Understanding the latest media attention on multivitamins

Many of you have probably seen the headlines regarding multivitamins and their inability to prevent chronic disease in the past few days – the result of three studies published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Starting from a 30,000-foot view, the premise of these studies is the first problem: looking at the use of a multivitamin alone as a way to prevent disease. The purpose of a multivitamin is to fill in nutritional gaps and provide optimum levels of vitamins and minerals. It is well established that the vast majority of Americans fail to obtain even adequate levels of these nutrients.

Prevention of any disease is a multi-factorial process that has to include diet, weight management, and lifestyle. To expect to see disease prevention accomplished by virtue of taking a daily multivitamin is a flawed premise. So, why are these large-scale (and very expensive) studies undertaken? It is simply the model of research that scientists and physicians understand – studying a single drug to determine what effect it may have on a single disease. Studying nutrition is far more complex.

While a drug has a primary effect (usually something positive), they also have a myriad of side effects (which are usually negative and even life threatening). Every year pharmaceuticals are removed from the market because of these serious side effects. A study published in JAMA in 1998 showed that as many as 125,000 Americans die each year of properly prescribed pharmaceuticals – wow! When was the last time a vitamin was removed from the market?

Vitamins and minerals all have multiple positive functional roles to play in our bodies – which is why so many Americans pop a multi each day. People simply feel better when they take a multi because they are filling in those all too common nutrition gaps.

All three of these studies showed that multivitamins have an excellent safety profile. Well, of course they do! The only “potential harm” that continues to be mentioned every time we have a study such as this published is the slight increased risk of lung cancer in smokers who took beta carotene. My response to that is – smokers: stop smoking!

Let me quickly summarize these studies. The largest one is another report from the Physician Health Study – previous publications of data from this large government funded study did show an association of reduced cancer associated with multivitamin usage.

The next study looked at cognitive decline in physicians – who are at the upper end of the intelligence scale and pretty well nourished. Showing a significant change in cognitive decline in this population is going to take some intervention beyond a multi – as this population is most likely doing lots of the right things to protect their brain function.

The third study tried to show that higher doses of specific vitamins decrease the likelihood of a second heart attack in folks who have already had a heart attack. Hmmm. Maybe we should look at weight reduction, cholesterol, blood pressure lowering, and blood sugar management as opposed to putting the burden of prevention of a second heart attack in someone with heart disease on vitamins!

I have been recommending a multivitamin (and beyond) to my patients, and consumers in general, for my entire 30 years as a physician – and nothing in these studies changes my mind. The statistics on inadequacies in our American diet are clear – most everyone is deficient in multiple nutrients. Here at Shaklee, we have the Landmark Study, published in the journal Nutrition in 2007 that showed a nice correlation of better health with multiple supplement usage, starting with a multivitamin. We have over 100 published studies that validate the connection of nutrition and health. I urge you to continue taking your Shaklee supplements – but also, to remember the importance of eating healthfully, avoiding fast foods, and getting to a healthy weight on your journey to better health.

Info thanks to Shaklee Health Wise Blog

Have a happy and productive holiday season! 

MJ 
mike@mjshealthyway.com 

Shaklee, made naturally with no man made synthetics since 1957! 

http://mjshealthyway.com

Shaklee’s Vita-Lea a perfect daily supplement: http://mjshealthyway.myshaklee.com/us/en/pws_search.html?q=vita+lea+ 

A Daily Serving of Nuts May Help You Live Longer

Many of us have been told to limit nut consumption because of the high fat content, but now a study from Harvard indicates that eating nuts may actually help people live longer. The study’s results, which were published in the November 21 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, stretched from the 1980s until 2010 and analyzed data from 76,000 women and 42,000 men.

Researchers found that those people who ate 1 ounce (28 grams) of nuts daily, seven days a week, were 20 percent less likely to die over a 30-year period compared with those who did not eat nuts. They were also 29 percent less likely to die of heart disease, 11 percent less likely to die from cancer, and 24 percent less likely to die from respiratory disease. Eating nuts was also connected to a reduced risk of death: people who ate nuts daily were 20 percent less likely to die than those who never ate nuts.

Nuts are nutritional powerhouses, rich in minerals, vitamins, protein, unsaturated fatty acids, and antioxidants. Past studies have shown that nuts improve blood vessel function, blood sugar control, and may help with losing weight – all factors that contribute to better cardiovascular health. They can reduce the risk of colon cancer, Type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. That being said, not all nuts are created equally. It’s a good idea to avoid fried, salted, or sweetened nuts and stick with the plain, unsalted variety.

Almonds: These are an excellent source of antioxidant Vitamin E. 

Walnuts: These contain healthy omega-3 fatty acids that may protect against irregular heart rhythms.

Pecans: They are higher in fat than other nuts, but contain important B-complex vitamins.

Macadamia nuts: They have lots of Vitamin E and selenium.

Pine nuts: They contain lutein, monosaturated fats, and vitamins A, C, and D.

Hazelnuts (filberts): These are rich in magnesium, which keeps the heart from overexerting itself, unsaturated fats, and vitamin E. 

Peanuts: While they’re not officially nuts, their nutritional properties make them part of the nut family. These are rich in potassium, protein, and vitamin B. 

Brazil nuts: While these contain mostly unsaturated fat, they do have the highest amount of saturated fat among the other nuts. They’re also provide selenium, magnesium, and copper.

Pistachios: These contain vitamin E, oleic avid, and many healthy minerals and antioxidants.

The study was paid for by the National Institutes of Health and the International Tree Nut Council Nutrition Research & Education Foundation, but the Council had no say in how the study was done or how its results were eventually reported.

The study relied on self-reported information from the participants, and does not prove that nuts caused the participants to live longer. While the researchers did account for several factors that may impact a person's longevity, such as weight and vegetable consumption, there may be other confounding variables.

The good news is now you don’t need to avoid the holiday nut plate – just choose wisely.

Article thanks to TreeHugger

Have a nutty and productive day! :) 

MJ 

Give the gift of good health for Christmas: http://mjshealthyway.com 

Have A Healthy Thanksgiving!

While "Healthy Thanksgiving" doesn't quite have the appeal of the more familiar "Happy Thanksgiving" greeting, I used it here to make the point that Thanksgiving dinner (and many other holiday meals) doesn't have to be an unhealthy affair.

After all, there is a lot to like about the ingredients in Thanksgiving dinner.  Turkey can be a healthy, low- fat meat, if prepared correctly.  Sweet potatoes, yams, winter squash and pumpkin are all loaded with vitamin A and other important nutrients.  And cranberries are a nutrition powerhouse.

Healthy Thanksgiving

Here are some tips to make your Thanksgiving meal one that contributes to your health:

1) Skip the basting.  Choose a plain bird and cook in a bag to seal in the moisture.  Remove the skin before serving.

2) Refrigerate the turkey juices and skim off the hardened fat before making gravy and use a gravy cup that pours from the bottom to minimize fat.

3) Use ingredients like whole wheat bread, vegetables, fruits (cranberries, raisins, dates or apples), nuts and your favorite spices for the stuffing and bake it in the oven rather than in the turkey.

4) Serve your sweet potatoes or yams baked rather than candied and let your guests add butter to taste.

5) Use skim milk or buttermilk rather than whole milk and skip the butter for your mashed potatoes.

6) Give your meal gourmet appeal by cooking your green vegetables with garlic, nuts and herbs rather than creamy or fat-laden sauces.

7) Don't serve the meal on your largest plates. By using smaller plates you ensure smaller portion size and even that second helping isn't quite so damaging.

8) Use the Shaklee 180 meal replacement products for one or more meals the day before and/or after Thanksgiving so that your total caloric intake over the three day period is not excessive.

By now you have the idea.  There are lots of little things that you can do to make your Thanksgiving dinner one that your waist and your heart will thank you for. Bon Appetit and have a Happy, Healthy Thanksgiving!

The Bottom Line

If you make healthy food choices and choose your portion sizes wisely, you can make this a healthy Thanksgiving as well as a Happy Thanksgiving.

Info thanks to Dr. Stephen Chaney

Have a healthy and productive Thanksgiving week! 

MJ 

Shaklee 180-Helping me maintain my 40 pounds of weight loss naturally!

http://mjshealthyway.com 

Are You Vitamin D Deficient?

Probably … if you live anywhere north of a line that links Atlanta to LA or your skin is any shade darker than a notepad!

Season variations in vitamin D status are well documented in released studies. A recent College of California-Irvine and Mayo Facility research with 3.44 million blood samples of discovered that serum vitamin D levels are greatest in August and most affordable in February. From November through March, the absence of UVB rays in the Northern Hemisphere implies we cannot produce vitamin D from sun exposure to our skin.

“If you live north of a line that connects Atlanta to L.a, you essentially cannot make any vitamin D in your skin from November through March,” states Michael Holick, Ph.D., M.D., Teacher of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, and among the world’s foremost authorities on vitamin D.

Vitamin D improves calcium to keep bone wellness, but hundreds of other published researches reveal that vitamin D might assist avoid autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. The nutrient could likewise play a duty in preventing particular types of cancer and state of mind disorders, and is linked to improved muscle strength and athletic efficiency and may play a function in weight management.

“Vitamin D is known to assist regulate– straight or indirectly-some 2,000 genes that manage everything from immunity, programmed cell death as well as appetite regulation,” explains Holick. “If you’ve receptors for D in practically all your cells and tissues, there’s a reason. Vitamin D appears to act like a surveillance mechanism for overall health.”

How Much Vitamin D is Enough?

It’s difficult to figure out how much vitamin D is required daily due to the fact that sunshine supplies the bulk our vitamin D from April-August. However, dark-skinned individuals, sunscreens, air pollution and various other factors all adversely affect the body’s ability to produce vitamin D. According to the Workplace of Dietary Supplements of the National Institutes of Wellness, the main is to get enough vitamin D with reasonable sun exposure, diet and supplements to keep an optimal blood level of a minimum of 30 nm/L of 25-hydroxyvitaminD.

The Institute of Medicine recommends 600 IU per day for adults (800 IU for those 70 and over) and a ceiling of 4,000 IU per day, The Endocrine Society’s specialist panel suggests 600-1,000 IU daily and a tolerable upper limit of 10,000 IU/day. Dr. Holick and lots of other vitamin D experts advise 2,000 IU per day. Considering that you are most likely getting less than 600 IU per day right now, try incorporating even more vitamin D-enriched foods into your diet plan to obtain at least 600 IU per day. Then, think about a vitamin D3 supplement if you live north of the 33 degrees latitude.

Vitamin D Lacking in US Diet

Vitamin D is among the hardest nutrients to satisfy your everyday requirements for due to the fact that it’s found in really couple of foods normally. Natural sources consist of cod liver oil, fatty fish, egg yolks, liver and mushrooms. Some 90-95 % of the vitamin D in the body comes from UVB rays that we transform in the skin to the nutrient. From November-March, strengthened foods and supplements end up being significantly necessary to obtain optimal amounts of vitamin D in your diet. A research from The Journal of Nutrition reported that more than 90 % of UNITED STATE adults fail to fulfill the recommended intakes from diet plan alone.

Food Sources of Vitamin D

1 Tablespoon cod liver oil, 1,360 IU

3 oz wild salmon, 800 IU

1 Tablespoon strengthened spreads, 100-200 IU

3 oz sardines, 192 IU

3 oz canned tuna, 154 IU

1 huge Eggland’s Best Egg, 120 IU

1 cup Vitamin D Fortified Soymilk, 120 IU

1 cup fortified Orange Juice (check labels for quantities), 100-130 IU

3 oz beef liver, 50 IU

1 large egg yolk, 40 IU

Vitamin D Supplements

Taking a vitamin supplement in the winter season is also a great option for many individuals. Shaklee offered a vey affordable vitamin 3# supplement for all. Here is the link to check it out: http://mjshealthyway.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku=21214

Info thanks to Diet Nutrition Advisor

I hope you have a healthy and productive holiday season. 

MJ 

Check out the Shaklee opportunity at http://mjshealthyway.com 

Antioxidant Benefits of Blueberries

Packed with vitamin C, manganese and nutritional fiber, blueberries are a dietary giant. On top of that, they include potent antioxidants called polyphenols, which are responsible for its color in addition to its results. Proof recommends that polyphenols discovered in blueberries can offer a wide range of health perks.

Combat Obesity and Diabetes
Antioxidants found in blueberries might help fight excessive weight and lower the danger for diabetic issues, according to lead author E. Mitchell Seymour and fellow researchers from the University of Michigan. They found that rats following a low- or high-fat diet plan with blueberry beverages for 90 days experienced lower cholesterol, lower triglycerides, less belly fat and increased the hormone insulin level of sensitivity compared to rats following the same diets without blueberry drinks. The research connected these lead to naturally taking place antioxidants discovered in blueberries, which modify genes related to fat-burning and glucose uptake by cells, according to the Science Daily internet site.

Improve Cognitive Performance
Researchers from the College of Patras in Greece examined the impacts of polyphenol-rich blueberry extract on cognitive performance and brain antioxidant markers in mice. Subjects were given blueberry remove for 7 days and done learning and memory tests. At the end of the study, which was published in the March 2009 concern of the journal ‘Behavioral Brain Research,’ researchers observed that subjects experienced enhancements in both discovering and memory. On top of that, analysts also discovered that polyphenols found in blueberry remove raised antioxidant levels in the brain, which may discuss the results of the study.

Protect Versus Intestinal Inflammation
Polyphenols discovered in blueberries might combat intestinal disease such as ulcerative colitis, particularly when incorporated with probotics, according to lead author Camilla Branning and colleagues from the Lund College Faculty of Engineering in Sweden. They found that blueberries can minimize and secure against intestinal tract inflammation. Additionally, incorporating blueberries with probotics improves this safety effect, according to the Science Daily site.

Info thanks to Diet Nutrition Advisor

Have a healthy and productive day!

MJ

Shaklee, creating healthier lives since 1957. http://mjshealthyway.com 

Prevent Colds and Flus Before They Happen!

 THE CHALLENGE

Every day our bodies are under attack by pathogens and dangerous microbes that infest our surroundings with an unseen, unfelt, yet undeniable health threat. Our body’s built-in immune system protects us whenever possible, but it’s under constant attack from poor nutrition, stress, pollution, and fatigue.

NUTRIFERON

NutriFeron is a powerful breakthrough in immune system science. It is a patented, clinically proven blend of immune-strengthening plant extracts. For daily use, it increases the production of your body’s natural interferon, a critical activator of the immune system. NutriFeron works at the cellular level in two ways: *

• Rapidly activates your immune system’s defenses* Mobilizes the immune system’s “search-and-destroy” teams *

THE SHAKLEE DIFFERENCE

• NutriFeron is the only immunity supplement formulated by the discoverer of natural
interferon, after an exhaustive review of 200 natural compounds.
Patented, clinically proven formula
• A natural way to keep your immune system finely tuned and on ready alert, taking
the defenses you already have and making them even better.*
• Available exclusively through Shaklee, NutriFeron is a powerfully effective supplement
that has exceeded a stringent set of scientific tests for safety, purity, potency, and
clinical tests for performance.
Star-K kosher certified

WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM NUTRIFERON?

• Everyone over twelve years of age whose busy, stressful lifestyles place their immune
systems under constant attack
Those who want to be proactive in optimizing their immune response against environmental irritants and airborne pollutants


HOW SHOULD IT BE USED?
The recommended serving of NutriFeron is two caplets daily. If pregnant or nursing, please ask a health care professional.

SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF THE INGREDIENTS IN NUTRIFERON

• Preliminary laboratory studies suggest that in as little as three days, NutriFeron can
unleash the full potential of the immune system.


Ushiroyama T,Yoshida S,Tadaki K, Ikeda A, Ueki M. Clinical efficacy of EH0202, a Kampo formula, on the health of middle-aged women. Am J Chin Med. 2004;32(5):755-70.

Ushiroyama T,Yoshida S,Tadaki K, Ikeda A, Ueki M. A pilot study of a Kampo formula, EH0202, with intriguing results for menopausal symptoms. J Altern Complement Med. 2004 Apr;10 (2):397-9.

Kaji K, Yoshida S, Nagata N, Yamashita T, Mizukoshi E, Honda M, Kojima Y, Kaneko S. An open-label study of administration of EH0202, a health-food additive, to patients with chronic hepatitis C. J Gastroenterol. 2004 Sep;39(9):873-8.

Kubo M, Hashimoto Y, Yoshida S.The effect of health food containing EH0202 on physical and mental symptoms accompanying menstruation in women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Clin Pharm Ther. 2004;14(2):129-142.

Have a healthy and productive week, and stay ahead of the cold and flu season with shaklee!

MJ
Nutriferon: http://mjshealthyway.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku=20962

Shaklee’s other great products! http://mjshealthyway.com 

Supporting Those With Breast Cancer

I thought this blog from the Shaklee Health Wise Blog would be fitting! My cousin conquered beast cancer and I’m proud of her for being strong and diligent though it all! 

When women get breast cancer they become the focus of attention (as it should be), but what gets less attention is how their loved ones’ lives are turned upside down with this diagnosis. The difficulty for any caregiver is how to be truly helpful to someone who is dealing with breast cancer.

Some of us have a tendency to want to look for solutions and fix things (which is a good trait), but for many cancer is beyond their knowledge which can leave them feeling inadequate and unsure how to help. Supporting someone you love who is going through any serious disease can be a challenging and confusing time, so let’s look at specific suggestions of how to best support someone with breast cancer.

It should be noted here that men can develop breast cancer, but the numbers are very low. The lifetime risk for men is one-tenth of one percent (or about 1 percent of all breast cancers). Men should check their breasts for lumps, just as women should.

How to best support someone with breast cancer:

Change: The first thing to understand about a diagnosis of cancer is that things are going to change. Women are faced with thoughts of their own mortality and this alone can bring about dramatic change. There may be changes in which foods she wants to eat, how much rest she needs, how much work she can get done around the house, and how she feels about herself, especially sexually. Women may fear how you will view them if they need to have a mastectomy, so it is helpful to tell her that you care for her as a person and want her to make the right decisions for her future health.

Emotions: Every woman will react differently to her diagnosis. Some are fearful, some angry, some sad. The most likely scenario is that a woman will experience all of these emotions over the course of dealing with this disease. As a caregiver it is important to understand the variety of emotions and to try to not take any of them personally. Find ways to remind her of your love and caring, that you are trying to understand and are there for her in whatever way she needs.

Decisions: There can be lots of decisions one has to make when diagnosed with cancer, or any serious disease; from choosing the right specialists, to what procedures to have done, to which medications to take. Choosing the best course is a major source of anxiety in women with breast cancer. It is best to start early with a discussion of how you are going to make these decisions and what role you as the caregiver can provide. Your job is not to be a medical expert, but to listen and to share thoughts, feelings, and opinions. Help her weigh the choices, but let her make the decision. Ultimately, the most important thing is to support whatever decision she makes.

Advocate: One of the great ways to support someone going through breast cancer is to go with her to every appointment. It helps to have someone else in the room to hear, take notes, and ask questions. You can also function as an advocate helping her get what she needs

Being a good caregiver is definitely a learning process. Don’t expect to always “get it right” and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Most breast cancer specialists will have an array of various specialists of different types whom you can call or make appointments with. It may be helpful to remind your loved one about reaching out to family members or other trusted confidantes, including spiritual advisors to help navigate difficult times. While you are not the only support, you are an important one—so take care of yourself too!

Have a healthy and productive day! 

MJ 

Shaklee, 57 years of natural prevention: http://mjshealthyway.com 

When Is GMO Not GMO? Part 3

Genetically Modified Foods And The Environment

Now that I have managed to alienate almost everyone, I should point out that there are some non-health issues around GMO foods. The biggest issue is that many of the genetically modified foods contain modifications that make them resistant to herbicides, and that encourages overuse of those herbicides with the resultant pollution of air, soil, and water.

Another concern is that the increasing reliance on genetically modified food crops is leading to a decrease in the genetic diversity of those crops, which could make them more susceptible to a new virus or pest in the future. This is a theoretical concern, but there is historical precedence for believing that it could happen.

Finally, laws that prevent subsistent farmers from saving their own seed for next season's planting is a major concern in Third World countries. But, that is more an issue of corporate greed than it is of genetic modification.

The Bottom Line:

What is the take-home lesson for you?

From a health perspective:

• Genetically modified proteins are likely to be a food allergy risk for some people, but we have no good data on how many people are affected by this kind of food allergy

• Genetically modified DNA is a theoretical concern because of the ability of intestinal bacteria to pick up pieces of DNA, but we have no evidence at present that this has actually ever caused a problem in people.

• With respect to sugars, oils, and other nutrients extracted from foods it makes no difference whether the food was GMO or non-GMO

From an environmental perspective:

• Genetic modifications leading to herbicide resistance are a significant environmental concern because it encourages overuse of herbicides.

• Lack of genetic diversity from the overuse of GMO food crops is a theoretical concern, but one with historical precedence.

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.

Source: Dr Stephan Chaney 

Shaklee 180 smoothies contain non-GMO Soy! Awesome! 

Check out Shaklee 180 and all the other natural products are http://mjshealthyway.com 

Have a healthy and productive day! 

MJ 

When Is GMO Not GMO? Part 2

Protein Modifications and Health Risks

A more likely risk comes from the proteins contained in genetically modified foods:

• Genetic modifications in the DNA result in the production of modified proteins, so GMO foods, GMO protein powders and foods made from GMO protein sources can be a source of unsuspected food allergies.

• Unfortunately, food allergies, especially those from genetically modified protein sources, are very difficult to quantify, so we have no good data on how big a problem this actually is.

However, it would be very surprising if there weren't some individuals with food allergies to genetically modified proteins.

When Is GMO Not GMO?

Many of the GMO opponents take it one step further and want to label as GMO any food or supplement that contains any ingredient made from a genetically modified food. This is where the science is clearly on the other side of the aisle. With respect to purified sugars, purified oils, vitamins and other purified nutrients obtained from foods there is no difference between GMO and non-GMO because these purified nutrients contain neither DNA nor protein.

Should GMO Labeling Be Required For All Food Ingredients?

For the most part, it isn’t even possible for most manufacturers to produce foods or supplements with all non-GMO ingredients. When the whole GMO issue first entered public awareness the food industry was guided by the science. It made good business sense for them to create a capacity, a pipeline if you will, to make sure that non-GMO protein sources were available to meet the market demand for companies that wanted to make non-GMO protein products for this new GMO-adverse market.

But, nobody anticipated the emotional demand for non-GMO sugars, oils and the like. There was no scientific basis for that demand, so none of the suppliers created the capacity to meet that demand. Currently there is only enough of those kinds of non-GMO ingredients to meet the needs of the bit players in the market. There simply aren't enough of those ingredients to satisfy the requirements of any manufacturer who deals in the mass market. That, for example, is the reason big players in the market lobbied against the recent California and Washington State propositions that would have required a food product to be labeled GMO if any ingredient in the food was GMO.

Tomorrow Part 3

Source: Dr Stephan Chaney 

Shaklee 180 smoothies contain non-GMO Soy! Awesome! 

Check out Shaklee 180 and all the other natural products are http://mjshealthyway.com 

Have a healthy and productive day! 

MJ 

The Landmark Study Conducted by Shaklee

I thought it would be a great idea to review the Landmark Study conducted by Shaklee in 2007. It covers how proper supplementation can enhance health and prevent long term chronic diseases. 

BACKGROUND

Dietary supplement use in the United States is prevalent and represents an important source of nutrition. However, little is known about individuals who routinely consume multiple dietary supplements. This study describes the dietary supplement usage patterns, health, and nutritional status of long-term multiple dietary supplement users, and where possible makes comparisons to non-users and multivitamin/mineral supplement users.

METHODS

Using a cross-sectional study design, information was obtained by online questionnaires and physical examination (fasting blood, blood pressure, body weight) from a convenience sample of long-term users of multiple dietary supplements manufactured by Shaklee Corporation (Multiple Supp users, n=278). Data for non-users (No Supp users, n=602) and multivitamin/mineral supplement users (Single Supp users, n=176) were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2002 and NHANES III 1988-1994. Logistic regression methods were used to estimate odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Dietary supplements consumed on a daily basis by more than 50% of Multiple Supp users included a multivitamin/mineral, B-complex, vitamin C, carotenoids, vitamin E, calcium with vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, flavonoids, lecithin, alfalfa, coenzyme Q10 with resveratrol, glucosamine, and a herbal immune supplement. The majority of women also consumed gamma linolenic acid and a probiotic supplement, whereas men also consumed zinc, garlic, saw palmetto, and a soy protein supplement. Serum nutrient concentrations generally increased with increasing dietary supplement use. After adjustment for age, gender, income, education and body mass index, greater degree of supplement use was associated with more favorable concentrations of serum homocysteine, C-reactive protein, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides, as well as lower risk of prevalent elevated blood pressure and diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

This group of long-term multiple dietary supplement users consumed a broad array of vitamin/mineral, herbal, and condition-specific dietary supplements on a daily basis. They were more likely to have optimal concentrations of chronic disease-related biomarkers, and less likely to have suboptimal blood nutrient concentrations, elevated blood pressure, and diabetes compared to non-users and multivitamin/mineral users. These findings should be confirmed by studying the dietary supplement usage patterns, health, and nutritional status of other groups of heavy users of dietary supplements.

source

Always wishing you a healthy and productive week! 

MJ 

Proper supplementation through Shaklee really works! 

http://mjshealthyway.com  

Ask Shaklee 180™ Healthy Competition Winner, Viki!

Viki, Healthy Competition Winner and Pro Cartwheeler
Did a 180 and lost 127 lbs*

Viki went from feeling like a burden to her family to feeling happy, healthier, and confident. Here’s her story:

Viki’s Before:

• Used to not be physically able to do the dishes.
• Used to feel like people turned away from her at the end of her sentences.
• Used to feel miserable all the time.

The Tipping Point:

“I was a burden to my family. I couldn’t even do things like washing the dishes; it was embarrassing.”

Viki’s After-After™ Snapshot:

“I go to lunch with my girlfriends and I’m not afraid of what the restaurant has; I live without fear.  There’s nothing in my life that’s bigger than that.”

Tell us about your before:

“I struggled with my weight as a teenager, but it was nothing that I couldn’t get under control if I felt like it. And then I got pregnant with my first child and I gained 60 pounds. I was pregnant with my second child in under six months, and I didn’t gain as much weight, but I didn’t have the chance to take off the weight. I just kind of didn’t do anything or really think much about it outside of wishing I was thinner until I got on the scale one day and I weighed 282 pounds.  I got back off the scale and I literally kicked it.”

How has Shaklee 180™ changed your life?

“There are a lot of changes that come with losing so much weight.  It’s definitely an emotional process to work through. When you’re heavy nobody’s paying attention to you and you just kind of go about and not worry about everything.  People don’t treat you the same; that’s just a fact of life and so there’s some pulling back of what you would otherwise feel bold enough to do. Before Shaklee 180™, people used to turn away at the end of my sentence; now they keep the conversation going.”

What else has changed?

“Shopping for clothes is now one of my favorite things to do! It used to be that I could shop until the cows came home but I couldn’t find anything that made me look good. Now I can go out and the problem is—my husband will attest to this—deciding to not get everything I like. [laughs] It’s a whole new mindset, you know, to go through an entire wardrobe of things that you don’t feel good in to trying to figure out what look you want to wear today; that’s a big difference.”

Info thanks to Shaklee Health Wise Blog!

Shaklee 180, a perfect way to lose weight naturally. 

Check out the difference at http://mjshealthyway.com

Have a healthy and productive day! 

MJ 

Bone Health Part 3

Here is an awesome Video From Dr Jamie McManus talking how to protect your joints with daily with 5 simple steps.  http://images.shaklee.com/video/show.php?video=Natural-Alternatives-for-Joint-Health-01a

I hope everyone has a safe and healthy Labor Day Weekend!

MJ

Shaklee, America's number one natural nutrition company! 57 years and going strong!

Se it all at http://mjshealthyway.com 

Pssst... Amazing New Shaklee 180 Flavors!

Folks, you have got to try the Shaklee 180 Vanilla Chai smoothie. It is so yummy good and provides 24g of protein, non-GMO soy, no preservatives of artificial color, it's low glycemic, and lactose free. I myself have lost 37 pounds and maintained a healthy weight of 172 pounds.

The new Toffee & Chocolate Crunch snack bar is amazingly good an help crave that afternoon hunger. 9g of protein and no artificial flavors or colors power this yummy snack bar.

Below are the links to Shaklee's newest products!

Shaklee 180 Vabilla Chai smoothie:
http://mjshealthyway.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku=22050

Shaklee 180 Toffee & Chocolate Crunch snack bar:
http://mjshealthyway.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku=22051

Have a healthy and productive day all!
MJ

Check out the Shaklee difference at: http://weightloss180.info or http://mjshealthyway.com 

Bone Health Part 2-Painful Joints?

How do you feel when you wake up in the morning? Do you jump out of bed ready to take on the day, or do you feel stuck like the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz? If your knees or fingers feel stiff or achy, your joints may be trying to send you a message.

Typical joints consist of bones covered in a cushion of articular cartilage and synovial fluid that acts as a lubricant. This arrangement allows for smooth conduction of the joint through its whole range of motion. Pain in your joints is typically caused by overexertion or damage to the joint, and tends to occur more as we age. If the pain and discomfort gets worse over time – this might be a sign of joint damage.

Joint health is important because it’s closely related to our overall health. Pain in our joints can limit our mobility and interfere with almost every aspect of our lives including being active, enjoying time with family, and even performing everyday tasks.

What are the challenges?

There are many different problems that can affect the joints. Pain and discomfort may just be a sign that you overdid it last weekend, but it may also be the start of something bigger.

Arthritis, which simply means “inflammation of the joints,” is the number one cause of disability in the United States. There are two general types of arthritis:

• Osteoarthritis is considered wear and tear and typically occurs as we age.
• Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that can strike at any age.

What these conditions share is that the inflammation in the joint causes damage to the cartilage. If left unchecked, this damage can lead to the destruction of the cartilage and even cause bone to rub against bone.

What can I do?

Joint health really depends on the health of the cartilage surrounding the joints and there are many things you can do to help protect your joints for a lifetime.

Keep moving:

• Exercise: The more active a person stays, the healthier their joints. Any exercise where you are moving your joints works including walking, running, golf, tennis, or others. If you already have joint issues, consider exercises that don’t put pressure on the joints such as cycling or swimming.
• Don’t sit still: Less movement means more stiffness for your joints. So if you sit all day, get up and get moving. Change positions frequently. Take frequent breaks at work and stretch or go for a short walk. Try taking phone calls while standing or go talk to the person instead of sending an e-mail.
• Stretch every day: Stretching increases a joints' range of motion. The more joints move, the more the cartilage gets nourished by the joint fluid.

Build Muscles: Strong muscles support and protect your joint’s, so it is key to maintain muscle mass as you age. Consider weight training to help build muscle and keep existing muscles and surrounding ligaments strong.

Maintain healthy weight: Each extra pound of body weight puts around four times the pressure on your knees when you are walking. If you remove 10 pounds from your body, you have just taken away 40 pounds of pressure off your knees when you are walking and up to 70 pounds when you are climbing stairs.

Ice: If you exercise or overdo it, consider using ice as a preventative. It not only helps reduce inflammation, but can also help with pain. It is best to use ice for only 15-20 minutes at a time, but you can repeat every hour.

Key Nutrients:

• Glucosamine hydrochloride: The cartilage in your joints is primarily made up of a nutrient called glucosamine. Taking glucosamine as a supplement may aid in maintaining healthy joints.
• Boswellia serrata: Boswellia is an herb that has been used for more than a thousand years to help maintain joint health. A specific extract of boswellia called 3-o-acetyl-11-keto-b-boswellic acid (AKBA) was shown in a recent study to improve joint comfort in less than a week.
• Omega-3s: Studies suggest that use of omega-3 oils may reduce morning stiffness, discomfort, and need medications. Consume fish at least two- times a week, or consider 1,000 to 3,000 milligrams a day of a good fish oil supplement.

Your joints have to last a lifetime and the health of your joints is closely related to your overall health. You can help your joints be their best by supporting them with healthy lifestyle choices and good nutrition.

Have a healthy and productive day! 

MJ 

Check out Shaklee’s Advanced Joint Complex: http://mjshealthyway.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku=20281  Joint comfort in as few as 5 days! 

Info thanks to the Shaklee Corp. 

Bone Health Part 1

Most people think that bones are hard, lifeless parts of their bodies. Actually bones are living organs full of blood and cells that are an active part of our overall health. Far from static, our bones are constantly rebuilding themselves and growing stronger or weaker depending on how active we are and how well we are supplying the nutrients they need.

It is a fact of life that our bones lose minerals as we age. Bone loss starts around 30 years old. If left unchecked, bone loss can lead to osteoporosis, a disease in which the bones lose minerals such as calcium until they become fragile and break easily.

What are the challenges?

• There are many risk factors for osteoporosis:

• The amount of bone mass you start with has a big impact on your risk of osteoporosis. If you are female, petite, white, Asian, or have a family history of osteoporosis, then you have a greater risk.
• Research suggests that tobacco, heavy alcohol use, and low physical activity can all reduce bone mass.
• Gastric bypass, low testosterone, high thyroid, and certain medications (such as steroids or thyroid) can all increase risk.

• It is estimated that there are 10 million Americans affected by osteoporosis and at least 80% are women.

• Bone loss rapidly accelerates after menopause; women can lose up to half their bone mass in the 5-10 years following the end of menses.

• More than 1.5 million fractures occur every year because of osteoporosis. It is estimated that one half of women and up to one in four men age 50 and older will break a bone because of osteoporosis.

• One in five people over the age of 65 who break a hip end up in nursing home within a year, and they are three times more likely to die within three months.

What can I do?

The good news is that you can begin making changes today that will improve your bone health.

Here is your action plan:

Start early: Remember that bone loss starts around 30 years old. While it is best to start taking care of your bones when you are young, it is also never too late to start nourishing your bones.

Include weight-bearing exercises in your routine: Weight-bearing activity increases the density of your bones because bones become stronger when put under pressure; that is why weight-bearing exercises work to build bones and slow bone loss. Consider weight lifting, walking, running, hiking, dancing, and tennis.

Make healthy choices: Don’t smoke, limit alcohol use, and maintain a healthy weight.

Include plenty of calcium: Calcium is the most abundant mineral in our bones.

• Your diet should include high-calcium foods such as milk and other dairy foods, leafy green vegetables, and soybeans.
• If you’re one of the many who aren’t getting enough from your diet, supplementation is key. 1000 milligrams of calcium a day in food or supplements is the recommended amount to help maintain bones for most adults; that amount increases to 1200-1500 mg per day for women who are post menopausal and men over 70.

Vitamin D is essential for the proper absorption of calcium from the digestive tract.

• Even though vitamin D is the “sunshine” vitamin, most people aren’t getting enough because of the use of sunscreens, where you live, time of year, if you are overweight or simply not spending much time outdoors.
• A new study links vitamin D deficiency to accelerated bone aging. If you don't have enough vitamin D, it could lead to reduced bone density, reduced bone quality, and increase the aging of bones.
• The best approach for determining the proper amount to take is to have your blood levels checked and then supplement to achieve your optimum levels. Most health practitioners suggest around 1000-2000 IU a day.

Magnesium is the second most abundant mineral in bones and getting around 400 mg a day is essential for good bone building.

Vitamin K is less well known than other vitamins, but just as essential for bone building. For good bone maintenance, use between 40-80 mcg a day

Start taking care of your bones today, all it takes is a little effort to have a huge payoff later in life.

Have a healthy and productive week! 

MJ 

Shaklee, keeping bones healthy since 1956! http://mjshealthyway.com  Info thanks to the Shaklee Corp.