Words to live by...

Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forget about the one's who don't. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.

Dr. Oz's Ultimate Anti-Aging Checklist

Are you looking for ways to get healthy and peel the years off your body? Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen are back with the ultimate anti-aging checklist. Don't wait until you're falling apart—change the way you look at life and start your path to better health today! 

Your change to a newer, healthier life starts in your refrigerator. The first thing you need in there is plenty of foods rich in antioxidants. But what are antioxidants? Why are they so good for anti-aging? To explain, Dr. Oz compares apples to apples—one half of this apple was sprinkled with lemon juice and the other was not. While the lemony half remains new and crisp-looking, the untreated half becomes brown and shriveled because of exposure to oxygen, also called oxidation. "The same thing happens to our skin, to our heart, to our eyes," Dr. Oz says. "All of our bodies need to have the antioxidants." As their name implies, antioxidants do to your body what the lemon juice does to an apple—help prevent the damage caused by oxygen exposure. 

While lemons do have some anti-aging benefits—similar to onions—Dr. Oz says there are several foods that are much more potent. Dr. Oz says one of his favorite anti-aging foods are blueberries. You can tell blueberries are chockfull of antioxidants because of their dark color. "All foods with dark colors in them have some of these really protecting antioxidant chemicals in them," he says. "Blueberries lead the charge." Other good anti-aging foods include sweet potatoes, broccoli and tomatoes. "[When eating] tomatoes, heat them up a little bit and put a little oil in them. It makes it easier to absorb the lycopene," Dr. Oz says. "Lycopene is another antioxidant, but it has additional benefits as well, which are particularly valuable for the heart."  While he's mentioned many of these antioxidant-rich foods before, Dr. Oz is ready to introduce a new entry to his hall of fame—the acai (pronounced "AH-sigh-EE"), a small fruit from South American rainforests that is often found in the United States in juice. "It has twice the antioxidant content as a blueberry, so it's a wonderful alternative," Dr. Oz says. "Look at the food label and make sure they don't have too many carbohydrates in there.  It's just sort of breaking through." Dr. Oz says you should eat about five servings of antioxidant-rich foods a day.

While Americans' number one source of antioxidants is from coffee, Dr. Oz says there are better hot beverages out there, like green tea. Another great tea option is white tea. "It's not new—it's very old—and [has] been used for centuries for healing purposes." White tea is from the same plant as green tea, but it's produced in a different way. While green tea is made of leaves dried to the point where the tea will be dark in color, white tea is made from an immature plant bud that isn't dried at all. Instead of steeping the leaves, white tea is steamed. Dr. Oz says the potential for medicinal benefits of white tea—beyond a very small amount of caffeine as compared with other kinds of tea and coffee—comes from this lack of drying. Dr. Oz says you should drink about four cups of green or white tea a day. 

One of the most talked about pieces of dietary news to arise in recent years is that red wine is good for your health. Dr. Oz says part of the reason is the alcohol and part is resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant that comes from the skins of grapes. Vintners add the grape skins back to make red wine, but they don't do the same process for white wine—so white wine has no resveratrol benefit. "Resveratrol does one other thing," Dr. Oz says. "It turns on a system in your body that prevents your cells from aging. Now think about it. Where do they grow these grapes? On trees on hillsides, right? It's not a very hospitable environment. So those grapes are sending a signal to us that life might not be so good, so why not turn on that cellular chemistry that you have that allows you to live longer and better? That's why we think this has a benefit."  If you don't want the alcohol, Dr. Oz says you can get some resveratrol from Concord grape juice or other dark grape juices, but you won't get as much benefit as you would from red wine. "Eighty percent of the benefit of the wine is actually the alcohol, and 20 percent is the resveratrol," Dr. Oz says. "So it's the combination that makes red wine so valuable." Of course, moderation is the key when drinking to your health. Dr. Oz says most people should drink about one glass of red wine a day, though some men can drink slightly more because males metabolize alcohol more effectively than females.

Did you know your spice rack is full of anti-aging secrets? Dr. Oz says research shows that cinnamon can decrease blood sugar levels and lower cholesterol, especially in people with type-2 diabetes. 
Arthritis sufferers may also find relief in tumeric, a spice found in curry that has also been reported to help prevent Alzheimer's disease, he says. Paprika and cayenne pepper can help fight high blood pressure and improve circulation, he says. In lab studies, Dr. Oz says, eating rosemary has been shown to improve learning rates in rats—data that has been reproduced in humans. Even ginger can decrease blood pressure, alleviate arthritis pain and reduce your risk of cancer. One way to get your daily ginger is from Dr. Oz's "green drink."  Though fresh spices usually are best, Dr. Oz says they can still fight aging if they're dried.

 Dr. Oz has said before, one key to staying young is to keep your intestines healthy and bowels regular. This takes plenty of fiber—about 25 grams a day. That's about two and a half times more than the average American eats a day. Fiber works by keeping all the nutrients you eat in your intestines and releases them as needed. So how can you increase your intake? Eat more fruits, vegetables and foods rich in whole grains. Dr. Oz and Oprah both love steel-cut oatmeal, which takes a bit longer—10 to 20 minutes—to make than regular oatmeal. "The longer it takes the oatmeal, the more the fiber is going to benefit you," Dr. Oz says. "So be patient with it. It doesn't take that long." Some other good fiber-rich options include beans, brown rice and whole grain pasta. When you're in the bread aisle at the grocery store, here's one thing to keep in mind to maximize your family's health. "Remember, you don't want it to say 'mixed grain,' 'great grain,' 'the best for you grain.' It's got to say '100 percent whole grain.' If it doesn't say 100 percent, it's not." If you are trying to increase the fiber in your diet, you might want to consider steadily building up your intake rather than quickly ramping it up—otherwise, you could find yourself running for the bathroom. "You can't go from the average in America of 10 to 12 grams of fiber to the 25 grams that a woman needs or the 35 that a male needs just like that. It's just too much all at once," Dr. Oz says. "Remember there are more bacteria in your intestines than there are cells in your body, so there are a lot of guys in there, and they're just trying to metabolize the food. So you give them a lot of fiber all at once, they're going to make a lot of gas out of it."  One intestinally gentle way to increase your fiber is by adding psyllium husks to your food. "If you're having a lot of foods like beans, you can add just a little bit of something called Beano. There are other products like it, but they provide enzymes—natural enzymes—that help your body get rid of some of the gaseous elements." Another way to offset the gaseous side effects of a dramatic increase in fiber, Dr. Oz says, is by eating a Peruvian whole grain seed called chia—which is the same grain used to make Chia Pets—though you obviously shouldn't eat a Chia Pet. Chia is as chockfull of fiber as other whole grains, but it packs in even more vitamins. "Remember that broccoli I had before? [One of these muffins] has more magnesium than about 10 of those heads of broccoli, and it's got as much calcium in it as a couple cups of milk," Dr. Oz says. "It adds one other thing, too, by the way. It's very rich in the next big category, which are omega-3 fatty acids." 

Another way to stay young that has gotten plenty of media attention lately is omega-3 fatty acids. If you're relying on flax seed for your omega-3s, Dr. Oz says you most likely need to roast or grind the seeds to release the oils. If you just eat them, you'd need to really chew them with your teeth, which is difficult to do. Other good sources include walnuts and hemp seeds. One of the most widely reported sources of omega-3s is salmon. But recently many concerns have been raised about eating salmon—whether the fish is wild or farm-raised, worries about global sustainability, overfishing and rising mercury levels. The best way to get around these issues, Dr. Oz says, is to get to the source and eat what the salmon eat—spirolina algae, which has valuable DHA omega-3s. "We can avoid the issues of sustainability because we can get a ton of it," he says. "You can grow algae pretty easily, and it's a much more efficient way of getting it." 

A crucial part of any well-rounded diet includes one or two tablespoons of olive oil a day in foods like salad dressing, Dr. Oz says. One thing to keep in mind about olive oil is that you should not fry foods in it. "If you take a healthy fat and you fry it—if it reaches its smoking point—then you actually are oxidizing it," Dr. Oz says. "When you oxidize it, you actually damage the fats, so you lose a lot of the benefit." Rather than putting the oil in the pan and heating it, a better method is to put the food in the oil first and then add it to a heated pan. "That's a wonderful way of reducing the amount of oxidation that occurs," he says. 

Now that we're eating right, it's time to get moving, too! Dr. Oz wants to emphasize that the focus of exercising should be to lose inches from your waist, not pounds off the scale. "When you start exercising and putting on muscle mass, you'll actually increase your weight a tiny bit, but your waist size will go down," he says. "You'll look better." 
Maintaining weight as the years pass is a constant struggle, says 45-year-old Angela. "Every year, I just seem to see the scale going up and up with those years adding on. I'm exercising regularly. I'm eating a well-balanced diet. I feel like I should be at least maintaining. Not adding. Now I found myself with 15, 20 pounds to lose, and it just won't budge. Do you have any suggestions?" Dr. Oz thinks Angela's problem is that she is not pushing herself hard enough. She needs to be working out at her target heart rate, which is 140. The formula to find your ideal heart rate when exercising is 220 minus your age multiplied by 0.80. Angela hops onto an elliptical machine for a cardiovascular workout at a level 6. Before long, she has already reached a heart rate of 140. "The fact you got there so quickly is a little bit of concern, because you shouldn't be able to get to your ideal heart rate so fast," Dr. Oz says. "You should be in better shape than that." To get in shape, Dr. Oz says Angela needs to work out at her target heart rate for 20 minutes, three times a week. In addition to cardiovascular exercise, Dr. Oz says it is also important to build muscle mass through strength training. "Muscle burns 50 times more calories than fat does," Dr. Oz says. Dr. Oz's first strength training exercise is the lunge, a simple exercise that is easy to do at home. "It's fundamentally important because it builds your lower body and your thighs. You want to lunge forward, get your knee as close to the ground as you can. Don't let the right knee pass over your toe." Dr. Oz also recommends leg lifts. "This will strengthen the side muscles of the belly. You can do this. You can do all kinds of games with this. But it does strengthen your core muscles." Strong core muscles will help you do pull-ups, another Dr. Oz-approved exercise. "The beauty of pull-ups is that when you're doing them, you're actually exercising your upper body, your arms, your torso. In the beginning, you might not be able to do it without something holding you up." Dr. Oz says the combination of these exercises should be done three times a week. 

After you're revved up from cardio and strength training, Dr. Oz says to work on flexibility through yoga. Are you flexible enough? "Most Americans ought to be able to touch their fingertips to their toes," he says. 

To start, Dr. Oz says to reach down to your toes. "So you lean over, relax yourself and let these hips sort of release," he says. "All the energy goes away." Next, Dr. Oz says to go into the plank position, followed by up dog, then down dog. Lastly, bring your leg forward and come up into the warrior position. "And you can do the exact same thing for the other side," Dr. Oz says. "It's very soothing, and that meditation is very powerful." 

Dr. Oz says there is something you can do for five minutes every day that can add years to your life—meditation. Just find a quiet place, even if it's the bathroom. "No one's going to bother you there," he says. "You can get five minutes of solace, of peace and quiet." To start your meditation, Dr. Oz says to say the word "yum," drawing out the word out as you say it. "That vibration stimulates your sinuses to release nitric oxide, a very important gas that relaxes your lungs and relaxes your blood vessels," he says. "It's one of the reasons we think meditation may be so effective." Dr. Oz says there are other ways to practice meditation as well. "Prayer is meditation," he says. "Just a few moments to yourself, not a lot, when no one can bother you to let it all slip away. It allows you to reboot your engine and get back on track."

There is something lacking in the bedroom that Dr. Oz says is aging us at warp speed. "We're not sleeping. And sleeping is the fundamental way we reboot ourselves." Dr. Oz says the growth hormone, which is important for maintaining vitality and youthful vigor, is almost impossible to increase naturally without sleep. "Without the sleep that we know is so nourishing, we begin to dramatically age faster. It strips years off of our 'real age.'" Before bedtime, Dr. Oz says to clean up and remember to floss. "Don't forget that. That will take two to five years off your 'real age' because of gingivitis and irritation of the gums that occurs if you don't floss your teeth." The next step is to relax. "When you get in the bed, turn the lights down, do something that's soothing. Turn off the TV, turn off the computer. Don't do things that jazz you back up again, and you will find yourself gently slipping into sleep." 

In addition to lack of sleep, Dr. Oz says we're deprived of something else in the bedroom— sex. "The average American has sex 58 times a year—so, once a week. If you double that, you reduce your 'real age' by almost three years." Dr. Oz says sex creates an increase in chemicals that keep us young. "When you have loving conjugal love with someone and you actually have that passionate moment, you not only exchange bodily chemicals, but you make chemicals within you," he says. "So women get oxytocin increases, which give you that loving bond that you want with the world around you and people around you. Men have an increase in testosterone. Testosterone is what puts the moan in hormone. It sort of gets you going."

The last category on Dr. Oz's anti-aging checklist is vitamins. First up is vitamin D. "We estimate that over half of all Americans are deficient in vitamin D," Dr. Oz says. Dr. Oz says 1,000 units of vitamin D a day will benefit the body in a variety of ways. "Vitamin D is critically important for preventing cancer and critically important for reducing heart problems. It's linked to multiple sclerosis, to juvenile diabetes. It's one of the best ways of reducing infection rates. It's got a ton of things that it does for you to make your immune system function the way you want it to function."  Your body naturally gets vitamin D through sunlight exposure, so Dr. Oz says to get 10 minutes of direct sun exposure to your body or take a vitamin D supplement once a day. Another important supplement to include with your daily vitamins is calcium, but Dr. Oz says to always take it with magnesium. If you don't, you may regret it. "A little constipation," he says. "You want to take calcium, but you've got to take it with magnesium because if you don't take them together, the magnesium loosens your poop," he says. "The calcium makes it a little bit like concrete." Dr. Oz recommends taking 600 milligrams of calcium and 200 milligrams of magnesium twice daily. Dr. Oz says the next vitamin on his list is often forgotten: DHA omega-3. Dr. Oz says a dose of DHA omega-3 is similar to fish oil but comes in a small pill form. "It comes from a source that we know is pretty clean and doesn't give you the anti-coagulant problems that sometimes you run into with fish oil, so I think DHA omega 3s make a lot of sense," Dr. Oz says. He recommends taking 600 milligrams a day. If you're over the age of 40, Dr. Oz recommends adding two baby aspirins to your daily regime. "We know it's very effective in reducing heart disease, very effective in reducing cancer. We think it might actually reduce wrinkles. There's a lot of things aspirin might do that are beneficial to you not only because it thins your blood, but it's a very powerful anti-inflammatory drug."  Just be sure to take two baby aspirin, not regular aspirin. "A regular aspirin is 325 milligrams," Dr. Oz says. "Two babies is 162. So it's half a regular aspirin. The more aspirin you take, the more chances you might have some intestinal discomfort." The last vitamin on Dr. Oz's list is the all-important multivitamin. Dr. Oz says this vitamin should be cut in half so you have two doses. "If you divide the vitamin in half, then you stabilize your dose during the day. Take half in the morning, half in the evening." Dr. Oz says taking a full multivitamin in one dose is like over-filling your tank. "You want to give your body the right amount of fuel for when you need it. Vitamins have water soluble elements to them so they are quickly moved through your system." If you're confused about which multivitamin is right for you depending on your age and sex, Dr. Oz says to keep it simple. "Everyone takes the basic same multivitamin with two small exceptions," he says. Pre-menopausal women should take a multivitamin with iron in it and 5,000 units of vitamin A. Men and post-menopausal women can take a basic multivitamin with 2,500 units of vitamin A.  When taking your daily vitamins, Dr. Oz says to make sure to get plenty of fluids. "Wash them down, especially the aspirin," he says. "If you don't like taking the pills, you can get liquid vitamins. They work as well. Find something that agrees with you that you can automatically make part of everyday life for you." 

- Oprah Winfrey Show, February 5th 2008

Quote Action of the Day

"You have to think anyway, so why not think big?"   – Donald Trump

Your action for today is to reflect on a big goal you have and see how much progress you've made towards it. If you don't have a big goal or dream, set one.

Did you know that most people are sabotaging their chances for achievement? The reason is because they don't have a plan. You know the saying, 

"if you fail to plan, you plan to fail".  – Jim Rohn

About the 19 Fruits in the Mona Vie Drink

ACAI BERRY

The crown jewel in the Mona Vie formula is the acai berry, found only high atop towering palm trees in the lush Amazon Rain Forest of South America. For centuries, the indigenous people of Brazil's Northern Amazon region have revered this legendary berry as an antidote for numerous ailments. Mona Vie's Acai is harvested in a responsible manner from Brazilian Amazon Rainforests.

Modern science has now validated the remarkable wellness benefits of the acai fruit. As a whole food by itself, the berry would provide a remarkable source of complete protein, healthy fats, and es! sential vitamins and minerals. Particularly valuable are the class of polyphenols of which the acai contains over a dozen. High on the list are anthocyanins, which contribute the deep red, blue and purple of the plant's appearance. Anthocyanins have a host of health benefits that have been identified in several studies. AÇAI Crown Jewel of the Mona Vie Blend
Among the reported benefits/features of this deep purple berry are:  Prevents arteriosclerosis  Provides anti-allergenic support  Helps prevent blood clots  High levels of dietary fiber  High levels of essential amino acids and trace minerals  High levels of plant sterols, which have been shown to help control cholesterol  Essential fatty acids ratio that resembles olive oil, which has been shown to help combat heart disease  Protein profile similar to eggs  Very low sugar content  Greater energy/stamina  Improved mental focus  Prevention and treatment of Alzheimer‚s  Better sleep  Improved digestion  Improved sexual function  Immune system support  High levels of antioxidants  Anti-aging support  Promotes better circulation

ACEROLA CHERRIES

Acerola thrives in the sandy soils antioxidant, rich in vitamins and constituents have been identified strong anti-fungal and cholesterol shown to fight cellular aging, to promote healthy capillary function. for/as: Treating fever, dysentery  Astringent  Liver problems  Healthy heart function  Nutritive Rheumatism  Tuberculosis.

APRICOTS

Apricots provide a rich assortment of antioxidants and are abundant with soluble fiber, beta-carotene, magnesium, iron, phosphorous, potassium and Vitamin C. They also include a natural salicylate - the major ingredient in aspirin. The nutrients in apricots are linked to a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, cataracts and some forms of cancer. Soluble fiber is known to steady blood sugar levels and promote regularity. Apricots have been traditionally used for: Macular degeneration  Cataracts  Fighting cancer  Heart/vascular health  Blood pressure stability  Prostate health  Preventing strokes.

ARONIA (Black Chokeberry)

Aronia juice contains very high levels of anthocyanins and flavonoids-five to ten times higher than cranberry juice. Its beneficial nutrients such as antioxidants, polyphenols, minerals and vitamins are believed to include compounds that specifically fight cancer and cardiac disease. Aronia contains important trace minerals, and it has been used as an anti-diabetic food. Nutritional Highlights: Polyphenols  Anthocyanidans  Quinic acid  Vitamins  Minerals  Flavinols.

BANANA

Bananas are a common supermarket fruit and are often take for granted (few realize the health benefits bananas bring to them). Bananas are the ONLY fruit that comes not from trees or bushes but from large plants that are giant herbs and are related to the lily and orchid family. Bananas have been linked to: Antioxidant protection  Controlling blood pressure  Better carbohydrate metabolism  Better muscle contraction  Keeping blood from over-acidity  Better protein metabolism  Helping concentration and memory  Providing instant energy  Satisfying sugar cravings  Promoting better moods  Protecting against heart disease  Protecting against cancer  Promoting better s! leep  Relieving both diarrhea and constipation  Helping produce collagen  Steadying nerves  Calming peptic ulcers.

BILBERRIES

The Bilberry is a close relative of the blueberry and is noted for strengthening of the capillaries of the eye. Bilberry is already widely noted for slowing of age-related macular degeneration, night blindness, and diabetes-related eye disorders. Bilberries have historically been shown to have a broad range of healing and restorative effects for: Amenorrhea  Angina  Bladder stones  Blood disorders  Bruising  Capillary strength  Chronic fatigue  Collagen formation  Coughs  Diabetes  Diarrhea  Digestive discomfort  Fighting inflammation  Glaucoma  Gout  Hemorrhoids  High blood pressure  Restoring/promoting collagen  Preventing heart attacks and s! trokes  Preventing/t reating rheumatoid arthritis  Treating ulcers.

BLUEBERRIES

Blueberries are an antioxidant powerhouse, responsible in part for keeping us young, healthy and smart. Medicinal folklore tells us blueberries have a long history of use for: Anti-aging  Appetite enhancement  Blood vessel support  Fighting cancer (especially cervical/breast)  Treating coughs  Cardiovascular protection  Lowering bad cholesterol  Diabetes  Eyestrain  Indigestion  Macular degeneration  Memory enhancement  Urinary tract infections.

CAMU CAMU BERRY (Rumberry)

The Camu Camu berry is the planet‚s richest source of natural Vitamin C. Its content has been measured as 30-60 times higher than an equal amount of citrus fruit. The Camu Camu berry is legendary for its powers to strengthen the immune system and repair connective tissue. It has documented powers as an astringent, antioxidant and emollient. Camu Camu has been shown to be highly effective against: Viral infections  Common colds  Macular degeneration and gum problems.

CRANBERRIES

Cranberries are rich in many phytonutrients and proanthocyanidins (PAC‚s) - found to prevent the adhesion of certain bacteria associated with urinary tract infections to the urinary tract wall. These anti-adhesion properties are also thought to inhibit the bacteria associated with gum disease and stomach ulcers. Historically, cranberries have been used for: Anorexia  Antibiotic (E Coli, H Pylori  Blood disorders  Gall bladder and liver disorders  Indigestion  Promoting regularity  Prostatitis  Protecting against prostate and urinary tract cancers  Reducing risk of gum disease, ulcers, heart disease  Supporting gum health  Urinary tract health.!

GRAPES (purple/white)

The varying colors of grapes bring a spectrum of antioxidant protective power to this versatile fruit. The components in grape juice are reported to reduce the risk of cancer, stroke, heart disease and memory loss. Purple grapes contain resveratrol, the potent cancer-fighting antioxidant found in red wine and other grape products that have been making headlines around the world. Grape juice has also been shown to provide benefits in areas of: Anti-aging  Anti-bacterial/viral  Anti-inflammatory  Antioxidant  Arterial flexibility  Brain, skin, eye health  Cardiovascular health  Gastric health  Inhibiting prostate cancer.

KIWI

Kiwi fruit contains abundant phytonutrients and has gained fame as a delicious blood-thinning alternative to aspirin for protecting cardiovascular health. Kiwi fruit has the ability to literally protect DNA in the nucleus of human cells from oxygen-related damage. This fruit also provides ample amounts of vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin C, trace minerals and dietary fiber. Nutritional Highlights: Vitamins, Minerals and Fiber. Kiwi is known to treat DNA damage, Cancer, Eye problems and Cardiovascular conditions. Native to China, Kiwi is also commonly used for: Controlling Cholesterol  Reducing triclycerides in the blood  Treating and preventing age-related macular degeneration  Bin! ding/re moving colon t oxins  Preventing colon/prostate cancer  Blood sugar control  Protecting DNA from free radicals  Inhibiting skin cancer.

LYCHEE

The Lychee is native to the warmer forests of Southern China and probably Vietnam. It has been cultivated in China for well over a thousand years, and would no doubt have been a keenly sought after forest fruit in subtropical Sino-Vietnamese Asia. At 72mg of vitamin C per 100 grams of flesh, lychees are a very good source for this essential vitamin, as well as potassium and other nutrients. Many studies have shown that consuming Lychee each day may help reduce the chances of cancer and many other diseases.

NASHI PEARS

Once reserved as a food to be served only to the wealthy and to Chinese nobles, Nashi pears have been grown, cultivated and eaten for centuries. Little is known about their origin...its estimated that they began appearing at least 3,000 years ago in China. Nashi pears are a great source of dietary fiber, and they‚re also very high in potassium and other essential minerals. They contain nearly 10% of the USRDA for Vitamin C, and a high concentration of folates, which make up the Vitamin B complex group. These vitamins are essential for metabolic activity and red blood cell production.

PASSION FRUIT

Passion fruit is rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber, including: calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and sulphur and B Vitamins. The legend of passion fruit dates back to Biblical time, and its modern day uses include: promoting sleep, calming anxiety and addressing hyperactivity in children. Rainforest natives have for generations used Passion fruit juice for: Asthma, respiratory health  Urinary tract infections  Mild diuretic  Promoting heart health.

PEARS

Pears have been revered throughout time. Their cultivation has been traced back 3,000 years in western Asia, and some speculate pears might have been discovered by people in the Stone Age. They were an exotic food item in the court of Louis XIV and were called the „gift of the gods‰ by Homer in his epic, The Odyssey. Pears have been linked to: Antioxidant protection  Anti-inflammatory functions  Maintaining heart health  Supporting nerve transmission  Fighting infections  Aiding metabolism  Increasing capillary strength  Tissue repair  Healing wounds and bruises  Protecting cell membranes  Bowel regularity  Lowering cholesterol  Cleansing the colon of harmful chemicals!  Prot ecting vision  Healthy blood sugar levels.

POMEGRANATE

Pomegranate juice contains more antioxidants than even red wine, green tea, blueberry juice, cranberry juice or orange juice. It has been shown to be highly effective in clearing plaque from inner arterial walls. Studies show that pomegranate juice is one of nature‚s most powerful antioxidants, containing more polyphenol antioxidant than any other drink. Period! And pomegranate polyphenols is now being shown by science to be useful for: Preventing heart attack, strokes  Preventing and treating cancer  Combating diabetes  Blood pressure disorders  Preventing blood clotting  Intestinal problems of all types  Eliminating ! parasit es  Fighting bacterial and fungal infections  Cholesterol problems.

PRUNES

Prunes are dried plums, rich in minerals and phenols, plus they have an extremely high ORAC value. The drying process actually increases antioxidant powers by more than six times! USDA researchers believe that people of all ages can prevent and treat diseases of aging by simply adding prunes to their diets. Prunes are especially appropriate for: Boosting bone density  Bowel cleaning, regularity  Cardiovascular disease  Liver cleansing  Preventing memory loss and Alzheimer‚s  Fighting infections  Diabetes  Diverticular disease  Reducing cholesterol  Reducing risk of estrogen-dependent cancers.

WOLFBERRY

For thousands of years in China, the Wolfberry has been known as „the herb of longevity.‰ It provides a powerful combination of antioxidants and polysaccharides, shown to enhance the activity of the immune system. Wolfberry also provides eighteen amino acids and twenty-one trace minerals. Wolfberry, like açai, is known for aiding sexual health. In fact numerous Internet links for Wolfberry garner the website of a well known pharmaceutical that promotes similar benefits. Among the many health conditions that history and science have found Wolfberries to help are: Chronic fatigue  Headaches  High blood pressure  Damaged DNA  Arthriti! s  Can cer  Diabetes  Vision problems  Circulatory problems  Insomnia  Arthritis  Sexual dysfunction  Skin/complexion issues  Dehydration.

Avoid brain drain with memory-boosting foods

Improve your mental health with common fruits, vegetables — even coffee 

Every cell in your body needs a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients in order to stay alive and work properly, including brain cells. Because oxygen and nutrients are carried in the blood stream, anything that impedes blood flow will starve those all-important brain cells. The plain truth is that a healthy heart makes for a healthy brain. So keep your blood pressure and cholesterol in check, exercise regularly, don’t smoke and get at least seven hours of sleep each night.

Compelling research also indicates that certain foods and nutrients can help enhance your memory. Read the facts on fish, berries, leafy greens and coffee — and be sure you remember to incorporate them into your diet.

Fish (3 servings per week)
Research suggests that when it comes to food and memory, fish plays a starring role. Specifically fatty fish like salmon and sardines, thanks to the ample amounts of omega 3 fats they provide. In fact, a study published in the Archives of Neurology in November 2006 found people with the highest levels of omega 3 fats were significantly less likely to be diagnosed with dementia, compared to people with the lowest levels. Another earlier study conducted by researchers at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago followed more than 3,000 men and women for six years to see how diet affected memory. People who ate fish at least once a week had a 10 percent slower decline compared with those who did not eat fish, a difference that gave them the memory and thinking ability of a person three years younger.

Fatty fish is concentrated in the most potent form of omega 3 fats (EPA and DHA), so go out of your way to incorporate three to five ounces portions at least three times each week.

Best fish to eat (low in contaminants AND high in omega 3 fats): Wild salmon, sardines, lake trout, pacific oysters, and Atlantic mackerel. If that’s not feasible, you can buy fish oil supplements or at the very least incorporate plant based sources of omega 3 fats (significantly less potent than fish): ground flaxseeds, omega-3 fortified eggs and walnuts.

Berries (one cup a day)
Studies that focus on food and memory suggest that the more overall produce you eat, the better. But when it comes to fruit and your memory, berries rate number one! Berries have some of the highest antioxidant concentrations among fruit, and ALL berries are rich in healthy compounds called anthocyanins and flavanols… which may help protect against the breakdown of brain cells.  

Plus these days, it seems you can’t say enough about the health benefits ofblue-berries. What makes them so powerful? Their deep blue hue — caused by flavonoids — those natural compounds that protect the brain’s memory-carrying cells (neurons) from the negative effects of oxidation and inflammation. Blueberries are one of the best sources of flavonoids around, and encouraging animal studies suggest that diets rich in flavonoids may help reverse memory loss in humans. In fact, a new British study, published just last month, reveals eating plenty of blueberries can enhance spatial memory and learning.

Buy firm-fleshed berries from a farmer’s market, local supermarket, or health food store. For off season months, take advantage of frozen, unsweetened varieties. Berries taste great mixed into plain yogurt, as a topping for hot or cold cereal or right out of the bowl.

Leafy greens (one cup a day)
Leafy greens like spinach, kale, collard greens, mustard greens, and turnip greens, are loaded with folate, also known as folic acid — a nutrient which seems to have a direct effect on memory. A study conducted at Tufts University in Boston followed about 320 men for three years. Those who had high blood levels of homocysteine showed memory decline, but if the men ate foods rich in folic acid (folic acid directly lowers homocysteine levels), their memories were protected.

An Australian study also found that eating plenty of foods rich in folic acid was associated with faster information processing and memory recall. After just five weeks of introducing adequate folic acid into their diets, women in the study showed overall improvements in memory.

Aim for one cup each day!

Coffee (adjust to your personal tolerance)
Good news for coffee lovers. About two years ago, researchers from the University Innsbruck in Austria found caffeinated coffee can temporarilysharpen your focus and memory. After giving volunteers the caffeine equivalent of about two cups of coffee, they observed that their brain activity was increased in two locations—one being the part responsible for memory.  Results were observed using MRI technology. Without caffeine, there was no increase in brain activity.

Then, earlier this year, another study published in a leading Neurology journal, found the effects of coffee may be longer lasting — specifically in women. This four-year long study involving about 7000 participants...  all participants went through thorough baseline evaluations – cognitive function was tested, along with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other vascular issues. Participants were re-evaluated at the two-year mark, and again at the four year mark.

At the end of the four year period, researchers found that women age 65 and older who drank more than three cups of coffee per day (or the caffeine equivalent in tea) had 33 percent less decline in memory over time than women who drank one cup or less of coffee or tea per day.  The results held up even after researchers adjusted for other factors that could affect memory abilities, such as age, education, baseline cognitive function, depression, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, medications, and other chronic illnesses. This caffeine-memory association was not observed in men — the authors hypothesize that perhaps that’s because men and women metabolize caffeine differently.

– By Joy Bauer

Quote Action of the Day

"The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will."
– Football Caoch, Vince Lombardi

Your action for today is to look at an area where you want to improve and see if you have the will (and not just the desire) to do it.

Cholesterol checks urged for children

Wow, here is a article I read today. what if we could teach children proper nutrition and not give them all these drugs. Have you read the side effects to drugs. The drug is minimizing the symptoms, but not solving the problem. If you want to give your child something to help them, then give them Mona-Vie. It is not a drug, it a nutritional beverage, and it helps lower cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure and more. (approved my the heart association) I give my son two shots of Mona-Vie original everyday. 

Pediatricians pushing to medicate kids as young as 8 to prevent heart trouble

By TARA PARKER POPE
NEW YORK TIMES

Published: Monday, July 7, 2008 at 4:30 a.m. 

The nation's pediatricians are recommending wider cholesterol screening for children and more aggressive use of cholesterol-lowering drugs starting as early as the age of 8 in hopes of preventing adult heart problems.

The new guidelines, issued today by the American Academy of Pediatrics, also call for giving children low-fat milk after 12 months of age.

The push to aggressively screen and medicate for high cholesterol in children is certain to spark controversy amidst a continuing debate about the use of prescription drugs in children as well as the best approaches to ward off heart disease in adults.

But proponents say there is growing evidence that the first signs of heart disease show up in childhood, and with 30 percent of the nation's children overweight or obese, many doctors fear a rash of early heart attacks and diabetes is on the horizon as these children grow up.

The academy estimates that under the current guidelines for cholesterol screening, between 30 percent and 60 percent of children with high cholesterol are being missed. And for some children, cholesterol-lowering drugs, called statins, may be their best hope for lowering their risk for early heart attack, proponents say.

"We are in an epidemic," says Dr. Jatinder Bhatia, a member of the academy's nutrition committee, which is making the recommendation, and professor and chief of neonatology at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. "The risk of giving statins at a lower age is less than the benefit you're going to get out of it."

Bhatia said that while there is not "a whole lot" of data on pediatric use of cholesterol-lowering drugs, recent research does show that the drugs are generally safe for children.

Surprisingly, the paper published in the medical journal Pediatrics that explains the new guidelines notes that among children average total cholesterol levels, as well as LDL and HDL cholesterol, have remained stable, while triglyceride levels have dropped, based on data collected from 1988 to 2000.

The recommendations call for cholesterol screening of children and adolescents, starting as early as age 2 and no later than age 10, if they come from families with a history of high cholesterol or heart attacks before the age of 55 for men and 65 for women.

Screening is also recommended for children when family history is not known, or if they have other risk factors, such as being at or above the 85th percentile for weight.