An Apple a Day Could Save Thousands of Lives, Study Indicates

Apples

It turns out that eating an apple a day actually might keep the doctor away – and could potentially save thousands of lives too.

In a study published in the Christmas edition of the British Medical Journal (BMJ), researchers from Oxford University sought to examine what would really happen if an entire population followed the advice of the popular proverb, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

Using data modeling tools, study author Dr. Adam Briggs analyzed how the national health of people over the age of 50 in Britain would be affected if they committed to eating one apple a day, without increasing their overall caloric intake. Then, he compared this to the effects of placing everyone in the country on statins – if they were not already taking them. Statins have been proven to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

“In the U.K., at the moment (statins) are advised if you are at high risk of cardiovascular disease,” Briggs, of the BHF Health Promotion Research Group at Oxford University, told FoxNews.com. “So we said, let’s see what happens if we give them to everyone else as well, and that came out to 9,500 fewer deaths per year, in people over 50 years old.”

To Briggs’ surprise, an apple a day had a similarly impressive effect on the population.

“If everyone (ate an apple a day), we estimate 8,500 fewer deaths from heart disease and stroke every year,” Briggs said.

While the study didn’t examine why apples seem to demonstrate such a beneficial effect on cardiovascular health, Briggs noted that the fruit has high nutritional value.

“Fruit and (vegetables) broadly speaking contain fiber, which is one thing known to have beneficial effects on health,” Briggs said. “More so, with apples, they’re a natural source of antioxidants and flavonoids which are all related to better cardiovascular health.”

While these results seem promising, Briggs warns that people already on statins definitely shouldn’t think about replacing them with an apple.

“Those currently taking (statins) should continue to do so, but they might also benefit from adding an apple to their diet,” Briggs noted.

The Christmas edition of BMJ is known for publishing tongue-in-cheek research – but Briggs noted that it’s all backed up by real data.

“Small changes to your diet can have a really meaningful impact on population health, just adding an apple a day,” Briggs said.

References
Amanda Woerner (December 18, 2013). An Apple a Day Could Save Thousands of Lives, Study Indicates. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/12/18/apple-day-could-save-thousands-lives-study-indicates/

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Maximum Metabolism Diet & Exercise Plan

What is ‘The Maximum Metabolism™ Plan’?

The Maximum Metabolism plan is designed for you to safely and permanently:

  • Increase your Basic Metabolic Rate (BMR)
  • Lose excess body fat
  • Build and tone muscles
  • Create a positive change in your appearance
  • Develop healthy lifestyle habits
  • Achieve a greater feeling of personal well-being

The Maximum Metabolism plan allows you to eat healthy, delicious and filling food — while reducing fat and calories. You’ll increase your basal metabolic rate (BMR…metabolism when you’re resting) to burn fat more efficiently on a daily basis. You’ll develop a simple daily exercise regimen to maintain muscle tone — while still burning more fat. You’ll acquire the good habits so all-important in maintaining a leaner, healthy body.

What we ‘do’ is what we ‘get.’

The key to weight-loss is multi-faceted. It embodies more than simply “going on a diet” if you hope to make it permanent. The long-term answer lies in changing our eating habits and exercising properly. (Most of us know how to eat right…we just don’t do it.)  There are generally deep emotional issues around our being overweight. So a strong “will” and determination is necessary to make the required changes in our lifestyle. That’s why it’s important for you to decide just how much weight you should lose — not somebody else. It’s good to ask for support from those significant others in your life. (Though sometimes those nearest and dearest to you can inadvertently sabotage your earnest efforts to achieve well-being.) So learn to feel good about the steps you are taking towards your goal. Acknowledge yourself every day.

Ten Steps to changing your life

  • 1. Supplement each day at the proper time to increase your energy, BMR and determination.
  • 2. Exercise for 20 to 60 minutes, preferably in the morning, 5 to 7 times a week.
  • 3. Eat a low-fat, balanced diet of three meals and two snacks every day.
  • 4. Take a complex multi-vitamin daily , such as Source Naturals Life Force™.
  • 5. Eat at least two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables every day.
  • 6. Drink six to eight glasses of water every day.
  • 7. Limit or stop drinking alcohol.
  • 8. Stop eating two to three hours before bedtime.
  • 9. Reach for your walking shoes before reaching for the fridge.
  • 10. Acknowledge yourself and the steps you took towards your goal each day.

What kind of ‘exercise’ is required?

A combination of a regular walking program with appropriate aerobic and weight exercise is essential for best results. The Maximum Metabolism exercise plan takes only a short time each day, and is designed to help you reduce stress, increase energy levels, burn calories, lose unwanted fat and gain muscle tone. And remember, the more muscle tissue you have…the higher your basal metabolic rate (BMR)…and the more calories you’ll burn.  It’s best to exercise in the morning so that you get the higher BMR benefit all day long. Another important, though less known, benefit of daily exercise is that it causes the release of endorphins, or ‘feel good’ hormones in the brain.

Walking & Aerobics

Walking has become a very popular aerobic exercise simply because it works. One only needs good shoes, comfortable clothes and several minutes a day. It will improve both leg strength and toning, preserve lean muscle mass, and help you lose fat.  The average optimum walking distance and pace ranges from 1-4 miles a day at about 3-6 miles per hour. This translates to between 10 and 20 minutes to walk one mile. After stretching your leg muscles for a few minutes, start with a short distance and gradually work your way up to longer and more swiftly-paced walks. The object is to walk at a brisk pace, so that you’ll start burning calories immediately, and after approximately 18 minutes, begin to burn fat.

Beginner’s walking program

  • Total exercise time: 45 minutes.
  • Warm-up: 3-4 minutes of stretching.
  • Total walk time: 35-40 minutes.
  • Aerobic workout: Mileage – 1.5 miles.
  • Pace: 2.5 miles per hour.
  • Cool-down: 3-4 minutes of after-walk stretches.
  • Frequency: 5 times a week.
  • Weekly mileage: 7.5 miles.

Advanced walking program

  • Total exercise time: 60 minutes.
  • Warm-up: 5 minutes of stretching.
  • Total walk time: 45-50 minutes.
  • Aerobic workout: Mileage – 3 miles.
  • Pace: 4 miles per hour.
  • Cool-down: 3-4 minutes of after-walk stretches.
  • Frequency: 5 times a week. (You can walk 3 miles a day for 5 days – or 2 miles every day.)
  • Weekly mileage: 15 miles.

For a change, you can switch certain days of your walking plan with other aerobic exercises such as jogging, biking or dance aerobic workouts. You can use an exercise bike, rower, treadmill, stepper or swim laps. You could join a health club, or do it with a friend. The point is to exercise regularly on an established, weekly basis.

Weight Training

Another very important aspect to regaining a healthy new you is getting involved in some form of appropriate weight training. Whether you decide to join a club, or check out some of the excellent books on the subject for in-home use, weight training can be a significant part of your attaining a healthy body. We simply need to understand that as we get older and less physically active in our daily lives, it’s increasingly necessary to reverse the sedentary process that got us here in the first place.

A good weight training program can rebuild, reshape and continually increase the size of your muscles. Muscle makes you look and feel thinner, as muscles take up 20% less space than fat. Adding muscle will:

  • Raise your metabolism further to melt more fat away.
  • Tighten flabby body areas.
  • Allow you to eat more calories of favorite foods.

So get out there and enjoy your surroundings, the weather, the new day, and a newly emerging healthy you.

References
 Source Naturals (n.d.). Maximum Metabolism Diet & Exercise Plan. Retrieved from http://www.sourcenaturals.com/articles/2783/

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Nature’s Bounty: Optimal Solutions Extra Strength Hair, Skin and Nails

Being healthy is always beautiful. With Nature’s Bounty® Optimal Solutions® Extra Strength Hair, Skin & Nails formula with Argan Oil you’ll look good and feel great! It contains just the right balance of nutrients to support lustrous hair, healthy nails and vibrant skin.

This innovative formula provides you with the vital nutrients and latest ingredients in beauty care to support your natural beauty from within. High potency B Vitamins help with energy metabolism and Biotin helps to maintain healthy hair and promotes healthy nails by acting at the nail matrix, the base of the nail. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that also contributes to skin health, and Vitamin C is involved in collagen production and formation, which forms the basis for vibrant skin. Vitamin A assists with skin maintenance and overall health.

Lustrous Hair
Vibrant Skin
Healthy Nails
About Nature’s Bounty®
Health-conscious people have trusted Nature’s Bounty® for decades. Our dedication to quality, consistency, and scientific research has resulted in vitamins and nutritional supplements of unrivaled excellence. By combining the latest breakthroughs in nutritional science with the finest ingredients, we’re proud to provide you with supplements of unsurpassed quality and value.

Nature’s Bounty® supplements are overseen by our scientists, manufacturing specialists and quality experts, each one dedicated to maintaining the highest quality standards. As part of our commitment to quality, Nature’s Bounty® only uses ingredients from suppliers that meet our stringent Quality Assurance Standards, as well as GMP food quality standards. Every Nature’s Bounty® product is subjected to numerous quality tests and assays throughout the manufacturing process to verify purity and full potency. As an added measure of quality assurance, the initial ingredients, as well as the final product are tested in our microbiological laboratory to make certain that the product is pure and free of harmful bacteria.

At Nature’s Bounty®, we don’t just test and retest our products, we put our people and even our laboratory to the test, too. We’re proud that our facilities have been successfully audited by the United States Pharmacopeia and STR (Specialized Technology Resources), a leading independent dietary supplement quality evaluation firm.

See more: http://www.vitasprings.com/nature-s-bounty.html

References
Nature’s Bounty (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.naturesbounty.com/

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Advanced Nutrition for Female Support

Featured Items

Eve Women’s Multi-Vitamin, 90 Softgels, NOW Foods

Female Balance, with Wild Yam, Dong Quai and GLA, 90 Capsules, NOW Foods

Soy Isoflavones 60mg 120 VCaps Non-GE, NOW Foods

D-Mannose 500 mg, 120 Capsules, NOW Foods

Today’s active woman has mastered the ability to balance family,  work, and social responsibilities. This unending to-do list, coupled  with constantly evolving nutritional needs, can be emotionally and  physically draining. In order to function at the top of her game, it  is vital that she provide her system with the compounds needed to  stay healthy, energized, and strong. Let’s review some of the most  fundamental aspects of women’s health, as well as some of the most  effective support supplements.

Energy

Considering how on-the-go today’s woman is, she can’t afford to be  lacking in the energy department. Some of today’s most effective  energy-support supplements include B complex vitamins (which also  support healthy hair, skin and nails), as well as Green Tea—a potent  antioxidant. MCT Oil (medium chain triglyceride) serves as an  excellent source of instant energy that also provides the body with a  readily utilized source of beneficial fatty acids. L-Carnitine is another  ideal supplement for energy. This amino-acid like compound transports  fat into the mitochondria of cells, where it is then converted to energy.

Fitness

In addition to the obvious cosmetic appeal, maintaining a lean, healthy  figure offers many important health benefits. In order to achieve this, it  is important for busy, active women to consume a healthy diet, exercise  regularly, and ensure that her body has all the tools needed to stay fit.  Without adequate protein intake, the body will not have the building  blocks needed to maintain lean muscle, produce hormones, increase  strength, and stay focused. Consuming a quality protein supplement  in between meals, or as a meal replacement, is an easy way to make  sure that her protein needs are being met. Soy protein is high in  phytoestrogens, which may support healthy estrogen levels.

Cognitive Support

The brain, like every other organ in the body, is constantly in need  of nutrition. When the nutrients it needs are not being provided, the  brain can’t do its job properly. Choline and Inositol are two unique  members of the B vitamin family that help support healthy cognitive  function. Phosphatidyl Serine (PS) is an effective phospholipid  that helps relay messages throughout the body, while utilizing its  antioxidant properties to protect neural cells. Some users combine PS  with Ginkgo Biloba extracts for additional cognitive support. Studie have shown that the active compounds  in Ginkgo may help support healthy  neural activity and circulation.

Stress Management

Stress is a normal part of life, and  a defense mechanism that prepares  the body to deal with potential  threats. Chronic and long-term stress,  however, can snowball throughout  the body, negatively impacting the  normal function of several major  systems. In addition to practicing stress  reduction activities, such as exercise,  meditation, and yoga, a number of  dietary supplements have been shown  in studies to help support a healthy,  balanced mood. These include GABA,  Relora®, St. John’s Wort, Kava, and  Valerian root extract.

Healthy Bones

Women are four times more likely  to develop osteoporosis compared to  men, and one in two women over  the age of 50 are expected to suffer a  related fracture. A growing body of  experts believes that these statistics  may be directly related to deficiencies  in key nutrients such as vitamin D,  vitamin K, and calcium. Some studies  have suggested that supplementation,  especially among women who do  not get these nutrients from their  diet, may benefit significantly from  supplementation.

Hormonal Support

Throughout her life, a woman’s  hormone production and activity  will undergo many changes. The  nutritional sciences have helped us  better understand which nutrients  and natural compounds can be  taken safely to ensure balance and  healthy hormone levels. Herbs such  as Red Clover, Black Cohosh, Dong  Quai, Wild Yam, Red Raspberry,  and Chasteberry have been shown  to support a wide range of female  health concerns, including several  associated with menopause. Also,  natural Progesterone lotions are  becoming a more popular alternative  to conventional hormone therapy.

 

References

NOW Foods Inc. (n.d.). Women’s Health. Retrieved from http://www.nowfoods.com/idc/groups/public/documents/digital_asset/078588.pdf

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Seasonal Recipes of NOW Foods Essential Oils

 

NOW Foods Essential Oils

View All NOW Foods Essential Oils

Choose a recipe below, and add the NOW essential oils to a diffuser and enjoy!

Autumn Air

8 drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil

6 drops Lime Essential Oil

6 drops Sage Essential Oil

Buttery Pumpkin Spice

1 drop of Cardamom

1 drop of NOW Cinnamon

1 drop of NOW Nutmeg

3 drops of NOW Vanilla

Holiday Cheer

4 drops of NOW Cedarwood Virginian

4 drops of NOW Cypress

6 drops of NOW Rosewood

1 drops of NOW Pine

2 drops of NOW Balsam

1 drops of NOW Orange

Holiday Eggnog

10 drops of NOW Vanilla

1 drops of NOW Cinnamon

2 drops of NOW Nutmeg

Holiday Wreath & Flowers

4 drops of NOW Cedarwood Virginian

4 drops of NOW Cypress

1 drops of NOW Rosewood

6 drops of NOW Pine Needle

2 drops of NOW Balsam

1 drops of NOW Lavender

Holly Jolly Holidays

2 drops of NOW Cinnamon Bark

2 drops of NOW Ginger

1 drops of NOW Clove Bud

2 drops of NOW 2 drops of NOW Nutmeg

4 drops of NOW Lemon

Meet Me Under The Mistletoe

2 drops of NOW Atlas Cedar

5 drops of NOW Balsam Fir Needle

1 drops of NOW Juniperberry

Santa’s Sugar Cookies

2 drops of NOW Tangerine

24 drops of NOW Vanilla

2 drops of NOW Cinnamon Bark

1 drops of NOW Ginger

Stroll thru the Orchard

10 drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil

4 drops Ginger Essential Oil

6 drops Patchouli Essential Oil

Wintermint Icicles

3 drops of NOW Peppermint

3 drops of NOW Pennyroyal

1 drops of NOW Eucalyptus

1 drops of NOW Tea Tree

2 drops of NOW Rosemary

Gingerbread Aroma

3 drops of NOW Cinnamon

1 drops of NOW Clove

2 drops of NOW Ginger

1 drops of NOW Nutmeg

2 drops of NOW Vanilla

Cinnamon and Spice

1 drops of NOW Orange

1 drops of NOW Cinnamon Bark

1 drops of NOW Clove

5 drops of NOW Vanilla

1 drops of NOW Nutmeg

It’s the Holly-Days Again

8 drops of NOW Atlas Cedar

3 drops of NOW Cypress

30 drops of NOW Pine

1 drop of NOW Orange

Cinnamon & Spice & Everything Nice

5 drops of NOW Orange

24 drops of NOW Cinnamon

4 drops of NOW Nutmeg

10 drops of NOW Ginger

Melt My Heart Mistletoe

2 drops of NOW Atlas Cedar

3 drops of NOW Pine

1 drop of NOW Juniperberry

2 drops of NOW Rosemary

1 drop of NOW Eucalyptus

1 drops of NOW Ylang Ylang

Fresh Fallen Snow

1 drop of NOW Wintergreen

20 drops of NOW Pine

60 drops of NOW Grapefruit

Warm Fall Bouquet

12 drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil

3 drops Cinnamon Essential Oil

3 drops Clove Bud Essential Oil

2 drops Nutmeg Essential Oil

References
NOW Foods. (n.d.). Seasonal Recipes. Retrieved from http://www.nowfoods.com/Personal-Care/Ingredients-Guide/Recipes/Seasonal-Recipes.htm

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