March is National Nutrition Month

Making Smart Food and Dietary Supplement Choices

Greetings,

Research increasingly validates the connections between nutrition and health and the types and amounts of food we eat. Science also helps us understand the impact of nutrition on the likelihood of developing certain diseases as well as the likelihood of maintaining good health and increasing longevity. For example, we know that both dietary excesses and deficiencies are linked to certain diseases. Obesity and high fat diets are established risk factors for the development of:

1. coronary heart disease
2. many types of cancers
3. ischemic stroke
4. type 2 diabetes

In fact, these four conditions alone account for approximately 85% of all deaths in the United States.

On the other hand, nutrient deficiencies in our modern diets have also been connected to numerous health conditions. For example, we know that suboptimal intakes of calcium and vitamin D can lead to osteoporosis and inadequate intakes of folic acid at conception and during pregnancy can increase a women’s risk of having a baby with a serious birth defect. Yet many Americans fail to consume the recommended servings of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low fat dairy products to meet their nutritional needs. Many of us rely on fast and convenience foods that are highly refined and often low in vitamin and mineral content. And to make matters worse, as we age we tend to absorb nutrients from food less efficiently. So in honor of National Nutrition Month, vow to improve your nutrition, which in turn will help reduce your risk of disease and promote lifelong health and well-being. Commit to making smarter food choices, achieving or maintaining a healthy weight, and taking appropriate dietary supplements to fill in nutritional gaps, address your specific health needs or assist you in weight management.

Let’s start with making smarter food choices. Unless you’re a farmer or rancher growing, raising and harvesting your own food, chances are you’re like most Americans and find it a challenge to get back to basics and do some home cooking. Finding the time these days to make it to the grocery store to shop for healthy food choices may be difficult. And even if you do make it to the store, taking the time needed to rummage through the aisles and select the smartest food choices from over 40,000 items you’ll find there can be overwhelming. So, to help make your next trip through the grocery store a little bit easier, here are some basic supermarket survival tips:

• Most grocery stores are arranged in about the same way, with the freshest foods placed around the perimeter, or the “square," of the store. That’s where you’ll find the fresh produce, low fat dairy foods, lean meat (poultry, fish, etc.), and whole grain breads—and that’s where you should start.


• Make your first stop in the produce section, where you can choose fresh fruits and vegetables that are low in calories, high in fiber, and abundant in vitamins and minerals. Dark green and deep orange-yellow fruits and vegetables are better choices than pale colored produce. Take advantage of buying organic produce, if you can (less pesticide exposure).


• Next is a visit to the dairy section. Choose nonfat or 1% fat products, which are a great source of quality protein, calcium, and vitamin D without too many calories. If you are a soy milk drinker, you will probably find the ready-to-drink, refrigerated soy milk there, too. Look for a low-fat version.


• On to the meat section, where you should look for lean, protein-rich foods such as skinless chicken or turkey breast meat, fresh fish, extra-lean beef, and extra-lean ground turkey made from white meat. Diets higher in protein may aid in weight loss because studies suggest that protein helps control hunger.


• Then follow your nose to the bakery section. Skip the unhealthy stuff like muffins, donuts, and scones, and look for whole grain breads that are high in fiber and low in fat, such as 100% whole wheat bread, pitas, and tortillas.


• Once you’ve shopped the square, make a brief trip to the inner aisles to grab some brown rice and whole grain cereal.

Next, if you’re like 65% of Americans, overweight or obese, now is the time to achieve a healthy weight that’s right for you. And the good news is that you don’t have to lose a lot of weight to reduce your risk for disease and improve your health. A modest weight loss of 5-10% in body weight (10 lbs. for example) can significantly reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease and can also help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Achieving a healthy weight starts by watching your caloric intake and the best way is to make modest decreases in the amount of food you eat each day combined with a significant boost in your level of physical activity. Commit to a comprehensive weight management program, designed to help your body preserve lean muscle which is essential to weight management success. Preserving lean muscle while you lose weight from fat helps preserve your metabolic rate or your ability to burn calories.

And while you’re making those smarter food choices and achieving a healthy weight, remember to make wise supplement choices a part of your daily routine. Despite our best efforts to eat healthier, it never hurts to get some nutrition insurance with a balanced multivitamin/mineral supplement. Supplemental calcium, vitamin D, and the antioxidant vitamins C and E should also be considered. In fact most of us fall short in getting the recommended amount of calcium each day, so taking at least 1,000 mg of supplemental calcium each day is a smart choice, especially for women who are at higher risk of developing osteoporosis.

Adding in other supplemental nutrients that are supported by strong scientific evidence for their potential health benefits is also highly recommended. For example, the research supporting the health benefits of omega 3 fatty acids continues to grow by leaps and bounds. Increasing one’s intake of the omega 3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, has been associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease and significant improvements in various inflammatory disorders. Higher intakes of EPA and DHA also help to retain normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Although omega 3 fatty acid rich fish is a great way to get omega 3 fatty acids, many people are concerned today about heavy metal and PCB contamination in fish. Therefore, one of the best and safest ways to get your omega 3s is to choose a highly purified omega 3 fatty acid rich fish oil supplement each and every day.

Certainly, the old adage from our mothers and grandmothers continues to be valid: “we are what we eat.” So again, make a special effort on behalf of National Nutrition Month to improve “what you are” by eating plenty of fresh vegetables, fruits, lean protein and whole grains. Achieve a healthy weight by cutting your portion sizes, boosting your physical activity and following a weight management program designed to help you preserve lean muscle, and be sure to include a wise array of appropriate dietary supplements to fill in your nutrition gaps, address specific health needs and assist in your weight management efforts.

Here’s to being the best you can be!

Weight Loss Success Story

"Looking Better than I did in High School!" Sue, a police officer overcoming tough personal challenges, lost a total of 25 inches and 25 pounds with Cinch in just 10 weeks!*

A relentless string of personal challenges sent Sue into a tailspin. She was unhappy and gained weight, which just made her feel even worse. But Sue's sister convinced her to give Cinch a try. Now, she feels happier, healthier, and has energy to spare - even after working a double shift.

"After experiencing a series of personal pitfalls, I fell into a period of depression. I had lost my job, my pension was gone, and a six year relationship was over. This series of events left me with little motivation to take care of myself and an overall lack of concern for my health and well being. And on top of this, I gained 25 pounds."

Gaining weight added yet another personal challenge for Sue.

"I knew my weight gain was a major source of my depression, reduced health and unhappiness. But just knowing this wasn't enough. Each attempt I made to return to my prior weight was unsuccessful."

Sue's sister, a personal fitness trainer, knew that Sue was in trouble and really wanted to help.

"In August of 2006 my sister, a former professional cyclist and personal trainer, called me from San Francisco at the Shaklee annual conference to tell me about Cinch, Shaklee's amazing new weight loss program. Her enthusiasm and confidence in the program was contagious and I could not resist trying it. She explained how Cinch embraces much of the same science that she uses in teaching nutrition and weight management in her athletic training business. Knowing the integrity of both Shaklee and my sister, I quickly decided to give it a try. "

Finding a successful way to lose pounds and inches was a major turning point for Sue, both in her attitude and her energy.

"I found the program to be easy and fantastic. In 10 weeks I lost 25 inches, 25 pounds, and I look better now than I did in high school!* My happiness and well being is restored.

Also, as a police officer, my work can be exhausting. However, now I'm able to work a double shift and still have energy left at the end of the day. I have more energy and feel better than I can ever remember feeling. I feel fantastic! As a result of my weight loss, I am a happier person, no longer struggling with emotional difficulties. I say "thank you to Shaklee for changing my life."

Sue's personal success is quite a story, and the changes were so apparent that everyone wanted to know what she was doing. So, it was only natural when Sue wanted to start sharing Cinch to help others.

"People can see my fantastic results, and they kept asking me about it even though I had never mentioned anything. So, I decided to join my sister in sharing Cinch and building a Shaklee business. Together, my sister and I have started nearly 40 people on the Cinch program within just a couple of months!

For others who still face the prospect of trying to lose weight, Sue offers some simple advice.

"Just follow the program. Use the CinchCoach software and I suggest using the recipes provided. If you follow it 80%, you will be successful. And don't be afraid to ask your Shaklee distributor for support or assistance."

*Results not typical.

Editor's Note: See Sue's before and after pictures

Go to our educational site and leasrn more about how to loose the weight ad inches while keeping the muscle.

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