Living Young Forever

The ultimate Multi-Tasker, a Multi-Vitamin.

Everyone hears sound bites and  scientific studies surrounding a particular vitamin (nutrients) and the benefits it may have on health and longevity. It is great to understand the  positive impact specific vitamins have on improving ones health because it gives us greater awareness to not only the importance of healthy eating habits, it can also give us a better understanding  of what to eat to insure  getting the proper daily intake of nutrients.

The information unfortunately does not always give us the greater understanding of how our bodies absorb and utilize the nutrient (vitamin).  And the synergistic need to have other vitamin supplements present at the same time to have the body utilize it properly.

Synergy……A word to remember because a high quality nutrient dense Whole Food Vitamin is the answer. The best suppliers of multi-vitamins know this and there formulas take this into consideration. Some Multi-Vitamin formulas will also include herbs that support life style and age related needs. That is why a Whole Food based Multi-Vitamin should be the core nutrient supplement of choice. Multi-Vitamin “Synergy” the ultimate Multi-Tasker.

In a response to our recent post “The Omega Man” one of readers was concerned about getting omega 3 form fish derived supplements and it is a very valid concern. The concern was in respect to the pollution of heavy metals in our oceans. It is great to increase our awareness in general on how each of us can impact our environment with what we do and do not do in our daily lives that affect our food sources from the oceans.

With respect to Omega 3 supplements most but not all fish oil supplement companies purify their products to reduce or remove contaminants minimizing our exposure to mercury and dioxins . The higher quality producers will disclose this on the label, and we recommend that unless it is disclosed on the label that you choose another Omega 3 brand.

Another great choice especially for vegetarians or vegans is Flax seed oil, linseed oil, olive oil and vegetable oils. Although not as concentrated they are still a great source for omega 3. No matter which source you choose always remember that adequate daily intake of Omega 3 fatty acids is essential for good health.

Protein which is the “building blocks” for healthy bodies is an important nutrient needed by everyone on a daily basis. Choosing the right protein source is a very important consideration to maximize its benefits. Healthy diets should regularly include high quality, low fat sources of protein. Protein foods  however are not all equal and can vary in a number of ways including the following: Number and quantity of essential amino acids, Digestion and absorption rates, Fat content, Taste and Purity.

To fill in the daily protein gap and make sure you are getting a full protein profile; nutrition experts recommend a diet with a variety of protein foods and for optimal results make sure that one of them is whey protein. Compared to other proteins, on a gram-to-gram basis whey protein isolate delivers more essential amino acids to the body but without the fat or cholesterol. Readily available in powder form whey protein can easily be whipped up into a delicious protein shake that makes a healthy between meal snack.

Absolutely, “to B” is to be healthy. The safety record of the B-complex vitamins is extraordinarily good. Since their discovery, beginning with thiamin (B-1) in 1911, many thousands of studies have verified an unequaled therapeutic value of these essential substances. Side effects have been rare, and toxicity is nearly nonexistent, even at the highest doses.

Vitamin B comes in many forms, and all of them are necessary for healthy living. Getting plenty of B vitamins, usually much more than the recommended daily allowance is essential for optimal health. That is why high quality Whole Food multi-vitamins can help fill in the gaps in a daily diet. B vitamins can improve heart health, symptoms of depression; can also work to improve energy levels, brain function and much more.

In most cases the amount of b-vitamins found in a good complete multivitamin is enough. However during stressful times, poor health or a compromised immune system extra supplementation of b-complex should be considered. So to” B” or not to “B” is no longer a question.

Fall has fell and the chill is in the morning air. It’s a great time to start thinking about that old favorite cold weather breakfast to start your day off right, Hot Cereal. Whether your favorite is Cream of Barley or Hot Steal Cut Oatmeal it is a great way to kick off your day. Don’t forget to add some of your favorite fall berries and a scoop of fresh yogurt adding a delicious flavor and important nutrients.

To add an extra nutrient kick try adding a generous scope of Super Green Food Powder to the mix. It adds not only a great taste it is also a great energy booster, gives you digestive support, and kicks up your immune system to help prepare you for the coming cold and flu season.

Most Super Green Food Powders are formulated to give you the maximum benefits of natural whole food ingredients such as active enzymes, antioxidants, carotenoids, flavonoids, vitamins and minerals, fiber, protein, amino acids, prebiotics, probiotics, and chlorophyll. Wow now that is a kicked up power house way to start your day. Be sure when choosing a Super Green Food Powder to get an organic formula whenever possible.

Omega 3 Fatty acids are particularly beneficial to men’s health. Omega-3 Fatty Acids are part of the membrane of every cell in the body; they’re also the building blocks of hormones that govern much of the body’s physiology. A low intake of Omega-3 Fatty Acids and low circulating levels of DHA, are associated with prostate cancer, BPH or enlarged prostate, and prostatitis. Increasing consumption of Omega-3 Fatty Acids found in fish as well as flax, hemp, pumpkin, and nuts such as walnuts can help reduce the risk associated with low Omega 3 dietary intake.

Although Omega-3 can be obtained from other sources other than fish, fish is still considered the richest and most plentiful source for Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Unfortunately too many Americans just don’t like the taste of the oily, fatty fish – such as mackerel, tuna, sardines, or wild salmon – that are rich in Omega-3’s. Others eat the wrong fish – for example, fish sticks or other white fish – which has a negligible impact on their Omega-3 level and may actually raise their omega-6 levels which is associated with inflammation and other health problems when out of balance with Omega 3’s.

However the good news is, supplements can fill the gap. Fish oil oral supplements have an important role in restoring the desired balance of Omega 3’s in your diet. They are affordable, convenient and lower the risk of heavy metal contamination found in so many of the preferred fish sources.

Over the past few weeks as I open the internet health news pages the redundant articles on the swine Flu is about all you see. Get a Flu shot is the solution to this alleged pandemic.  The Alarmist’s out cries with predictions of unprecedented absences at schools this fall would give anyone the blues, and drive people to get a Flu shot. Has anyone noticed in the past years before this “Scary Pig Flu” arrived on the scene that people that get a Flu vaccination still get sick anyway? If not from a reaction to the shot,  they contract a different strain of the Flu. There is no one size fits all Flu Shot and it does not guarantee that you will not get the Flu. And the statistics of illness and morbidity rate from the Flu are not accurate as they are bundled with other illnesses such as pneumonia and pre-existing conditions.

Now I am not saying that this vaccination does not have a place and a use for the elderly and immune compromised it may be appropriate. What has me all annoyed with all this hoop-la is the only option the media gives you is a  profit driven vaccination.

No one is talking or writing about prevention through healthy lifestyle choices, especial during the Flu season. Wow what a novel Idea.

How about taking this opportunity to educate people on healthier food choices that boost the immune system. Fortifying the immune system with a good multivitamin for added nutritional insurance. Letting people know about the benefits of taking an extra serving of daily Super Green Food. Getting a little more rest and stay hydrated.  All of these suggestions are backed by decades of scientific validation for their health benefits along with keeping you healthy.  Even being isolated on an island can’t guarantee you won’t contract the Flu but proper prevention through dietary solutions will give you better odds. And if you do become ill it will help fight off the virus and speed recovery. Besides, good healthy foods taste better and is lot more enjoyable than vaccine shots.

With all the hoop-la about protein these days  from the Atkins diet and the South Beach diet to the high protein hype for building muscle and losing weight Amino Acids ARE the real hero that seems to have been forgotten, lost in the fanfare of protein. Amino acids, are the forgotten hero because protein is not protein without them and without a complete protein profile it is just that, incomplete. It is like walking around with just one shoe on, one is good but not great it is incomplete and half functional.

Amino acids play central roles both as building blocks of proteins and as intermediates in metabolism. The 20 amino acids that are found within proteins convey a vast array of chemical versatility and combine to making a complete protein. The precise amino acid content, and the sequence of those amino acids, of a specific protein, is determined by the sequence of the bases in the gene that encodes that protein. The chemical properties of the amino acids of proteins determine the biological activity of the protein. Proteins not only catalyze all (or most) of the reactions in living cells, they control virtually all cellular process. In addition, proteins contain within their amino acid sequences the necessary information to determine how that protein will fold into a three dimensional structure, and the stability of the resulting structure.

In brief Amino Acids are the chemical units or “building blocks” of proteins that make up the components of the body  . Amino Acids the real Hero of healthy tissue that combine to make protein and protein substances make up the muscles, tendons, organs, glands, nails, and hair. Growth, repair and maintenance of all cells are dependent upon them. Next to water, protein (amino acids) makes up the greatest portion of our body weight.

So the next time you have that chicken salad or your favorite protein shake give a little nod and smile for the 20 amino acids that have created such a tasty and  healthy body moment.

Watch for more on the Amino Hero’s in the Future.

When it comes to weight management and the health risks of excessive body fat and obesity you would think in this day and age it would be a no Brainer. It is important to maintain proper lean mass to body fat ratio for optimal health.  In a recent article in U.S. News & World Report new studies on obesity from UCLA  have given a whole new meaning to the term No Brainer.

According to a study conducted by senior author Paul Thompson a UCLA neuroscientist, published online in Human Brain Mapping “The brains of obese people looked 16 years older than their healthier counterparts while [those of] overweight people looked 8 years older,” The Article goes on to say Clinically obese people had 8 percent less brain tissue, while the overweight had 4 percent less brain tissue compared to normal-weight individuals. “This is the first study to show physical evidence in the brain that connects overweight and obesity and cognitive decline,” said Thompson, who is professor of neurology at UCLA and a member of the UCLA Laboratory of Neuro Imaging. This study reaffirms the importance of healthy weight management.

“Obesity affects every system in your body. The body can’t be splintered. It’s completely linked. We are what we eat and we eat too much,” he said. “The bottom line is that an obese, sedentary person is going to have a breakdown of every organ system, and that includes a greater chance of impotence and infertility and other things that people don’t generally think are directly related to obesity.”

Just another reason to eat right, get you body off the sofa and get moving. Staying physically and mentally fit is so important to being able to live your life fully alive.

Health Insurance-

Real Insurance for good health is to stay healthy. As we have consistently seen in the top four reasons to take vitamins the one common thread is that vitamins contribute to good health and prevention of health problems. Medical insurance is not health assurance. Medical insurance only helps if you get sick with minimal focus on prevention or regaining optimal health. The American health system is a medical system not a health system.  Hence the old saying an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

The best way to insure your health is to stay as healthy as possible and avoid the costly and statistically dangerous encounter with the medical system whenever possible.  Scientific Study after scientific study over decades and in some cultures over thousands of years have proven that prevention is a far better option and always less expensive.

Real Health Insurance is simply choosing healthy life style habits, eating a well balance diet, giving your daily nutritional needs a boost with proper vitamin and mineral supplementation, getting proper rest, drinking clean pure water throughout the day, and getting regular exercise, staying both physically and mentally active.