Filed under: health, natural, nutrition, weight management, wellness | Tags: cooking, health, splenda, sucralose, sugar, wellness
Alternative Isn’t Always Better
My latest aggravation in my grocery shopping experience is *hidden* artificial sweeteners. Look closely at those items that claim *light* or *no added sugar* and often you’ll find the sweetener sucralose, often by its brand name *Splenda*. Sometimes the Splenda brand-name symbol adorns the package, other times it may list sucralose in the ingredients.
Splenda’s marketing slogan is deceptive: “Made from sugar, so it tastes like sugar.” Although Splenda does start off from a sugar molecule, the finished product is far from natural. Sadly, our short-sightedness when it comes to dieting in this country prevents many people from really investigating what they are consuming, and products with artificial sweeteners are often consumed in high daily quantities.
In a nutshell, Splenda is a synthesized chemical. A molecule of sugar is chlorinated by removing 3 hydroxyl groups (atoms made up of hydrogen and oxygen) and replaced with 3 chlorine atoms. This makes Splenda hard for the body to metabolize or digest, and so it is mostly *passed* through one’s system intact.
If you visit the Splenda homepage, you’ll even find the company state: “Although sucralose has a structure like sugar and a sugar-like taste, it is not natural.” That about does it for me. Interstingly, there were no long-term studies to determine sucralose’s safety prior to the FDA approving it as a food additive. Even more interesting is now the herb stevia was just recently approved, even though there was no chemical manipulation to produce it. How long did people consume saccharin before it was discovered that it carried potential health risks? Will Spenda see a similar fate in the future? Only time will tell.
I am a big believer in moderation. I will use sugar or other natural alternatives instead of artificial sweetners; however, I pick and choose where and how much I consume.
Some safer alternatives:
I previously mentioned stevia. It is an intensely sweet herb with zero calories. Last summer we grew a big pot on the deck, and adding fresh sprigs to iced tea, mojitos and other drinks was so refreshing! You can purchase packets of dried stevia at some stores. One caveat: stevia doesn’t hold up well in baking.
Agave nectar has 20 calories per teaspoon. It comes from the blue agave plant, just as tequila does! It tastes very much like a simple sugar syrup. It is 75% sweeter than sugar, so you can use less.
Honey also has 20 calories/tsp. Like agave, it is versatile; plus, it contains antioxidants and enzymes for added benefit.
Maple syrup(pure) has 17 calories per teaspoon. Another versatile sweetener, it also contains minerals. Trader Joe’s now has an excellent maple syrup/agave blend that is really good!
Other sweeteners like barley malt powder and brown rice syrup can successfully be used in baking. They are not as sweet as sugar, but contain some nutrients. There is an excellent cookbook by Heidi Swanson called “Super Natural Cooking”, which has an entire chapter devoted to natural sugar alternatives and has some interesting recipes. I highly recommend it for someone looking to expand their cooking horizons while remaining whole-food based. Also look for Heidi’s website 101cookbooks.com
In the meantime, be vigilant about what you are consuming and read labels carefully. An informed consumer is a healthier consumer!
Filed under: Shaklee, green, health, home business, natural, nutrition, wellness | Tags: finances, health, home-based business, MLM, money, natural, recession, Shaklee, supplements, wellness
Tinley Park, IL. – July 1, 2009 – The latest economic indicators for May bring some hopeful tidings, but also some significant concerns. The U.S. unemployment rate is as high as it has been in 25 years, and there is continued concern about sizable job losses to come. The recession has been a source of severe stress for many throughout the country.
According to the recent Multi-Sponsor Surveys’ 2009 Economic Impact Market Segmentation Study, 49% of employed adults expressed worry about potential job loss, while 32% admitted to “significant” financial troubles.
But amid numerous reports of havoc and despair created by the current economic climate, Lisa Hummitsch, a local small-business entrepreneur here in Tinley Park, reports a very different experience during this recession.
“If it weren’t for the additional income my health-and-wellness business generates, I think my family would probably be in a very different place,” says Hummitsch, who operates a Shaklee business out of her home.
“My business helps us not only continue to pay the bills on time, but it also generates additional income which we save to have on hand for unexpected situations, or use when we want to do something special, like take a trip, buy a new car, or remodel the kitchen—things that would otherwise be outside of our budget.”
Hummitsch credits her home business for helping to alleviate much of her family’s stress and says her business has eased financial concerns while providing flexibility—qualities that can insulate a family from the changing tides of the economy. Most people who run a business from home work only part time, so there’s freedom to plan business activities around the busy schedule of a young family.
“When I began my business,” says Hummitsch, “it was on a very part-time basis. Since I started, I’ve increased the amount of time I spend working with it. Using the Internet and communicating my business online makes my work much more efficient and flexible at the same time, making it possible for me to work on my business pretty much whenever I have downtime from my other responsibilities. Plus, it was easy and inexpensive to get started, and there’s no need to make space in our home for any inventory since the company ships directly to my customers.”
Home businesses have drawn considerable interest from people who may be having a difficult time finding employment and from those looking for an income opportunity that also resonates with their personal beliefs—characteristics that most jobs likely do not offer.
“Because I recommend products that help people to be healthier, that help our environment to be cleaner, and for homes to be safer, I feel good about what I do. And because I also offer the chance for other people to do what I’m doing—to achieve independence in a way they may not have thought possible—there’s an incredible feeling of satisfaction in knowing that I can help make a real difference for people looking for extra income right now.”
According to the 2009 Economic Impact Market Segmentation Study, 60% of adults are now interested in operating a home business in response to the economic downturn.
“To me, there’s a great sense of security knowing that my business is backed by a company that has a proven track record and more than 50 years of experience giving people the means to thrive, even during the most difficult economic times,” says Hummitsch. “Shaklee has grown during each of the prior recessions since it was founded in 1956.”
For more information about Shaklee, please visit www. Shaklee.net/HealthByNature.
# # #
About Shaklee Corporation
Founded more than 50 years ago, Shaklee has been a leading provider of premium-quality natural nutrition products, personal care products, and environmentally friendly home care products. In 2000, Shaklee became the first company in the world to be Climate Neutral™ certified to totally offset its CO2 emissions, resulting in a net-zero impact on the environment. Through Social Marketing™, Shaklee offers an economic opportunity to anyone regardless of background or experience, and has paid more than $4 billion in commissions to its independent distributors worldwide. With a robust product portfolio, including over 50 patents and patents pending, Shaklee has more than 750,000 Members and Distributors around the globe and operates in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, and China. For information about Shaklee, visit www.Shaklee.com.
Filed under: Shaklee, health, natural, nutrition, wellness | Tags: autoimmune diseases, calcium, cancer, cardiovascular health, diabetes, health, health by nauture, magnesium, MS, multiple schlerosis, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Shaklee, supplements, vitamin D, vitamins, wellness
It’s common knowledge that vitamin D is good for your bones. But did you know all the other health benefits this vitamin has to offer?
As we age, we lose muscle strength which can lead to risk of falls which result in bone fractures; studies show that supplementing with vitamin D helps maintain both muscle strength and balance, lessening these risks. Vitamin D also aids in the absorption of calcium. Our Osteo supplement provides 100% of the daily value for both calcium and vitamin D, as well as 100% of the daily value of magnesium, to help incorporate calcium into bones and strengthen them.
Vitamin D can also help alleviate chronic pain; muscle pain and weakness can often be attributed to a vitamin D deficiency.
Studies also suggest that vitamin D may protect against cancer by helping regulate cellular growth. It is believed to strenghthen the immune system and reduce inflammation, offering protection from type-1 diabetes, MS and rheumatoid arthritis. In one particular study, researchers discovered a 40% lower risk of MS in women who supplemented with at least 400 IU of vitamin D daily.
Low vitamin D levels have also been associated with cardiovascular health, increasing the risk of congestive heart failure.
While the body naturally produces vitamin D through natural light exposure, most people still need a supplement to reach recommended levels. We are the #1 natural nutrition company in the U.S., so you can be confident that our products are safe and pure–never synthetic or artificial.
Filed under: Shaklee, health, natural, nutrition, wellness | Tags: anti-aging, antioxidants, cardiac, coenzyme Q10, coQ 10, free radicals, health, health by nature, heart, nutrition, premature aging, resveratrol, Shaklee, supplements, vitamins, wellness
Coenzyme Q10–or CoQ-10, is a compound that is naturally produced in the body. Its potent antioxidant properties aid in cell regeneration and protects them against damage that could lead to heart disease, premature aging, and even cancer.
CoQ-10 is rich in foods like sardines, mackerel, spinach, peanuts & sesame. It helps counteract external factors such as harful UV light and pollution, which can destroy coenzymes and other antioxidants. Your antioxidant levels drop significantly after age 30, and CoQ-10 is the first to decline, which in turn slows down your cells’ ability to repair themselves.
CoQ-10 also affects your skin. It helps repair free radical damage, prevent damage from the sun, and limit the destruction of collagen, helping keep skin’s firmness.
Most CoQ-10 supplements are poorly absorbed by the body and therefore offer little, if any, benefits. Our CoQ-10 supplement uses patented technology to provide enhanced absorption using only natural ingredients–nothing synthetic or artificial. It also contains resveratrol, believed to be the most beneficial antioxidant. For more info on this and other quality natural supplements, visit the Health By Nature website.
Filed under: Shaklee, health, natural, nutrition, wellness | Tags: Shaklee, nutrition, health, supplements, wellness, vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, carotonoids, vitamin e, macular degeneration, eye health, lutein, zeaxanthin, eyesight, vision, cataracts, prevention, healthbynature
The leading cause of blindness is age-related macular degeneration. The glare from computer screens, sunlight, and intense headlight beams all take their toll on even the healthiest eyes, and can contribute to macular degeneration. Carotenoids, found in brightly-colored fruits and veggies, can help combat vision problems.
In a recent study investigating the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, scientists found that supplementing with these carotenoids over a 6-month span significantly increases macular pigment optical density in healthy adults with normal eyesight.
The Women’s Health Study finds that when you add in vitamin E to these carotenoids, it decreases the chance of developing cataracts. In addition to eating plenty of fruits & veggies (including a variety of leafy greens), our Carotenoid supplement provides maximum potency of 6 of the most beneficial carotenoids, and like all our supplements, do not contain synthetic material. You’d have to eat 285 servings of pink grapefruit to get the same lutein & zeaxanthin content in one serving of our supplement!
Additionally recommended supplements are the Vitamin E complex or Vitamin E tablet, both with 400 IU of E.
Filed under: environment, green, health, natural, nutrition, wellness | Tags: antibiotics, bacteria, GMOs, health, health by nature, herbicides, organic, pesticides, toxins, wellness
Certified organic production prohibits:
• persistent, toxic herbicides and pesticides, increasingly linked to birth defects, cncer and other health problems
• genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which have not yet been tested for their impact on the environment or human health
• ionizing radiation
• sewage sludge- a source of asbestos, bacteria, fungi, heavy metals and industrial solvents
• antibiotics, which contribute to drug-resistant bacteria, and growth hormones
SOURCE: The National Organic Program, www.ams.usda.gov/nop, 1/07
Filed under: Shaklee, health, natural, nutrition, wellness | Tags: alfalfa, allergies, anti-histimine, asthma, cholesterol, detoxify, diuretic, gout, health, health by nature, herbal, herbal medicine, menopause, minerals, natural, nutrition, respiratory, Shaklee, supplements, urinary tract infections, UTI, vitamins, wellness
Nicknamed the “father of all foods”, alfalfa has been used as herbal medicine for over 1,500 years. A highly nutritive plant, its approximately 20 foot deep root system has the capacity to absorb minerals from deep within the soil.
In food form, alfalfa sprouts can be added to salads or sandwiches. Alfalfa also comes in supplement form, and people who supplement with alfalfa do so for a wide variety of health benefits. Alfalfa’s high manganese content has been shown to slighly lower blood sugar levels. To manage cholesterol levels, alfalfa can be beneficial because its fibers stick to cholesterol, preventing it from remaining in blood or collecting in blood vessels. It has been known to strengthen one’s immunity. Those suffering from asthma, allergies, or other respiratory conditions have found their symptoms improve or even clear up entirely through a regimen involving alfalfa, a natural anti-histimine. It can be a mild diuretic; alfalfa may relieve swelling and water retention, and aid in eliminating urinary tract infections. Because it mimics estrogen, some find it useful for menopausal symptoms.
Alfalfa has an impressive resume of nutritional content. It contains calcium, phosphorous, iron, magnesium, chlorophyll, bioflavonoids, trace minerals and vitamins. Its leaves and stems are a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals as well.
Alfalfa also detoxifies. It balances and cleanses the blood, alkalizes and detoxifies the body. It can also relieve gout, a painful foot ailment from excess toxins.
Just about anyone can benefit from the use of an alfalfa supplement. Visit the Health By Nature store for ordering information.
Filed under: Shaklee, health, natural, nutrition, wellness | Tags: AMA, health, multiminerals, multivitamins, nutrition, Shaklee, supplements, vitamins, wellness
The short answer: everyone.
Years ago, the AMA’s position on multivitamin supplements was that a healthy diet would be enough to gain all the necessary vitamins and minerals. In 2002, that recommendation was reversed. Finally recognizing the health benefits from a good, quality supplement, the AMA now states that everyone, regardless of age or health status, should take a daily multivitamin. It’s been determined that even with the most ideal diet, we are not necessarily going to receive ALL the needed nutrients from our food. Our food itself has been experiencing a decline in nutritional value as well, due to farming techniques and environmental causes.
Be aware that not all supplements are created equal. Supplements are not regulated with stringent standards the way prescription drugs are. Many cheaper, drugstore supplements are not going to be effective due to potency, formulation, coating, and other factors. Our supplements undergo rigorous testing for purity, potency, and efficacy. Many hold multiple patents, and patented coatings that guarantee nutrients get delivered where they are supposed to, when they are supposed to. If a coating is dissolved too soon via stomach acid, the supplement may be rendered ineffective, which is the problem with many low quality supplements on the market.
Doctors and nurses are supplementing themselves, understanding that supplements play an important role in maintaining and improving health. In a recent study, 72% of physicians and 89% of nurses reported taking supplements. So why do only 68% of the rest of us do so?
Supplements from Shaklee, #1 natural nutrition company in the U.S. are 100% guaranteed, so there is no risk to try them. A Landmark Study conducted last year concluded that people who used multiple Shaklee supplements over a long period of time had markedly better health overall than both people who either used:
• no supplements or
• another brand of multivitamin/multimineral supplement
as measured by higher blood levels of key nutrients and more optimal levels of key health biomarkers.
To see the study in its entirety, go to http://www.nutritionj.com/content/6/1/30
To order supplements, visit www.shaklee.net/healthbynature
