Filed under: Uncategorized
http://healthbynature.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku=00430
In an earlier blog post, I showed the amazing power of Scour-Off, which I used to clean the inside of my oven.
Last week, I decided to try it out on something else: my kitchen grout.
Who knew the grout was supposed to be white??? Ever since we lived here, the ceramic tiles were surrounded by dark lines, which I assumed was normal.
Last week my sister asked me to get her some Scour Off. Ironically, she had just spend a boatload of time and energy cleaning her kitchen grout with a baking soda paste. She knows I find bleach products to be the devil, and besides, she wanted something non-toxic for the safety of her cats. I told her next time to try the Scour-Off, then went off to try it out myself.
Can you tell which tiles were cleaned with Scour-Off?
I can tell you it took very little elbow grease to get it this clean; all you need is a small amount of the paste (which looks red from cherry pits and smells delish!) and some water (or a sprayer with Basic-H2) to get a clean this good.
I have used Scour-Off to get permanent marker out of wood, wine and Kool-Aid stains off my formica counters, cleaned my bathtub and shower stall, and get marks off walls. It is so powerful, Jacques Cousteau had used it on his boat decks for the Wild Dolphin Project, and because it is biodegradable and non-toxic, it was not harmful to ocean life.
Start greening your household and replace your abrasive cleaners and bleach products with Scour-Off-one step to creating a healthier home environment!
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: basic-h, earth day, environment, green, health, press release, Shaklee
Shaklee Independent Distributors reach out to help build greener communities in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Basic-H®
PLEASANTON, Calif. – (April 13, 2010) – Shaklee Corporation, the number one natural nutrition company in the U.S., will be hosting hundreds of events throughout the United States and Canada to help promote environmental responsibility in honor of Earth Day’s 40th anniversary. These events, led by Shaklee Independent Distributors, will range from tree-planting activities to eco-fairs and informational meetings.
In addition to celebrating Earth Day, Shaklee also will be celebrating a significant milestone of its own—the 50th anniversary of Basic-H®, one of the first nontoxic, biodegradable surfactant cleaners in the world. In honor of the anniversary, bottles of Basic H2® Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate—an updated and more concentrated edition of Basic-H—will feature a commemorative seal for a limited time only. Basic H2, the flagship product of the Shaklee Get Clean® household line, provides a super-safe, really powerful, doubly-concentrated clean with thousands of uses. This phosphate-free formula is also concentrated, so it saves money and helps reduce waste compared to ready-to-use cleaners. In fact, the number of Basic H2 bottles sold last year contained the same amount of clean as nearly 1.7 million 26-ounce bottles of conventional, ready-to-use window cleaner—that’s enough bottles to wrap around the earth 11.4 times. Through sales of Basic H2, combined with last year’s sales of Get Clean Starter Kits, Shaklee saved 71 million pounds of greenhouse gases and 31 million pounds of packaging waste.
“There’s only one earth and we have to do all we can to protect it,” says Shaklee Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Roger Barnett. “That goes beyond reducing and recycling. It means reconsidering our options and changing the way we do things. It could be biking to work, using energy-efficient light bulbs, or switching to environment-friendly household cleaning products. If we all make a conscious effort to preserve the planet, imagine the difference we can make.”
The environmental heritage of Shaklee dates back more than 50 years—before Earth Day was established. The company was the first in the world to be Climate Neutral™ certified in 2000, and was recently recognized as an Industry Innovator by the nonprofit group Climate Counts. In 2006, Shaklee initiated a nationwide campaign called A Million Trees. A Million Dreams.™ in collaboration with 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr. Wangari Maathai. As part of the campaign, Shaklee Distributors set out to plant a million trees throughout the U.S.; the millionth tree was planted on Earth Day 2009 at the company’s headquarters in Pleasanton, Calif.
For more information, contact Shaklee Independent Distributor Lisa Hummitsch at www.HealthByNature.MyShaklee.com Use the *contact* me link on the page.
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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. With a robust product portfolio, including more than 50 patents and patents pending worldwide, Shaklee has more than 1.25 million Members and Distributors around the globe and operates in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, and China. For information about Shaklee, visit Shaklee.com.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Health By Nature is running a contest to get to the 1,000th fan on Facebook. Become a fan and ask all your friends to do the same. Our 1,000th fan will receive an awesome gift basket filled with Shaklee’s eco-friendly, non-toxic cleaning products.
Click on the Facebook button to visit our page:
Become a fan of Health By Nature
Filed under: Uncategorized
Recent research has found at least 70% of American children are extrememly low of vitamin D, and in fact 50-75% of ALL Americans do not get enough of this crucial nutrient.
Low vitamin D has long been associated with bone problems such as osteoporosis and rickets, but newer research is now indicating a link with several cancers, heart disease, diabetes, and even conditions like infertility, memory loss and weight.
In keeping with the latest research findings, Shaklee has increased the amount of vitamin D present in its Vita-Lea multivitamins, including Vitalizer and the children’s chewable Incredivites. Since many Americans only get a fraction of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin D through food, it is all the more important to make up the difference through supplementation.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: health, multivitamins, nutrients, nutrition, Shaklee, supplements, vitamins, wellness
Despite recent economic woes, sales of vitamins and nutritional supplements have increased. For many people, a trip to the doctor or filling a prescription is too costly. So, consumers are turning to preventive measures to keep themselves healthy. It has been said that for every $1 spent on supplements, one is saving approximately $28 in healthcare costs down the road–no small change, for sure!
Not too long ago, the Washington Post reported on dietician Danielle Omar, who was attempting to create a diet that met the government guidelines for daily nutritional standards, without the aid of a daily multivitamin. When all was said and done, Omar concluded that supplementation is wise.
For one thing, our food supply is not as nutritionally dense as it was several decades ago. In an era of convenience, people turn to more prepared items and processed foods. Even our fruits & vegetables contain less nutrients than before, due in part to a decrease in soil quality and agricultural practices. The best insurance to getting adequate nutrients and minerals is a balanced diet partnered with a quality food-based multi.
Not All Multis Are Equal!
If you take vitamins, have you ever given much thought to what goes in to them, or how they are manufactured?
There are 3 types of vitamins. The first are test tube or synthetic vitamins, typically found in the drug store aisle. These are man-made, contain inorganic substances, have no enzymes, and may even contain stimulants or cause side effects. (Doesn’t sound like something I want to put in my body!)
The second category are formed with isolates or extracts, often found in a health food store. Though weak, these contain some enzymes. However, they may also use chemical or heat extraction methods, which degrade the quality of the nutrients. They do contain organic substances, though generally low quality raw materials. They often still contain harsh binders and fillers. Labeling can be misleading: these types of supplements need only contain 10% of natural ingredients to be classified as containing *natural ingredients*!
The third category is the most beneficial, because the nutrients are in a natural or unaltered state. They present a strong enzymatic action, and are produced via a low heat and low pressure process. The organic substances used are of the highest quality raw materials, and because they are as close to nature as possible, they feed and improve cell health.
The previous 2 categories of vitamins are classified by the USFDA as *drugs*; whole food supplements are classified as *food*. Now which type do you think the body better processes: synthetic nutrients created in a laboratory, or whole food nutrients? The answer should be obvious!
Many brands of multis will also skimp on the more *expensive* vitamins, like the B vitamins biotin and folic acid. In fact, when I looked at the majority of multi labels in the drug store, all but one contained 10% of the DV for biotin, which is a catalyst for energy production!
In 2002, the American Medical Association revised its position on multivitamins. Previously they maintained that having a balanced healthy diet was enough to consume adequate daily nutrients and minerals. They now state that regardless of age, health concerns or activity, everyone should take a multivitamin.
In addition to that multi, there are times when additional supplementation may be necessary. We are often deficient in one area or another. For a free self-assessment to determine where to start supplementing, send an email to HealthByNature@Shaklee.net with *wellness profile* in the subject field.
Filed under: Uncategorized
People often ask me, “How do you do organic with a family of 5?” To that, I say, “I don’t.”
Much as I would like to be able to 100% shop organic, let’s face it, it’s expensive and not readily available. One thing to take into account is that organic doesn’t *necessarily* mean better. One needs to look at other factors; for example, sometimes choosing local over organic.
First, consider what your family uses a lot of. When we started switching to organic, we began with milk, eggs, and apples. Next, refer to the *dirty dozen* list. This is the top 12 foods that are most likely to retain pesticide residue. You can print a handy list of the dirty dozen and keep it in your purse or wallet: http://www.foodnews.org/ (There’s even an iPhone app of the list!)
Certain fruits & vegetables tend to *not* have pesticide residue, such as bananas, avocados, onions, broccoli, asparagus, mangoes, kiwi and pineapple. With these, buy conventional if you like. Next, fruits & veggies which are in season tend to be cheaper, so plan your menus around what’s in season. In summer, the farmer’s market brings you lovely local produce at great prices. This also helps minimize the environmental impact, since your produce will not be using fuel and energy to be shipped cross-sountry.
Private label organics also tent to be cheaper, since they cut out the middle man. More and more chain stores are creating an organic line. We like Dominick’s/Safeway’s O Organics, and Trader Joe’s organics are often cheaper than the conventional counterparts found at the larger chain grocers.
Small changes can make a big impact–on your health, your wallet, and the environment. Don’t feel like you have to take an all-or-none approach. Change comes about one step at a time!
Filed under: health, natural, nutrition, Shaklee, Uncategorized, 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: health, natural, nutrition, Shaklee, Uncategorized, wellness | Tags: carotenoids, carotonoids, cataracts, eye health, eyesight, health, healthbynature, lutein, macular degeneration, minerals, nutrition, prevention, Shaklee, supplements, vision, vitamin e, vitamins, wellness, zeaxanthin
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, Uncategorized, 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: Uncategorized | Tags: bottled water, BPA, Camelbak, carbon, filtration, health, Klean Kanteen, landfills environment, Nalgene, nutrition, phthalates, plastic, Shaklee, SIGG, tap water, water, wellness
In our rushed and hurried society, bottled water has become a major product of convenience. It is easy and quick to buy a case of bottled water to grab on our way out the door, or to run in and buy a bottle at a convenience store or at the gas station. But did you ever stop and think about the implications of using bottled water regularly?
FIrst, there is an environmental impact. Significant energy is used to produce, manufacture, and transport bottled water, which in turn uses nonrenewable energy sources. In addition, about 80% of water bottles end up in landfills, and those bottles that get recycled still require energy in the recycling process.
Economically, bottled water can put quite a dent in the pocketbook. Think about the cost of fetching a glass of water from the tap, and then compare it to the cost of a bottle of water, which is often overpriced municipal water.
There are different sources of bottled water. Spring, mineral, sparkling, purified, and drinking are some of the common varieties. But surprisingly, water from the tap can be purer and healthier than the bottled variety.
For starters, the plastics used to make many bottles of water contain phthalates, which is why these bottles are meant for one-time use–never wash and reuse them, as the plastic is prone to break down and leach phthalates. The resin used in the bottle is indicated within the triangle recycle symbol at the bottom. #7 is not recommended, as it may leach BPA (bisphenol A), which is identified as a hormone disruptor.
Using a reusable water bottle and filling it with purified water from the tap is a much better choice over bottled water for environmental, financial, and health reasons. There are various home water filtration products, from affordable carbon-filter pitchers to mid-range under-counter filtration systems. Filters can also remove a common contaminant called cryptosporidium, which often gets past municipal water treatments as well as bottled water processing.
When selecting a reusable bottle, there are a number of factors to consider: material safety, weight, mouthpiece/lid, and size. Aluminum bottles like the Swiss made SIGG have no taste compromise, are lightweight, and have a sturdy construction. Stainless steel bottles like those made by Klean Kanteen are a bit heavier and sometimes add a slight metallic taste to water. Plastic bottles should be selected carefully to ensure they are phthalate- and BPA-free. Popular Nalgene water bottles are phasing out their products containing BPA. Camelbak uses a BPA/phthalate-free polymer for their bottles. You’ll also want to consider use; a bottle you take in the car or to the office will probably be different from one used for biking or exercise.
So resolve to break the bottled water habit. Make the small investment of some sort of home filtration system and a good travel bottle, and you’ll be making a significant investment in your planet, your health, and your bank account.
