Friday, May 19, 2006

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.


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.



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.



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.



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.



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



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.


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.