B12

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Terry Allison

B-12 Vitamins

What Is Homocysteine, and Why Should I Care About it?
By Scott Conard, M.D.

A: Homocysteine (HCY) is an amino acid, a fraction of protein like a sliver of broken glass. When it gets into your bloodstream in high concentrations it slices the delicate lining of your blood vessels.

When the tissues supplied by these blood vessels lose circulation, they will die. If this happens in your heart it is called a heart attack. If it happens in your brain it is called a stroke, some doctors even prefer the term brain attack.

Homocysteine has been studied in medicine behind the scenes for more than 40 years. Here is what we have found: Excessive levels of HCY have been linked to many serious conditions, from heart attacks and stroke to osteoporosis and Alzheimers disease. We know that low homocysteine equals a low risk of disease. Clearly, this is reason to care about HCY, and there are steps you can take to manage your own levels.

Nutrient supplements can help

If you reduce your HCY levels earlier in life you also reduce your chances of getting a homocysteine-related disease.

According to a noted medical study called NHANES, the risk of disease went up as the HCY levels went up. Diet and lifestyle efforts were able to keep HCY and disease risk low in most people. Another important study of HCY called VISP added the nutrients found in TriVitas HCY Guard to a lifestyle program and found that nutrient supplements could help people avoid illness if they started taking them early in life and consistently over time.

Other studies have shown, however, that if you wait until you have a heart attack or stroke to start taking your supplements and following a healthy lifestyle, you may improve your condition. It is important to know that long-term health benefits accrue only to those who start a healthy life-course early and remain consistent.

Specific nutrients help more

Basic nutrients from a healthy diet improve HCY levels in the bloodstream. TriVitas HCY Guard contains specific nutrients, such as Vitamin B-12, B-6, folic acid and biotin, which further reduce HCY levels and the destruction HCY causes to your bones, blood vessels and heart, as well as your delicate brain cells.

Additional nutrients in HCY Guard such as choline, inositol, CoEnzyme Q-10 and dimethylglycine keep the HCY levels down over time. The protein methionine promotes a healthy HCY cycle, and other proteins such as lysine, taurine and cysteine remove roadblocks to healthy HCY elimination. These roadblocks may include lead, mercury and other toxins.

Reducing HCY an incredible 35 percent

In 2004 TriVita launched a study of HCY Guard, a supplement for aggressively reducing homocysteine. Our research partner in this study was Mark Mattie, M.D., Ph.D. of Bridgeport University and Yale University. The results of the study showed that the complete ingredients found in HCY Guard helped the body reduce homocysteine an incredible 35 percent!

With this kind of reduction in HCY, we hope to see a further reduction in illness.

Healthy living is key

I want to emphasize that HCY Guard is protection, not treatment. Health comes only from healthy living. Have your homocysteine levels tested frequently. If they are low, keep them low with TriVitas Sublingual B-12. If they are too high, help reduce them by taking HCY Guard, the supplement that helps reduce HCY by 35 percent.

Additional Reference:

Homocysteine, Folic Acid and Cardiovascular Disease. American Heart Association. Available at:

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/Homocysteine-Folic-Acid-and-Cardiovascular-Disease_UCM_305997_Article.jsp

Scott Conard, M.D., founded TienaHealth, an organization of medical doctors in primary care practice who emphasize healthy lifestyles to maintain wellness. Dr. Conard is considered a national expert on disease prevention. TienaHealth also conducts clinical trials.

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B12

Posted on October 9, 2012 by Terry Allison

B-12 Vitamins

The Foundation of Energy
By Brazos Minshew, TriVita Chief Science Officer

Do you remember what it feels like to be in love? The euphoria was magnificent! You likely experienced less pain, a decrease in appetite and endless energy.

Would you like to have that energetic feeling back?

Healthy aging: love and friendship
In over two decades of experience working with the critically ill and those nearing the end of their life, I must say that I have learned no greater truth about healthy aging than the words spoken by actress Jeanne Moreau. She once said that Age does not protect us from love but, to some extent, love protects us from age.

The ability to give and receive love is the beginning of healthy aging. Love tells us that we belong, that we matter. Love makes it safe to try new things because real love makes it safe to fail. All our life we are creating community and family to nourish and nurture us. In return, we provide nurturing for others and the cycle of care continues.

There are lessons that healthy community teaches us. For instance, we learn empathy and to accept our loved ones with their flaws and faults. And this teaches us to accept ourselves with our flaws and faults. We learn to forgive and let go of resentment and guilt. We learn the art of negotiation and compromise.

Emotional balance is fostered by a sense of community. Our friends actually help us form, transform and re-form our own personality as we continue to grow. We create our extended family by selecting people that are very much like ourselves and very much different; people that we feel we are called to help and people that inspire us as well.

How does this relate to healthy aging? Robert McAfee Brown said, How does one keep from growing old inside? Surely only in community. The only way to make friends with time is to stay friends with people. Taking community seriously not only gives us the companionship we need, it also relieves us of the notion that we are indispensable.

On a physical, cellular level, people with healthy attachments live longer and better lives. One report stated that married men live about 17 years longer than bachelors. Another study concluded that support groups add 25 percent or greater longevity to certain people.

People that are integrated into a large social circle have fewer accidents, illnesses and emotional disturbances. They are healthier and happier.

How nutrients help
We have more to give when we are healthy. In a sense, we owe it to our loved ones to optimize our health by nourishing our personal wellness. If we are part of a family or community the same responsibility applies. And if we have dedicated ourselves to higher purposes, then pursuing wellness demonstrates respect for our dedication.

Healthy Foundation nutrients provide a stable foundation for wellness.

Which nutrients?
Many reports today talk about the dramatic decline in Vitamin D levels in recent years. Vitamin D has now been added to our most wanted list when it comes to supplements. What else is on that list?

Vitamin B-12 is one of the most common deficiencies among those over 40 years of age, as well as those suffering with allergies, asthma and a host of other stressful conditions. Vitamin C is also a top contender for most wanted in our body as we age. We have heard about Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids and the importance of these essential fats to heart and brain health, targets for inflammation and disease. Finally, magnesium rounds out the top five most-needed nutrients to support healthy aging.

With this in mind, we have formulated Wellavoh and VitaDaily AM-PM to help boost levels of magnesium and Vitamin D. (If you need even more, consider Bone Growth Factor or VitaCal-Mag D.) OmegaPrime provides the optimum amount of Omega-3 EFA for the average person. When we combine OmegaPrime with the Omega-3 EFA in Wellavoh, we get an even more robust supply of Omega-3 EFA.

Sublingual B-12, Super Sublingual B-12 and HCY Guard all provide Vitamin B-12 that we need in the sublingual form adults use. Take this with our Vital C Crystals in the morning for energy and antioxidant protection during the day. Take a Vital C Tablet at bedtime for continued antioxidant protection as you sleep.

So, develop these habits that are the foundation for energy and healthy aging:

Choose emotionally healthy friends and form a loving community of people that call you to be at your very best every day;
Take your Healthy Foundation nutrients; and
Become an ardent student of the 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness.

Take Control of Your Health

Learn and live the 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness
Take Healthy Foundation nutrients:
Wellavoh or VitaDaily AM-PM
Sublingual B-12
OmegaPrime
Vital C
Magnesium and a Vitamin D supplement (found in Wellavoh, VitaDaily AM-PM, VitaCal-Mag D, Bone Growth Factor)
Focus on building a loving community of family and friends!

Take the Wellness Challenge.

B12

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Terry Allison

B-12 Vitamins

Controversial Soy: What You Need To Know
By Christa Orecchio, Clinical Nutritionist and Holistic Health Counselor

Soy is very controversial in the nutrition field. For years, the public has perceived soy as a health food, an ideal source of protein which lowers cholesterol, protects against cancer and heart disease, reduces menopausal symptoms and prevents osteoporosis. However, medical literature reflects risks as well as benefits of soy.

The bean part of the soy that we eat in its unfermented form (tofu, soymilk, edamame) is mildly toxic, which is why it is well known in Asia to soak or ferment the seed/bean to remove the toxins. The only forms of soy that I recommend are those that have been fermented, which include: miso (to make soup, dressings for fish and salads), tempeh (a fermented soy and grain product) and tamari (a wheat-free soy sauce). Fermented soy contains higher amounts of B vitamins, probiotics and an enzyme that helps to open up arteries.

Concern over genetically modified soy

Unfortunately, 95 percent of the soy grown in the United States is genetically modified. GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) are organisms that have been created through the gene-splicing techniques of biotechnology.

In 30 other countries around the world, including Australia, Japan and all the nations in the European Union, there are restrictions or outright bans on the production of GMOs, because they are not considered proven safe. In the U.S., though, the Food and Drug Administration approved commercial production of GMOs based on studies conducted by the companies that created them and profit from their sale. Many health-conscious shoppers are concerned over the lack of independent, scientific examination on the impact of consuming genetically modified foods.

In nutritional supplements we sometimes see soy oil or soy lecithin. It is very hard to make lecithin from something other than soy. Neither form of soy creates hormone disruption. A micro amount of soy oil in your supplements is okay; just make sure you are not cooking with it.

Primary health concerns about processed soy

Blocks the uptake of essential vitamins and minerals. Included are calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, iodine and especially zinc. The phytic acid in soy binds to minerals, proteins and starch, and results in lower absorption of these substances. Vitamin B-12 analogs in soy are not absorbed and actually increase the bodys requirement for B-12. Phytic acid foods also increase the bodys requirement for Vitamin D.

Thyroid issues. Processed soy inhibits the uptake of one of the most important minerals needed for growth and metabolism, iodine, which is used by the thyroid gland in the production of thyroid hormones. Unfermented soy may also block absorption of thyroid medications if taken at the same time.

Hormone disruption. Perhaps the most disturbing of soys ill effects on health has to do with its phytoestrogens, which can mimic the effects of the female hormone estrogen. These phytoestrogens have been found to have both beneficial and adverse effects on various human tissues. For example, drinking two glasses of soymilk daily for one month is enough to alter a womans menstrual cycle. However, modest amounts of fermented soy do not show any hormone-disruptive effects.

Protein inhibitors. You do not get the protein listed on the label because soy is denatured and therefore not bio-available. Soy interferes with protein digestion and may cause pancreatic disorders.

MSG. Monosodium glutamate (MSG), a potent neurotoxin, is formed during soy food processing, and additional amounts are added to many soy foods.

While this soy information may not be good news to you, I hope it helps make you more aware. Read labels so that you can become an empowered consumer and take charge of your own health and wellness.

Christa Orecchio is a Clinical Nutritionist and Holistic Health Counselor who founded The Whole Journey to help people live healthier, happier and more energetic lives through whole food nutrition, supplementation and healthy lifestyle guidance. She graduated from The Natural Healing Institute and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, accredited by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners.

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B12

B12 is a basic building-block vitamin for a start to good health.

Monthly Archives: October 2012

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