Category Archives: Diet and Lifestyle

Could Routine Cleanse Days Help You Live Longer?

New research suggests intermittent fasting may reduce risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

One of the unique parts of an Isagenix system is its Cleanse Days. As anyone who uses Isagenix products knows well, performing routine Cleanse Days are at the heart of gaining the greatest health benefits. This is because Cleanse Days help “reset” cellular mechanisms in the body, sparking fat burning, detoxification, and a host of other positive effects.

A major characteristic of Cleanse Days—apart from supplementation with Cleanse for Life, the detox-promoting drink—is the abstinence from food, or intermittent water fasting. Now, evidence is growing that intermittent water fasting could be key to avoiding chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

While most people are aware of the strong evidence behind calorie restriction (as achieved on Shake Days) for reducing risk of chronic disease, recent studies are finding that it may be intermittent fasting (as on Cleanse Days) that is even more beneficial for ultimate longevity.  Continue reading →

Toxin Watch: Five Ways to Avoid Hidden Toxins

By Noreen Khan-Mayberry, PhD (a modified excerpt from her book, Talking Toxicology)

Long-term exposure to everyday toxins like laundry chemicals can affect health.

The sources of toxicity are abundant and are ever-present in our homes, vehicles, and offices as well as our outdoor work/play environments. At home we can look in almost any room and find toxic chemicals that we have purchased and intentionally brought into our indoor environment. Examples include cleaning products, laundry chemicals, paints, thinners, hydrocarbons and petroleum products, personal hygiene products, chemically treated fabrics, fire retardants, sealants, pesticides, pool chemicals and the list goes on.

Generally speaking, people have many more toxins and toxicants than can be listed in a short paragraph. It can seem overwhelming when going through a list of potentially toxic chemicals. But many of us have learned to live with so many chemicals, that we may become complacent of their potential toxicity or we may cling to them as if they are part of our heritage and culture.   Continue reading →

Toxin Watch: A Toxicologist’s Word on BPA

By Noreen Khan-Mayberry, Ph.D.  

A toxic chemical in hard plastics, BPA releases to the environment now exceed 1 million pounds per year.

**The information and statements contained in this work are the professional opinion of Dr. Noreen and are not endorsed, sponsored, or representative of the United States federal government, NASA, or any federal agency. Dr. Noreen’s opinion is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure. **

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical widely used in the manufacturing of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins used in many industries. Humans appear to be exposed primarily through food packaging that was manufactured using BPA. However, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), these products account for less than 5 percent of the BPA used in the United States! Releases of BPA to the environment exceed one million pounds per year. Continue reading →

Fruit & Greens Focus: Are You Getting “Variety”?

For National Nutrition Month, focus on fruit and vegetable variety

Say it again, V-A-R-I-E-T-Y. It’s the variety—not just the quantity of servings—of different colored fruit and vegetables eaten daily that is associated with the greatest health benefits. However, one need only visit the nearest mega-sized supermarket to notice what kinds of foods fill the average American grocery store cart at the expense of fruits and vegetables: processed, empty-calorie foods alongside sweetened and/or alcoholic beverages.

As you’ve probably heard, March is National Nutrition Month, making it a great time to highlight once again two recommendations that topped the list for “Foods and Nutrients to Increase” in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans:

  • “Increase vegetable and fruit intake.”
  • “Eat a variety of vegetables, especially dark-green and red and orange vegetables and beans and peas.”

This month, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is campaigning to “Get Your Plate in Shape”. That is, the message is to make every American plate look more like MyPlate, half of which is fruits and vegetables. How many servings on half a plate? The old message was at least five or more. Now, with the new Guidelines, the message has changed: It’s not necessarily quantity that should be guiding choices, but variety. Continue reading →

Fructose Is Not “Toxic” and Can Help Control Blood Sugar

Fructose is found naturally in fruits

Fructose is healthy at levels found in fruits, new research confirms.

Fructose, found naturally in fruits and vegetables, has been unfairly singled out as a scapegoat for the obesity epidemic, Canadian researchers say.

The sugar is not “toxic,” does not cause weight gain any different than any other source of carbohydrate when consumed in excess, does not affect blood pressure any differently, and can even help manage blood sugar when consumed in amounts normally obtained from fruit. These were the findings of three extensive systematic reviews that analyzed well-designed randomized controlled feeding trials to evaluate the effects of fructose as compared to other sources of carbohydrates.

These meta-analyses revealed the following:

  • Fructose had no significant effect on body weight in an analysis of 31 calorie-controlled trials. Excess calories coming from any source of carbohydrates contributed to weight gain regardless of type.
  • Fructose demonstrated no adverse effect on blood pressure when compared to other carbohydrate sources in an analysis of 15 trials, contrary to previously raised concerns.
  • Some fructose, up to and around 10 grams per meal, could improve glycemic control (blood sugar control), according to analysis of six trials.

Continue reading →