I made a recent discovery. In preparation for surgery (a minor procedure to my left eye), the surgeon’s assistant called me to discuss my medications and how to alter my diet to reduce bleeding. I take no prescription medications so that part was easy. I told her that I take supplements. She directed me to stop taking any supplements that might thin the blood.
For years I’ve been taking various supplements by Shaklee to prevent heart disease (which runs in my family). The list is long:
Garlic: May help lower blood pressure, does interfere with blood clotting
Fish Oil: EPA may help blood flow into small arteries; may made blood slippery and more fluid
Vitamin E in two forms, tablet and gel cap: May increase bleeding
Blood Pressure Complex: may increase blood circulation. Contains quercitin, beet root, spinach all of which may reduce inflammation.
CorEnergy: contains ginseng and green tea which may thin the blood
Pain Relief Complex: works as an anti-inflammatory.
CoQ-heart: specifically designed to produce CoQ-10, an anti-inflammatory important to heart-health which we do not produce sufficiently as we age.
Six days ago, I stopped taking all the above supplements. On day seven I caught my forearm skin on a sharp piece of metal. Normally a wound like that would have sent blood running down my arm until I got a cotton swab to press on the injured skin and a tight Band-Aid applied immediately. On this day, just six days after eliminating all these blood-related supplements, the wound coagulated instantly, forming a clot. A Baid-Aid was not even necessary.
Imagine my surprise and my delight.
Many people with heart issues get a prescription for blood thinners and then must restrict their intake of green vegetables that have Vitamin K in them, such as broccoli and kale/spinach/collards. I have successfully kept my blood heart-healthy thin with Shaklee’s supplements! If you want to find out about these individual supplements made by Shaklee, go to my shopping page www.HiHoHealth.com and explore the various suggestions for a healthy heart.
My doctor will be happy that I probably won’t bleed very much during the surgery. As soon as the procedure is over, I’ll go back to helping my heart remain healthy as I age. One could argue that a prescription would cost nothing or be partly covered by health insurance. Supplementation is expensive. I prefer to use a plant based, scientifically researched vitamin or herb created by Shaklee scientists to do the job of helping me maintain excellent health even though it costs quite a bit of money each month. Some websites I researched suggested you can get all these heart-healthy anti-inflammatories and anti-oxidants from your food. I tried that before I met the person who introduced me to Shaklee and it wasn’t working. I can’t eat enough kale to do the job. Can you?
Be well, Do well, and Keep Moving, Betsy
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Allergies are the result of your immune system’s response to a substance.
Immune responses can be mild, from coughing and a runny nose, to a life-threatening reaction know as anaphylaxis. A person becomes allergic when their body develops antigens against a substance.
Allergic disease is one of the most common chronic health conditions in the world. People with a family history of allergies have an increase risk of developing allergic disease. Hay fever (allergic rhinitis), eczema, hives, asthma, and food allergy are some types of allergic diseases. Allergy symptoms can range from mild to a serious, life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).
Allergic reactions begin in your immune system. When a harmless substance such as dust, mold, or pollen is encountered by a person who is allergic to that substance, the immune system may over react by producing antibodies that “attack” the allergen. The can cause wheezing, itching, runny nose, watery or itchy eyes, and other symptoms.
Could Alfalfa help?
Alfalfa Complex
This is the time of the year when you will really want to add alfalfa to your supplement regime that is, only if you haven’t already experienced all the rich benefits of this fabulous plant. Seasonal changes in the weather often bring about sensitivities to various forms of pollen, mold and dust. So let’s see how Alfalfa plays a part in relieving allergy symptoms.
So here’s what we know about Alfalfa. It is one of nature’s richest sources of total food minerals and trace elements. Its many health-giving aspects have beneficial benefits for eyes, teeth and strong digestive systems, and connective tissues. Alfalfa roots burrow
20 feet into the ground to find precious trace minerals which when absorbed by the plant are stored in the leaves, stems and branches making it a veritable treasure of health giving nutrients. It is the richest land grown source of sub-nutritional trace minerals; combined with chlorophyll and other organic salts that give greater effect and power of generation to tissues. The word Alfalfa means father of all foods, and one of nature’s oldest legumes.
Alfalfa is a legume that has a long history of dietary and medicinal uses. A small number of animal and preliminary human studies report that alfalfa supplements may lower blood levels of cholesterol and glucose. Now there are many factors that make this product outstanding. Alfalfa contains quantities of:
• Vitamins A, E, K, B, D & U,
• Fiber, protein, and fat soluble,
• 13 separate minerals and additional trace minerals,
• Contains 8 essential enzymes for digestion of proteins, fats, starches and sugars.
Shaklee Alfalfa is grown in the Antelope Valley without herbicides pesticides or organic fertilizers. This alfalfa is harvested at dawn when the leaves have the highest nitrogen and chlorophyll content. The cuttings are dried in the open air, the natural old fashioned way, and once dried, the alfalfa is ready to be milled and the leaf is separated from the desirable stem. The end product is a fine, green colored alfalfa “flour” which then goes though the tableting process.
Alfalfa complex is a Shaklee Signature Formula originally developed by Dr. Shaklee.
So now that know we have this fabulous natural product, what benefits might we experience. The list is endless but we will cover a few………
• A great aid in digestion,
• Aids in peptic ulcers,
• Great diuretic and bowel regulator,
• Effective barrier against bacterial invasion,
• Anti- inflammatory, anti-histamine.
• Natural body deodorizer,
• Helps support the natural ph of the blood and much more.
Just remember that Alfalfa is known as a complete food. Now this may surprise you,
Some of the other properties that alfalfa has: An outstanding 18.9% protein as compared to beef 16.5%; milk 3.3% and eggs 13.1%. Isn’t that amazing!! Remember muscles are composed of protein and the lack of it causes them to break down resulting in fatigue and weakness.
In summary: If you want a general all around food supplement to support your many daily needs you will definitely want to consider Alfalfa and its broad spectrum of nutrients. And with that being said, you can now appreciate why Alfalfa is called the father of all foods.
Side note: Now I know that some of you are wondering what is vitamin U, so let’s satisfy your curiosity! Vitamin U plays an important role in maintaining health, vitality and well-being. Targets Acid Reflux and inflamed Gastro Intestinal lining instantly on contact. And one last surprising piece of information: did you know that each serving provides 300 mg of calcium about as much as in a glass of milk! You can now see why Alfalfa is considered a complete food and by the way, Scripture calls Alfalfa King of the vegetable family.
*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.
The purpose of the immune system is to defend itself and keep microorganisms, such as certain bacteria, viruses, and fungi, out of the body, and to destroy any infectious microorganisms that do invade the body. The immune system is made up of a complex and vital network of cells and organs that protect the body from infection.
The organs involved with the immune system are called the lymphoid organs. They affect growth, development, and the release of lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). The blood vessels and lymphatic vessels are important parts of the lymphoid organs. They carry the lymphocytes to and from different areas in the body. Each lymphoid organ plays a role in the production and activation of lymphocytes.
Lymphoid organs include:
Adenoids (two glands located at the back of the nasal passages)
Appendix (a small tube that is connected to the large intestine)
Blood vessels (the arteries, veins, and capillaries through which blood flows)
Bone marrow (the soft, fatty tissue found in bone cavities)
Lymph nodes (small organs shaped like beans, which are located throughout the body and connect via the lymphatic vessels)
Lymphatic vessels (a network of channels throughout the body that carries lymphocytes to the lymphoid organs and bloodstream)
Peyer’s patches (lymphoid tissue in the small intestine)
Spleen (a fist-sized organ located in the abdominal cavity)
Thymus (two lobes that join in front of the trachea behind the breast bone)
Tonsils (two oval masses in the back of the throat)
How does a person become allergic?
Allergens can be inhaled, ingested, or enter through the skin. Common allergic reactions, such as hay fever, certain types of asthma, and hives are linked to an antibody produced by the body called immunoglobulin E (IgE). Each IgE antibody can be very specific, reacting against certain pollens and other allergens. In other words, a person can be allergic to one type of pollen, but not another. When a susceptible person is exposed to an allergen, the body starts producing a large quantity of similar IgE antibodies. The next exposure to the same allergen may result in an allergic reaction. Symptoms of an allergic reaction will vary depending on the type and amount of allergen encountered and the manner in which the body’s immune system reacts to that allergen.
Allergies can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or socioeconomic status. Generally, allergies are more common in children. However, a first-time occurrence can happen at any age, or recur after many years of remission. Hormones, stress, smoke, perfume, or environmental irritants may also play a role in the development or severity of allergies.
Earth Day has been an important marker of health for me since the very first celebration in 1970. This year’s Earth Day theme is ‘Planet vs Plastics’.
The people at EARTHDAY.ORG are unwavering in their commitment to end plastics for the sake of human and planetary health, demanding a 60% reduction in the production of ALL plastics by 2040. The theme, Planet vs. Plastics, calls to advocate for widespread awareness of the health risks of plastics, rapidly phase out all single-use plastics, urgently push for a strong UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution, and demand an end to fast fashion.
The simplest way to reduce plastic waste is to avoid unnecessary and single-use plastics, support businesses who are reducing plastic waste.
Join in as we build a plastic-free planet for generations to come!
One helpful move is to switch to Shaklee products for cleaning and laundry. Yes, the bottles are made of plastic, so it doesn’t get rid of all plastics. But the products are so concentrated, especially Basic H2, that each bottle lasts 3 – 4 times longer than the ready to use bottles you buy from the grocery store. Shaklee doesn’t send California’s water to you. You add your own when you use the Household Cleaner, the liquid hand wash, the fabric softener. Shaklee’s 14lb box of laundry soap is the bargain of the year. A good way to reduce plastic waste.
Shaklee has led the way to carbon footprint reduction. Read on to learn what the company has done.
Shaklee has been a leader in green house gas reduction since the very beginning. It makes a person proud to use this brand. Just take two minutes to read the actions taken by the company since Dr. Shaklee founded it.
1956—Dr. Forrest C. Shaklee founded a company based on Living in Harmony with Nature® that is committed to developing products to improve the health of people and the planet.
1970s—Shaklee introduces one of the first biodegradable laundry detergents without phosphates, nitrates, or borates.
1985 Shaklee was selected by the Wild Dolphin Project to provide environmentally-friendly cleaning products for use onboard their research vessel, Stenella. The Wild Dolphin Project is dedicated to studying the habitat of dolphins and Shaklee’s relationship has continued for 21 years.
1986 Shaklee provided financial support and products for the first recorded, unsupported expedition by dog sled to the North Pole, led by National Geographic award-winning polar explorer, author, and educator Will Steger.
1987 Shaklee was selected by Jacques Cousteau and the Cousteau Society to provide environmentally friendly cleaning products for use onboard their research vessels, the Calypso and Alcyone.
1989 Shaklee helped build schools and health clinics and planted more than one million trees in Asia through a partnership with the American Himalayan Foundation, an organization chaired by Sir Edmund Hillary.
1989-90 Shaklee provided financial and product support for a trans-Antarctica expedition led by Will Steger, which was the first crossing of Antarctica on foot, covering 3,700 miles. Following this expedition, Steger testified before Congress on polar and environmental issues and co-founded the Center for Environmental Education.
1990 Shaklee’s nontoxic and biodegradable Basic-H® was chosen as one of the first official Earth Day products. This innovation did and does reduce plastic waste.
1991 Shaklee introduces Basic-D®, one of the first phosphate-free automatic dishwashing detergents.
1992 Shaklee Cares®, a nonprofit organization, was established and dedicated to providing relief from natural disasters such as tornadoes and hurricanes, whose severity has been compounded by climate change.
1995 Shaklee provided financial and product support for the third International Arctic Project led by Will Steger. This was the first surface crossing of the 2,500-mile-wide Arctic Ocean. The expedition brought information about environmental issues and changes to the polar landscape to millions of schoolchildren worldwide.
1996 Shaklee environmentally-friendly cleaning products were selected by Ocean Alliance and the Whale Conservation Institute to be used onboard the Odyssey, a research vessel that gathers data on contaminants throughout the world’s oceans. This relationship continues today.
1998 Shaklee becomes a Charter Partner of the U.S. EPA’s Climate Wise Program, which set aggressive corporate-wide greenhouse gas reduction goals.
2000 Shaklee becomes the first company in the world to obtain Climate Neutral™ certification and totally offset its CO2 emissions.
2000 Shaklee opens its World Headquarters, one of the first green, energy-saving, award-winning buildings designed using sustainable materials, including certified sustainable wood, recycled carpets, and recycled plastics. In 2001, Shaklee received the Savings by Design Energy Efficiency Integration Award by the American Institute of Architects.2005 Shaklee becomes a major partner of the Green Belt Movement, founded by Dr. Wangari Maathai, the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
2006 Dr. Wangari Maathai becomes the Global Ambassador for A Million Trees. A Million Dreams™, a Shaklee environmental campaign that raises awareness of global climate change and initiates efforts to plant trees in North America and Africa.
2006 Shaklee holds a first-ever carbon neutral conference in San Francisco by offsetting the greenhouse gas emissions from the Company’s 50th Anniversary Conference, attended by some 10,000 participants.
2006 Shaklee is selected as a U.S. EPA Climate Leader, pledging to maintain a net zero impact on climate change and offset 100% of its greenhouse gas emissions through 2009.
2006 Shaklee is commended by President Bill Clinton for leadership in offsetting carbon emissions by creating renewable energy in Africa and is recognized at the Clinton Global Initiative.
2007 Shaklee becomes a founding member of the Business Council on Climate Change, an organization of businesses that serves as an inspiration and model of global climate stewardship by implementing effective and economically sound solutions to climate change.
2007 Shaklee provides financial and product support for polar explorer Will Steger and his GlobalWarming101.com expedition. This brand-new expedition includes an extensive educational outreach campaign to students throughout America to raise awareness of the impact of global climate change on five Inuit communities in the Arctic.
2007 Shaklee is the first consumer products company to offset 100% of CO2 emissions through the EPA Climate Leader’s program and use 100% green power.
2007 Shaklee is selected by the nation’s leading child advocacy group, Healthy Child Healthy World, to be the exclusive partner for a new video titled, “Creating Healthy Environments for Children.”
2007 Shaklee is selected by the producers of THE 11th HOUR, a feature length documentary narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, as a partner due to its exemplary track record for environmental leadership.
2007 Shaklee partnered with Dr. Jeffrey Sachs and The Earth Institute at Columbia University to facilitate direct emissions reductions through the installation of solar-powered LED lanterns in Malawi. This installation project replaces inefficient and unhealthy kerosene wick lamps and provides an improved and sustainable source of reading and task lighting for villagers in Malawi.
2008 Shaklee named to the Top 20 Retail Partner list by the EPA Green Power Partnership in recognition of being a top purchaser of green power.
2009 Shaklee is 100% carbon neutral. The greenhouse gas inventories for 2008 covering all Shaklee operations worldwide include US, Canada, Japan, China, Mexico and Taiwan, were reviewed by a third party, Econergy International, in accordance with the World Resources Institute protocol for all six Kyoto-defined greenhouse gases.
2009 Shaklee is honored with a Clean Air Award by Breathe California in recognition of Shaklee’s leadership in reducing global warming and improving air quality.
2009 Shaklee is honored with the Business Environmental Award for Sustainability from Acterra: Action for a Healthy Planet for environmental stewardship, climate action leadership and social equality.
2010 –2014 Each year, Shaklee is 100% carbon neutral. The greenhouse gas inventory for 2010 covering all Shaklee operations worldwide including the US, Canada, Japan, China, Mexico, Malaysia and Taiwan, was reviewed by a third party, WSP Environment & Energy, in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol for all six Kyoto-defined greenhouse gases.
2015 Shaklee once again achieves 100% net carbon neutral status. The greenhouse gas inventory for 2015 covering all Shaklee operations worldwide, including the US, Canada, Japan, China, Mexico, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Taiwan, was reviewed by third-party WSP Global, in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol for all six Kyoto-defined greenhouse gases. In addition, Shaklee purchased additional offsets in order to voluntarily comply with the new Scope Two guidelines.
2016 Shaklee is again 100% net carbon neutral. To comply with the new Scope Two guidelines, Shaklee purchased additional carbon offsets. 2018 – 2021 Shaklee continued to achieve 100% net carbon neutrality and purchased additional carbon offsets to mediate countries’ output that could not be verified on computed.
Windows, mirrors, and other glass surfaces: Mix 1–2 drops of Basic H2 with 16 oz. of water in a spray bottle.
Sealed countertops, tiles, sealed woodwork, furniture, and other general-purpose uses: Mix ¼ teaspoon of Basic H2 with 16 oz. of water in a spray bottle.
Nonporous floors: Mix 1 tablespoon of Basic H2 with 1 gallon of water.
Ovens, microwaves, stovetops, cooking surfaces, kitchen appliances: 1½ teaspoons of Basic H2 combined with 16 oz. of water in a spray bottle.
Pots, pans, grills, barbeques, driveways, and engine grease: 2 oz. of Basic H2 combined with 1 gallon of water.
Different cleaners have different applications! Learn how to use always-green Get Clean cleaners that won’t emit harmful fumes and chemicals.
Then sit back, relax, and enjoy your fresh, clean home!
Let’s all share what we are doing to reduce plastics. Please comment above. Sign up for my monthly health tips newsletter.
Above all, Be Well, Do Well, and Keep Moving! Betsy
The shine of a gloss, the comfort or a balm, and a touch of sheer color. Who wouldn’t want a healing balm for the lips that feels lovely and makes you look lovely?
Shaklee introduced GLAZE a few months ago. I had to try it myself over time before letting my faithful readers know my recommendations. Many of you are settled with the products you like and renew regularly from Shaklee. These Shaklee products supplement whatever your health regimen is. I appreciate your loyalty to the Shaklee products you have decided are priced right and are beneficial to your health.
Indulge me in my plea for you to try some of the new products Shaklee has introduced in the last year or so. Perhaps you would like a change but you are reluctant to branch out from your routine. I, too, get in a rut with my skin care regimen, my morning and evening beverage, the sources of protein and fresh food and the recipes I prepare over and over.
It’s Spring! Time to try something new!
Glaze is formulated with avocado oil and shea butter to produce a high shine, moisturizer that protects and nourishes. It’s non-sticky, vegan and cruelty free AND it’s infused with anti-aging Pomifera oil.
Pomifera oil comes from the Maclura pomifera fruit, recently discovered to provide a botanical oil that is a potent source of antioxidants, omega-6, and other bioactives. It is cold-press isolated from the seeds of the fruit and combined with plant oils to create everyday essentials for visibly healthy, glowing skin. Shaklee created a simple skin care line for a minimalist approach to nourishing and protecting your skin on a daily basis. And now, this: GLAZE.
Only $26 for a tube (Member price). A money-back guarantee if you use it and don’t like it.
What are people saying about Pomifera GLAZE?
Best Lip Gloss EVER. These three Lip Glaze not only have beautiful colors that all work for me, but the protect and moisturize my lips better than anything I have ever used. My lips are very sensitive and most products irritate my lips. These Glazes sooth my lips instantly and protect them for a long time. I get the side benefit of having the beautiful colors to wear. Linda A.
I am not a lip product person but gave this a try. It goes on easy but I find I am reapplying it often as it doesn’t stay, even when I am not eating or drink anything. Maybe it is just soaking into my lips? The are smoother and less chapped with the use of this product and I do love the color. I keep it in the console of my vehicle so that I reminded to use it daily. Janice R.
My lips get really chapped any time its windy or temperatures have drastic shifts. Right before I tried this, my lips were the worst in a while- cracked in 2 places! This serum soothed at first application and with just an AM and PM reapply, my lips have never felt or looked better. I love the light summery scent and that the taste is neutral. I love how smooth it goes on and stays on without feeling heavy, goopy, or sticky. New fave product! For a gal who is in the mountains no matter what the weather, exposed to rain, sleet, snow, this is a Godsend.
But is it safe?
The Shaklee Corporation checks with the Environmental Working Group for guidance and verification of all its skin and personal care products. None of the more than 2500 potentially toxic ingredients found in many skin care products are present in Shaklee’s products. Here’s the list of ingredients.
February 14th brings to mind our loved ones and our wish for them (and for ourselves) a long and healthy life. Yet many of us continue to live a Heart-Unhealthy lifestyle. If you missed my post, here’s a chance to take another look. As you untie that box of chocolates (dark, I hope) and tip back that rich Merlot, consider this a wake-up call.
Read (re-read) the health-tips and see for yourself where little habits might shift to induce better choices. It is not about giving up chocolate and red wine. It is about perspective, balance, finding joy and deliciousness in taking a walk, having more salad and good fats (avocado, salmon) in your everyday meals. Love yourself to better health and maybe even a longer, more robust life ahead.
Be well, Do Well, and Keep Moving. Betsy
Share this post with your loved one and I thank you.
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Check out the Heart Healthy supplements by Shaklee Corporation at www.HiHoHealth.com, my personal shopping website.
Take care of your heart and you will have a fighting chance to see old age and be able to enjoy physical activity up to the end. People tell me they don’t want to live to be 100 if they are in and out of the doctor’s office and hospital for the last fifteen of those one-hundred years. They would rather die suddenly, in good health, from a heart attack. Sudden death from heart failure is rare. Fewer than a million of us Americans die of a heart attack each year, but heart disease claims 1 in 5 of us annually and has been the leading cause of death in the US for 100 years.
Doctors tell us what lifestyle changes we need to make. They are ready to “manage” heart disease with drugs. The problem is that most of us will not die suddenly. We will slowly sink toward death less and less able to live a physically active life.
February is Heart Health Month. Valentine’s Day brings our loved ones to mind. We want them to be part of our lives for years to come. The truth is that modern medicine can support us into very old age and many of us will reach 100. What will be the quality of those last twenty years? It is up to us. Not entirely. Many factors cause our health to deteriorate and not all of them are under our control, but we can do a lot to prevent heart disease.
Heart Disease Risk Factors
High blood pressure.High blood pressure, or hypertension, has long been recognized as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
High cholesterol. Extra cholesterol can build up on artery walls and reduce blood flow to the heart.
Diabetes. Adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to die from heart disease as people who don’t have it.
Depression. Adults with a depressive disorder or symptoms of depression have a 64% greater risk of developing coronary artery disease.
Obesity. Being overweight is linked to several factors that increase the risk for cardiovascular disease, including diabetes and high blood pressure.
Heart Risk Behaviors
Smoking. Smoking is a major cause of cardiovascular disease & causes around 1in 4 heart disease deaths.
Eating a poor diet. A diet that’s high in fat, salt, sugar, and cholesterol can contribute to heart disease.
Not exercising. Even though exercise reduces the risk for heart disease and early death, only about half of Americans get the recommended amount of aerobic activity.
Drinking alcohol excessively. Heavy alcohol use can increase the risk for heart attack, heart failure, and death. Excess drinking can damage the heart before symptoms even appear.
Prevention
The good news is that heart disease is preventable. Controlling these risk factors can reduce a person’s risk for a heart attack and stroke by more than 80 percent.
Follow these six simple tips to keep your ticker ticking:
Have no more than one to two alcoholic drinks per day for men, and one drink per day for women. One drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer (a bottle), 5 ounces of wine (a proper glass), and 1.5 ounces of spirits.
Eat a diet that’s free of trans fats, low in saturated fats, cholesterol, salt, and sugar, and high in fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, omega-3 fatty acids, and dark chocolate.
Exercise at moderate intensity for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.
Limit stress. Try meditating, spending time with people you love, getting enough sleep, and seeking counseling if you need it.
Work with your doctor to manage your blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and weight.
The cost of caring for cardiovascular disease is more than $351 billion per year. Nearly $214 billion pays for the care of people with heart disease, while more than $137 billion goes to lost productivity.
Heart attack is one of the most expensive conditions treated in U.S. hospitals. Its care costs an estimated $11.5 billion a year.
By 2035, more than 45 percent of Americans are projected to have some form of cardiovascular disease. Total costs of cardiovascular disease are expected to reach $1.1 trillion in 2035, with direct medical costs expected to reach $748.7 billion and indirect costs estimated to reach $368 billion.
Protect Your Heart Health with Shaklee Vitamins and Supplements
A healthy diet, exercise, and positive changes to your lifestyle can make a difference. And support from our dietary supplements may help take you one step closer to reclaiming your heart health.
Promote Blood Circulation and Healthy Blood Vessels and Arteries*
Your heart is the most crucial piece of your biological puzzle, but it has tons of support. The heart is the pump that pushes blood, oxygen, and nutrients throughout your body. But it relies on your arteries and vessels to deliver them! Those pathways play an important role in your overall health.
One of the best ways to see improvements is to support that transportation system. By improving blood circulation, you’re putting less strain on your heart and allowing it to pump more efficiently*.
Our Blood Pressure supplement contains natural ingredients like beet powder, spinach powder, quercetin, and magnesium to retain your blood pressure and promote better blood flow. It’s a valuable source of dietary nitrates. The nitrates are vasodilators that dilate the vessels to allow more efficient blood flow.
We also offer CoQHeart® with Q-Trol®. CoQHeart prioritizes energy production and supports healthy arteries*. The main active ingredient is a blend of coenzyme and resveratrol. Coenzyme Q10 is the heart of the supplement.
But what is CoQ10? It is a powerful antioxidant. As is resveratrol. It plays a crucial part in cell energy production and overall maintenance. The coenzyme makes energy available to every cell, so it’s vital for supporting blood vessel health.
Unfortunately, CoQ10 levels decline with age. A supplement like CoQHeart replenishes your coenzyme supply, protecting your living cells and supporting your blood vessels.
Taking our supplements can make a noticeable difference. They help reduce how much work your heart has to do to pump blood throughout your body. You’re doing your heart a favor by supporting circulation.
May Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease*
Think of your heart as the battery that sustains life. Your heart is responsible for delivering blood, oxygen, and essential nutrients to every part of the body, supporting crucial biological functions to keep you healthy!
A focus on healthy eating and living is combating old habits. But it’s more important than ever to take action and protect the organ that keeps your body ticking.
To support heart health, many people resort to using everything from omega-3 fatty acids to vitamin E or vitamin B6 to solve the problem. Fortunately, we have potent supplements. Both theBlood Pressure and CoQHeart® with Q-Trol® supplements may make a difference. However, our Cholesterol Reduction Complex* can support heart health moving forward.
This product helps reduce cholesterol levels.
TheCholesterol Reduction Complex supplement provides 2,000 mg of plant sterols and stanols when taken daily. Sterols and stanols are naturally occurring compounds in plant cell membranes. More than 80 studies found that these compounds lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
The sterols and stanols essentially compete for absorption in the intestines. They have a similar structure to LDL cholesterol.
Support Your Cardiovascular Function with Our Proven Ingredients
When you take our dietary supplements, you can rest easy knowing that you benefit from proven ingredients. It’s all heart-healthy ingredients backed by science. No one does it better than Mother Nature, and our nutritional supplements take full advantage of everything she has to offer.
Our products help you effectively support cardiovascular function in many ways. They’re easy to implement into your daily routine, and every supplement we offer is backed by trusted science. There’s no better time than now to take action and be proactive about keeping your body’s most important organ in good shape. Use these products as part of a healthy lifestyle, and you’re well on your way to achieving better heart health.
You can find the Heart Healthy products on my Personal Website, www.HiHoHealth.com.
Make the lifestyle changes and supplement with these products and I may see you around living it up for many years to come.
Is it time to go on a diet? Again? But what about last time? How did that go? Thanks to Dr. Steve Chaney, I have some ways to evaluate what might give you lasting success this time around.
4 mistakes to avoid when choosing weight loss diets,
6 tips for choosing the best weight loss diet, and
7 tips for keeping the weight off.
Which diet is best?
Like millions of Americans, you have probably set a goal to eat healthier, lose weight, or both. But which diet is best? Vegan, Paleo, Keto, 360, Intermittent Fasting, low-carb, low fat – the list is endless.
An image of a dieting strategy chart.
And then there are the commercial diets: Meal replacements, low calorie processed foods, prepared meals delivered to your door – just to name a few of the categories.
You can choose to count calories, focus on portion sizes, or keep a food journal.
And, if you really want to live dangerously, you can try the latest diet pills that claim to curb your appetite and rev up your metabolism.
The diet that works requires effort. And a change of mindset. There is no magic wand that will chase the extra pounds away forever.
Mistakes To Avoid When Choosing The Best Diet
1) Endorsements.
Endorsements by your favorite athlete or public person are paid for.
Endorsements by Dr. Strangelove and his buddies can be equally misleading. They usually tell you that the medical establishment has been lying to you, and they have discovered the “secret” to permanent weight loss and the “Fountain of Youth”.
Recommendations of the medical and scientific communities usually represent a consensus statement by the top experts in their field. I would choose their advice over Dr. Strangelove’s opinion any day.
2) Testimonials.
Most of the testimonials you see online or in print are either paid for or are fake.
Testimonials by your friends can be equally misleading. We are all different. What works for your friend or for your trainer may not work for you.
For example, some of us do better on low-carb diets, and others do better on low fat diets.
3) Diets Based on “Magic” Or “Forbidden” Foods or Food Groups.
We have 5 food groups for a reason. Each food group provides a unique blend of nutrients and phytonutrients. And each plant food group provides a unique blend of fibers that support the growth of different types of friendly gut bacteria.
The bottom line is that each of us does better with some foods than others, but there are no “magic” or “forbidden” foods that apply to everyone.
4) “Magic” Diets.
Dr. Chaney book, “Slaying The Food Myths”, doesn’t feature a “magic” diet that is going to make the pounds melt away and allow you to live to 100. Instead, he recommends a variety of healthy diets and suggests you choose the one that fits you best.
There is an allure of “magic” diets. Dr. Strangelove claims the diet will be effortless. He gives you some scientific-sounding mumbo-jumbo to convince you the diet is scientifically sound. Then he cites some clinical studies showing the diet will cause you to lose weight and will improve your health parameters (things like cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar, and blood pressure). It sounds so convincing.
The studies are all short-term (usually 3 months or less).
When you rely on short-term studies, the very low-fat Vegan diet and very low-carb Keto diet give you virtually identical weight loss and improvement in health parameters!
Those two diets are as different as any two diets could be. That means we can forget all the scientific-sounding mumbo-jumbo as to why each of those diets work. Instead, we should ask what these two diets have in common.
The answer is simple:
#1: The clinical studies are comparing “magic” diets to the typical American diet. Anything is better than the typical American diet! It is high in sugar, refined carbohydrates, saturated fat, and highly processed foods. No wonder the “magic” diets look so good.
#2: The diets are whole food diets. Anytime you eliminate sodas, fast foods, and highly processed foods, you will lose weight.
#3: The diets eliminate one or more food groups. Whenever you eliminate some of your favorite foods from your diet, you tend to lose weight without thinking about it. I call this the cream cheese and bagel phenomenon.
If you are following a low-fat diet, it sounds great to say you can eat all the bagels you want. But without cream cheese to go with the bagels, you tend to eat fewer bagels.
If you are following a low-carb diet, it sounds great to say you can eat as much cream cheese as you want, but without bagels to go with your cream cheese, you tend to eat less cream cheese.
#4: Because they eliminate many of your favorite foods, “magic” diets make you focus on what you eat. Whenever you focus on what you eat, you tend to lose weight. That is why food journals and calorie counters are effective.
#5: Finally, whenever you lose weight, your health parameters (cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar, and blood pressure) improve.
Tips For Successful Weight Loss
What should you look for in choosing a healthy weight loss diet? Here are the top 6 tips.
1) Choose whole food diets. Avoid sodas, fast foods, and highly processed foods.
2) Choose primarily plant-based diets. These can range from Vegan through semi-vegetarian, Mediterranean, DASH, and Nordic. All are healthy diets.
When we look at long term (10-20 year) studies:
Vegetarians weigh less and are healthier than people consuming the typical American diet.
People consuming semi-vegetarian, Mediterranean, and DASH diets are healthier than people consuming the typical American diet.
When we look at low-carb diets:
People consuming plant-based low-carb diets weigh less and are healthier than people consuming the typical American diet.
People consuming meat-based low-carb diets are just as fat and unhealthy as people consuming the typical American diet.
The Atkins low-carb diet has been around for more than 50 years, and there is no evidence it is healthy long-term.
3) Choose diets that include a variety of foods from all 5 food groups. I have discussed the rationale for that recommendation above.
4) Choose diets that consider meat as a garnish, not a main course.
5) Choose diets that feature healthy carbs and healthy fats rather than low-carb or low-fat diets.
6) Think lifestyle, not diet. If you choose a restrictive diet so you can achieve quick weight loss, you will probably be just as fat and unhealthy next December 31st as you are this year. Instead, choose diets that teach healthy eating and lifestyle changes that you can make a permanent part of your life.
Tips For Keeping The Weight Off
You know the brutal truth. Around 95% of dieters regain everything they lost and then some within a few years. You have probably gone through one or more cycles of weight loss and regain yourself – something called “yo-yo dieting”. You may even be asking yourself if it is worth bothering to try to lose weight this year.
Rather focusing on the negative statistics of weight loss, let’s look at the good news. There are people who lose the weight and keep it off. What do they do?
There is an organization called the National Weight Control Registry that has enrolled more than 10,000 people who have lost weight and kept it off. The people in this group lost weight on almost every diet imaginable. However, here is the important statistic: On average people in this group have lost 66 pounds and kept it off for at least 5 years.
The National Weight Control Registry has kept track of what they have done to keep the weight off. Here is what they do that you may not be doing:
1) They consume a reduced calorie, whole food diet.
2) They get lots of exercise (around 1 hour/day).
3) They have internalized their eating patterns. In short, this is no longer a diet. It has become a permanent part of their lifestyle. This is the way they eat without even thinking about it.
4) They monitor their weight regularly. When they gain a few pounds, they modify their diet until they are back at their target weight.
5) They eat breakfast on a regular basis.
6) They watch less than 10 hours of TV/week.
7) They are consistent (no planned cheat days).
Which Diet Is Best?
Now it is time to get back to the question you are asking right now, “Which diet is best?” I have covered a lot of ground in this article. Let me summarize it for you.
If you are thinking about popular diets:
Primarily plant-based diets ranging from Vegetarian to Mediterranean and Dash are associated with a healthier weight and better health long term.
If want to lose weight quickly, you may want to start with the more restrictive plant-based diets, like Vegan, Ornish, or Pritikin.
If you do better with a low-carb diet, my recommendation is the low-carb version of the Mediterranean diet called Med-Plus. It is a whole food version of the Mediterranean diet that minimizes added sugar and refined grains.
If your primary goal is rapid weight loss, you could also start with one of the healthier of the restrictive low-carb diets, like the Paleo or the 360 diet. I do not recommend the Keto diet.
No matter what diet you start with, plan to transition to the primarily plant-based diet that best fits your lifestyle and food preferences. This is the diet you will want to stick with to maintain your weight loss and achieve better health long term.
Plan on permanent lifestyle change rather than a short-term diet. Otherwise, you are just wasting your time.
Eat whole foods. Big Food keeps up with America’s favorite diets and is only too happy to sell you highly processed foods that match your favorite diet. Avoid those like the plague.
If you are thinking about commercial diets featuring meal replacement products:
Look for meal replacement products that:
Do not contain artificial sweeteners, flavors, or preservatives.
Use non-GMO protein. A non-GMO certification for the other ingredients is not necessary.
Have stringent quality controls in place to assure purity. “Organic” and/or “non-GMO” on the label do not assure purity.
Look for programs that can provide clinical studies showing their diet plan is effective for weight loss and for keeping the weight off. Many programs have short-term clinical studies showing they are effective for weight loss, but very few have longer-term studies showing the weight stays off.
Finally, look for programs that teach permanent lifestyle change. This should include guidance on exercise and healthy eating.
Dr. Chaney does not recommend most commercial diets that feature prepared low-calorie foods “shipped right to your door” as a major part of their program. The foods are highly processed. Plus, they include all your favorite unhealthy foods as part of the program. Even if they include lifestyle change as part of their program, they are undermining their message with the foods they are providing you.
He adds that Weight Watchers is highly recommended by most experts in the field. Weight Watchers emphasizes journaling and counting calories, which is a plus because it makes you focus on what you are eating. They also have a good lifestyle program and support that can help you transition to permanent lifestyle change if you are willing to put in the effort.
However, I don’t recommend their prepared low-calorie foods. They are no better than foods provided by the other commercial diet programs.
Get in touch with me if you are curious about what I have done to lose that 25 pounds and keep them off for years. Let me know how I can support you in your effort to claim a healthy life style for yourself.
Be well, Do well, and Keep Moving. Betsy
Betsy Bell Enterprises LLC, 206 409 5940, Betsy@hihohealth.com
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My friend called leaving messages three time before I was able to get back to her. “You have to get me more MindWorks immediately,” she told me. “My brain can’t function without it.” She is nearly ninety and has always been sharp, so not thinking clearly panicked her. She has been taking Shaklee’s Mindworks since it was introduced in 2014, and it has made a big difference in her ability to reason.
What I noticed when I started taking MindWorks was that I no longer forgot why I went to the basement even though I had been distracted on the way. Does this happen to you? What if MindWorks helped to change that?
What keeps the brain going?
Food, oxygen flow (exercise), water (75% of brain matter is H2O), sleep, good fat, and mood (attitude) are all key factors for maintaining good brain health.
What hurts the brain?
Smoking,
alcohol (kills brain cells),
too much screen time,
lack of fresh air,
concussions,
migraines,
PTSD,
depression,
not talking to people,
hearing loss,
too much sugar
You can take steps to change some harmful habits. You know what they are.
Stop gaming/scrolling and go outside.
reduce or eliminate alcohol
reduce or eliminate sugar
get together with people
seek treatment for PTSD or migraines
get hearing aids if you are missing bits of conversation
How does nutrition affect brain health?
Glucose is the primary source of brain energy and metabolism, so eat foods that contain natural glucose: fruits, vegetables, fatty fish, and nuts.
Glucose aids
in brain cell development and repair,
cognition
neural generation,
learning,
memory,
mood,
focus.
Keys to enrich brain health: antioxidants, polyphenols, flavonoids, vitamins, and minerals.
Be sure to include foods that can help improve cognition and boost brain cell health.
Fatty seafood,
dark leafy greens,
antioxidant-rich fruits,
nuts and seeds,
herbs and spices.
Fatty Seafood & Poultry
Fish
Fatty fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help the brain’s health. The brain is nearly 60% fat, and mostty of this fat is omega-3 fatty acids.
Help the brain build new cells and aid in learning, memory function, and anti-aging properties, by eating fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna, and sardines.
Eggs
Because eggs contain key nutrients, both macro and micro, which are often missing in large populations, they’re great for regulating brain health, improving mental function, and regulating mood.
Eggs contain vitamin B12, vitamin B6, and choline, all good for brain health. Eggs are also a rich source of protein.
Antioxidant-Rich Fruits
Blueberries
Blueberries boost memory. They contain flavinoids, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory effects. Blueberries reduce stress and inflammation both of which age the brain.
Oranges
Vitamin C boosts the immune system. It may also prevent mental decline.
Dark Leafy Vegetables
Kale
Like other dark leafy greens–broccoli, spinach, and collards, kale is rich in vitamin K, beta-carotene, and folate, all good for the brain.
Broccoli
Broccoli boosts the brain because it promotes healthy fat in the brain. Broccoli contains Vitamin K which helps improve brain function in older adults.
Broccoli reduces oxidative stress and inflammatory stress.
Nuts and Seeds
Walnuts
Get your omega-3 healthy fats, complete proteins, and valuable vitamins and minerals from nuts. Walnuts are the best brain-boosting nuts.
Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds are a great antioxidant and help protect the brain and preserve cognition. Pumpkin seeds contain iron, copper, magnesium, and zinc.
Herbs and Spices
Turmeric
Turmeric helps with joint pain, And it also happens to be a great brain-boosting ingredient.
Turmeric boosts BDNF, a growth hormone that promotes the development of healthy brain cells and helps improve the aging process and mood.
Herbal Tea
Similar to coffee, herbal tea boosts performance, increases alertness, and improves cognitive memory. Drink herbal tea to get antioxidants and polyphenols, to your brain.
Don’t forget water, coffee, spinach, flaxseeds, strawberries, tomatoes, kiwi, avocados, and dark chocolate–all good for the brain. I love that chocolate is in this list and I don’t mean milk chocolate. Forget the Hershey Kisses.
Spotlight on MindWorks…
How would you like to take a supplement that would enhance short-term memory, sharpen focus, improve reaction time, protect against age-related cognitive decline, and support healthy circulation. Well now you can!
MindWorks contains key ingredients shown in laboratory studies to stimulate the formation of new neuronal connections and a key ingredient combination shown in a clinical study to slow brain shrinkage rate by 30% over 2 years.
Guarana extract has been shown in two clinical studies to significantly enhance short-term memory, sharpen focus, and improve reaction time, 3x better than the control group.
Healthy brain function requires healthy circulation. MindWorks contains an exclusive and double-patented chardonnay grape seed extract that has been shown in a pilot study to rapidly enhance circulation within 1 hour.
Wellness Tip: Pair with OmegaGuard to keep your mind healthy and sharp.
Your brain on Shaklee…
It’s a fact… food consumed regularly… whether healthy or unhealthy… has a significant, measurable effect on the brain. And since the brain operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, fueling it with nutrient-rich food and supplements is a must.
Here are a few nutrients beneficial for brain health and cognition:
Acting as a natural anti-inflammatory and nitric oxide booster, optimal dosages of omega-3 fatty acids promote blood flow to the brain, improving overall brain function, such as memory, while also decreasing the risk of depression and cognitive conditions such as dementia. You’ll find the correct balance of omega-3’s inOmegaGuard.
Vitamin E
As an antioxidant, vitamin E is an excellent vitamin for brain health and cognition. In fact, it’s recently been proposed as an alternative treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. For optimum absorption and metabolism, choose Vita-E Complex.
L-theanine
Found in both Stress Relief Complex and Dream Serene, l-theanine acts as a mild tranquilizer and aids in the relaxation of the nervous system. Some studies suggest that l-theanine also has the ability to boost memory, mood and cognition.
L-carnitine
Studies suggest that l-carnitine plays several integral roles that promote brain health, including the release of free radicals, the reduction of oxidative stress, and the promotion of cognition and neuro-protection of the developing brain and the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. L-carnitine is also found in Stress Relief Complex and Dream Serene.
Iron
Chronic iron deficiency can lead to anemia, affecting nearly 30% of the world’s population.
Iron’s role in the brain includes oxygen transportation, neurotransmitter metabolism, and DNA synthesis.
The B vitamins… particularly B6, B9, and B12… are essential for a healthy functioning brain. In fact, research suggests that the B vitamins are the most important nutrient complex for the brain and it’s function.
Vitamin B12 is often recommended as a daily supplement for the aging population to help prevent early-onset memory loss and cognitive decline.
Lecithin may lower the risk of heart disease and stroke, improve circulation, keep the liver functioning at its peak, sharpen mental skills, provide more energy, and… can help with weight loss.
EachShaklee Lecithin capsule provides 520 mg of lecithin as well as inositol, which plays a critical role in the regulation of cell metabolism.
Shaklee Lecithin contains no added preservatives, artificial colors or flavors.
Final Thoughts
No matter the health, fitness, or wellness goal, your best results come from a combination of foods. Brain health is no different.
Eat the helpful ones and avoid the harmful ones.
The right foods nurture the brain and brain performance and mental and physical well-being.
Be well, Do Well, and Keep Moving
Please pass this information along to anyone who might benefit. I welcome comments and questions.
Stay in touch: Betsy@hihohealth.com; 206-409-5940;
