Healthy Choice

What Triggers Inflammation?

First off, we have to understand inflammation. So, we have to answer the question, what is inflammation? "Inflammation is a process by which the body’s white blood cells and chemicals protect us from infection and foreign substances such as bacteria and viruses." So you may be wondering, what triggers inflammation? There are four basic triggers; trauma, deficiency, stress, and toxins. As we move along, we will take a look at each of the four basic triggers, and then look at how we can deal with inflammation.

When we mention the word "trauma", the first thing that probably comes to mind is an accident which causes some sort of serious or critical bodily injury. Trauma is typically associated with pain and suffering as a direct result of that injury. Even though most inflammation causes pain and/or suffering, inflammation can be a good thing, because inflammation is a natural part of the healing process. As a matter of fact, "without inflammation, wounds and infections would never heal."

Our bodily cells are alive. By many scientists, they are called the "building block of life" Cells are constantly changing, and they are directly affected by everything we do. They grow or change according to the foods we eat. Starving (deficiency) our cells of the proper vitamins, minerals, and nutrients causes our cells to become inefficient, even to the point where they break down. Thus deficiencies can and do happen, weakening the cells causing a chain reaction within our body, ultimately triggering inflammation.

Emotional stress can also cause inflammation. It’s been noted that in stressful situations our brain releases chemicals, stress hormones (adrenaline and cortisol), that trigger the release of many inflammatory processes.
Because of the widespread damage stress can cause, like inflammation, it’s important to know your own limit. However, how much stress is "too much" differs from person to person. many individuals can roll with the punches, while others fall apart at the slightest sign of frustration.

Research points to the fact that we live in a toxic world, and that our bodies are swimming in toxins. Toxins are every where you turn. They are in every breath we take and the food that we eat. Some foods are contaminated with heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, or other chemicals.

I’ve even read that foods that carry toxic compounds "can cause the body to hold on to extra pounds by starting an immune reaction that causes inflammation," Toxins created inside and outside our bodies is seemingly unescapable, which leads us to believe that there is no escape from inflammation producing poison.

Our bodies are truly amazing as it can respond to trauma, deficiency, stress and toxins with inflammation. As mentioned inflammation is the bodies natural healing process, but where it all goes wrong is with runaway (chronic) inflammation wherein the body can’t shut it down causing auto immune, and many other, diseases.

So how do we keep inflammation in check? According to TriVita’s Chief Science Officer, Brazos Minshew, we should learn to become a partner with our bodies. We need to watch for the signs that can trigger inflammation. we should also reduce basic nutrient deficiencies by eating healthy foods and taking quality supplements. One aggressive inflammation fighter is found in the nutrient called Betalains, the main nutrient found in TriVita’s Sonoran Bloom Nopalea.

We need to walk, run, stretch, and become more active. Activity and/or exercise in any form keeps your mind alert, blood flowing, and muscles moving. We also need to ease our emotional stress and learn how to relax. Anything we can do to help fight off the triggers that cause inflammation will help us live longer and healthier lives.

Sonoran Bloom is destined to become one of the top selling products for TriVita. To learn more about TriVita and/or Sonoran Bloom, click on this Sonoran Bloom link.

Jeffrey Sloe
440-725-3729
jeff@internetmarketingadvisors.net
TriVita Independent Business Affiliate, 12871028

The above information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

As the cold and flu season is upon us, it’s time to talk about its causes, and how we can protection our selves from having it effect our lives. Although it’s something we cannot control, I believe there are measures we can take to decrease the impact the flu may have on our bodies.

I for one have always suggested preventative medicine as being the best medicine, like taking vitamin C at the first signs of the change in weather, if you’re not taking it all year ’round. I’m also a huge proponent of a taking a daily multiple vitamin, something I have done ever since I could remember. I’m also a big advocate about the proper amount of sleep. The three items listed above, vitamin C, multiple vitamins, and sleep, I believe, can go a long way in protecting you from not only the flu, but other diseases as well.

Since I’m not a medical doctor or science professor, I’ll leave the explanation of the proper way to protect your self from the flu up to TriVita’s Chief Science Officer, Brazos Minshew.

Important Health News – Protect Yourself from the Flu
by Brazos Minshew, TriVita’s Chief Science Officer

Many people never get the flu – no matter which strain we are talking about. Do you? When you get the flu, are your symptoms severe? Are there high-risk people living with you? Then your preference for or against preventive measures must take them into consideration. (What if you got it and survived but transmitted it to them and they died? How would you feel?) In any case, 35,000-40,000 people in North America die of the flu each year. It is estimated that this number will double with H1N1.

Flu protection
There are three pathways you need to focus on with flu protection – any variety:

• Transmission
• Infection
• Inflammation

Inflammation

We will begin at the ending: Inflammation from the immune system that incapacitates – even kills – people when they have the flu. MOST IMPORTANT: The flu kills people not by transmission or by infection, but by an inflammatory immune system response called the "cytokine storm."

Our immune system is designed to neutralize and excrete any non-self protein it finds. That includes the influenza virus. The size of the immune response needs to be equivalent to the strength of the invader.

Think of this as a building on fire: small fires are extinguished by local fire fighters. Some fires are so big that fire fighters from other departments have to be called in to help. So, fires are designated as "one-alarm," "two-alarm," "three-alarm," and so on. At a certain point, our immune system pulls all of the alarms and immune system fractions from all over our body rush to put out the fire, so to speak. However, this is a case of fighting fire with fire. Cytokines are inflammatory. They kill viruses and bacteria by creating inflammation.

The cytokine storm is responsible for all of the symptoms we feel: fever, body aches, nausea, diarrhea, etc. It is also responsible for filling the lungs with mucous (pneumonia/pneumonitis) which is often the fatal trigger in influenza, SARS, Hanta virus, bubonic plague, etc.

To survive we must modulate the cytokine storm so that it does its job but doesn’t overwork and kill us. We make it work smarter, not harder. So we don’t use Vitamin C or Echinacea or anything that "boosts" the immune system. We use immune system modulators so we get exactly the right response. Quercetin (Betalains in Nopalea are quercetin bioflavonoids), green tea polyphenols (found in Energy Now!) and ginseng (Panax and Eleutherococcus found in Adaptogen 10 Plus) all help balance the body’s immune system and decrease the cytokine storm.

Infection

Prior to the cytokine storm is the infection stage of influenza. The virus infects the cell by matching a cell receptor called Hemagglutinin. Hemagglutinin (the "H" in H1N1) allows the virus to gain entry to the cell and mutate the cell DNA so it can breed an infection. It also allows the newly mutated DNA to be incorporated into surrounding cells and through cell lines. Hemagglutinin describes "infection" with the flu. Two powerful natural bulwarks of Hemagglutinin are green tea polyphenols and ginseng (Panax and Eleutherococcus) found in Super Sublingual B-12.

Transmission

Neuraminidase describes "transmission" of the flu where the virus disarms the immune system with an enzyme. This is the "N" in H1N1, H5N1. Neuraminidase inhibitors like Tamiflu limit the ability of the virus to transmit its DNA strands. Two strong natural Neuraminidase protectors are green tea polyphenols and quercetin (Betalains in Nopalea are quercetin bioflavonoids). It is likely that green tea polyphenols and quercetin will help your body do what it does best: resist infection. Think of them as the first line of defense to arm your immune system and help protect against the flu virus from disarming it. *** End of Article ***

To me, preventative medicine makes more sense and if vitamin C, multiple vitamins, or Nopalea can do one-half of what has been scientifically proven, I believe many people will be protected from the flu, not to mention living healthier and more active lives.

The flu can be extremely dangerous to your health. However, I believe, like so many others, that inflammation may even be more dangerous, because it is related, or the leading cause of so many diseases. And if we can continue to fight inflammation by drinking a product like Nopalea, I believe we can all live longer and healthier lives.

To learn more about fighting inflammation and Sonoran Bloom Nopalea™, click on the previous link.

Jeffrey Sloe
TriVita Independent Business Affiliate, 12871028
440-725-3729
jeff@internetmarketingadvisors.net
TriVita Products
Fight Inflammation

The above information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

It has been stated by reliable sources that just about every person living has or will experience inflammation at one time or another. Stats are available from many different web sites to back up this fact. So is it possible to live a life without suffering from the pain associated with inflammation?

I guess you would have to break down inflammation into two categories, good and bad inflammation to find the answer. Since, according to scientists and medical personnel, good inflammation is necessary. However, it’s my understanding that it’s the bad inflammation that causes all of the pain and suffering.

And who better to answer the question about inflammation and how you can live an anti-inflammatory lifestyle, but Brazos Minshew, Chief Science Officer for TriVita.

How To Lead An Anti–Inflammatory Lifestyle

Wellness is created in the way our immune system interacts with our environment – based on our genetics and modified by our behavior or lifestyle. Illness is really a disharmony produced by injury, toxins from inside or outside our body, deficiencies in vital elements like air, water, sleep and nutrients and emotional distress.

Sometimes we ask the wrong questions when we start to experience disharmony in our body. In effect, we ask, "What makes sick people sick?" As pertinent as that question is to a sick person, it is usually more productive to ask, "What keeps healthy people well – and how can I be one of them?"

Good inflammation?
Can inflammation really be good for you? Yes! For example, your body temperature is 98.6 F/37 C. We are able to maintain that warmth because of controlled, focused, balanced inflammation. We call this type of inflammation metabolism.

Our immune system also functions through focused inflammation. For example, "bad" bacteria are neutralized by inflammation from macrophages: critical elements of our immune system.

Bad inflammation
Four imbalances create disharmony in our immune system. They are:

• Trauma or injury – Injured tissues first respond with beneficial inflammation. But if the inflammation becomes chronic, it will limit circulation by blood and lymph. Poor circulation allows waste created by the cells to accumulate, eventually becoming a toxic cesspool which can be the target for infection and disease.

• Toxins from inside or outside of your body – Fat-soluble toxins and poisons from our environment may accumulate in our tissues and smolder for decades. These toxic tissues become chronically inflamed. Fatty tissues in our body such as our brain, liver and reproductive systems accumulate toxins and become the target for inflammation and disease.

• Deficiencies in elements critical for life – Many people are deficient in oxygen though there is an abundance of air surrounding them. Oxygen deficiency causes acidic tissues; an acid body foments disease. Deficiencies in air, water, sunlight, sleep and nutrients are the most common causes of chronic inflammation.

• The immune-suppressing scourge of emotional distress – Sustained emotional distress is a trigger for chronic inflammation. Actually, stress is also a known trigger for obesity and type 2 diabetes. Obesity causes more emotional distress and more chronic inflammation.

Your anti-inflammatory plan
We are made with the ability to respond to trauma, toxins, deficiency and stress with inflammation. Therefore, inflammation is not the enemy; however, runaway inflammation is definitely our enemy! Stop the domino effect of runaway inflammation before it starts by learning and living the 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness.

• The simple act of breathing deeply can help reduce the impact of stress on your body. Oxygen also encourages an alkaline body; alkaline tissues are resistant to chronic illness.

• Sleeping peacefully can also help reduce the impact of stress.

• Exercise can ease the imbalance created by injury or trauma. Exercise may also make you less prone to future injury.

• Reduce basic nutrient deficiencies by eating the appropriate servings of fruits and vegetables daily:
  • 5 servings for children
  • 7 servings for women  
  • 9 servings for men

Further "fill in the gaps" of nutrient deficiency by taking the Healthy Foundation program.

• Help reduce the effects of many internal and external toxins with Nopalea™.

• Ease the disturbances caused by emotional distress with anti-stress Adaptogen 10 Plus®.

A word about inflammation and disease
Once runaway inflammation is triggered, it follows an amazingly intricate course leading to catastrophe. Many of the disease processes are known to medical science, but many are not. One thing we know: stop runaway inflammation and health will improve! So, no matter what the "condition" is that is causing distress, reducing excess inflammation can help improve the way we feel.

According to many resources, inflammation is the one condition that lies at the root of your troublesome allergies, asthma, heart disease, and many types of cancer. It may be true what Hippocrates said, that "all disease is one." I just wonder if he was talking about inflammation?

If inflammation is the problem – Nopalea™ may be the solution.

To learn more about fighting inflammation with Sonoran Bloom Nopalea™, click on the previous link.

Jeffrey Sloe
TriVita Independent Business Affiliate, 12871028
440-725-3729
jeff@internetmarketingadvisors.net
Fighting Inflammation

The above information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

In a past TriVita Weekly Wellness Report, TriVita’s Chief Science Officer, Brazos Minshew, answered questions regarding TriVita’s newest product, Sonoran Bloom Nopalea. I’ve shared the majority of the questions in previous posts, and have written about the most common concerns regarding Nopalea.

You can read some of my previous posts by clicking on the links below:

Is it Safe to Take Nopalea with My Medications?
How much Nopalea should I take?
Water, Nopalea, and Your Health

One area not discussed up to this point is the taste of Nopalea, and what makes it taste so good? Many users of the product always comment of its taste. Even after holding several tasting parties, the one comment mostly shared is about the taste of Nopalea. How could something that is supposedly so good for you taste so good? IS it loaded with sugars? Does Nopalea use artificial sweeteners?

To answer those questions, I will leave it up to TriVita’s Chief Science Officer once again.

Q: Does Nopalea contain any sugar, artificial sweeteners, colors or flavors?

A: No. The fruit of the Nopal cactus naturally tastes sweet. Agave has been added as well. Agave is a succulent cactus from the Sonora Desert that concentrates a syrup or nectar in its root. We juice the Nopal fruit and filter the Agave nectar as the chief ingredients in Nopalea. We have also added many other fruits and vegetables to enhance both the flavor and function of Nopalea.

Some of the vegetables we added to Nopalea have a slightly bitter taste to them. The sweet leaf Stevia cuts the bitterness completely! So, I use a microscopic amount of Stevia to neutralize the bitter notes.

There are natural colors in Nopalea. They are made from the skin of cherries because cherries have an intense red similar to Nopal fruit. There are also natural flavors in Nopalea. These are made by distilling the aromatic oils and phenolics (compounds that give plants their aroma and color) from the fruit. Seasonal harvests of Nopal fruit vary from year to year, but natural flavors and colors keep our product more consistent than many other natural products. With Nopalea, you always know what you are getting!

Seeing that Nopalea contains other ingredients other than the fruit of the nopal cactus, I decided to take a look at the other ingredients. So off to the Google I went. Since there was not a lot of information, I decided to just stick with Wikipedia (www.Wikipedia.com).

First we’ll look at Agave nectar:

Agave nectar (also called Agave syrup) is a sweetener commercially produced in Mexico from several species of Agave, including the Blue Agave (Agave tequilana), Salmiana Agave (Agave salmiana), Green Agave, Grey Agave, Thorny Agave, and Rainbow Agave. Agave nectar is sweeter than honey, though less viscous. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agave_nectar)

Then we will look a Stevia.

Stevia is a genus of about 240 species of herbs and shrubs in the sunflower family (Asteraceae), native to subtropical and tropical regions from western North America to South America. The species Stevia rebaudiana, commonly known as sweetleaf, sweet leaf, sugarleaf, or simply stevia, is widely grown for its sweet leaves. As a sweetener and sugar substitute, stevia’s taste has a slower onset and longer duration than that of sugar, although some of its extracts may have a bitter or licorice-like aftertaste at high concentrations.

With its extracts having up to 300 times the sweetness of sugar, stevia has garnered attention with the rise in demand for low-carbohydrate, low-sugar food alternatives. Medical research has also shown possible benefits of stevia in treating obesity and high blood pressure. Because stevia has a negligible effect on blood glucose, it is attractive as a natural sweetener to people on carbohydrate-controlled diets.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevia)

There has been some concern that Stevia may not be safe. However, after several scientific studies, the facts remain that "despite all of the scientific evidence, both positive and negative, no clear agreements have been drawn about the dangers of stevia."

"On the one hand, stevia has been in wide use in Japan for the past 30 years, and to date, no evidence of any adverse reactions have surfaced during this time." (http://safety.lovetoknow.com/Dangers_of_Stevia)

If you have any concerns regarding Nopalea, its ingredients, and is it safe, you should always contact your health professional or your medical doctor. I’m not a medical professional, or a scientist, nor do I profess to know all about this product. All I know is that regular users have been getting tremendous results, especially when it comes to fighting inflammation. And, I believe there is enough scientific evidence to back up that statement. All you have to do is do the research – DO NOT take my word for it.

To learn more about Sonoran Bloom Nopalea, click on the previous link. If you have further questions about Nopalea, contact your medical doctor or healthcare professional.

Jeffrey Sloe
TriVita Independent Business Affiliate, 12871028
440-725-3729
jeff@internetmarketingadvisors.net
Inflammation Fighter

The above information presented herein is intended for educational/informational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it’s always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

TriVita’s Nopalea is known to reduce inflammation and relieve the pain that comes with it. However, there are certain guidelines that must be followed for Nopalea to be effective. One such guideline is the amount, or daily dose, of Nopalea one should consume for it to have the greatest impact.

Although all human bodies are different, according to TriVita’s scientists, there MUST be a loading phase to first quench the inflamed areas in your body. It’s proven that this loading phase is the most important part in reducing inflammation. That’s why TriVita makes it step one in the inflammation fighting process.

In TriVita’s recent Weekly Wellness Report, Mr. Brazos Minshew, TriVita’s Chief Science Officer, answers the question, “How much Nopalea should I take?” this way:

“That depends. How much inflammation do you have inside you? You can’t put out a forest fire with a single pail of water. You can’t break the cycle of inflammation with a single serving of Nopalea.”

“We need to meet the level of inflammation in our body with an equivalent force of anti-inflammatory Betalains from Nopalea. We must quench inflammation with a Nopalea Loading Phase (NLP).”

“When taking Nopalea for the first time, drink 3 to 6 ounces, twice daily for the first 30 days. Then, use your intuition to judge how much Nopalea you should continue to take. Do you feel like you need more? Then take more! Do you feel that the cycle of runaway inflammation has resolved? Reduce it to the amount you crave (usually 1 to 3 ounces daily). Let your body decide!”

As mentioned before, all human bodies are different, and it’s your body that will decide how much Nopalea needs to be consumed to be the most effective. Since fighting inflammation is an on going problem, it’s very important, in my opinion, to continue to use Nopalea, even after the initial loading phase. Let your body be the judge.

I received a call late last week from a new user of Nopalea, and here is what he had to say: “Since I’ve started taking Nopalea I feel better, and I have less cravings. I believe this ‘cactus juice’ is the first product I’ve taken that has actually worked. I’ve ordered a 4-pack and I plan to share it with a friend of mine.”

To learn more about TriVita’s Nopalea or TriVita’s health and wellness products, click on the previous links.

Jeffrey Sloe
TriVita Independent Business Affiliate, 12871028
440-725-3729
Fight Inflammation

When most people hear the word ‘inflammation’ they think of the swelling and redness that accompanies an injury such as a sprained ankle. However, inflammation can also be systemic and caused not by injury but by lack of exercise and a poor diet. Systemic inflammation increases the risk of cancer, hypertension, heart disease, gastrointestinal problems, and many other health conditions.

In fact, many anti-aging professionals believe that inflammation is the greatest cause of premature aging, so preventing it is also vital for looking young. Taking on an exercise program is one key to decreasing systemic inflammation, and the other key is to consume a diet that does not promote inflammation.

Arthritis, another form of inflammation, is a chronic disease, which means that you can’t completely escape from it by using only medication and other traditional treatments. However, there are some home remedies for arthritis that are considered excellent alternatives because they safe to use, and quite effective.

Inflammation of a joint, or its surrounding tissues, accompanied by pain, soreness, and inflexibility in that area is more than likely a result of causes ranging from infection, distress, degenerative changes or metabolic disorders.

Arthritis has many causes, however, genetics is one of the main causes. When it’s in the genes, it’s possible to experience problems even at a young age. It’s considered hereditary when cartilage, joints, tendons, or muscles are weak and brittle right from birth.

Exercise is an essential means of managing arthritis. Exercise can help reduce joint pain and stiffness, and at the same time can help build strong muscles around the joints, and help to increase flexibility and endurance. Exercise can also give you more energy, can help you sleep better, can help you control your weight, and more importantly, it can make you feel better.

Exercise, diet, and proper supplements can go a long way in providing relief from arthritis and many other forms of inflammation. Eating healthy foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, and fish, especially ones high in omega-3 essential fatty acids, are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Eating all natural foods and giving up preservatives and additives can actually prevent future arthritis flare-ups, and help to relieve inflammation. The best medicine for inflammation and arthritis is prevention.

If you do suffer from inflammation, there is one all natural product that helps to fight inflammation it is TriVita’s Sonoran Bloom Nopalea.

Nopalea™ (No–pah lay’ uh) blends antioxidant-rich Nopal cactus superfruit with naturally sweet Agave nectar to bring you a deliciously unique concentrated wellness drink. Harnessing the power of betalains, a rare and powerful class of antioxidants that flourishes in the Nopal fruit, Nopalea delivers scientifically proven health benefits.

When you drink Sonoran Bloom Nopalea™, you take these betalains into your system, where they begin to restore your vitality on a cellular level. By helping the body reduce the toxins surrounding your cells and enabling essential nutrients to reach each cell, the betalains in Nopalea can reduce the inflammation in your body that leads to disease.

If inflammation is the problem – Nopalea™ may be the solution.

To learn more about fighting inflammation with Sonoran Bloom Nopalea™, click on the previous link.

Jeffrey Sloe
TriVita Independent Business Affiliate, 12871028
440-725-3729
jeff@internetmarketingadvisors.net
TriVita Products
Fighting Inflammation

The above information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

I’ve been researching Omega-3 essential fatty acids for a few years now. It amazes me as to all the attention this all natural nutrient continues to receive. And, may I add that everything I’ve read, including the article posted below, is nothing short of good news.

From one of my previous article, I’ve reported that “most of us have heard about how fats are bad for us; however, this isn’t always the case. Some fats are very good for our ongoing well being. Two of these fats are Omega-3 and Omega-6. Not only are they good for us, they’re actually indispensable, which is why they are also called Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs).”

I’ve also mentioned that omega-3 fatty acids “are essential to human health but cannot be manufactured by the body.” And, I’ve concluded that if you’re not a fish eater, the best source of EFAs, then you may need to be taking a daily omega-3 supplement, such as the one developed by TriVita, called Omega Prime.

I’ve also written about inflammation. Omega-3 is “one of the best nutrients to reduce runaway inflammation. This may be new to you, but runaway inflammation can lead to various serious health problems in the body involving the heart, arteries, lungs, joints and more.”

Now in a recent study, by products of omega-3 has been proven to reduce pain, caused by inflammation, in laboratory mice. In the article I’ve posted below, omega-3 is also safer than any NSAID on the market. If you’re still skeptical, please read the entire article entitled, Pain May be Relieved by Omega-3 Byproducts, which was written by Craig Weatherby.

Pain May be Relieved by Omega-3 Byproducts – Study in mice suggests that omega-3s from fish could ease pain … and form the basis of a safer new class of potent analgesic drugs
by Craig Weatherby

Non-prescription analgesic drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen make life more bearable for millions of people suffering from all sorts of pain.

But these so-called “non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs” – NSAIDs for short – come with serious side effects that kill or injure thousands of Americans every year.

Estimates of the annual deaths in the United States attributable to NSAIDs vary from 3,200 to higher than 16,500 (Cryer B 2005; Lanas A et al. 2005).

And among elderly Americans alone, there are an estimated 41,000 hospitalizations related to NSAIDs each year (Griffin MR 1998).

Current NSAIDs alleviate pain and inflammation by blocking the action of one or both of two cyclooxygenase (COX) type enzymes … either the COX-1 enzyme and/or the COX-2 enzyme, depending on the drug.

The COX-1 enzyme promotes inflammation, but drugs – such as aspirin, ibuprofen (e.g., Advil), and naproxen (e.g., Aleve) that block it can produce gastric bleeding, duodenal ulcers, kidney problems, and cardiovascular complications.

Scientists developed COX-2 drugs such as Celebrex and Vioxx to get around the adverse gastric effects of COX-1 drugs … but it turned out that they, too, can cause gastric injury.

And sharp increases in cardiovascular complications led to withdrawal of Vioxx from the market in 2004.

Clearly, it behooves the medical community to find alternative analgesics that do not work in the same way.

We’ve reported on the recent discovery that when we metabolize omega-3s from fish – especially DHA – they yield critical anti-inflammatory compounds called resolvins.

Now, the analgesic potential of omega-3-derived resolvins has gained significant support in a mouse study from the Pain Research Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital … a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School in Boston.

Mouse study yields encouraging findings on an omega-3 fat’s analgesic potential

A research team at Brigham and Women’s Hospital reports that resolvins that the body produces from the two key omega-3s in fish fat and human cells – DHA and EPA – may serve as a new class of painkillers for treating inflammatory pain (Xu ZZ et al. 2010).

The Boston-based group believes that resolvins reduce pain both by damping inflammation and by acting in the spinal cord to prevent and reverse chronic pain.

Inflammatory pain, such as arthritic and post-operative pain, is triggered by tissue injury, leading to the release of compounds that increase inflammation and also act within the spinal cord to promote persistent pain.

The researchers found that two resolvins – RvE1 (derived from EPA) and RvD1 (derived from DHA) – reduced inflammatory pain symptoms in mice.

The results showed that RvE1 was 10,000 times more potent at alleviating pain than omega-3 EPA itself, which suggests that resolvins should be targets for drug development.

Confirming the mechanism by which omega-3s can relieve pain indirectly, an artificial compound called Chemerin – which binds to the same cell receptor as RvE1 and RvD1 – also significantly reduced pain symptoms.

Aside from its proven anti-inflammatory effects, they also found that RvE1 acts in the spinal cord to prevent the persistent activation of nerve cells that underlies chronic pain.

Importantly – and unlike powerful analgesic opiate-class drugs like codeine or oxycontin – the analgesic effects of the omega-3-derived resolvins did not alter the animals’ normal sensitivity to pain.

We hope that findings like these will lead to a new class of analgesic drugs that are much safer but just as effective as NSAIDs.

The study was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health.

Sources:

• Cryer B. NSAID-associated deaths: the rise and fall of NSAID-associated GI mortality. Am J Gastroenterol. 2005 Aug;100(8):1694-5.
• Griffin MR. Epidemiology of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-associated gastrointestinal injury. Am J Med. 1998 Mar 30;104(3A):23S-29S; discussion 41S-42S. Review.
• Lanas A, Perez-Aisa MA, Feu F, Ponce J, Saperas E, Santolaria S, Rodrigo L, Balanzo J, Bajador E, Almela P, Navarro JM, Carballo F, Castro M, Quintero E; Investigators of the Asociación Española de Gastroenterología (AEG). A nationwide study of mortality associated with hospital admission due to severe gastrointestinal events and those associated with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug use. Am J Gastroenterol. 2005 Aug;100(8):1685-93.
• Singh G, Triadafilopoulos G. Epidemiology of NSAID induced gastrointestinal complications. J Rheumatol 1999;26(suppl):18–24.
• Tarone RE, Blot WJ, McLaughlin JK. Nonselective nonaspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and gastrointestinal bleeding: Relative and absolute risk estimates from recent epidemiologic studies. Am J Ther 2004;11(1):17–25.
• Tenenbaum J. The epidemiology of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Can J Gastroenterol. 1999 Mar;13(2):119-22. Review.
• Xu ZZ, Zhang L, Liu T, Park JY, Berta T, Yang R, Serhan CN, Ji RR. Resolvins RvE1 and RvD1 attenuate inflammatory pain via central and peripheral actions. Nat Med. 2010 May;16(5):592-7, 1p following 597. Epub 2010 Apr 11.

*** End of Article ***

If you believe that omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce pain caused by inflammation, TriVita’s Omega Prime may be the right supplement for you. Omega Prime contains a premier and unique blend of four different types of the most highly regarded Essential Fatty Acids (EFA) oils – Fish, Flaxseed, Evening Primrose and Perilla Seed. It also uses only contaminant-free fish oil that has undergone a 10 stage distilling process.

Omega Prime helps meet the American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines. One daily dose of Omega Prime provides the amount of Omega-3 recommended by the AHA for healthy individuals, as well as for those who have heart disease or the risk of it.

If you would like additional information on Omega Prime or any other TriVita nutritional product, you can go to the TriVita Products page to learn more. TriVita ensures that you get the safest, freshest, and most effective products available on the market today. Each product is made under the strictest quality controls in the nutritional supplement industry.

Jeffrey Sloe
Independent TriVita Business Affiliate – #12871028
440-725-3729

Energy drinks, sport drinks, fitness drinks, carbonated beverages, and fruit drinks may not be a healthy choice. Many are filled with excessive caffeine, sugar, or are high in fructose. As many health experts keep saying, “Drinking water is so important for good health.”[1]

Why is water so important? Because “your body is estimated to be about 60 to 70 percent water. Blood is mostly water, and your muscles, lungs, and brain all contain a lot of water.”[1] It’s also a know fact that “your body needs water to regulate body temperature and to provide the means for nutrients to travel to all your organs. Water also transports oxygen to your cells, removes waste, and protects your joints and organs.”[1]

Brazos Minshew, TriVita’s Chief Science Officer, in TriVita’s Weekly Wellness Report, looks at all the alternatives to water. I’ve included the complete article below.

Are There Alternatives for Water? by Brazos Minshew

Healthy Living Essential #2 is Drink Water. Many people don’t follow this Essential for one reason or another. Some use water “alternatives” instead. But I can tell you, with full conviction, that there are NO alternatives to water! You must drink water and you must drink it in abundance.

Pros and cons of water “alternatives”
Let’s look at some of the positive and negative aspects of so-called alternatives to water:

• 100% fruit juice – contains some vitamins, minerals and a lot of sugar. In fact, a 16-ounce glass of fruit juice contains about 50 grams of sugar and 220 calories. Fructose, or fruit sugar, reduces the rate at which we absorb fluid and can actually make you thirstier, leading to over-consumption of calories from juice.
• Sport drinks – often contain fructose or sucrose syrups, flavorings and colorings. The electrolytes, sodium and potassium are helpful for endurance-type exercise or activity, but not necessary for everyday exercise. A 16 ounce sport drink has roughly 30 grams of sugar and over 100 calories.
• Energy drinks – contain vitamins, amino acids, a lot of sugar and caffeine. Although advertised as providing more energy, what they really provide is more calories and caffeine. Added caffeine can be temporarily energizing, but often leads to a rapid dip in energy and can be potentially habit forming. An eight ounce energy drink has about 115 calories and 80 milligrams of caffeine.
• Fitness waters – these waters are laced with an assortment of nutrients, herbs, flavorings and/or sweeteners. These enhancements are usually too insufficient to have any meaningful impact on your health; plus these waters can be costly. As for calories, they can contain anywhere from 10 to 100 or more calories in a 16 ounce drink.
• Carbonated beverages – such as regular or diet sodas can be high in sugar or artificial sweeteners and caffeine. Colas are also high in phosphates, which bind with calcium and weaken bones. Regular soda can contain up to 200 or more calories for 16 ounces.
• Coffee, tea and lattes – are also very popular. But along with the caffeine, they often contain added sugars and fats which can add up to as many as 450 calories for a 16 ounce drink. Since most caffeinated products provide very few nutrients, it is typically advised to keep intake low.
• Flavored waters – are waters with a touch of natural flavoring. By itself, this is fine. Unfortunately, however, many flavored waters contain sugar (some even have more than a can of soda pop) or caffeine and other additives, all of which should be avoided.

In contrast to the water alternatives above, we can get water that is good for us from food. Many fruits and vegetables, for example, are high in water content as well as antioxidants (which is a nice plus). The guideline for consuming the right amount of fruit and vegetables is 5, 7 or 9 servings daily, depending upon our size and gender.

Healthy ways to spice up your water

In summary, we now know two things. First, there are no real alternatives to water – they all have too many drawbacks. And second, water is essential to good health – it helps the body both detoxify and fuel metabolism for energy.

But these two findings present a problem for all of the people who feel that water is just too boring to drink on a regular basis. They are likely to wonder, “Are there ways to make my water taste better? And are there drinks besides water that can help support my body’s detoxification and metabolic processes?” The answer is YES. You can use the recipes below to spice up your water while adding extra detoxification and metabolism support:

• Nopalea Splash: Take 6 ounces of naturally carbonated spring water and add 1 ounce of Nopalea™ to it for a hydrating, detoxifying and refreshing beverage that naturally helps reduce inflammation.
• Tea Time 10 Plus: Take 6 ounces of either hot or cold green tea and add 1 ounce of Adaptogen 10 Plus®. You can get the health benefits of green tea coupled with the stress-busting effects of adaptogens.
  Water: the life-essential beverage

At birth, water can make up as much as 80% of a baby’s body weight. Yet at death, for adults in their 70s and 80s, water often makes up less than 40% of the body weight.

Water is life. And in a sense, dehydration equals death.

Drink Water – and claim the health benefits of this life-giving liquid!

*** End of Article ***

Do you still think alternative drinks are better for you than plain water? As Mr. Minshew mentioned, “there are no real alternatives to water.” Many people may think so, but in all honesty, there is NOT. No matter how much a commercial may try to sell you on there alternative, you may be doing more harm than good (to your body) if you do not drink enough water.

So how much water should you be drinking a day. According to some sources, you can take your weight and divide it by two. That will give you a simple solution as to the amount of ounces of water you should be drinking every day. For example, if you weigh 180 pounds, divide that number in half, which equals 90, you should be drinking 90 ounces of water per day. And, if you exercise, you should drink another 8 ounces of water for every 20 minutes of exercise.

To learn more about TriVita’s Nopalea or TriVita’s health and wellness products (mentioned in the article), click on the previous links.

Jeffrey Sloe
TriVita Independent Business Affiliate, 12871028
440-725-3729
jeff@internetmarketingadvisors.net
Fighting Inflammation

Resources:
[1] http://nutrition.about.com/od/hydrationwater/a/waterarticle.htm

I’ve been writing about omega-3 fatty acids for some time now. Research continues to show how important these fatty acids really are to the human body. The latest study at the University of Pittsburgh confirms what previous studies have found.

“Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine went on a molecular fishing trip and netted a catch of new mediators that not only can explain how omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation, but also hint at novel treatments for a host of diseases linked to inflammatory processes.” [1]

Before I continue with this study, let’s take a look at what omega-3 fatty acids are, and the health benefits behind them. To do so I’ve included a quote below from the University of Maryland Medical Center’s web site:

“Omega-3 fatty acids are considered essential fatty acids: They are necessary for human health but the body can’t make them — you have to get them through food. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fish, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut, other seafood including algae and krill, some plants, and nut oils. Also known as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), omega-3 fatty acids play a crucial role in brain function as well as normal growth and development. They have also become popular because they may reduce the risk of heart disease. The American Heart Association recommends eating fish (particularly fatty fish such as mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna, and salmon) at least 2 times a week.” [2]

All of the research I’ve found concurs that “omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and may help lower risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and arthritis. Omega-3 fatty acids are highly concentrated in the brain and appear to be important for cognitive (brain memory and performance) and behavioral function.” [2]

This information is not from a single study, rather from numerous studies over several years in which universities have been doing research. Runaway inflammation can lead to various serious health problems in the body involving the heart, arteries, lungs, joints and more. That’s probably why so much research is being done not only on inflammation but also on nutrients, like omega-3 fatty acids, that fight inflammation.

If you’re looking to incorporate more omega-3-fatty acids into your diet, fish is your best bet. The purest choice fish include canned sardines or mackerel, wild Alaskan salmon and sable fish, and small, troll-caught tuna. However, if you’re not a fish eater, TriVita’s Omega Prime is a supplement that’s high in omega-3 fatty acids.

TriVita’s Omega Prime contains a premier and unique blend of four different types of the most highly regarded Essential Fatty Acids (EFA) oils – Fish, Flaxseed, Evening Primrose and Perilla Seed. It also uses only contaminant-free fish oil that has undergone a 10 stage distilling process.

Just as research on omega-3 fatty acids will continue, I will continue to write about what researchers find regarding this highly important nutrient.

Jeffrey Sloe
Independent TriVita Business Affiliate – #12871028
440-725-3729
Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Resources:
[1] www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100502173503.htm
[2] www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/omega-3-000316.htm

The above information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

We seem to live in a society of immediate gratification, where we want it now, not tomorrow. That may work for some things, like buying a new computer or television, but not when it comes to your health. Healing takes time! Sometimes we even have to go through physical therapy to recover from an injury, and that takes time and hard work.

The same goes for fighting chronic pain caused by inflammation; it takes time to rid the body of the cause of inflammation. As Mr. Brazos Minshew explains the healing process in his weekly wellness report, you may learn that there’s no quick fix when it comes to fighting inflammation. I’ve included the complete report below:

Take the Nopalea Loading Phase
by Brazos Minshew, TriVita’s Chief Science Officer.

You can’t put out a forest fire with a single pail of water. Likewise, you can’t break the cycle of inflammation with a single serving of Nopalea.

We need to meet the level of inflammation in our body with an equivalent force of anti-inflammatory Betalains from Nopalea. We must quench inflammation with a Nopalea Loading Phase (NLP).

The cycle of inflammation
Inflammation in your body is like a campfire: when properly contained it is useful for warming your body and cooking your food. However, when even a single ember escapes the hearth and remains unquenched, it can smolder and spread until it burns down an entire forest!

The cycle of inflammation begins with injury or trauma, toxins or poisons, deficiency or stress. When inflammation is controlled and balanced, it facilitates:

• Repair of the injury.
• Elimination of the toxins and poisons.
• Relief for many forms of deficiency and stress. For example, controlled and balanced inflammation relieves blood and oxygen deficiency in areas of poor circulation.

Runaway inflammation persists long after the cause has been removed. It continues to smolder and spread until something breaks the cycle. With fire, usually a little water will quench an ember before it causes a forest fire. With runaway inflammation in our body, we need anti-inflammatory nutrients that will remove the cause as well as the effect of inflammation.
However, the same amount of water that quenches a single ember will not douse the flames of a forest fire. The same level of anti-inflammatory nutrients that will balance daily trauma, toxins, deficiency and stress will not “put out the fire” of runaway inflammation.

The Nopalea Loading Phase
We are a people on fire: we typically have runaway inflammation raging in one or more places of our bodies. We suffer from this because so many of our health problems stem from this very condition. And if our inflamed condition is greater in size and intensity, the greater our response will have to be in order to put out the fire.

That makes sense, doesn’t it? I mean, if you have a forest fire of inflammation you can’t put it out with a single pail of water. The same is true with our health: If we have been suffering from major inflammation over a long period of time, we need a REALLY SIGNIFICANT RESPONSE to put out the fire.

We need a Nopalea Loading Phase.

The Betalains in Nopalea are anti-inflammatory – as such, they put out the fire of inflammation. But how much Nopalea do you need? That depends: How big is the fire you are trying to put out?

For maintenance, the label suggests drinking 1 to 3 ounces a day; this amount is needed every day just to fight the inflammatory effects of our diet, air and water pollution, and even everyday stress. But you need to take more in the beginning to break the cycle of inflammation. Here is how the Nopalea Loading Phase works:

1. Pre-Evaluation: Before taking Nopalea for the first time, record your level of pain and rate the discomfort you feel. Also, look at things you may not readily associate with inflammation. For example, how well are you sleeping? Write it all down.

2. Complete the Loading Phase: Drink 3 to 6 ounces of chilled Nopalea every day for 30 days.

3. Post-Evaluation: After 30 days, assess how you feel in comparison to before you started the Loading Phase. Most people find a significant difference and I’m sure you will too.

Keep following the Loading Phase directions until the cycle of inflammation is extinguished in your body. Remember, only YOU know how much Nopalea you will need or how LONG you will need to continue the Loading Phase. Trust your intuition.

• If you think you need more – take more.
• If you think you need to continue the Loading Phase beyond 30 days – then keep doing it.

Trust your instinct because only you can tell when the cycle of inflammation in your body is broken.

Restoring balance

Nutrient deficiencies create inflammation. That’s why it makes enormous sense to take a full serving of healthy aging nutrients to support our bodies’ firefighting efforts. Furthermore, each of the 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness is also anti-inflammatory in nature. So if we fail to abide by these timeless, natural laws, we could very well be fanning the fires of the inflammatory problems we’re ultimately trying to overcome. It’s important to remember that once you have subdued the flames of runaway inflammation, you need to follow Nopalea’s maintenance regimen to help prevent any smoldering inflammatory embers from re-igniting again. *** End of Report ***

So many of the maladies we suffer from today are related to inflammation. Nopalea contains Betalains, a great inflammation fighter. Testimonials from around North America report amazing improvement in well-being with Nopalea. Science from around the world details the astounding health benefits from Betalains found in the Nopal cactus. Both scientific and empirical reports tell us that Nopalea is safe and effective in promoting wellness. Enjoy Nopalea often.

If inflammation is the problem – Nopalea™ may be the solution.

To learn more about fighting inflammation with Sonoran Bloom Nopalea™, click on the previous link.

Jeffrey Sloe
TriVita Independent Business Affiliate, 12871028
440-725-3729
jeff@internetmarketingadvisors.net
Sonoran Bloom Nopalea

Inflammation has been called the silent killer. Inflammation is a process in which the body’s white blood cells and chemicals help protect us from infection and foreign substances such as bacteria and viruses. However, "When inflammation occurs, chemicals from the body are released into the blood or affected tissues. This release of chemicals increases the blood flow to the area of injury or infection and may result in redness and warmth. Some of the chemicals cause a leak of fluid into the tissues, resulting in swelling. This process may stimulate nerves and cause pain." [1]

"Inflammation as a major cause of disease is not new. It is at least a reasonable consideration that inflammation is involved with, if not the cause of, every other ill from which we suffer as a race. If that has not been true in the past, it is true today. No other cause of disease has a chance to take a foothold. Inflammation troubles have become so dominant that no other process may need to be considered. The cause of this inflammation is chemical toxicity." [2]

Do you suffer from inflammation? Read the article below from Brazos Minshew, Chief Science Office for TriVita, to learn more about inflammation.

Taking the "flame" out of inflammation by Brazos Minshew, TriVita’s Chief Science Officer.

We usually describe the process of inflammation like a series of dominos all set up and ready for something to tip over the first domino and start the chain reaction. The first one tips over the second one, which tips over the third one and so on. This is called the "domino effect." Clever people can set up these dominos in an amazing array of complicated designs.

Inflammation is a process much like that. A single event may trigger a domino effect of inflammatory reactions. While many of the reactions are fairly predictable, many others are not. They seem to involve amazingly complicated patterns unique to the individual. Still, all inflammation exhibits five basic signs caused by four basic triggers.

Signs of inflammation

With tissue injury, inflammation is part of the healing process:

1. Redness: An injured area needs an increased supply of nutrients and proteins carried in the blood. So, blood supply increases and the tissue turns red (Latin: rubor).
2. Swelling : The injured area is bathed in healing proteins and substances to control bleeding, as well as an increased supply of plasma for transport of waste. This causes the injured area to swell (Latin: tumor).
3. Pain: The injured area needs to be protected. We instinctively guard an injury because we feel or anticipate pain (Latin: dolor).
4. Heat: The damaged tissue now becomes weakened and so it is susceptible to infection. White blood cells rush to the area and defend the fragile cells from microbes. A sign that this is working is heat or fever in the damaged area (Latin: calor).
5. Loss of Function: This process is accompanied by a reduction in function of the injured area until it is healed (Latin: functio laesa).

The "dominoes" fall in the same predictable pattern if the injury is a sprained ankle or heart attack! No matter what triggers the inflammation, the process is the same.

Inflammation triggers

Inflammation is the response to four basic triggers: trauma, toxins, deficiency and stress. All four of these triggers cause tissue injury. Our body responds to injury with inflammation.

Trauma

We usually think of trauma as a direct injury that causes pain and distress. However, a sedentary lifestyle is also a serious cause of trauma. Why? Because our body was made to move! The more we move, the more we are able to move – and the more we want to move. The less we move, the less we are able to move. Our muscles and other tissues shorten and atrophy. Then, any movement causes injury. So, the less we move, the less we want to move.

Toxins

Toxicity causes cells to rupture in the same way that a needle causes a balloon to pop. Is there any doubt that we live in a toxic world? An article in National Geographic estimated that humans create 700,000 tons of pollution and waste every day! Between these "exotoxins" (toxins created outside our body), and "endotoxins" (toxins created inside our body), we are bathed in inflammation-producing poison every moment of every day. Any successful strategy for reducing inflammation must address the level of toxins we face.

Deficiency

Deficiencies also cause inflammation. For example, an omega-3 essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency leaves the cell walls weak and unable to function normally. Again, cells are like balloons. If the balloon membrane is too thin, even a normal amount of air will make it pop. If the cell wall is too thin because of an omega-3 EFA deficiency, even normal cell activity will cause the cell to pop and trigger the domino effect of inflammation. Similarly, deficiency of other nutrients can have a catastrophic effect on cells within your body. (A deficiency in oxygen, water, sleep and circulation can also trigger inflammation.)

Stress

Emotional distress is also a cause of inflammation. When we appraise a situation to be stressful, our brain releases chemicals called catecholamines that trigger the release of many inflammatory processes. For example, stress causes the release of insulin – a pro-inflammatory hormone. Too much stress over too long a period of time will cause insulin resistance (IR), which is associated with obesity. Other stress-related chemicals reduce circulation to our digestive and reproductive systems and trigger inflammation from blood deficiency. Stress is a serious cause of inflammation!

First steps

We are made with the ability to respond to trauma, toxins, deficiency and stress with inflammation. Therefore, inflammation is not the enemy; however, runaway inflammation is definitely our enemy! Stop the domino effect of runaway inflammation before it starts by learning and living the 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness.

• Reduce basic nutrient deficiencies through our Healthy Aging program.
• Help reduce the effect of harmful toxins with Nopalea™.
• Ease the disturbances caused by emotional distress with anti-stress adaptogens.

A word about Nopalea

Once runaway inflammation is triggered it follows an amazingly intricate course leading to catastrophe. It is as if tens of thousands of dominoes are falling in an extremely complex design. Many of the steps are known to medical science, but many are not. One thing we know and have known for thousands of years: stop the runaway inflammation and health will always improve! So, no matter what the "condition" is that is causing distress, reducing excess inflammation will always improve the way we feel.

Betalains in Nopalea are anti-inflammatory nutrients. They help your body do what it does best: repair with controlled inflammation while dousing the flames of runaway inflammation. So, we can say with confidence that if runaway inflammation is the problem, reducing that inflammation is part of the solution. Address the root causes of runaway inflammation by following the 10 Essentials, and taking Healthy Aging nutrients, adaptogens and Nopalea! ** END of ARTICLE **

You do not have to suffer from inflammation, nor do you have to take a risk with this deadly disease. There are ways to fight inflammation, as Mr. Minshew has explained. However, you have to take action.

I’m not a doctor or medical professional, but it seems to me that if we fight inflammation, the cause of much pain, we may not have to suffer from needless pain. So, in my opinion, to get pain relief that lasts, we should fight the source of that pain, and what better way to do that that with TriVita’s Sonoran Bloom Nopalea™.

To learn more about fighting inflammation and Sonoran Bloom Nopalea™, click on the previous link.

Jeffrey Sloe
TriVita Independent Business Affiliate, 12871028
440-725-3729
jeff@internetmarketingadvisors.net
TriVita Products
Fight Inflammation

Resources
[1] www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/guide/arthritis-inflammation
[2] www.naturalnews.com/025862_inflammation_foods_lifestyle_changes.html

The above information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

When most people hear the word ‘inflammation’ they think of the swelling and redness that accompanies an injury such as a sprained ankle. However, inflammation can also be systemic and caused not by injury but by lack of exercise and a poor diet. Systemic inflammation increases the risk of cancer, hypertension, heart disease, gastrointestinal problems, and many other health conditions. In fact, many anti-aging professionals believe that inflammation is the greatest cause of premature aging, so preventing it is also vital for looking young. Taking on an exercise program is one key to decreasing systemic inflammation, and the other key is to consume a diet that does not promote inflammation.

One form of systemic inflammation is MTHFR. "Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is the name of a gene that produces an enzyme, also called methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. If a person carries the genetic mutation that inhibits production of this enzyme, it can result in hyperhomocytenemia, which is an elevated level of an enzyme called homocysteine found in blood plasma."[1]

TriVita’s Chief Science Officer, Brazos Minshew, takes a look at MTHFR and inflammation in this week’s Wellness Report. The complete article is listed below.

Inflammation Hot Spots, by Brazos Minshew

The process of inflammation starts with injury, toxicity, deficiency or emotional distress. One particular deficiency that causes inflammation is a genetic deficiency called MTHFR. This deficiency is relatively common – perhaps the most common genetic deficiency in North America. It is related to the way we manufacture proteins. A sign that we have MTHFR deficiency is elevated homocysteine.

MTHFR deficiency creates pools of homocysteine that ignite inflammation like bonfires in specific tissues of your body. The strategies for reducing this inflammation depend greatly on where the bonfire starts. And, like many forest fires, inflammation often features multiple fronts that require different strategies for quelling its flames.

Burning brain
The delicate tissues of the brain are common victims of inflammation from an MTHFR deficiency. Elevated homocysteine feeds the fire that melts fragile neurons. Movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease and dementias such as Alzheimer’s disease are associated with elevated homocysteine. Further, inflammation in the brain associated with MTHFR and elevated homocysteine are also implicated in autism, ADD/ADHD, bipolar depression and schizophrenia.

MTHFR deficiency is addressed by increasing folates in the diet. Folates describe a B vitamin from foliage – leafy green vegetables. Actually, all fruits and vegetables contain some folate. Eating the optimum amount of folate can go a long way to filling the deficiency associated with MTHFR and elevated homocysteine. Remember, the optimum number of servings for fruits and vegetables is:

• 5 servings for children
• 7 servings for women
• 9 servings for men

Make sure you eat vegetables of every color – eat a rainbow!

Supplements such as HCY Guard® provide nutrients that help "re-methylate" homocysteine in the presence of this MTHFR deficiency. Inflammation is normalized by the anti-inflammatory Betalains found in Nopalea™. Essential fatty acids and EFA supplements such as OmegaPrime® serve as primary building blocks for a healthy brain. Also, Omega-3 EFA, Betalains and ECGC polyphenols in Energy Now!® serve to help the body protect DNA strands and create stem cells that are needed to repair delicate, fragile brain tissues.

Burning bones
Bones are living tissue. Osteoblast cells lay down a matrix of collagen proteins and build minerals around it. Collagen provides tensile strength for the bones and minerals provide compression strength for the bones. Homocysteine shatters this matrix and melts the collagen in your bones (and elsewhere), resulting in brittle bones. Further, without collagen, minerals cannot form and the bones become porous. The end result is often osteoporosis.

Folates and plant hormones such as Vitamin K found in leafy green vegetables help reduce the impact of MTHFR deficiency and increase the opportunity for osteoblasts to make healthy bone. Healthy bones also require significant amounts of Vitamin D. Sunshine is the best source of Vitamin D; however, in North America it is not always possible to get enough healthy sun exposure to meet our Vitamin D needs. Supplements such as Bone Growth Factor and VitaCal-Mag D can help give us the nutrients we need for healthy bones. HCY Guard can help the body reduce inflammatory homocysteine and Betalains from Nopalea can help reduce the impact of inflammation.

Burning blood
MTHFR deficiency was discovered when scientists began searching for the reasons why heart disease and stroke seemed to cluster in certain families. It was discovered that these families shared a genetic deficiency that required far more folate than their diet provided. Folate deficiency depletes Vitamin B-12 and compounds the homocysteine problem. Homocysteine ignites LDL ("bad") cholesterol in the bloodstream and creates the inflammation at the root of cardiovascular disease, heart attacks and stroke.

A high folate diet focusing on leafy green vegetables can fill this deficiency. Supplements such as HCY Guard, Nopalea and OmegaPrime can help the body ease’ the fire in the delicate tissues lining the blood vessels. According to the VISP study (Vitamin Intervention for Stroke Prevention) this comprehensive strategy can fill the deficiency created by MTHFR, put out the fire fueled by homocysteine, and reduce the likelihood of heart attack and stroke.

Conclusion
Inflammation hot spots build fires around your body in places like your brain, your bones and your heart.

1. A high folate diet can fill the deficiency that causes these body bonfires.
2. Safe daily sun exposure along with exercise and peaceful sleep can help build a solid foundation for wellness.
3. Appropriate supplementation can help satisfy the needs created by MTHFR while putting out the fires of inflammation and creating vigorous cells for health today and a healthier tomorrow.

***END of ARTICLE***

If inflammation is the problem – Nopalea™ may be the solution.

To learn more about fighting inflammation with Sonoran Bloom Nopalea™, click on the previous link.

Jeffrey Sloe
TriVita Independent Business Affiliate, 12871028
440-725-3729
jeff@internetmarketingadvisors.net
Fighting Inflammation

Sources:
[1] www.pregnancy-info.net/mthfr.html

The above information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

In an article called, Inflammation: The New Medical "Bad Guy", by Bruce Bailey, Ph.D., starts by writing, "according to the latest medical theory, chronic inflammation is the root cause of almost every disease suffered by human beings." This should NOT be new news to anyone, as Hippocrates had this same theory hundreds of years ago.

What is inflammation?

According to Dr. Bailey, "as a part of our immune response system, inflammation occurs when the body is fighting germs that enter the body through a variety of ways, e.g. injury or inhalation. When you experience redness, swelling, heat, infection, and pain from a variety of ailments, it’s a sign of inflammation".

So what happens if we fail to effectively fight and/or stop the inflammation? Dr. Bailey says"normally, the inflammation goes away when the body has conquered the infection or injury, but if the body fails to shut off the inflammation process, a more serious condition can occur."

What types of serious conditions is Dr. Bailey talking about? The most serious condition is a heart attack. If you have never considered inflammation and a heart attack related, look at Dr. Bailey’s response to how inflammation can cause a heart attack.

"It is generally recognized that heart attacks occur when the blood vessels become clogged with ‘plaque’ (what we usually refer to as the bad LDL cholesterol) that is deposited on the vessel walls. This bad cholesterol also gets embedded inside arteries and our immune system ‘attacks’ it. Persistent inflammation in the arteries can eventually cause plaque to burst. Now many doctors use a simple blood test for inflammation called CRP (short for C-reactive Protein) to help assess a person’s cardiac risk. CRP is an index of inflammation in the arteries and the CRP increases as inflammation increases. For example, test have shown that middle aged men with high CRP levels in their blood were three times more likely to suffer a heart attack in the next 6 years than men with normal levels. Medical experts say that a CRP of 3.0 mg/L or higher triples your heart attack risk. People with CRP less than 0.5 mg/L rarely have heart attacks."

How can we prevent heart attacks, fight inflammation, and lower our cholesterol all at the same time?

Most doctors will tell you diet and exercise are the best ways to lower cholesterol. However, does diet and exercise help fight inflammation? "According to the Center for Human Nutrition at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, some foods can cause inflammation while others can decrease it. Diets that are rich in fruits and vegetables, and foods that offer lots of Omega-3 fatty acids (such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, and walnuts) are best. Further, a diet of such foods has been shown to be instrumental in weight reduction, and lowering CRP and insulin resistance."

Since "chronic inflammation is the root cause of almost every disease" including heart attacks, we should take every measure possible to keep our bodies healthy and operating at peak performance. One way to keep your body operating efficiently and to also combat any germs and/or toxins that may exist inside your body is to drink TriVita’s Sonoran Bloom Nopalea on a daily basis.

Why? Because Sonoran Bloom Nopalea™ helps to fight inflammation naturally, through betalains, a very effective anti-inflammatory fighter which is found in the Nopal cactus, the key ingredient of Nopalea.

If it’s true what Hippocrates said many years ago, that "all disease is one", and what doctors agree upon today, "chronic inflammation is the root cause of almost every disease", and if the majority of diseases are in some way related to inflammation, germs and toxins, doesn’t it make sense to try TriVita’s Sonoran Bloom Nopalea™,

For information on how you can boost your health and extend your life by reducing chronic inflammation, go to the Sonoran Bloom web site by clicking on the previous link.

Jeffrey Sloe
TriVita Independent Business Affiliate, 12871028
440-725-3729
jeff@internetmarketingadvisors.net
Sonoran Bloom

Sources:
www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/inflammation-the-new-medical-bad-guy-26762.html

The above information presented herein is intended for educational/informational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it’s always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Sonoran Bloom Nopalea is touted as one of the best inflammation fighters. However, most likely it’s the toxins in your body that causes inflammation. Fighting inflammation and getting natural pain relief are plausible attributes; getting to the the root cause is of the utmost importance.

Every week, Brazos Minshew, TriVita’s Chief Science Officer, writes a health and wellness newsletter. This week is no different. In the newsletter, Mr. Minshew delves into the causes, triggers, and ways to fight inflammation. The newsletter is posted in its entirety.

Recently, a series of forest fires ravaged the landscape in Southern California. One particular fire burned many fine homes. The firefighters worked through the night to extinguish the fire and they were making progress. However, with the dawn came a change in circumstances: an increase in heat, a reduction in humidity and hot, dry winds from the south brought dry air and a fresh supply of oxygen that intensified the fire. Soon, a firestorm erupted creating flaming tornadoes.

That is the perfect illustration of the inflammation that can occur in the human body. What may begin as a single spark of inflammation may erupt into an inflammatory disease that engulfs our entire body and threatens our life. Efforts to combat the inflammation may be affected by external forces that fan the flames until we are consumed.

Causes of inflammation
There are four common causes of inflammation:

• Trauma or injury
• Toxins and poisons
• Deficiencies of various kinds
• Emotional distress

Any of these factors may trigger the start of inflammation or increase the intensity of the heat by adding fuel to the fire.

An example of this may be inflammation triggered by toxins and fueled by emotional distress. Gout is a form of inflammation strongly linked to toxicity. For example, gout may be triggered in susceptible people by environmental toxins like carbon tetrachloride or dietary toxins such as HCFS (high fructose corn syrup) found in soft drinks. Gout may also be triggered by depression associated with loss, or by anxiety associated with chronic emotional distress. A new round of gout may be triggered by simple trauma to a previously affected toe or possibly a Vitamin C deficiency.

Adding multiple sources of inflammation together may trigger a firestorm of inflammation that rages out of control – creating serious signs of disease.

Triggers: known and unknown

The firefighters mentioned above lost that particular battle with the forest fire because they could not foresee all of the influences hampering their efforts. The same is true with us:

• We can not always foresee all of the inflammation triggers we face
• We can not always tell when we trigger the process of inflammation

While we may remember our last soft drink, we may not know when we last breathed carbon tetrachloride, ate fruits and vegetables deficient in Vitamin C, or created micro-trauma by our sleeping position, sedentary lifestyle or choice of shoes. We may also not readily discern the impact of internalized stress.

I recently encountered three people who had different forms of inflammation. One individual suffered from episodes of gout, the second from chronic colitis and the third from osteoarthritis of the knees. They all experienced fast and profound benefits from Nopalea with its anti-inflammatory Betalains. They also later experienced a flare-up of symptoms when their life changed. In all three cases the inflammation appeared to be triggered by severe emotional upset: loss of a spouse, loss of a sibling and loss of a job.

Trying to quench the fire of inflammation created by these emotional extremes with a minimum serving of Nopalea was like trying to quench a forest fire with a single pail of water! We need to judge the severity of the inflammation and meet it with the appropriate anti-inflammatory response if we are to be successful. Don’t be afraid to use 3 ounces or 6 ounces every day for a real "Betalain-Boost"!

Conclusion

As detectives we solve the mystery of pain by analyzing the four causes of inflammation. However, we must also realize that our ability to solve these puzzles is limited by our knowledge. The more we know about how we work, the greater the opportunity we have to discern the causes of inflammation, create an appropriate, strategic response and successfully put out the fire. I encourage you to listen to my audio book, "Body Systems 101" for an introduction to this concept. Call 1-800-991-7116 to find out how to get this audio book.

I hope you learned something about inflammation from Mr. Minshew. If not, my I suggest calling the number listed above and getting his audio book. He has been studying the causes of inflammation for some time, and he offers some great insight on the the number one medical issue most people face.

To learn more about TriVita’s products and/or Sonoran Bloom Nopalea™, click on the previous links.

Jeffrey Sloe
440-725-3729
jeff@internetmarketingadvisors.net
TriVita Independent Business Affiliate, 12871028
Sonoran Bloom

I’m always into sharing information I find and/or receive regarding our health. Today I’d like to share an article I received regarding inflammation and its affect on the development of Alzheimer’s disease. I’m including the article in its entirety to prevent any misinterpretation.

The article is written on October 22, 2009 by Patrycja Podrazik for Health Resources News. If you suffer from any form of inflammation or you know someone suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, I highly suggest that you read this article.

A recent study has shed light on inflammatory mechanisms that may contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disease, an incurable neurodegenerative condition.

Research by Dr. William A. Banks, professor of geriatrics and pharmacological and physiological science at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, suggests inflammation causes a blood-brain barrier transporter known as LRP to malfunction.

The blood-brain barrier is a system of cells that regulates the exchange of substances between the brain and the blood, and LRP removes amyloid beta protein—the same compound that is found to accumulate in the brains of those affected by Alzheimer’s—from the brain and into the bloodstream.

"We induced inflammation in mice and found that it turned off the LRP pump," explains Banks.

"It also revved up an entrance pump that transports amyloid beta into the brain. Both of these actions would increase the amount of amyloid beta protein in the brain," he adds.

Natural compounds including antioxidants and vitamin D have been proven to reduce inflammation as well as contribute to weight loss and control, heart health and cancer prevention.

For those who may not get enough antioxidants from their diet, nutritional health supplements may be a good alternative. (ADNFCR-1960-ID-19265496-ADNFCR)*

I’ve written many articles about inflammation, and it seems that inflammation continues to be at the root of most diseases. I know what Hippocrates said, "all disease is one", and I wonder if he was referring to inflammation. Today, inflammation is the number one medical issue facing people in North America.

Fighting inflammation is an ongoing problem. There are many man-made prescription anti-inflammatory drugs on the market today. However, many of them can had adverse side-effects, especially if you’re taking other medications. That’s why TriVita has developed and tested Sonoran Bloom Nopalea™.

Nopalea helps to fight inflammation naturally, through betalains, a very effective anti-inflammatory fighter found in the Nopal cactus. When these betalains enter into your system, by drinking Nopalea™, they begin to restore your vitality on a cellular level. By helping the body reduce the toxins surrounding your cells and enabling essential nutrients to reach each cell, the betalains in Nopalea™ can reduce the inflammation in your body that leads to disease.

To learn more about TriVita and Sonoran Bloom Nopalea™, click on the previous links.

Jeffrey Sloe
440-725-3729
jeff@internetmarketingadvisors.net
TriVita Independent Business Affiliate, 12871028
Sonoran Bloom

Sources:

* www.betterhealthresearch.com/news/inflammation-may-be-responsible-for-alzheimers-disease-19265496/?LOC=issue&SC=HIZ4309R&sale=1&emc=el&m=526070&l=44&v=13c4b40e89

The above information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Is cholesterol the cause of heart attacks and strokes, or is it getting falsely blamed? Is there some underlying cause that should be targeted, as the real problem, instead?

First let’s take a look at cholesterol:

Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found among the lipids (fats) in the bloodstream and in all your body’s cells. It’s an important part of a healthy body because it’s used to form cell membranes, some hormones and is needed for other functions. [1]

Cholesterol also aids in the manufacture of bile (which helps digest fats), and is also important for the metabolism of fat soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E and K. It is the major precursor for the synthesis of vitamin D and of the various steroid hormones (which include cortisol and aldosterone in the adrenal glands, and the sex hormones progesterone, the various estrogens, testosterone, and derivatives). [2]

According to some experts, cholesterol may be getting a bad rap, and is wrongly accused as the cause of heart attacks and strokes. Upon inspection of the arteries of someone at risk for a heart attack, levels of cholesterol and plaque build up are very high. The cholesterol, being transported to tissues, is actually part of an inflammatory response going to repair damage.

On its journey, it will only lodge itself onto the artery, and cause plaque, if the artery has become damaged. In essence, it’s inflammation in the artery that causes this damage. In fact, many experts agree that it’s the coronary disease that causes heart attacks, which is now considered to be caused mostly from chronic inflammation.

The causes of inflammation and its effects on the human body is an ongoing process. In a recent newsmax.com article by Dr. Blaylock, he says that "the latest studies show that inflammation is an independent risk factor for heart disease that is much stronger than any measure of cholesterol."

If it is true that inflammation is the actually cause, and cholesterol is getting blamed for doing its job (sound all too familiar), shouldn’t we be fighting the battle at the root, and fight against inflammation?

Every day, we’re exposed to toxins in our air, water and food-and even toxins created by our own bodies. It’s these toxins that cause inflammation. So if we really want to get to the proper level, even before inflammation has a chance to take affect, we need protect our bodies against these toxins. So how do we do that? We start with TriVita’s Sonoran Bloom Nopalea™.

TriVita’s Nopalea™ (made from the Nopal cactus) specifically targets signs of inflammation in your body and reduces them quickly. [3] Its betalains and other anti-inflammatory ingredients work directly on the fluid surrounding your cells. There, they draw off the toxins and excess water to reduce inflammation and rebalance the cellular environment.

If it’s true what Hippocrates says, that "all disease is one", and if the majority of diseases are in some way related to inflammation and toxins, doesn’t it make sense to try TriVita’s Sonoran Bloom Nopalea™, which has the powerful antioxidant betalains.

For information on how you can boost your health and extend your life by reducing chronic inflammation, go to the Sonoran Bloom web site by clicking on the previous link.

Jeffrey Sloe
TriVita Independent Business Affiliate, 12871028
440-725-3729
jeff@internetmarketingadvisors.net
TriVita Products
Nopalea – A Fruit From Heaven

Sources:
[1] http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4488
[2] http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/9152.php
[3] Wiese J, McPherson S, Odden MC, Shlipak MG. Arch Intern Med. 2004 Jun 28;164(12):1334-40.