Do you know how stress effects your health?

Listen to a discussion about the health impact of stress.

This 31 minute discussion covers:

• Costs of stress.
• Causes of stress. How many are in your life?
• What is the impact of stress on our body?
• What is the stress response and how does it work?
• What is chronic stress and how does it affect us?
• Who is most at risk for stress related health problems?
• How does stress effect our heart, cortisol levels, memory, and immunity
• How do men and women react differently to stress?
• What can we do to lessen the effects of stress on our bodies?
• How does stress effect weight? How does diet effect stress? What should we eat to help our stressed out bodies?
• How can a cup of tea help?
• What other supplements can assist with stress and how do they help?

Additional Information: Read an informative pamphlet on a comprehensive stress relief supplement.

Learn more about stress and find supplements to aid in blunting the effects of stress on our bodies.

Health Alert: Red Wine (Resveratrol) Can Help Prevent Stroke Damage

Red wine might work to protect the brain from damage after a stroke, and drinking a couple of glasses a day might provide that protection ahead of time, U.S. researchers recently reported.

In an effort to better understand how red wine works, the scientists from Johns Hopkins University fed mice a moderate dose of a compound found in red grape skins and seeds before inducing stroke-like damage. They discovered that the animals suffered less brain damage than similarly damaged mice who were not treated with the compound, which is called resveratrol.

"When we pre-treat the animals with the compound orally, then we observe that we have a significant decrease in the area of stroke damage by about 40 percent," said Sylvain Dore, the lead researcher for the study.

Dore and his research team presented their results from the study, which was funded in part by the U.S. government, at a Society for Neuroscience conference in Atlanta.

"What is unique about this study is we have somewhat identified what can be the specific mechanism," in the wine that is good for health, Dore said. "Here we are building cell resistance against free radical damage." The study showed that resveratrol increases levels of an enzyme in the brain, heme oxygenase, that was already known to shield nerve cells from damage.

Dore said the beneficial effects associated with drinking a moderate amount of red wine could be explained by the fact the wine turns on the heme oxygenase anti-oxidant system.

"Red wine has been suggested for the heart. Here what we show is its special effect in stroke and pre-treatment," Dore said. "It suggests that prophylactic use of wine could work." The fermentation process in winemaking boosts the
concentration of resveratrol, Dore said. But said more studies are needed to translate the findings from mice into humans.

The amount of wine that must be consumed in order to reap the benefits of the compound will vary depending on a person's weight and the concentration of resveratrol in the wine. But, Dore said, it will likely work out to about two
glasses a day.

Editors Note: Besides providing the most bioavailable form of CoQ10 which helps supply energy for your heart, this CoQ10 Heart supplement also contains 640 mcg of resveratrol, equivalent to the amount of resveratrol in one glass of red wine. In light of this promising study, CoQ10 Heart supplement may be an even more valuable part of any smart cardio health program. For more information on this breakthrough supplement, please read this informative pamphlet.

Make Your Money Stretch

Cost of Diet Plans

Forbes magazine's 8/30/06 issue gives us a great weekly price comparison for diets. Cinch wasn't included but it easy to see where it fits in.

• LA Weight Loss: $138.29/wk


• Jenny Craig: $137.65/wk


• Nutrisystem: $113.52/wk


• Atkins: $100.52/wk


• Weight Watchers: $96.64/wk


• CINCH Starter Pack: $94.98/wk*


• The Zone: $92.84/wk


• Ornish: 78.74/wk


• CINCH Refill Pack: $78.64/wk*


• South Beach: $78.61/wk


• Slim Fast: $77.73/wk


• Sugar Busters: $69.62/wk


• Subway: $68.60/wk


• Average Single American Food Expense: $54.44/wk

Visit our educational site and learn why this plan really works. Lose inches and save money too!

* Cost of snacks and evening ""regular food"" meal were not included in the Cinch numbers. If you look at the relatively low cost of good, unprocessed food, the cost of Cinch is highly competetive with other plans, particularly since we have high quality supplements and tea included in our plan. A bargain compared to all the problems that come from overweight and obesity in any case.

Stop yo-yo dieting. A diet for the rest of us.

In 1980, 35% of Americans were overweight to obese. 48 billion dollars, and hundreds of diets later...

More than 65% of Americans are overweight to obese.

Why Do Most Diets Fail?

Most Diets Are:

• Nutritionally inadequate - you feel bad, sooner or later
• Too hard to follow - interferes with life
• Results are too slow - frustration
• Unsafe ingredients - negative side effects (Ephedra, Ephedra Alternatives, other stimulants)
• Slow your metabolism - the “yo-yo” effect

The Dreaded Diet Cycle

• With most diets you lose fat and muscle
• Muscle loss = lower metabolism (fewer calories burned)
• After dieting, you can’t burn calories like you did before. So you gain weight back. Start next diet. The yo-yo effect.
• In a preliminary clinical study, participants on the this program retained 100% of lean muscle mass

Why this diet plan works:

1. Formulated to help you get off the dreaded diet cycle
2. Leverages 50 years of nutritional science leadership and innovation
3. Clinically tested leucine formula (Read a published artical titled "The Role of Leucine in Weight Loss Diets and Glucose Homeostasis")
4. Powered by Leucine

To get the whole low-down about this revolutionary diet plan backed by 50 Years of Nutritional Science Leadership visit our educational site.

Get advice from professinal trainers

Listen to a discussion about Personal Trainers' Advice
This 20 minute discussion covers:

• The science behind how the body uses nutrition during and after exercise.
• The importance of supporting the immune system.
• Post workout recovery optimization
• Promoting endurance during workout
• Professional trainers' nutritional product recommendations
• Importance of antioxidants for athletes

Find the perfect all natural training nutrition for you and your family!

Health News: Regular Calcium Supplements vs. OsteoMatrix

“Calcium supplements don’t prevent bone fractures due to osteoporosis”. These headlines were particularly curious because when you read the article, the experts were quoted as saying that calcium supplementation did actually decrease the incidence of hip fractures, but not some of the other fractures tested.

The experts went on to make the point of saying that the calcium supplements were effective at preventing bone fractures in the sub-group of women who were at highest risk and that the inclusion of both high risk and low risk women in the study confounded the results.

Loosely translated, this means that if you are starting with dense bones entering menopause (usually because of a combination of genetics, good diet and exercise), the addition of calcium supplements may not be necessary, at least in the short run. However, if you are entering menopause with relatively low bone density, calcium supplementation can be very important.

Finally, the experts were quoted as saying that the calcium supplements worked much better for those who took them regularly than for those who didn’t. That comes under the category of “Duh”! All of the experts concluded by saying that they still recommended that post-menopausal women get at least 1000-1200 mg of calcium per day. Even if you are taking bone-protective medications, the recommendations are still for 1000 mg of calcium per day.

Two points that were not made in any of the news reports are:

1. that the calcium supplements consisted of only calcium and vitamin D. Shaklee’s studies show that trace minerals, boron and vitamin K are also necessary for optimal bone formation and all of these nutrients are found in Shaklee’s OsteoMatrix
2. that weight bearing exercise is needed for optimal utilization of calcium for bone formation.

This is information that we have been sharing for years.

As the new study shows, calcium supplementation alone can be of some benefit for preventing some fractures in high-risk women who take their calcium supplements regularly. However, calcium supplementation and weight bearing exercise will be effective for most women and for every bone that is exercised. Chasing the grand kids doesn’t count. We’re talking about pumping iron. It’s also important to recognize that weight-bearing exercise alone isn’t effective if you aren’t getting enough calcium. You need both!

Ed. Note: Thanks to Dr. Stephen Cheney of the University of North Carolina’s Medical School for separating fact from fiction in the above calcium report.

This past year Shaklee reformulated its Super Cal Mag Plus to provide even more trace minerals – the result is OsteoMatrix an unsurpassed calcium supplement to fight osteoporosis and improve bone health.

Additional information:

• watch an informational online video about why you need more than just calcium to build bones
• learn more about calcium (why you need it and foods rich in it)
• Read an informational pamphlet about this premium bone health supplement

Are You Tired of Feeling Tired?

Lifestyle impacts your health.

Does your day start before the sun is up? Do you find yourself banging the snooze button? Do you drag yourself out of bed and prop yourself upright until your coffee is ready? If you're like most it takes your morning shower to help you feel slightly more awake and alive, just in time to get you through preparing breakfasts and lunches for your family members without stopping to eat something yourself. The “rush hour” never ends: commute traffic, barely-met work deadlines, lunch-hour meeting over soda and cookies, behind schedule all afternoon. After racing to meet your daughter at soccer practice, you do errands on the way home (dry cleaners, post office, last-minute groceries). The checklist continues: make dinner, eat dinner, wash up after dinner, help kids with homework, do laundry, take out the trash, sew on a button, change the hamster bedding. Pay bills — and toss and turn with worry half the night. And then the alarm goes off.

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The Modern Energy Crisis

Everyday fatigue is a common complaint in our fast-paced society, ranking among the top five health problems reported by adults in 1998. Four out of 10 adults across all age groups experience fatigue, and it affects women far more than men. Working women are particularly likely to be exhausted from the day-to-day challenge of juggling the many demands of modern life, including long work hours, care of children and aging family members, and the ever-growing burden of errands, chores, shopping trips, and more that are required just to keep a household going.

What’s more, lack of energy becomes a vicious cycle. More adults today report only fair to poor or very poor quality of sleep.

The problem is further compounded by the fact that the majority of adults who report everyday fatigue and loss of energy admit they don’t get the minimum Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of vitamins and minerals from their diet even one day per week! Stressful lifestyles and jobs produce eating patterns that are rushed and nutritionally inadequate. The long-term negative health effects of this type of nutrient shortfall are potentially devastating.

And some lifestyle patterns are more difficult to control. Over one-third of menopausal women say they suffer from tiredness and loss of energy.

Interestingly, less than half of people who feel stressed and exhausted consider this to be a health problem! Of those who admit they may need help, only half have tried any treatment. Yet an astonishing four out of five Americans consume caffeine every day, causing the Center for Science in the Public Interest to label caffeine “the world’s most popular stimulant,” and the “drug” most frequently and casually consumed. And our national caffeine consumption may be higher than reported. Sales of “energy pills” are on the rise, yet a look at the ingredient list of many popular products often reveals guarana, mate, bissy nut, or cola nut, which are all simply herbal sources of caffeine. Ma huang and Chinese ephedra are herbal sources of ephedrine, another central nervous system stimulant.

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Effects of Caffeine?

The effects of caffeine in the body are linked to our “hardwired” biological stress-response mechanisms. Because life has always presented hazards, the human body is designed to react quickly and decisively to dangerous situations. When triggered by “watch out!” signals such as loud noises, rapid movement, strong odors, and more, the body automatically produces both physical and chemical responses. Surges of adrenaline heighten your mental awareness and sensitivity and prime your muscles for demanding movement such as jumping or running. Your pupils dilate, your breathing quickens, and eventually your natural cooling system kicks in and you start to sweat.

A single 250-milligram serving of caffeine (the equivalent of about 2.5 six-ounce cups of coffee) has been shown to increase levels of adrenaline by more than 200 percent. Caffeine also stimulates the production of norepinephrine, another stress chemical that acts directly on the brain and nervous system. With daily use, caffeine can elevate levels of another stress chemical known as cortisol. Together, these biochemicals can increase heart rate and blood pressure and produce that “emergency” feeling.

In a real-life emergency, all these survival mechanisms would help you get out of the way of a charging elephant or the 5:05 commuter train. But what happens to the body when you are triggering a full-blown “fight or flight” response at regular intervals throughout the day, every day?

The fact is that caffeine doesn’t produce energy. It stimulates your nervous system and adrenals, which is actually a form of stress on the body which can increase fatigue. Caffeine intake has been linked to:

• increased blood pressure
• Research shows that people who consume more than 250 milligrams of caffeine per day (remember, that’s what you’d get in 15 ounces of coffee) tend to have poor sleep quality.
• One study showed that250 milligrams of caffeine decreased whole-brain cerebral blood flow by 30 percent.
• Other studies have found that caffeine reduces the oxygen level of brain tissue.

Research also shows that caffeine may be more damaging to women, producing adverse effects at lower intake levels. Women eliminate caffeine from their bodies more slowly than men, and this rate also changes significantly with the menstrual cycle.

Other compounds — found in unfiltered coffee — have been linked to elevated cholesterol levels. According to the Mayo Clinic Health Letter (July 1997), “If you boil your coffee or drink espresso, which isn’t filtered, you may want to limit how much you drink.”

Caffeine intake may also trigger a negative cycle of unhealthy behavior. Reseach shows that heavy coffee-drinkers also tend to smoke more, drink more alcohol, and eat more fatty foods than non-coffee drinkers.

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There Has To Be A Better Way!

Based on centuries of use in Asia, clinical use in Europe, and recent scientific studies, scientists have formulated a uniquely comprehensive formula for sustained vitality. This compound is a natural, concentrated source of herbal ingredients and antioxidant phytonutrients shown to support your body’s natural ability to maintain energy and resist everyday fatigue.

The compound contains standardized extracts of:

• cordyceps (a mushroom)
• Asian ginseng
• green tea

Cordyceps is clinically proven to help fight everyday fatigue, ginseng is traditionally used as an energizer, and the antioxidant properties of polyphenols in green tea promote sustained vitality.*

Only one compound offers this optimum combination of traditional Asian ingredients. Three capsules a day will provide a continuing benefit of sustained enduring energy to help you meet the demands of your day, every day!*

Additional information: Read an informative pamphlet about this premium suplement.

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How Does This Compound Work?

Each of the herbal ingredients in the compound is believed to promote vitality by supporting and strengthening key bodily systems.*

By reducing everyday fatigue*

Benefits of Cordyceps sinesis. Cordyceps has been extensively tested in China and found to resist everyday fatigue, primarily by promoting more efficient use of oxygen.*

Elderly people in a controlled, double-blind study received either cordyceps or a placebo. After three months of use, 92 percent reported a reduction in their feelings of fatigue, compared to only 14 percent in the placebo group. In a study presented at the American College of Sports Medicine in 1999, healthy elderly Chinese subjects received either cordyceps or a placebo. After six weeks, exercise tests showed significant improvement in oxygen uptake in the cordyceps group, whereas the placebo group remained unchanged. Researchers concluded that “these findings support the belief in China that cordyceps has potential for improving exercise capacity and resistance to fatigue.”

Many clinical studies of cordyceps used a daily serving of 3 grams of the Cordyceps sinensis strain. This compound uses a 4:1 standardized extract of this strain, with 750 milligram of extract providing the equivalent of 3 grams of cordyceps mushroom.

By energizing*

Benefits of Panax ginseng. In traditional Asian medicine, dried ginseng is used as a tonic to revitalize and replenish vital energy (qi). In 1991, the German Commission E approved the use of Panax ginseng as a tonic for “invigoration” and fortification in times of fatigue and debility, for declining capacity for work and concentration.*

The principal compounds believed to be responsible for ginseng’s benefits are saponin glycosides, also known as ginsenosides. At least 30 different ginsenosides have been isolated and characterized. The ginseng in this compound is standardized to contain a minimum of 10 percent ginsenosides. That’s about one-third more than any of the leading brands of ginseng surveyed in June 2000. Two hundred milligrams of ginseng extract provides 20 milligrams of ginsenosides in this compound.

Panax ginseng (Asian ginseng) is sometimes confused with American ginseng (Panax quinquefolis) and Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus), which is not in the Panax genus, although it is in the same family, Araliaceae. These herbs have different physiological effects.

By promoting sustained vitality*

Benefits of Green tea. Tea is the richest dietary source of antioxidant phytonutrients known as polyphenols. Green tea is the favorite tea of Asia, while black tea is preferred in Europe and the Americas. The antioxidants in green tea promote sustained vitality.*

Populations studies indicate a positive association between tea consumption and health. Health of the mouth, pancreas, colon, skin, lung, prostate, and bladder has been associated with tea consumption. Findings from the Iowa Women’s Study of 35,000 postmenopausal women show that consuming two or more cups of tea per day helped women maintain their digestive-tract health. In a recent case-controlled study from the Boston Area Health Study, consuming one or more cups of tea per day helped subjects maintain their cardiovascular health. In Norway, tea consumption has been linked to retaining normal cholesterol levels. Laboratory studies also show that green tea raises the total antioxidant capacity of the blood, suggesting an additional mechanism for its cardiovascular health benefits.*

Scientific literature shows that the level of polyphenols in green tea can vary widely; however, clinical findings suggest an average of 100 milligrams polyphenols (per six-ounce cup). This compound provides 200 milligrams of green tea extract standardized to contain 50 percent polyphenols, or the equivalent of one cup of green tea. Caffeine levels in green tea also vary widely, but average out to about 30
milligrams of caffeine per sixounce cup. The high ratio of polyphenols to caffeine in the CorEnergy standardized extract (100 milligrams polyphenols/15 milligrams caffeine) means that a daily serving of CorEnergy provides the antioxidant benefits of one cup of green tea with only half the caffeine. That’s about one-sixth of the amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee.

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Who Might Benefit from This Compound?

• People who are searching for a natural energy supplement to help keep up with the hectic pace of daily life
• People who want to avoid caffeine, sugar, and herbal stimulants
• Women who are experiencing loss of energy during the transition to menopause

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Change Your Life:

• Get adequate, regular, and consistent amounts of sleep each night.
• Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and drink plenty of filtered water throughout the day.
• Exercise regularly.
• Learn better ways to relax. Try yoga or meditation.
• Maintain a reasonable work and personal schedule.
• Change your stressful circumstances, if possible. For example, switch jobs, take a vacation, and deal directly with problems in a relationship.
• Take a multivitamin. (Do you know how to judge the quality of a multivitamin?)
• Avoid alcohol, nicotine, and drug use.

If you have chronic pain or depression, treating either often helps address the fatigue. However, some antidepressant medications may cause or worsen fatigue. Your medication may have to be adjusted to avoid this problem. Do not stop or change any medications without instruction from your doctor.

Remember that stimulants (including caffeine) are not effective treatments for fatigue, and can actually make the problem worse when the drugs are stopped. Sedatives also tend to worsen fatigue in the long run.

Call your doctor if:

• You have ongoing, unexplained weakness or fatigue, especially if accompanied by fever or unintentional weight loss.
• You have constipation, dry skin, weight gain, or intolerance to cold.
• You wake up and fall back to sleep multiple times through the night.
• You have headaches.
• You are taking any medications, prescription or non-prescription, or using drugs that may cause fatigue or drowsiness.
• You feel sad or depressed.
• You have insomnia.

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Re-energize Your Day the Natural Way

*

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Two Supplements Important to Senior’s Health

Two Supplements Important to Senior’s Health

A study finding that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids (found in Shaklee’s OmegaGuard) and lutein with zeaxanthin (found in Shaklee’s CarotoMax) could save American senior citizens $5.6 billion in health care costs during the next five years has resulted in the formation of a bipartisan Congressional Dietary Supplement Caucus.

The Lewin Group, a Falls Church, Va.-based health care consulting firm, conducted the study, commissioned by the Dietary Supplement Education Alliance. A similar study, which found that regular intake of calcium and folic acid could save more than $15 billion in health care costs over five years, was released in 2004.

The Lewin Group analyzed hundreds of studies conducted over the last 30 years on omega-3s and lutein with zeaxanthin. The group concluded that an 1,800 milligram daily dose of omega-3s (equal to two servings of Shaklee’s OmegaGuard) could reduce coronary heart disease in people over age 65, resulting in 384,303 fewer hospitalizations over the next five years and a consequent $3.1 billion savings in health care expenditures.

Seniors who take 6 milligrams to 10 milligrams a day of lutein with zeaxanthin (equivalent to taking two Shaklee CarotoMax a day) could reduce their susceptibility to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), The Lewin Group found. During the next five years, that would result in 98,219 fewer people losing their independence because of advanced AMD, saving $2.5 billion in care giving costs.

SOURCE: Natural Foods Merchandiser volume XXVI/number 12/p. 7

Ed. Note: These studies highlight how it’s never too late to get the health benefits from a good nutrition program.

It is essential that your fish oil supplement be pharmaceutical grade to assure potency and purity. Many non-pharmaceutical grade fish oil contains contaminants including:

• lead
• mercury
• arsenic
• cadmium
• dioxins
• PCBs

Read an informational pamphlet about a premium, pharmaceutical grade essential fatty acid supplement

Listen to a discussion about nutritional tips for a healthy heart

This 13 minute discussion covers:

• Heart disease and stroke statistics
• Metabolic Syndrome in children and adolescence
• 3 supplements to promote healthy hearts
• What does CoQ10 do?
• Why supplement with omega-3 fatty acids?
• The role of garlic in heart health
• Fiber in heart health

Premium supplements designed for healthy hearts.

Heart Disease #1 Killer Of Women

Increased Risk of Heart Disease: number 1 killer of women over 50. After age fifty, heart disease is the number one killer of women. Cardiovascular disease kills ten times more women than breast cancer. The good news is that heart disease is one of the most preventable diseases we know.

Listen to a discussion about Women's Heart Health
This 20 minute discussion covers:

• Why more women die of heart disease than men!
• Results of the WISE (Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation) Study
• What is ischemic heart disease?
• Differences between women's heart disease and men's heart disease
• The differences between women's and men's symptoms
• Why more women die from their first heart attack than do men
• Why women must make lifestyle changes earlier than men
• Risk factors for women
• What can we do to promote a healthy heart and reduce our risk factors
• Strategies to limit our weight
• Warning signs to report to our doctors

Premium supplements designed for healthy hearts.

To learn more on reducing your risk, visit this informative page on Women's Health

Heart Health FAQ

Listen to a discussion about Heart Health Frequently Asked Questions
This 26 minute discussion covers:

• Results of heart health neglect
• What is heart disease and does it differ from cardiovascular disease?
• Who is at risk for heart disease? What are risk factors?
• What is homocysteine and what effect does it have on heart health?
• What is C-reactive protein and should you be tested for it?
• What are triglycerides and what role do they play in heart disease?
• What role does air pollution play in heart health?
• How do the symptoms of heart disease differ between men and women?
• What are the most important steps to take to promote a healthy heart?
• What supplements promote heart health and what do they do?
• How should you change your diet to promote heart health?
• How much exercise do you need to promote heart health?
• How can parents promote heart health in their children?

Find premium supplements for heart health!

Saw Palmetto Effective For BPH

You might have read about some nutrition studies recently in the newspaper. I am posting this information in hopes it will help clarify the issues brought up by the studies. The following information was put out by Dr.Jamie McManus, Chairman, Medical Affairs, Health Sciences & Education, Shaklee Corporation.

The saw palmetto study tested men who had moderate to severe prostatic hyperplasia and tested the saw palmetto versus a placebo. At one year, there was no significant difference between the two groups, which flies in the face of at least 21 other studies involving thousands of men that showed significant improvement using saw palmetto. The reason for this discrepancy is that these previous studies have determined that it is men with mild to moderate prostatic hypertrophy who will benefit from saw palmetto and this study clearly chose a group with far more significant pathology that may need a higher dose of saw palmetto to see a response. The study did not test a higher dose, just the dosage that is known to be beneficial (21 studies) for mild to moderate symptoms.

So, the bottom line is that this study chose a population that we would not have expected to see significant improvement in symptoms, and it does not negate the well established scientifically founded acceptance of saw palmetto as a reasonable choice for men with mild to moderate prostatic hyperplasia (also known as BPH).

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A three-year preliminary study in Germany found that 160 mg of saw palmetto extract taken twice daily reduced nighttime urination in 73% of patients and improved urinary flow rates significantly. In a double-blind trial at various sites in Europe, 160 mg of saw palmetto extract taken twice per day treated BPH as effectively as finasteride without side effects, such as loss of libido. A one-year dose-comparison study found that 320 mg once per day was as effective as 160 mg twice per day in the treatment of BPH. A review of all available double-blind trials has concluded that saw palmetto is effective for treatment of men with BPH and is just as effective as, with fewer side effects than, the drug finasteride.

Clarify Women's Health Initiative Calcium Findings

New Information: You might have read about some nutrition studies recently in the newspaper. I am posting this information in hopes it will help clarify the issues brought up by the studies. The following information was put out by Dr.Jamie McManus, Chairman, Medical Affairs, Health Sciences & Education, Shaklee Corporation.

The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study on calcium and vitamin D was published last week, with the lead investigator on the study leading his interviews with the most negative findings of the study and seemingly ignoring the positive results. While the study is not flawed, there are two factors that affected the ultimate findings. One, the population was too young to demonstrate a reduction in hip fractures and two, the study did not last long enough to show the reduction in colon cancer risk (study was 7 years and colon cancer takes 10-20 years to materialize). The study did show a significant increase in hip bone density (this is good!) and also a non-significant (but present) reduction in hip fracture risk. So, again, this is a limited study and does not lessen the importance of Vitamin D as well as calcium in supporting bone health, reducing risk of hip fracture (other studies have shown this-future studies can continue to define) as well as in the myriad of other functional roles these essential nutrints play in the body. It is well established that people do not take in adequate amounts of calcium, and there is growing concern that many populations, especially the elderly and those who live in northern latitudes are deficient in Vitamin D.

Additional Information: Read an informative pamphlet about a premium, state-of-the-art, bone building supplement.

Breakthrough immune boosting supplement

A healthy immune system naturally!

The Immune System and Interferon

The immune system is our hardest working system whose job it is to protect us 24 hours a day from bacteria, and viruses and invading pathogens.

That's a good thing since germs can live several hours on surfaces like:

• Cafeteria tables
• door knobs
• desks
• telephones (#1 surface for viruses)

We're also under attack from environmental toxins. And stress and poor nutrition can lower the bodies defenses, as can the aging process.

Immunity has become a global issue because we are literally jet-setting pathogens across the world every day. The good news is that scientists and researchers are making new discoveries every day about the immune system and how it works. One of the most promising of those discoveries had to do with the important role interferon plays in keeping the immune system healthy and strong.

Interferon is a family of cytokines (Cytokines are small secreted proteins which mediate and regulate immunity and inflammation.) that are active participants in host cell defense because they possess antiviral, antiproliferative and immunomodulatory effects. More simply put, interferon is a natural substance produced by the body that's activated when a cell is attacked by a virus. Interferon has two main functions:

1. When a cell has been an attacked, it signals to neighboring unaffected cells and triggers their defenses. It acts as the body's first responder and triggers the bodies defenses. Once the surrounding cells get the message they can produce certain proteins to protect themselves. That way the infection stays localized and can't spread.


2. Interferon activates other immune system support cells that search out, kill and dispose of the invading pathogens. It does this by signaling natural killer cells (NK cells), macrophages and other immune cells so they can mobilize and proliferate and then kill invading pathogens.

Interferon production and activation occurs within hours of a person being infected but the other cells, such as macrophages, can take much longer, up to several days, to react. However, theoretically, if you keep your immune system in top shape your body can produce interferon when it's needed.

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Factors that challenge the body's immune system

• Stress of everyday life
• Poor nutrition deficient in key nutrients
• Lack of exercise
• Inadequate sleep
• Intense exercise
• Aging

The effects of aging on the immune system

There is a well recognized progressive decline in immune function that is associated with aging. This particularly effects the T-cells, a type of white blood cell. This decline is also linked to an increase in infectious diseases, especially viral diseases, such as upper respiratory diseases and shingles. Recovery from an illness often takes longer in older people. That can often be a result of declining immune function.

Effects of stress on the immune system

Stress is a major factor in compromised immune health. Clinical research is showing that chronic, severe or unrelenting stress diminishes immune function. In fact, an entire field of study called psyconeuroimmunology has emerged in response to the growing link between stress and illness.

The effects of lack of sleep on the immune system

Sleep deprivation and insomnia have a similar effect as depression has on lowering immunity. Even modest amounts of sleep disturbance can produce a 30-50% transient decrease in natural killer cell activity. Natural killer cells, also known as NK cells, are activated to kill invading pathogens.

Dietary factors effecting the immune system

Low caloric intake may lower immunity. Undernourished people are at increased risk of infection and very low caloric intake can also lower immunity.

On the other hand, eating too much can also lower the body's immune system. We know that obesity is linked to many cancers and that is a sign of an under functioning immune system. Diets that are high in fat may also depress the immune response and result in infection.

Overuse of antibiotics on our immune system

The overuse of antibiotics, both in our food chain and used for treating viral infections, leads to stronger bacteria that will not respond to available antibiotics. Scientists cannot develop new antibiotics fast enough to keep up with these drug resistant bacteria. To add to this challenge, viruses naturally mutate so that when you develop antibodies to a virus, it mutates so your immune system has to be constantly ready to respond to new viruses.

Global travel

Today pathogens can be spread quicker than ever. In very recent news we've read about pandemic concerns regarding SARs, influenza and Avian Flu. Since antibiotics do not affect virus, we are dependent on vaccinations and our immune system to keep viruses at bay. In past years there have been shortages of vaccine which has caused concern. The elderly and the chronically ill need this vaccine to protect them from this ever changing virus.

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What can we do to keep our immune system strong?

• Eat healthfully
• Take appropriate supplements
• Get adequate sleep
• Manage your stress levels

If you incorporate all these changes in your lifestyles you'll be well on your way to a healthy, functioning immune system.

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Why not just take interferon?

Ever since it's discovery in 1954 scientists have been studying interferon and how to use it to treat disease. There are a variety of synthetic interferons that have been developed. Each of these synthetic interferons is specific to a particular disease, in other words each synthetic interferon drug is used to treat one disease, most often a specific type of cancer. These interferons are actually chemotherapy drugs and are quite toxic with many side effects. So these are drugs used as treatment once you're sick, not a form of of prevention. Also since they are drugs with serious side effects they are only prescribed to people already ill with serious diseases.

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Boost interferon production naturally!

Interferon production in the body can now be boosted naturally in healthy individuals though a new dietary supplement. Developed by Dr. Yasuhiko Kojima, who first discovered interferon in 1954 while conducting studies on virus replication in rabbits, it is the result of more than 40 years of research on natural interferon-inducing compounds. After screening, testing and evaluating more than 200 different herbs, Dr. Kojima successfully isolated a combination of botanicals that naturally increase the body’s production of its own interferon.

This dietary supplement is designed to be taken daily and is a blend of four botanicals that, when combined together, naturally allow the body to increase the production of interferon without added stress to the body*:

1. Pumpkin seed (Cucurbita moschata) extract, which has been found to induce interferon production


2. Plantago seed (Plantage asiatica), which contain chemicals called polysaccharides that are thought to stimulate the immune system


3. Safflower flower (Carthamus tinctorius) polysaccharides, which has been found to prompt development of macrophages, a type of white blood cell


4. Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) flower buds, used in Asian medicine

Since this supplement was developed, a number of human clinical studies have documented the supplement’s effectiveness. These studies, which have been published in medical journals, such as the Journal of Gastroenterology, Clinical Pharmacology and Therapy, and the Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine, highlight a variety of benefits associated with it. In one study the viral loads in Hepatitis C patients with high viral loads were significantly decreased*. Studies also show that these herbs have an immune system modulating effect specific to the NK cells*. Many scientists now believe that these NK cells have an important role in balancing the immune system. If you have too many NK cells you may be at risk for autoimmune disorders. If you have too few NK cells it might put you in risk of cancer.

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Buy this breakthrough immune boosting supplement

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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Health News: Oily Fish Make Babies “Brainier”

Eating oily fish and seeds in pregnancy can boost children's future brain power and social skills, research suggests.

A study of 9,000 mothers and children in Avon, England suggested those who consumed less of the essential fatty acid Omega-3 had children with lower IQs. These children also had poorer motor skills and hand-to-eye co-ordination, research in the Economist said.

'Frightening data'

Looking at the effects of Omega-3 intake on 9,000 mothers and their children, the team found mothers with the lowest intake of the essential fatty acid had children with a verbal IQ six points lower than the average.

While those with the highest consumption of mackerel and sardines and other sources of Omega-3 had children, at age three-and-a-half, with the best measures of fine-motor performance, researchers said.

Low intake of the crucial fatty acid also appeared to lead to more problems of social interactions - such as an inability to make friends. Research leader, Dr Joseph Hibbeln, said "frightening data" showed 14% of 17-year-olds whose mother had eaten small quantities of Omega -3 during pregnancy demonstrated this sort of behavior. This compared with 8% of those born to the group with the highest intake, he said.

Dr Hibbeln said, "The findings of poor social development and poor motor control in children indicate that these children may be on a developmental trajectory towards lifelong disruptive and poorly-socialized behavior as they grow up."

Professor Jean Golding of Bristol University set up the original research, the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, 15 years ago to look at predisposition to disease. She told the BBC: "The baby's brain needs Omega-3 fatty acids. It doesn't create its own fatty acids so it needs to be something that the mother will eat."

The new research also builds on earlier work in the US, which suggests pregnant mothers will develop children with better language and communication skills if they regularly consume oily fish.

Nutritional expert Patrick Holford, director of the Brain Bio Centre, said Omega-3 was key to children's intelligence because the brain is formed of 60% fat - 30% of which are essential fats. Successive studies have shown clear links between intelligence and consumption of this essential fatty acid, he added.

It's absolutely essential that pregnant women take in enough Omega-3 and children in early infancy take in enough Omega-3 - Patrick Holford, Nutritional expert

Ed. Note: We’ve known for quite awhile about Omega-3’s positive effect on hearth health, but more and more now we’re learning about how beneficial it is for moods and depression, autoimmune diseases and now brain development. Shaklee’s new OmegaGuard is the world’s finest fish oil supplement. It’s triple molecular distillation and purification process is unique to Shaklee. This results in an ultra-pure pharmaceutical-grade supplement. Plus, OmegaGuard provides a full spectrum of seven natural omega-3 fatty acids. For more information on Shaklee OmegaGuard or to order it online go to: http://www.shaklee.net/pjstory/product/20244

Article excerpt from BBC News. For the complete story go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4631006.stm

Jeff & Bonnie

Special Report: In-Car Air Pollution May Raise Health Risks

Dirty air inside cars may be especially hazardous to people with health problems.

Spending a lot of time in your car may put your heart’s health at risk. A new study shows that prolonged exposure to dirty air inside vehicles could trigger potentially dangerous changes in heart function.

Prior studies have shown that exposure to fine airborne particulate matter is associated with cardiovascular events and mortality in older and cardiac patients. But now, researchers say air pollution levels inside cars which are generally lower than outside, may also increase the risk of heart attack or stroke in people with existing health problems by changing the way the heart functions.

The study showed that exposure to in-car air pollution caused changes, such as increased markers of inflammation and increased blood clotting proteins, variations in heart rate, and other changes in the functioning of the cardiovascular system, in nine healthy state highway patrol troopers who worked in their cars.

In a study, which appears in the April issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, researchers equipped each of the North Caroline State Highway Patrol cars with air quality monitors. Overall, researchers say that the troopers were in excellent health and appeared to be at low risk for heart or other health problems. But they found prolonged exposure to air pollution inside the troopers’ vehicles prompted changes in the heart rate that could be hazardous in less healthy individuals. Researchers say those changes do not seem desirable and show that exposure to in-car pollutants “should be minimized”.

Editor Note: The above excerpt was from an article written by Jennifer Warner, WebMD Medical News. With the AirSource Mobile unit you’ve got the best way to minimize your exposure to in-car pollutants. The AirSource Mobile conveniently plugs into your car lighter and fits in a normal car cup holder, and when you get to a hotel you plug it into an electrical outlet providing you with fresh clean air wherever you go. Also makes for a great Father's Day gift -- especially if Dad smokes in the car!

Why Shaklee: 50 Years of Protecting Your Health

We made a very careful discission to partner with and endorse Shaklee products. Here are the reasons we chose Shaklee and why we think you should too.

Dr. Shaklee pioneered the Wellness Movement. In 1915, at the tender age of 21, he created the first multivitamin (called Vitalized Minerals) for his patients. Almost 40 years later, in 1956, he founded Shaklee Corporation, the nation’s first natural nutrition company.

For the last 50 years, Shaklee has been the trailblazer in the world of wellness. Shaklee created the first soy isolate in the development of its revolutionary Instant and Energizing Soy Protein. Shaklee was also the first to offer clinically proven soluble fiber. Created the first fish oil supplement. The first natural sustained release vitamin C. The first patented nutritional skin care line.

Along the way, Shaklee also pioneered practices to ensure the safety, purity and efficacy of its products. Each year approximately 83,000 laboratory and quality assurance tests are performed on nutritional products and their ingredients alone!

Each Shaklee product must start with the finest raw materials and be formulated to deliver consistently. Each Shaklee product must deliver the correct dosage of key ingredients, based on clinical research. With Shaklee, you can rest assured that what’s on the label is in the bottle. With Shaklee, you never get too little or too much of the active ingredient. Or the wrong ingredient.

In its 50 years, Shaklee has never had to recall a product, and has never been warned or cited by the FDA. So you can be confident that dangerous or illegal ingredients won’t be making their way into Shaklee products.

Because every batch of raw ingredients used in Shaklee products are tested for authenticity, potency, contaminants, and heavy metals, you never have to worry about:

• contamination from solvents or chemicals
• contamination from bacteria, mold, pesticides or herbcidies that can be found in plants used to make herbs
• rancid oils in oil-based capsules

Don’t think this attention to safety is a standard practice. Many other manufacturers do no verification testing of raw materials or on their finished products. Furthermore, there are a lot of inferior ingredients coming in from unmonitored suppliers from around the world that sometimes exercise substandard quality control.

Some supplement producers seek out the cheapest raw materials to make cheap vitamins. Samples of nutrients received from “cheap” manufacturers are often badly contaminated with organic solvents used in the manufacturing process. Current quality control and quality assurance standards are not followed by most manufacturers, nor are they enforced by the Food and Drug Administration. So, cheap vitamins aren’t only questionable in terms of how good they work, but also in terms of safety. And, the bottom line is that if a product is inexpensive and ineffective, it can be more expensive overall.

When it comes to bioavailability. Nobody does the clinical research to prove that their nutritional products get into your bloodstream like Shaklee does. This means with Shaklee you never have to be concerned about product disinegration, bioavailibility or misleading or unsupported health claims on the bottle.

Dr. Shaklee also pioneered the Environmental Movement. Shaklee was one of the first biodegradable cleaners and Shaklee’s famous Basic-H was the first official Earth Day Product. Shaklee created one of the first laundry detergents to use no phosphates at a time when phosphates were all the rage for cleaning clothes. Shaklee Corporation was also the first U.S. company to be certified Climate Neutral, meaning its operations created a net zero impact on the environment.

Shaklee products are the best they can be - and the best you can buy. And the proof of their effectiveness is that people have been using the products faithfully for 50 years. If people didn’t feel better or look better, or experience better health using Shaklee’s nutritional and personal care products. Or if people didn’t get cleaner clothes, dishes or floors from using Shaklee’s environmental cleaning products, compared to what they get in stores, then the company would have gone out of business a long time ago.

The final reason for “Why Shaklee?” is in the 100% Shaklee Satisfaction Guarantee. If you don’t experience the desired results from a Shaklee nutritional, personal care, or household product, you may return the unused portion for a 100% refund. In addition to a money-back guarantee, Shaklee offers:

• 100% guarantee that the ingredients listed on the label are in the product
• 100% guarantee of quality-controlled product formulations that ensure product safety, purity, reliability, and product performance
• 100% guarantee that we use the finest quality ingredients available

Later this year, Shaklee will release a major clinical study on the health of people who have been taking Shaklee products for 20 years versus the general population. We think you’ll be quite surprised and pleased by the results.

We wish you and yours a Happy New Year!

Jeff & Bonnie

Feel free to brouse our complete product line by visiting our on-line catalog.

Note: BestWater® and AirSource® units are covered by their own special appliance warranties, rather than by the standard Shaklee guarantee.