Everybody just has to admit the fact of life, with the environment and culture we have, being healthy is a challenge. The poor food we eat, the stresses of life, pollution, toxins in water and air... with these we can say this really is an UNHEALTHY WORLD. But NO!!!... HEALTH! WE CAN!!!
Sunday, December 16
Wednesday, August 22
Is your child’s nutrition becoming a confusing puzzle?
Set you mind at ease with USANA’s Usanimals (by Josephine Daly)
“Because kids can be erratic in their eating habits and because there are more toxins that a child must fight, quality supplementing is important. You should ensure your child is obtaining nutrients from three basic categories: Multivitamin, Calcium and Vitamin D, and Omega-3 essential fatty acids.
Kids today are overfed and undernourished and studies show they are often not receiving enough of the basic important nutrients in their diet. There is increasing concern about vitamin D deficiency with kids and many children are not getting enough calcium in their diets. Omega-3 essential fatty acids are of key importance and support brain development and heart health. Look for pharmaceutical –grade products with guaranteed potency and quality”.
USANA’s Usanimals is a balanced formula that supports healthy growth and development in children with an excellent range of essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants your child needs for healthy immune function and energy levels, bone support, growth and development.
Whether your child is intellectual, sporty or simply full of life, good nutrition is the foundation and building blocks for a healthy body and mind. So let’s take a look at what Usanimals has to offer…
Usanimals - At a Glance
| What we need? | Why we need it? |
| Betacarotene | Eye Support |
| Vitamin B6 | Metabolises protein |
| Vitamin B12 | Helps brain and nerves |
| Vitamin C | Immune support |
| Calcium | For strong bones and teeth |
| Vitamin D | To build strong bones |
| Folic Acid | For healthy red blood cells |
| Iodine | Supports energy metabolism |
| Iron | For oxygen transport and storage |
| Niacin | Supports energy production |
| Riboflavin | Converts food into energy |
| Selenium | Supports antioxidant enzymes |
| Thiamin | Converts food into energy |
| Zinc | Supports immune system and healthy growth |
The upgraded formulation includes increased levels of Vitamin D which helps calcium absorption, and is key to maintaining healthy bone and skeleton structure; Vitamin B12 that helps with the brain and nerves, and supports the body’s energy production; Calcium that supports bone and joint health and strong teeth; and Magnesium that supports muscle function and bone health. The formulation now includes: Molybdenum - an essential trace mineral; Iron that is primal since iron deficiency is known to be common in children; and Selenium that functions as an antioxidant in the body's defence system.
Being Healthy Can Be Fun
Usanimals will be a sure hit with children – they will love the fun animal shapes stamped on round easy-to-eat chewable tablets, with a great Wild Berry flavour. Free of artificial flavours and sweeteners, that will keep parents happy too!
Some of the benefits of Usanimals™ include…
- Provides a balanced formula of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for children aged 2 to 12 years
- Supports immune health with vitamins D & C, selenium, zinc.
- Calcium, Magnesium, Vitamin D help with strong bones, muscles, joints and teeth
- B group vitamins with Iron and Iodine support energy production for an active lifestyle
- Zinc and Iodine nurture normal overall growth and development
- Easy-to-eat chewables with fun animal shape prints
- Suitable for vegetarians
Saturday, June 30
Do You Really Need Multivitamins?
Please watch this 60-second video from start to end and take note why you need to take multivitamins and which multivitamins is best for you. Though this video is made as a marketing tool, I feel everyone deserves to know about it so that common questions can be answered and people can have the best option to their personal and family's health. Some common concerns people raise up are:
- All vitamins are the same!
- I get all I need from food.
- It is expensive to take (your)vitamins.
I hope you watch this very short video as it may change your life for the better. Since this is a sharing tool, you can also see how you can share this information to others who are in need most especially your family.
I have done countless research and attended trainings on health and if you are willing I can discuss with you what I have learned personally and through the people I meet and the people and professionals I read about.
I am Happy Helping Others in making them a more healthy and productive members of their family and community.
Jose Jolly R. Villaviza
Health Advocate
jjdrvillaviza@yahoo.com
09228259201 / 09063153830
Tuesday, May 29
Cellular Energy to the Most Hardworking Cells in Your Body
Overview of Coenzyme Q10.
Coenzyme Q10, also referred to as CoQ10 or ubiquinone,
is a vitamin-like compound which is present in all cells. It occurs naturally in the body and is found
in highest amounts in the mitochondria, where cellular energy is created. CoQ10 levels are highest in the
hardest-working tissues of the body, especially the heart.
Coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant, that is, it helps to
protect cells from damage caused by the body's own free radicals. The body produces free radicals in the normal
course of energy production. However as
we get older our bodies generate an excess of free radicals. This can be deleterious for individuals whose
bodies are not producing enough Coenzyme Q10 and other antioxidants to control
these free radicals.
Coenzyme Q10 has several different actions in the
body. Its most notable effects/help are:
•
it scavenges free radicals as an Antioxidant
•
Improves the efficacy of cellular energy production in the
mitochondria (energy factories) of the cell
•
Regulates genes concerned with energy production
•
Stabilizes membranes
As we age there is a decline in the amount of CoQ10
our body produces. It is not possible to
get large amounts of CoQ10 from diet alone.
Therefore taking a daily
supplement, especially as we age, can increase cell energy levels and
strengthen the body's antioxidant defence network.
Basic Cardiovascular Function
In a variety of laboratory and animal experiments,
coenzyme Q10 has been shown to be effective in reducing the adverse effects of
ischaemia-reperfusion injury. It can
enhance energy production in mitochondria and cells and improve clinical
outcomes.
Coenzyme
Q10 in Hypertension
There have been twelve clinical trials of coenzyme Q10
in the treatment of hypertension. Four
were prospective randomized trials and eights were before and after
studies. Overall, the twelve studies
showed a fall in blood pressure of 17 mmHg systolic and 10 mmHg diastolic. coenzyme Q10 has shown to be particularly
effective with hypertension in diabetics were it not only lowers blood pressure
but also improves diabetic control. The
mechanism of action of coenzyme Q10 in hypertension is almost certainly as an
antioxidant, were it scavenges free oxygen radicals, protects the endothelium
from oxygen free radical attack and thus improves vascular dilatation by nitric
oxide.
Coenzyme Q10
in Heart Failure
A review of all the published trials of coenzyme Q10
in heart failure was first published in 1997.
This showed a beneficial effect of coenzyme Q10. We updated the findings for this analysis by analyzing
nine randomized trials of coenzyme Q10 in heart failure published up to 2003
(2). Only prospective randomized,
double-blind and placebo-controlled trials were included in that analysis. The three parameters with adequate numbers of
patients for meaningful analysis were coenzyme Q10 levels (5 trials), ejection
fraction at rest (7 trials) and mortality (5 trials). Other parameters were measured in only two
trials each. For CoQ10 levels (279
patients), the weighted mean differences was 1.4 µg/µl representing an increase
of 161%. For ejection fraction at rest
(384 patients) the weighted mean difference showed a trend in favor of CoQ10 of
1.9% (95% confidence limits - 0.13% to 3.9%).
An updated meta-analysis has been published recently
(12). This meta-analysis included eleven
randomized trials of coenzyme Q10 in heart failure including cross-over and
parallel trial designs. The main
end-point of resting ejection fraction showed an absolute 3.7% net improvement
(P < 0.0006). Stroke index also
increased by 5.8 ml (P = 0.02).
Sub-group analyses showed that the ejection fraction improvement was
more pronounced when only idiopathic cardiomyopathy was evaluated and among
patients not receiving angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. When the results were re-analyzed using a less
conservative statistical test (fixed effects modeling) than was used in the
initial analysis (random effects modeling), increases in cardiac output,
cardiac index and stroke volume all became significant.
In light of the encouraging findings of the abovementioned
meta-analyses it is not unreasonable to recommend to patients with symptomatic
heart failure despite conventional therapy or those who are experiencing side
effects from conventional therapy (especially ACE inhibitors) to take 150-300
mg of coenzyme Q10 daily and to monitor CoQ10 blood levels and clinical
response.
Coenzyme
Q10 in Cardiac Surgery
Coenzyme Q10 has been used in the cardiothoracic
surgical setting in order to offset reperfusion-related increases in free
radical formation and oxidative stress.
From 1982 to 2004 at least eight controlled trials of coenzyme Q10 in
cardiac surgery have been published.14-22 All but one of these have shown a
beneficial effect of some kind. The one
trial showing an absence of effect20 used oral CoQ10 for only 12 hours before
surgery, an inadequate time frame for sufficient dosing to increase myocardial
levels. A prospective randomized,
placebo-controlled trial from our unit of 300 mg per day of oral CoQ10 for two
weeks preoperatively in 121 coronary bypass or valve replacement procedures
showed increased mitochondrial CoQ10 content, increased effiency of mitochondrial
energy production and improved contractile function in myocardial trabeculae.
Cardiac
Arrhythmias
There is some anecdotal experimental and clinical
evidence of a beneficial effect of coenzyme Q10 in cardiac arrhythmias. This would make sense in light of the effect
of coenzyme Q10 in improving cellular membrane function and energy production,
thus reducing the myocardial ischaemia that can generate arrhythmias.
Side Effects and Drug Interactions
Coenzyme Q10 is essentially devoid of side effects. There are occasional reports of
gastrointestinal upset but no other major side effects.
Does coenzyme Q10 Interfere with Warfarin?
The literature contains a case report describing a
reduction in the efficacy of warfarin caused by coenzyme Q10. However, a subsequent prospective randomised
trial of coenzyme Q10 showed no effect of coenzyme Q10 on coagulation status in
patients receiving Warfarin therapy. In
summary, anticoagulation should be closely monitored during the initiation or
withdrawal of coenzyme Q10therapy.
Dosage
Doses between 150 and 300 mg per day are used for
heart failure or hypertension. Ideally,
dosage is adjusted according to serum coenzyme Q10 levels. Therapeutic effects
are most likely when serum levels are increased to twice normal. CoQuinone 30 dietary supplement was developed to deliver high-quality, highly bioavailable CoQ10 to the cells to support the production of adenosine-5-triphosphate (ATP).
Conclusions
There is accumulating laboratory and clinical evidence
of the efficacy of coenzyme Q10 in a variety of cardiovascular disorders. Not all of these have been conclusively
proven, but in the absence of side effects, it is reasonable to administer
coenzyme Q10 to selected patients with various types of cardiovascular disease
and gauge the response.
Major Reference: Coenzyme Q10 Research
Sunday, April 15
Healthy & Safe Weight Management
Get ready for Summer with the 5-Day RESET Kit from USANA Health Sciences. This is also a DETOX KIT!
This kit is designed to help you overcome carb cravings and start losing weight by breaking away from the typical weight loss diet.
With a simple and convenient 5 day program, you will be replacing your meals and snacks with USANAS shakes. You are also able to have several servings of fruit and vegetables each day.
What makes this different that all the other diets out there?
Many diets you will find to be only temporary. They range from 3 days to 12 days, and usually involve either eating extremely small portions and feeling hungry all day, or eating the same thing over and over for 12 days in a row. This is unlike any other diet / detox I have ever tried. It is designed to have you replace your meals with shakes which are high in protein and fibre. In between shakes you will have a serving of fruits and a serving of veggies. You WILL NOT FEEL HUNGRY, BUT you will battle the urge or comfort food and the taste of the foods you enjoy. If you experience fatigue due to hunger, it is recommended that you eat an additional serving of fruit or veggies. Also as usual, make sure to take in that 8 to 12 glasses of water a day.
A typical person will lose between 5 - 10 POUNDS on this 5 day detox. The glycemic index is the key to controlling your cravings. It is not necessary to starve yourself in order to lose weight, in fact, starving yourself can contribute to the slowing of your metabolism, making it harder to lose weight.
Low glycemic foods keep the blood glucose (sugar) levels more stable, which HELPS REDUCES CARB CRAVINGS. Approximately 95% of RESET participants say that they have reduced carb cravings after completing the RESET.
Contact me for a more detailed presentation:
Jose Jolly Villaviza
Independent Distributor
Health Advocate
0922 8259201 / 0906 3153830
jjdrvillaviza@yahoo.com
www.im4health.usana.com
Saturday, March 31
Stress Management & Relaxation Need Not be Expensive!
What do you do when you feel stressed and overworked?
· Make a spa appointment and have a massage? Visit the mall and buy something for yourself?
· Call your friends and go barhopping? File a leave of absence from work and have a vacation?
These things work if you can afford it. But what if you’re living on a tight budget? How do you manage your stress and find a way to relax without hurting your finances?
Personal stress management doesn’t have to be expensive. There are a lot of frugal activities that can help us get rid of stress, unwind and chill out. So if you’ve been feeling restless, tired and pressured from work, here are some cheap ways you can relax and rejuvenate.
1. Sleep. No cost, always effective. Just don’t oversleep though or you’ll feel sluggish.
2. Go someplace quiet and appreciate the silence. You can go to the church and pray for spiritual strength.
3. Meditate and call for positive energy or alternatively, simply take deep breathes and empty your thoughts.
4. Pamper yourself in your own home. Take a relaxing bath or shower. Prepare a sumptuous home cooked meal.
5. Stretch, do some tai chi or learn a bit of yoga. The internet has free resources on how to properly do these.
6. Exercise or at least take a leisurely walk. Get some blood pumping and release some endorphins, the body’s feel-good chemicals.
7. Listen to your favorite music. Sing along or dance in your room.
8. Play with your child, your younger sibling, your baby nephew or niece or with your pet.
9. Gather old newspapers and magazines and learn how to do origami.
10. Try to learn a performance skill such as juggling, doing magic tricks or spinning poi.
Sunday, March 25
Take Care of Your Skin
WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF PARABENS IN SKIN CARE?
By Karen Eisenbraun
Parabens are synthetic preservatives used in foods, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and personal care products such as deodorants, moisturizers and shampoos. Common parabens include methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben. Parabens allow skin care products to survive for months or even years in your medicine cabinet; however, they also enter your body through your skin when you use these products. According to Mercola.com, the body can absorb as much as five pounds of cosmetic chemicals every year. Parabens can mimic hormones in the body and disrupt functions of the endocrine system.
BREAST CANCER
Colby College's Clean Makeup website reports that parabens can mimic estrogen and disrupt the body's hormone system. Cornell University reports that a high lifelong exposure to estrogen can increase breast cancer risk. Estrogen, and synthetic chemicals that act like estrogen, play a role in stimulating the division of breast cells and affect other hormones that stimulate breast cell division. Your body does not easily break down synthetic estrogen, and it can accumulate in fat cells, including breast tissue. In 2004, a study by the University of Reading in the United Kingdom found concentrations of parabens, particularly methylparaben, in human breast tumors. The study examined only the presence of parabens in the tumors but did not determine that they were the cause of the tumors.
EARLY PUBERTY
The ability of parabens to mimic other hormones makes them endocrine disruptors, substances that adversely affect the endocrine system. The endocrine system releases hormones into the bloodstream and is involved in a number of functions related to reproduction, waste elimination, digestion and metabolism. Endocrine disruptors such as parabens can lead to early puberty in adolescent girls and boys, as reported by the New York Times. Endocrinologists have observed the average age of puberty decreasing in the past several decades and have seen girls as young as eight exhibit breast development and pubic hair growth. Endocrine disrupters can also lead to testicular enlargement and breast development in young boys.
DECREASED SPERM LEVELS
Parabens can also adversely affect the male reproductive system. In a study by the Tokyo Metropolitan Research Laboratory of Public Health, researchers administered parabens to three-week-old rats. After four weeks, researchers examined the rats and found their sperm production significantly decreased in relation to the amount of parabens they had received. The rats who received the highest dose of parabens, which was consistent with the daily acceptable intake of parabens in Europe and Japan, showed a significant decrease in sperm concentration.
REFERENCES
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals: Parabens
- Mercola.com: Body Absorbs 5 Lbs. of Make-Up Chemicals Per Year
- Colby College: Endocrine Disrupters: Clean Makeup
- Cornell University: Estrogen and Breast Cancer Risk
- PubMed: Concentrations of Parabens in Human Breast TumorsRead More on Dangers of Paraben
Friday, February 17
Nine Natural Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure
By Bernie Noe, ND
High blood pressure is typically a silent disease, producing few or no symptoms while increasing the risk for heart attack, stroke, vision problems and kidney disease. There are two basic types of high blood pressure, also known as hypertension: primary (essential) and secondary. Secondary hypertension has an identifiable cause such as kidney disease, adrenal tumors or drugs, although this type is relatively rare compared to the much more prevalent primary hypertension. Primary hypertension is considered to have no identifiable cause. However, from a naturopathic perspective most people with primary hypertension do have an identifiable cause – diet and lifestyle.
All of the following are known risk factors for high blood pressure. Addressing these factors can lower blood pressure in many people.
Reduce salt– Too much salt in the diet causes the body to retain water, which raises blood pressure. About one-third of people with hypertension are salt sensitive and will see a reduction in blood pressure when they reduce their salt intake. Salt (or sodium) is found in most processed foods, especially soups, sauces, cheese and chips – all nutrition labels indicate sodium amounts. People with high blood pressure should limit their daily intake of sodium to less than 1500 mg per day (the average American consumes 3300-4200 mg daily).
Reduce alcohol– While alcohol in moderation,may lower the risk of heart attack and stroke, alcohol in excess can raise blood pressure. In general, men should limit alcohol to two drinks per day or less and women to one per day or less. Those with high blood pressure may benefit from further reductions.
Quit tobacco– In addition to raising blood pressure, tobacco raises the risk of heart attack and stroke in other ways, including by increasing the risk of forming blood clots.
Increase physical activity– In addition to raising blood pressure, lack of physical activity tends to cause weight gain and inflammation, both of which are risk factors for heart attack and stroke. The minimum guideline for physical activity is 30 minutes daily of moderate intensityexercise. Optimal is 45-60 minutes per day.
Increase fruits and vegetables— Fruits and vegetables are high in potassium and fiber, both of which lower blood pressure.Countless studies have found that those with the highest intake of fruits and vegetables are at the lowest risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, most cancer, and many other chronic diseases. The minimum intake is 5 servings per day, while optimum intake is 8-10 servings per day.
Decrease sugar and flour— High glycemic foods such as sugar and flour can increase blood pressure, in addition to raising cholesterol, weight and inflammation. All of these are risks for heart attack and stroke. Those who have high blood sugar, high triglycerides, low HDL (good) cholesterol or are overweight are especially likely to benefit from this. Added sugars such as dessert, soda and maple syrup should be eliminated and all grains should be whole grains and consumption limited to once daily.
Lose weight– Being overweight tends to increase blood pressure, cholesterol and inflammation, all of which are risk factors for heart attack and stroke. Physical activity, avoiding sugar and flour and eating lots of fruits and vegetables are great ways to promote weight loss.
Decrease caffeine– Studies on the impact of caffeine on blood pressure are mixed. Some people with high blood pressure may benefit from reducing caffeine intake.
Avoid food allergens— In some people, food allergies may contribute to high blood pressure. Blood allergy testing, which is available through most naturopathic physicians, is an easy way to determine if you are allergic.
The DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stopping Hypertension), which combines many of the recommendations listed above, has been shown to reduce systolic blood pressure by 10 or more points. In addition to the above dietary and lifestyle factors, nutrients such as coenzyme Q10, L-arginine, magnesium, and vitamin C and a variety of herbal medicines including rauwolfia can be effective at lowering blood pressure. For most people with primary hypertension, however, addressing the dietary and lifestyle factors listed above will be adequate to lower blood pressure.
Dr. Bernie Noe is a licensed Naturopathic Physician in the state of Vermont and a graduate of Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington. He is the president of Green Mountain Wellness Solutions in Montpelier, Vermont.
Dr. Noe is a three-time winner of the Vermont Governor’s Gold Medal Worksite Wellness Award for his innovative “Jump Start to Better Health” wellness program for the Vermont Automobile Dealers Association. He is a past officer of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians and past-president of the Vermont Association of Naturopathic Physicians.
Tuesday, February 7
What is your Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)?
I am wondering what nutrients I need to take daily and I found this website that asks me for my age and gender and automatically computes for my recommended daily intake.
It says:
Here are the recommended dietary allowances (RDA), according to the US Food and Nutrition Board (FNB), for nutrients for a male, age = 39 years.
Click on our list of nutrients which includes all vitamins and minerals. Each link gives a description of sources, benefits, 3D pictures and the problems that deficiency may cause.
(Note: nutrients with a star indicate Adequate Intake or AI because no RDA can be established)
It says:
Here are the recommended dietary allowances (RDA), according to the US Food and Nutrition Board (FNB), for nutrients for a male, age = 39 years.
Click on our list of nutrients which includes all vitamins and minerals. Each link gives a description of sources, benefits, 3D pictures and the problems that deficiency may cause.
(Note: nutrients with a star indicate Adequate Intake or AI because no RDA can be established)
| Nutrients | Needed | My Essentials |
| 900 mcg | 3750 IU | |
| 90 mg | 112.5 mg | |
| 5* mcg | 3.75 mcg | |
| 15 mg | 16 IU | |
| 120* mcg | 15 mcg | |
| 1.2 mg | 1.8 mg | |
| 1.3 mg | 1.95 mg | |
| 16 mg | 10 mg | |
| 1.3 mg | 1.95 mg | |
| 400 mcg | 250 mcg | |
| 2.4 mcg | 3.6 mcg | |
| 5* mg | 22.5 mg | |
| 30* mcg | 75 mcg | |
| 550* mg | 25 mg | |
| 1,000* mg | 68.34 mg | |
| 35* mcg | .075 mg | |
| 900 mcg | .5 mg | |
| 4* mg | n/a | |
| 150 mcg | 56 mcg | |
| 8 mg | n/a | |
| 420 mg | 75 mg | |
| 2.3* mg | 1.25 mg | |
| 45 mcg | .013 mg | |
| 700 mg | n/a | |
| 55 mcg | 51 mcg | |
| 11 mg | 5.025 mg | |
| 4.7* g | As Iodide & Vit C | |
| 1.5* g | n/a | |
| 2.3* g | n/a |
Do you want to know What your RDA is?
Know more about the My Essentials?
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