Showing posts with label nutrition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nutrition. Show all posts

How to protect all 206 of your bones!


Protect all 206 of your bones so they can offer you strong support.

Bones are constantly being renewed and can grow stronger with a good diet and weight-bearing exercise. You make time for your outer appearance, but make sure your inner support system is taken care of so that you’ll be on the move for years to come:

  • Stick with a diet to feed your bones. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and low-fat dairy.
  • Get enough calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, and vitamin K/K2.
  • Keep moving against gravity. Examples include: running, brisk walking, weightlifting, and jump roping.
  • Maintain a healthy weight. Being underweight can raise the risk of fracture and bone loss.
  • Quit smoking. Smoking can reduce bone mass and may increase your risks for a broken bone.
  • Limit alcohol use. Large amounts can reduce bone mass and may increase your risks for a broken bone.

To help you in your quest for a full, active lifestyle, the NUTRILITE® brand has a family of bone health products to help you fill in your calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, and vitamin K/K2 nutritional gaps. These products include:

Pulled from the Wellness Wire on Nutrilite
Monday, March 22, 2010

Are you getting enough calcium for strong bones?


Are you getting enough calcium for strong bones?

“Sticks and stones can break my bones …”

You might have uttered this popular comeback in childhood as a response to playground teasing. Another childhood mainstay – milk – contains an important ingredient that can impact your bone health so that you can experience a full, active lifestyle.

What is it? Calcium, of course. You may not know that your entire body uses calcium, not just your bones and teeth. Your body doesn’t produce calcium, so you must get it from your diet and supplements. If you don’t have enough calcium in your system to satisfy all your calcium needs, your body will start stealing calcium from your bones. This causes your bones to weaken over time, and can turn a simple fall into a serious break.

Here are some tips for making wise calcium-enriched food choices:

  • Include fat-free or low-fat milk as a beverage at meals or add it to oatmeal or cereal.
  • Drink cappuccinos or lattes with fat-free or skim milk.
  • Use low-fat cheese in casseroles, soups, or vegetables.
  • Add broccoli, kale, nuts, and salmon as a regular part of your diet.

If you are not able to take in the right amounts of calcium in your diet, the NUTRILITE® brand can fill in the gap with NUTRILITE Cal Mag D. Cal Mag D provides 250 mg of calcium per tablet from three sources and uses 100 International Units (IU) of vitamin D to improve calcium absorption to your bones. Fall into the habit of getting the right amount of calcium daily and help to keep your bones strong.

Are your vitamin D needs being met?


Are your vitamin D needs being met?

It may be the most talked about vitamin in years. Articles about vitamin D have appeared in so many national publications, it’s hard to keep track.

Vitamin D is found in some foods, and it is produced naturally by the body when skin is exposed to sunlight.

So you may be asking … ”Why the hype about vitamin D?”

Recent research has shown that most people do not get enough vitamin D – 2,000 International Units (IU) daily are now recommended – and most likely, people don’t even know they’re not getting enough. So, why do you care if you’re getting enough, or not?

Vitamin D is known for helping the body absorb calcium for strong bones and teeth. Are strong bones important to you? Vitamin D also supports breast, colon, and immune system health. Are any of these a priority to you?

The NUTRILITE® brand can fill in your vitamin D gap with NUTRILITE Vitamin D3 2000 IU plus vitamin K2. It’s packed with 2,000 IU of vitamin D, so you’re getting the naturally occurring form of vitamin D that your body produces when exposed to sunlight – in an amount that is equal to twenty 8-oz. glasses of milk. And that is good news you can use.
(Pulled from Nutrilite Wellness Wire)
Please email me at jhwaller@bww.com to get signed up for the Wellness Wire distribution email list.

http://jwaller.qhealthbeauty.com/products/product.aspx?itemno=109760

Is Stress Overwhelming You?

Is Stress Overwhelming You?

Dr. Duke Johnson, M.D.
Medical Director, Nutrilite Health Institute Center for Optimal Health

Stress: It's a serious health problem for every industrialized society in the world. In a way it's strange, because progress and technology were designed to make our lives easier. Instead, they have prevented us from getting away from our work and obligations.

In the past, you left work and you were done – but not anymore. These days, we often receive text messages and emails around the clock. Factors like competition, tight timelines, and economic pressures mean companies must operate at maximum efficiency in order to survive. The media reports daily on global economic instability and recession, so it's no wonder everyone feels stressed.

Stress can have serious negative short-term and long-term impacts on our health. Stress can raise blood pressure, lower immune function, trigger asthma attacks, cause ulcers, and increase the risk of digestive problems.1 The bottom line: Controlling stress is critical if you want to achieve optimal health and increase your longevity.

The common recommendations for handling stress are usually not the most effective. When I began researching stress more than a decade ago, I collected more than 400 articles on the topic. Surprisingly, I found nearly everyone makes the same recommendations for handling stress. These typically include ideas like get away, take walks, meditate, listen to music, or find some alone time. While these techniques can help if you feel overwhelmed, they are temporary band-aids for a bigger problem.

Most of the stress we experience occurs when we lose sight of the priorities in our lives. Day-to-day "emergencies" demand most of your attention, and many of us have lost the ability to set boundaries on how and with whom we spend our time. In this way, life becomes a game of survival where your only goal is crossing things off your to-do list. As a result, you end up simply existing when you could be living a life that corresponds with your beliefs and goals.

For your health, you must learn to prioritize your life. You need to live according to your beliefs and learn to set boundaries. Remember, there are right and wrong ways to de-stress, which I explain in my new book, Optimal Health Revolution. By using stress reduction strategies that really work and keeping your eye on the big picture instead of the everyday emergencies, you can reduce stress and reach your goal of obtaining optimal health.

1 Harvard Health Publications Group. “How Stress Affects the Body.” Stress Control (Harvard Special Health Report) May 2006: 37–41. Health and Wellness Resource Center. Web. 19 Aug. 2009.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

10 Minutes a Day to Build a Stronger, Healthier You!

10 Minutes a Day to Build a Stronger, Healthier You!
Sean Foy, M.A.

Author of The 10-Minute Total Body Breakthrough

In 2010, how would you like to have a healthier body, home, and business life? You can! It’s easier than you’d think, and you can start to do it in just 10 minutes a day.

Suppose the January 1, 2010, newspaper headline read, “Magic Health Potion Discovered!” The article went on to describe that scientists had designed a miracle medication that will help to lower your risk of diabetes, obesity, heart disease, stroke, and several types of cancer. The same medication may also rev up your metabolism, help your body burn fat, and give you more energy. And, it can strengthen your muscles, help maintain bone health, help to reduce stress, and even help you look years younger! The best news … this magic potion is cheap and available everywhere!

Would you run out the door in your new Christmas pj’s to your local drugstore to find this “magic potion”? Your instinct to “run” is on target for the magic potion.

Motion Is the Magic Potion
The magic potion I’m talking about is exercise. Stay with me now, and let me tell you’ve what I’ve learned.

The physical benefits of exercise are extensive and well-documented. But to my knowledge, no studies have been done on the ways in which getting fit can change your life. At Nutrilite Health Institute (NHI), we have tested the 10-minute 4-3-2-1 workout, and we’ve seen some interesting results. One breakthrough is that people see 10 minutes as “doable.” As they started the 10-minute routine, they also began to make other changes in their life too. From our documented cases, many participants reported better self-esteem, higher business productivity, more self-control, increased happiness, and better relationships.

To improve your life there is not much that will compare to moving your body more – even just 10 minutes a day.* Exercise can transform the way we feel, think, act, and look. You can have a healthy body to meet your daily obligations and have leftover energy for fun! When your health and fitness improve, you can have the strength and energy to experience more that life offers.

4-3-2-1 DONE!
I would encourage you to visit my website: www.4321fitness.com to learn more about how moving your body just 10 minutes a day, the 4-3-2-1 way, on a regular basis will help you experience success, and you can begin the journey to transform your health.

You can do it! Start today! Remember to start small and finish strong!

All the best in 2010!
Coach Sean

*Consult with your doctor prior to starting any new exercise program.

Optimal Health for 2010 and Beyond

Optimal Health for 2010 and Beyond


Dr. Duke Johnson, M.D.
Medical Director, Nutrilite Health Institute Center for Optimal Health

Would You?
Would you like to wake up each morning with such strength and vitality that you didn’t need something to “rev” you up? Would you like to feel confident that you are taking positive steps to reduce the chance of chronic disease? Would a natural reduction of much of the pain you are experiencing be of interest to you? Would you love to have people marvel at and envy your endurance that is a result of the healthy lifestyle you live? Is real weight loss and weight maintenance of interest to you? Would you really like to know which pathway will help you achieve your best health?

No Fads Allowed – Just Good Health
It seems as if everyone in the media is a “health expert” but in reality, a majority of these “self-proclaimed” experts do not base their claims in solid science or have your long-term health in mind. At Nutrilite Health Institute (NHI), we aren’t interested in popular fads because they are almost always misdirected or too narrowly focused. If we aren’t promoting something popular, there is a strong reason for it. We base all that we do on the best science available and a truly unique global perspective to enhance our teaching. At Nutrilite, we have been on the cutting edge of science for 75 years, and we won’t stop asking questions in the future. We want you to have the best products we can develop, to support a lifetime of good health, with science that will last the ages.

Perfection? Nope, Just Positive Steps
Optimal health at NHI involves your total lifestyle – every crazy, busy minute. We don’t teach or expect everyone to be perfect, but rather to take small steps in the right direction that can ultimately lead to your best health. Small changes can become habits, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can become a part of who you are.

Taking small steps to change your current habits can help to keep chronic disease out of your future. It’s much better to change now and enjoy good health, than to be forced to change later. What better time to begin this pathway than at the start of 2010? We know the path to optimal health is possible, because there are many Amway Global Independent Business Owners that we’ve seen whose lives have changed dramatically.

Join an Optimal Health Revolution in 2010
At NHI we offer our Amway Global Independent Business Owners the opportunity to participate in a 1, 2, or 3-day program in Buena Park, California, and over 15,000 IBOs globally have been through our program. Since everyone can’t visit, I hope that my new book, entitled Optimal Health Revolution, by BenBella Books, will help you begin the right path today. It’s written for those of you without any science training but is packed with over 900 scientific references for those who desire all the facts. Over 150 scientific references support the use of supplementation, and the book lays out much of the NHI optimal health philosophy for true lifestyle change.

Take your first step toward optimal health so that you can experience the life you were intended to have.

For optimal health,
Dr. Duke Johnson M.D.

Oh My Aching Back: Helping Back Pain with Exercise


Oh My Aching Back: Helping Back Pain with Exercise
Sean Foy, M.A.
President, Personal Wellness Corporation

When your back hurts, everything seems to hurt. By the age of 45, most people will have experienced some form of lower-back discomfort. Other than the common cold, lower back pain is the most common reason people miss work in the United States. Lower back pain is also one of the main health obstacles to maintaining a regular fitness program.


There are three common types of back problems. One widespread back problem is a strain – an injury to a muscle or tendon of the lower back. Other common problems include sprains – injuries to the ligaments supporting the spine, and herniated disks – small, round cushions between the vertebrae of the spine are displaced.


Your back is made up of three main areas: the upper portion of your spine (the cervical), the middle portion (the thoracic), and the lower portion (the lumbar). The lower back connects your chest, arms, and upper body to your hips, pelvis, and legs – your lower body. The strength and mobility of your lower back is crucial to basic daily activities including: sitting, standing, walking, lifting, twisting, turning, and bending.


Lower back pain and injury is usually caused by one of several factors:



  • Poor posture.

  • Improper body mechanics.

  • Prolonged sitting.

  • Sudden, quick movements that damage ligaments.

  • Muscles or tendons that have become overly tight due to a lack of core conditioning.

In my book, The 10 Minute Total Body Breakthrough, I explain in detail how to move your body the "4-3-2-1" way to help prevent lower back pain. In this article, I'll share some simple steps to get you started.


Consult your doctor. If you are experiencing lower back pain, discuss your condition and your current fitness level with your doctor. If your back pain is serious, work with your doctor to create an action plan to help you get moving again. Remember, inactivity has been shown to make back pain worse and increase your discomfort.


Perform aerobic exercise safely. After you get your doctor's go-ahead, choose aerobic activities that are easy on your joints, such as walking or stationary cycling. Get moving for 10–30 minutes a day, at least three days a week. You may also want to consider exercising in a pool to relieve the strain on your back. Avoid performing any exercises that are jarring to the joints such as jogging, running, jumping rope, or jumping jacks.


Begin resistance and core training. Develop a resistance and core program to improve your overall body strength. In resistance training, you'll need to avoid some movements to prevent further injury. Skip any exercises that involve raising a weight above your head or placing weight on your back. For example, don't do dumbbell or barbell shoulder presses, barbell squats, or resistance band overhead presses. Also, skip any exercises with twisting motions. Then, remember to perform resistance training movements in a slow, controlled motion.


Perform movements involving the upper and lower body, such as wall pushups or wall squats. Or, use a resistance band and do stationary lunges or arm curls. Try a stationary back or side plank to strengthen your core muscles, which include your abdominals, back, and obliques. Also, one of the best tools to help strengthen your core and overall body during your workouts is a stability ball. Aim for one resistance and core training session three days a week on alternating days.


Stretch regularly. Stretching provides many benefits for your body, which include increasing muscle flexibility, strengthening tendons and ligaments, increasing joint mobility, improving posture, decreasing back pain, and many others. Stretch every day to alleviate lower-back discomfort and prevent further injury. Stretches such as a seated forward bend, seated arm reach, or chin-to-chest stretch are all examples of static stretches you can do. Hold each stretch until you feel mild tension for 15–30 seconds, and do them as often as you like throughout the day.


Sean Foy, M.A.
President, Personal Wellness Corporation

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Turning Off Your Genetic Risk


Turning Off Your Genetic Risk
Kenneth Kornman, D.D.S, Ph.D.
President and Chief Scientific Officer, Interleukin Genetics

As you get older, certain diseases often follow. Diseases typically associated with aging include heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, obesity, diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, and joint problems. It's a long list, but don't be discouraged. Optimal health is all about delaying and helping to prevent your experiences with these diseases of aging.


All of these conditions are caused by interactions between our genes and the environment in which we live. Cardiovascular disease, which includes heart attacks and stroke, is one example. We know that our lifestyle – including smoking, physical activity, and diet – are major factors in our cardiovascular health. We also know that genetics play an important role, because a family history of heart attacks before the age of 60 is a significant risk factor for heart disease.


The good news is that you can make changes to reduce your genetic risk for these diseases of aging. Although you cannot change the genes you inherited from your parents, you can change the way your genes work to make your body healthier.


Nutrition is one of the strongest determinants of how your genes behave. Scientists now know that some of your genes have variations that alter their behavior. For example, a gene can be influenced to produce more or less of a certain chemical over time. The goal is to reduce the output of genes that produce chemicals that can be harmful, such as plaque-producing genes that can clog your heart's arteries.


This is where the exciting new science of nutrigenomics takes center stage. In nutrigenomics, we are working to discover which genes in your body are affected by certain nutrients. For example, what do the bad saturated fats do to the machinery of your body – your genes? This does not mean that you should have a customized diet, since the science is nowhere near making that a reality. But there are ways today to classify people into a few genetic patterns, and you can learn to make better use of certain nutrients and supplements.


What we can learn now from nutrigenomics is that you may be able to modify even the genetic risk factors for diseases associated with aging, with a healthy diet – risk factors we once thought were irreversible. Nutrigenomics gives you yet another compelling reason to strive for a healthy diet in order to live your life in optimal health.


Kenneth Kornman, D.D.S, Ph.D.
President and Chief Scientific Officer, Interleukin Genetics

Can employers require employees to get flu shots?

Can employers require employees to get flu shots?11:40 am September 29, 2009, by Joy Johnston

What do you think? Check out this article and leave a comment.
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-job-blog/2009/09/29/can-employers-require-employees-to-get-flu-shots/

A recent AJC article indicated that the topic of flu shots in the workplace has become a popular topic of discussion at Atlanta law offices. That’s because employers are seeking legal advice about whether or not they can mandate their staff members to obtain flu shots, as the threat of swine flu looms this fall and winter.
Monday, October 5, 2009

Tackling the Worldwide Diabetes Epidemic

Tackling the Worldwide Diabetes Epidemic
Medical Director, Nutrilite Health Institute
First, the bad news. According to the World Health Organization, we are in the middle of a global type 2 diabetes epidemic. Right now, 180 million people have diabetes, and that number is expected to double by 2030 unless drastic action is taken!1
The good news is we can fight back against this global epidemic. The rapid increase in type 2 diabetes is not due to a change in our genetics over the past couple decades – it’s due to a change in our lifestyles. We created this serious health crisis with our poor health choices, and that means we can get out of it by making positive lifestyle changes.

Diabetes affects the body’s ability to use glucose for energy. Glucose is often called blood sugar. When you have diabetes, blood sugar levels become too high because of a problem with insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced in your pancreas that acts like a key. It opens the doors of our cells, allowing sugar to go from the bloodstream into a cell.

There are two main types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body stops making enough insulin, causing blood sugar levels to rise. Type 1 diabetes is not increasing and accounts for only 10% of worldwide diabetes cases. Right now, scientists don’t fully understand why type 1 diabetes occurs. If you are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, work closely with your doctor to control daily blood sugar levels.

The second type of diabetes is type 2 diabetes. Unlike type 1 diabetes, it can usually be prevented. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin, even though the pancreas is still producing the hormone. With this disease, the problem occurs at the location where the insulin “key” unlocks the cell “door,” known as the insulin receptor. When we eat highly processed foods, manufactured fats, and synthetic compounds, chemicals, etc., we are not providing healthy cell walls to create healthy insulin receptors. Bad receptors make for insulin resistance – the key won’t open the door.

You can’t undo a type 2 diabetes diagnosis, because once you have the disease physiological changes have occurred in your body that can't be reversed. But, there are steps you can take to control it. Improving your health choices and watching your blood sugar can help you live a healthier life.

If you are overweight or are considered a borderline diabetic and haven't yet been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, making healthy lifestyle choices can lower your risk of developing the disease.

The best way to avoid type 2 diabetes is with a healthy diet full of natural and minimally processed foods. In addition, you can reduce your type 2 diabetes risk if you quit smoking and start exercising 30 minutes a day. For more strategies to reduce your diabetes risk, check out my new book, The Optimal Health Revolution, and visit the American Diabetes Association website, diabetes.org.

Remember, with a healthy lifestyle you can significantly reduce your type 2 diabetes risk. You’ll be doing something good for your own health, and also doing your part to tackle the worldwide diabetes epidemic. I encourage you to start today!

Dr. Duke Johnson, M.D.Medical Director, Nutrilite Health Institute
1World Health Organization.
"Diabetes Factsheet." November 2008.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Control Diabetes with Nutrition




Control Diabetes with Nutrition
Julianne Downes, R.D.
Certified Weight Management Trainer

Diabetes is a potentially life-threatening disease that must be managed with healthy eating. When you have diabetes, your body is having trouble using glucose, which is often called blood sugar. This is a big problem, because glucose is your body’s main source of energy.

No matter which type of diabetes you have – type 1 (lack of insulin) or type 2 (resistant to insulin) – a healthy diet is necessary to control the disease and prevent further problems, such as heart and kidney conditions.

There is no longer a “diabetic diet.” People with diabetes simply need to follow the principles of healthy eating that apply to everyone. Along with healthy eating, people with diabetes must monitor their calorie consumption to maintain or lose weight based on their doctor's recommendation. They also need to be aware of four main nutrition factors: carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and sodium.


Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are the main nutrients that raise blood glucose levels. Both the amount and type of carbohydrate you eat affects your blood glucose, but the amount you eat has a greater effect than the type. People with diabetes should eat controlled portions of nutrient-dense carbohydrates such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains throughout the day. This will help control blood sugar levels and keep hunger at bay.

Proteins
People with diabetes should keep their protein intake moderate. According to the American Diabetes Association, protein intake higher than 20% of daily calories may put people with diabetes at risk for kidney disease. Choosing smaller, leaner servings of protein will reduce your intake of saturated fat and help keep cholesterol levels in check.

Fats
Many people with diabetes may also have unhealthy blood cholesterol levels and high blood pressure, making a reduction in fat intake necessary. The National Cholesterol Education Program recommends limiting total fat intake to 25–35% of your daily calories. Saturated fat intake should be less than 7% of your total calories. The remainder of fat should come from healthy monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats.

Sodium
Sodium intake should be no more than 2,300 mg a day, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. If you have high blood pressure, keep your sodium intake under 1,500 mg a day.

Finally, when managing diabetes, pay attention to the food groups. There are six main food groups, which are categorized based on the nutrients they provide and their effect on blood glucose levels. The food groups are starches (foods made from grains), vegetables, fruits, milk and yogurt, meat and meat substitutes, and fats. Grouping the foods this way makes it easy to put together healthy meals.

Meeting with a certified diabetes educator (CDE) or a registered dietitian is a great way to get extra help designing an individual food plan. If you have diabetes, the key is to control the disease with diet and exercise – and medication if necessary – rather than letting diabetes control you.

Julianne Downes, RD
Certified Weight Management Trainer

Reference:
Warshaw, Hope S. Diabetes Meal Planning Made Easy. Virginia: American Diabetes Association, 1996.


Retrieved from The Wellness Wire from AmWay Global. If you would like to subscribe to the Wellness Wire, please email me at jhwallerllc@gmail.com and I will be happy to forward it to you.

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