TriVita Weekly Wellness Reports

[BernardMaree]

Got energy?

Regardless of what complaint a person has when they visit their doctor, 85% of all patients complain of fatigue. It is one of the "Top 10" reasons for seeking medical help.

People feel tired. We need energy. So, where does energy come from? And, once we get energy, how do we keep it? Let me explain the process by which we produce energy and how we may form strategies to feel energetic every day.

The process of energy
First of all, there is a difference between having energy and feeling energetic. We produce a significant amount of energy even when we are asleep. Yet, most of us don't feel particularly energetic when we wake up. There are times when we may feel energetic and yet scientific tests actually measure less energy. A good example of this may be seen when a person uses a caffeine-based stimulant such as a cup of coffee or a soft drink. They may feel more alert. Yet, they have less mental energy and they typically score poorly on mental performance tests. That means they cannot really think as well and solve problems as well when they are under the influence of caffeine. More than that, the alertness that they feel comes at a high price: drinking caffeinated beverages will ensure that you feel more fatigue later. The energy that you feel is not real energy.

Metabolism
Real energy is a process of burning calories found in foods and releasing the energy contained within them. This is the process of metabolism. The word metabolism is drawn from a Greek word meaning change. Metabolism changes food into heat. Heat is a form of energy. Therefore, the first step in producing lasting energy is to eat properly so we will have enough fuel to keep our inner fires burning. Betalains, found in Nopalea, prevent these fires of metabolism from becoming fires of inflammation.

Metabolism is governed by hormones that originate in a region of your brain called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus determines your energy needs and sends this information to your pituitary gland. The pituitary gland (often called the Master Gland) translates these signals into hormones and sends these messenger hormones on their way to other various glands. The two prominent glands for energy production are:

• Adrenal glands – The adrenal glands respond with adrenaline when the hypothalamus detects danger. This process is often called the "fight or flight" response to stress. Adrenaline sends your body into an energy spending spree where it virtually cannibalizes your organ reserves for all of their stored energy. The fires of metabolism are turned down. Your hands and feet get cold and your core body temperature may drop below normal. Even when we are not in danger, caffeine and sugar (as well as other stimulants) mimic this process and trick your system into releasing adrenaline. The adrenaline rush is very addictive but it robs us of true energy. So, the second step in energy production is to turn down the stress response. We do this with adaptogens: plants known to help us reduce the impact of stress.
• The thyroid – The thyroid gland is responsible for regulating your body temperature by adjusting your metabolism. Two primary fuel sources keep the thyroid gland functioning properly: Iodine and Tyrosine. Iodine is a mineral and Tyrosine is an amino acid – a building block of protein. Tyrosine is considered a non-essential amino acid because we do not need to get it in our diet. We can make it from an essential amino acid (one we must get in our diet) called Phenylalanine (LPA). However, getting Tyrosine in our diets is not a bad thing; it means that we will use less energy making Tyrosine from LPA.
  
  Nopalea is a good source of dietary Tyrosine and Energy Now! contains both LPA and Tyrosine to fuel healthy energy production. Energy Now! is a nutrient, not a stimulant. The ingredients in Energy Now! can help us feel energetic by supporting healthy metabolism.

Into the brain
Tyrosine and LPA fuel metabolism by supporting healthy thyroid function. Further, these important amino acids foster the sensation of energy and euphoria by serving as the building blocks for other brain chemicals, such as PEA and Nor-Epinephrine. PEA is the "hormone of love" and it is likely the reason why our energy is increased, our pain-perception reduced and even our appetite reduced when we fall in love. We want to support PEA metabolism to feel energetic! Nor-Epinephrine fuels the creation of energy in the brain and supports our nerves as we translate that energy into action.

To get energy from our brain to our body requires healthy nerves. Often, our metabolism is normal – our stress level is low and our nutrient reserves are high and still we do not feel energetic. The problem may not be as much in creating energy as it is in translating that energy through our nerves. Nerve health is supported by Vitamin B-12. People feel fatigued when they lack enough B-12 because they cannot transfer the creation of energy into the sensation of energy.

Conclusion
Health only comes from healthy habits practiced every day. Our bodies rely on nutrients and nurturing to remain healthy. Fatigue is a message from our body that something is wrong – and we need to learn to listen to our body to have energy and to feel energetic!

Take Control of Your Health

• Practice the 10 Essentials for energy
  • Get your rest and exercise.
  • Eat a nutrient-rich diet.
  • Select relationships that energize you.
• Support energy production with Energy Now!.
• Reduce the impact of stress with Adaptogen 10 Plus.
• Improve the sensation of energy with Vitamin B-12.
• Decrease the impact of inflammation with Nopalea.

[BernardMaree]

OmegaPrime

When I am asked, "What products do you take?" I always begin with OmegaPrime. In North America, the nutrients we are most likely to be deficient in are Vitamin B-12, Vitamin C, Magnesium, Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids (EFA) and Vitamin D. We have formulated our Healthy Aging Pack to provide foundational nutrients for wellness and to fill these basic needs.

But what is so special about OmegaPrime? The answer to this question resides in the ingredients. Let's take a look at the different kinds of Omega EFA in our product and what they do for you.

Fish oil
A key ingredient in OmegaPrime is fish oil. There are many fish oil supplements and most of them are good for you. (Always be sure your fish oil is from a trusted source – PCB-free and mercury-free.) Almost every cell in your body is made of an envelope of fat. These cell fats come directly from your diet. So, cellular fats are dietary fats. Cells are healthiest when the majority of the fat is Omega-3. Fish oil contains Omega-3 fatty acids.

Your brain is two-thirds fat; the majority of the fat in your brain is Omega-3. A chief Omega-3 is DHA. DHA is the most abundant fat in the human brain. Three-fourths of the fat in a healthy brain is DHA. This gives us some real insight on the benefits of OmegaPrime: to supply DHA for brain development and function. In fact, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) archives over 20,000 articles on Omega-3 EFA with 2,300 articles related to brain function, 522 articles related to depression, 141 articles related to memory loss and 56 articles related to chronic behavioral disorders.

Omega-3 from fish oil is healthy for your body and it shows a special affinity for your brain. Fish oil contains fully metabolized Omega-3. It is absorbed very quickly.

Flax oil
Flaxseed oil is a vegetarian source of Omega-3. But unlike fish oil, it must be slowly metabolized over several hours. Think of fish oil as "fast-acting" and flaxseed oil as "sustained release."

While all Omega-3 oils are good for cardiovascular health, flaxseed oil has particular benefits when it comes to heart health. According to articles archived by the NIH, flaxseeds reduce cholesterol and LDL ("bad" cholesterol) significantly when taken daily.

Flaxseeds also contain lignans, a special plant hormone that reduces inflammation. Lignans improve health outcomes when combined with certain treatments for breast cancer.

There are over 1,400 references to the health benefits of flax in the NIH library. Nearly 400 of these are references to cardiovascular health, as flaxseed oil harmonizes fats in the blood like cholesterol and triglycerides. More than 130 articles reference the ability of flaxseeds to support hormone health in men and women and 30 of these articles demonstrate how flax improves breast health.

Perilla seed oil
Humans cannot synthesize two essential fatty acids: Omega-3 ALA (alpha linolenic acid) and Omega-6 LA (linoleic acid). We must get them from our diet and that is why they are called "essential." Perilla seeds contain a balance of Omega-3 ALA and Omega-6 LA.

There are nearly 500 articles in the NIH database on perilla. Scientists from all over the world are studying this amazing anti-inflammatory seed. Over 100 articles refer to the work being done with perilla seeds and cancer; over 80 of these papers detail its use with the specific genes associated with various cancers. Over 50 articles discuss the anti-inflammatory benefits of perilla seed oil concerning allergy, breathing problems, and other immune and cardiovascular concerns.

Evening Primrose oil
Evening Primrose oil (EPO) is a primary source of LA in OmegaPrime. LA goes through a long process of metabolism that results in intense anti-inflammatory activity. For example, many inflammatory conditions are associated with Prostaglandin E-2 (PGE2), an inflammatory hormone. EPO blocks the creation of PGE2 and diverts the energy into anti-inflammatory PGE1 and PGE3.

A common problem of inflammation is chronic inflammation of the outer skin. In this condition, the fat cells in the skin break down and the immune system over-responds by attacking both sick and healthy skin cells. Omega EFA helps us develop normal, healthy skin. Further, LA reduces the inflammation associated with this condition by reducing PGE2. Evening Primrose oil is an excellent source of LA and OmegaPrime is an excellent source of EPO.

There are over 500 articles in the NIH database on Evening Primrose oil. Common inflammatory conditions are discussed over 60 times. Breast health ? including breast pain ? is likewise discussed over 60 times, and cardiovascular health is discussed more than 45 times.

Conclusion
Essential fatty acids are ESSENTIAL to wellness! We cannot make them; we must get them from our diet. The healthier our fat intake is, the healthier our body will become. People in North America are woefully deficient in Omega EFA. Eat healthy fats and supplement your diet with OmegaPrime (like I do!) every day.

Take Control of Your Health

• Eat at least 5 grams of Omega-3 daily
  • Salmon, tuna, herring, etc.
  • Walnuts (especially English walnuts).
• Eat foods rich in Vitamin D.
• Get 20 minutes of morning and evening sunshine every day.
• Exercise for at leat 30 minutes, most days of the week.
• Keep your mind sharp with games, crafts and other interests.

[BernardMaree]

Inflammation and Autoimmune Diseases

We are a people on fire!

Less than a hundred years ago the common health challenges we faced were infections. With the discovery of pathogenic bacteria and the advent of proper hygiene, death from these problems became less common. Inflammation has become the new epicenter of disease, disability and death.

Inflammation and the immune system
Our immune system uses heat to destroy invading bacteria. A specialized cell called a macrophage douses the invader with inflammatory enzymes (like acids) and the heat generated in this battle destroys the invading bacteria.

Sometimes our own healthy cells become the focus for disease. This often happens because of toxic exposure. When we eat, drink or breathe a toxin, or if it is absorbed through our skin, our detoxification system works to remove it before the poison can compromise our health. Unfortunately, many of today's poisons are simply too strong and they overwhelm our detoxification system and enter healthy cells. These cells now become the target of disease, infection and inflammation. Our immune system must treat them as hostile and use heat to destroy them.

Autoimmune diseases arise when our immune system becomes so overworked that it can no longer tell the difference between healthy cells and sick cells. It attacks all cells of a particular type equally. This body system is never able to heal and chronic inflammation sets in.

The weakest link
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. You are only as healthy as your weakest body system. How robust you are depends mostly on lifestyle choices, somewhat on your environment and a little on your genetics.

When a toxin overwhelms your detoxification process it will likely settle in your weakest system. The immune system melts these polluted cells in an effort to save healthy cells. This is acute inflammation. With chronic toxicity comes the opportunity for chronic inflammation. In the case of chronic inflammation, the immune system attacks any sick cell as well as any healthy cell that looks like the sick one. If the immune system attacks connective tissue we say a person has lupus. If it attacks the beta cells of the pancreas we say they have type 1 diabetes. If it attacks the joints we say they have rheumatoid arthritis.

These are only a few of the more than 200 autoimmune diseases. Yet they all share one common attribute: inflammation.

Putting the fire out
Inflammation arises because of:

• Toxins
• Injuries
• Emotional distress
• Nutrient deficiency

We simply must reduce our toxic exposure to reduce the chances of developing an autoimmune disorder. And we must also develop emotional coping strategies and have all of the nutrients we need in our body in the right quantity - every moment of every day. These are the first steps to reducing inflammation.

We can help douse the fire with anti-inflammatory Betalains such as those found in TriVita's Nopalea. A Betalain is a protein-antioxidant complex found in certain plants grown in hot climates. The hotter the climate, the more Betalains the plant needs to survive and the more we can benefit.

Nutrient strategies
According to most authorities, everyone needs to be taking a multiple vitamin and mineral supplement every day. This is even more important for people trying to tame their immune system in an autoimmune flare-up. We also need to eat foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and take Omega EFA supplements. These fats not only help reduce inflammation but they also make your immune system work smarter, not harder. Antioxidants are critical to putting out the fire of inflammation. Betalain "protein-antioxidants" are extremely powerful anti-inflammatory nutrients. Finally, Vitamin B-12 and adaptogens form a bulwark against the blues and physical stress.

We are a nation on fire. This is at the heart of the near epidemic of autoimmune disorders we are facing. Strategies of nutrients and nurturing will help us fight inflammation and help us with what we do best: heal!

Take Control of Your Health

• Remove household cleaners from your living space
• Keep clear of chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides
• Select certified organic foods when possible
• Take a multiple vitamin/mineral supplement
• Eat foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids
• Salmon, tuna, herring and other fatty fish
• Walnuts (especially English walnuts)
• Take an Omega EFA supplement
• Help your body reduce inflammation with Betalains found in Nopalea
• Protect yourself from emotional distress with B-12 and adaptogens

[BernardMaree]

Stress and Your Health

There are four common causes of imbalance that affect our health:

• Trauma
• Toxins
• Deficiency
• Emotional distress

Stress triggers a flood of hormones that sacrifice healthy organs in order to solve the stress crisis. Chronic stress causes us to wear out and age prematurely.

According to the book, "Who Gets Sick?" stress is reducing the quality and quantity of life of most people in North America – including you! It strangles the joy and pleasure from your days and nights. It makes you miserable, and then it makes you sick. You become susceptible to diseases such as heart attacks, cancer and diabetes. Once you are sick, stress keeps you from responding as well to medical care. Yes, stress is a killer!

Know your enemy!
Stress is short for distress. Distress describes an unpleasant influence by forces outside or even inside your body trying to tear you apart; it can come from your environment, your body or even your thoughts.

Stress triggers the fight or flight mechanism. Your body will prioritize resources to meet specific demands of stress. In fight or flight, your body prepares to do battle or run away. Either of these actions will require fuel – and right now!

Where do you get that fuel? From organs you don't need at that moment to survive.

So, if you are being chased by a lion, you don't need digestion. Stress will take nutrients from digestion as fuel to meet this particular crisis. The same is true for other organs and systems: Stress will literally rob nutrients from your reproductive system, your bones, and aspects of your immune system, your nervous system and more – all in an attempt to survive.

Now, assuming you survive the stress, are the nutrients returned to those systems? No, not at first. They are taken out quickly and returned slowly, just in case there is another lion around.

Gradually, you begin to show signs of chronic stress that we call premature aging: your blood sugar becomes more difficult to control; your arteries begin to clog up with cholesterol; and your muscle and bone mass begins to melt away. Then, enzymes in your cells begin to turn off and caramelized sugars begin to damage your brain and nerves. You can't think and you have no energy. Your body cannot stand that kind of stress and it breaks down.

Fighting back
This illustrates why we need nutrients from food and supplements to combat stress. The more nutrients we have "on board," the less fuel your body will have to rob during a crisis.

The opposite of stress is homeostasis. So, while stress is constantly trying to pull you apart, homeostasis is constantly working to put you back together. Homeostasis is the priority process your body uses to combat stress. It requires nutrients to function. So, a key strategy for helping reduce the impact of stress is to take Healthy Aging nutrients (including a robust supply of Sublingual B-12) every day.

Rather than being just an isolated event, stress accumulates over time. A single stressful event can affect you for up to two years or more. Therefore homeostasis must be constant, relentless and dynamic in working to return you to a normal state. It must do this no matter which direction stress is pulling you.

Homeostasis is a very important process in our body and we need to support it in every way we can. Homeostasis encompasses all of our resources: our brain and nervous system, our immune system, our hormonal system and every other body function.

• Adaptogens support homeostasis in all body systems. Adaptogens are "non-specific" in that they help your body reclaim balance. Adaptogens are non-toxic at any level, so you can feel free to take an added serving of Adaptogen 10 Plus as needed in order to break the cycle of stress. A daily serving of adaptogens can help keep you calm and relaxed.
• A specific target of stress is the thyroid gland. Specific proteins found in Energy Now! support healthy thyroid function when stress creates thyroid imbalance.

Healthy Aging nutrients along with Adaptogen 10 Plus and Energy Now! can help protect against the relentless stress we all face. We need nutrients and nurturing; these lifesaving resources are found in the 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness. Learn them and live them, and you will be able to resist the relentless killer: stress!

Take Control of Your Health

• Practice deep breathing at least 20 minutes daily
• Exercise at least 30 minutes most days of the week
• Eat high protein foods; avoid sugar and caffeine
• Take Healthy Aging nutrients
• Use adaptogens to fight off the effects of stress
• Support your thyroid with Energy Now!

[Oliver Relic]

I believe every woman should take at least one hour every day to pamper herself. I am going to be 43 in October (Scorpio), and friends + strangers cannot believe my age when I tell them.

[BernardMaree]

The link between diet and your energy level

How is your energy level?
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. It is the ability to lead a socially and economically productive life."

Does that describe you? Or, like many people in North America, are you just too tired to think about being socially and economically productive?

The scope of the problem
If you feel too tired to do much more than read this article, thank you very much. I appreciate your time and I will hopefully give you a few good ideas on how to increase your energy. You don't have to feel alone. Up to 85% of the people who visit a doctor for any reason also complain of being chronically tired. It seems that we are in the middle of an energy crisis that has nothing to do with petroleum production!

When we talk about energy we need to distinguish between the ability to survive and the feeling of being energetic. We must admit that even the sickest person is converting nutrients to energy in order to survive. Yet, we want to do more than survive – we want to feel energetic. We want to thrive! We want to have the energy to dream and then have the energy to live those dreams. We want to feel our best every day.

Food and energy
As I mentioned, energy comes from the way our body burns nutrients; nutrients such as fats, protein and carbohydrates must be metabolized. The word metabolism is from a Greek word that describes the process of burning wood to create heat. It also describes creating energy from food. So, an energetic life is possible with a healthy diet and healthy metabolism.

This description outlines the two-steps needed to create and sustain an energetic feeling: Improve our "burn" rate (metabolism) and improve our "fuel" source (diet).

Polyphenols increase metabolism. Polyphenols are extremely rare nutrients found in certain foods and concentrated in Energy Now!®. Energy Now! increases the burn-rate of the food we eat. A balanced diet must include:

• 7 to 9 servings of fruit and vegetables (for adults)
• 30+ grams of high quality protein
• 20 to 35 grams of fiber daily

However, when it comes to providing energy, fat is the undisputed champion.

Sugar from the foods we eat provides us with ready energy, but it doesn't last very long. Proteins are converted to energy at a much slower pace and provide us with a more stable supply of energy – five times as much energy per gram as sugar. Fats provide us with stamina. Healthy fats burn slowly and steadily up to eight times longer than sugar. So, for stamina that lasts all day and into the evening hours, select foods high in "good" fats and take an EFA supplement.

Many experts say that we should get as much as 30% of our total calories per day from fat. This may mean more than 70 grams of fat for a 2,200 calorie per day diet. That's a lot of fat! But don't reach for the French fries just yet. You see, all foods contain fat. Fat is as important for plants as it is for humans. So, select fats from foods that are known for high energy, such as vegetables, seeds, nuts, legumes and certain types of fish.

A note on metabolism
Metabolism occurs inside the cell in a tiny energy factory called mitochondria. Other cell functions are dependent on DNA, with half of the DNA coming from your mother and half from your father. Mitochondria have their own DNA, inherited only from your mother's side of the family. (Your energy level will likely be similar to your mother's energy level.)

The mitochondria DNA is very easily damaged and very slowly repaired. The antioxidant ECGC is shown to repair mitochondria DNA damaged by stress, deficiency or toxins. Energy Now! is a concentrated source of ECGC.

With the proper nutrients, you can help restore both the energy of metabolism and the feeling of being energetic!

Take Control of Your Health

• Eat a diet high in "good" fats
  • Take Omega EFA supplements every day
• Eat high quality proteins daily
  • Supplement LPA (L-Phenylalanine) and Tyrosine
• Eat a diet low in refined sugar
  • Use GlucoManage® to curb carb cravings
• Reduce your stress
  • Take adaptogens to bolster your resistance
• Reduce exposure to toxins
  • Nopalea™ drains toxins from your body
• Load up on antioxidants and polyphenols
  • Focus on Energy Now!

[BernardMaree]

Nopalea in the News

There is an old saying, "You are what you eat!" That is very true: Each cell in our body is comprised of elements we extract from our food. If we eat a healthy diet we will build healthy cells. If we eat an imbalanced or deficient diet we will build imbalanced cells. It is really that simple: We are what we eat!

Nopalea™ contains a family of bioflavonoids (plant compounds known for their antioxidant activity) called Betalains. Nopal fruit from the Sonora Desert contains all 24 known Betalains. These are "orphan" nutrients; the main family of Betalain-containing fruits and vegetables is now extinct. How can we be sure that Betalains are recognized by our body since they have not been seen in the human diet for thousands of years?

Bioavailability
Foods that are absorbed during digestion and carried into the bloodstream are called bioavailable foods. If they are good for us they are called bioactive foods. If they neither improve our health nor detract from it they are called bio-neutral foods and if the foods we eat are toxic for us they are called biocidic foods.

The question we have is: How do we know that Betalains from Nopal cactus fruit are bioavailable and bioactive? The answer is provided by research from Palermo, Italy.

What you eat
Professors at the University of Palermo Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology have been involved in the study of Betalains from Nopal cactus species around the world. They are primarily responsible for identifying the different types of Betalains and their activity. Recently, these Betalain experts answered the question of how efficiently Nopal Betalains are absorbed. The answer to this puzzle helps us understand the bioavailability and bioactive nature of Betalains.

Research showed that anti-inflammatory Betalains protected fats from being oxidized and turned into "bad" fats. Methyl linoleate (ML) is a common fat used in manufacturing detergent and other products. It can become carcinogenic (cancer-causing) if it oxidizes.

Betalains protected ML from oxidizing. This antioxidant activity hindered the formation of inflammatory chemicals. Betalains slowed down the domino effect of toxic, rancid fats from becoming carcinogenic before they ever started!

Remarkable results
Research continues around the world into the potent anti-inflammatory, anti-toxin action of Betalains from the Sonora Desert. The more we learn, the more remarkable Betalains become. Now we have conclusive proof that Betalains are readily recognized by our body though we may have never consumed them before our first serving of Nopalea. Further, we see that Betalains are both bioavailable and bioactive.

If we truly "are what we eat," we can improve the health of our cells, help our body reduce inflammation, oxidation and the impact of toxins by taking Nopalea.


Take Control of Your Health

• Health comes from healthy habits:
  • Breathe Deeply
  • Drink Pure Water
  • Sleep Peacefully
  • Eat Nutritiously
  • Enjoy Activity
  • Give and Receive Love
  • Be Forgiving
  • Practice Gratitude
  • Develop Acceptance
  • Develop a Relationship with God
• Take Nopalea to help protect against toxins, inflammation, oxidative stress and premature aging

[BernardMaree]

Hi everyone,

I received this from a fellow TriVita Affiliate. Worth reading.

Which one should I take - Nopalea? Or Adaptogen 10 Plus?

Well, that question has Brazos Minshew, our Chief Science Officer and developer of both products scratching his head. He says one does not substitute for the other. They are completely dissimilar. The only thing the same about Nopalea and Adaptogen is that they are both liquid.

Brazos himself takes 4 ounces of each mixed together every morning. The flavors blend very well and the combo helps you deal with trauma and stress and in turn, the resulting inflammation. As a triathalon athlete, a man with a stressful job and being over the age of 50, Brazos believes that is what his body needs.

Adaptogen minimizes the antecedent of stress and to some extent the antecedent of deficiencies. This prevents inflammation from getting a foot hold and in some cases from even getting started.

Adaptogen helps your body make the best of a bad situation

Your body is saying, "I'm reaching a point of collapse..." so it will move resources from one part of the body to another to shore it up. An example of this is how when you're not getting enough calcium through your diet, your body extracts calcium from bone to make sure that high priority organs such as your heart are getting enough.

Your body starts grumbling, "Hey, you're drinking too much coffee, could you slow down there. But since you won't stop these bad habits, I need to survive. So I'm going to pull the needed calcium from your bones." Survival always comes first, so the body pulls calcium from bone, which over time leads to osteoporosis.

In other words, osteoporosis, and other ills you may suffer, are symptoms of what your body is trying to tell you... that it's doing this to keep from collapsing altogether. And this is where Adaptogens come into play.

Adaptogens neutralize the stresses of today and help you deal with them tomorrow. Take note of the immediate impact Adaptogen 10 Plus makes on your body as you deal with daily stresses. It helps neutralize the stresses of today... and helps you deal with the stresses of tomorrow.

Three Criteria for a plant to be categorized as an Adaptogen

• The plant must be totally non-toxic at any level
• It must be able to take an unhealthy cell and bring it back to normal
• And the plant must be able to help you adapt today, now

The vast majority of plants are eliminated right there at the first level.

Most herbs, for example are toxic at some point. But with Adaptogen, the only way it can hurt you is if you fall into a vat of it and drown! This means even your 2 year old could drink a whole bottle and it won't hurt them. Or if you're 90 years old and you're taking 17 different medications, you can drink as much Adaptogen 10 Plus as you want. There are no contraindications.

Medicinal and Culinary plants number into the thousands, but there are only 10 plants which have met the critiera of Adaptogens.

There are 4 fundamental causes that create patterns of disharmony in our body systems triggering a cascade of inflammation.

• Trauma (injury)
• Toxins (chemicals and pollutants)
• Deficiencies (lack of sleep, oxygen, nutrients and water)
• Stress (well... we all know what that is!)

The ingredients of Adaptogen primarily target Deficiencies and Stress, but consider that both Trauma and Toxins create physical Stress, so in effect, Adaptogen benefits our body under all conditions. Let's take a look at how it works.

Adaptogenic plants live in incredibly stressful environments. Russian Siberia and the Sonoran Desert are a couple of examples. These plants must deal with fantastic extremes in temperature, fragile soil structures and little or no water. These plants have proponents that allow them to not only survive in these extreme conditions, but even thrive there. These plants transfer to us the exact same properties allowing us to thrive even though our lives may be extremely stressful.

A daily dose of Adaptogen becomes part of our daily experience thus counteracting the daily stress of our job, school or raising a family. One way Adaptogen 10 Plus combats stress is by replenishing anti-oxidant deficiencies. Adaptogen 10 Plus has a 44,000 thousand ORAC value, the highest of all TriVita products... and in fact, one of the highest ORAC values in world.

Aloe Vera - Key Ingredient in Adaptogen 10 Plus

Stress is an interesting part of life. It's purpose is to provide needed bursts of energy when stressful or frightening events occur and does so by diverting resources from other systems in the body to priority areas... such as your heart. This is not a process we want to shut down. However, in today's stressful world, our body often stays in this perpetual condition of 'fight or flight'. It never gets a break. So even when you're not in any physical danger, things like your digestive system are shut down as it's not considered a high priority need for survival.

Can you imagine how your body is effected when your digestive system is in a state of shut down nearly every day?! Well, Aloe Vera turns your digestive system back on. Thankfully. Without a properly functioning digestive system, you are not absorbing the nutrients from your food or your nutritional supplements as you should.

An example of this was shown with the use of Metformin. After time, some users find it doesn't work as well as it once did. Their body doesn't seem to be utilizing it the same way and as a result, they have to increase their dosage. But studies have shown that when Aloe Vera was added, the same dose of Metformin begins to have its desired effect again. The exact same process works along with vitamins. The Aloe Vera will turn your digestive system back on.

So if you are finding that you don't seem to be benefiting by your current dose of supplements, don't be thinking it means you need higher doses. If you are using TriVita products, you are likely taking enough. Now in order to make sure you are absorbing enough, simply add Adaptogen 10 Plus to your daily health regime.

Adaptogen 10 Plus first turns down the stress... and secondly, perhaps even more importantly, starts up your digestive system again.

Tula

PS: And by the way, Brazos came up with a rather decadent new dessert. Mix 3 ounces of Nopalea with 4 ounces of whipping cream. "Oh, my goodness", he quips, "Now I've even found a way to make Nopalea fattening!"

Both Nopalea and Adaptogen 10 Plus can be purchased through me (PM for website details), but in the case of Nopalea, TriVita has even made it possible for me to send you an introductory bottle free if you're suffering from chronic pain that's been brought on by inflammation, and if you are from North America (Canada/USA) or from Australia after Feb 2011. Just give me a shout by PM so I can get your details.

[BernardMaree]

The Physical Side of Stress

According to health experts, we need about 30 minutes of aerobic exercise most days of the week. The benefits of this are too numerous to list but include:

• Heart health
• Increased energy
• Decreased obesity
• Improved mood

Exercise has been called "the best thing we can do for our body."

We also need resistance training to build lean body tissue and strong bones. Resistance training increases the ability of our individual cells to accept sugar and insulin. Indeed, resistance training is seen by some as the antidote to insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and osteoporosis.

Stress in – stress out!
Despite all the benefits of exercise, it must be recognized that exercise is stressful. Exercise is work; it is a struggle against gravity and in the end, gravity always wins! That said, there are nutrients that can help us succeed in the struggle against gravity and help us meet our desired objectives of fitness and wellness.

First, we need energy to exercise (and then exercise gives us energy). Energy comes from metabolism, and the sensation of being energetic is "stored" in the nerves.

• Our polyphenol product Energy Now! helps convert about 200 calories of energy from stored reserves per serving. This is the amount of energy we need to walk about two miles.
• Sublingual B-12 adds to our energy delivery system by nourishing the nerves. Have you ever had a day when you felt light as a feather? Conversely, have you ever had a day when you felt like you were weighted down with lead weight? Most of us have that experience from time to time. Much of the sensation of feeling energetic is related to the potential of our nerves to conduct energy. Vitamin B-12 facilitates that energy delivery so we have more "light as a feather" days.

Sublingual B-12 also helps in another way. When we exercise we contract one group of muscles and stretch an opposite group of muscles. Vitamin B-12 facilitates muscle stretching – so muscles can stretch with ease.

When muscles ache after exercise it is because we have exceeded the limits of the muscle group at that moment. As we learn to listen to our body we really have only two choices: either don't exercise so we will never feel that pain or take discomfort as a signal that we need to increase our nutrient reserves. Adaptogens are a group of nutrients from specific plants known to help us resist the stress of exercise while speeding a return to "normal" after exercise. Adaptogens are non-toxic by nature. So, if you find yourself sore after exercise, take more adaptogens!

Of course, pain is one of the cardinal signs of inflammation (pain, swelling, redness and heat accompanied by loss of function). Nopalea contains anti-inflammatory bioflavonoids called Betalains. Reducing inflammation quickly can help our body repair and return to normal function more quickly.

My routine
I am often asked about my exercise routine and the supplements I take. The answer really depends on what goal I am working on at the moment. If I am preparing for an event (like a bicycle race or triathlon) I will train every day, but I will only work out with weights twice a week. On the other hand, if I am preparing to hike the Grand Canyon, I may run a few miles a day but increase my weight training to five days a week. However, I always begin my workout routines with four ounces of Adaptogen 10 Plus and four ounces of Nopalea.

I use Healthy Aging supplements and add Energy Now! just before performing – it really gives me a boost!

I don't like to exercise but I really do like to play! As an adult my "play" is more structured and organized than when I was a kid. It is also much less frequent. Still, I know that the more I move, the more I will be able to move and the more I will enjoy activity. Conversely, the less I move, the less I will be able to move and the less I will want to move.

Happiness and self-esteem come from setting and achieving worthwhile goals. One worthwhile goal is to enjoy activity daily and use nutrients and nurturing to combat our inevitable opponent: stress!


Take Control of Your Health

• Start slowly, warm up, stretch
• Pick several activities to avoid burnout
• Use Energy Now! to raise metabolism
• Use Sublingual B-12 to aid muscles and nerves
• Use Adaptogen 10 Plus to help with recovery
• Use Nopalea to help break the cycle of inflammation
• Set and achieve worthwhile activity goals

[BernardMaree]

The Foundation of Energy

Do you remember what it feels like to be in love? The euphoria was magnificent! You likely experienced less pain, a decrease in appetite and endless energy.

Would you like to have that energetic feeling back?

Healthy aging: love and friendship
In over two decades of experience working with the critically ill and those nearing the end of their life, I must say that I have learned no greater truth about healthy aging than the words spoken by actress Jeanne Moreau. She once said that "Age does not protect us from love but, to some extent, love protects us from age."

The ability to give and receive love is the beginning of healthy aging. Love tells us that we belong – that we matter. Love makes it safe to try new things because real love makes it safe to fail. All our life we are creating community and family to nourish and nurture us. In return, we provide nurturing for others and the cycle of care continues.

There are lessons that healthy community teaches us. For instance, we learn empathy and to accept our loved ones with their flaws and faults. And this teaches us to accept ourselves with our flaws and faults. We learn to forgive and let go of resentment and guilt. We learn the art of negotiation and compromise.

Emotional balance is fostered by a sense of community. Our friends actually help us form, transform and re-form our own personality as we continue to grow. We create our extended family by selecting people that are very much like ourselves and very much different; people that we feel we're called to help and people that inspire us as well.

How does this relate to healthy aging? Robert McAfee Brown said, "How does one keep from 'growing old inside'? Surely only in community. The only way to make friends with time is to stay friends with people. Taking community seriously not only gives us the companionship we need, it also relieves us of the notion that we are indispensable."

On a physical, cellular level, people with healthy attachments live longer and better lives. One report stated that married men live about 17 years longer than bachelors. Another study concluded that support groups add 25% or greater longevity to certain people.

People that are integrated into a large social circle have fewer accidents, illnesses and emotional disturbances. They are healthier and happier.

How nutrients help
We have more to give when we are healthy. In a sense, we owe it to our loved ones to optimize our health by nourishing our personal wellness. If we are part of a family or community the same responsibility applies. And if we have dedicated ourselves to higher purposes, then pursuing wellness demonstrates respect for our dedication.

Healthy Aging nutrients provide a stable foundation for wellness.

Which nutrients?
Many reports today talk about the dramatic decline in Vitamin D levels in recent years. Vitamin D has now been added to our "most wanted" list when it comes to supplements. What else is on that list?

Vitamin B-12 is one of the most common deficiencies among those over 40 years of age, as well as those suffering with allergies, asthma and a host of other stressful conditions. Vitamin C is also a top contender for "most wanted" in our body as we age. We have heard about Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids and the importance of these essential fats to heart and brain health – targets for inflammation and disease. Finally, magnesium rounds out the top five most-needed nutrients to support healthy aging.

With this in mind, we have formulated Wellavoh™ and VitaDaily AM/PM™ to help boost levels of magnesium and Vitamin D. (If you need even more, consider Bone Growth Factor™ or VitaCal-Mag D™.) OmegaPrime® provides the optimum amount of Omega-3 EFA for the average person. When we combine OmegaPrime with the Omega-3 EFA in Wellavoh, we get an even more robust supply of Omega-3 EFA.

Sublingual B-12, Super Sublingual B-12 and HCY Guard® all provide Vitamin B-12 that we need in the sublingual form adults use. Take this with our Vital C Crystals in the morning for energy and antioxidant protection during the day. Take a Vital C Tablet at bedtime for continued antioxidant protection as you sleep.

So, develop these habits that are the foundation for energy and healthy aging:

1. Choose emotionally healthy friends and form a loving community of people that call you to be at your very best every day;
2. Take your Healthy Aging nutrients; and
3. Become an ardent student of the 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness.

Take Control of Your Health

• Learn and live the 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness
• Take Healthy Aging nutrients:
  • Wellavoh or VitaDaily AM/PM
  • Sublingual B-12
  • OmegaPrime
  • Vital C
  • Magnesium and a Vitamin D supplement (found in Wellavoh, VitaDaily AM/PM, VitaCal-Mag D, Bone Growth Factor)
• Focus on building a loving community of family and friends!