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Just One Heart Health Tip Can Make the Difference

May 2, 2012 by Leave a Comment
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We have not posted anything here for a couple of days and you probably wondered why – that is, if you keep abreast of our blog to ensure that you take good care of your heart health and general well-being.

heart health

The truth is that we had deadlines to chase and things to tend to. Sadly, taking care of our good health is often placed on the back-burner because things that need to be done in the moment seem more important. Sadly, ongoing neglect can lead to long term damage to your heart health.

Trying to live healthily while leading a normal life can be expensive, time consuming and in some cases, down right impossible. There are so many foods to avoid, supplements to take, different exercises to do, fun to avoid, ways to do certain things…

In truth, your heart health can benefit by just eliminating one or two problems, or doing one or two simple things differently. Listen to Dr. Luigi’s tips below.

It is no secret that heart disease is responsible for many deaths in the western world

In some countries it is in fact, the number-one cause of death and this is alarming given that there has been so much publicity and awareness regarding heart disease over the last few decades.

Dr Lou Ignarro (Nobel prize winner for his work on heart disease) recommends that people take good care of their hearts in order to live better quality lives. He has developed a break-through product for heart health.

The secret to good heart health is to lay a solid foundation

Just like a house needs a solid foundation, so does your heart. The starting point in this regard would be to take a decent multivitamin supplement. Research has shown that women who take quality multivitamins have longer telomeres. These are the protective caps that are situated at the end of your DNA (chromosomes). These caps become shorter as we age. Taking a quality multivitamin will extend the telomeres and help your DNA to function optimally.

Of course,  lifestyle diseases such as obesity and diabetes affect your heart health.

Heart Health Tip #1: Increase your intake of vitamin D

Lately, vitamin D has received more attention than any other vitamin. It has been associated with improved metabolic function, good bone health, instrumental in the war against cancer and good heart health.

In America, 75% of teenagers and adults do not get enough vitamin D in their diets. This is why hypertension is so prevalent in young people in America. They also have lower levels of HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol). This will equate to younger people dying of heart disease in the next few generations. Children should take about 400 -1000IU each day and adults should take 2000 IU each day.

Heart Health Tip #2:  Increase your intake of omega-3 fishy oils

Research has revealed that omega-3 fish oils such as Herbalifeline are extremely beneficial to good health. They are great antioxidants and are good for general heart health.

It has been proven that a low intake of this nutrient is third on the list of causes of death in America. In 2005, close to 90,000, people died simply because they were not consuming enough omega-3 fish oil. While eating fish such as tuna and salmon will help your cause, it is best to take a supplement for optimum results.

Heart Health Tip # 3:  Get Enough CoEnzyme Q10

If you are taking statin drugs, you are probably deficient in CoEnzyme Q10. This affects almost 35 million Americans who take these drugs. The price of deficiency of CoEnzyme Q10 is reduced activity and function of the heart. This is a powerful antioxidant that is responsible for good heart health. The recommended dosage is 100-400 mg daily.
Dr. Ignarro talks about COQ10

Heart Health Tip # 4:  Take a Quality Anti-Oxidant

Your body is exposed to free radicals every day in the form of toxins. These toxins are in the air you breath, food you eat, chemicals that you’re exposed to in the home and just about everywhere else.

Free radicals cause early ageing as they damage the cells. By increasing your intake of green tea, Resveratrol, Selenium, Vitamin E and Vitamin C, you can minimize the effects of the damage. These vitamins boost metabolic function and heart functioning.

They are found in vegetables and fruit and a good supplement. It is recommended that you take around 500-1000 mg of vitamin C every day. You will find a great antioxidant in Herbalife’s Rose-Ox.

Dr. Ignarro talks about Nitric Oxide and how it can reverse heart damage

There are positive spin offs to ensuring that you are in good heart health. If you follow the above advice, you will improve other areas of your health and the result is that you will live a long, healthy and fruitful life.

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Headaches: How to prevent them in one simple step

April 23, 2012 by Leave a Comment
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headachesHeadaches are  most unpleasant, but I am sure you know that already. They are caused by a number of factors, including not enough sleep, stress, illness, exposure to certain toxins and even eating the wrong types of food.

Proper diagnosis is necessary to attend to a chronic headache, but there is good news.

Dietary changes can help to alleviate the rather troublesome symptoms of a headache. Here are some tips:

Try to figure out which foods trigger headaches for you

The list of foods which trigger headaches is exhaustive to say the least, however, there are some firm favorites that you can identify easily.

  • Ice cream
  • alcohol
  • sulfates
  • nitrates
  • nuts
  • mature cheese
  • cured meats
  • Aspartame
  • wine and
  • chocolate

These are the most well known culprits for causing headaches. Sadly, these foods are also most people’s favorites. At the very least, you should cut back drastically on these types of food.

Caffeine is not only found in coffee and tea. It is also found in cola drinks, chocolate and a number of medications such as Actifed, Excedrin and Anacin. So if you have identified caffeine as a cause for your headaches, be mindful to avoid all caffeine containing substances. Rather drink juices and herbal teas that are free from caffeine.

Common headaches are a frequent occurrence for many people

But when it pulses and throbs and causes nausea and vomiting, that is when you need to become concerned. Many of these headaches are treated symptomatically with prescription medication, which brings about temporary relief. The secret is to make some changes that bring about long lasting relief.

Studies have shown that omega 3-fatty acids are helpful in avoiding migraine headaches

This is because fish oil contains eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. Both substances reduce the onset of coronary artery disease by interfering with the build-up of atherosclerotic plaque in the arteries. Fish oil is also responsible for reducing blood pressure in hypertensive people.

The body cannot produce these compounds, so you will need to  take fish-oil supplements

Research was conducted by the National Headache Foundation at the University of Cincinnati involving 15 subjects. Some of these people were given placebos and some were given fish oil supplementation.

Fifteen weeks later, it was found that 9 participants experienced fewer migraine headaches than before. Furthermore, the intensity of the migraines was much less severe than before the study took place.

The symptoms were up to 50 percent less intense. This makes a strong case for eating more fish and taking a quality fish supplement, such as Herbalifeline. (Ask us to send you a free information poster – click here)

Here’s Dr. Luigi with a quick introduction on Herbalifeline.

 

It is recommended that you consume about 1.6 grams of omega-3 fatty acids each day. Please do not confuse cod-liver oil with fish oil as they are not one and the same thing. Cod-liver oil has a high concentration of vitamin A and too much of this vitamin can lead to toxicity.

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Depression is caused by happy meals

April 22, 2012 by Leave a Comment
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fast food depressionI love fast food as much (or even more) than most people. Most of us understand that fast food makes us fat, but are you aware of the fact that it can lead to depression?

Research on  9,000 people determined that fast food is not good for mental health

Pizzas, hot dogs and hamburgers are not only nutritionally void, but they also tend to make people more miserable, if not depressed. The study revealed that more than 50% of the subjects were depressed after eating this type of food.

Most people who frequently eat  fast food are more likely than their peers to:

  • smoke,
  • live sedentary lives
  • work more than 45 hours a week

and are unmarried.

Nearly 500 of the subjects in the research group of close to nine thousand were diagnosed with clinical depression and needed to be prescribed anti-depressants. None of the subjects used in the trial had any obesity-related diseases, nor were they are on a particularly high or low-calorie diet.

Another researcher made the claim that commercially baked foods can also cause depression.Even small amounts of baked breads, pastries, biscuits and cakes can lead to depression. While more studies are necessary to validate this finding, it is well known that baked foods have other serious implications on health, including obesity.

Not only do fast food junkies have to contend with increased risk of stroke, obesity and diabetes, they now have to struggle with depression and possible suicidal ideation. The problem is even further exacerbated when they start taking anti-depressants.

Ironically, these medications lead to further depression and even suicide

The package inserts of anti-depressants clearly list around 70 different side effects. Some of them have a hundred or more dangerous side effects. Suicide is a prominent side effect associated with taking these drugs.

It is difficult to determine whether the depression or the fast food is to blame

Obese people certainly have a predisposition to depression, however it is unclear whether the bad food choices are causing the depression.

There is certainly a correlation between fast food and depression

Obese people often use food and fast food in particular as an escape from some issue. This is why it is wise to address that issue and embark on a weight-management program simultaneously. This two-pronged approach will help to get back into shape, and the new-found self-esteem will go a long way towards becoming a happier and depression-free person.

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Why you should respect obese people

April 16, 2012 by Leave a Comment
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obeseThis post has been rolling around in my head for a few weeks now, but I have not really had the guts to write it. (Not sure I have it now either, but let’s see how it goes!)

I say we should all respect obese people

If you are blessed with skinny genes –  pun fully intended ;-) – you might disagree. Many skinny people say obese people don’t have self-control and discipline. Be that as it may, understanding the troubles us fatties have to endure will show you just how tough a person has to be to live the more well-rounded life.

They said I was obese… ?

In my relatively short adult life, one could say that I have been prone to a yo-yo dieting lifestyle and bad dietary habits. It didn’t help that my husband is a fast food fiend who believes that carbohydrates are more important than oxygen. (Read more about why he is wrong and I am right – as always) My downfall which led to my current state of heftiness, was the fact that I used to exercise a lot and eating a LOT of food (particularly for a girl) – and then I stopped exercising and I stopped taking Herbalife.  Taking on a more sedentary job didn’t help. Comfort food, cakes and chocolates have been my closest friend and my worst enemy. I packed on 37 kgs over the last 10 years.

What it feels like to be obese

The first time I realized that I was getting fat, was when I took my kids to the doctor for a check-up. The elderly doctor told me that I need to start minding my diet. He said I was mortally obese andI was mortified.  How could he?

  • Later on I started getting headaches, nausea and a range of other symptoms. People said it’s because I am overweight and I got angry. I know better…
  • So I went through a battery of tests: diabetes, thyroid, you name it. I even had a referral to go for a brain scan for the headaches. There had to be a medical reason for the weight gain…
  • Over the years it became increasingly difficult to find clothes to wear. I refused to “let myself go” more by buying clothes above a certain size. This meant that I couldn’t often go out and when I had to, I was always very uncomfortable and grumpy.
  • A short walk would cause my legs to be excruciatingly painful. My chest would hurt and all of this would make me incredibly grumpy. The kids no longer wanted to go on  walks with me.
  • Even bathing became an ordeal.  Large hips and thighs limited my maneuverability and lying back was more of a requirement than a relaxing option.
  • I needed naps at lunchtime every day without fail and bedtime became earlier as time went by and I became more grumpy as it was hard to lug myself around all day.

All the while I have been begging Wade to diet with me. We tried a soup diet, which was a nightmare. My plan to convince him that dieting is good was completely ruined by this experience. He wanted more rice, pasta, bread and potatoes, which meant that I gained more weight. Let’s face it – it’s a mission to cook veggies for yourself while the family eats nice foods. I didn’t think there was a way to eat what you love and still lose weight. That’s when one day he brought home Herbalife. It was the one program he could stick to, because:

  • He could still eat all the foods he likes
  • It doesn’t taste like soup or salad
  • The results were guaranteed
  • The products are good, safe and promote good health

What it feels to lose weight

Since I started losing weight, I have come to a few important realizations:

  • Yes, it was my fault that I became obese – I had no discipline.
  • Yes, my health problems were caused by my obesity and not a mystery illness.
  • Yes, I can get my good health back – it has started!

I have also realized that it takes work to lose the weight. It cannot happen overnight. After all, it took me 10 years of yo-yo dieting to get here. It took a tremendous amount of emotional and physical pain to realize that it is time to do something about about the obesity. Even when the decision was made, it still took effort to find a safe and healthy way to lose the weight. It’s easy to pop an appetite suppressant – it’s quite different to change your life with a new lifestyle program and eating plan. It is one thing to take some diet pills and losing weight quickly (without any regard for your health and the fact that the faster you lose, the faster you gain it back). Learning to make healthier choices and adapting your attitude to food to help maintain your goal weight is quite different. That is why everyone should respect previously obese people who have made the decision to do what it takes to lose weight.  Most importantly, if you are obese you need to respect yourself and love yourself enough to do what it takes to become healthier and happier.

What are your biggest obstacles to weight loss? Have you lost a lot of weight before?  What kind of results did you experience? Share with us!

PS:  Herbalife helped me remove all these problems. Request a free brochure:

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Antioxidants: An athlete’s best friend

April 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment
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antioxidantAntioxidants comprise of flavonoids, minerals and vitamins and are an important group of nutrients. They are very beneficial to us.

Antioxidants help to negate the harmful effects of free radicals which attack our cells. Free radicals are formed when food is oxidated and converted into energy. The free radicals are negatively charged electrons that attach themselves to positive protons within the cells. It is this process that causes DNA and cellular damage. This is when cancer and other damaging diseases set in.

(Learn more about flavonoids here)

Athletes make more use of antioxidants as their increased movement helps to make the blood flow better in the body

When this happens, more oxygen and nutrients are supplied to the cells. The down side to this is that the more your body uses oxygen, the more your body produces free radicals. This is why it is so important to use antioxidants when you train.

A good antioxidant should contain Manganese, Zinc, Selenium, Vitamin C,  and Vitamin E.

Antioxidants are good for the prevention of disease, building muscle and heart strength

Grains, nuts, whole fruits and vegetables are good sources of antioxidants.

You may or not know that the food that we eat today is not as mineral and vitamin rich as it should be. Therefore, you should think about taking a good antioxidant supplement. This is especially the case if you exercise a lot or compete competitively in sport.

See what Dr. Luigi says about herbal immune boosters.

When you exercise or participate in sport, you damage your cells. (A valid reason not to exercise? :D )

Don’t worry about this too much as recovery takes place when you rest, and you get your fill of antioxidants.  (Oh, okay- )

Antioxidants are a catalyst for healing in the body

As mentioned earlier, antioxidants neutralize the bad that free radicals do. Vitamin E, which is an extremely powerful antioxidant, helps the body to recover faster and this helps you to get back to training sooner rather than later.

Some food sources of antioxidants include curcumin, tumeric, cinnamon and green tea. Dark chocolate, red wine, avocados, nuts and vegetable oils are other great sources of this nutrient. In terms of fruit look towards citrus fruits, strawberries, apples, cranberries, red grapes, cherries, cranberries and berries.

Good vegetable sources of antioxidants include brussel sprouts, broccoli, kale and spinach.

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