Are You Nutrient Deficient?

For the first time in recorded history, children born in North America today are not expected to live as long or as well as their parents. This startling trend may have its roots in the nutrition of our parents or grandparents. The trend continues through our generation. Truly, the "sins of the parents" are visited upon their children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren.

How did we get into this predicament and what can we do to change the trend?

Poisonous fruit

Along with the advances in agriculture that reduced famines and starvation, the farming practices of the last century produced some pretty scary trends. For example, food grown in mineral-depleted soil has fewer nutrients to offer us. Food processed for increased storage is further reduced in nutrients.

Flavor-enhancing additives, such as refined sugar, further impose a burden on our system. It is as if we are over-taxing our personal health resources and the "deficit spending" of this course is being passed on to our children.

Some scientists recognized this disastrous course 100 years ago. General awareness of the importance of nutrition has increased significantly in the past 50 years. However, commercial and other interests have kept the debate suppressed until recently.

A landmark article was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) June 19, 2002. It defined the need for nutrients in disease prevention. Though it was met with resistance, this article clearly opened the door for debate while confirming the truth we have known for a century: A body deprived of nutrients and nurturing will be prone to disease, disability and untimely death.

Further scientific exploration into the link between low nutrient reserves, a shortened lifespan, increased disease and unhealthy children was published that same year in the European Journal of Human Genetics. It clearly detailed the link between poor nutrition in a person and the increase in disease in their children and grandchildren. The "root" of poor nutrition has erupted into obesity, heart disease, diabetes and other diseases that extend through generations. Habits and practices of 100 years ago are bearing "fruit" in our children!

Solutions

With this knowledge, the discussion around human nutrition has never been more important. We simply must change our habits if we are to change our destiny. For example, we must select food grown in mineral-rich soil and endorse farming practices that support ecology.

We must also discipline ourselves to take our nutrients every day. By doing this, we increase the opportunity for having healthier children. If we are past childbearing, taking our nutrients daily will improve our health and give us the opportunity to "model" responsible behavior for our children and grandchildren. Healthier kids mean a healthier family, a healthy community and even a healthier species.

The power to change the trend is in the choices you make every day.

Wellavoh

Men's and Women's Wellavoh (wel-lah vōh) is a multi-nutrient complex built upon the science of proper nutrition. Wellavoh is constructed to give you the nutrients you need today to help your body change the trend: the trend toward wellness. It contains the classes of nutrients we need to fill in the gaps left by poor diet and foods grown in nutrient-depleted soil.

Wellavoh is designed for adults and children age 10 and over. Take your nutrients every day and model healthy behavior for your children and grandchildren. Become part of the solution to declining health by making better choices in nourishing and nurturing your body today!

TriVita’s Weekly Wellness Report [weeklywellnessreport@trivita/com]

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.

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.

TriVita’s Weekly Wellness Report [weeklywellnessreport@trivita/com]

Metabolism - How Does that Effect Your Health

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!

TriVita’s Weekly Wellness Report [weeklywellnessreport@trivita/com]

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.