Thomas Jefferson, who happened to be an experimental botanist, introduced eggplant to the United States in 1806.

It’s called eggplant in America, aubergine in Europe, and brinjal in South Africa.

The eggplant has a had a bad rap in the past as being poisonous and detrimental to health. It was believed by superstitious Europeans to induce insanity, and the fact it belongs to the Deadly Nightshade family of plants has done nothing to enhance its dubious reputation.

China is the world’s leading producer, followed by Japan, Turkey, and Italy. The leading U.S. producer is Florida.

Health Benefits of Eggplant

Eggplant should be avoided by individuals suffering from gout.

Eggplant extract is derived from eggplant, which can assist the body in the above mentioned health benefits. To learn more about eggplant extract in Stemulite and how it works click here>>

References:
1. The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods by Michael Murray, Joseph Pizzorno, and Lara Pizzorno.
2. Benders’ Dictionary of Nutrition and Food Technology.
3. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference.
4. Noda Y, Kneyuki T, Igarashi K, Mori A, Packer L. Antioxidant activity of nasunin, an anthocyanin in eggplant peels. Toxicology. 2000 Aug 7;148(2-3):119-23. PMID: 10962130.
5. Matsubara K, Kaneyuki T, Miyake T, Mori M. Antiangiogenic activity of nasunin, an antioxidant anthocyanin, in eggplant peels. J Agric Food Chem. 2005 Aug 10;53(16):6272-5. PMID: 16076105.
6. Azevedo L, Alves de Lima PL, Gomes JC, Stringheta PC, Ribeiro DA, Salvadori DM. Differential response related to genotoxicity between eggplant (Solanum melanogena) skin aqueous extract and its main purified anthocyanin (delphinidin) in vivo. Food Chem Toxicol. 2007 May;45(5):852-8. PMID: 17194516.
7. Kwon YI, Apostolidis E, Shetty K. In vitro studies of eggplant (Solanum melongena) phenolics as inhibitors of key enzymes relevant for type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Bioresour Technol. 2008 May;99(8):2981-8. PMID: 17706416.
8. Botelho FV, et al. Effects of eggplant (Solanum melongena) on the atherogenesis and oxidative stress in LDL receptor knock out mice (LDLR(-/-)). Food Chem Toxicol. 2004 Aug;42(8):1259-67. PMID: 15207376.

Cellular respiration is the process in which we break down glucose into water and carbon dioxide, releasing energy. This occurs deep in our cells in the mitochondria, the “generator” for cellular energy. Along the way, packets of energy called “electrons” are passed along a complex chain of chemical steps, eventually producing an energy storehouse known at adenosine-triphosphate (ATP).

As these electrons are passed along, some chemicals give up electrons, which is oxidation, and some accept electrons, which is reduction. This constant reduction-oxidation (redox) process is “cellular respiration.” The energy stored as ATP is later used to power the bodily functions.

The problem begins when some of these electrons escape the normal chain of events and react with ambient oxygen, creating toxic oxygen free radicals. These are very unstable and aggressively react with other molecules in the cell. Like sparks flying out of a fire, the free radicals damage whatever is in the immediate area. Sometimes this is the cell wall, or critical enzymes and proteins in the cell, or even the cellular DNA.

There are also free radicals that come from outside our body, such as hydrocarbons, pesticides, smog, cigarette smoke and metals like lead and mercury.

Anti-oxidants donate an electron to neutralize and “snuff out” free radicals. The anti-oxidant sacrifices itself as it then becomes oxidized and must be replenished. We have a tremendous built in system of anti-oxidants and get many more through or diet. Our “built-in” anti-oxidant systems fade with normal aging and our diets do not provide the amounts of anti-oxidants necessary to prevent oxidative damage.

Once the process of oxidation begins to overwhelm our ability to stop it, the damage begins, and along with it the process of degenerative diseases and aging.

Anti-oxidants like super-oxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione and n-acetyl cysteine (NAC) are made within our bodies, while others must be obtained through diet, such as Vitamins A, C, E and the many bioflavonoids from fruit and vegetable sources. Minerals like selenium, manganese, copper and zinc are not anti-oxidants but are a vital part of the systems.

It is critical to appreciate that anti-oxidants work in different parts of the body. For example, CoEnzyme Q works deep in the mitochondria helping with the electron transfers. Vitamin E and pomegranate are two that love fats and work well in fat areas like cell membranes and cholesterol plaque. Vitamin C and glutathione love water and work in the fluid portions of the cell.

Anti-oxidants also work in different ways. CoQ is an anti-oxidant, but it also regenerates Vitamin E. Alpha-lipoic acid regenerates Vitamin C which then regenerates Vitamin E. Vitamin C and E along with selenium help Vitamin A to function properly.

All this interaction between anti-oxidants underscores a very important concept in supplementation – they work together. Getting a broad spectrum of nutrients, like that found in nature, is an essential part of supplementation.

Many studies on anti-oxidants are short-sighted and limited to studying only one anti-oxidant without even considering its overall role in nature. For example, giving only one of the eight forms of Vitamin E, which we know will deplete one of the other forms, leads to negative effects that may well outweigh any positive benefit from supplementing the singular form.

Another example is a recent study showing Vitamin A supplementation increases lung cancer risk in smokers – without considering the possible effects of exhausting the supply of other co-factors with Vitamin A like Vitamins C, E and selenium. If the same study had supplemented these known co-factors the outcome may have proven much different.

Nutrition is our first medicine but nutrition alone is not adequate for most of us, requiring the logical use of supplements. We now have reviewed the normal process of oxidation in the body, which clearly plays a primary role in the process of aging and development of degenerative diseases. Understanding that oxidation is a far more complex process than any one anti-oxidant can handle leads us to appreciate why taking a broad-spectrum of anti-oxidants is absolutely critical.

The “evil-twin” of oxidation is inflammation and in my next column I’ll explore its damaging effects and how we can successfully combat inflammation.

Alpha Lipoic Acid and L-Carnitine team up as a powerful combination with synergistic combatants against free radicals.  Let the science of Stemulite unfold for you, as it works with your body’s own stem cells to regenerate and grow anew. To learn more click here>>

Author – Scott Rollins, M.D., is board certified with the American Board of Family Practice and the American Board of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine. He specializes in Bioidentical Hormone Replacement, thyroid disorders, fibromyalgia and other complex medical conditions.

Fat Reduction

There is no point in doing exercises for flabby arms if you have so much fat in that area that you are not going to be able to see the muscles you build. So you will need to drop you body fat at the same time you are doing exercises for flabby arms. The easiest way to reduce body fat is to burn off more calories than you consume each day. Cut back on high calorie foods and do at least thirty minutes of cardio vascular exercise three times per week if you want to reduce your body fat. With regular exercise and a sensible weight loss diet you should be able to lose two pounds per week. Bear in mind that the more overweight you are the longer it will take you to get rid of your flabby arms.

Numerous Options

When a person has flabby arms their triceps are usually lacking in muscle tone. Therefore all exercises for flabby arms involve toning the triceps. The only equipment you will need to tone your triceps is a set of five pound dumbbells. You can use the dumbbells to do exercises for flabby arms at home. Kickbacks and extensions most often work best. You should do sets of ten at least thee times a week. Another option is to do exercises for flabby arms at your local gym using various machines that are meant to tone the upper body. Also, you can perform pull ups. Swimming or using a rowing machine can also do a lot to tone up flabby arms.

Don’t Expect Overnight Results

If you take the appropriate measures to reduce body fat and do various exercises for flabby arms you will eventually notice results. However, do not expect to have toned looking arms immediately. It may take months of sensible eating, cardiovascular exercises and resistance work on your triceps before you start to notice the results. The flabbier your arms are the longer it is going to take to tone them up. The trick is to never give up or let yourself get discouraged just because you don’t get immediate results. If you keep trying then at some point you will reach your objective.

Quality supplementation can help you achieve optimum health, build muscle, sleep better, and have glowing skin. To learn more click here>>

In fact, no matter how busy you are, with all the health benefits it provides, you can’t afford not to strength train.

• Maintains strength. Everything we do requires bodily strength. From the simplest movements each day such as eating, to more complex tasks such as lifting and pushing, your body needs strength to move. Following a full-body well-rounded resistance training program helps maintain your ability to carry out everyday tasks without difficulty.

• Reduces risk of injuries. Resistance training not only strengthens the muscles, but strengthens connective tissues such as tendons. Tendon injuries in sports and ordinary activities can be very common, but regular strength training will reduce the likelihood of these injuries.

• Prevents osteoporosis. Impact activities such as walking and jogging are excellent at building bone density in the legs and spine. However, common fracture sites also include the wrists, elbow and shoulder where impact activities have no effect.

The answer is to strengthen the entire skeleton through resistance training, because lifting weights stimulates the skeleton to get thicker and stronger, which help counteract brittle bones.

• Helps weight management. Muscle is a metabolically active tissue, so the more muscle your body has, the more calories you burn. Just one extra pound of muscle equates to burning an extra 50 calories a day.

• Prevents sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is the naturally occurring muscle wastage that happens as we age. Unless we get moving, muscle mass is lost at a rate of 3 percent to 5 percent per decade from age 30 on. However, doing a resistance workout two to three times a week can not only prevent sarcopenia, but can actually reverse it, so it’s never too late to start.

• Is essential for power and speed in sports. Muscle power is a key factor at every level of sports performance. If you do not have good muscular strength, then your ability to run, jump, throw or kick will be reduced.

Resistance training enables athletes to specifically target the muscle groups that are relevant for their sport,helping them become faster and more physically able to cope with the demands of their sports on their bodies

• Helps you feel good. As with any form of exercise, finishing a weight training workout brings about a feeling of well-being and accomplishment, which generates a feeling of confidence and gives you a mental boost.

As I said before, no matter how busy you are, you can’t afford not to spend time strength training.

Stemulite Fitness Formula helps you build strength through creating new muscle mass. To learn the science behind Stemulite click here>>

- Angie Ferguson is an exercise physiologist from Fort Myers.

Mitochondrial Function is key for optimal health

Each cell in our body comes equipped with its own energy mini-engine. This engine is called mitochrondria and ALA is essential to mitochrondial function. Mitochondria are cellular organelles that act like tiny engines to convert unusable forms of energy (sugar, protein, fat, amino acids, etc) into a usable chemical form known as adenosine triphosphate (ATP), so that vital cellular chemical reactions throughout the body can occur. They do this by oxidizing (burning) fuels, such as lipids from the diet, and transporting free electrons liberated from these oxidation reactions through a series of proteins called the “electron transport chain.”
To learn more about alpha lipoic acid, and how it works in Stemulite Fitness Formula click here>>

Other human studies are also currently under way, but so far there are no published human studies available, although positive studies in animals continue to proliferate. Last year, for example, American researchers demonstrated that alpha lipoic acid (ALA) supplementation in older racehorses reduced the oxidative stress burden even under light training loads, while a number of other animal studies have shown that acetyl L-carnitine (ALC)/ALA supplementation reduces oxidative stress and improves mitochondrial function in a number of tissues, including brain, muscle and heart.

In one of these studies, researchers examined the effects of acetyl L-carnitine (ALC)/alpha lipoic acid (ALA) therapy on aging and hearing in rats, and found that it reduced the normal age-associated deterioration in auditory sensitivity and improved inner ear function. They concluded that these improvements were related to the acetyl L-carnitine (ALC)/ALA combination’s ability to protect and repair age-induced mitochondrial DNA damage, thereby boosting mitochondrial function and improving energy turnover. However, while the initial evidence from animal studies looks extremely promising, the jury is still out as far as humans are concerned.

Click here>> and discover the fountain of youth!

Your immune system is your body’s defense system against illness and disease.

(THP) WHAT can we do to help our bodies cope better with infectious illnesses?

It definitely helps to have a strong and healthy immune system. Here’s how it works – the immune system is like the security system in your home. This system is continuously monitoring the environment for anything that is out of place, and when an unusual situation is detected, it dispatches the most appropriate defense mechanisms.

The immune system recognizes viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, and mutant cells, and it has a variety of “soldiers” (immune cells such as macrophages, neutrophils and natural killer cells), each with it own weapons and methods of attack to destroy these invaders.

Harmful free radicals and the human immune system

The harmful free radicals from our environment are a major cause of ill-health. These free radicals can come from exposure to the sun’s rays (UV light), pollution, radiation, stress, and poor diet.

Immune cells also suffer from free radical damage. This results in lowered immunity. The good thing is that we are not completely powerless. Antioxidant supplements can help protect our immune system from the damage of free radical “bombardment”.

Antioxidant army

We have our own army of defense against free radicals and they are called antioxidants. Antioxidants have the ability to render free radicals harmless. As long as there are adequate amounts of antioxidants within our bodies to handle the free radicals produced within the cell, there is little or no damage to surrounding tissues.

The body has the ability to make some of its own antioxidants, five of which are Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Coenzyme Q10 and Glutathione Peroxidase. However, the body may not be able to produce enough antioxidants on its own to neutralize all of the free radicals that are produced.

Although many antioxidants can be obtained from food sources, it is difficult to get enough to hold back free radicals constantly generated in our polluted environment. That is why we need to get the rest of the antioxidants from supplements.

Alpha lipoic acid

Dr Lester Packer, professor of the University of California, Berkeley, department of molecular and cell biology, is among the world’s leading antioxidant researchers and has described alpha lipoic acid as very close to an ideal antioxidant. Alpha lipoic acid can also recharge other antioxidants that have been used up. In the body, it helps regenerate other antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E and glutathione.

In addition to that, alpha lipoic acid is the only antioxidant that can boost the level of intracellular glutathione, a cellular antioxidant of tremendous importance. Besides being the body’s primary water-soluble antioxidant and a major detoxification agent, glutathione is absolutely essential for the functioning of the immune system.

The active ingredients found in standardized extracts of grape seed are Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins (OPCs). Research indicates that OPCs may be 20 to 50 times more potent as an antioxidant than vitamin C and E.

The body produces many types of free radicals – singlet oxygen, superoxides, hydroxyl, hydrogen peroxide, peroxyl, etc, and almost all are damaging to the immune system and other parts of the body. Different antioxidants neutralize different species of free radicals. Hence when it comes to antioxidant supplementation, it makes sense to take a supplement that contains a variety of antioxidants.

Learn more about alpha lipoic acid and how it works in Stemulite Fitness Formula by clicking here>>

Recover From Sports Injuries And Soreness Quicker With SerraPeptase

(THP) SerraPeptase flushes off congregated waste protein and naturally eases minor pain and inflammation from overexertion or everyday activities by breaking down extraneous fibrin, mucus and other inflammatory compounds the congregate when the body’s natural repair functions are working. It supports the body’s natural process for both drainage and repairs and therefore thought to be extremely helpful in supporting cardiovascular health.

How SerraPeptase Can Assist Athletes In Extreme Sports Recovery When Taking Stemulite Fitness Formula

SerraPeptase which is found in our supplement can be taken as a preventative before an athletic event to allow the body to immediately begin repair from inflammation caused by extreme workouts or physical traumas. It enters inflamed areas that have been isolated from the body’s circulation, caused by sprain, swelling, or bruises allowing for recovery time to be greatly accelerated. Therefore it is very useful for athletes who incur any type of muscle damage.

Click here>> to find out how Stemulite Fitness Formula works today!

Enhances Glucose Utilization

Enhances Amino Acid Transport

Lowers Blood Sugar

Increases Creatine Uptake

ALA increases your muscles glycogen uptake. This increases muscle cell volume and contributes to that full, pumped feeling when you workout.

This is a very desirable effect as the increase in muscle glycogen also increases other important nutrient transports that contributes to cell volume and muscle growth.

ALA is not a thermogenic but it does appear to contribute to favorable body composition changes. This is believed to be due to a nutrient partitioning effect where nutrients are channeled more to lean tissue and away from fat tissue.

ALA will help enhance the efficiency of many different supplements and pharmaceuticals. It enhances the absorption of creatine into the muscle cell by providing a transport vehicle through its unique ability to mimic insulin.

ALA is also one of the most potent antioxidants available. And, when taken with other antioxidants it actually enhances their antioxidant abilities.

To learn more about the science behind Stemulite Fitness Formula click here>>

Mitochondria are the chief source of endogenous oxidants, including hydrogen peroxide and the superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. This high flux of oxidants would not only be expected to damage the cell overall, but also certainly would damage the mitochondria in which the oxidants are produced.

Despite an impressive array of antioxidant defenses, such as vitamin C, glutathione and vitamin E, the level of oxidative damage to mitochondria is enormous. Experiments have shown that oxidative damage to mitochondrial DNA (the only organelle with its own DNA outside the nucleus) is 8 to 10-fold higher than the levels found in nuclear DNA and accumulates even higher levels of damage with age.

Chronic steroid use in exercise training and body building often leads to prediabetic conditions or prediabetes. One hallmark of the insulin-resistant state of prediabetes and overt type 2 diabetes is an impaired ability of insulin to activate glucose transport in skeletal muscle, due to defects in insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1)-dependent signaling. An emerging body of evidence indicates that one potential factor in the etiology of skeletal muscle insulin resistance is oxidative stress, an imbalance between the cellular exposure to an oxidant stress and the cellular antioxidant defenses. Therefore, anyone who has any kind of a chronic high glucose should daily take ALA. Exposure of skeletal muscle to an oxidant stress leads to a vicious cycle of impaired insulin signaling and subsequently to reduced glucose transport activity. Numerous studies have demonstrated that treatment of insulin-resistant animals and type 2 diabetic humans with antioxidants, including alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), are associated with improvements in skeletal muscle glucose transport activity and whole-body glucose tolerance.

To learn more about Stemulite Fitness Formula click here>>

Beautiful melatonin skin skin is created by a body that is functioning properly – that is eliminating waste efficiently, digesting food and transporting nutrients around the body. It is not something exclusively reserved for the genetically blessed.

By ensuring that our skin is in the best possible condition, we can not only improve our overall health – after all, what’s good for our skin is good for our body as a whole – but also our confidence and happiness.

Whether you are suffering from a condition such as acne or psoriasis, or you just want beautiful skin, I have devised a natural dietary and lifestyle approach that will help you get the healthy skin you’ve always wanted.

Neutralizers: Avocados, limes and raw tomatoes have alkalizing properties that help to create beautiful skin.

The skin is the largest organ of the body. It protects us from invading bacteria, helps regulate body temperature and keeps our insides from falling out. It is made up of three layers – the outside layer, the epidermis; the middle layer, the dermis; and below that, the subcutaneous layer.

New skin cells form at the bottom of the epidermis and move gradually outwards, and the top layer of dead cells then sheds. This trip takes about four weeks, which means that with the right materials you can create better skin in a month.

The Healthy Skin Diet is based on an anti-inflammatory eating program originally designed for those with skin conditions such as eczema.

It is also effective in eliminating psoriasis and dandruff, as well as improving mood swings, energy levels and rosacea. However, you don’t have to have bad skin to follow this routine as it is fantastic for overall health and well-being.

To get you started, here are seven basic guidelines . . .

THINK GREEN AND FRIENDLY

An essential step for beautiful skin involves ‘friendly’ gut flora, ‘green’ foods and drinks that have an alkalizing effect on the body, and avoiding acid-forming foods.

Some parts of your body should be acidic, such as your stomach when it produces digestive acids. However, in general, your body’s tissues and blood should be slightly alkaline.

There are two ways you can find out how acidic you are. Your GP can test your blood pH, or you can test your saliva or urine with pH strips from your local pharmacy.

These are made of litmus paper which changes color when acidic or alkaline substances come into contact with it. When your body’s pH is in balance, this reading should be between 7.0 and 7.5.

‘Green’ foods such as asparagus have an alkalizing effect on the body.

There are many types of acid-producing foods and when your body is continually trying to counteract an acidic state, acid can become a poison. The worst offenders are vinegar (except for apple cider vinegar), alcoholic drinks, margarine, pork and beef, salmon and mackerel.

Also acid-forming are coffee and black tea, yellow cheeses, pickles and mustard, chickpeas, most nuts, white rice and high-sugar and white-flour products.

However, you do not have to avoid these foods completely to be healthy. They can be enjoyed in moderation, but limit them to no more than three servings a day. The equivalent of two servings is two glasses of alcohol, or one coffee, and salmon and chickpeas for dinner.

Green drinks – those containing chlorophyll and wheat-grass – are the best way to create good acidalkaline balance. A liquid chlorophyll supplement, available from chemists, can give you an extra dose of vegetables daily. It can help to neutralize acids in the body so your blood is less likely to become sluggish and inefficient.

Alkalizing foods include spinach, peppers, courgette, broccoli, carrots, cucumber, cabbage and sweet potatoes – and surprisingly lemons and limes (although the fruit is acidic, it is actually alkalizing in the blood). Avocado, asparagus (below), garlic, onions, radishes and uncooked tomatoes are also mildly alkalizing.

Other points to good acid-alkaline balance include limiting your caffeine intake, having four alcohol-free days a week, avoiding smoking, and drinking eight to ten glasses of water a day. Encourage friendly gut flora by taking a pro-biotic supplement.

To learn more about quality all natural pro-biotic supplementation click here>>

EAT MOISTURIZING FOODS

Certain fats are moisturizing to your skin – they moisturize you from the inside out. The good fats include GLA (found in Evening Primrose Oil), EPA, DHA and omega-3 (all found in oily fish and flax seed).

Omega-3 is particularly good for your skin. It is abundant in cold-water fish such as sardines, trout and herring and although they are acid-forming, salmon and mackerel are good sources, too. Omega-3 is also found in flax seeds, walnuts and green vegetables.

Omega-6, also found in flax seeds, walnuts and leafy greens as well as eggs and fish, converts eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) which decreases inflammation and improves skin moisture. It also helps normalize blood pressure, helps with cardiovascular health and can reduce your risk of certain cancers.

If you have dry skin, psoriasis, rosacea, dandruff or premature aging take an omega-3 fish oil supplement (or flax seed oil if you are vegetarian) in addition to eating oily fish two or three times a week.

Saturated fats in dairy, meat and fried foods can cause inflammation, dry skin and premature ageing. They can also increase your risk of heart disease, asthma, eczema and acne.

Limit your intake, and increase the amount of foods that help protect from the damaging effects of these fats, including onions, ginger, turmeric, red wine (which contains flavonoids), Vitamin E and selenium.

EAT LESS

Melatonin is a hormone released during sleep. It has an antioxidant effect that helps to protect against DNA damage. As you age, the body’s ability to produce melatonin plummets.

When your body doesn’t produce enough, you will experience difficulty falling asleep and wake up after eight hours still feeling drowsy. However, a study published in the Journal Of Clinical Endocrinology And Metabolism showed how melatonin levels can be manipulated by diet.

Scientists carried out a 12-year study on monkeys and found sensible calorie restriction not only improves melatonin production but reduces body fat, lowers blood glucose levels and delays and greatly reduces age-related problems and the risk of certain cancers.

You don’t need to calorie-count. For meals, fill half your plate with salad or vegetables, the other half with carbohydrates and protein. Eat carbs that release energy slowly, such as grainy breads, brown rice and wholemeal pasta. Avoid ‘hit and run carbs’ that have a high glycemic index, such as white bread, chips, mashed potato and white rice.

Snack less and stick to healthy snacks such as almonds or an apple.

Make sure you include protein in two of your main daily meals. When eating animal protein, have a portion the size and thickness of the palm of your hand. Have a maximum of two servings of red meat a week, including lean lamb, beef and organic liver, and a maximum of two servings of white meat per week, such as skinless chicken. And eat up to three servings of seafood a week.

And don’t starve yourself. Excessive dieting is bad for the skin so be sensible and never skip a meal.

HAVE A GOOD SKIN CARE ROUTINE

You might be surprised to learn that many skin products contain ingredients that scientific studies have deemed ‘harmful to our skin’ or ‘not beneficial’.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) penetrates the skin and damages its protective barrier function. Formaldehyde can irritate the skin and trigger allergic reactions such as rashes and heart palpitations. It can also aggravate asthma. Parabens DEA and MEA can cause skin and mouth irritations.

Sunscreen should play a starring role in your quest for younger-looking skin. Apply to the parts of your body that age the fastest – face, neck, decolletage and hands. Look for one that is formulated for children or toddlers as these are likely to be fragrance-free and lower in synthetic chemicals.

If you have dry or flaky skin, or wrinkles and premature aging, exfoliating with a granulated cream or scrub will leave your skin looking and feeling smoother. Don’t exfoliate your skin if you have acne or broken skin such as wounds, bites or rashes.

BE A SLEEPING BEAUTY

During sleep your body releases a series of hormones that control significant functions in your body. One of the most vital is melatonin.

Light suppresses the release of melatonin and darkness stimulates it, so a night in a darkened room increases your chances of optimal melatonin production.

It’s not just about night-time sleep – you have to start your day right. Get a dose of sunshine in the morning. Choose a wake-up time and stick to it (even after a late night out) and make sure you get ten minutes of sunlight before 10am. This will help you reset your body clock and boost your Vitamin D levels so you are more likely to wake up feeling refreshed.

Foods that promote a more restful night’s sleep are those which contain tryptophan, an amino acid that the body uses to make serotonin and melatonin, sleep-inducing hormones.

Tryptophan-rich foods include milk, cottage cheese and plain yogurt. However, since the Healthy Skin Diet is dairy-free, eat other tryptophan-rich foods such as seafood, turkey, wholegrains, brown rice, beans, houmous, lentils, eggs, hazelnuts and sunflower seeds.

Melatonin, a key ingredient in Semulite Fitness Formula, is an excellent way to catch your zzzzz’s, and wake up feeling refreshed. To learn more click here>>

BECOME A HAT PERSON

Sunlight is essential to health. You need to have small exposure on a regular basis so your skin can produce a form of Vitamin D.

Minimum UV exposure is the key – about ten minutes a day of unfiltered sunshine directly on the skin will keep Vitamin D deficiency away.

But too much sun can be damaging. UVB rays are more likely to cause some forms of skin cancer and UVA rays penetrate deep into the skin and promote free radicals that age your skin prematurely.

UV radiation is increased by reflective surfaces such as sand, water and snow.

UV rays can also penetrate through windows, windshields and thin clothing. When out in the sun, wear protective clothing and a hat.

Learn more: Click here>> and learn how others are waking up with beautiful skin with Stemulite Fitness Formula.

This two-pronged ‘punch’ to aging cells seemed to work, with the two supplements together producing better results than either one alone. After a month on the supplements, elderly (24-month-old) and lethargic rats had more energy and did better on memory tests, while their mitochondria worked better. The decline in overall activity typical of aged rats was reversed to the level of young-to-middle-aged adult rats, aged 7-10 months. The researchers likened this result to a group of 80-year-old humans throwing away their walking sticks and starting to act 35 years younger!

Click here>> to learn more …

Beta Glucan, Alpha Lipoic Acid & L-Carnitine Combination In Stemulite May Help Athletes Reduce Recovery Time

The immune-stem-cell health potential in fitness and bodybuilding is enormous. In the United States, over 200,000 cases of tendon tears are treated by physicians annually. Millions of fitness buffs are constantly slowed or hindered by sprains and muscle pulls which interrupt the training regimes. Within professional sports, injured athletes can incur staggering financial loss. Stem cell recruitment and anti-inflammatory action by a beta-glucan/lipoic acid/acetyl carnitine combination may be able to drastically reduce both the injuries and the recovery time of such injuries.

To learn more about beta glucan and how it works in Stemulite Fitness Formula click here>>

(THP) In my last article, I touched upon the pitfalls of what can keep our bodies from changing. People go to the gym, workout, do some cardio 5 days a week, and still don’t see the result in their physique. One of the most challenging obstacles to overcome is how we view food. Unless you compete in figure, fitness or bodybuilding competitions, your diet does not have to be strict all the time. One of the biggest mistakes is trying to follow a diet that is so strict that they lose the vision of having fun. The end result is misery. The rate at which you desire change – should be the guideline of how strict your diet is.

Before I go any further, let’s talk about the word diet. Webster’s Dictionary defines it as:

1 a : food and drink regularly provided or consumed b : habitual nourishment c : the kind and amount of food prescribed for a person or animal for a special reason d : a regimen of eating and drinking sparingly so as to reduce one’s weight
2 : something provided or experienced repeatedly <a diet of Broadway shows and nightclubs — Frederick Wyatt>

When you mention the word diet to most people – the first thing that comes to their mind is restricting the amount of food you are eating. My wife is a national level figure competitor, before she started competing, if she wanted to lose weight she would skip breakfast, eat a salad for lunch, and have a small plate of food for dinner, and her body  sent out the signal that it was starving. Most all the food she was eating was being stored as fat. Once she decided to start competing and started eating every 2-3 hours, her physique changed all for the better.

Now the big question “What, when and how often do you need to eat.”

As a rule you need to eat every 3 hours. Your main staples need to come from egg whites, oatmeal, fruits, green vegetables, chicken, lean red meat, nuts and at least 64 oz. of water per day. As I mentioned before, my wife is a national level figure competitor, and I compete in bodybuilding. All of our food is measured and/or weighed year round. Off season, we have 1 cheat meal per week, this keeps our food desires in check. When we start our contest diet, cheat meals end. I may get a re-feed (increase in carbs, up to 100 grams per meal for 1 day) but we don’t consider that a cheat meal.

Here is a sample of my current diet:

5:30am 8 egg whites

60 grams oatmeal

3 fish oil tablets

8:00am 6 oz chicken breast

1 cup brown rice

1 oz almonds

10:30am 6 oz Top sirloin

1 serving fruit

1:00pm 6 oz chicken breast

1 cup brown rice

1 Lg salad w/ balsamic vinegar

3:30pm 2 scoops protein powder

1 Tbs peanut butter

5:30pm 2 scoops protein powder

½ bagel w/ 1 Tbs jelly

7:00pm 6oz Top sirloin

3 fish oil tablets

9:00pm 1 scoop protein powder

We make small changes throughout the year depending on how my body is responding. As far as supplements, I take BCAA’s between each meal. I also take 9 A Day Plus (one pack in the morning and one at night) Protein Power Mix, and Stemulite (one daytime in the morning and one nighttime before I go to bed) all from True Healthy Products. Does it take more than this to reach my goals? Absolutely, this is just the tip of the iceberg. But it’s a start for someone looking to change the way they look.

Do you need to eat like this? That depends entirely on your personal goals. Perhaps, you only want to look better. Start by making better food choices. Continue to lift weights and do your cardio, and a better physique is just around the corner. We no longer look at food as food; we look at it as fuel. Start making small changes in your diet and see big changes in you physique.

To learn more about sports nutritionals, and the difference they can make in your health click here>>

(Caymanmama.com – Health News News)

Dallas, Texas (CaymanMama.com) — Many people think getting a washboard stomach, chiseled down to the rock hard core, is unattainable and virtually impossible.

Granted, it’s no easy task but in reality, getting six pack abs is simple math.

Nutrition + Exercise + Persistence = Success

Let’s be honest here…the majority of people will never get those washboard abs because they simply don’t have the dedication and motivation to keep at it, day after day. But it is doable! These two tips, if followed continually and with passion, will not only help to improve your abs but will also help to strengthen your core and your attitude!

Nutrition

Bar none, nutrition can make or break any attempt at washboard abs. In fact, nutrition is the single most important part of the entire equation. You can do one million crunches per day and have the most remarkable set of abs anywhere, but if they are covered by a layer of fat, no one will see them…not even you! Aim for 5 or 6 mini-meals each day as this is the best bet in jump starting your metabolism.

Limit or completely refrain from eating these ab-flab foods:

• refined, bleached carbs such as white bread and pasta
• cola
• candy
• friend food and fast food
• hydrogenated oils
• sugars including any kind of high fructose corn syrup
• Opt for these colorful, tasty foods that are good for the body and the mind–and are six pack-friendly as well!
• oatmeal
• extra virgin olive oil
• whole grains
• fruits & vegetables
• nuts
• eggs
• natural peanut butter
• lean protein such as chicken, turkey and fish
• green tea
• water

TIP: Keep your expectations in check by being realistic about your goals. You are human and will want to have a little cheat here and there. Do it! However, keep your overall focus on the prize and make a make a conscious effort to improve your nutrition.

Exercise

Although you will need to push yourself harder than the average exerciser, you will also need to focus on all kinds of exercise including cardio, weightlifting and ab exercises. Combine these three elements in your routine 5-6 times per week (but no less than 3 times per week). Cardio can consist of walking, running, cycling, martial arts, biking, swimming…anything you like and can stick to.

Implement interval training and high intensity training since doing so will burn fat fast.

Lifting weights is a critical part of six pack abs. Why? Simply put, three pounds of added muscle melts off as many calories as a one mile jog…all while sitting still! Shoot for 30-1 hour minutes, 3-4 times per week, alternating the muscle groups you work. Never work the same muscle group two days in a row.

Lastly, but definitely not least, ab exercises are a must! Work all part of your abs 3 times per week. Mix up your routine, take a class or get a trainer. But just keep at it!

TIP: Change up your workout and ab routine every 2-3 weeks to keep your body working. The reason for this is that your body is SMART and will get used to your routine. Shake it up and keep your body guessing what is coming next. Add or remove various weight training or ab exercises, changing up the weight and repetitions you do.

Follow these tips faithfully and keep track of your progress. You will see an improvement in your entire body, not just your abs.

To get the most from your workouts, quality supplementation can boost your performance, and enhance your muscle growth. To learn more click here>>

Keeping that in mind, there are some great products out there that will help you stay on target while providing you with nutrition, recovery, energy and enhanced fat burning. There is a great deal of hype for (and against) the vast majority of supplements – which are worth your money?

Note: There are no magic bullets. These products only help if you also follow a program of exercise and nutrition. Anything (including vitamins) used incorrectly will diminish the desired effects.

Supplements You Want

1. Protein Powder

Use: Because eating eight burgers a day would be bad.

Recommended: Protein Power Mix. It’s a quality whey protein, and it also tastes better (see below).

What it is: It’s food. More expensive proteins include casein, a slower-digesting protein that’s ideal to take before bedtime or if you’re planning a long gap between meals. Unless you’re vegan, use whey protein: it’s low in lactose, and soy protein doesn’t make the trip to your muscles quite as well.

Tips: You may want to sample a smaller-size container of various brands until you find one that tastes good to you. Mix the powder with milk or water, or for more flavor and nutrition, blend it with milk and either a handful of frozen strawberries, or ice, a banana and a tablespoon of peanut butter.

2. Pre Workout Formula

There are several key elements to any ‘diet’. A diet being by definition, just a way of eating. So eating foods that will promote your health will be of great benefit.

There are the AM and PM formulas by True Healthy Products. A short overview of these will help in understanding their place in anyone’s diet.
Some of the ingredients in these formula’s are eggplant extract, potassium, magnesium, calcium, glutatmine, alpha lipoic acid, brown rice, whey, and calcium caseinate.

Eggplant extract: Studies have shown that eggplant contains positive antioxidant and cholesterol lowering effects. Eggplant also contains an alkaloid which apparently acts on the acetylcholine receptors, thus, enabling stem cell recruitment.

When a stem cell recruiter is implemented into a fitness regimen, muscle repair is enhanced which constitutes greater muscle growth, reduced soreness, and improved recovery.

Potassium: This mineral is crucial for chemical reactions within cells, stable blood pressure (as its role along with sodium as an electrolyte), skeletal muscle contractions, and sending of nerve impulses.

Magnesium: Magnesium has numerous metabolic roles. It is extremely important to all living cells. This mineral is an important mechanism in enzymatic activity and energy production, specifically the influence of biological phosphates such as ATP, DNA, and RNA.

Magnesium will protect the inside of the arterial walls from sudden blood pressure spikes, which is essential for arterial health. It is also necessary for proper muscle and nervous system repair.

Calcium: This mineral is responsible for normal heart rhythms, conduction of nerve impulses, blood clotting, and muscle contraction.
Glutamine: This amino acid is the principal source of energy for enterocytes (cells lining the inside of the small intestines) which can promote intestinal health. Glutamine is also important for proper immune function. Cell replication within the immune system requires the utilization of glutamine.

Glutamine is also a neurotransmitter and is very important for brain function. It can directly cross the blood-brain barrier and thus provides the brain with a secondary source of fuel. Most importantly for athletes, glutamine exerts anti-catabolic effects. Glutamine stops the progress of cortisol and its catabolic properties on muscle after exercise. In this way, it promotes muscle repair and muscle growth (an anabolic effect).

Alpha Lipoic Acid: Alpha lipoic acid contains antioxidant regenerative properties. ALA can regenerate the antioxidants vitamin C, E and restore their free radical scavenging capabilities. Due to its antioxidant regenerative properties cells are able to better maintain a healthy state by being protected from free radical damage. Along the lines of antioxidants, ALA increases the body’s production of glutathione.

Glutathione is an antioxidant like vitamin C and E that helps detoxify the liver. A healthy liver is crucial to a healthy lifestyle. The liver is responsible for detoxifying the blood, glycogen storage, protein synthesis, and production of digestive aids.

Whey protein: Found in the Protein Power Mix (PPM) Daytime formula, this protein will maintain increased serum amino acid levels. Increased amino acids in the blood will help repair damaged muscle tissue, up-regulate peptide hormone synthesis, and up-regulate the immune system response.

Calcium Caseinate: Calcium caseinate has specific biological characteristics which enable it to be digested slowly. The slow digestive properties then facilitate a slow release of amino acids into the blood stream which then provides superior nitrogen retention.

Brown rice: Because brown rice is 100% natural, the body has no difficulty digesting it. As a result, there is less bloating, cramping, and gastrointestinal discomfort. The primary reason for using brown rice is because of its molecular structure. Complex Carbohydrates are quickly released from the stomach to the intestines. However, while they are in the stomach and the long chains of glucose are broken down into smaller chains, some smaller chains can be taken into the blood stream by the cilia cells of the stomach, which then provides us with immediate sources of energy.

Using the PPM Nighttime protein an hour before bed will help our bodies rejuvenate and repair themselves.

Along with recovery, individuals can experience reduced soreness, more restful sleep, and better athletic performance.

To combat the issues of cholesterol, the utilization of True Healthy Products should be an integral part of a persons balanced diet. A great combination would be to include the Stemulite Fitness Formula Supplements, 9 A Day Plus Vitamin Supplement, & Protein Power Mix formulas.

To learn more about true health and the best supplementation available click here>>

(THP) The case for nutritional supplementation is a sensitive topic as it is generally believed that we can obtain what we nutritiously need like vitamins and minerals from the food we eat, especially fruits and vegetables. However, the following factors need to be taken into consideration in this discussion:

Even though it is recommended that we consume5-9 servings of veggies and fruits per day, most people  fail to meet this requirement.  Even for those that come close, it is important to remember that soil depletion and genetically modified crops lack nutrients.  “The USDA surveyed 16,000 Americans and found that not one person obtained 100% of essential nutrients such as magnesium, vitamin E, and zinc. Similarly, children and adolescents did not obtain enough essential nutrients such as folate, vitamin C, and calcium.”

Increased pollution in air, water and food, over-prescription of drugs and increased stress levels, cause for free radical production and oxidative stress.  Knowing that oxidative stress is the main cause of low-grade inflammation and chronic degenerative diseases, there is a need for extra supply of anti-oxidants and other nutrients.  For example, to obtain the recommended 400 International Units (IU) of vitamin E every day, you would have to consume 72.6 cups of spinach or 28.8 pounds, 7.5 cups of almonds or 2.3 pounds, 3.6 cups Safflower oil or 1.7 pounds.

Our bodies are exceptionally intelligent and can function and produce what is needed.  However, our immunity, and self-defense are built up by cellular nutrition and where one or more minerals, enzymes, proteins, or amino acids are missing, these functions will be affected.  In addition, people that have greater stress levels, compromised immune systems, predisposition for certain illnesses, kids, elders and pregnant women will also need extra supplementation.

The future of health lies in prevention through adopting healthy lifestyles including well balanced diet, high quality nutritional supplementation, quality water, exercise and positive outlook

Learn more about how supplementation with 9 a day plus vitamins or Stemulite Fitness Formula can help you achieve optimum health by clicking here>>

Michael George, one of Hollywood’s most sought-after trainers and fitness experts, has discovered the remarkable and measurable benefits of Stemulite Fitness Formula.

Michael, who is an author of several bestselling books, recommends Stemulite Fitness Formula to all his clients who are looking for better sleep, greater strength and endurance, and faster recovery time.

He notes that every week the media comes out with new disclosures of amateur or professional athletes using steroids. Many athletes and health fanatics are willing to do whatever they believe is necessary to get results while ignoring the health, legal, and professional risks involved in using illegal substances.

According to studies and research, the use of anabolic steroids merely inflates your muscles (hence the term “juiced”) without providing permanent beneficial results. There are also several harmful side effects of steroid use, ranging from diabetes, rage, aggression and uncontrollable mood-swings, to significant changes to body systems that are not natural to the user’s gender.

Dr. Robert Shorr, highly recommends the Stemulite formulations as “the next generation all-natural fitness supplement for men and women. “It is the actual aggregate, interaction and synergy of all-natural proteins, enzymes and amino acids, including a stem cell agonist and a trace mineral called indium, that works its magic, for the ultimate easy, safe results you want, need and demand,” he says.

The core muscle building ingredient, “eggplant extract,” is a natural dietary adult stem cell agonist. When working out and pushing our bodies, our muscles and ligaments suffer tiny micro tears, creating the soreness from exercise. The eggplant extract quickly goes to work recruiting the sleeping adult stem cells in our bone marrow and starts repairing the micro tears and building new muscle. Keep in mind this is new muscle, not the temporary enlarged effect that anabolic steroids create.

“Stemulite is the most powerful supplement I have ever put into my body, period,” says Corey Simpson, a former Mr. Florida and now active fitness professional. “In the first couple of weeks of using Stemulite, I increased the weight I was lifting by 30 percent and I doubled the amount of repetitions in my workout. It was a little hard to believe. Within weeks, my muscle definition changed and I dropped excess water weight. In addition, Stemulite has also given me a great and deeper sleep, which is so important for recuperation. I just feel better than ever and have so much more endurance and energy.”

Corey and Paul Simpson of Tampa, Fla., both professional athletes and trainers that currently work with professional football and baseball players and boxers, were recruited to participate in and monitor the initial Stemulite trials. They worked with and monitored more than 20 athletes over a one-month period, changing nothing in their routine, but adding Stemulite to their daily diet. As the results came back, it was clear that by adding Stemulite to their regimens they experienced consistent and congruent results, including:

• Dramatic increase in strength and improved endurance
• Reduced recovery time to hours not days
• More repetitions and improved muscle definition
• A decrease in body mass index (BMI) and greater muscle tone
• Higher sustained energy and more consistent energy throughout the day
• Improved rest and sleep — the most common benefit

To learn more about eggplant extract and how it builds muscle click here>>

By balancing the feedback of the HPA complex one synchronizes the function and production of at least thirty-one hormones. This synchronization produces an almost universal feeling of euphoria and well-being in most users.

One of the theories regarding the aging process is that it is precipitated by the decreased production of certain hormones as we get older. Indium appears to counteract this by balancing and synchronizing the HPA complex, the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands. These hormones control sleep, metabolism, body temperature, appetite, blood pressure, sex desire and many other body functions.

Indium stimulates hormonal production to youthful levels. It does this by stimulating the HPA master hormone producers – that in turn stimulate the production of over thirty hormones. These hormones then circulate throughout the body and help prevent and fight various aspects of the aging process – for example, supplies of growth hormone are boosted, which controls metabolism and affects bone density.

To learn more about Stemulite Fitness Formula and the science behind true health  click here>>

Eggplant Extract Helps Repair & Induces Creation of New Muscle Fiber

(THP) Two new types of stem cells have been found that can seek out injured muscle tissue and replace the damaged cells. Both types respond to the alkaloids found in eggplant extract. Researchers in Italy used stem cells from blood vessels to repair muscle in mice with muscular dystrophy. Canadian scientists found that stem cells from damaged muscle give rise to new muscle fibers. The studies reveal how different types of stem cells repair injured muscle and point to a common conclusion: Damaged tissue sends out molecular signals that attract new stem cells. The stem cells then multiply and form new muscle fibers, replacing and repairing injured tissue.

Until recently the signals that recruit stem cells to sites of injury have been unknown. Understanding these signals seems to be the key to finding new ways to replace damaged tissues by encouraging the growth of stem cells already in the body. Athletes should also be interested in these findings, which lend credence to the “no pain, no gain” approach to strength training and may lead to new strategies for bulking up. Researchers found that stem cells from normal tissue would not multiply in culture, but those isolated from injured muscle readily proliferated and gave rise to new muscle cells.

Mental acuity and sharpness are required in almost all sports. Stem cell recruitment combined with exogenous ingestion of natural alkaloids that bind and activate the alpha 7 AChR receptors in the brain and promote clarity and mental concentration.

Click here>> to learn more about eggplant extract and the effects it has on your muscles!

Within one week regular exercisers, who normally stop exercising due to muscular pain and fatigue should be able to increase their workout by 10% before reaching the pain threshold as indium helps reduce the painful buildup of lactic acid by removing it more quickly from the tissues.

In one very recent study with Indium conducted in Budapest, Hungary, 15 male members of the National Kung Fu Championship Team were measured for stamina. Each was administered one drop of liquid indium (ca. 5ml) sublingual for two months. When re-tested, 13 of the 15 demonstrated significant increases over baseline.

Although anecdotal, a group of distance runners recently reported 30% increase in running distance for the same time in just two weeks. A group of weight lifters recently reported increasing their standardized bench press by 40% in 60 days using the same protocol.

Indium also has a beneficial effect on the thyroid gland. By potentiating this gland and supporting proper thyroid levels, more calories are burned and weight is normalized.

To learn more about the effects of Indium in Stemulite Fitness Formula click here>>

These studies highlight the effectiveness of combining endurance exercise training and antioxidants in beneficially modulating the molecular defects in insulin action observed in insulin-resistant skeletal muscle. The insulin-like effects of ALA provide body builders a powerful synergistic effect when used with creatine.

“R”-ALA is prescribed in Germany to treat diabetic and alcoholic neuropathies and alcoholic liver disease, thought to result in part from free-radical damage. As discussed above, there is also evidence that it can help decrease insulin resistance; it speeds the removal of glucose from the bloodstream by enhancing insulin function, and thus helps control blood sugar, underlying many cases of coronary heart disease and obesity.

To learn more about the science behind Stemulite Fitness Formula click here>>

Mitochondrial function is paramount in brain function, health, and building a better physique.

(THP) There are at least two major functions of L-carnitine. All tissues except the brain use long-chain fatty acids for bioenergy production. In cardiac and skeletal muscle, a major contribution of bioenergy comes from the beta-oxidation of long-chain fatty acids. Long-chain fatty acids require L-carnitine to transport them across the inner membranes of the mitochondria, wherein their metabolism produces bioenergy. Following the delivery of long-chain fatty acids into other mitochondria, L-carnitine, either by itself or esterified to an acyl group, recrosses the mitochondrial membrane to allow for continual use in this shuttle process.

Another function of L-carnitine is to remove short-chain and medium-chain fatty acids from the mitochondria in order to maintain co-enzyme A levels in these organelles. These fatty acids accumulate as a result of normal and abnormal metabolism. This mechanism prevents the build-up in the mitochondria of short-chain and medium-chain fatty acids that may interfere with the bio-energy producing process vital to the normal function of the cell.

As mentioned above, L-carnitine is a neurotransmitter which crosses the blood brain barrier. Neurotransmitters are essential in mental processing, memory and concentration.

To learn more about how Stemulite Fitness Formula works click here>>

Stemulite Fitness Formula boosts immunity within the body

(THP) The immune system responds to cell signals that identify “self” from “non-self” (a germ or virus is considered non-self) by the release of complement. The insoluble Beta-glucan has the unusual ability to enter the blood stream via the Peyer’s patches in the gut and activate the immune system’s complement component regardless of whether or not the body is invaded by germs or viruses. Complement is a protein that affects only non-self organisms. The white cells of the body are mobilized to attack infections and disease and are guided by antibodies released by B-cells. Obviously, daily use of foods or supplements containing beta-glucan can maintain a heightened immunity to all disease.

When beta-glucan activates the body’s complement system such as CR3 receptors on stem cells, they are up-regulated to bind with certain growth factors released by injured tissue. These factors act as powerful signals to recruit somnambulant progenitor stem cells in the body to mobilize and migrate to certain disease or injured tissues in order to repair (and in the case of stem cells) or replenish the injured or dysfunctional cell population. Once stem cells become resident of a tissue system (such as a muscle group) or organ they quickly multiply and replace old tissue with new juvenile cells which are able to mature in a matter of hours or days into the same tissue type that was earlier dysfunctional. If the genetic component of the tissue is normal, the new cells continue replicating indefinitely, completely and permanently eradicating the problem. In the case of fitness training, the stem cells are recruited in great numbers to mobilize in muscle systems replacing fat and adding brand new muscle.

Learn more about Stemulite Fitness Formula by clicking here>>

However, the question of whether the benefits observed in rats might also apply to humans will not be easy to determine. For one thing, the aging process in humans is much slower than in rats, so the seven-week supplementation period used in the rat studies would equate to around five years of supplementation in humans! Secondly, the amounts of acetyl L-carnitine (ALC)/alpha lipoic acid (ALA) used in the rat studies were very high – equivalent to 50g per day of acetyl L-carnitine (ALC) and 5g of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) for an 150 pound adult. That’s around 50 times more than is typically available in acetyl L-carnitine (ALC)/ALA supplements found on the shelves of most health food stores!

One of the earliest studies examining the effect of acetyl L-carnitine (ALC) and alpha lipoic acid (ALA) in humans was carried out at San Francisco State University in 2001. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study lasting 17 weeks, 18 healthy sedentary men aged 60-71 were randomized to one of two treatment régimes: a placebo tablet twice a day or 1,000mgs of acetyl L-carnitine (ALC) and 400mgs of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) in two divided doses. Both groups were then asked to perform a demanding sequence of exercises, after which blood was drawn and analyzed for signs of exercise-induced oxidative stress (a potentially damaging by-product of energy production).

To measure oxidative stress, the study evaluated nine different biomarkers: ammonia, beta-carotene, glutamine, glutathione, malondialdehyde, total antioxidant status (TAS), vitamin C, vitamin E-alpha tocopherol, and vitamin E-gamma tocopherol. For eight of these nine biomarkers, a majority of subjects in the treatment group recorded values indicating that levels of oxidative stress had fallen. By contrast, no such benefits were reported in the placebo group.

Click here>> to learn more!

(THP) The 500 calorie diet is explained on the day of the second dose to those patients who will be preparing their own food, and it is most important that the person who will actually cook is present – the wife, the mother or the cook, as the case may be. Here in Italy patients are given the following diet sheet.

Breakfast:

Tea or coffee in any quantity without sugar. Only one tablespoonful of milk allowed in 24 hours. Saccharin or stevia may be used.

Lunch:

100 grams, or 3.5 ounces of veal, beef, chicken breast, fresh white fish, lobster, crab, or shrimp. All visible fat must be carefully removed before cooking, and the meat must be weighed raw. It must be boiled or grilled without additional fat. Salmon, eel, tuna, herring, dried or pickled fish are not allowed.

One type of vegetable only to be chosen from the following: spinach, chard, chicory, beet-greens, green salad, tomatoes, celery, fennel, onions, red radishes, cucumbers, asparagus, cabbage.

One breadstick (grissino) or one Melba toast.

An apple or a handful of strawberries or one-half grapefruit.

Dinner: The same four choices as lunch.

Since, the inception of the Dr.Simeons Very Low Calorie Diet (VLCD), many have touted the efficacy with amazing end results.

However, 40 years later with the expansion of nturitional products, True Healthy Products has a great variety on nutritionals which offer nutrient packed fuel that feed your body, while enabling the body to shed the excess pounds of fat, just as efficiently.

For example, Protein Power Mix, is a quality protein that can be utilized, to help you feel full, while giving your body quality amino acids to keep you running at optimum efficiency.

Nine A Day Plus Vitamins, provides organic vitamins and minerals derived from veggies and fruits, which fuels the body with necessary nutrients, so you don’t literally starve. Thus, the very low calorie diet (VLCD), is just a reduced caloric intake, while you still can nourish and support vital functions.

To learn more about Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) – Fat Release System – click here>>

Diabetes can be subdued through proper nutritional supplementation, and correct nutrition.

(THP) Diabetes is a common disease among Americans today.  In fact, it is shown by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) that in 2008, over 24 million Americans were dealing with diabetes.  Of that number, 5.7 million people are assumed undiagnosed.  Symptoms of diabetes can include increased thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision, weight changes, and tingling and numbness in the extremities. Diabetes may not be heart disease or cancer but it is just as dangerous and important to protect against.

A difficult disease if not controlled, diabetes can cause kidney failure, blindness, high blood pressure, nervous system damage, amputation, erectile dysfunction, coma and even death.  Gone undiagnosed, diabetes can become very complicated and cost you a great deal of money!

Pilates and yoga are also quite different from each other, and it is in the differences that we find many of the complimentary aspects of the two that make them such a great team.

Strength and Stretch

In a very general view, pilates focuses more on strength and hatha yoga focuses more on stretch. There are certainly exceptions to this statement as pilates does include stretching, in fact, pilates is known for creating length in the body, and doing yoga does develop strength. The difference is emphasis.

Many people are finding that the core strength and integration they develop in pilates support them well in the daily activities and sports they engage in. For those who also do yoga, pilates gives them the stability that they need to control and expand their yoga poses safely. Conversely, the expansive stretching in yoga provides a wonderful balance to the typically more core oriented pilates exercises.

Learn more about Pilates and yoga’s respective approaches to movement by examining five exercises that they share. Read, Pilates vs Yoga Exercises.

Centering, Breath and Flow

Working with the breath is important to both pilates and yoga. The breath is the great cleanser of the body and in both systems one is encouraged to develop conscious breathing, using a deep full breath to enhance the depth and movement of the exercise.

Yoga has a long tradition of working with the breath. There are techniques of yogic breathing that are used while performing the yoga asanas (poses), and also yoga meditative practices that are based on the breath. In pilates, the breath is coordinated very specifically with the motion of the exercises.

Joseph Pilates, the founder of the Pilates Method studied yoga, and was very much concerned with the breath. He encouraged his students to use the breath as fully as possible, expanding the breath into the back and expelling the air completely to support flowing movement. In both yoga and pilates, working with the breath links the physical exertion with attention of the mind, creating grace and flow in the movement, and providing a vehicle for centering the presence of the practitioner.

Benefits of Yoga and Pilates

The benefits of pilates and yoga are extraordinary. They are both known to support the development of long, strong, graceful bodies that move efficiently without creating bulky muscles. Both disciplines are integrative; associated with stress reduction and increased well-being. Both yoga and pilates are used as rehabilitative systems. They can be adjusted for a wide range of people and fitness levels, and both support the achievement of very high levels of body/mind/spirit fitness.

When people think of yoga and Pilates, they sometimes think that yoga is “spiritual” and Pilates is not. Yoga does offer a long history of being associated with spiritual practice, or of being a spiritual path unto itself. While I wouldn’t put Pilates in as directly a spiritual context as yoga (one is unlikely to find meditation or chanting in a pilates class), I would suggest that for those seeking body/mind/spirit integration, Pilates can be a very satisfying discipline. Joseph Pilates studied yoga and meditation, as well as ancient Greek philosophy, and it is clear from his writing and the principles he infused in his work, that he was very interested in higher ideals.

Yoga/Pilates Classes and Integrity

While yoga-pilates exploration and mix and match is very valid, and can enhance your fitness level, it is also important to remember that pilates and yoga are each very full, distinct, and sophisticated disciplines. Really getting to know either one of them and experiencing the full benefits of either takes time. To reap the rewards of pilates or yoga, one needs a teacher, for at least some of ones study, and one needs to practice regularly.

Yoga/Pilates combo classes are popping up everywhere. Students will want to be aware that while there are excellent pilates certification programs and yoga teacher trainings, becoming a good instructor for either yoga or pilates requires a very significant amount of time and effort. For this reason one will want to take care that ones instructor genuinely has enough training in both Pilates and Yoga to teach them together. As people continue explore the benefits of practicing pilates and yoga together, it will be up to the students and teachers to monitor and maintain the integrity of each discipline.

Pilates vs Yoga

So which to do? The happy answer is: Do Both! Find out for yourself which discipline is right for you. It might be that devoting yourself fully to one or the other feels best, or perhaps developing stability and strength in pilates will lead you to increase your range of motion even further through yoga.

(THP) Running is a popular way to lose weight. A lot of people take up running when they want to shed a few extra pounds. They hope that this cardio activity will help them burn off the extra fat.

And indeed, running can be very effective. However, some runners get excellent results and shed fat fast while others hardly seem to be getting anywhere. Why is that and how can you make sure that your running will help you lose the most fat?

1. You need to be able to run comfortable for a long time so comfortable shoes and clothes are a must. Your shoes and clothes can have a dramatic effect on your results so make sure to get quality running attire.

2. Try to run at a moderate incline at least part of the way. Even a small incline can mean hundreds of extra burned calories during a single job. Needless to say, it can be quite effective.

3. Try to avoid running at steep declines to avoid placing too much pressure on your knees. Too much pressure may lead to injury.

4. Include some sprinting during your jog. Sprinting has a double benefit because it contracts the stomach muscles so you get a belly stimulation as well as a cardio one.

5. Run at intervals by changing your pace every few minutes. This will help you workout your cardiovascular system at different intensities and allow you to do a more challenging workout in less time.

Running to lose weight is something that I highly recommend as it’s the way that I lost weight myself. Just follow these tips and get the best results possible.

6. Cycle in Stemulite Fitness Formula for optimum body performance, quick recovery from intense workouts, get deeper REM sleep, and new muscle growth all naturally.

To learn more about how to burn fat click here>>

Author: Dr.Gregory

At this point, many may be thinking that cholesterol is not the bad guy and statins may not necessarily be the best solution. The question still remains: What precisely causes cholesterol to elevate? Also, what is causing the arteries to clog?

With that in mind, we will take a cursory review of some of the more critical components that are at the root of each of these questions. First, we will review the primary causes of the all too common “high cholesterol level”.

So what causes the “Bad” cholesterol to become a problem?

In one word – us. For many people that have unhealthy cholesterol levels, most often these are caused by our personal choices. This may be a tough idea to adjust to, but here are the predominate factors in high levels of our cholesterol.

• Poor dietary habits
• Smoking
• Inadequate exercise or a lack of physical activity
• Excess weight or obesity
• Diabetes or poorly controlled diabetes
• Family history of unhealthy cholesterol or heart disease
• Increasing Age

As a result of other standard cholesterol tests, most doctors may recommend diet and exercise changes as well as cholesterol lowering medication to alter elevated levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. However, is this always the best option to employ? At this point, let us review what we have determined to this point.

What You Should Know About Cholesterol

A great point to remember is that there is no such thing as good or bad cholesterol. Cholesterol is Cholesterol.

Cholesterol in our blood is just like pouring oil into water. In order to move the cholesterol [oil] through the body, our body attaches a protein – hence the term lipoprotein. HDL and LDL for example, are lipoproteins.

Application of a statin drug serves to inhibit the essential production of cholesterol by reducing or inhibiting the very essential enzymes required for the production of cholesterol and other critical hormones. Least we forget that cholesterol is essential to the body because it is used for so many other biological requirements. By interfering with the enzyme pathway that generates our cholesterol you will also compromise a host of other normal liver enzyme functions. This will result in multiple side effects that are recognizable, well established in medical reports, and very serious.

Some of these side effects are muscle damage, nerve damage, and impaired memory. Remember, statins have a negative side effect on muscles, and your heart is a muscle. So one of the side effects of the statin is to compromise the very muscle [the heart] they are prescribed to protect. It is worth mentioning again that the side effects of the statins compromise the very biochemical processes that our body requires to stay alive.

Lowering cholesterol to the new recommended levels is very dangerous. All of the required steroid hormones in the body will be compromised and this new low level correlates with dying – especially from cancer.

What we are faced with from the medical arena is confusion between the terms ‘correlation and cause.’ For example, there is a distant correlation between cholesterol and CVD, but cholesterol is not the cause. Simply stated, cholesterol does not cause CVD.

For example, there is a correlation but not a cause between aging and gaining weight. In general, by becoming older we might obtain extra and unwanted weight gain. Regardless, if you were to lose the weight as many do, you don’t become any younger! Again, correlation but not the cause.

The correlation between cholesterol and CVD is weak at best. Jumping head first into using a statin as the ‘quick fix’ remedy is to ignore the cause of the health concern and the consequences to your future health.

In many cases, if it is not specifically the cholesterol, then what is it that creates the cardiovascular disease issues? The primary focus of Part VI is to illuminate the underlying issues of cardiovascular concerns that are all to often attributed to cholesterol.

To learn more about how to keep cholesterol levels healthy click here>>

Author: Dr. Gregory

How do Statins work?
(THP) Statins are actually a 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase or HMGR. This is a 25 cent term to identify a drug [HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors] that will suppress the enzyme or the metabolic pathway that produces cholesterol. A statin drug targets the enzyme. If you eliminate the enzyme, you lower the cholesterol. The medical perspective is to lower serum cholesterol as a means of reducing the risk for cardiovascular disease.

Simple in theory, but short in application. Recall just three basic biological facts. 1) our body requires cholesterol, it is essential!; 2) the body makes up to 80% of its cholesterol for this very reason; and, 3) cholesterol is required for all of the steroid hormones that we need to function.

Now we have what is typically referred to as a paradox. On one hand, IF a person was to have too much BAD cholesterol, they are subject to a host of potential heart disease issues. On the other hand, what is glossed over in the medical models is that IF you were to drop your cholesterol levels too low, then your essential biological functions are impaired!

So maybe, just maybe, there is more to this than just the “BAD cholesterol” must be lowered. Let’s now look a little closer at the ‘statin’ drugs……

Statin’s and Adverse Effects.
Statin drugs do a lot! Specifically addressing the cholesterol level in the body, statins act by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase. This enzyme controls the first committed step of sterol (cholesterol) synthesis, in the liver. Because of their similarity to HMG-CoA on a molecular level, statins take the place of HMG-CoA in the enzyme. This action reduces the rate by which it is able to produce the next molecule [mevalonate] in the process to make cholesterol as well as a number of other compounds.

These same drugs are also known to inhibit the body’s production of coenzyme Q10 [CoQ10]. The enzyme pathway that the body uses in the creation of cholesterol, is the same pathway that is needed to manufacture CoQ10. This biochemical is needed for the most important transfer of energy from our food to our cells.

Coenzyme Q10 is present in most tissues, but the highest concentrations are found in the heart, liver, kidneys, and pancreas. Obviously the medical community places some value on this coenzyme because the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) information summary provides an overview of the use of CoQ10 in cancer therapy. But this knowledge is somehow ignored when anyone is dealing with the potential usage of a statin.

Statin causes heart disease. Another often overlooked fact by physicians is that patients taking statins become depleted in Coenzyme Q10, which leads to fatigue, muscle weakness, soreness and heart failure. This may be where the terminology, “the cure is worse than the disease” comes from.

Simultaneously, while lowering these necessary enzyme activities, the current research indicates that statins also activate what is called the atrogin-1 gene. This gene plays a role in muscle atrophy or muscle deterioration. In separate tests, and using low concentrations of statin drugs, the activation of the atrogin-1 gene induced muscle damage. Increased muscle damage was noted with the increased concentration of the statin. It should not be overlooked that the heart is a muscle!

A further interesting point from Swiss research indicates that statins suppress the immune system cells knows as Helper T-cells. These Help T-cells act by recognizing foreign pathogens and then activating the production of the proper T and/or B cells in response. Additional studies on the national level have found that low cholesterol is actually associated with adverse behavioral effects such as aggression and depression.

The theory emerging is that cholesterol levels may influence serotonin, the neurotransmitter in the brain that has been linked to depression. However the jury is still out on exactly how the cholesterol level triggers the depression or aggression.

Now that we have just this basic information about the necessity of these essential enzyme components, one might ask, What is the medical position on the administration of such statin drugs? Well, the medical community states that statins are generally well-tolerated and have only a few major side effects that occur. The most common major ‘side effects’ are raised liver enzymes, skeletal muscle pain and/or damage. (Of course you can die from consuming this drug as you can from any drug.)

Some patients on statin therapy have reported a series of issues. Some report myalgias, muscle cramps, gastrointestinal or other similar symptoms. Liver enzyme derangements may also occur as well as other side-effects. Speaking of the muscle cramps, aches and pains that patients often complain about – it is worth pointing out again that the heart is a muscle! Just in case you missed this point, here’s a little more information .

More serious reactions include myositis (muscle weakness) and myopathy (persistent pain), with the potential for rhabdomolysis (the pathological breakdown of skeletal muscle) leading to acute renal failure and death.
Remember that in 2001, after 31 people died from rhabdomolysis, Bayer’s statin (Baycol) was taken off the market. Currently, about 12 million Americans are using one of the available statins. The expert’s clearly recommend that another 23 to 40 million SHOULD be taking them.

Current available scientific literature link combing statins with other drugs with being even more lethal. Combinations such as a drug used to prevent blood clotting, warfarin; and an antifungal drug, ketoconazole; and the antibiotic, clarithromycin as leading to rhabdomyolysis.

If this is enough to get people to rethink the use of statins, then the relative animal experiments might. In most animal experiments using statins, as well as most other cholesterol-lowering drugs, cancer developed in the animal that was the brunt of the experiment. Might their possibly be a slight probability of the same results in humans?

At this point we want to take a different, more natural approach to the cholesterol issue. Let us first review what might be the cause of the cholesterol issue.

As we contemplate the implications of statins and how they impact a person, In PART V we want to gain a greater appreciation for just what is responsible for the high cholesterol and how that relates to heart disease. We also want to look at some other components that are often overlooked as they relate directly with cardiovascular or arterial issues.

To learn more about quality supplementation and how it can keep cholesterol levels healthy click here >>

Author: Dr. Gregory

What are these terms we often hear associated with CVD?
(THP) The following terms are similar, yet distinct, in both spelling and meaning, and can be easily confused: arteriosclerosis, and atherosclerosis. As a consequence of these conditions, there are other terms that we often hear but may not be clear on the meaning.

Arteriosclerosis: Arteriosclerosis is from the Greek word aterio, meaning artery and sclerosis which means hardening. Often a general term describing any hardening (and loss of elasticity) of arterioles, which are small arteries. But this is also applied to the condition affecting medium or large arteries. Essentially, atherosclerosis is called “hardening of the arteries,” which is the most common disease of the coronary arteries. Atherosclerosis is a hardening of an artery specifically due to an atheromatous plaque, therefore, atherosclerosis is a form of arteriosclerosis.

You hear this term generally associated with the first step in developing heart disease. While atherosclerosis can [and does] happen to blood vessels anywhere in the body, when it happens in the arteries of your heart, your risk for heart attack increases. It is a combination of cholesterol and other fats, calcium and fibrin as well as other elements carried in the blood – that build up in the small blood vessels that feed the heart.

Recall that plaque is blamed for this. Plaque build up in the arteries can restrict blood flow to the heart, meaning necessary oxygen and nutrients do not get to the heart muscle. This can cause angina (chest pain). Some plaques can also dislodge or burst, releasing cholesterol and fat into the bloodstream. This may completely block blood flow through the artery and cause a heart attack. A clot that forms in an artery or leading to the brain can cause a stroke. An elevated plasma concentration of cholesterol is associated as a risk factor for atherosclerosis.

Remember that atherosclerosis is the thickening of the artery walls due to a build-up of fatty materials such as cholesterol. This chronic inflammatory syndrome affects all arterial blood vessels and is mostly due to the accumulation of macrophage white blood cells. This, as you know, was due to the presence of a high level of low density lipoproteins [VLDL] and a low level of high density lipoproteins (HDL).

Atherosclerosis: Very closely associated with and often interchanged with arteriosclerosis. The primary difference is that atherosclerosis is the term applied to the build up in the small blood vessels that are elsewhere in the body – but not the heart area.

Angina: The term “angina” mean strangling or oppressive heaviness and pain. It has become synonymous with “angina pectoris,” or simple chest pain that is cause by a lack of oxygen to the heart.

Atheromatous Plaque: There are three very distinct divisions of this atheromatous plaque.
There is the nodular accumulation of a soft, flaky, yellowish material at the center of large plaques. This is composed of macrophages nearest the lumen of the artery. This division is called the atheroma (Greek, meaning “lump of wax”).

A second division is that associated with the more advance lesions. This is noticeable when there is calcification at the outer base of the older and more advanced lesions.

The third division is atheromatous plaque that is underlying areas of cholesterol crystals.

The consequence of the lipoproteins being out of balance.
Atherosclerosis, this is typically the condition in which LDL enters the arteries from too much saturated and trans fat in diet and gets oxidized in the artery wall and creates injury in the artery wall. Remember that LDLs are proteins that move cholesterol through the body and to the cells; VLDLs are proteins that move carbohydrates throughout the body.

If these proteins are out of balance, then you may get a build-up of fatty materials. It is this build up that is affecting the arterial blood vessels. This chronic inflammatory response in the walls of arteries, in large part due to the inadequate removal of fats and cholesterol from the macrophages by functional high density lipoproteins (HDL). It is commonly referred to as a hardening or furring of the arteries. It is caused by the formation of multiple plaques within the arteries.

Great, we have the terminology and now we need the application. PART III will help us make the application of all the acronyms and terms that we have already discussed. Also in PART III we will review a typical Cholesterol Exam and learn how to recognize the value of all the numbers and how they can apply to us.

To learn more about quality supplementation and how it can keep cholesterol levels healthy click here>>

Author: Dr. Gregory

We will begin by looking just a little deeper into how cholesterol actually works in our body. To accomplish this, we want to expand upon our previous explanations and add some new terms to aid in our future investigation of cholesterol.

What is Cholesterol?
Recall that cholesterol is a lipidic, waxy steroid found in all of our cell membranes and is essential for proper membrane permeability and fluidity.

Because cholesterol is a fat it is only slightly soluble in water. It separates from the blood similar to the way that bacon grease separates from water. To keep this from happening, proteins form a shell around the cholesterol, making a “cholesterol complex” or lipoprotein. Because it can not fully dissolve in our aqueous blood environment, our body uses five major groups of lipoproteins to transport cholesterol through the circulatory system. A lipoprotein is simply a biochemical assembly that contains both proteins and lipids (fats). Please take special note of the fact that this is a protein attached to a fat. This is critical to our comprehension of the existing arguments and real science surrounding cholesterol. Regardless, these lipoproteins function merely to transport exceedingly small concentrations of lipids and cholesterol around the body.

Plasma transport, regulation and absorption.
Remember, these are five groups of proteins that are attached to a fat to move cholesterol – these are not cholesterol. In addition, these lipoproteins have cell-targeting signals which direct the lipids they carry to specific tissues. Consequently, these five various lipoproteins within the blood contain a mixture of cholesterol, protein and triglyceride, but in varying amounts and are generally identified in order of increasing density in the section below.

Chylomicrons are a lipoprotein that can carry exogenous (dietary) lipids (triacylglycerol) from the intestines to the liver, adipose, cardiac, and skeletal muscle tissue. Chylomicrons are the major transporters of triacylglycerides in the blood.

VLDL molecules are produced by the liver in response to a high-carbohydrate meal. The liver then coverts the extra carbohydrates into fat (triglycerides) and puts them into VLDLs to be transported. As a transporter, the VLDLs carry endogenous (newly synthesized) triglycerides, phospholipids, cholesterol, cholesterol esters, and fats to muscle and other tissues that need fatty acids for energy or fat production.

Once a VLDL delivers its triglycerides to fat cells or muscle, it is called an intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL). This IDL can return to the liver with its cholesterol so that the liver can repackage it to use it later or simply get rid of it. But in most cases, the IDLs remain in the blood and go through another transformation where they lose most of their remaining triglycerides. At this point, the IDLs are almost all cholesterol and are now known as LDL.
Because the VLDL particle is relatively large, it carries a lot of triglycerides relative to the amount of cholesterol. Conditions known to increase these levels include diabetes, obesity, and acute hepatitis.

VLDL levels have been correlated with accelerated rates of atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease [explained below] and are elevated in a number of diseases and metabolic states. Because of this associated risk of coronary artery disease, VLDL is also considered a type of “bad” cholesterol.

Intermediate density lipoproteins (IDL) are intermediate in size between VLDL and LDL. They are not usually detectable in the blood.

Low density lipoprotein (LDL) carry cholesterol from the liver to cells of the body. LDLs are sometimes referred to as the “bad cholesterol” lipoprotein. About three-quarters of total cholesterol in the blood is contained within LDL particles.

LDLs contain the highest amount of cholesterol. HDLs contain the highest amount of protein. VLDL contains the highest amount of triglyceride, a blood fat.

Recall that the LDL molecules are the major carriers of cholesterol in the blood. So when there are more LDL molecules in the blood than there are receptors, the LDL molecules are oxidized and taken up by macrophages which become engorged and form foam cells. It is these very cells that become trapped in the blood vessel walls and oxidize (turn rancid) and contribute to artherosclerotic plaque formation. In turn it is this plaque that is given credit for causing heart attacks, strokes and the associated medical problems. Again, underlying the plaque is the association of LDL [more specifically the VLDL] cholesterol with its “BAD” cholesterol connotation.

Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood. When you eat, your body converts any calories it doesn’t need to use right away into triglycerides. The triglycerides are stored in your fat cells. Later, hormones release triglycerides for energy between meals. If you regularly eat more calories than you burn, you may have high triglycerides (hypertriglyceridemia).

By lowering your triglyceride levels, you also lower your VLDL cholesterol levels. Recall that the VLDL carries the largest quantity of triacylglycerides.

High density lipoprotein (HDL) collect cholesterol from the body’s tissues, and bring it back to the liver. HDLs are sometimes referred to as the “good cholesterol” lipoprotein.

HDL particles are thought to transport cholesterol back to the liver for excretion or to other tissues that use cholesterol to synthesize hormones in a process known as reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). Therefore the rule of thumb is to have large numbers of HDL which correlates with better health. In contrast, having small numbers of the large HDL particles is often associated with atheromatous disease. Atheromatous disease is identified by the swelling in the artery walls that are made up primarily of macrophage cells that contain lipids – hence the term, artheromatous plagues.

Elevated levels of the lipoprotein fractions, LDL, IDL and VLDL are regarded as atherogenic or prone to cause atherosclerosis.

Now, the above points are very important. Remember this information because we will need to revisit this process to better evaluate the underlying issues of coronary artery and/or cardiovascular disease in our future articles.

What’s the difference between triglycerides and cholesterol?
Triglycerides and cholesterol are separate types of fats (lipids) that circulate in your blood. Triglycerides provide your body with energy, and cholesterol is used to build cells and certain hormones. High triglycerides are often an indication of other conditions that may point to the risk of heart disease. Be alert to obesity, metabolic syndromes, large body fat deposits at the waist, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels and high blood sugar.

To learn more about how to keep cholesterol levels healthy click here>>

Reduce Inflammation Faster With Quercitin

(THP) Quercitin has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, immunomodulatory, anticancer and gastroprotective activities. It appears to also have anti-allergy activity and activity in preventing secondary complications of diabetes. Quercitin is an antioxidant, and has been shown to inhibit lipid peroxidation. The putative anti-ulcer and gastroprotective effects of Quercitin may, in part, be accounted for by this activity. In vitro and animal studies have shown that Quercitin inhibits deregulation of inflammatory mast cells, basophiles and neutrophils. Thus, quercitin, a special bioflavonoid antioxidant shown to have an antihistamine effect in the body, makes it a natural putative for anti-inflammatory, anti-allergy and immunomodulating activities.

Quercitin adds synergy to the anti inflammatory effects of ALA, SerraPeptase, and Beta glucan reduces recovery time after a hard workout. This helps keep airways open and clear of excess mucus. As discussed above, Quercitin is prescribed in Europe as a mild diuretic, and when used in training should prevent fluid accumulation in other body tissues.

To learn more in regards to Quercitin, and how it works in Stemulite Fitness Formula Sports Nutritionals click here>>

Eggplant Extract Activates Stem Cells Naturally

How Eggplant Extract Repairs Muscle Cells

(THP) Eggplant alkaloids bind the acetlycholine agonist receptor and enhance cognitive functions, such as learning, memory, and retention through activation of brain nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR). The most common nicotinic receptors found in the brain are the low affinity a 7-nAChR and the high affinity a 4b2-nAChR. a 7- and a 4b2- nAChR agonists possess cognitive-enhancing properties. Several large pharmaceutical companies are developing alpha 7 agonist binding agents. Target treatments include stem-cell activations and recruitment, Parkinson Disease, Schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s.

With the discovery of the adult stem cell found in the bone marrow of adults by Catherine Verfaillie at the University of Minnesota in 2002,  it became obvious that stem cells carried an enormous potential to accelerate and enhance the building of new muscle and other tissues in the human body. John Cooke, et al., of Stanford University later identified a specific agonist and receptor for adult stem cells and demonstrated a mechanism of action for the de novo building of blood vessels in blood-starved limbs of animals. If followed, that not only could build blood vessels but any tissue theoretically could be built or be remolded with adult stem cells.

Click here>> to learn more.

REM sleep is essential to health

(THP) During sleep the liver, kidneys, and other organs typically detoxify the accumulation of ingested, internally manufactured, and inhaled toxins. As heart rate slows and blood pressure drops during sleep, the pressure differential in the extra-cellular spaces allow the cells to expel toxins from the cytoplasm into the interstitial spaces where the lymph and venous systems pick them up and carry them to liver, kidneys and gut for elimination. When one dreams in what is called REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, the body is actually in a paralytic state, unable to move. A great deal of emotional adjustment and brain repair is carried out in REM sleep.

One of the most important aspects of proper performance (and one of the least practiced) is the concept of regular sleep patterns. Athletes are notorious for working their bodies extremely hard, and not getting the required sleep they need for proper performance. This is seen in a multitude of high school athletes who never make it through intercollegiate sports, and college athletes who do not continue after university sports. Dancers, and some professional athletes who have hectic travel schedules, who disregard the importance of sleep also limit their longevity in their sports.

Click here>> to learn how to get a good night’s sleep with Stemulite Fitness Formula.