Live Longer & Healthier » Anti-Aging

Are You at Risk of Getting a ‘Clostridium difficile’ Infection?

AZ John — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 04:51:15 +0000

Many people are very concerned about the outbreaks of health care acquired infections that have recently been widely reported in hospitals and other settings. These infections have been traced to the bacteria Clostridium difficile, also known as C. difficile. This is a highly infectious pathogen that is very resistant to many front line commonly utilized antibiotics.

In order to increase your ability to live longer and live healthier you must do what you can to enhance your immune system and become as resistant as possible to infections caused by these type bacteria.

The following may increase your risk of getting C. difficile infection …..

Hospital stay: Staying in a hospital too long or sharing a room with a C. difficile infected person increases your risk.
Nasogastric tube: A common medical procedure involves using a NG tube or NGT. This is typically put into your nose and down your stomach to feed you or keep your stomach empty. Having an NGT may promote a C. difficile infection
Age: Elderly are more susceptible to C. difficile infections as the body changes overtime. Newborn babies also have an increased risk of being infected
Antacids: These medicines decrease the stomach acid that can kill harmful bacteria.
Antibodies: Antibiotics are medicines that kill bacteria, including the good ones. Taking such medicines may upset the balance between the good and bad bacteria in the colon.
Dormant Infection: The C. difficile bacteria from a previous infection may still be in your system and could cause another infection.
Weak Immune System: The immune (body’s defense) system is that part of your body that fights infection. Chemotherapy and other medicines, such as steroids, decrease your immune system and make it weak. Having surgeries or procedures, such as an organ transplant, in the past may also affect your body defenses.

So, what can you do to decrease your risk of acquiring C. difficile?

The most important step in stopping C. difficile infections is to only take antibiotics when they are really necessary. Every year in the United States, antibiotics are prescribed for viral illnesses that aren’t helped at all by such drugs. And even some common bacterial ailments such as ear infections or bronchitis may not respond well to antibiotics. Taking a wait-and-see attitude with simple ailments may often be the best course.
There is a balance between good and bad bacteria. A Clostridium difficile infection happens when this healthy balance changes. This may give C. difficile a chance to multiply (increase in number) and cause an infection. Eating nutritious meals and getting adequate sleep helps your body to maintain a healthy environment for the ‘good’ bacteria.
Without the presence of healthy colonies, infectious bacteria have a chance to take hold. In order to eliminate C. difficile spores (dormant egg like bacterial sac) you need to have some ‘good’ normal flora present. Numerous studies have proven probiotics & prebiotics to be a successful solution for recurrent C. difficile caused diarrhea. A really good source of probiotics is Shaklee’s Optiflora taken 3 times a day.
Garlic is good to take for all diseases as it is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral.
Enhance your immune system with a natural interferon booster.

In order to live longer and live healthier you need to do whatever you can to increase your resistance to this highly infectious pathogen and decrease your chance of infection.

And remember: Optimal Health IS Your Greatest Wealth!

Plastics & BPA – What you don’t know CAN hurt you!

AZ John — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:51:42 +0000

There has been much discussion and controversy lately regarding the safety (or lack of) of plastics in our environment, as well as, in our food and water supplies. As an environmental scientist I can assure you that it is much more insidious with far more negative impacts than most people realize.

Is this intended to scare you? Well, let’s hope so! It would be great if you get concerned enough to actually take actions that can help protect you and your family from plastic ‘pollution’ as much as possible and perhaps allow you to live longer and healthier lives. Many of us have been complacent for far too long assuming that ‘business’ and government agencies have been looking out for our best health interests. Unfortunately, that is just not always the case.

Who cares, what’s the big deal anyway? The big deal is that there are components in plastic containers that break down and leach into the liquid and food they contain. One of major concern is BPA or bis-Phenol A. BPA is a building block of plastics and has long been known to be an endocrine disruptor. That means the human body ‘sees’ this man-made substance as a hormone that can be taken up by our endocrine system and used in place of one of our many human hormones that are essential for so many of our proper body functions.

Our endocrine system includes our gonads, hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, pancreas, adrenal, and pineal glands. These are all critical components of our endocrine system and their proper functioning is essential for good health. Imagine what could happen if a little piece of BPA is mistakenly taken up by your body to be used in place of a human produced hormone. It certainly could ‘disrupt’ your endocrine system and cause untold havoc in your body.

Bisphenol A is found in hundreds of household products, including plastic bottles, as well as, baby bottles and food containers. It is also present in the linings of canned goods such as sodas, soup, baby formula and canned fruits and vegetables.

According to a recent The Washington Post article a growing body of scientific studies has linked BPA to breast cancer, testicular cancer, diabetes, hyperactivity, obesity, low sperm count, miscarriage and other reproductive problems in laboratory animals. More recent studies using human data have linked BPA to heart disease and diabetes. And it has been found to interfere with the effects of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.

Furthermore, researchers have found that BPA leaches from containers into food and beverages, even at cold temperatures. A study by the Harvard School of Public Health published recently found that subjects who drank liquids from plastic bottles containing BPA had a 69 percent increase in the BPA in their urine.

Things you can do to minimize your exposure to BPA from your food and water:

1. DON’T buy or use plastic water bottles! Remember – The longer they’re stored and the higher their temperatures get the more BPA will leach into the liquid.
2. Buy a non-plastic bottle instead of using plastic and REUSE it (on average every American uses about 150 disposable water bottles a year)
3. Refill your non-plastic water bottle from home (tap water is better regulated than bottled water anyway)
4. Use a filter like Shaklee’s BestWater® pitcher to filter your tap water
5. DO NOT store foods in plastic
6. DO NOT microwave anything in plastic. Microwaving will drive BPA from the plastic container or plastic wrap into your food.
7. DO buy foods in glass instead of plastic whenever possible. Most Canned foods and sodas are lined with plastic containing BPA.
8. Purchase only BPA free toys and other consumer products

Plastics are not only detrimental to your health but to our environment also. Eight out of ten plastic water bottles end up in landfills and take centuries to breakdown. So anything you can do to minimize using plastic bottles will not only help your health but will help the health of our planet also. For more everyday solutions to health challenges you may not even be aware of check out more information at Environmental Working Group.

Good Health IS Your Greatest Wealth!

Earth Day April 22 – End Toxic Cleaners

AZ John — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 20:25:37 +0000

April 22 is Earth Day and a great time to look in your kitchen cabinets and see how many toxic cleaners you’re using that are polluting your home and our environment. Did you know that the average home generates over 26 pounds of toxic, hazardous waste every year ? Most of that is attributed to typical household cleaning products. What’s under your sink ? See for yourself what the National Institute of Health has to say about toxic household cleaners and see if the ones you use are on their list.

Next, check out a short video from the Rachael Ray show about ‘Green Cleaners’ and see how you can help save the environment and save money too.

(You can order Shaklee non toxic cleaners here if interested)

Here are some facts to consider:

Women that work at home have a 54% higher death rate from cancer than women that work outside the home
More than 9 out of every 10 suspected poison exposures occur at home with household products.
Chlorine is the chemical most frequently involved in household poisonings in the U.S. and may cause reproductive, endocrine and immune disorders.
Degreasers may contain petroleum distillates, which can damage lung tissues and dissolve fatty tissues around nerve cells
Glass cleaners may contain ammonia. The fumes from ammonia can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory system.
Oven cleaners are one of the most dangerous toxic cleaners and can cause severe damage to the eyes, skin, mouth, and throat.
Toilet bowl cleaners are an extremely dangerous cleaning product, which can be harmful just be breathing the fumes and fatal if swallowed.

Are you ready to stop inadvertently poisoning yourself and your loved ones ? You CAN replace your toxic household cleaners with ones that are high performance, sustainably sourced natural ingredients, nontoxic, biodegradable, free of harsh chemicals, no volatile organic compounds, Earth friendly, hypoallergenic, highly concentrated, and never tested on animals. Do it today in recognition of Earth Day!

Celebrate Earth Day everyday by helping make a difference for your loved ones and the environment by using Earth friendly products throughout the year. Make your home a safe haven free of dangerous chemicals from toxic household cleaners. This is an important step in helping you and your family live longer and live healthier.

Health IS Your Greatest Wealth!

The Magic of Red Wine – Resveratrol

AZ John — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 03:51:00 +0000

Like to live 25 years longer ? Like to feel 25 years younger? Well, I certainly would! The latest buzz in the news is all about a wonderful substance in red wine that may help you do just that. That substance is called resveratrol.
This is a very potent antioxidant polyphenol that was first found in 1963 and since then over 2000 scientific research papers have been published regarding its unique properties. Laboratory studies have demonstrated potential health benefits like cell repair, cancer prevention, and lowering of blood pressure.

Resveratrol has also recently been shown to increase the life span of laboratory animals and researchers suggest this may have the same effect in humans. One of the world’s leading anti-aging researchers from Harvard University, Dr. David Sinclair, has this to say: Resveratrol is naturally found in not only grapes but also blueberries and peanuts. There is more in red wine than white wine because the grape skins which contain the resveratrol are utilized in the wine making process in red wines but not in white wines. Resveratrol is actually a part of the plants defense system in warding off environmental threats, yeasts and other microbes. As assaults increase so does resveratrol. The grape variety containing the highest amount of resveratrol is the muscadine grape. These grapes are found primarily in the southeast section of the the US and are very unique in that they have an extra chromosome. They also are very large in comparison to other grapes and can be as large as a quarter. One company in particular has taken the research a step further and combined resveratrol with other powerful polyphenols into a unique blend that is 10 times more powerful than resveratrol alone. You can learn more about this UNIQUE ANTI_AGING PRODUCT “VIVIX” by clicking here. Health Is Your Greatest Wealth!

Revolution in Anti-Aging!

AZ John — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 03:35:00 +0000

We think optimal health is the most important thing in the whole world! Without it, we may be greatly diminished. We also believe that we are part of a movement to make people and our planet healthier. We also believe that people can live longer and healthier than ever before, and we’d like to share some info about something that may help achieve that.

Did you catch Barbara Walters Special in April entitled ‘Live To 150, Can You Do It?’ Or did you see the Fortune Magazine article in January 2007, ‘Can Red Wine Help You Live Forever?’ Did you know that scientists have spent billions in research dollars over that last several years to help us feel younger and live longer? Isn’t it time all the research has paid off? Well, I certainly think so!
So, if there was a way for you to feel 25 years younger and maybe live 25 years longer would you be interested in learning more about it? Would you believe it even possible?
It’s not only possible, it’s here, right now! And, it’s too unbelievably good not to share it with as many people as possible! Like to check out this revolutionary breakthrough in cellular anti-aging for yourself? ….. only from Shaklee…..
BACKGROUND
There are 4 key mechanisms of cellular aging that Vivix addresses:
1. DNA Damage – Did you know that everyday your body is bombarded up to a million times with DNA damaging assaults? These assaults can mess up your cells genetic database and
2. Genetic Regulators – These contribute to age related cellular deterioration
3. Declining Cellular Energy Production – The mitochondria in our cells creates the energy our cells need to function. This is called mitochondria biogenesis. As we age that biogenesis decreases.
4. Accumulation of Advanced Glycation End Products – these can cause cell damage and affect longevity.

Scientists have isolated a unique blend of polyphenols that fight cellular aging and combined that with resveratrol. Resveratrol is the substance in red wine proven to help you live longer. Over 2000 research papers address the benefits of this amazing substance. Many of these studies were conducted by such prestigious institutions as Harvard University, the National Cancer Institute, and the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health.

Shaklee scientists have taken this type information and combined it with their own cutting edge research to formulate a unique blend of resveratrol and other polyphenols into this amazing new cellular anti-aging extract. A daily dose is equivalent to the health benefits of drinking 100 glasses of red wine ……without the hang-over!

Aging is certainly inevitable, but recent research has shown it can be slowed and that the biological aging processes can be influenced in very positive ways. This is not just about living longer, but about being as healthy as we can for as long as we live. You ARE going to live however long you live, so why not do everything you can to improve your quality of life and enjoy optimal health along the way?

Health Is Your Greatest Wealth!