25% of the daily value of vitamin D. Plus, there is a natural caffeine and they are 75% organic.

And as far as the competition: none of the following brands have any of those healthy ingredients and they are not organic. Red Bull has artificial flavors; Monster Energy & Amp have artificial sweeteners and artificial preservatives; and Rockstar Original & Full Throttle have artificial flavors and artificial preservatives.

I am always impressed with science delivering us ’side benefits’ with supplements. That is also one of my favorite reasons to like these new energy boosts that can give us natural energy with vitamin D that helps build bones and the B vitamins & green tea have lots of healthy benefits.

Energy chews are great for times of mental or physical exertion, for anyone needing a quick pick me up at work or at home, for busy moms and dads, or students who stayed up too late studying. There have been controlled studies that scientifically prove they boost sports performance.

I invite you to power through your energy challenges with a burst of natural energy that is guaranteed to work (or your money back – what have you got to lose). They are individually wrapped to provide the opportunity to customize your intake to suit your needs, and for a limited time the second bag is only $5.

One last note to boost ‘green’ efforts: two energy chews – the equivalent of a canned energy product – saves greenhouse gases from shipping and cans in landfills.

*All products from this brand come with a 100% money back guarantee.

I have taken Lecithin for years, and for a variety of reasons.  I first heard about Lecithin being a natural fat burner a long time ago.  Upon doing my own research, I feel that Lecithin is nature’s fat emulsifier, or a fat gobbler if you will.

What Lecithin does is to help break down the fats that we eat, and cholesterol and triglycerides as well.  Not only does it help me keep my arteries clean with these fat benefits, but it also helps me to manage my weight.  Personally (have not confirmed the science on this), I think that Lecithin, in combination with the Cinch Shake (with Leucine that helps you lose fat and keep muscle) that I have every morning, is the best way that I can start the day with the mission to burn fat, manage calories, and maintain a healthy weight and shape (losing belly fat is all over the news and is the worst fat health-wise).

If helping with weight and burning fat is not enough, Lecithin has lots of other benefits.  I have worked with people in regard to carpel tunnel, tendinitis, and other related challenges who have pain and want to avoid surgery (not a life threatening illness so many folks opt to address it with natural solutions that don’t have side effects that ongoing pain meds can produce).

A combination of certain amounts of B-Complex and Lecithin (only speaking from experience with my brand) have resulted in some fantastic results that have made these people very happy.  Both B vitamins and Lecithin have an impact on the nerves in your body – they are nutrients your nerves like!

Acting as food for both your nerves and your brain, think of Lecithin as an insulater for your nerves so that they function better.  This means that it can help with pain, act as a natural tranquilizer, and improve your memory and brain function.

The Lecithin I use is in the form of a soft gel and I take it with food.  From what I understand, taking B’s with it helps it to work even better than it does alone.

Other benefits associated with taking Lecithin on a daily basis:  helps with excess fat already in the body by breaking it down for elimination, helps with dry, brittle hair and dry skin and scalp, helps if you bruise easily or have black & blue spots, poor memory, gall stones and kidney stones.  Lecithin is a fundamental part of all cells – it is in the outer layer of every cell and helps them to function better.  It is also a very easy ingredient to supplement every day to make sure that your body has enough and that it can help you with all the benefits we discussed.