Molecular biologist and ultramarathon runner Dr. Andrews shares his tips on how to slow aging.

The future of antiaging is nigh with minds like Bill Andrews, Ph.D., and Isagenix Founder and Master Formulator John Anderson on the scene of telomere biology research.

Telomeres are non-coding sequences of repetitive DNA at the end of chromosomes that are linked to human lifespan — and Dr. Andrews and Anderson are seeking out natural compounds that will turn on expression of telomerase, an enzyme that restores the length of telomeres.

Keeping telomeres long by reversing age-related shortening can potentially slow the onset of poor health and increase human lifespan.

However, as we await the latest developments in antiaging strategies such as inducing telomerase activity, there are a few lifestyle changes we can make to slow down telomere shortening as much as possible.

In our interview with Dr. Andrews, a molecular biologist who has studied aging at a molecular level for more than 15 years, he shared seven of the best known ways science knows of now to slow down telomere shortening to live longer:

1. Don’t ever smoke. Smoking is not only hazardous to your lungs and cardiovascular health, but is also found to increase rate of telomere shortening, which can lead to dysfunction and instability of chromosomes. 
2. De-stress your life. The more stress you have in your life, the greater risk of increasing the rate of telomere shortening and aging more quickly. How to slow it down? As simple as it might sound, the key is to always have a positive outlook on life. Plus, enjoy a vacation once in a while, enjoy friends and social activities, receive plenty of sleep every night, and try meditation.
3. Exercise regularly. By increasing amounts of physical activity, especially intense physical activity, research shows you could keep your telomeres long and healthy, even buffering the effects of chronic stress.
4. Get your antioxidants daily. When high amounts of free radicals attack cells (causing oxidative stress), they leave no stone unturned making chromosomes and their telomeres vulnerable to shortening. You can best protect yourself by getting plenty of antioxidants in your diet from eating fruits and vegetables daily and supplements. 
5. Never go without fish oil. Fish oil contains long-chain omega-3 fatty acids that are well-known for being healthy to the heart, but recent evidence has shown that increasing amounts in the diet is associated also with slowing telomere shortening over time. You can get enough by eating fish a couple of times per week and by supplementing with long-chain omega-3s daily. 
6. Get enough of the “sunshine vitamin.” Several discoveries have made vitamin D the most popular nutrient of the decade because of its many benefits including an association with longer telomere length. You can make sure you’re getting enough by practicing safe sun exposure and supplementing with vitamin D daily. 
7. Practice safe weight loss. Maintaining a healthy weight is important to keep telomeres long. Incorporating Isagenix products into your weight-loss program such as cleansing and replacing meals with IsaLean shakes and bars is helpful for losing weight and slowing telomere shortening.  

Getting enough vitamin D may help keep your weight in check and your heart healthy.

Dr. Michael Holick of Boston University Medical Center says he’s “just one of the many scientists” exploring vitamin D, but he easily can be considered the world’s foremost authority on the sunshine vitamin.

In the 1970s, it was Dr. Holick who first isolated the major circulating form of vitamin D in plasma, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, as well as the active form produced by the kidneys.

He was also one of the first scientists to warn the medical community about the potential implications of widespread vitamin D insufficiency. When asked about the prevalence of low vitamin D status, he answers that it’s the “most common medical condition in the world, believe it or not.”

Dr. Holick has championed the cause of bringing vitamin D into the limelight for decades, writing numerous scientific papers as well as two popular books on the subject of vitamin D and health.  

Getting D Facts from Dr. Holick

While seeking the latest findings from vitamin D research, David Despain, manager of science communications of the Isagenix Research and Science Team, caught up with Dr. Holick and sought out his advice on sun exposure, vitamin D supplementation and vitamin D’s potential ties to weight management, insulin resistance and heart health.*

Q: Dr. Holick, thank you for taking the time to update us on vitamin D research. Elvis Presley once said, “Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain’t going away.” Don’t you think this quote represents the vitamin D story? 

A: Amen. Elvis was right on target. Our sun has been demonized for 40 years unchallenged. It’s quite remarkable that it’s part of the psyche of the world. But it’s caused a major problem, which is worldwide vitamin D deficiency [or insufficiency] and markedly increased risk of chronic disease for children and adults.

You can instantly make vitamin D, but if you’re avoiding the sun as most people do it puts you at high-risk of deficiency. Why is that? It’s been demonized for so long because the dermatologists have come out with the big “C” word [melanoma skin cancer from sun exposure]. And there’s no question that skin cancer is on the rise. The major reason is because back in the ’60s people used to put baby oil on and bake in the sun. Right? Now, all of the sudden, that’s starting to haunt them later in life. It increased their risk of non-melanoma skin cancer.

But often what people don’t realize is that melanoma, the most deadly cancer—which is also what they lump together with skin cancer from the sun—most melanomas occur on the least sun-exposed areas. Occupational sun exposure decreases your risk of developing melanoma. There was a study done in a group in Texas that if you had the most sun exposure as a child and young adult and you did get melanoma, then you were more likely to survive it.

Q: Would you comment on vitamin D being a hormone, and the oldest hormone?

A: Well, the reason why we say that [it's the oldest hormone] is because I asked the question several years ago. If you take phytoplankton—there’s a phytoplankton species called Emiliani huxleii has been identified as one of the oldest phytoplankton species that has been unchanged for 750 million years. When we looked at that organism, it made a huge amount of vitamin D when it was exposed to sunlight.

It’s a hormone you make in your skin, then it’s inactive. It has to go to your liver to get hydroxylated to 25-hydroxyvitamin D, which is the major circulating form, the form you should ask your doctor to test for vitamin D status. Then it goes to your kidneys where it’s activated to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, then it goes to your bone and intestines and kidneys.

Q: As a hormone, we also know now that it has a greater role on the body besides speeding up absorption of calcium for bone health. There is a link to cardiovascular health, right? What’s the state of the science?

A: As for the heart, we know that vascular smooth muscle cells have vitamin D receptors and we know that vitamin D seems to play a role in regulating blood pressure, regulating heart muscle cells in their growing activity, regulates to some degree the strength of the heart in terms of its pumping ability. That’s why it’s not at all surprising that just two years ago out of the Framingham heart study it shows that if you are vitamin D deficient you [are not providing optimal support for cardiovascular health]. 

Q: How does vitamin D’s relationship to heart health affect you if you are overweight?

A: This issue for obese people is particularly important because vitamin D is fat-soluble and is incorporated in your body fat. We showed many years ago that if you take an obese person and give him an oral dose of vitamin D or put him in a [UVB] tanning bed, it only raises his blood level to less than 50 percent than what a normal-weighted individual does and we’re talking about a BMI [Body Mass Index] of greater than 30. He needs two to three times more [of vitamin D than a person of normal BMI].

We know that obese people have more aches in their muscles, which is definitely due to vitamin D deficiency. They have muscle weakness. They’re fatigued. They just don’t want to go. It’s in part due to the deficiency. We also know that fat cells have a vitamin D receptor. There’s some evidence—we’re doing some research right now—that suggests that maybe vitamin D helps keep fat cells in check.

Q:  Really? By what mechanism is it that you think vitamin D could help keep fat cells in check?

A: It may regulate fat cell maturation. It may regulate fat cell fat accumulation. That’s brand new stuff that we’re taking a look at that we’ve not yet published on. We’re just beginning to look at it.

Q: Is there any relationship established between low vitamin D status and insulin sensitivity?

A: We think so. We know that from NHANES (National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey) that [there may be a relationship associated with insulin sensitivity].

Q: We’ve heard a lot about a new established relationship between vitamin D and the immune system. Would you comment on the mechanism by which vitamin D is involved? 

A: Well we know is that your immune system is regulated by vitamin D. We know that the cell macrophages definitely gobble up infectious agents because of vitamin D, macrophages activate vitamin D locally, and it stimulates production of a defensive protein that kills infectious agents. A study was done to show that if you raise your blood level, that you have more activity of your macrophages in killing infective agents. If there’s anything out there that helps to support the immune system, it’s probably vitamin D.

Q: Do you agree that everyone should be checked for vitamin D status?

A: Well, that’s the problem. It’s not an unreasonable thing to do, but I can already tell you they’re deficient. We know almost everyone’s deficient. If a normal adult isn’t taking at least 1,500 to 2,000 IU from supplement and diet—and you can’t really get it from your diet—then we know you’re vitamin D deficient. And so, to try to screen everybody, all the obese people in the United States is such a huge cost burden.

In fact, Medicare is looking at this right now and wanting to control the doctors’ use of that assay. They do not want to use it as a screening tool. I don’t disagree with that. Because we know that you can very effectively correct vitamin D deficiency, treat it, and prevent it from occurring again, if you give the person enough vitamin D. So only if they have fat malabsorption syndrome, or has had gastric bypass surgery, or cystic fibrosis, IBD, or celiac sprue—all of those individuals should be tested because you can’t predict whether or not they’re going to be able to absorb the vitamin D that you give them as a supplement.

Q: What about older people? Does the requirement for vitamin D supplementation increase with older age because of declined absorption?

A: No it does not. That’s what everybody says. [Note: Elderly can absorb vitamin D as easily as younger people.] What does change with age is the ability to make it in your skin. We showed many years ago that if you compare a 70-year-old to a 20-year-old, the 70-year-old will have about a 70 percent reduced ability to produce vitamin D. But we also went on to show that you can take an older person and still have them exposed to sunlight or simulated sunlight and they make a lot of vitamin D. Your body has a huge capacity to make vitamin D. We showed that healthy adults in bathing suits getting a minimal erythermal dose get an equivalent to ingesting 20,000 IU of vitamin D.

Now you begin to understand why the 100 IU in a glass of milk or orange juice or the 400 IU in a multivitamin is probably one tenth of what we really need to satisfy our body’s requirements for heart health or for reducing risk diseases.

Q: Do you agree as other scientists have suggested that the average person should be getting at least 20 minutes of sunshine per day for adequate vitamin D intake along with supplementation? 

Dr. Holick has been researching vitamin D since the 1970s.

A: I don’t know about 20 minutes a day because it depends upon time of day, season of the year, latitude, and your degree of skin pigmentation. What I tell people is, if you know that you’re going to be out in June at noon-time for 30 minutes, in Arizona, and you’re going to get a light sunburn to your skin, to go out 50 percent of that time.

Always protect your face, it’s the most sun exposed, the most sun damaged. But you can certainly expose your arms and legs and not worry about it, in my opinion. Abdomen, back, not a problem. The more skin you expose, the more [vitamin D] that you make.

Q: Do you expect the Institute of Medicine’s recommendations for Adequate Intake of vitamin D to change in the United States anytime soon to reflect findings of new research?

A: Yes, there will definitely be new Adequate Intakes. What you really care about though is not the AI recommendation, what you care about is the Upper Limit—that’s what prevents manufacturers from putting vitamin D into foods. The amounts that you can put in and the amounts that supplements can contain.

The safe upper limit right now is considered to be 2,000 IU for adults. The major manufacturers like Coca Cola or who make Minute Maid orange juice for example put only 100 IU in a glass, because if they put in any more then they start adding that up, drinking milk and taking a multivitamin, you’re over the 2,000 IU limit.

Then if you get some toxicity like a kidney stone, it doesn’t matter that it’s not due to the vitamin D, the lawyers will say that it is if you put more than you should’ve put in. So they need to increase it like to 10,000 IU in which case, then we can really have an impact on the entire U.S. population and the world’s population because they could now put more vitamin D in the food.

Q: Dr. Holick, this has been very interesting and I’m sure it will be interesting to our readers. Thank you for your time. Also, congrats on the new book. We’ll be ordering a couple of copies for our library.

A: Wonderful. Feel free to stay in touch. 

* The content of this article is for scientific and educational purposes only, and has been edited for clarity. The statements in this interview are the opinions of Dr. Holick and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Isagenix. Dr. Holick is not affiliated with Isagenix and has not been compensated for his participation in this interview. For more information about Dr. Holick or his books, please visit http://www.drholicksdsolution.com.

Three critical steps for maintaining muscle are strength training, quality protein, and vitamin D and coQ10 supplementation.

Aging is characterized by a decline in muscle mass, or sarcopenia, that nearly doubles at ages 60 and on because of a gradual, accelerating decrease in basal metabolic rate and energy levels combined with increased weakness and frailty. These outcomes only lead to less physical activity creating further reductions in lean body mass replaced by fat mass.

Statistics show that within the next few decades the population of people ages 60 and older is expected to nearly double. Because sarcopenia has a powerful influence on the body’s metabolism and health, one of the most important factors in keeping and staying healthy is preserving skeletal muscle mass and strength.

Slowing Sarcopenia With Help from Isagenix

In the last two decades, researchers have discovered excellent approaches for the preservation of muscle mass and strength. Based on their latest findings, here are three vital steps that people must adopt to help slow age-related muscle loss.

 Step 1: Adopt a Strength Training Program

Too little physical activity accelerates muscle loss more quickly than any other factor in a person’s lifestyle. This is why exercise is the single most important part of slowing sarcopenia. In addition, strength-training programs such as weight lifting have been demonstrated to not only preserve, but reverse loss of muscle strength.

A 1994 study by Dr. Mary A. Fiatarone and colleagues showed that a program including high-intensity strength-training exercise, such as stair climbing, was successful for 100 elderly male nursing home residents. The residents improved muscle strength, increased muscle in thigh areas, increased stair climbing power and increased levels of spontaneous physical activity. 

Strength training is a vital part of a balanced exercise routine that includes aerobic activity and flexibility exercises. Regular aerobic exercise, such as running or using a stationary bike, makes muscles use oxygen more efficiently and strengthens the heart and lungs. When strength training is involved (with resistance), then muscles work against extra pounds. Making muscles work harder than they’re used to strengthens and increases amount of muscle mass in the body.

Strength training can include weight lifting, stair climbing, hiking or swimming. It doesn’t have to take large amounts of time—as little as 30 minutes daily is all that is needed to begin making muscle gains and this can be broken down into three 10-minute exercise times.

Step 2: Eat Quality Protein  At Every Meal, Especially At Breakfast and After Workouts

Muscle synthesis requires amino acids as “building blocks” for making protein. Studies show the biggest muscle gains come from regular protein intake throughout the day. Consistent increases in plasma levels of amino acids support muscle recovery and growth.

Newest research presented at  in April at Experimental Biology 2010 showed that the key time to synthesize muscle occurs when you have protein of at least 20 grams at breakfast!

At the same time, there are specific amino acids that directly stimulate protein synthesis. These are branched-chain amino acids isoleucine, leucine and valine. Leucine is the most potent trigger for protein synthesis.

Studies suggests that the simple act of eating a leucine-rich meal can induce muscle growth in young adults and similar effects from leucine-rich meals have not been demonstrated in older adults who are physically active.

Whey protein’s rich leucine content makes it Mother Nature’s most effective protein source for promoting muscle. After physical activity, in fact, whey protein has been shown in studies to double  protein synthesis compared to protein sources that are lower in leucine.

Isagenix’s IsaLean products (Shakes, Soups, Bars) and IsaPro are excellent products for obtaining plenty of leucine throughout the day and, specifically, for breakfast and after workouts.

Step 3: Get Enough of the “Sunshine Vitamin” and CoQ10 Daily

Results from two different recent studies show how important Vitamin D status is to  muscle strength. One of the studies found that young women with higher vitamin D plasma levels had reduced levels of fat in their muscles. The second study found that vitamin D was associated with larger muscles and greater physical function in the elderly.

Although neither of the studies suggested a mechanism or a direct causal relationship between vitamin D and muscle strength, this hormone-like vitamin-like is now thought to have a an important link to muscle health in addition to its role in bone health. The studies provide more evidence supporting the widely held views that people need more vitamin D daily than what they currently receive.

People can easily receive enough vitamin D daily by practicing safe sun exposure and supplementation, as suggested by the latest scientific findings presented at Experimental Biology to support bones, muscles and the heart.   

Because CoQ10 is a vital nutrient for energy production in every cell in the body including in the muscles and heart, getting enough coQ10 daily keeps energy levels up for performing regular physical activity. 

Although the body makes CoQ10 naturally, its biosynthesis begins to decline with aging. By age 60, most people make only 50 percent of what they did in their mid-twenties.  

Isagenix Ageless Actives is a great way to get the benefits of vitamin D and CoQ10 simultaneously.

Muscle Strength is Monumental

Muscle mass is not just for bodybuilders. It provides the core strength for bones and is directly linked to overall quality of life. In efforts to make an impact on the effects of aging, muscle should never be discounted in the program. Muscle improves metabolism, promotes greater weight-loss benefits, and reduces risk of health conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The more muscle a person has over time, the longer that person will enjoy healthy living.

Cutting sodium intake is made easier with a few simple strategies and Isagenix products.

By now you’ve probably seen the news headlines and heard the statistics: One in three adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure, or nearly 75 million people ages 20 and older. The Institute of Medicine has urged for implementation of strategies to cut sodium in foods nationwide to help prevent an estimated 100,000 deaths from heart disease annually.

In addition, Time reports that a collaborative study between University of California, University of San Francisco, Stanford  University and Columbia University, showed that if Americans reduced sodium to recommended levels per day, it could be enough to save the between $10 million and $24 million in hypertension-related healthcare costs every year.

Sodium’s association with high blood pressure is well known. However, sodium also plays a large role in keeping you healthy. It’s important to know how to strike the right balance.

 Sodium in the Body

Along with potassium, sodium is essential for fluid balance, facilitating the flow of water in and out of cells to bring nutrients in and take wastes away. Sodium also has a role in the regulation of blood pressure and helping muscles and the heart relax. Each sodium ion contains an electrical charge, acting as an electrolyte, which allows transmission of nerve impulses to the brain and throughout the body.

Sodium levels in the body are controlled by the kidneys. If the body doesn’t receive enough sodium daily—a chronic problem for our early ancestors—then the kidneys retain sodium. When the body has a high enough amount, then the excess sodium is excreted in the urine.

At times, sodium levels may fluctuate. If a person has a dysfunctional kidney, then the body may retain too much sodium, which can result in edema, or swelling in the legs and feet because sodium attracts water. In contrast, diarrhea or vomiting may result decreased sodium levels, a condition known as hyponatremia.

How sodium regulates blood pressure is not entirely understood, but there is an established link between high sodium intake and high blood pressure. As expected, there is also a link between sodium reduction and lower blood pressure.

The sodium-hypertension relationship may also have to do with how sodium interplays with other minerals such as potassium and calcium. Potassium, for example, appears to assist the kidneys in shedding excess sodium. Lowering sodium intake also helps to conserve calcium, which may affect blood pressure.

Recommendations for Sodium

The Institute of Medicine is recommending an Adequate Intake of sodium at 1,500 mg per day for adults and children 9-13 as well as 1,000 mg and 1,200 mg per day for children ages 1-3 and 4-8, respectively. These levels are considered appropriate for replacing daily losses via sweat and urine. The need for sodium may be slightly greater if exercise produces excessive sweating or if a person has symptoms of vomiting or diarrhea.

On average, however, most adults in the U.S. consume about 3,200 milligrams or more a day. With these figures, it is easy to understand why high blood pressure affects nearly 75 million Americans. The average intake is well above the Institute of Medicine’s Tolerable Upper Intake Level of 2,300 milligrams per day for adults and 1,500mg, 1,900mg and 2,200 mg for children ages 1-3, 4-8 and 9-13, respectively.

Cutting sodium intake daily tor recommended levels is important and it doesn’t have to be difficult with these three simple strategies:

Sodium Strategy #1: Limit processed or prepared foods high in sodium. Most sodium in the diet doesn’t come from the salt shaker, but from processed and prepared foods. Thus, the best way to lower sodium is to reduce intake of processed foods or replace them with low-sodium alternatives. This includes ready-to-eat packaged foods such as potato chips, fast-food meals such as burritos, and highly salted meals prepared at restaurants.

Sodium Strategy #2: Learn to enjoy food without salt. Taste food before salting it; the food may already be salty enough or it may be enjoyed without salt. In fact, salty is an acquired taste. The body and taste buds can easily adjust to less salt. Studies have shown that as people reduce salt intake and stick to a relatively lower intake of sodium, they will naturally begin to prefer foods with less salt. When eating at home, try not having the salt shaker on the table and, if eating out, simply move salt shakers to another table. When preparing food, try using less salt and seasoning food with spices or salt-substitutes instead. Keep an eye on store-bought spice blends, though, as many may contain high amounts of salt.

Sodium Strategy #3: Balance sodium with potassium-rich fruits and vegetables. A clear association exists between higher potassium intake from fruits and vegetables and lower blood pressure regardless of sodium intake. Potassium helps the kidneys in promoting sodium excretion, reduces urinary calcium and magnesium (which influence blood pressure), supports smooth vascular muscle health, and helps with regulation of blood pressure.    

 Less Sodium in a DASH

Most people who are interested in maintaining healthy blood pressure levels would do best to follow a DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension)eating plan. In the well-known DASH-sodium study, which was conducted by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, people following the diet lowered blood pressure in just 14 days even without reducing salt intake.

The DASH eating plan includes consuming a diet rich in low-fat, low-sodium dairy products, fish, chicken and lean meats as well as large amount of whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

When a person is concerned about blood pressure, the best advice nutritionists can give is to begin following a DASH eating plan combined with regular exercise and weight management. In fact, according to a recent study in Hypertension, this plan helped people reduce blood pressure, lose weight, improve mental function, and improve cardiovascular health.

Five Tips for Using Isagenix Products with DASH to Help Cut Sodium

When used as part of a DASH eating plan, the following Isagenix products can help people work toward maintaining healthy blood pressure levels, maintaining a healthy weight and supporting long-term cardiovascular health:

Tip #1: DASH sodium with IsaLean® Shake. Low-sodium dairy products containing calcium fit into a DASH eating plan and can help support weight management. Weight management in itself also supports lower blood pressure. The IsaLean Shake is a delicious whey-based beverage designed to help people minimize caloric intake and maximize nutrition. Each serving contains 400 mg of calcium, 300 mg of potassium, and only 115 mg of sodium.

Tip #2: Get more whole grains with Oatmeal Berry SlimCakes®. Low-fat diets rich in fiber from whole grains support heart health. Oatmeal Berry SlimCakes taste great and are rich in soluble fiber from whole oats and ground flax seed. Each treat contains 40 mg of potassium and only 85 mg of sodium.

Tip #3: Sprinkle on the IsaCrunch®. Hemp seed provides a delicious unsalted snack anytime, right out of the container or sprinkled—in place of salt—on salads and soups. IsaCrunch hulled hempseed is THC free and packed with protein and healthy polyunsaturated fats.  

Tip #4: Drink IsaCalcium® daily. Calcium supports healthy blood pressure levels possibly by influencing vascular tone and relaxation and helping to correct calcium losses caused by too much sodium intake. Each serving of strawberries-and-cream flavored IsaCalcium provides three times the calcium found in a glass of milk.

Tip #5: Take IsaOmega Supreme®  daily. The American Heart Association recommendations receiving enough omega-3 fatty acids daily from fish to promote long-term cardiovascular health. Studies have also shown that fish oil omega-3 fatty acids (especially DHA) may help offset sodium and help maintain healthy blood pressure levels. IsaOmega Supreme is a high-potency dietary supplement that helps provides a healthy dose of long-chain DHA and EPA omega-3 fatty acids.

Taking the Pressure Off of Sodium

It’s extremely easy to place all of the blame for society’s high blood pressure woes and medical costs on sodium, but the mineral’s role in the body should not be ignored. Sodium is essential for good health and too little could lead to other health issues, including deficiencies in iodine, which is mainly provided in the North American diet from iodized salt.

While lowering sodium consumption can lead to a natural preference for foods with less salt, it’s important not to cut salt out completely. Because the body requires some sodium to function properly, avoiding salt entirely might backfire, and cause cravings for high-sodium foods. As with almost all vitamins and minerals, the key to healthy sodium intake is always balance with other nutrients. A DASH eating plan and strategies for maintaining a healthy intake (such as those given above) can help you achieve this balance of nutrients for healthy blood pressure levels and optimal health.

Adults can act as role models to encourage children to eat right and stay active.

Childhood obesity continues to be a major health problem and is increasing at an alarming rate. A few decades ago it was uncommon to see an overweight or obese child, whereas today, it is much more common  and becoming more so every year.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly one out of every seven children, or 15 percent of children in the U.S., are overweight or obese. In fact, over the last three decades, the rate of obesity has more than doubled for preschool children and adolescents, and more than tripled for elementary school-age children.

Tips for Keeping Kids On the Move

Children who are inactive are more likely to become overweight because they are not burning extra calories like children who are physically active. When calories consumed become greater than calories burned, the result is weight gain. Television and video games may also play a large role in kids leading a sedentary lifestyle and becoming overweight. Here are a few ways to help encourage lifestyle habits that keep children active.

• Make physical activity fun! Encourage outdoor activities that kids like such as bicycling, skating, or swimming. Get them involved in sports they enjoy, whether it’s a team sport or individual sport. The important thing is that they enjoy it. If they find it fun, they will be more likely to do it.
• Be sure to get involved with your children, picking activities that the whole family can enjoy together. Plan outings as a family—bike rides, nature walks, scavenger hunts, and play games like Red Rover that encourage fitness. Let them witness you enjoying the activity along with them. Making time for outdoor play is important because often a child’s entire schedule can become dominated with sedentary, indoor activities.
• Have children help with daily chores, whether it’s sweeping, vacuuming, gardening, anything that gets them moving. Not only will they be helping out, but they will also be getting some physical activity at the same time.

Tips to Keep Kids Eating Right

In addition to not expending much energy, kids who participate in sedentary activities often practice unhealthy snacking, which further contributes to weight gain. Other than physical activity, the best method to help control weight is to eat nutritious meals regularly. Here are a few ways to help children healthy by encouraging them to eat right.

• Enjoy family meals prepared at home. Studies show that children who eat meals frequently at home and with their families have better nutritional intake and a reduced risk for obesity. Once again, as adult role models, when we allow children to assist us in preparing meals at home and eating with us, it invites them to learn healthy traditions that can stay with them the rest of their lives. 
• When children are on the run, don’t let them head straight for ready-to-eat processed foods that are high in calories, sugar, fat and sodium. Cut out fast food or, if you must, encourage them to choose healthy alternatives—apples over fries, sweet potato fries over regular fries. Encourage whole fruits for snacks instead of chips, milk or water instead of soda.
• Fill in nutritional gaps with Isagenix products. Too many children in the U.S. are overfed, but undernourished. The products can help children to grow and develop strong bones, muscles and minds. Here are products that children are sure to enjoy and can help promote their long-term health.  
  • As part of a nutritious breakfast, children can enjoy a quick-and-easy IsaLean® Shake, which is high in protein, contains balanced amounts of carbohydrates and “good” fats, is low in sodium, and contain a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals. Children also enjoy taking IsaLean Bars to school as afternoon snacks.
  • Replace sugary sodas and drinks with IsaFruits®, a drink powder mix that provides children with the antioxidant equivalent of having consumed more than 30 different fruits without consuming all the sugar.
  • Gain peace of mind with chewable IsaKids® Essentials, which can help cover daily requirements for many vitamins and minerals. For example, the dietary supplement contains vitamins A, C and E, folic acid, iodine and zinc. And, unlike other children’s vitamins, it is sweetened with xylitol to help fight cavities.  

Keeping Kids Motivated

Rewarding healthy behaviors can help keep kids motivated. Don’t focus on the number of pounds they lost, but rather on making healthy changes. Activities they enjoy, such as taking them to the movies or a trip to the park, make fantastic rewards.

As parents and responsible adult role models, it is truly our responsibility to not only set good examples, but also to reinforce positive habits like eating right and staying active. Every child deserves a bright and healthy future. We can each do our part to help combat the childhood obesity epidemic.

No other nutrient makes more of an impact on health than water.

Life as we know it cannot exist without water. Every biochemical reaction in our cells depends on water. Water is needed to maintain cell structures, enable protein production, and enables all our enzymes to function. It facilitates the flow of nutrients into cells and allows waste to flow out. Every available space in and between cells in the body is aqueous.

The human body is made up of about 70 to 75 percent water. It requires water for proper digestion, transport of nutrients, nutrient metabolism, and elimination of toxins. The brain itself is made up of about 85 percent water, which it requires for proper cognitive function and memory. The body also uses water to maintain cardiac output, heart rate and blood pressure.

Most people are aware of the dangers of dehydration produced from diarrhea, vomiting, excessive sweating, diabetes, burns or prolonged lack of fluid intake. Severe dehydration can lead to mental confusion, weakness and possible organ failure. However, many are not aware that they may be suffering from chronic mild dehydration. According to estimates using data from Nationwide Food Consumption Survey, nutritionists determined that chronic mild dehydration affects a significant portion of the U.S. population unknowingly.

As a matter of fact, you may be mildly dehydrated right at this very moment.

We lose water regularly as we breathe, when we sweat, and when we urinate or have a bowel movement. When you feel thirsty, you are generally already at 1 or 2 percent mild dehydration. Even 1 or 2 percent loss of water can impair physiology and performance, so it’s important to ensure regular water intake.

Long-term Hazards of Not Drinking Enough Water

Think of the last time you might have had a headache, felt unexplainably tired, or had no appetite for no apparent reason. At the same time, you might have also felt light headed, had flushed skin, or had dry mouth and eyes. Did you notice your urine was a little darker or had a strong odor? All of these are early signs of mild or moderate dehydration. 

You may become mildly or moderately dehydrated simply because of you are not drinking enough water, from lack of thirst or not liking the flavor of your water. Mild dehydration can also result from exercise or heat, which produce sweating, or chronic consumption of caffeinated or alcoholic beverages such as tea, coffee, wine or beer, which can act as diuretics and influence hormones that dehydrate body tissues and the brain.

When the signs of mild dehydration occur, many people ignore them. They often overlook the role of water for optimal health. The body may go on suffering—suffering for what can simply be solved by a tall glass of plain water. Chronic mild dehydration can have long-term consequences, many of which are not yet entirely understood. What is known is that because water is vital for all cells and organs to function properly, the lack of water may lead to increased susceptibility to cellular damage that can eventually lead to chronic health problems and organ failure.

How to Hydrate for Health

Without a doubt, one of the most important long-term habits that health-conscious people should adopt is making sure they are drinking sufficient water daily. An increasing number of clinicians and health-conscious people have found that three simple steps can help increase a person’s intake of healthy water to support cellular, digestive, mental, and cardiovascular health. 

Step 1: Purify your water

You should only provide your cells with fresh, pure water. Water from the tap of many cities is adequately treated, but may still contain pollutants that are undesirable—not the kind of water you want if you’re interested in long-term health.

There are multiple methods of purification, but the most often used process is reverse osmosis filtration, which can remove up to 99 percent of impurities. Distillation, on the other hand, can remove virtually all impurities. Whichever method of filtration you choose, the result will make profound effects on your health long term.  

Step 2: Treat water with IsaWATER™ Alkalized Concentrate

Most of us don’t realize that the water we drink, even bottled or purified, may be acidic and contain impurities that may produce free radicals. The water is usually not appealing to the taste buds and certainly not the best water for your health. Water flavor also influences how much water one drinks daily. If you don’t like the water, you won’t drink it.

With a quality product such as IsaWATER™ Alkalized Concentrate, you can easily turn purified drinking water into one that supports long-term health. The alkaline concentrate contains a stabilized high-negative Oxidation-Reduction Potential (ORP) that refreshes the flavor of your water and energizes it with electrons to neutralize free radicals.

 Step 3: Drink a total eight 8 oz. glasses of purified water daily, one first thing in the morning, and seven more throughout the day. 

 There is possibly no other more important health habit than dutifully drinking eight glasses of purified water daily. By doing so, you are properly hydrating your body so it may function optimally and supporting regular elimination of toxins.

You should drink the first glass first thing in the morning. It has an immediate cleansing effect in cells, improves digestive function (needed for breakfast) and helps you avoid symptoms associated with mild dehydration. While you sleep, your body continues working. Upon first waking, most people are already mildly or moderately dehydrated (recall that even 1 or 2 percent loss can lead to impaired physiology).

Then, drinking seven glasses of water throughout the day can help make sure you stay adequately hydrated. However, this is not a “one size fits all” guideline. For a truer approach, consider drinking at least half your body weight in ounces daily. Also, consider that exercise or the heat of summer days can potentially increase your need for water. When playing sports or exercising, be sure to drink water every 20 minutes.

 Your Health Can Depend on Your Water Intake

 The true health implications of inadequate water intake are not all clear. While this critical nutrient is available free or at low cost to most of the population, it does not have any major sources of research funding. It will likely take years of research before more is known about the total effects of chronic mild dehydration. However, it is clear that drinking the right kind and amount of water is truly one of the keys to good health.

For long-term health, make sure you always have drinkable, purified, alkalized high negative ORP water available. There is little risk from maximizing the benefits of this profoundly important nutrient, as it affects every biochemical function and the body as a whole. Your future health will depend on your water intake today. Make sure it’s the best water and that you’re drinking plenty of it.

Isagenix products help athletes cross finish lines with winning nutritional advantages.

When winning is on the line, make sure nutrition is on your side. Athletes faced with the pressure of regular workouts and performance have increased nutritional needs, especially when it comes to protein. 

With Isagenix products, athletes can gain an edge. These step-by-step guidelines are full-proof for helping strength and endurance athletes meet performance goals.

Step 1: Get enough protein daily with help from high-protein IsaLean® Shakes, Bars and Soups

Protein is major in sports performance. Without enough protein intake, athletic potential can be seriously hampered. This is because the body doesn’t store protein well. Continual replenishment is needed for repairing muscle breakdown and building new muscle tissue.

The average adult needs about 0.6-0.8 grams protein per kilogram (about 2.2 pounds) daily. Active adults should keep protein up to about 0.8 grams per kilogram daily. How much do athletes need? It can depend on exercise intensity and type of training. Studies on endurance athletes and strength training athletes suggest they can gain most from intake of 1.4 grams to 1.8 grams per kilogram daily, respectively. 

Athletes can make sure they’re getting enough protein daily with IsaLean Shakes, Bars and Soups. These meal-replacements are high in protein and are balanced with healthy amounts of carbs and fats as well as a full spectrum of vitamins and minerals.

Step 2: Maximize muscle gains by drinking IsaLean® Shake in the morning and spacing protein intake throughout the day

Protein intake daily is less important than time of intake. Studies show the biggest muscle gains come from regular protein intake throughout the day. Consistent increases in plasma levels of amino acids support muscle recovery and growth.

Athletes on a typical Western-style diet may find their protein intake varies too much throughout the day. An athlete needing 90 grams of protein intake daily, for example, may eat breakfast of just an egg, toast and coffee (approximately 10 grams of protein), then a chicken sandwich for lunch (approximately 20 grams of protein), and, to make up the difference, steak for dinner (approximately 60 grams of protein).

Best advice for these athletes to make the biggest impact on muscle gains is to switch to a diet that provides quality sources of protein throughout the day. Athletes needing 90 grams of protein per day should have the same level of protein at breakfast, lunch and dinner at approximately 30 grams (see graph below). To help cover protein requirements in the morning, athletes should drink an IsaLean Shake for breakfast or with breakfast. 

Plus, the combination of proteins in the shake can make a profound difference. Dairy whey is quickly absorbed protein giving athletes a large increase in amino acids. Casein is more slowly absorbed providing a sustained increase in plasma amino acids.

Step 3: Never end workouts without IsaPro® whey protein mixed into a IsaLean Shake

The one- to two-hour period right after a workout is prime time for muscle anabolism. It’s this time when you need protein most. The body is craving nutrients for muscle recovery and protein is highest on the list, especially if the protein is high in branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs).

Whey protein is rich in all the BCAAs: leucine, isoleucine, valine. Research studies show that extra fast-absorbing whey protein after workouts boosts muscle growth in active adults and athletes.

Enter IsaPro® unflavored whey protein: one scoop of IsaPro to one and a half scoops of IsaLean Shake provides a whopping 35 grams of protein per serving. The extra protein along with the extra nutrients from the shake makes for best muscle recovery.

And don’t think it wrong to add in some fruit to your ultra-high protein shake after exercise. Studies show that some sugar during and after workouts induces an insulin response that helps drive protein synthesis along with helping to replenish muscle glycogen (carbs stored in your muscle for quick energy).

Other Isagenix products for athletes? 

• Athletes can take advantage of Ionix Supreme® for its content of “adaptogens” for powering performance while under stress.
• Workouts are always easier with Want More Energy?® to replenish carbs and B vitamins that are depleted during exercise.
• Never eat another one of your meals without Multi-Enzyme Complex. The digestive enzymes supplement boosts break down of protein and increases absorption of amino acids. It can also help endurance athletes gain lasting energy by helping to break down complex carbs. 
• Everyone knows they should be on fish oil for cardiovascular health, but what athletes may not know is that fish oil reduces inflammation supporting joint health too. IsaOmega Supreme™ is best suited for athletes because of high potency and because its purity is guaranteed.
• With exercise comes increased oxidative stress from free radicals, which makes antioxidants more important than ever for the body. Athletes can be sure they’re getting a broad variety of antioxidants with plenty of fruits and vegetables in their diet along with supplements such as Cleanse for Life™, Antioxidants™, IsaFruits® and IsaDelight™. 
• Lastly, there’s no body function possible without adequate amounts of water. Athletes can be sure they’re getting the best water for their body with IsaWater™ Alkalized Concentrate, which delivers a high negative Oxidation Reduction Potential to neutralize free radicals in water.  

Success Comes with Consistency

Staying on top of nutrition, particularly protein intake, isn’t always easy. Athletes should be sure to have plenty of Isagenix products on hand for when they’re needed most. IsaLean Shake, IsaLean Soups and IsaPro should always be available in easy reach at home and at the office. IsaLean Bars are travel-friendly for those on-the-go athletes. Consistency brings consistent recovery and consistent muscle gains, which leads to top-level form performance.

Keeping blood pressure under control is made easier with a few simple lifestyle changes.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, affects more than 73 million people in the U.S., and is one of the major causes of heart attack and stroke. Because too many people have the condition without knowing it, according to the American Heart Association, it is often called “the silent killer.” The good news is that you can make lifestyle changes to help maintain healthy blood pressure and eliminate certain risk factors for the condition.

Here are seven steps for maintaining healthy blood pressure and eliminating risk factors:

Step 1: Get Your Blood Pressure Checked Regularly

High blood pressure can be present even when you have no symptoms, so it requires you to get your blood pressure checked regularly, especially if you are at higher risk.

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries and is measured using two number readings, systolic pressure and diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure (top number) refers to the pressure when your heart contracts, pumping the blood, and diastolic pressure (bottom number) refers to the pressure when your heart is at rest. A blood pressure reading of higher than 140/90 mmHg is considered high blood pressure.

Some risk factors of which are not controllable include:

• Age—the older you are, the higher the risk for developing high blood pressure.
• Race—high blood pressure is most common in those of African descent.
• Family history—those with a family history of hypertension have a greater chance of developing the condition.

Step 2: Maintain a Healthy Weight

Being overweight is a risk factor for high blood pressure because it increases the volume of blood flowing through your vessels, causing an increase in pressure on artery walls. If overweight, losing a few pounds can help to lower high blood pressure and help you feel better.

The Isagenix® Cleansing and Fat Burning System is an excellent program for weight loss. This system includes nutritional cleansing and replacing meals with high-protein shakes. If you are on high-blood pressure medication, however, please be advised that you should check with your doctor before starting the system or any other weight-loss program.

Because lowering calories or “deep cleansing” can potentially lower blood pressure too quickly if you are on medication, it is important for your doctor to monitor you and make medication adjustments as appropriate. Your medication should only be changed with the help of your doctor (read below for more info on medications).   

Step 3: Follow the DASH Eating Plan

Eating healthy foods low in sodium can help you to not only get your weight under control, but your blood pressure as well. The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) Eating Plan emphasizes eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products to help you maintain healthy blood pressure levels.

Just decreasing the amount of sodium in your diet—eliminating processed foods, for example—as part of the DASH plan can go a long way in helping to reduce high blood pressure. Too much sodium can cause fluid retention, increasing blood pressure.

Instead of grabbing a frozen dinner, choose a healthier option such as the IsaLean® Shake, which is high in quality dairy protein, vitamins and minerals and low in saturated fat and sodium. Studies show that a diet higher in protein, especially from dairy, and lower in carbohydrates and sodium may help with maintaining a healthy blood pressure.

Step 3: Get Enough Omega-3s, Especially Those From Fish

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fats—from flax oil or coldwater fish—can help you maintain healthy blood pressure, according to observational, epidemiologic and some clinical trials. Out of all types of omega-3s, studies show that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from fish oil is the most effective for maintaining a healthy blood pressure.

To help maintain healthy blood pressure, eat coldwater fish three times a week (except those high in mercury such as swordfish) and/or take a high-dose fish oil supplement such as IsaOmega Supreme™ daily. (Those with high blood pressure should consult with their doctors before taking a daily high-dose fish oil supplement with DHA.) It’s worth noting that the protein in fish (such as sardines) may also have healthy effects on blood pressure, according to studies.

Step 4: Exercise Regularly and Manage Stress

People who live a sedentary lifestyle tend to have an increased heart rate, causing the heart to work harder, which increases pressure on the arteries. Being physically active for at least 30 minutes a day can help maintain a healthy weight and lower blood pressure.

If you lead a busy lifestyle, always be sure to make time to relax in your day and listen to some music, practice deep breathing, or take a yoga class. A high-stress lifestyle can cause spikes in blood pressure, which can damage your arteries in the long run.

Step 6: Quit Smoking and Limit Alcohol

Tobacco can cause damage by narrowing the arteries and hardening them. This leads to increased blood pressure, so avoid the cigarettes and help your heart stay healthy.

In addition, too much drinking can damage arteries over time. Even a few alcoholic drinks a day—beer, wine, cocktails—can create a modest rise in blood pressure, so if you choose to drink alcohol keep to 1-2 drinks daily, preferably antioxidant-rich red wine.

Step 7: Follow Your Doctor’s Advice on Blood Pressure Medications

Although changing your lifestyle can make a significant difference, occasionally it is

Only make changes to blood pressure medication with the help of your doctor, says Dr. Harper.

not enough, and your doctor may recommend medication to help manage your blood pressure. According Dennis Harper, DO, Isagenix’s Scientific Advisory Board Chair, there are several types of blood pressure medications:

• Beta blockers work by blocking the hormone epinephrine. This causes the heart to beat slower and with less force, which lowers blood pressure. This medication cannot be stopped suddenly because doing so can cause a rapid heart rate. Dr. Harper’s note: Only reduce this medication under your doctor’s supervision because it should be done gradually.
• Diuretics are medications that cause a person to urinate more frequently to get rid of water in the blood stream. Dr. Harper’s note: If you are taking a diuretic, then you will need to have your doctor check your potassium levels before starting a weight-loss program or “deep cleansing.” This is done with a simple blood test.
• Calcium channel blockers, such as nifedipine, work by widening the blood vessels, making it easier for the heart to pump blood. One of the problems with nifedipine is that it can cause swelling in the limbs. Dr. Harper’s note: Once again, before starting any weight-loss program, you will need to speak to your doctor to adjust the dosage and monitor you.
• ACE inhibitors work on the kidney to block the production of rennin, which causes the vessels to become smaller, thereby increasing the blood pressure.
• Other arterial dilators.

You Can Make an Impact

Many national and global organizations, such as the World Health Organization, recognize how lifestyle changes can make a positive impact on high blood pressure. By changing your lifestyle, you can help avoid the onset of high blood pressure, which also means avoidance of a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis. Over the long run, following the steps above to maintain a healthy blood pressure can lead to a longer, healthier life for you.

Living heart healthy can be easier with Isagenix products.

Today, on Go Red For Women day, our hearts go out to all those who’ve lost a grandmother, mother, wife, or daughter to heart disease or stroke.  

American Heart Month has been officially kicked off—recognizing heart disease as the No. 1 killer in the U.S. (and stroke as No. 3)—and we’re drawn once again to encourage you to get regular exercise, eat a healthy diet and maintain a healthy weight.

These are all vital components for protecting your heart. This is a time to share the ways to reduce risk of heart disease and stroke – a time to help save lives.  

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, another coronary event happens every 25 seconds.

It’s of no help that, by February, experts say most of us have forgotten our New Year’s diet resolutions and have returned to the same unhealthy, Western-style foods, which appeal to our wired taste buds, but also include the junk “foods” that raise blood pressure and clog arteries.

With the exception of a few communities secluded in the mountains of Colorado, experts say that by February most of us have given up on exercising daily, trading in the hour running on the treadmill for more time on the couch.

The more hours of TV watched per day, suggests an Australian study, the shorter your lifespan.

We don’t think achieving your heart-healthy goals has to be difficult, which is why we’re sharing ways that Isagenix products can help you protect your heart, and keep it pumping at its optimum, so you can live healthier and longer.

1.       Cut sodium, control calories with IsaLean® Shake.

There is no risk factor for heart disease more significant than high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association. High blood pressure is linked to a high-sodium diet and being overweight.

Americans overeat and consume too much sodium from processed foods daily. By reducing calories and sodium in your diet, you can drastically reduce risk of high blood pressure. 

Make a simple healthy choice of having an IsaLean Shake in place of any fast-food meal and it’ll make quite a difference for your heart.

With less than 200 mg sodium per serving and less than 30 mg of cholesterol, IsaLean® Shake can serve as a meal replacement that is easy and quick to make, is high in protein and low in fat, and is definitely healthier than any hamburger and fries.

IsaLean® Shake also features high-oleic olive and sunflower oils along with alpha-linolenic acid from flax seed as its main sources of fats. Consumption of these sources of fats, as supported by studies on the Mediterranean diet, has been linked to better control of blood pressure and heart health.

2.       Eat a high-fiber diet with help from Oatmeal Berry SlimCakes® and FiberPro™

The average American receives less than half the amount of fiber than recommended, which puts her or him at significantly higher risk for heart disease.  The National Fiber Council advises women 50 years and younger receive dietary fiber in amounts as high as 25 grams per day, men 50 years and younger as high as 38 grams per day.

Fiber-rich foods help keep you feeling full, help you manage weight by curbing cravings and can help you keep blood cholesterol in check.

Eating a SlimCake, which contains 5 grams of fiber from whole oats, inulin and flax seed, provides you with soluble fiber and insoluble fiber.

In addition, adding a scoop of flavorless FiberPro in all your beverages can also help you control calories and help maintain healthy blood sugar by lowering the glycemic response from every meal. Tight blood sugar control is linked to improved heart health.

3.       Get enough heart-healthy fish oil omega-3s daily with IsaOmega Supreme®

Eating fish at least two times a week or taking fish oil supplements daily may reduce the risk of heart disease* because fish oil contains eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA).

These two types of omega-3s, according to the American Heart Association, can help prevent cardiovascular events, decrease the risk of arrhythmias, reduce triglyceride levels, slow the growth of atherosclerotic plaque and may slightly lower blood pressure.

IsaOmega Supreme is one of the most potent omega-3 supplements on the market today with high concentrations of both EPA and DHA. Taking two softgels of IsaOmega Supreme daily can support your overall heart function.

4.       Replace sugary sodas and fruit drinks with IsaFruits® and Isagenix Greens!™ 

The average American consumes 22.2 teaspoons of added sugar daily, which leads to weight gain and obesity, and raises your risk for diabetes and heart disease.

Unfortunately, sugar-sweetened drinks and foods surround most of us at every meal making it difficult to keep to a reduced-calorie diet.

You can still enjoy great-tasting fruit beverages by choosing naturally sweet IsaFruits® or Isagenix Greens!, each containing only 1 gram of sugar per serving, and providing a broad spectrum of nutrients, including antioxidants, from fruits and “green foods”.

5.       Don’t forget to take your Isagenix Antioxidants, which includes CoQ10

You may have heard that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help you lower risk of heart disease, attributed in part to fiber and to antioxidants such as vitamins C and E. These antioxidant vitamins can keep cholesterol from becoming oxidized by neutralizing free radicals.

In addition, a rich supply of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is absolutely vital for a healthy heart, but as our bodies age, the natural amounts of coQ10 are diminished.

To be sure you’re getting enough vitamins C and E, and coQ10 daily along with a broad spectrum of other antioxidant nutrients, you can take Isagenix Antioxidants, 3 capsules daily.

6.        Enjoy regular “deep cleansing” with Cleanse for Life™

Taking a day or two off of eating food can be good for your heart, according to American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions in 2007.

The effects of intermittent fasting could only be augmented by “deep cleansing” such as performed with Cleanse for Life. The supplement includes antioxidants and health-promoting, detoxifying botanicals.

In addition, giving your body time to cleanse once or twice a week, as part of the Isagenix Cleansing and Fat Burning System, can help give you a fast start to losing weight and improving your health.

7.       For your Valentine, make it a box of IsaDelight® dark chocolates    

If you are a lover of dark chocolate, then there’s no doubt you are also a fan of its heart-healthy cocoa antioxidants. However, not all dark chocolates are the same.  

To make sure you’re getting the right kind of dark chocolate, choose one with a high ORAC score.

Just two IsaDelight dark chocolate pieces can produce an ORAC of 5,200 of which is the . The ORAC score is a measure of antioxidant strength.

To your heart it means IsaDelight has enough antioxidant cocoa flavanols to help protect your cholesterol from oxidation and help promote healthy blood pressure.

*Supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. One serving of IsaOmega Supreme provides 1,200 grams of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids. See Supplement Facts Panel for details on nutrition content.

Healthy aging depends on protection against oxidative damage.

When we use the term “free radicals” we’re not discussing the kind that listen to hardcore punk and paint graffiti on public property, but the kind that wreak havoc of all sorts on your body. As we get older, ultimately what slowly ruins our health, in fact, is the damage from free radicals, or oxidation.

What exactly are free radicals? They are atoms or molecules with unpaired electrons making them highly reactive. The reactivity of different compounds can vary, but they always lead to damage of all of what’s around you, including you.

Oxidative damage in our bodies is brought on by free radicals mainly by way of reactive oxygen (superoxide) released from the mitochondria and heightened by exposure to ”reactive oxygen species” from environmental toxins such as smog, chemicals, drugs and radiation.

Free radicals also breed free radicals causing chain reactions that can lead to more destruction in your body’s cells and tissues. A variety of free radicals attack various sites in the cells such as cell membranes, organelles and DNA.

For those  interested in living long, healthy lives, combatting free radicals is critical. It should be one of the greatest health goals because cumulative damage from free radicals, and resulting inflammation, have been implicated as factors in most age-related health problems.

Free-radical Fighting Strategies

Any nutritional program with efforts to protect health should entail active protection against free radicals. There are a variety of ways to accomplish the task, notably receiving plenty of antioxidants from the diet in forms of fruits, vegetables and high-antioxidant drinks and supplements.

Antioxidants in the diet are vital for terminating the oxidative chain reactions. These accomplish their task by donating electrons to free radicals, thus neutralizing them.

No one antioxidant can solely neutralize all kinds of free radicals. The antioxidants often act together in synergy such as vitamin C (ascorbic acid) with glutathione or vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) with vitamin A (beta-carotene) and Coenzyme Q10. They work in multiple sites and in different ways including regeneration to double efforts.

Along with the use of certain botanicals such as ashwaghanda or milk thistle and certain minerals such as selenium, the body is supported further by promoting activity of antioxidant enzymes or helping to spare antioxidants.

For most protection against free radical damage, it also becomes necessary to reduce exposure to pollutants as much as possible by breathing clean air, eating clean food and drinking clean water. In addition, oxidation is reduced by including appropriate nutrients in the diet that helps to promote detoxification.

Studies have also found that reduction of total calories in the diet or regular intermittent fasting (without malnutrition) helps reduce susceptibility to free radicals. Investigation into the effects of the lower caloric intake  on oxidative damage has found that it may result in less overall generation of free radicals from mitochondria and reduces damage to cell proteins, cell lipids and DNA.

What’s best is to use a long-term program, or total health and wellness system, that takes many of these strategies against free radicals into consideration such as reduced calories, high antioxidant intake, and nutritional cleansing.