Scientific resources

Shaklee Clinical Research Studies – Shaklee’s commitment to clinical research is reflected in every product it makes. The ideal balance of nature and science is not achieved by guesswork. It is a meticulous process of research and development, testing, and refinement. That’s why Shaklee continues to invest in clinical research as part of its ongoing commitment to scientific integrity. The following peer-reviewed clinical studies sponsored by Shaklee scientifically substantiate either Shaklee products or the testing of concepts leading to Shaklee products.

Resources, Scientific resources

Energy Pure, Energy Chews

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Energy Pure Energy Chews

Pure Energy Chews
• Shaklee Energy Chews provide a clean burst of healthy energy to help you get that extra edge when you need it most. Each chew contains a scientific blend of caffeine from natural green tea extract, plus L-tyrosine, L-Theanine, B vitamins and Vitamin D3. And there are no artificial flavors, sweeteners or added preservatives you’ll find in other energy products.

That’s PURE energy!

Finally, a healthy alternative to high calorie, high volume energy drinks! Scientifically formulated Shaklee Energy™ contains the right ingredients to help energize your body and support alertness, focus, cognitive function, and mood.
• Energy-releasing B vitamins, immune-supporting Vitamin C and bone-building Vitamin D3
• Key amino acids L-Tyrosine and L-Theanine associated with mental alertness and focus
• Natural caffeine from green tea extract associated with energy and performance*
• No artificial flavors, sweeteners, or added preservatives and it’s gluten free

Energy Chews contain healthy ingredients work fast to help:
• Sustain energy*
• Improve performance*
• Stay alert*
• Sharpen focus*
• Improve mood*

Before Exercise use Shaklee Energy™ Chews
You need energy for motivation and to “spark” the metabolic reactions that fuel muscles.  Shaklee Energy Chews provide a clean burst of healthy energy to help you get that extra edge when you need it most.

The Shaklee Difference
• Formulated with natural caffeine from green tea
• Contains no artificial flavors, sweeteners, or added preservatives
• Gluten free
• Just two chews per serving instead of a canned product
Sports nutrition products are sold at big-box retailers, drugstores, and even grocery stores.  However, many conventional sports nutrition products, especially the most popular retailbrands, contain artificial flavors, sweeteners, and preservatives. Conventional sports products may be untested or they may contain ingredients that are unproven. Rather than testing products in clinical tests or with world-class athletes, many companies choose to introduce new products without scientific substantiation. Additionally, ingredients that can provide important benefits may be missing from some products. It doesn’t make sense to put unproven or untested ingredients in your body at the same time you are asking your body to deliver maximum effort and optimal performance.

Shaklee Sports Nutrition™ puts in the Best, to Bring out the Best
Shaklee Sports Nutrition products are used at the highest levels of competition so you can trust them every time you take them — before, during, and after your workouts. Train longer. Recover faster. Perform better. And don’t worry; these are natural products with no artificial flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives. Everything you need. Nothing you don’t. That’s PURE performance!

THE SHAKLEE DIFFERENCE
Always Safe
Natural products with:
✔ No artificial flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives
✔ No banned substances
✔ Exceptional quality control

Always Works
✔ World-class Shaklee-sponsored athletes have won over 100 medals
✔ Seven of Time Life’s Greatest Adventures of All Time were powered by Shaklee
✔ Clinically tested with proven results: Physique® and Performance®

Always Green
✔ Environmentally friendly packaging

Thousands of athletes around the world trust Shaklee Sports Nutrition™. We’ve got you covered no matter what you play, where you play, or how hard you play. Shaklee powers athletes to push limits and achieve more. Shaklee athletes have won more than 100 medals
• Seven of Time-Life’s Greatest Adventures of All Time were fueled by Shaklee
• Natural products with no artificial flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives
• Clinically tested with proven results:
– Performance® minimizes fluid loss to enhance hydration
– Performance increases endurance
– Physique® triggers the anabolic recovery state after exercise
– Physique restores muscle energy fast

 Lean and toned is in: Shaklee products are proven to help you train longer and recover faster so you can stay lean and toned.

 Convenience is in: Shaklee Energy™ Chews are more convenient than energy drinks to transport and consume.

 Fitness and Endurance are in: Shaklee Sports Nutrition products provide ingredients to help you optimize fitness levels and athletic performance.

 Natural is in: Shaklee Sports Nutrition products do not contain artificial flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives.
*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.

Buy now at www.HIHoHealth.com

Resources, Scientific resources

Re-hydrating drinks to avoid bonking

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Performance® Pure Hydration Drink
6.16.12

First: We will look into a little history and the discovery of Performance
Next: Shaklee’s Performance the drink that fueled the impossible
Followed by: Endurance Foods Clinical Studies
Concluding with: The secret behind Performance

It had been done only in legend. Indeed, experts wondered if it could ever be done in reality. Named after the mythical Greek inventor who flew on wings of wax and feathers, the Daedalus Project, would attempt to fly 72 miles between the Greek islands of Crete and Santorini. In a super-lightweight plane, one pilot was to pedal the entire distance over open ocean; in terms of human endurance, it could be the energy equivalent of running three marathons back-to-back at top speed without stopping.
Daedalus engineers and scientist, top researchers from MIT and Yale, turned to Shaklee for help in overcoming the most critical limitation: the pilot-athlete’s ability to sustain such an intense level of activity for so prolonged a period of time.
The result months of exhaustive testing with Shaklee Performance proved that this drink had such power and energy; it could stand up to the tremendous physical challenge of muscle-powered flight. On April 23, 1988 the impossible became recorded history, and the pilot’s only fluid and fuel for this grueling flight was Shaklee Performance.
The Daedalus Project, setting the world’s record for human powered flight is just one of Seven Shaklee’s triumphs out of “Time-Life’s “25 Greatest Adventures of all Time” were powered by Shaklee products. Another point of interest Shaklee has worked with NASA for over 12 years. One of the products for the astronauts was “AstroAid” the re-hydration drink known as Shaklee’s Performance. Shaklee “Performance Maximum Endurance Sports Drink delivers 67% more muscle fuel than Gatorade and prevents “bonking” & “hitting the wall”.

ENDURANCE FOODS include Performance; they also include pasta, rice, and oatmeal. These are slow-burning carbs and are the carb load meals consumed the night before.  Performance is superior because GATORADE has too much sugar, and sugar dehydrates the body. Performance hydrates you and keeps you going strong the entire game. It’s excellent because there’s a steady stream of carbs to burn during the performance, and the electrolytes address recovery and re-hydration.

In a clinical study, Shaklee Performance helped maintain athletes’ blood-glucose levels
for muscle energy and fluid levels for proper hydration. After more than three hours of vigorous cycling in the laboratory, during which time the cyclists consumed either Shaklee Performance or water, the speed was turned up even higher. At this sprint pace, Shaklee Performance drinkers endured for 33 minutes, while the water-only group lasted just two minutes. Shaklee Performance offers proven endurance.
During Exercise, Shaklee Performance® a pure hydration drink and a blend of
electrolytes is ready to support optimal hydration and our unique mix of carbohydrates to maintain glucose levels for sustained energy output.
Satisfy Your Thirst for Winning while using Performance. Dehydration is the most common cause of fatigue and poor athletic performance.

Shaklee Performance is clinically proven to hydrate better than water. Plus, Performance has more electrolytes and provides more energy than the leading hydration drink. Our proprietary OPTI-LYTE™ electrolyte blend plus our unique mix of carbohydrates delivers instant and sustained energy and supports optimal hydration. Take the “endure” out of endurance sports.
Clinically proven to sustain energy, we call it Performance for good reason. Clinical tests with high level athletes show that Shaklee Performance:
• Minimizes fluid loss for enhanced hydration
• Delivers a full spectrum of electrolytes, including calcium and magnesium (not in
the leading brands)
• Maintains blood-glucose levels to sustain intense energy output and to increase
stamina Shaklee Performance sustains more energy & more endurance. The longer and tougher your workout, the better Performance gets.

Shaklee Performance includes:
• OPTI-LYTE, a proprietary electrolyte blend to support optimal hydration
• A unique mix of carbohydrates to deliver instant and sustained energy

And now, the secret behind Shaklee Performance; the unique carbohydrate formula called OptiCarb, offers immediate and sustained energy in great-tasting, thirst-quenching lemon lime or orange flavor. Shaklee Performance, originally developed to fuel human flight is ready to keep anyone going longer.
Now Shaklee Performance can help you do the impossible. If you’re into sports, Shaklee Performance can help you perform better and recover faster. But even if you just need energy for a day of shopping, gardening, or running after the kids, Shaklee Performance will get you through your day feeling great!

*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.

Scientific resources

Recent studies about cardiovascular disease, death and Calcium

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Dr. Steven Chaney reviews the recent studies behind the sensational news stories about calcium supplementation and death.

Should men avoid calcium supplements? Should women
avoid calcium supplements? Do calcium supplements
increase heart disease risk? If you’ve been listening
to some of the recent headlines in magazines,
newspapers and health blogs, that’s exactly what you
might think. And, after years of telling us that
calcium supplements may be important for bone health,
even some doctors are now recommending that their
patients avoid calcium supplements. So what’s the
truth? What should you believe?

Let’s start by examining the existing research. The
latest headlines are based on a JAMA article (Xiao et
al, JAMA Internal Medicine, 173: 639-646, 2013) that
concluded that high calcium intake from supplements was
associated with a slight (20%) increased risk of
cardiovascular death in men, but not in women. Another
study (Michaelsson et al, BMJ, 2013:346 doi:
10.1136/bmj.f228) published earlier this year concluded
that high calcium intake (> 1,400 mg/day) was
associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and
all cause death in women, but not in men. In this study
calcium supplementation was also associated with an
increased risk of death, but only in women with a total
calcium intake greater than 1400 mg per day.

Of course, the press always likes to hype the latest
study, especially if that study is bad news. So let me
help you evaluate that report the way that a scientist
would. To begin with one of those studies concluded
that calcium supplementation is associated with
increased cardiovascular death in men, but not in
women. But, the other study concluded that calcium
supplementation is associated with increased
cardiovascular death in women, but not in men. That’s a
bit curious. Obviously, both studies cannot be correct.

So what does a scientist do when confronted with
conflicting studies? We dig a bit deeper into the
literature and asking what other studies say. And. when
I dug further into the literature, things got even
murkier. It turns out that both of those studies are
contradicted by other, equally good, clinical studies.
For example, two major studies have found no
correlation between cardiovascular death and either
dietary or supplemental calcium intake (Li et al,
Heart, 98: 920-925, 2012; Bolland et al, BMJ, 342:
d2040, 2011). And, another study reported that both
increased dietary intake of calcium and use of calcium
supplements were associated with a reduced risk of
death in women, but not in men (Langsetmo et al, J.
Clin. Endocrin. Metab., doi: 10.1210/jc.2013-1516).
Faced with all the conflicting published clinical
studies, the Institute of Medicine recently concluded
that “evidence from clinical trials currently does not
support an effect of calcium intake on risk of
cardiovascular disease”.

Are you confused yet? If so, you have every right to
be. The experts in their field are also scratching
their heads.

So let me add to your confusion by sharing with you yet
another study that has just been published (Van
Hemelrijck et al, PLOS One, April 2013, volume 8, issue
4, e61037). This study looked at 20,024 adults 17 years
old and older who were surveyed in the third National
Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III).
The study asked how many of them died of cardiovascular
disease over the next 12 to 18 years. The strength of
this study is that it evaluated serum calcium levels as
well as dietary and supplemental intake of calcium. In
this study only serum calcium levels showed any
correlation with cardiovascular death – and even this
effect was confusing. For women there was an increased
risk of cardiovascular death for those with serum
calcium levels in the top 5%. In contrast, for men
there was an increased risk of cardiovascular death for
those with serum calcium levels in the bottom 5%. Once
again, no association was observed with cardiovascular
death and either dietary or supplemental calcium
intake.

The reason I’m bringing this study to your attention is
I think it may offer a key to understanding the
conflicting results of previous studies. Serum calcium
levels are very tightly regulated by the body and are
not normally affected by either high or low calcium
intakes. For example, in the study above there was no
correlation between serum calcium levels and either
dietary or supplemental calcium intake. Significant
variations in serum calcium levels are usually
associated with either metabolic or hormonal diseases.
Perhaps some of the conflicting results in the
previously mentioned studies may be due to inclusion or
exclusion of people with diseases that affect serum
calcium levels. I will hasten to add that this is just
a hypothesis on my part – one that needs to be verified
by further studies.

So what is the bottom line for you?

1)The evidence that calcium supplementation affects
cardiovascular risk is weak at best. While the
possibility of increased cardiovascular risk associated
with high calcium intakes exists, the preponderance of
evidence suggest that this is not a concern, despite
what many of the recent headlines suggest.

2)On the other hand, there is clear evidence that
calcium intake in the 1000 to 1300 mg per day range
decreases the risk of osteoporosis, and osteoporosis
can significantly decrease the quality of life and even
lead to increased mortality. Most people aren’t getting
enough calcium in their diet. For these people
appropriate calcium supplementation is clearly
advantageous.

3)So my advice is to ignore the scary headlines and
continue to make sure that you’re getting the 1000 to
1300 mg of calcium per day that you need for healthy
bones. I will keep you updated if the science about
cardiovascular risk changes.

4)Of course, you don’t need to go overboard on
supplemental calcium. Start by figuring out your
dietary calcium intake. You can count on about 200 to
250 mg per serving for most dairy products, and most
people get around 200 mg per day of calcium from other
food sources. Once you’ve figured out your dietary
calcium intake, add enough supplemental calcium to
bring your total intake up to the recommended RDAs
(1,300 mg/day for ages 13-18, 1,000 mg/day for ages
19-50, and 1,200 mg/day for adults over 50).

5)Finally, as I have told you previously, supplemental
calcium is unlikely to do mischief if it is utilized
primarily for bone formation, so make sure that you are
getting 800 to 1200 IU of vitamin D per day plus RDA
levels of the other nutrients needed for bone formation
(vitamin C, vitamin K, magnesium, zinc, copper and
manganese).

To Your Health!
Dr. Stephen G Chaney

May 2013

Scientific resources

How can an ADD/ADHA study help us?

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When I was a kid we didn’t have all of these fancy
words like hyperactivity, ADD and ADHD. If a kid had
trouble sitting still and trouble focusing on the task
at hand, they were just considered “fidgety”.

Now that I’ve dated myself once again, let’s get to the
real topic which is: “Can the foods that your kids eat
have any relationship to ADD and ADHD symptoms?”

I’ve talked about the effect of food additives and the
sugar content of the diet on hyperactivity in previous
issues of my “Tips from the Professor”.

The question that I’m posing today whether
sensitivities to foods that we would otherwise consider
to be healthy trigger ADHD symptoms?

Many clinicians have long considered that a possibility
because many of the children that they were treating
for ADHD also had food sensitivities that showed up as
eczema, asthma and gastrointestinal problems.

A major clinical study called The Impact of Nutrition
on Children with ADHD (INCA) suggests that the answer
to this question is a resounding YES – food
sensitivities can cause ADHD symptoms (Pelesser et al,
Lancet, 377: 494-503, 2011).

100 children from the Netherlands and Belgium with a
definitive diagnosis of ADHD were enrolled in the
study. The age of the children was 4 to 8 years old
because it is easiest to control the food intake of
children in that age group.

At the beginning of the study every child was given IgG
blood tests to identify food sensitivities.

During the first 5 weeks of the program the children
were divided into two groups.

One group was put on a restricted elimination diet
consisting of rice, meats, vegetables, pears and water
for 5 weeks (An elimination diet is the “gold standard”
for evaluating food sensitivities because it eliminates
almost every food known to cause sensitivity from the
diet).

The second group was put on a “healthy diet” – one
which met current nutritional guidelines, but did
not eliminate any food or food group from the diet.

At the end of this 5-week period all of the children
were evaluated for ADHD symptoms in a blinded fashion
by a pediatrician specializing in diagnosing and
treating ADHD.

An astonishing 78% of the children on the elimination
diet had a reduction in their ADHD symptoms!

Those on the “healthy diet” showed no significant
improvement in symptoms.

This was followed by a second phase in which restricted
foods were added back to the diet of those children who
had responded positively to the elimination diet.

But the foods were not added back randomly. Each child
was exposed for two weeks to foods with a high IgG
response in their initial screen and for two weeks to
foods with a low IgG response in their initial screen.
In others words the foods added back were different for
each child and were based on their individual IgG
results.

This phase of the trial was done in a crossover fashion
– meaning that half of the children received low IgG
foods during the first two weeks followed by high IgG
foods during the second two weeks – and for the other
half of the children the order was reversed.

And this phase of the study was also done in a double
blind fashion – meaning that neither the children nor
the evaluators knew whether they were receiving low IgG
foods or high IgG foods during the test period.

The results of this phase of the study were also very
interesting. There was a substantial worsening of ADHD
symptoms in 63% of the children when restricted foods
were added back to the diet – AND – it didn’t matter
whether the foods were low IgG foods or high IgG foods.

The authors’ conclusions were simple:

1) Food sensitivities make a substantial contribution
to ADHD symptoms in children.

2) Don’t waste your money on the IgG tests (They have
been controversial for some time). The best way to see
if foods trigger your child’s ADHD symptoms is to put
them on an elimination diet, and if they show an
improvement on the elimination diet, add the restricted
foods back one or two at a time so you can identify the
ones that should be avoided in the future.

Some of you might be saying that sounds difficult (it
is), so why bother?

The answer is that 5% of school age children in this
country are diagnosed with ADD or ADHD – and almost all
of them are treated with drugs that can have serious
side effects.

Using an elimination diet to find out whether your
child’s ADHD is triggered by food sensitivities and
then changing their diet has absolutely no side
effects!

Some of might be asking are there any easier drug-free
approaches that you could try or is there any natural
approach that might work for the 22% of children who
don’t respond to the elimination diet?

The answer to both questions is yes.

Simply eliminating food additives, junk foods or sugary
foods from the diet helps reduce ADHD symptoms in many
children.

And you shouldn’t neglect the role that supplementation
can play in laying a strong nutritional foundation.

I recommend a good children’s multivitamin to make sure
that they are getting the nutrients that they need, a
protein supplement to help prevent blood sugar swings,
a good omega-3 (preferably DHA) supplement to support
brain health and a supplemental source of friendly
bacteria to promote gut health.

But if all else fails I would recommend trying an
elimination diet to identify problem foods and then
eliminating those foods from your child’s diet before
putting them on drugs.

To Your Health!
Dr. Stephen G Chaney

Scientific resources

Safe household cleaners

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What is Get Clean and Why do you care?

Make every day Earth Day with Shaklee’s House Hold Products.

Safe household cleaning products that are concentrated save money, reduce waste, and care for the environment.

We believe cleaning house shouldn’t involve dirtying the earth.  Years ago Dr. Shaklee formulated a powerful cleaning agent that breaks down easily instead of hanging out for hundreds of years.  No phosphates, borates, nitrates, or other stuff the planet doesn’t appreciate.  By making them super concentrated, we leave you to add water so we can subtract waste.  This has tons of implications.  Literally.  Less weight to ship. Less product to use.  Less packaging to throw away. GetCleanAdwithcontact_info (1)

We believe is saving you money, while we go about saving the earth.  Did you know that when you buy some common cleaners, a lot of what you’re buying is water?  We figured out a long time ago that we could make a more economical cleaner by making it concentrated.  That’s why these products are an awesome value.  You’d have to shell out more than $3,400 at the grocery store to get the same amount of clean you get with the Get Clean Starter Kit.  You might be willing to pay extra for safe, powerful, green Get Clean. But it’s nice to know you’re actually making such a positive impact on your budget as well as the planet.

Using the Get Clean products can save 108 pounds of packaging waste that would end up in the land fill.

You save 248 pounds of greenhouse gas when you buy the Get Clean Starter Kit, versus conventional ready-to-use cleaners.  Take a look at the Product Catalogue or check out the special offer for April for the starter kit and several smaller kits.

 

Get Clean Starter Kit:  #50457  Retail $115.32; MP $99.00

Dish Washer Automatic Power Concentrate Dispenser (empty)

Dish Washer Automatic Power Concentrate (2 lbs)

Hand Dish Wash Liquid Concentrate (16 fl. oz.)

Germ Off Disinfecting Wipes (35 count)

Basic H2 Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate (16 fl. oz.)

Nature Bright Laundry Booster and Stain Remover (2 lbs.)

Soft Fabric Dryer Sheets (80 count)

Fresh Laundry Fragrance Free Concentrate HE Compatible (32fl. oz.) (liquid)

Plus: Spry bottles (3-pack), dropper pipette, pump for 32 oz. bottle, laundry measuring scoop, dual measuring spoon, Super Microfiber Cleaning Cloth, Super Microfiber Window Coth, Super Microfiber Dish Sponge, Miracle Scrubber Pad and caddy.

New From You    Get Clean Testimonials

I would like to share my Get Clean Laundry detergent story

My daughter, Sara, wants to wear my 35 year old wedding dress for her September wedding.  I had my doubts as the dress has been sitting in a trunk moved from place to place and was covered with big brown spots.  I thought I needed a specialist who restores old gowns. After some internet research I send the gown to a specialist about 90 miles from my home in Greenville, SC.  I talked with her when the dress arrived and she thought she would be able to clean it.

After two months I called again and she had bad news for me.  The spots were not coming out and she was afraid she would damage the fabric if she tried other methods.  So I paid her $100 and got the gown back in the same shape I sent it to her.  I have used the soak the impossible solution many times and decided to give it a try.  I had nothing to lose.  I soaked the dress in sections as there is a lot of fabric in a wedding dress.   After two days of soaking each section, all of the spots came out and the dress was completely clean although wrinkled.  I took it to my local dry cleaner.  They steamed it and the dress is like new.  It fits beautifully and Sara is thrilled.

SOAK THE IMPOSSIBLE:

1/4 cup Shaklee’s Get Clean Laundry Concentrate
1/4 cup Nature Bright Laundry Booster

Mix in a pail of hot water.  Add your soiled items and let soak up to 5 days!

Try it.  It is amazing and completely safe even for fabrics which are not supposed to be washed like the wedding gown!

Nancy Dykes

INSTRUCTIONS FOR A SELF-CLEANING BATHROOM

This is a one-time-a-year procedure! Once you have completed this
over-all clean up, you can sit back, relax, and never have to do this big job
again! Read on….

1. To get rid of build-up of soap residue in showers, on tiles, bathtubs, sinks,
etc. Use a wet miracle pad with Scour Off and plenty of warm water. Rub or
brush gently, and enjoy the fragrance! Rinse with clear water. Wipe down with a
solution of 1 TB Basic-G per 1 gallon of water to kill mildew. If mildew is
lodged in grouting or seams, brush with full strength Basic-G, let set one hour,
then rinse. Need more brightening/whitening? Make a paste of Dish Wash
Automatic Dishwasher Concentrate or Nature Bright and Scour Off, brush on, let
set, rinse.

2. To get rid of film on mirrors and windows. Mix 1-2 drops of Basic-H2 in 16
oz. water in a spray bottle. If you have been using other glass cleaners, you
may get streaks until the oil residue they leave is cleaned off with the new
Basic-H2 solution. Be sure you use only drops when mixing. For dusting, spray
on your dust rag and dust even your best wood furniture.

3. To Disinfect. Mix 1/2 tsp Basic-G in l6 oz water in a spray bottle. Use this
to wipe the outside of garbage pails, diaper pails, bathroom vanity, kitchen
sinks, toilet, etc. For best results, let set for 10 minutes. It’s a great
deodorizer as well as a disinfectant.

4. To minimize clean-up in the sink area. Once soap residue is removed with
Scour Off, always use a Meadow Blend Bar or Hand Wash Concentrate to get your
hands clean, without leaving a film. It is effective yet so gentle to your
skin.

5. To eliminate any cleaning in shower–on walls or doors–from spots. After
soap residue is removed, use only SHAKLEE products because they can’t leave film
or spots. You can bathe with the Meadow Blend Bar, Small Wonder Shampoo & Baby
Bath, Enfuselle Shower Gel, Basic-H2, or Hand Wash. Your skin will feel great
since these plant-based products are soap free, effective, and totally safe.
When you use only SHAKLEE ProSanté Shampoos and Conditioners, there will be no
ugly residue collecting in your tub and on the tile or glass doors. None of
these products leaves any bathtub ring. Isn’t that exciting?

6. These products are very kind to sensitive skin, including babies. Yet
SHAKLEE’s cleaning products have passed every state’s tests for biodegradability
and non-pollution. Many competitors’ cleaners take 10 years to decompose.
SHAKLEE’s return to nature in less than 30 days. SHAKLEE cleaners are also
Kosher Certified for purity and ingredient labeling.

to purchase:  www.HiHoHealth.com

 

Scientific resources

10 Immune system boosters and busters: WebMD article

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Cold, Flu, & Cough Health Center

10 Immune System Busters & Boosters

Are you secretly sabotaging your immune system? Some common lifestyle habits can have a detrimental effect on your ability to fight off infections like colds and flu – as well as your overall resistance to chronic illness.

If so, you need a lifestyle tune-up. Replacing bad health habits with good ones can improve your immune system health. Check the list of immune system boosters and busters to see where you’re doing well – and where you could use some improvement.

Recommended Related to Cold & Flu

When Healthy Habits Backfire

When it comes to healthy habits, can there be too much of a good thing? Absolutely. Eating wholesome foods helps keep you healthy, but overeating will make you fat and prone to illness. Exercise helps keep you fit, but working out too hard or too often can cause injury and fatigue. Of course, these are only two of the most obvious examples of how healthy habits can backfire. Here are seven more: 1. Cleaning your kitchen. No doubt about it — a dirty kitchen can raise the risk of contracting…

Read the When Healthy Habits Backfire article > >

5 Immune System Busters

1. Lack of exercise: Sitting at your desk all day can not only make you feel sluggish, it can leave your immune system sluggish, too. Studies show that regular, moderate exercise – like a daily 30 minute walk — increases the level of leukocytes, an immune system cell that fights infection. When you’re a non-exerciser, your risk of infections — such as colds — increase compared to those who exercise.

Being inactive can weaken your immune system indirectly, too. A sedentary lifestyle can interfere with sleep quality at night and can lead to obesity and other problems that increase your risk of illness.

2. Being overweight: Carrying extra weight puts you at risk of developing diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. Part of the reason may lie in how excess fat cells in your body affect your immune system.

A high number of fat cells trigger the release of pro-inflammatory chemicals in the body, leading to chronic inflammation. When the inflammation is ongoing, healthy tissues get damaged.

Animal studies also show that being overweight or obese can impair the immune system. For example, studies have shown that obese and overweight mice make fewer antibodies after receiving common vaccinations. Antibodies are a measured immune response to vaccination.

3. Eating foods high in sugar and fat: Consuming too much sugar suppresses immune system cells responsible for attacking bacteria. Even consuming just 75 to 100 grams of a sugar solution (about the same as in two 12-ounce sodas) reduces the ability of white blood cells to overpower and destroy bacteria. This effect is seen for at least a few hours after consuming a sugary drink.

4. Experiencing constant stress: Everyone has some stress in their lives. And short-term stress may actually boost the immune system – the body produces more cortisol to make ”fight or flight” possible. But chronic stress has the opposite effect. It makes you more vulnerable to illness, from colds to serious diseases. Chronic stress exposes your body to a steady cascade of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline, which suppress the immune system.

5. Being socially isolated: Having strong relationships and a good social network is important to your physical health as well as your mental health – and specifically your immune system.  Several studies support the idea that people who feel connected to friends – whether it’s a few close friends or a large group – have stronger immunity than those who feel alone. In one study, freshmen who were lonely had a weaker immune response to a flu vaccine than those who felt connected to others. Another recent study found that isolation changed the immune system on a cellular level: Being lonely affected the way some genes that controlled the immune system were expressed.

5 Immune System Boosters

1. Regular exercise:  If you want to boost your immune system, get active. Getting your heart rate up for just 20 minutes just three times a week is associated with increased immune function, and a brisk walk five days a week can help reduce your risk of catching a cold. Regular exercise increases the level of leukocytes, an immune system cell that fights infection. Exercise also is associated with increased release of endorphins, natural hormones that pump up your sense of well being and improve sleep quality, both of which have positive effects on your immune system.

2. Get more antioxidants in your diet: A diet rich in antioxidant vitamins and nutrients can boost immunity to help fight infection. Your body produces free radicals — molecules that can damage cells. Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals so they can’t do any damage. Researchers believe that when the balance between free radicals and antioxidants is upset, it can contribute to the risk of developing cancer and heart disease, as well as age-related diseases.

Top antioxidants include vitamins C and E, plus beta-carotene and zinc. To get enough of these antioxidants in your diet, experts recommend eating an abundance of brightly colored fruits and vegetables, including berries, citrus fruits, kiwi, apples, red grapes, kale, onions, spinach, sweet potatoes, and carrots.

Other immune-boosting foods include fresh garlic, which has claims of  antiviral and antibacterial properties, and old-fashioned chicken soup. A study showed that if you do come down with a cold or the flu, a bowl of steaming chicken soup can boost immunity and help you get well faster.

In addition, mushroom varieties such as reichi, maitake, and shiitake may have some influence on immune function.

3. Adequate sleep:  Fatigue increases your susceptibility to illness – you may have noticed you’re more likely to catch a cold or other infection when you’re not getting enough sleep. A lab experiment bears this out: When students at the University of Chicago were limited to only four hours of sleep a night for six nights and then given a flu vaccine, their immune systems produced only half the normal number of antibodies. Like stress, insomnia can cause a rise in inflammation in the body – possibly because lack of sleep also leads to an increase in the stress hormone cortisol. Although researchers aren’t exactly sure how sleep boosts the immune system, it’s clear that getting adequate amounts – usually 7 to 9 hours for an adult – is essential to good health.

4. Practice relaxation techniques: If chronic stress suppresses the immune system, then learning techniques to reduce stress should help return your immune system to health – and maybe even give it an additional boost. Reducing stress lowers levels of cortisol. It also helps you sleep better, which improves immune function. And some studies show that people who meditate regularly may be able to increase their immune system response. In one experiment, people who meditated over an 8-week period produced more antibodies to a flu vaccine than people who didn’t meditate. And they still showed an increased immune system response four months later.

5. Laugh: Comedy is good for you. Laughing decreases the levels of stress hormones in the body while increasing a type of white blood cell that fights infection. In fact, even just anticipating a funny event can have a positive effect on your immune system. In one study, a group of men who were told three days in advance that they were going to watch a funny video saw levels of stress hormones drop while levels of endorphins and growth hormones rose. Both endorphins and growth hormones benefit the immune system.

Thanks to WebMD! http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/10-immune-system-busters-boosters

Scientific resources

What is Vitamin D?

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What is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble prohormones, the two major forms of which are vitamin D2 (or ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (or cholecalciferol). Vitamin D obtained from sun exposure, food, and supplements, is biologically inert and must undergo two hydroxylation reactions to be activated in the body. Calcitriol is the active form of vitamin D found in the body. The term vitamin D also refers to these metabolites and other analogues of these substances.

Calcitriol plays an important role in the maintenance of several organ systems. However, its major role is to increase the flow of calcium into the bloodstream, by promoting absorption of calcium and phosphorus from food in the intestines, and reabsorption of calcium in the kidneys; enabling normal mineralization of bone and preventing hypocalcemic tetany. It is also necessary for bone growth and bone remodeling by osteoblasts and osteoclasts.

Without sufficient vitamin D, bones can become thin, brittle, or misshapen. Deficiency can arise from inadequate intake coupled with inadequate sunlight exposure; disorders that limit its absorption; conditions that impair conversion of vitamin D into active metabolites, such as liver or kidney disorders; or, rarely, by a number of hereditary disorders. Vitamin D deficiency results in impaired bone mineralization and leads to bone softening diseases, rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults, and possibly contributes to osteoporosis. Vitamin D2 was chemically characterized in 1932. In 1936 the chemical structure of vitamin D3 was established and resulted from the ultraviolet irradiation of 7-dehydrocholesterol.

Chemically, the various forms of vitamin D are secosteroids; i.e., steroids in which one of the bonds in the steroid rings is broken. The structural difference between vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 is in their side chains. The side chain of D2 contains a double bond between carbons 22 and 23, and a methyl group on carbon 24.

Vitamin D2 (made from ergosterol) is produced by invertebrates, fungus and plants in response to UV irradiation; it is not produced by vertebrates. Little is known about the biologic function of vitamin D2 in nonvertebrate species. Because ergosterol can more efficiently absorb the ultraviolet radiation that can damage DNA, RNA and protein it has been suggested that ergosterol serves as a sunscreening system that protects organisms from damaging high energy ultraviolet radiation.

Vitamin D3 is made in the skin when 7-dehydrocholesterol reacts with UVB ultraviolet light at wavelengths between 270–300 nm, with peak synthesis occurring between 295-297 nm. These wavelengths are present in sunlight when the UV index is greater than 3. At this solar elevation, which occurs daily within the tropics, daily during the spring and summer seasons in temperate regions, and almost never within the arctic circles, adequate amounts of vitamin D3 can be made in the skin after only ten to fifteen minutes of sun exposure at least two times per week to the face, arms, hands, or back without sunscreen. However, season, geographic latitude, time of day, cloud cover, skin cover, skin color, smog, and sunscreen affect UV ray absorption and vitamin D synthesis. For example, sunlight exposure from November through February in Boston is insufficient to produce significant vitamin D synthesis in the skin. With longer exposure to UVB rays, an equilibrium is achieved in the skin, and excess vitamin D simply degrades as fast as

it is generated. In humans, D3 is as effective as D2 in vitamin D hormone activity in circulation, although others state that D3 is more effective than D2. However, in some species, such as rats, vitamin D2 is more effective than D 3.

 

Further Reading

This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article on “Vitamin D” All material adapted used from Wikipedia is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Wikipedia® itself is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia

 

 

 

Foundation, Inc.

Scientific resources

Coronary Heart Disease

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CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE  by Dr. Rusty Oats

I would like to address a situation that was brought about by my open-heart surgery. When I first became involved with Shaklee, it always amazed me when someone who used Shaklee food supplements suffered from some acute or degenerative disease. If Shaklee food supplements were so powerful, why hadn’t the victim been protected? Now that I’ve had open-heart surgery, I’ve heard people (even friends) say, “I thought you were taking all those vitamins so you would stay healthy.    What happened?” I’d like to spend the next few minutes telling you exactly “what happened.”

First of all, let me tell you a little about my background. Both my parents died at an early age of heart disease.  Neither one of them had a second chance.  My cholesterol level has been as high as 480. When I was in college, it was 360 and no one cared!  In addition to having the familial history of heart disease, I consumed a very high-fat diet. When June and I were first married and she was finishing Pharmacy school, we would eat a half of beef every six months…just the two of us! Also, during my late teens and early twenties I smoked cigarettes. I gave up cigarettes during my tour of duty in the U S Army in favor of a pipe. I continued smoking a pipe (and an occasional “mooched” cigarette) until I was 40 years of age.

In 1983 we were introduced to Shaklee and we began to study and learn about nutrition and its effect on the body. We began eating low-fat meals and increasing the fiber in our diet. Along with these dietary changes, we began a complete program of Shaklee nutritional supplementation. I watched my cholesterol level drop to an all time low of 180. I have always monitored my blood pressure and presumed that my blood pressure of 120/80 mm Hg was well within the normal parameters.

In January of 2000 while in Florida on business and vacation, I awoke one morning with pain in my left arm and slight tightness in my chest. It did go away after a short period, but upon returning to Nebraska, I decided to see a doctor to find out why. He thought my blood pressure was a little high and put me on a very low dose of blood pressure medication. He also determined through blood work that my cholesterol was a little elevated. He did assure me that because of my physical condition and my appearance, he thought a heart attack was out of the question. We scheduled a complete physical exam because it had been 4 or 5 years since my last exam, and he told me that I might want to consider taking one of the medicines that will lower cholesterol. Two weeks later I had a physical examination and he explained to me that I was in pretty good health. He had run a lot of tests except for an EKG. I asked him about the EKG and he said that because I had one during my sinus surgery a year previously, it probably wasn’t imperative; but that he would do one anyway. After seeing the results of the EKG, he became concerned and said that it looked like I had an “event” and he referred me to a Cardiologist.

I met with the cardiologist the following week and he reviewed my tests. After examining me, he thought that I was in too good of physical shape to have a heart problem. The EKG did have some irregularities and he wanted to do some additional testing. He ordered an echo-cardiogram and a stress test. Less than an hour after the stress test was completed at the hospital, he called me at home to tell me that an angiogram would be necessary because the tests showed that part of my heart was dead! I indeed had suffered an “event”…a heart attack at some time.

The angiogram only confirmed the worst. I had several blockages in my coronary arteries and open-heart surgery was indicated…as soon as possible. I had the surgery.  The  surgeon performed a quadruple bypass. The four major coronary arteries were blocked at 100%, 99%, 97% and 93%. He says that I am the luckiest man alive and that I should have dropped dead from a heart attack long before now. When I explained my diet and my program of supplementation with soy protein, essential fatty acids and others; he told me that without those changes to my lifestyle, I probably would not be alive today. He said that the supplements had added 15 years to my life. Without them, I would have needed the surgery 15 years ago and the prognosis would not have been as good. While recuperating in the hospital, the lady who administered the stress test came to visit me. She just wanted to look at me because she claims that with the very little blood flow to my heart, I should have died on the treadmill! My cardiologist then explained to me that if I returned to work, he would give me just two years to live! Thanks for Shaklee and the choice we had that allowed me to never return to my job again.

To all of you who wonder why someone who takes Shaklee supplements still can have health problems, I hope this somewhat answers your question. Without them, this wouldn’t be a very happy place for Rusty and June Ost. If they can do this much for someone like me, what can they do when someone begins in better health than I did? I think about how much better off I would have been if I had begun Shaklee supplementation at the age of 30 instead of 40…or maybe even 20 years of age?  Could I possibly have prevented all of this from happening to me?

Seven years later in 2007, my cardiologist ordered a follow-up echo cardiogram and stress test to see my current state of heart health. The results were phenomenal. The echo cardiogram showed that my heart had recovered and 100% of heart tissue was alive and healthy. The stress test indicated that I had sufficient blood flow throughout my entire heart. My heart pumping efficiency was normal! I attribute this to my diet and to my program of nutritional supplementation. Daily I consume Shaklee Soy Protein, a Vitalizer strip, OmegaGuard, CoQHeart, Garlic and a few others.

In 2009, my physician once again ordered the tests. And, once again the tests showed that my heart had totally recovered and my heart health was good. My heart pumping efficiency has actually increased to better than normal. In addition to the supplements I began taking Vivix Anti-Aging Tonic a year earlier and I attribute my continued improvement to that. I seem to be the perfect example of someone who is not just getting older, but actually getting better!

For your own sake and the sake of your family, examine the risk factors, try to lead a healthy lifestyle and take Shaklee food supplements.  Dr. Rusty Oats