Entries in General Health (95)
An example of successful cholesterol balance using natural solutions only...
I have just received this comment from a reader of this blog. I thought that I would post it here as it is an inspiration of what can be acheived if the effort is made.
Comment: from Don
My doctor wanted to put me on statins after he reviewed my blood test results. I am 68, and normally eat a well-balance healthy diet relatively low in unhealthy fat. The doctor gave me some dietary restrictions to improve my situation.
After 3 months on the more restrictive diet, my blood test cholesterol levels were even worse than the previous test results. My doctor told me it was time to take statin medication, and he was upset that wanted another chance, several months more, to improve my blood test results. Despite my 68 years I do a lot of competitive sports, especially triathlons and foot races.
I was afraid that the negative side effects of statins would end my competitive career since I have heard so many horror stories from friends that have taken statins. I did researched, in the internet, for methods that could safely reduce my bad cholesterol numbers without negative side effects.
Weight loss help with Xtend-Life??
As our customers and readers know we do not promote any of our products specifically for weight loss. The reason for this is that there is no such thing as a really effective stand alone weight loss product which is why we have never produced one for that purpose.
At the end of the day weight loss is dependent upon calories in versus calories out. In other words if you put more calories into your body than you use you will put on weight...it is impossible to have any other result. So, neither our products nor anyone else’s will make you lose weight unless you combine it with lifestyle adjustments, stop eating certain foods and do some reasonable exercise.
However, I have always argued that if you maintain a good balance of nutrients in your body then two things can happen. One is that you are less likely to have cravings and the other is that you are more likely to exercise. Over the last 10 years feedback from customers would tend to support this principle.
Over the next couple of months I intend putting aside time to update the weight loss report. There is much that I have learnt since writing that a number of years ago as science has moved on. For example, I have only recently learnt of how our Omega 3 fish oilis helping people lose weight particularly for those who have been on a low fat diet. When levels of fat intake get too low it interferes with leptin which regulates how full you feel which in turn leads to higher food intake.
An interesting piece of trivia
According to ‘Visionofhumanity.org’ New Zealand is the most peaceful country in the world. As a New Zealander, this is nice to know. We have also been ranked as the least corrupt country in the world. BUT, having said this, we are certainly not the healthiest country in the world! In New Zealand, as in most western countries, there is still minimal emphasis on disease prevention and a reliance on trying to ‘fix the problem’ after the event. This of course will never work.
The population is getting fatter and unhealthier, although there is a growing awareness among the general population of the need to look after your health before you lose it. However, in order to make real progress, there needs to be a shift in thinking at government level that encourages people to be responsible for their own health. When it deteriorates to the point that you need to see a doctor, then you have a serious problem which is sometimes impossible to put right.
If you are interested in having a look at where your country ranks on the ‘peace stakes’ click here.
Update on Friday, June 5, 2009 at 10:21AM by Warren Matthews
Just came across this article in the Washington Times that relates to the above post that you may be interested in. To read it please click here.
Omega-3 news to get your gums into?
According to a study done by Boston researchers, omega-3 fatty acid products may restore gums back to health by curing periodontal disease inflammation. No great surprise really considering the anti-inflammatory properties inherent in omega-3 fish oil. (By the way did you know that our Omega 3 has around two and a half times better anti-inflammatory properties than most?) In a recent study, the same researchers found that a family of compounds called resolvins – derived from DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and given an almost Star Wars name in the form of RvD1 – had some beneficial effects in fighting off gingivalis, the gum disease-causing bacteria in humans. Coincidently, one of our new staff members who recently joined us from overseas had been having a problem for months with gum inflammation in a small area of his mouth. When he started a couple of months ago he began using our Omega 3 DHA Fish Oil. Guess what...all the gum inflammation has gone. Just another benefit of the fish oil!
Air Pollution causing Heart Disease??
According to a recent article in the Daily Mirror a research study has found that air pollution is a contributor to heart disease. The researchers considered 250 cities around the world and found that an increase in air pollution led to an increase in heart attacks.
I don’t know how they measured this or over what period of time the study took place, or indeed if the data is reliable…but, their assertion seems to be supported by an experience in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
When the local steel mill shut down there was a six percent drop in death rates, and then after the mill re-opened it dropped again.
Flaxseed oil just doesn't 'cut it'
Although flax seed oil is a good ingredient and there is nothing wrong with taking it, you must be careful that you don't take it to the exclusion of a good Omega 3 fish oil.
The reason?
As I have alluded to a number of times over the years it is because flax seed oil does not help raise your levels of DHA which is probably the most important of all the essential fatty acids. Proponents of flax seed oil will tell you that the body can convert ALA (which is the main constituant of flax seed oil) to DHA.
This is simply not true...at least to any extent. A minute fraction may be able to be converted but nowhere near enough to meet your body's needs. This is because the DHA molecule is a lot more complex that the ALA molecule. Please click here and you will find more info about why this is so.
Did Cardio-Klenz outperform a drug?
It seems so. A customer who had a serious heart attack back in 2001 (before she became a customer) has been kind enough to share her story with us. It would seem that she was using a drug called Pletal and had been on it for a year and it was unsuccessful. However, after being on Total Balance for a couple of months and then adding Cardio-Klenz she got the results that she was looking for.
She puts this down to the Cardio-Klenz. But, it is likely to be the combination of both the Total Balance Premium and the Cardio-Klenz.
What was rather disturbing about this story is that the drug Pletal is known to reduce the survival chances of someone who has had a heart attack...and yet she was prescribed it!!!
She made contact with me through the blog earlier this month looking for some advice:
Slim Chance Awards for 2008
Each year the Healthy Weight Network issues it's annual 'Slim Chance Awards'. I thought that I would give you a link to the article announcing the winners for this year.
On one hand it is quite amusing but on the other it is quite sad that people are given false hopes and expectations whilst wasting their hard earned money on what is often no more than a scam.
The 'awards' are broken down into four sections.
1. Most outrageous claim
2. Worst gimmick
3. Worst claim
4. Worst product
To read the article please click here.
How to better understand Omega 3 Fish oil claims!
Recently in a discussion on this blog about MOXXOR a reader Ari asked for my opinion about another product called OmegaXL. Because the answer applies in general terms to many other products I felt it would be helpful for readers interested in Omega 3 to read my response.
Comments about OmegaXL provided to Ari.
The info on OmegaXL seems to be quite sparse. Like Moxxor there is plenty of hype but little detail.
For example, other than saying there are 60 soft gels in a bottle there is little other information. For example, what are the contents of each soft gel, how many mgs in a soft gel? Without this it is difficult to do an accurate assessment.
I did however have a quick scan of their website and after just a couple of minutes on their home page I picked up two major misleading statements and did not read further.
One was that is the product has DHA 60% and EPA 70%. This is misleading and a physical impossibility. You cannot have a combined total of more than 100%.
Are you 100 years old and depressed?
Seems some are according to a recent study!
I sometimes wonder why resources are allocated to studies that serve no direct purpose. Here is an example of a recent one!
“One in four centenarians hit by depression”
Let have a look at what was said in a news release from Temple University a week or so back.
“Results of a recent study suggest that at least one in four centenarians suffer from depression, yet few have been diagnosed with the disease.
Adam Davey, a developmental psychologist at Temple University, and colleagues surveyed 244 centenarians taking part in the Georgia Centenarian Study. Results showed that more than 25% of respondents had clinically relevant levels of depressive symptoms, however just 8% had a current diagnosis of depression.
"People who suffer from depression tend to have a high risk of mortality, so it's puzzling to see higher numbers among the oldest old," said Davey in a news release. He adds that further studies are needed to identify why the incidence of depression is so high amongst centenarians.