In one of my previous posts, I discussed the toxins that come into our body through our drinking water. What happens to these toxins when they enter our body? Can toxins lead to liver or kidney disease? What are some early signs of liver and kidney toxicity?

Early warning signs
Your liver and kidneys cooperate with another detoxification organ: the lungs. Signs that your liver and kidneys are struggling and pushing the toxic overload through your lungs can include:

• Breathing problems
• Bad breath
• Frequent lung and sinus infections
• Allergies.

Toxicity in the liver and kidneys affect another organ of detoxification: your skin. If your detoxification system becomes overloaded, your body will try to compensate for this overload by pushing some of this waste out through your skin. Early signs of this include:

• Itchy skin
• Bad-smelling perspiration
• Discolorations.

Eventually, you might even experience a breakdown in your skin when it can no longer handle this toxic load. A good example of this: When someone with diabetes has a toxic level of glucose, cracks can appear in the skin of the feet.

What about kidney/liver disease?

Kidneys
Kidneys filter your blood and ensure that proteins and minerals are in the right balance. Too many proteins from an unbalanced, low-carb diet may injure the kidneys. Too many minerals, such as too much phosphorus from soft drinks will injure your kidneys, and too much sugar will damage your kidneys beyond repair.

So, for good, healthy kidneys:

• Drink pure water
• Eat a balanced, healthy diet
• Avoid concentrated sugars.

Many toxins can destroy the kidneys, such as toxic levels of homocysteine and glucose. Still, one of the most common kidney toxins is aspirin, so it should be taken in moderation.

The liver
Many of the toxins excreted by the liver are either absorbed (taken out of your body) by fiber or reabsorbed into your liver. This is why it is so important to eat a high fiber diet and supplement your diet with fiber when needed.

Many toxins can destroy the liver, such as those from alcohol and hepatitis virus. However, the number one reason for liver transplants is acetaminophen toxicity. That’s why I suggest minimizing consumption of any products containing acetaminophen.

Toxic minerals such as lead and mercury can damage both the kidneys and the liver. Protect yourself from these serious diseases by isolating yourself from common toxins and insulating yourself with nutrients and fiber.

Fiber and detoxification
Our liver has a four-step process for detoxification.

1. First, toxins enter the liver, typically from the intestines. They are changed in the liver by an enzyme called CYP, which stands for cytochrome. In the first stage of detoxification the CYP enzyme makes the toxin expand and creates a large surface area – like a sponge.
2. The second stage is to douse this sponge-like toxin with antioxidants and other special nutrients.
3. The third stage is to convert this fat-based sponge to a water base so that it can be attached to fiber.
4. The fourth step in detoxification is to push the fiber and the toxin out through the colon.

Now you can see why fiber in our diet is so important. To properly detoxify we must have at least 30 grams of fiber in our diet every day. In many cultures, people ingest 60 grams or more of dietary fiber every day. These groups have the absolute lowest cholesterol on the planet, as fiber helps detoxify cholesterol as well.

Technorati Tags: adaptogen, antioxidant, detoxify, fiber, kidney, liver, Nopalea, pollutants

Health is not about waiting for disease to strike and then battling it. As the World Health Organization said back in 1948, health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

The only way to avoid getting old is to die young. With that in mind I found great wisdom in the words of Benjamin Franklin who said, “All would live long but none would be old.”

So, healthy aging is about living long without being old! To reach that goal we need to take a brief look at the process called “biological aging.”

Biological aging does not happen with the tick of the clock or the pages turning on your calendar; it happens in your cells. During its life cycle a cell may be damaged by exposure to:

• Toxins
• Direct trauma
• Nutrient deficiencies
• Stress

Each of these circumstances causes inflammation and free radical production. Intense nutrition is needed to battle these causes of premature cell death.

Premature biological aging occurs when more cells die than you can replace.

Fighting inflammation
The human body is designed to fight premature aging and remain young. A powerful force called homeostasis mobilizes your immune system, hormones, nerves and other important systems to ignite the healing process. Homeostasis uses focused inflammation to remodel your cells following injury, illness or even the extreme challenges of emotional stress. Once the healing process is complete, homeostasis extinguishes the fire of inflammation and returns your body to a state of dynamic and vital balance - free from the effects of runaway inflammation.

Homeostasis orchestrates the cells in your body to maintain balance under even severe conditions.

However, there are times when your body cannot heal itself. If inflammation overwhelms a cell it may be damaged beyond repair. Damaged, dead cells must be removed or they will become the focus of infection and illness. Betalains, a unique class of nutrient that is both an antioxidant and a protein, assist a special cell called a macrophage (literally “big eater”) to engulf the dead cell and eliminate it from your body. This makes room for a brand-new replacement cell and the cycle of Wellness continues.

The supplements of healthy aging include five critical components:

1. A balanced multiple vitamin/mineral supplement to establish a solid foundation for healthy aging
2. An essential fatty acid supplement to nourish the arteries and rehydrate the brain
3. A Vitamin C supplement to serve as an antioxidant reserve and keep the immune system active
4. A B-12 supplement to keep the energy level up and the mind bright.
5. Reduction of inflammation and if inflammation is your problem Nopalea is the answer.

Premature aging is about losing more cells than we replace. Healthy aging is about closing the gap between loss of cells and repair or replacement of our cells as directed by homeostasis and fueled by nutrients.

Find out about Sonoran Bloom Nopalea. Nopalea is based on the prickly pear cactus and has been proven to reduce inflammation and it also promotes optimal celluar health. Only 5 calories - it tastes good and it’s good for you.

If you’re interested in finding more about TriVita’s products that can help you on your Wellness journey or you’d like to find out how you can earn an additional stream of income, call me on 856-264-7802.

Es Riggins
Independent TriVita Affiliate Member #13160615

Vitamin B12  is known as the “energy vitamin,” and it is essential for many critical functions in your body, including energy production,  supporting your immune system , and helping to regulate the formation of red blood cells.  Recent studies from the US Framingham trial show that one in four adults in the US are deficient in this vitally important nutrient and nearly half of the population has suboptimal blood levels.
Vitamin B12 is present only in animal sources of food–which is one of the reasons many physicians advise against being a strict vegetarian or a vegan. This deficiency can result in  less than optimal nervous system function, a tendency toward nervousness, and even less-than-optimal eye health.

How You Get Vitamin B12 Deficient

The older you get the more likely you are to have a vitamin B12 deficiency.  The two ways that you become deficient in vitamin B12 are from not getting enough in your diet and from losing the ability to absorb it.

For example, India which is primarily a vegetarian based culture and current studies there show about 80% of the adults are deficient in vitamin B12. However, vegans are not the only ones who can become vitamin B12 deficient.
The older you get the more your digestive system breaks down, especially if you have been following the standard American diet. Specifically the lining of your stomach gradually loses its ability to produce hydrochloric acid which releases vitamin B 12 from your food. The use of antacids or anti ulcer drugs will also lower your stomach acid secretion and decrease your ability to absorb vitamin B 12.  Infection with Helicobactor pylori, a common contributor to stomach ulcers, can also result in vitamin B12 deficiency.

However the main cause of vitamin B 12 deficiency is a term researchers call food-cobalamin malabsorption syndrome.  Cobalamin is the scientific term for vitamin B12.   This typically results when your stomach lining loses its ability to produce intrinsic factor which is a protein that binds to vitamin B12 and allows your body to absorb it at the end of your small intestine.

If you often feel tired, run-down, and lacking in energy, you’re not alone.  Low energy is one of our country’s biggest health complaints.

Some of the top reasons for this are:
•    Refined foods sold in grocery stores are depleted of vital nutrients
•    Refined foods are loaded with sugar
•    Refined foods are full of chemicals
•    Refined foods are overloaded with food colorings; and
•    Refined foods are loaded with preservatives

…but it doesn’t stop there, either.
Add the harmful effects of caffeine, pollution, conventional therapies, and the stress most of us experience everyday… and you’ve got yourself a recipe for energy drain.

Well, I’m here to tell you there’s a new way to give yourself extra energy. Actually, a cutting edge way to feel more energized — without the jitteriness of caffeine.  More on this in a moment.
Now, of course, powering up with extra energy is just one of B-12’s many health benefits.  So…

What Critical Health Benefits Does this Vitamin Bring to the Table?

For starters, vitamin B-12 helps folic acid regulate the formation of red blood cells, and helps your body use iron.

In addition, it is also needed for proper digestion, food absorption, carbohydrate and fat metabolism.  It also helps keep your nervous system healthy by assisting the nerves of your body to function and communicate in an optimal manner.

But that’s not all…far from it!
B-12 also helps in cell formation and cellular longevity.

Plus, it can support female reproductive health, and promote normal nerve growth and development by maintaining the fatty sheaths.  These fatty sheaths play a vital role as they cover and protect your nerve endings.  What’s more, this workhorse of a micronutrient is critical to your circulation and adrenal hormone production — plus, it helps boost your immunity.  And, oh yes, let’s not forget…
Vitamin B-12 supports a healthy mood and feelings of well-being.

And then there’s this — it also provides excellent support for your memory, mental clarity, and concentration.
Aside from using B-12 to give you an energy boost, when does it also make sense to supplement with this all-important vitamin?  Well, there are several good reasons to take vitamin B-12.
And the first reason to take it is if you are a carb type or a strict vegetarian.  Many people avoid red meats for a large variety of reasons. If you are one of them, you are at a high risk for developing vitamin B-12 deficiency. Why? Because plant sources have virtually no vitamin B-12, and most supplements taken orally are practically useless, as little is absorbed into your bloodstream.

Vegetarians should take this essential micronutrient to ensure an adequate supply of it, because it is found almost exclusively in animal tissues.  And, the few plant foods that are sources of B-12 are actually B-12 analogs — not the form that provides all the benefits of the real deal. Simply put, an analog is a substance that blocks the uptake of true B-12.  The result being, your body’s need for the nutrient actually increases.

Furthermore, your body’s need for this nutrient may also increase if you take Metformin©, a commonly prescribed medication for diabetics, as it can interfere with calcium metabolism.  And this interference may reduce B-12 absorption, because this absorption requires calcium. Studies suggest that 10% to 30% of patients taking Metformin show evidence of reduced vitamin B-12 absorption.  That’s why it is important to speak with your doctor to discuss the best way to maintain B-12 levels when taking this medication.

Now, if getting a good night’s sleep has also become increasingly more difficult for you, here’s what your sleeping difficulties may be trying to tell you! If you suffer from sleeping difficulties, I recommend taking vitamin B-12 during the day.  I believe it can help you.  Here’s why:
B-12 plays a vital role in melatonin production.  Melatonin has been called “the sleep hormone” because it is responsible for letting you get a good night’s sleep. As you age, it becomes increasingly more difficult to get a good night’s sleep because your body becomes less efficient at making this hormone.  And that’s why it’s a good idea to take B-12 to help you sleep like a baby each night.

Moreover, a lack of adequate B-12 can have other annoying consequences too.

Do You or a Loved One Experience Any of the Following?

Not many know it, but if you or a family member experience:
•    Tiredness and feelings of weakness…*
•    Less-than-optimal nervous system functioning…*
•    Less-than-optimal eye health…*
•    Loss of appetite and unintended weight loss…*
•    Occasional constipation and gas…*
•    Feelings of mild moodiness…*
•    Less-than-optimal memory…*
•    A tendency toward nervousness…*
•    Less-than-optimal balance…*
•    Less-than-optimal liver or heart health…*
•    Premature grey hair…
•    Occasional digestive issues…
…you may need to supplement with vitamin B-12, even if you eat foods rich in B-12.

Oddly enough, that wasn’t a typo.
You can eat plenty of meat, poultry, lamb’s liver, brewer’s yeast, clams, eggs, herring, mackerel, kidneys, milk, dairy products, or seafood — and still have low levels of B-12.  How can that be?

It could be because your body is unable to absorb it from your gut.  You see  B-12 needs the help of a protein in order to be absorbed.  That protein is called intrinsic factor.  And because the lining of your stomach makes intrinsic factor, people with less-than-optimal gastrointestinal health often need to supplement with B-12. Likewise, most people over the age of 50 have a limited ability to absorb    B-12, too.  Thus, the need for supplementation.

With that said, the form of vitamin B-12 I’m recommending does NOT come as a pill, capsule, gelcap, or liquid. It is a great tasting, inexpensive tablet placed under the tongue for a few minutes and allowed to dissolve in your mouth for maximum absorption directly into your bloodstream, and it costs far less than a cup of coffee.

To find out more about a Super Sublingual B-12 with a patented absorption system, go HERE.

If you’re interested in finding more about TriVita’s products that can help you on your Wellness journey or you’d like to find out how you can earn an additional stream of income, call me on 856-264-7802.

Es Riggins
Independent TriVita Affiliate Member #13160615

Technorati Tags: b-12, b12, energy, super b12, TriVita

A man with emphysema was asked about his experience with the disease. He answered by describing the desperation of never getting a full breath. “What if you went to take a breath and nothing happened?” he asked. That is what having emphysema is like: you breathe, but nothing happens. Oxygen cannot get in and carbon dioxide can’t get out. The result is a feeling of slow suffocation.

Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are also called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These two conditions affect more than 25 million people in North America. COPD is the #4 killer right now and, with the current rate of increase, it is destined to be the #3 killer in just a few short years.

Common causes

Emphysema is triggered by smoking and irritants in the air. Emphysema traps carbon dioxide in the lungs and prevents oxygen from getting into the bloodstream. An interesting facet of our lung physiology is that the urge to breathe is triggered by an increase in carbon dioxide, not a deficiency of oxygen. As carbon dioxide builds up, the urge to breathe reaches a point of panic and desperation. This is the experience of people with emphysema.

Chronic bronchitis is caused by inflammation in the lungs from pollution, allergy, infection and certain enzyme deficiencies. Often, medications that open the airways and bring relief to people that suffer with chronic bronchitis cause great distress when they wear off and the airways snap closed again. The rate of COPD from chronic bronchitis is increasing every year as pollution and allergies increase.

Reducing your risk

Reducing inflammation
People that are prone to inflammation are more likely to contract COPD. Therefore, helping your body reduce inflammation with nutrients such as Omega oils is vitally important. OmegaPrime uses perilla seed oil as a specific anti-inflammatory for the respiratory system.

Another way to reduce inflammation is try Nopalea. Nopalea is based on the prickly pear cactus and has been through 2 years of clinical studies. It’s proven to reduce inflammation. Find out more about Nopalea and how it can benefit you

Avoiding irritants
Triggers for COPD include smoke and pollution. One key to respiratory health is isolation from these irritants.

* Don’t smoke
* Use air filters
* Stay indoors during high pollution days.

Using Vitamin C as an antihistamine can also help protect delicate lung tissues from damaging pollution – including pollen.

If inflammation has already developed in the lungs, proteolytic enzymes such as those found in Breathe Easy can be helpful. Another enzyme called CoEnzyme Q-10 is critical for lung health as it helps increase energy in the lung tissues and helps reduce resistance in the transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Finally, antioxidants such as those found in Adaptogen 10 Plus and Super Antioxidant Complex can help improve your lungs’ ability to function under even the most difficult circumstances.

The importance of breath
Physicians can accurately predict how long you will live (barring accidents) based on your lung volume (called FEV-1). You can increase your lung volume by practicing deep breathing and increase lung efficiency by:

* Reducing inflammation
* Protecting lung tissues from pollen and pollution
* Increasing lung energy
* Providing protection with antioxidants.

Take control of your health by:

Practice deep breathing 20 minutes daily

Protect yourself from smoke, pollen and pollution

Help improve lung efficiency with antioxidants

Find out about Sonoran Bloom Nopalea. Nopalea is based on the prickly pear cactus and has been proven to reduce inflammation and it also promotes optimal celluar health. Only 5 calories - it tastes good and it’s good for you.

If you’re interested in finding more about TriVita’s products that can help you on your Wellness journey or you’d like to find out how you can earn an additional stream of income, call me on 856-264-7802.

Es Riggins
Independent TriVita Affiliate Member #13160615

Technorati Tags: Chronic Bronchitis, Emphysema, inflammation, Nopalea, Sonoran Bloom, TriVita

One of my health challenges is being diabetic. I know I am not alone with this challenge. There is no doubt that type 2 diabetes is an epidemic in North America. Every year the number of people with this disease rises dramatically – and it does not appear to be slowing down. How can we protect ourselves against this trend? It is only with the vigorous application of the 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness.

Essential #4 encourages us to eat nutritiously. This requires a little education concerning the difference between a nutritious food and an “empty calorie.” Much of the information about the way particular foods impact diabetes is found in the Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load.

Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load
Several years ago a group of researchers decided to create a chart based on the impact of carbohydrates on a person’s blood sugar. This would help people with diabetes select foods that would have the least impact on their disease. The Glycemic Index (GI) measures the impact of foods on blood sugar when compared to pure sugar: glucose. The higher the GI number, the greater the impact on blood sugar and the worse a food was supposed to be for a person with diabetes. Later, the GI was used as a tool for weight loss and cardiovascular health.

Glycemic Load is a way of refining the information of the Glycemic Index to find a truer nutritional value for food. For instance, the Glycemic Index may rate the carbohydrate value in a food as very high. This would seem to make the food unacceptable for people who want to restrict sugar. The Glycemic Load gives us a more global value of your food beyond sugar content.

Glycemic Load takes into account the fiber, fat and water content of a food. Let’s take the example of parsnips:

Parsnips are creamy-colored root vegetables in the carrot family. They are delicious and have therapeutic value as well. Parsnips have a GI rating of 97, compared with pure glucose at 100. That would seem to make parsnips “bad” – unacceptable as a healthy carbohydrate source. However, parsnips contain so much fiber and water, as well as protein and fats, that they have only a tiny impact on the total load of carbohydrates (the Glycemic Load). Because of their protein and fat, they help keep your appetite satisfied for so long that you may even eat less at your next meal. So, parsnips are really very healthful despite their high GI number.

Potatoes have become taboo in most low-carb diets. Yet, potatoes have attributes similar to parsnips. They are good for you as long as you don’t deep-fry them and load them with bacon, sour cream, gravy, cheese and other high-calorie, high-fat condiments.

Compound carbohydrates – the true “bad” carbs
Though many fruits and vegetables are high on the Glycemic Index they are “good” complex carbs because they are low in Glycemic Load. Refined starches, such as pastries, pastas, pudding and pancakes, as well as gravies and similar sauces are a different story.

Compound carbohydrates:

• Contain low amounts of water and fiber
• Contain high amounts of “bad” carbohydrates and bad fats
• Quickly turn to sugar in your bloodstream
• Trigger insulin and inflammation
• Increase your risk of heart disease, obesity and diabetes

These are truly sources of “bad” carbohydrates. They are examples of “compound” carbohydrates: foods which have been processed beyond recognition from their original whole food sources. They are never good in any amount.

Diabetes epidemic
In conclusion, the way to place yourself in the lowest risk category for type 2 diabetes is to eat whole foods which minimally impact your blood sugar. But that’s not all; did you know that stress alone may cause diabetes? Breathing deeply breaks the cycle of stress. And, since type 2 diabetes and obesity are related, getting enough sleep is essential. Add in the lessons from all 10 Essentials and you have a bulwark of protection against the epidemic of type 2 diabetes.

Learn More…

• Low Glycemic Diet
• Agave Nectar
  Agave nectar is similar to honey, but with a lower Glycemic Index. For example, honey is between 55 and 85, depending on how many solids remain in the honey. Agave nectar is as low as 27. This means that Agave nectar absorbs slowly into the bloodstream, which allows your body to allocate it to the appropriate areas. Since it’s four times sweeter than sugar you can use a lot less when using it as a sweetener.

Find out about Sonoran Bloom Nopalea that has Agave Nectar in it. Nopalea is based on the prickly pear cactus and has been proven to reduce inflammation and it also promotes optimal celluar health. Only 5 calories - it tastes good and it’s good for you.

If you’re interested in finding more about TriVita’s products that can help you on your Wellness journey or you’d like to find out how you can earn an additional stream of income, call me on 856-264-7802.

Es Riggins
Independent TriVita Affiliate Member #13160615

Technorati Tags: diabetes, glucobalance, glycemic, leanology, Nopalea, TriVita, Wellness

In March 2008, a report on CNN gave us the disturbing news that drinking water in many communities was contaminated with an array of prescription medications. This concerns us at TriVita because we recognize that drinking pure water is an Essential of health. In light of this disturbing report, how are we to protect ourselves and nurture our Wellness? Where can we find safe water?

Source of the problem
How did our water supply become contaminated? One way this can happen is by people flushing unused prescriptions down the toilet. These drugs end up in wastewater treatment plants, where they may percolate down into the water table over time. However, unused drugs are a minor source of watershed contamination. A major source of contamination comes from the medications people actually take.

Medications must be metabolized by the liver and other detoxification organs in order to be used by the patient. These drugs are then excreted through the urine. They are then available to percolate down into the water supply which may have an impact on our health. Common drugs that are detected in our water include antibiotics, birth control hormones and antidepressants.

Protecting ourselves – and getting clean water
There are many opinions about just how hazardous these drugs are to our health. Certainly, the amounts are very, very small compared to prescription strength medications. Just as certain, humans were never meant to drink drug-contaminated water. We need pure water for nutrient transport and detoxification. How we get that pure, clean water is surprisingly simple.

• Insulation
  Our digestive system is remarkably sensitive to contamination. It is a barrier that protects us from toxins when it is functioning properly. We can insulate ourselves from medications in the water supply by increasing the efficiency of our digestion. Eating foods and using supplements containing special short-chain fibers will increase the ability of our system to “barrier protect” us from water contaminants. A major problem with short-chain fiber is that it is found in foods with a bitter taste – chicory and Jerusalem artichokes are good examples. The solution to this problem is found in supplements such as Digestive Complex.Another special protective supplement is Non-Acidic Vitamin C Crystals. Even a small amount, such as a teaspoon in a quart of water, will increase protection from waterborne toxins. Other foods and supplements that reduce stress and improve digestion will also help insulate us from toxins.
• Isolation
  Isolation from drugs in the water is a bit more difficult. Tap water is a problem and bottled water is no solution (it is usually taken from municipal tap-water sources anyway). Bottled water taken from sources specified as pristine and uncontaminated are a good alternative; be wary and use common sense in selecting these products.

  One effective way of removing medications from the water is by using inexpensive carbon block or carbon granular filters. More expensive reverse osmosis and distillation units are less effective at removing drugs, though they are certainly more effective at removing other contaminants.

We need water to live, to deliver nutrients to our cells, and to detoxify our bodies. A tragedy of our times is that our water supply is contaminated with medical waste in the form of prescription drugs. Insulating ourselves with nutrients should be our primary concern. Isolating ourselves from water contamination is also very important.

With nutrients and nurturing we can often reduce the need for medications. And reducing the need for drugs in our bodies is the first step toward reducing the drugs in our water!

Take Control of Your Health

• Deep breathing may reduce the need for:
  • Anxiety medications
  • Blood pressure medications
• Peaceful sleep may reduce the need for:
  • Antibiotics
  • Antiviral medications
• Eating nutritiously may reduce the need for:
  • Lipid control medications
  • Digestion control medications
  • Many other medications
• Activity for 30 minutes daily may reduce the need for:
  • Antidepressants
  • Blood sugar control medications
  • Many other medications
• Use Digestive Complex as a source of protective fiber
• Use antioxidants, such as Adaptogen 10 Plus and NutraFruits
• Add Vitamin C Crystals to your bottled water

If you’re interested in finding more about TriVita’s products that can help you on your Wellness journey or you’d like to find out how you can earn an additional stream of income, call me on 856-264-7802. And ask me about our new product, Nopalea, that is proven to reduce inflammation.

Es Riggins
Independent TriVita Affiliate Member #13160615

Technorati Tags: nutrafruits, toxins, TriVita, vitamin c, water

As you review your diet of the past week, ask yourself, “Did I eat the right amount of fruits and vegetables every day?” (Five servings for children, seven servings for women and nine servings for men.) If you can say “yes” – congratulations! If you are like most people you did not reach that goal. And, if you are like most of us, you did not eat all of your fruits and vegetables from an organic source; so, the fruits and vegetables may have been lacking in nutrition. This is why I suggest TriVita NutraFruits. It’s the quick and easy way to help you reach your goals.

Staying on top of our nutrient reserve is important. Our bodies make millions of new cells every day: heart cells, brain cells, bone and blood cells. Every time a cell dies it should be replaced. If you do not have the right amount of nutrients to construct a new cell you will either make an incomplete cell or none at all. The outcome is bad in either case, so we really need to keep all nutrients on board at all times. This is why we suggest a multiple vitamin and mineral supplement.

Supplements
The word supplement means in addition to something – to make up for a deficiency. Vitamin and mineral supplements should be taken in addition to a healthy diet. They make up for the deficiency we face due to the poor nutrient density in our foods. They also help out when our diet is less than perfect.

However, supplements won’t make up for bad dietary choices. We simply must commit ourselves to eating healthier foods, especially fruits and vegetables. Still, most of us realize that we don’t always attend to our diet perfectly. We get busy and don’t always think ahead. After all, we eat to live; we don’t live to eat!

Balance
A multiple vitamin and mineral supplement should reflect the nutrient levels of a normal, healthy diet. In other words, if a nutrient normally appears in the diet at a particular level, this level should be reflected in the vitamin. Vitamins C and B-12 are notable exceptions because our ability to absorb them decreases with age. Even more important than the level of the nutrients is the balance of nutrients. The correct proportion of nutrients needs to be maintained. Otherwise, the supplement will create a greater imbalance than it was meant to solve.

A good example of this is the Norwegian Vitamin Trial for heart health (NORVIT). This trial involved a vitamin cocktail that had the right ingredients. But it was so horribly out of balance that it resulted in the deaths of some of the participants by creating severe nutrient imbalances.

How can you tell if your multivitamin supplement is imbalanced? One way is to notice your urine after you take the supplement. If it turns bright yellow or orange after taking a vitamin you can suspect that this supplement is imbalanced. Now, to be fair, the person taking the vitamin may be imbalanced instead. This happens if someone has eaten an imbalanced diet for some time. Still, it is more often the supplement that is imbalanced, not the person.

Conclusion
So, was that discussion about supplements valuable to you? I hope so. Remember, there are a lot of voices speaking to you about everything from which toothpaste to use to which car to buy. You simply must find a voice you can trust. My ultimate hope in writing here  is to give you reliable, trustworthy information you can use to make the best choices!

Take Control of Your Health

* Eat the right amount of fruits/vegetables daily with NutraFruits
o Children: 5 servings
o Women: 7 servings
o Men: 9 servings
* Focus on organic produce whenever possible
* Eat high quality protein daily (34 to 71 grams)
* Eat Omega-3 fats every day (flax, walnuts and some fish)
* Take a balanced multiple vitamin/mineral supplement
o VitaDaily AM/PM (what I take!)
* Take an EFA supplement like OmegaPrime
* Take Vitamin B-12 every morning
* Take Vitamin C every morning and at bedtime

If you’re interested in finding more about TriVita’s products that can help you on your Wellness journey or you’d like to find out how you can earn an additional stream of income, call me on 856-264-7802. And ask me about our new product, Nopalea, that is proven to reduce inflammation.

Es Riggins
Independent TriVita Affiliate Member #13160615

Your memory is an amazing miracle. Each second, your brain processes billions of bits of information from your five senses. You may consciously perceive only a very small percentage of this information because one function of your brain is to filter out unimportant information. The things you remember will usually be advantageous to you, such as remembering your wedding anniversary date as well as where the speed trap is on your drive home.

Memory is divided into two basic groups:

1. Short-term memory
2. Long-term memory

Short-term memories are quickly forgotten when they are no longer important. Practicing or rehearsing can improve your memory by moving more information into the long-term category. For instance, when I am distracted by stress I may not be able to remember where I left my car keys. That information was deleted from my short-term memory. However, if I consciously say, “I am hanging my car keys on the hook,” I am far more likely to remember where they are.

How to keep a memory

Reduce stress
Stress kills your memory. The stress system is designed to ensure survival. It helps us fight off a snarling dog or flee from a menacing bear. As important as that is, humans do more every day than merely survive. If you want to have a good, healthy memory, do all you can to reduce the need for fight or flight stress responses.

Learn something new
As I mentioned earlier, practicing or rehearsing something enhances memory. So does learning something new. You see, memory is facilitated through the billions of neurons and synapses in your brain by patterns: retracing old patterns as well as creating new patterns. The more new things we master, the more connections we create and the better our overall memory will be.

If you want to remember your anniversary, start learning a foreign language. If you want to remember important names, learn how to play a musical instrument. The more you learn – and the more you connect the old with the new – the better your overall memory will be.

How to nourish a memory
Certain nutrients help the memory remain sharp. These nutrients fall into two basic categories: those that create brain structure and those that nourish brain function.

Your brain is made mostly of fat. And the majority of that fat is an Omega-3 fatty acid called DHA. So, to have a healthy brain we need healthy fats like TriVita.com/13160615″ target=”_blank”>OmegaPrime. Your nerve cells convert some fats into functional nerve proteins called myelin. Formation of myelin requires dietary protein and Vitamin B-12. So, for healthy brain structure and function we need Omega-3 fats, healthy dietary protein and Vitamin B-12.

When the memory is activated it creates heat in the brain. To fuel the memory, quench the heat, and repair the daily wear and tear on your brain, you need antioxidants. Certain antioxidants specifically target brain function. A recent study at Arizona State University demonstrated that the antioxidants found in Optima4 not only helped golfers perform better on the course, but they also significantly improved their memory.

What do you remember?
To recap: Occasional memory lapses usually indicate you are distracted by stress. Rehearsing things you want to remember will help and practicing new things that you have learned will help as well. Because new behaviors create new pathways in your brain, learning something new such as a foreign language or musical instrument can improve your overall memory.

Stress kills your memory. Nutrients such as Omega-3, Vitamin B-12 and brain-specific antioxidants such as those found in Optima4 help rebuild and restore your ability to remember. With all of these tools at your disposal you have access to the power of a healthy memory.

Take Control of Your Health

* Reduce stress
* Increase physical and mental activity
* Learn something new
* Rehearse before an important event
* Practice and review the things you want to remember
* Nourish your memory with

• OmegaPrime
• Super Sublingual B-12
• Optima4

If you’re interested in finding more about TriVita’s products that can help you on your Wellness journey or you’d like to find out how you can earn an additional stream of income, call me on 856-264-7802. And ask me about our new product, Nopalea, that is proven to reduce inflammation.

Es Riggins
Independent TriVita Affiliate Member #13160615

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