Hi.  If you have found this blog, then you are seeking the best probiotic.  I can understand your wanting to find the best.  Most people do not realize the importance of having a healthy digestive system.  If you are considering what is the best probiotic, then you also need to understand what the purpose is for a probiotic so you can realize how, in my humble opinion, the company that I am an affiliate with has the best probiotic.  For those of you that are just finding out about probiotics, let me explain what it is.  Probiotics are the healthy, or “friendly” bacteria that live in the intestinal tract. They support good health by limiting the growth of harmful bacteria, promoting good digestion and helping increase resistance to infection.

Did you know there are more bacteria cells in our digestive system than all other cells in the human body? There are 300 to 400 families of microbes in the digestive system at any given moment in time. Most live in the acid-to-neutral pH of the Small Intestines and the rest live in the alkaline pH of the Large Intestines. The majority of the microbes are probiotics – “pro” means “in favor of” and “biotic” means “life.” Others are called commensal because they do no harm, but also don’t provide any known benefit. Finally, there are always ‘bad’ bacteria in the digestive system. These are neutralized by acids, enzymes, immune complexes and probiotics.

If our digestive system is working as designed, we will have a good appetite, sweet-smelling breath, abundant energy and daily elimination of waste. When our digestive system works well we feel on top of the world!

If our digestive system is not working optimally, we will have bizarre appetite. This is often characterized by no desire for breakfast and a ravenous, insatiable appetite in the evening. We may even awaken in the middle of the night feeling as if we need to eat and yet never being satisfied with normal foods. When our digestive system is “broken” we will develop food allergies, gas, bloating, indigestion and excess stomach acid. If our DS malfunctions we will have constipation or alternating diarrhea and constipation. Plus we will have abdominal pain.

As time progresses and our digestive system becomes more imbalanced, we may experience chronic mouth inflammation (leading to sores), stomach issues (leading to GERD (gastroesophegal reflux disease), ulcers, indigestion and problems with the small intestines, pancreas, liver, gall bladder and colon. Because “bad” bacteria and yeast multiply in an unhealthy digestive system, we may start to experience chronic infections that migrate to our kidneys, bladder and reproductive systems. Chronic infections also trigger autoimmune attacks on healthy organs.

Wow!  So you can definitely see why it’s important to have a healthy digestive system.  And if you are seeking an answer on what is the best probiotic, I know you must realize that and are concerned about taking the right one.

If you look at the picture to your right, on the left hand side is what you want your intestines to look like and on the right hand side if you are not taking a probiotic and and have a typical American diet, more than likely that’s what your intestines might look like.  Why?  Well, if you are asking what is the best probiotic, I am assuming you know why but since I have learned at an early age not to assume, let me explain a little more and then I can answer your question on what is the best probiotic.

In your intestines, you have the good guys and the bad guys.  That’s the good bacteria and the bad bacteria.  Usually your body can handle a small percentage of bad bacteria.  The good guys keep them in check.  But your good guys can be destroyed by many different reasons from too much antibiotic use, too much alcohol, over consumption of sugars and other refined carbohydrates, too much stress, eating foods with pesticides, herbicides, antibiotic residues.  Well, you get the idea.  So you need to repopulate your gut with the good so you can bring your body back to a balanced state.

Now you can get some probiotic (I like to think of them as healthy bacteria) from food, such as yogurt and there are some foods that have added probiotics but you want to make sure you have the right strains and it’s of high quality.  Also many probiotics do not make it past your stomach acid.

Another consideration when choosing the best probiotic is also considering prebiotics.  What are prebiotics?  Prebiotics are a food source for probiotics, helping stimulate growth and proliferation.  We want the probiotics to grow and “create colonies”.  Happy and plentiful probiotics means a healthy gut.    I know, I know.  I too have a problem of thinking of something creating colonies in my gut, but it’s a good thing.  Especially when you think of the alternative and that’s having the bad bacteria take over.

Also digestive enzymes are very important.  Let’s say your gut is overrun with bad bacteria.  How do you get rid of the bad bacteria?  Digestive enzymes are important because they begin the healing process by removing toxic proteins and discouraging bad bacteria and yeast from breeding. And they help digest your food for more energy. Enzymes eradicate the bad bacteria by making the environment a certain PH that the bad bacteria doesn’t like.  Therefore, it stops breeding and then dies a natural death.

So if you are asking what is the best probiotic, you real question is how do I balance my digestion system.  To balance your digestion system, what you want to do is what’s called the “weed, seed and feed” program”.

1. Weed out all the toxins, like bad bacteria, parasites, fungus and yeast with enzymes and herbs
2. Seed the digestive system with beneficial bacteria (probiotics)
3. Feed the healthy bacteria with prebiotics so the probiotics can have better colonization and a long healthy life.

Is there a product that accomplishes all 3?  Yes, FloraVita.  A new product that has just been released by TriVita.  All of TriVita’s products are high quality, unique, and backed by their 10 Foundational Values.  To read more about their 10 Foundational Values, you can go HERE.

What makes TriVita’s product so unique?

First of all, it’s powerpacked with four classes of nutrients for complete digestive health:

• The HardiStrain® Probiotic Blend – delivers a potent 10 billion CFU, including 10 different friendly bacteria strains.
• Prebiotic Blend – this growth-stimulating prebiotic blend helps probiotics multiply and also soothes and boosts the defense function of the digestive system.
• Digestive Enzyme Blend – offers a suite of enzymes that break down carbohydrates, proteins and fats to help your body achieve complete digestion.
• Digestive Defense Blend – contains milk thistle and dandelion root to help soothe an inflamed and irritated digestive system. Dandelion root works with the Lipase enzyme as it thins the bile from the liver and gall bladder. Bile helps Lipase to digest fat. Bile also discourages bad bacteria and yeast from breeding. Milk thistle helps reduce the autoimmune impact from an imbalanced DS, reduces cramps, pain and bloating.
• PLUS, targeted release DRcaps™ for maximum effectiveness and no refrigeration required!

TriVita has tested FloraVita ensuring it does not dissolve in your stomach acid.  Also, with 4 products in one, you are getting the most benefit.  Prebiotics lay the groundwork for probiotics, as prebiotic fibers help probiotic bacteria establish colonies but providing a food source. Probiotics also have a marvelous impact on the rest of the body and brain as they coordinate the immune system of the digestive system. Prebiotics and probiotics work together to improve digestion and elimination.  And and TriVita uses a dry-preservation technology to ensure viability and targted release capsule technology that is acid resistent for maximum effectiveness.  And it’s shelf-stable with no refrigeration required.

I love working for a company that produces products that help people on their wellness journey.  So if you are asking, what is the best probiotic, Try TriVita’s new product FloraVita today and I’ll send you a bottle of Nopalea which is a great companion to FloraVita as it also helps to detoxify your body.  When you place your order, as long as you have a phone number or email provided, I will contact you and send you your bottle of Nopalea.

Click HERE to find out more about FloraVita

Click HERE to find out more about Nopalea

And TriVita also has a wellness center where you can research on many of the health challenges you or your loved ones may be facing.  To visit TriVita’s wellness center, you can click HERE.

Wishing you the best in health and wellness!

Kathy

Katherine Smith

It’s that time of the year again.  Yes, you may be thinking holidays and seeing friends and family and eating good food and you would be correct.  And in fact, the next blog I will be writing will focus on how not to overeat during this time.  But in this post I will be focusing on a more important topic . . . cold remedies.

Did you know that according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Americans suffer 1 billion colds annually?    Will you be one of them or are you already and found this blog because you were searching on cold remedies?  If you knew how to reduce your chances, would you take the steps?  If so, then continue reading and I will share with you great timely information on cold remedies as well as how not to get one in the first place.

First, let’s focus on how not to get the cold so you don’t have to worry about any cold remedies.  A cold is a minor infection of the throat and nose. Although colds are usually mild, they are the leading cause of doctor visits and job and school absenteeism. More than 200 different viruses are known to cause symptoms of a cold, although rhinoviruses and coronaviruses cause the majority of colds. Cold symptoms usually last about 1-2 weeks but if you take advantage of the cold remedies that I suggest hear, it could make your life a little easier during that time.

As much as I hope you do not get a cold because I know how miserable that is, after I share with you some ways of preventing a cold, I will share with you some cold remedies because the odds are against you on not getting one because colds are extremely contagious. A cold is transmitted by droplets of fluid that contain the cold virus. These droplets become airborne when an infected person sneezes, coughs or speaks. You contaminate yourself by inhaling these droplets or touching a surface that the viruses have landed on and then touching your eyes or nose.  So that office buddy of yours who thinks they are so dedicated that they come into work with a cold – tell them to stay home and get better (in a nice way), and of course share with them the cold remedies recommended here.

To prevent getting a cold, take these simple precautions:

• Avoid close contact with people who have a cold – To the extent possible, avoid crowds, and try not to shake hands with people who obviously have a cold or flu.
• Wash your hands often – The largest contributor to infection by a trigger virus is unwashed hands. Equally as important as washing your hands is making sure they are completely dry. Then, use the disposable towel to open the door out of the washroom. Many ugly microbes lurk on door handles — usually from people who have not properly washed and dried their hands.
• Do not touch your nose, eyes or mouth. This will help you avoid infecting yourself with germs you may have picked up.
• Disinfect surfaces that are shared by many people. For instance, the telephone brings you within kissing distance of hundreds or even thousands of people. Who knows what their hygiene habits were? In a typical day we may be exposed to germs from as many as 150 countries or more!

Seems simple enough, right?  Another way to prevent colds is to build up your system with the 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness.  Click HERE to watch the video that explains more about these important essentials.

Now let’s say that despite your best efforts, you do come down with a cold.  Here are some suggested cold remedies.  The first important one is to make sure you have a cold, not the flu.  Antibiotics will not cure a cold. In fact, you cannot cure a cold. But, certain things can help you reduce your discomfort. Some of these cold remedies seem pretty basic but don’t ignore them.  These include:

• Drink at least eight glasses of water and juice a day. This will help keep you hydrated.
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine. These promote dehydration.
• Avoid smoke. It irritates an already sore throat and intensifies a cough.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Use a humidifier – an electric device that puts moisture into the air.

Another important factor when considering cold remedies or even preventing a cold is to consider how much stress you have in your life.  Chronic stress is like slow poison.  Current research shows that stress can suppress your immune system, perhaps opening the door to a number of infectious diseases. There is particularly compelling evidence linking stress to colds and the flu. Although we are continually exposed to such trigger viruses, our immune system normally neutralizes their impact. But when a person is under emotional distress, these defenses can fail.

Your immune system may begin to overreact or not react in time to stop an infection when you are under stress. The source of the stress really does not matter. For instance, time pressure and an injury may seem like entirely different stresses to your mind but they are treated exactly the same way by your body.

So to prevent a cold or great info for cold remedies are adaptogens.  Did you know that adaptogens build a strong defense against stress? Certain adaptogens such as Eleutherococcus have been proven to shorten the frequency, intensity and duration of trigger viruses that cause colds.  Now those are great cold remedies.  Where can you get Adaptogens?  See below for my recommendation.

What about vitamins?  Are they a good part of cold remedies?  Can vitamins shorten infections?
Vitamin C and Echinacea are favorites for protecting against and even treating rhino virus infections. Russell Jaffe, MD, former director of the National Institutes of Health, recommends a loading dose of Vitamin C: one teaspoon of Vitamin C crystals every 15 minutes until you “flush.” By this, he means a complete bowel evacuation. After the flush, he recommends a daily serving of Vitamin C (for one month) that is equivalent to 75% of the amount it took you to flush.

More cold remedies include Echinacea, which is used in a similar way. Significant medical research from Germany suggests that an hourly dose of Echinacea will reduce symptoms and shorten the duration of a virus infection.  So that’s another one to consider for cold remedies.  Taking a gram of Echinacea every hour for three days may even “abort” an infection that has already begun. Continue taking Echinacea three times daily for up to two weeks afterward to prevent a relapse.

When considering cold remedies, know that if you become infected, aggressive nutrition can restore balance to your immune system. Adaptogens and traditional remedies such as Vitamin C and Echinacea may shorten the course of an infection and provide quick relief.

So to recap, to take Control of Your Health

* Wash your hands every few hours and dry them thoroughly.
* Aggressively apply the 10 Essentials; most especially, get your sleep.
* Take a healthy foundation of nutrients:
o A multiple vitamin and mineral supplement
o An Omega-3 fatty acid supplement
o Sublingual Vitamin B-12
o Stress-busting adaptogens
* Use traditional remedies:
o Echinacea hourly for three days, then three times daily for two more weeks
o Vitamin C flush — 75% of “flush” amount daily for one month

I hope these suggestions for cold remedies have been helpful and even more important the suggestions to prevent colds.  And for any friend or co-worker that you come into close contact with who has a cold, of course, keep your distance <smile>, but let them know about these cold remedies.

Wishing you the best in health and wellness!

Kathy

What is Homocysteine?  Homocysteine (HCY) is a tool used by your body to modify protein. Specifically, homocysteine carves up the amino acid methionine into smaller amino acids. Each of these amino acids has important functions. The “leftovers” from this construction project are not thrown away. Instead, your body recombines the debris back into methionine again.

Methionine is the protein that serves as the foundation for all other proteins. It’s like concrete: You can build a small cottage or a large skyscraper on the same concrete foundation. You can build brain cells, heart cells, bone cells, and healthy cells for your entire body on the protein methionine. Homocysteine is responsible for crafting that foundation. While homocysteine is an excellent tool for your body, too much of it can be fatal.

That’s why many people are concerned about their homocysteine levels and what many people may not realize is, it’s in the genes.  There is a common gene defect among people in North America. It is called an MTHFR defect. It allows homocysteine to escape into the bloodstream and literally shred your arteries, causing a stroke; tangle your brain cells causing Alzheimer’s disease; shatter your bones causing osteoporosis; and inflame your heart, causing a heart attack.

Another common genetic defect is MTHFD. It allows homocysteine to run amok inside your cells. This can lead to cell mutations and even cancer.

So what if you check your homocysteine levels and you find out it may be a problem.  Is there a solution?  Supplemental nutrition is very effective in most cases. TriVita’s HCY Guard® was designed specifically for high HCY. One study on TriVita’s HCY Guard found that HCY levels could be reduced by 35% in just 6 weeks!

In fact, if people have a problem with their homocysteine levels, they may not realize it can be caused by genetics but it can also be caused by poor nutrition. When a person has an active genetic defect they require intense nutrition to offset the imbalance caused by the gene mutation.

Vital amines such as the Riboflavin family of B vitamins combine with antioxidants to help reduce the activity of cellular homocysteine. One study found that the specific antioxidant ECGC (the antioxidant found in green tea) stopped the trigger DNMT (an enzyme) from releasing homocysteine inside the cell. People consuming large amounts of ECGC have reduced DNMT and have fewer cases of cancer.

So are you at risk?  Is there a way to tell if you have one of these common disease risks? Yes; one way is to have a genetic test performed. This is usually done by drawing enough blood to collect DNA and submitting this to one of only a few labs in North America that can perform genetic testing. A second way is to have your homocysteine levels tested. This can be performed by most medical laboratories. Ask your doctor to do this test with your annual physical.

Another consideration when checking your homocysteine levels is to look at your own family tree. Does any “first-degree” relative (father, mother, brother, or sister) have any of the conditions attributed to homocysteine? If so, you likely have the gene defect. Does a “second-degree” relative (grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins) have any of the conditions attributed to homocysteine? If so, you may have the gene defect as well.

Did you know nutrient deficiencies can mimic a genetic defect by failing to provide the minimum amount of vital amines necessary to prevent elevated homocysteine? A poor diet, illness, pregnancy, aging, and stress can place you at risk for elevated HCY. Children and adults with asthma and irritable bowel syndrome are at high risk for elevated HCY.

So if you have your homocysteine levels checked and find that you need to lower it, you need to take this seriously.

High HCY in your blood is linked to serious illness. Helping your body reduce high HCY may greatly reduce your risk for serious illness. So what can you do?  Here are several things you can do to help:

* Eat fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants – 5 servings daily for children, 7 servings for women, and 9 servings for men.
* Reduce your stress load.
* Get at least 30 minutes of vigorous activity every day.
* Supplement your diet with nutrients such as TriVita’s HCY Guard and Energy Now!.
* Defeat stress by nurturing your spirit with healthy relationships and a healthy sense of purpose.

Remember, genes are not fate; you have as much control over your genes (through nutrients and nurturing) as they have over you. Build a healthy foundation for your future by balancing your homocysteine.

Take Control of Your Health

Be sure to have your homocysteine levels tested if:

• You have a family history of:

• • Heart disease
  • Stroke
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Osteoporosis
  • Cancer

• You experience gastric disturbances, breathing difficulties, or kidney issues
• You are over 50
• You are pregnant
• You are experiencing high stress levels
• You eat a poor diet
• You don’t exercise regularly

If you’re interested in high quality nutritional supplements like the ones mentioned on my blog, you can to go to: www.havingplenty.com.

And if you’re interested in being involved in a Wellness Opportunity, take a look at www.roadmaptowishes.com.

Wishing you much health and wellness

Kathy

Katherine Smith
TriVita Independent Affiliate Member 13158176

Did you know that according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, about 40 million people in the United States suffer from chronic long-term sleep disorders each year and an additional 20 million people suffer occasional sleep problems. There are so many people seeking answers on how to get to sleep. Health experts recommend getting 7 1/2 to 9 hours of sleep each night. How much are you sleeping each night?

Sleep is very important to your body and your brain, and it’s not just trying to figure out how to get to sleep but how to remain sleeping. When we sleep cells must be replaced or repaired and the immune system and hormones are balanced.

Many people are seeking answers on how to get to sleep because they just want the comfort of waking up feeling refreshed but what you may not know is if you don’t get a good night’s sleep, it can lead to:

• increased feelings of stress
• impaired memory
• shortened temper
• lower motivation
• slower reflexes
• headaches
• immune deficiencies
• depression and even more serious
• sleep deprivation that can lead to hallucinations and mental collapse.

So how to get to sleep? Well, there are several factors to consider.

The first is we need to have sleep rituals to start the events that will initiate sleep and you need to have nutrients to sustain the sleeping process and an appropriate environment.

I too had sleep problems and when I was researching how to get to sleep, I read that more than 100 years ago a Russian physician named Ivan Pavlov, who many of you know especially with the “Pavlov” response had discovered that our nervous system changes our entire metabolism in response to our habits. What does that mean when trying to figure out how to get to sleep? Well, your nervous system will recognize sleep rituals and begin preparing for sleep.

One of the key points on how to get to sleep is light control. A dark, quiet room is more conducive to sleep. If you don’t have that luxury, consider getting eye masks. Sudden, loud noises can also disrupt sleep. Consider getting one of the sound machines. Also, the ideal temperature is between 60-65°F.

Watch what you eat late evening. Make sure you don’t have too many stimulants like caffeine, and you want to exercise regularly but not too close to bed time.

Start establishing a ritual that your body will recognize. For example brushing your teeth at the same time each night, drinking a cup of herbal tea, taking a warm bath, reading a book. If you establish the same routine each night, you’ll start to set up the triggers letting your body know it’s time for sleep. Deep breathing exercises are especially helpful to foster deep sleep.

Another consideration when determining how to get to sleep is to take nutrients that will help you. All nutrients support sleep but two stand out when it comes to achieving and maintaining sleep. Magnesium and biotin. Magnesium relaxes our muscles and naturally turns down the adrenaline and Biotin stabilizes blood sugar and mobilizes protein, carbohydrate and fats for the restoring element of sleep.

Antioxidants such as CoEnzyme Q-10 (CoQ-10), Vitamin C and Vitamin E can also be helpful because it supports oxygen to your brain, heart and other tissues. Anti-stress botanical preparations called adaptogens can also be useful at bedtime. A friend of mine swears by it when he can’t sleep.

Find out more about how to get to sleep here and find out if you are getting enough sleep here.

If you’re interested in high quality nutritional supplements like the ones mentioned on my blog, especially more about Adaptogens, you can to go to: www.havingplenty.com.

And if you’re interested in being involved in a Wellness Opportunity, take a look at www.roadmaptowishes.com.

Wishing you much health and wellness

Kathy

Katherine Smith
TriVita Independent Affiliate Member 13158176

As we age we often begin to lose the fine motor control associated with youth. At first, this may be an imperceptible tremor that only occurs when we are trying to keep our hands very still. These “shakes” may eventually keep us from doing important things: delicate artwork, tying a fly, needlepoint or even simply signing our name.

Loss of fine motor control usually begins with inflammation in the brain. Inflammation usually begins with free radical activity: too many toxins, too much stress, not enough anti-inflammatory nutrients.

Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic disorder typically affecting people over age 55. The condition is caused by the death of nerve cells in certain parts of the brain, leading to characteristic problems with movement. These include a tremor in the hands, a shuffling gait, decreased facial expressiveness and trouble talking. Thinking ability may become impaired in later stages of the disease, and depression is common.

Many researchers believe that free radicals play a role in destroying nerve cells that supply dopamine (a neurotransmitter) in Parkinson’s disease. Most treatments for Parkinson’s disease work by artificially increasing the brain’s dopamine levels. Many people take levodopa with carbidopa, a drug that increases the amount of levodopa available to make dopamine.

Essential tremors

There is another kind of nervous disorder called essential tremors. Essential tremors are not caused by disease, such as Parkinson’s disease. Rather, they arise without any other signs or symptoms. Essential tremors do not progress into anything more severe; they are not related to any other condition. They exist as a fundamental defect in the part of the brain that controls motion.

Essential tremors are often called “family tremors” because they occur in higher concentrations among family members. People that are related to each other share many genetic characteristics. That means that they may also share some of the same vulnerabilities. These weaknesses only become apparent under specific stresses. So, two people with identical genetics – identical twins – may not have the same tendency toward essential tremors unless they experience the same stresses.

Tremor triggers

As mentioned, inflammation is the last thing that happens to your brain before you experience a tremor – whether it is from Parkinson’s disease or essential tremors. Anything that causes inflammation is a tremor trigger. What are the common triggers?

• Deficiency – Oxygen deficiency is very common, especially as we sleep. Practice deep breathing for 20 minutes before sleeping and take brain-specific antioxidants such as CoQ-10, Vitamin E and Optima4 at bedtime.

• Toxins – Household chemicals, refined sugar and allergens commonly trigger loss of fine motor control. Golfers and gardeners are often exposed to high levels of toxins. It seems that everyone has allergies – and sugar consumption is at an all-time high. Isolating yourself as much as possible from chemicals and allergens is crucial for brain health.

• Stress – When I ask an audience, “Do you feel stressed out?” almost everyone responds affirmatively! Stress burns out the coordination areas in your brain. Adaptogens put the fire out by helping us build a defense against stress.

• Trauma – Head injuries are common and becoming even more common. The delicate tissues of the brain are traumatized in auto accidents, injuries at work or around the home, or sports-related injuries. Trauma creates subtle inflammation that may smolder for years.

Conclusion

The cause of Parkinson’s and essential tremors is certainly different, yet the trigger is the same: Inflammation. The best hope for “cure” lies in prevention. Applying the 10 Essentials gives you protection from a rapid decline in health. And, the suggestions are easy to follow. Supplement your diet with nutrients and brain-specific antioxidants. Isolate yourself from toxins and put out the fire of chronic inflammation. Start today. The brain you save may be your own!

If you want high quality products, take a look at TriVita. Go to www.havingplenty.com, and find out about Nopalea that can help in reducing inflammation.  if you’re interested in finding out more about Sonoran Bloom Nopalea, call me on 718-407-0035.

If you’re interested in being involved in a Wellness Opportunity, take a look at www.roadmaptowishes.com.

Wishing you much health and wellness

Kathy

Katherine Smith
TriVita Independent Affiliate Member 13158176

Stress is an engineering term. It describes the forces that try to tear a structure apart such as weight, wind, temperature and pressure. In humans it is much the same: Certain pressures try to tear us apart. Sometimes these stresses come from inside of us; sometimes the pressures tearing us apart come from the outside.

Homeostasis is a gift that humans and other living creatures possess but bridges and buildings do not have. Homeostasis is the force that moves resources from our reserves to wherever they are needed to combat stress.

Where stress begins
Stress is caused by change – any change. Change requires us to rearrange our priorities to meet new circumstances. Stress can also be the same circumstance over time because time itself is change.

An easy way to conceptualize stress is to say it comes from inside of us and outside of us. Some examples:

Stress from inside

• Hunger
• Aging
• Time pressure

Stress from outside

• Air pollution
• Water pollution
• Noise pollution

Stress is the accumulation of all the things that pull us apart.

Homeostasis
The antidote to change is homeostasis. The Greek word “stasis” means to stand still or to stand equally. It describes a point where the tug-of-war balances out and motion ceases. Homeostasis is the ability of living organisms to adjust their internal environments to create balance. Of course, people can adjust their external environments as well (at least to some extent).

Just imagine all of the stresses pulling you apart every day: gravity, temperature, emotional upsets and expectations, etc. What balances that tug-of-war? The 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness!

Nutrients and nurturing
A body and mind deprived of proper nutrients and nurturing will be more prone to disease. “Disease” is the joining of two words. “Ease” is the freedom from difficulty, hardship or effort. “Dis-ease” is the opposite of ease: the things that make life more difficult and hard. It is also the abnormal functioning of the body or mind when the balancing forces of homeostasis fail to meet the demands of change.

The 10 Essentials create a reservoir of energy to combat the destructive forces of stress. For example, the simple act of breathing deeply can reduce the level of toxicity in our body and therefore reduce the state of imbalance.

Vitamins and minerals
Nutrients create a bulwark against stress as well. A reservoir of vitamins and minerals can help protect you from deficiency. Nutrient deficiency means specifically that you lack the nutrients you need to meet the stress imposed on your system. Without nutrients you will be weakened and you will lose the tug-of-war with stress. You will develop disease.

Adaptogens
Specific plants called adaptogens help pull us back into balance. Adaptogens help us adapt no matter what the situation is – no matter where stress tugs at our body and mind. A recent conference of psychiatrists and psychologists demonstrated that a single adaptogen (Rhodiola rosea) was as effective at reducing emotional stress as several popular medications.

Another paper published by the University of Toyama in Japan demonstrated that in animal models, the adaptogen Eleutherococcus senticosis hindered the brain plaque associated with Alzheimer’s disease. It even helped slow some of the brain damage. Given the safety of adaptogens and the extreme nature of this stress-related disease, supplementing with these nutrients should be a daily routine for anyone concerned about the possibility of Alzheimer’s.

Conclusion
Stress pulls us apart. Homeostasis struggles to put us back together. Disease is the result of an imbalance between stress and homeostasis. Nutrients and nurturing support homeostasis and help build a bulwark against stress – the silent killer!

If you want high quality products, take a look at TriVita. Go to www.havingplenty.com, and if you’re interested in finding out more about Sonoran Bloom, call me on 718-407-0035.

If you’re interested in being involved in a Wellness Opportunity, take a look at www.besthomebasedbusinessforyou.com.

Wishing you much health and wellness

Kathy

Katherine Smith
TriVita Independent Affiliate Member 13158176

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

If you want high quality products, take a look at TriVita. Go to www.havingplenty.com, and if you’re interested in finding out more about Sonoran Bloom, call me on 718-407-0035.

If you’re interested in being involved in a Wellness Opportunity, take a look at www.besthomebasedbusinessforyou.com.

Wishing you much health and wellness

Kathy

Katherine Smith
TriVita Independent Business Affiliate 13158176

In today’s economy with so many ups and downs, fear of losing your job, worry about the financial situation, trying to juggle too much, many people are experiencing more and more stress. Normally, stress is a physical response to events that make you feel threatened or upset your balance in some way. The rapid automatic process is also know as the “fight or flight” reaction or stress response. In the right situation, e.g. slamming on the brakes to avoid an accident, or sharpening your concentration when giving a presentation, it can be helpful, but if you are continually under stressful situations, it can cause major damage to your health.

Some stress symptoms could be memory problems or poor judgement and inability to concentrate. You might also be short tempered or feeling overwhelmed of just general unhappiness. You could also have diarrhea or constipation, frequent colds or just aches and paines. You could also have a change in eatting or sleeping pattern or start picking up on nervous habits. There are many different stress symptoms but what’s important to understand is that stress symptoms often mimic symptoms of other problems. You may think illness is to blame for that nagging headache, your frequent forgetfulness or your decreased productivity at work, but the common denominator may be stress. Signs and symptoms of stress can also be caused by other psychological and medical problems. If you’re experiencing any of the warning signs of stress, it’s important to see a doctor for a full evaluation. Your doctor can help you determine whether or not your symptoms are stress-related.

There are four types of stress that can affect us daily, and it’s important to be aware of the damage stress can have on our bodies.

Four daily stressors:

				Mental: This type of stress can relate to work schedules, school assignments, finances or having too much on your plate and feeling like you can’t accomplish it all.
				Physical: You can put your body through a lot of physical stress without realizing it. Gardening, hiking, moving heavy objects, exercising more than you are used to – these are all examples of ways you can put stress on your body.
				Emotional: Common issues in your relationships can add to your stress. When you argue with your significant other, or your children; when you care for a loved one who is sick, or when you mourn the loss of someone very close to you – these situations can impact you deeply, and cause emotional stress.
				Environmental: The environment alone can cause stress on your body. The air, water, and food supply often contain toxins that can wreak havoc on your body. These toxins are stressors that can cause your body systems to shut down.

Stress is a part of everyday life. Over time, stress can lead to a number of health problems.

Some dangerous health concerns associated with prolonged stress include:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Glucose intolerance
• Nervous conditions
• Immune system disorders
• Acute respiratory disease/ asthma
• Easy susceptibility to cold and flu
• Diabetes
• Allergies
• Depression
• Osteoarthritis
• Digestive problems
• Reproductive/sexual difficulties
• Back pain
• Sleep deprivation
• Increased fibromyalgia pain

The key to counterbalancing the negative effects of stress is TriVita’s powerful, stress relieving formula – Adaptogen 10 Plus. If you haven’t heard the word “adaptogen” before, you’re not alone. You may be wondering:

What, exactly, are Adaptogens?

Adaptogens are a unique category of plants that have the special ability to thrive in the very harshest of environments. They help achieve a state of homeostasis, or an internal balance, that allows them to adapt to changing climates and still grow. These ancient plants were discovered in cold, harsh regions of Russia and Asia and have been used for centuries by the healthiest people in the world. They are renowned for their ability to help the body cope with stress. In researching this class of plants, lead scientist, Dr. Nicholai Lazarov, named them adaptogens because they “adapt” to their surroundings and are able to thrive. Further research was conducted in order to understand the effects of adaptogens in humans. TriVita’s own Chief Science Officer Brazos Minshew discovered the varied and amazing results people received from adaptogen therapies.

Adaptogen 10 Plus has a unique, three-part fomula to help the body adapt to stress. This special formula includes:

1. Adaptogens – Herbal extracts chosen specifically for their natural ability to adapt to their surroundings. Adaptogens are significant in helping the body cope with stress. Because stress impacts individuals differently, everyone who takes Adaptogen 10 Plus will have a unique product experience. The adaptogens in the formula will adjust to a person’s specific needs.
2. Antioxidants – Stress can wreak havoc on your body and lead to free radical damage. Antioxidants work to fight this damage and boost your immune system. Adaptogen 10 Plus contains a unique proprietary blend of ingredients called OptiBerry, extracted from berries and other prime sources of antioxidants.
3. Aloe Vera – Exposure to daily stress can significantly impact your digestive system and your body’s ability to absorb nutrients. TriVita’s groundbreaking formula of Adaptogen 10 Plus uses a base of aloe vera, not water, to help stress relieving nutrients absorb quickly and effectively.

Adaptogen 10 Plus is the TriVita’s most powerful, stress-relieving product, created with you in mind! Its unique ingredients will deliver the nutrients your body needs to adapt to stressful situations and help achieve an internal balance. Adaptogen 10 Plus is your everyday stress solution!

If you want high quality products, take a look at TriVita. Go to www.havingplenty.com.

And if you’re interested in being involved in a Wellness Opportunity, take a look at www.besthomebasedbusinessforyou.com.

Wishing you much health and wellness

Kathy

TriVita Independent Business Affiliate 13158176