Antioxidants For A High Performance Body

The word "antioxidants" is being thrown around a lot these days and there's enough contradictory information out there that the topic can be confusing. If you're worried about what antioxidants are and which you should take, don't worry. It's not as complicated as you might think.

Here's a simple 3-step process to help you understand the whole antioxidant concept.

1. Stress, heavy exercise, overwork, poor nutrition, and environmental toxicity create something called free radicals in the body.
2. Free radicals damage the body, including cells, enzymes, and DNA, causing negative effects such as pain, inflammation, and chronic diseases.
3. Antioxidants attack free radicals and get them out of your body, relieving pain, inflammation, and chronic symptoms in the process.

Now here's what you really need to know about antioxidants: your body can produce enough antioxidants to handle a certain level of free radicals but when it gets overloaded you will begin to experience pain, inflammation, and discomfort in your body. Those are all signs of free radical overload.

If you've got areas of chronic discomfort such as headaches, shoulder pain, joint pain, or nerve pain, your body may be in free radical overload. The good news is that you can address this problem by adding extra antioxidants to your daily regimen.

A wonderfully convenient way to increase the level of antioxidants you take is to add high-quality antioxidants to your daily regimen.

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Does Eating Fat Make You Fat?

Since we've been talking about the subject of fat, I found myself wondering whether indulging in a huge hamburger dripping in fat makes you fatter. In other words, does eating fat make you fatter, since your body doesn't have to convert fat into anything else? It's already fat. Is a fatty hamburger really an example of:

"An instant on the lips, an eternity on the hips"?

Eating Fat Does Not Make You Fatter
It turns out that the answer is, "No." Eating fat does not, by itself, make you fatter. At least, ingesting straight fat doesn't make you any fatter than ingesting any other kind of food that has a lot of calories.

What makes us fat is eating more calories than we burn, whether those calories come in the form of fat or carbohydrates. Actually, studies have shown that decreasing fat intake actually increases how fat we are. All of this, of course, makes a mockery of the "fat-blocking" diet pill industry, which is flourishing.

Some Shocking Facts About Fat
Studies show that low-fat diets don't actually work. In fact, people who went on low-fat diets do lose weight -- about two to four pounds -- but they end up gaining that weight back, even while they are still on the low-fat diet. Now that's a bummer.

Get this: in the U.S. the average person's fat intake has been reduced, over time, from about 40% of our total calorie intake to about 33%. At the same time, as a nation we've gotten fatter. We've seen a gradual increase in the average weight of the U.S. citizen, and a huge jump in the number of cases of obesity. Yikes!

Finally, the "war on fat" has been a losing proposition in more ways than that. Not only are we fatter, as a nation, but we are also seeing an increase in diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Two-thirds of all Americans are overweight, and 30% of the adults in this country are obese.

Don't Eat Less Fat, Eat the Right Fats
So much for the idea that eating less fat will make us less fat. Apparently, that's not going to happen, as the statistics amply prove. Instead, the key is to eat the right kinds of fat while decreasing our net caloric consumption. Basically, the Golden Rule of eating the right kinds of fat is this:

"Eat more mono and polyunsaturated fats, and stay away from trans-fats and saturated fats."

This isn't hard to do. Stop eating doughnuts and French fries, and start cooking with olive oil and eating wholes grains and nuts. Better yet, start eating blue-green algae, which contains some of the highest levels of omega-3 and omega-6, the polyunsaturated fats that are good for you -- and which your body cannot make by itself. Best of all, blue-green algae comes in a capsule so you don't even have to know how to cook to take it. Pop some pills and you are good to go. It's the perfect solution for those who want to eat healthy but either can't or don't like to cook foods with the right kinds of fat!

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Photo credit: Metzis Tasty Takeaway Hamburger with the lot - Australian style!

Let's Chew the Fat -- A Review of the Different Kinds of Fat

Good fats, bad fats. Trans-fats. Saturated fats and unsaturated fats. The list goes on!

With all the different kinds of fats out there, some of which are good for you and some of which are not, it can be hard to figure out which fats you should eat and which you shouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole.

Food commercials, which promote foods that have zero trans-fats, confuse the matter even more. Of course, it's obvious to most people that junk-food and fast-food fats are, in general, not the healthiest to consume. And then there's the whole connection between fats and LDL and HDL. So how can you figure out which fats are good, bad or indifferent?

A Quick Review of Fats
To help you pick the good fats from the bad, let's chew the fat and do a quick review of the different kinds of fats out there. First, you need to something about fats: our bodies can make the different kinds of fats it needs from other kinds of fats or even from carbohydrates.

There is, however, one class of fats that the body cannot make, and these are called polyunsaturated fats. We have to get these fats from our diet. It's an important distinction, so keep it in mind as you read through this list of all the different fats out there.

The Bad Fats
There are two kinds of bad fats: saturated fats and trans-fats. Both of these kinds of fats tend to increase level of LDL, the bad cholesterol, and increase the chances of heart disease.

Saturated Fat
Saturated fats are very common in food, and are solid at room temperature. These are the fats that you see in bacon and butter. There are about two dozen different kinds of saturated fats, and are abundant in meat fats, fairy products, and certain vegetable oils, such as coconut and palm oil. Saturated fat tends to increase the amount of LDL, or bad cholesterol, in the body. Saturated fats from dairy products are the worst offenders, while the saturated fats in chocolate are not nearly as bad.

Trans-Fats
Trans-fats are basically a human invention. A while back scientists discovered that they could heat up polyunsaturated fat, one of the good fats, from vegetable oil and turn it into solid form by introducing hydrogen gas and nickel metal particles. This is a trans-fat. This made it easier for the food industry to use the fat in their good products, and ship the resulting foods around the world. Unfortunately, trans-fats are truly unhealthy. Not only do trans-fats increase LDL, the bad cholesterol, and decrease HDL, the good cholesterol, but studies show that these fats also increase inflammation in the body. These fats also contribute to the development of heart disease, diabetes, and blood clots. In fact, these fats are so bad that Institute of Medicine says that the only safe level of trans-fats for humans is zero. Avoid trans-fats by staying away from French fries, doughnuts, margarine, vegetable shortening, and pre-packaged pastries.

The Good Fats
There are also two kinds of good fats: monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats. By increasing your intake of these two unsaturated fats in place of saturated and trans-fats, you get the benefits of decreasing LDL while increasing HDL, decreasing your risk of heart disease, and reducing risk of blood clots. And remember, your body can't make polyunsaturated fats so you have get them from the foods you eat.

Monounsaturated Fat
These fats are liquid at room temperature and are mostly found in the form of oils. Oils high in monounsaturated fat include peanut, canola, and olive oil. Foods high in these fats include avocados and nuts. These oils and foods are both good and good for you.

Polyunsaturated Fats
As with the monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature. You may know these fats from their two other names: omega-3 and omega-6.. Since our bodies can't produce this kind of fat, we have to include them in our diet. Foods high in omega-3 and omega-6 include blue green algae, fatty fish like tuna and salmon, whole grains, seeds, and soybean oil.

Well, I hope this little "chew the fat" session has helped to clarify the difference between the different kinds of fats out there. I have found that some of the best and most convenient sources of "good fats" are blue-green algae and fatty fish. Enjoy!

Order the highest quality blue-green algae online at wholesale prices.

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Stem Cell Help for the Ailing Weekend Warrior

I admit that I am an over-enthusiastic gardener and weekend warrior. On the weekends I tend to go nuts with the hoe, tiller, and other garden tools. A few weeks ago I popped one end of my collarbone out of joint and I experienced a lot of pain every time I tried to use my arm.

None of my usual natural anti-inflammatory remedies worked consistently. I tried homeopathic remedies, herbs, and antioxidants, including wheat sprouts. The injury was so painful that I finally used a stem cell enhancing product called StemPlex. This product was developed to help promote the growth and proliferation of adult stem cells.

I was amazed at how well the stem cell enhancer worked to improve the healing process. In fact, I was so intrigued I decided to investigate further how products in this class work. Here's what I discovered.

Two Kinds of Stem Cells
There are two basic types of stem cells-embryonic and adult. While controversy surrounds the use of embryonic stem cells, no such debate exists with the use of adult stem cells, which are naturally occurring in the body. All stem cells are capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods of time, and they can give rise to specialized cells.

According to the National Institutes of Health, stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential to either remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell, a skin cell, etc. When released, new stem cells migrate to the areas of the body where they are needed most as we grow older. Serving as a repair system for the body, stem cells can theoretically divide without limit to replenish other cells as long as a person or animal is alive.

Helping Your Stem Cells Help You
Stem cells have the remarkable ability to repair and regenerate your body. StemPlex helps to feed and nourish your body's stem cells. Specifically, StemPlex does four things to help your stem cells:

1. Increases the growth of adult stem cells, as shown in in vitro laboratory studies

2. Supports the body's natural renewal system through a unique combination of ingredients

3. Provides nutrition that enables stem cells to flourish

4. Protects existing stem cells from the harmful effects of free radicals

Sounds good right?
Learn more about StemPlex or order online.

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Photo credit: Weekend Warrior

Why Eat Breakfast?

If you're short on time and energy, it can be tempting to skip breakfast. But studies show that breakfast might be the healthiest and most important meal of the day. In fact, eating breakfast can help you:

Learn: According to Tufts University, "Children who participated in the School Breakfast Program were shown to have significantly higher standardized achievement test scores than eligible non-participants."

Be Happier: Studies done by the University of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School show that eating breakfast can prevent irritability, fatigue, and anger.

Be Thin: Researchers from the National Weight Control Registry found that eating breakfast was a successful long term strategy for losing weight and keeping weight off for 78% of the people in their registry.

Plus, breakfast tastes great! To make sure you're getting all the nutrients you need for body and mind, you might also consider adding whole food supplements to your breakfast. Simplexity's Super Blue Green Algae Essentials are a simple and affordable way to go.

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Blue Green Algae and Menopause -- Real Women, Real Experiences

From: Anne

In response to the question (a while back!) about someone with very irregular menstrual cycle - I'd be sure to include probiotics - hormones (especially estrogen) are recycled by the intestinal flora -I read in Natasha Trenev's Probiotics (the more recent version, not the book she wrote with Chaitov, although it might be in there too if you can still put your hands on that one) ... that researchers have documented an 80-fold increase in fecal levels of estrogen when women go on antibiotics. (This was one study - and I don't remember the antibiotic or antibiotics used, but I do remember being struck by the massive amount of estrogen no longer being reabsorbed and recycled.)

Christian D. also used to mention this effect of acidophilus - that it could help to make menopause symptoms milder, more gradual ...

As usual, I bet there's a difference in the ability of different strains of acidophilus to perform this function. Our strain, DDS-1, is very effective at things some of the less powerful strains can't do. ( Paraphrasing NT, "Cheap acidophilus is no bargain.")

Anne W.

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From: Suzanne Killings

Re: endometriosis

I have someone in my downline who would suffer periodically from this problem and have to go on drugs, surgery was recommended but she was able to avoid it. She has been on the Simplexity (formerly Cell Tech) products for about 2 years and has not had a recurrence.

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From: Suzanne Askey

Great news from one of my downline! Before she started with Acidophilus, Bifidus, and Alpha Sun, I asked her to rate how her menstrual cramps were. She said on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being bad and 5 being good, that her cramps were a 1/2!

After 3 months, I had her rate her menstrual cramps again, and I was thrilled to hear that the last month she had NO cramps at all! She told me she had no idea that she didn't have to have "killer cramps"!

It's so satisfying when people have these dramatic "can't be denied" kind of results.

My cramps have also gone from being bad to very manageable, and many months I also have no cramps. With me I think it took about 4 months to get the relief.

Of course I'm not making claims of cure or treatment of disease.

Suzanne Askey

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From: Carolyn

Hi Willow and all,
I started a woman on algae and she had not had a regular period in years. within the first month, everything was like clockwork again. she could hardly believe it. Carolyn

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From: Jan Fitzpatrick

One of the women in my 2nd level had severe menopausal symptoms for 7 years. Hot flashes were the most obvious (she was sleep deprived by then). She called her sponsor after 1 week of Acidophilus and Enzymes and told her that her symptoms had disappeared in 2 days. She went off the Acidophilus and Enzymes and the symptoms recurred. She went back on the program and they went away. She was convinced.

Acidophilus produces hormones and B vitamins which are reabsorbed and may be part of the remarkable balancing her body did.

Kindest Regards, Jan

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From: Vibrant Health

Subject: Perimenopause Symptoms

This is the very reason I started taking the Simplexity (formerly Cell Tech) products - almost 6 yrs. ago. Had been taking about 12-15 other things from a health food store (herbs, extra vitamins) and was not getting much relief. Our products took care of the mood swings, the hot flashes, depression and I got further relief by watching my intake of animal products, caffeine, and sugar.

Mary Hurst
Vibrant Health Resources

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From: Lorna Tomko & Ray Slaninka

I found great relief from menopause symptoms with the basic sure start program (EAT now). I don't know for sure but I believe it's the EFA's in the Omega and Alpha that made the difference. I drink a smoothie every morning too. Against the wishes of my MD, I stopped my HRT (hormone replacement therapy). I also changed my diet after I started eating the algae. I eliminated red meat then all meats, eliminated hydrogenated oils and added flaxseed oil to my Smoothie, added tofu and other soy products, and eat as much dark green leafy vegetables that I can. I still eat dairy occasionally but only purchase organic dairy products. The extreme mood swings are gone and I only occasionally have a mild, tolerable hot flash.

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From: Anne

Hi everyone:

When I went on the algae my problems with Menopause dropped. I used Vitamin E for the hot flashes and was up to 3500 units a day. This was given to me by my husbands aunt as a way to control them. She is very health conscious, still have not got her taking the algae though. After being on the algae I was able to lower the E to 400 units a day and no hot flashes or menopause problems. I am in the process of having a bone density test again after 2 years. I had one and it showed the start of osteprosis ? I told the doctor I wanted to try something before doing the hormone therapy. I upped the algae, probiotics & enzymes, added sprouts & Algae, Co Q10, square meal bars and Calcium. I just did a liver flush lately and found the high amount of calcium does cause stones which I passed and quite large. I had done liver flushes before and never had that many or that large. Something to watch.

Have a Great Day!!

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From: Trish Phelps

I have been dreading menopause for most of my adult life---my mom had such a bad time of it and over a long period of time. And I have worked with women going through menopause who were a real terror! But I have been on Simplexity (formerly Cell Tech) products for maybe 5 years now, and when menopause came, I didn't notice, it was so silent! After a year of infrequent periods, I am free of them totally now and without any "side-issues" at all. I have as much energy as I ever have had, and am as active as I ever was. My youngest left home last fall, and even that didn't overtraumatize me! I feel like I'm beginning a new life, as a matter of fact, and the transition has been fairly comfortable.

I include AS, OS, Enzymes, Super Q10, Acidophilis, and Smoothie Mix in my regimen. Oh, and I "crash and burn" working with my horses from time to time, so do alots of Super Sprouts and Algae to take care of my old and new injuries. The best pain-reliever that I've ever found! Also, I have avoided caffeine for the last 10 years.

Trish

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From: Terri Trafton

When I started adding the algae to my diet in the summer of '94 one of the first things that got my attention big time was the total elimination of all the monthly problems I had lived with and tried everything for over the years, ie. cramps, backache, starting and stopping that went on and on etc. Well, after 4 1/2 years on the algae I have now started menopause, suddenly. I was having hot flashes, not too bad. Decided to go to my doctor last month to have her check to verify and yes, my ferriton? levels confirmed it. She of course tried to convince me to go on Estrogen, gave me all the info, written by the drug companies. I thanked her, but no thanks, she still tried to convince me I didn't need to put up with the hot flashes. She knows I am taking the algae and I informed her I was upping my flaxseed oil intake and getting back on Q10. She honestly admitted she didn't have a clue.

Menopause started in Nov.'98, and it has been a month since I started this extra regime. I can't remember the last hot flash I had and I feel great! I attribute it to the algae that I have faithfully taken every day and I just know that it will be a much easier time going thru Menopause now, than it would have been, because of all the problems I had pre-algae.

Wishing you all such great success!

Terri

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Modern Food Choices -- Making the Right Choices

There are many factors that influence how, what and when we eat. Establishing healthy eating habits takes some effort and practice. We have an overabundance of food products in our grocery stores. Many experts believe that the easy availability of high fat, processed, fast, and quick cooking foods are responsible for the increasing obesity rates in the US.

Simple & Successful Steps
Improving nutrition can be simplified and you and your family will benefit. Try two or more of these suggestions and see what benefits you feel.

Fresh Fruit - keep a bowl at home and in the office. You'll benefit with increased hydration, fiber and wholefood synergy.

Eat Breakfast - follow the adage, eat like a king at breakfast, a prince at lunch and a pauper at dinner. Your brain needs fuel after a night long fast. Adding Go Green or Super Sun Smoothie to your favorite juice is a great way to start your day.

Snack & Meal Preparation - Balanced diets take a little time and are well worth it. People who eat regular meals tend to have better diets and be closer to their recommended weight than those who eat randomly. Carry BG Bars with you for snacks or meal replacements.

Healthful Cooking - enroll in a cooking class that teaches healthy techniques or buy some books and videos that explain how to cook and retain the most nutrition in your foods.

Shop with a List - limiting impulse buying assures increased nutrition.

Simple enough, right? Got any other ideas for making healthy modern food choices?

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Photo credit: Supermarket