Archive for Shaklee
Are You at Risk of Getting a ‘Clostridium difficile’ Infection?
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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?
Plastics & BPA – What you don’t know CAN hurt you!
Posted by: | CommentsThere 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.
Pesticide Exposure from Food Products
Posted by: | CommentsWe are all familiar with the saying that ‘you are what you eat’ and never has that fact been more important than today. With all the news we hear regarding global warming and the environment more and more people are aware that everyday choices can make a big difference in their lives or the lives of their children.
This is especially true in choosing the foods we eat which are greatly impacted by the farming methods used to produce them. Is it worth buying organically grown foods instead of conventionally grown ones? Foods produced from conventional farming methods usually contain numerous chemical residues from the many pesticides and herbicides such farming utilizes. Organically grown foods should be free of pesticides and herbicides in order to be ‘certified organic’. It is certainly up to you to decide but a couple things to keep in mind regarding our food products and pesticide exposure in children.
- Shoppers Guide To Pesticides indicates that 96% of some fruits and 82% of some vegetables contain pesticide residue
- According to a report in Environmental Health Perspectives , blood samples of children aged 2 to 4, concentrations of pesticide residues are six times higher in children eating conventionally farmed fruits and vegetables compared with those eating organic foods.
Additional information regarding children and health can be found at the US EPA website America’s Children and The Environment.
Still not convinced that organic may be the way to go for you and your family in order to minimize pesticide exposure from the foods you eat? Then at the very least be sure to thoroughly clean your fruits and vegetables with a non-toxic, biodegradable cleaner prior to eating. This can help to remove at least some of the pesticide residue present on nearly all conventionally produced fruits and vegetables. Be aware and be proactive in helping to protect yourself and your family from the many environmental pollutants we face each day. It can certainly make a difference in your health and longevity.
Your Health IS Your Greatest Wealth!
Swine Flu and How to Enhance Your Immune System
Posted by: | CommentsThe latest buzz in the news is all about swine flu and concerns we may be in a pandemic with this one. However, so far this doesn’t appear to be any worst than ‘the flu’ that we see every year at about this time. Unfortunately, on average over 36,000 people a year die from ‘the flu’ in the US so it is certainly something to be taken seriously.
There is lots of good information at the Center for Disease Control website that you might want to check out. Here’s an excerpt from their site:
What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
The most effective thing one can do is to stay as healthy as you possible can and to take measures to enhance your immune system. Shaklee® has a natural approach to doing that with Nutriferon™:
Enhance Immune System Naturally
Remember to always practice the basics of good health; eat nutritious meals, take supplements to ensure you have adequate nutrients, drink plenty of water, get 7 – 8 hours of sleep daily, exercise regularly, and maintain a loving and positive attitude.
Health IS Your Greatest Wealth!
Earth Day April 22 – End Toxic Cleaners
Posted by: | CommentsApril 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)
Revolution in Anti-Aging!
Posted by: | CommentsWe 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…..
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