TriVita’s Weekly Wellness Report
by Brazos Minshew, TriVita’s Chief Science Officer

Managing High Cholesterol
November 28, 2009 – www.trivita.com/13295706

The guidelines for healthy cholesterol have changed. New targets have been established that tell us that perhaps our efforts to manage cholesterol and other blood lipids have been inadequate. This is especially true when we consider the target for LDL (low density lipoprotein), the so-called “bad” cholesterol.

Why should we be concerned with our LDL level? How did we get into such a deplorable state when it comes to managing our cholesterol? How can we use this information to improve our health?

What is LDL?
Low density lipoproteins (LDL) are often considered to be a “bad” form of cholesterol. But this is an extreme mischaracterization of a very beneficial fat in our blood. You see, your body makes important things out of LDL: brain cells and nerves are shielded with LDL cholesterol-based fats. And hormones in your bloodstream and inside your cells are made from LDL cholesterol. So, LDL is not really “bad,” just misunderstood!

The dark side of cholesterol metabolism occurs when a person over-produces LDL and when LDL particles become sticky, oxidized and inflamed. This is one cause of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), which leads to heart attack and stroke, peripheral artery disease (PAD) and other diseases of your blood vessels.

Why cholesterol is “high”
We also make hormones from good cholesterol. Most doctors recommend over 1,200 milligrams of Omega-3 fats for building healthy hormones and reducing “bad” cholesterol. OmegaPrime® contains beneficial Omega-3 fats. You may find that you need more OmegaPrime every day to build cholesterol into trophic hormones.

Estrogen, progesterone, DHEA and testosterone are examples of trophic hormones. They are made of the same substance: cholesterol. If your body is unable to convert cholesterol into these hormones you may see your blood levels of cholesterol rise. You can bring your cholesterol down and your low hormones up by supporting cholesterol-to-hormone conversion. We can help support healthy hormone metabolism with supplements such as OmegaPrime, Vitamin E, Balanced Woman® and Prostate Health Formula.

The most critical balance of hormones occurs between insulin and glucagon. When we sleep too little, when we are stressed too much and when we eat too much sugar – especially high fructose corn syrup – our insulin levels stay too high for too long and cause insulin resistance. High levels of insulin cause the liver to release high levels of cholesterol and LDL. Oxidized LDL inflames, gets sticky and clogs arteries.

Glucagon is a liver hormone that balances blood sugar and lowers cholesterol and LDL. We support glucagon metabolism with adaptogens for stress and Leanology® capsules to sustain healthy blood sugar. We assist with LDL “stickiness” by using robust levels of Vitamin C. We help your body reduce inflammation with Betalains found in Nopalea™.

Learning to listen
We should think of high cholesterol as a message from our body that something is wrong. Learn to listen to your body by taking stock of your lifestyle in comparison to the 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness:
•Are you keeping the impact of stress on your body in control? You do this by daily exercise of 30 minutes or more, sunshine in the morning and deep breathing exercises for peaceful sleep at night.

•Do you drink enough water and eat up to 9 servings of fruit and vegetables daily?

•How healthy are your relationships?
We can balance our cholesterol and meet the new guidelines for LDL through vigorous application of the 10 Essentials, meticulous supplementation and appropriate medical care.

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Take Control of Your Health
•Measure your cholesterol regularly
•Use OmegaPrime to help build healthy cholesterol
•Use Vital C to help reduce stickiness and bind excess cholesterol
•Eat high-fiber fruits and vegetables to excrete cholesterol
•Reduce stress with exercise, deep breathing, sleep and adaptogens
•Balance insulin, glucagon and blood sugar with Leanology capsules
•Balance hormones with Vitamin E, Balanced Woman and Prostate Health Formula

Learn More…

•Lipid Disorders
•Metabolic Syndrome
Upcoming Weekly Wellness Reports…

•What does your brain need?
•Plastic packaging and toxins
Send us your topic suggestions!
If you have specific health topics you’d like Brazos Minshew to discuss in upcoming reports,
click here to submit your suggestions.

Please note that Weekly Wellness Report topics will be chosen at the discretion of Brazos Minshew and based on general relevance.

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

© 2009 TriVita, Inc

TriVita’s Weekly Wellness Report
by Brazos Minshew, TriVita’s Chief Science Officer

How to Avoid Overeating During the Holidays
November 21, 2009 – www.trivita.com/13295706

In the movie, The Perfect Storm a series of weather fronts plus a hurricane collide off the coast of Massachusetts. The crew of the ship Andrea Gail failed to anticipate how severe the storm was and also didn’t heed the warnings of other ships regarding the need for a different course of action. The results were disastrous and now the term “perfect storm” has come to symbolize multiple, unanticipated stresses leading to personal disasters.

Following this line of thought, winter time in North America (and elsewhere) is a perfect storm of weight management disasters: holiday-related overeating, a seasonal drop in exercise, and a winter-time decline in sun exposure, leading to a drop in Vitamin D.

Seasonal Change Equals Stress
The most accurate definition of stress to our body and mind is change – any change. This is because changes require us to use our precious resources to adapt rather than to repair. Also, changes in our routine often mean that we make fewer “deposits” into our physical and emotional wellness accounts in terms of adherence to The 10 Essentials. Fewer deposits and more withdrawals mean a reduced quality of life and health. What’s more, the dietary “deposits” we often make during holiday celebrations often include foods low in nutrients and high in toxicity.

So, the first strategy to avoid holiday overeating is to maintain your healthy routine in terms of diet, exercise and rest. Why? Because these strategies help us reduce the impact of stress and the squandering of our nutrient reserves. You see, cravings are often a form of communication from your body that it is running out of the vitamins and minerals, proteins and fats it needs to function. To avoid insatiable cravings be sure to take your Healthy Aging nutrients and keep the nutrient density of your foods high and the toxicity (caused by sugar, etc.) low.

Leanology shakes provide high quality proteins and Leanology nutritional chews contain specific fats to help turn off hunger signals and to help thwart cravings. Also fortifying us against the destructive influences of stress are Adaptogens. These plant-derived nutrients pull us back together as stress pulls us apart!

Wintertime Blues
A special weight-loss nutrient is Vitamin D. Most people would make enough Vitamin D with 20 minutes of sunshine morning and evening with 40% of their skin exposed to the sun’s rays. (Never allow yourself to get sunburned.) Vitamin D also acts as a weight loss nutrient by balancing the blood sugar, reducing your appetite and improving human metabolism. This essential vitamin also improves your immune system.

People are exposed to less sunshine during the wintertime. This problem becomes worse the further north we go because of the shorter winter days in northern latitudes. Add the extra sun-blocking-layers of clothes to combat cold temperatures to the use of Vitamin D-blocking sunscreen and it is easy to see why people overeat, gain extra weight and even suffer seasonal illness because of a compromised immune system during the winter.

To combat these very real circumstances that result in weight gain during the holidays we simply must take supplemental Vitamin D. Leanology caps contain 750 IU of Vitamin D per six capsules. I suggest taking six capsules daily to supply a minimum level of Vitamin D during winter and to curb the appetite.

Conclusion
There are stressful realities we must admit that lead us to winter time weight gain. These include less sun exposure, more recreational meals, less exercise and rest and more emotional distress. We can combat these health-threats by keeping a normal, sane routine of sleep, diet and exercise. We can also use Healthy Aging nutrients as well as Adaptogens to combat stress overeating. We can use Leanology protein and the special fats found in Leanology appetite control chews as well as the extra boost of Vitamin D from Leanology caps to control cravings and out-of-control appetite. This strategy should allow us to come through the stressful holiday season with fewer physical and emotional illnesses and greater wellness. It’s the best gift you can give yourself this holiday season!

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Take Control of Your Health
•Get your sleep – the less you sleep, the more you will weigh.
•Get as much sunshine as possible.
•Keep a daily exercise routine.
•Select better foods and smaller portions.
•Take Foundational Nutrients.
•Add Adaptogens, Leanology protein and Leanology chews as needed.
•Take Leanology capsules for extra Vitamin D.

Learn More…

•Understanding Seasonal Effective Disorder
•Holiday Exercise: Make it a Pleasure, Not a Pain
•Holiday Eating: It’s About Enjoyment, Not Guilt
Upcoming Weekly Wellness Reports…

•Managing Cholesterol
•Exercise Helps Your Brain
Send us your topic suggestions!
If you have specific health topics you’d like Brazos Minshew to discuss in upcoming reports,
click here to submit your suggestions.

Please note that Weekly Wellness Report topics will be chosen at the discretion of Brazos Minshew and based on general relevance.

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

© 2009 TriVita, Inc.

TriVita’s Weekly Wellness Report
by Brazos Minshew, TriVita’s Chief Science Officer

How Nutrients Help Relieve Stress
November 14, 2009 – www.trivita.com/13295706

Stress is defined as change that is seen by your body or mind as a threat – large or small, imaginary or real – or a change in your environment that triggers a rapid use of your reserves. Stress creates a demand on your resources. Soon, these resources become exhausted and you get sick.

Distress can come from your environment, your body or your mind. Rather than being just a single event, stress accumulates over time from all three sources. It strangles the joy and pleasure from your days and nights. It makes you miserable, and then it makes you sick. Once you are sick, stress keeps you from responding as well to medical care. Yes, stress is a killer!

Nutrients to the rescue
The opposite of stress is homeostasis. So, while stress is constantly trying to pull you apart, homeostasis is constantly working to put you back together. Homeostasis is the priority process your body uses to combat stress.

Vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are essential for homeostasis. If we have the nutrients we need at the moment we need them, we will thrive! Conversely, if we do not have the proper nutrient base in our system every day we will suffer loss of energy, poor mental performance and an increased risk for disease.

Supplements
The word supplement means an addition to something to make up for a deficiency. All supplements are an important addition to a healthy diet. They make up for the deficiency we face because of poor nutrient density in our foods. They also help out when we miss the mark of diet perfection.

Supplements are no substitute for good dietary choices. We simply must commit ourselves to eating a healthy diet. As you review your food choices for the past week, ask yourself, “Did I eat the right amount of fruits and vegetables every day?”
•5 servings for children
•7 servings for women
•9 servings for men
If you can say “yes” – congratulations! If you are like most people you did not reach that goal. And, if you are like most of us, you did not eat all of your fruits and vegetables from an organic source; so, the fruits and vegetables may have been of low nutrient value.

We need a multiple nutrient supplement every day to serve as a foundation for health and to combat the nutrient demands of a stressful life.

A new supplement
Staying on top of our nutrient reserve is important. Our body makes millions of new cells every day – heart cells, brain cells, bone and blood cells. Stress kills millions of vulnerable cells every day. Every time a cell dies it should be replaced. If you do not have the right amount of nutrients to construct a new cell, you will either make an incomplete cell or none at all. The outcome is bad in either case; so, we really need to keep all nutrients on board at all times. This is why we created Sonoran Bloom™ Wellavoh™ (wel-lah voh), a new multi-nutrient complex for men and women.

The destructive forces of stress come from inside and outside your body. The nutrient complexes of Wellavoh can help you build a bulwark against stress as it tries to pull you apart. Wellavoh supports homeostasis as the innate wisdom of your body tries to keep you functioning at your peak.

One more reason…
Perhaps an even more important reason exists for maintaining a robust supply of nutrients in our system daily. According to a recent report, chemical switches on our DNA are activated by nutrients. If a single nutrient is missing at the critical moment it is needed, one of these chemical switches will fail. This results in a change in our DNA that promotes disease – for up to three generations of our children! So, it is vital that we and our children have our nutrients available every day to reduce the impact of stress while promoting vitality today, health tomorrow and a solid wellness foundation for generations to come!

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Take Control of Your Health
•Keep your nutrient reserves high with men’s and women’s Wellavoh
•Get plenty of exercise, sunshine and rest
•Practice healthy emotions: gratitude, acceptance and forgiveness
•Reduce stressful toxins and trauma
•Model healthy behavior for future generations

Learn More…

•How Stressed Are You?
•Alcohol and Stress
Upcoming Weekly Wellness Reports…

•Holiday stress
•Managing cholesterol
Send us your topic suggestions!
If you have specific health topics you’d like Brazos Minshew to discuss in upcoming reports,
click here to submit your suggestions.

Please note that Weekly Wellness Report topics will be chosen at the discretion of Brazos Minshew and based on general relevance.

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

© 2009 TriVita, Inc.

TriVita’s Weekly Wellness Report
by Brazos Minshew, TriVita’s Chief Science Officer

Nopalea Provides Powerful Toxic Relief
November 7, 2009 – www.trivita.com/13295706

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
When we experience any sign or symptom of distress we should interpret it as a communication from our body to our mind that something is wrong. The frequency, intensity and duration of the inflammation will determine how we should escalate our response.

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.

Take Control of Your Health
•Learn how to reduce toxins in your:
◦Air
◦Water
◦Food
•Address trauma caused by:
◦Injuries
◦A sedentary lifestyle
◦Your bed
◦Your shoes
•Correct deficiencies of:
◦Oxygen
◦Water
◦Sleep
◦Nutrients
◦Play
•Attend to emotional needs:
◦Love
◦Gratitude
◦Forgiveness
◦Acceptance
◦Spirituality

Learn More…

•How to Keep Your Home Clean, But Not Toxic
•Secondhand Emotions: “Catching” a Bad Mood
•Health Is the Whole Body Mind, and Soul
Upcoming Weekly Wellness Reports…

•Stress and the importance of nutrients
•Holiday stress
Send us your topic suggestions!
If you have specific health topics you’d like Brazos Minshew to discuss in upcoming reports,
click here to submit your suggestions.

Please note that Weekly Wellness Report topics will be chosen at the discretion of Brazos Minshew and based on general relevance.

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

© 2009 TriVita, Inc.

TriVita’s Weekly Wellness Report
by Brazos Minshew, TriVita’s Chief Science Officer

Protect Yourself from the Flu
October 31, 2009 – www.trivita.com/13295706

About this time of year many people ask me what they can do to prevent the flu or minimize its impact. That has never seemed more relevant than today; so, I will address this with the best science we have available today. I say “today’s best science” because we simply don’t know everything we need to know about preventing and treating the flu. And we need to remember that not all that long ago “current science” said that the earth was flat and diseases were caused by evils spells or dead ancestors.

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:
1.Transmission
2.Infection
3.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 balance the 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 inhibitors 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 inhibitors 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 prevent the flu virus from disarming it.

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Important…
With the recent shortage of flu vaccinations and for daily flu protection, remember to always stock up and use these TriVita products on a daily basis to maintain a strong and healthy immune system.
•Nopalea
•Energy Now!
•Adaptogen 10 Plus
•Super Sublingual B-12

By the way, the most common route of infection is touching your eyes with contaminated hands! Wash your hands frequently and dry your hands thoroughly to discourage infection. Also, the most common reason why people experience the runaway inflammation of a cytokine storm is poor sleep. Sleeping peacefully now becomes a matter of life and death!

Flat earth?
We don’t know all there is to know about flu prevention and treatment. There are endless avenues and processes we simply have not explored. Imagine what we knew about viruses 50 years ago: Do you think we will know more in the next 50 years? Certainly so! Accepting that as truth we know one thing for sure: some people never get the flu.

How can we be one of them?

Primarily it is through vigorous application of the 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness.
•Practice deep breathing to reduce your body’s acidity and to reduce the impact of stress on your immune system.
•Drink plenty of pure water.
•Wash and thoroughly dry your hands often.
•Get plenty of early-morning sunshine.
•Sleep peacefully every night.
•Eat nutritiously and take the nutrients you need as a solid foundation for health.
•Play daily (enjoy activity) and surround yourself with healthy people you love.
These are the things that keep healthy people healthy and they can help you, too!

Take Control of Your Health
•Wash and dry your hands many times daily.
•Get your rest every night.
•Eat nutritiously and supplement appropriately.
•Avoid sick people for two weeks after they recover.

Learn More…

•Upper respiratory infections
•Reducing your risk
•Lifestyle changes to manage colds and flu
Upcoming Weekly Wellness Reports…

•Nopalea Provides Powerful Toxic Relief
•Stress and the Importance of Nutrients
Send us your topic suggestions!
If you have specific health topics you’d like Brazos Minshew to discuss in upcoming reports,
click here to submit your suggestions.

Please note that Weekly Wellness Report topics will be chosen at the discretion of Brazos Minshew and based on general relevance.

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

© 2009 TriVita, Inc