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Isagenix Nutritional Sciences

De-stress to Defy Aging

By Isagenix Nutritional Sciences

A little bit of stress is important to keep you awake, active, and motivated. However, when we experience chronic periods of intense stress, our bodies begin to feel the burden. This April is Stress Awareness Month and a perfect time to acknowledge what you’re feeling and why.

The Health Resource Network, a non-profit organization, decided to set aside these four weeks to improve awareness about the dangers of stress and begin the promotion of healthy habits, on a national level. Adding to the recognition of how stress affects our health, new research has come out showing that chronic psychological stress may actually take years off your life, acting on a cellular level. Have we mentioned the importance of telomeres?

Many conditions of poor health, including the inevitable fate of aging, have been linked with the shortening of telomeres. Telomeres are the protective caps on our chromosomes that enable successful cell division and replication. These structures have come to the forefront of the battle for long-term health.

Five Steps for Running on Isagenix

By Isagenix Nutritional Sciences

“One step at a time is all it takes.” This is the advice Jennifer Pinner shares on her running blog, MarathonForGood.WordPress.com, on how others can achieve as much as she does, which includes managing her weekly runs along with the responsibilities of marriage, motherhood, and churning out content as the senior communications specialist for Isagenix. Her blog is dedicated to her latest pursuit, which is fulfilling her dream of running the Boston Marathon on April 18, 2011.

She is running the marathon on behalf of Childhelp®, an organization dedicated to helping victims of child abuse and neglect. To donate to Childhelp on behalf of Pinner, click here.

Nutrition-Month-Tip-Eat-Less-Omega-6-for-More-Omega-3

Switching to a diet lower in omega-6 oils may improve omega-3 status in body tissues, a new study suggests.The need to increase omega-3 fats—alpha-linoleic acid (ALA) found in flax seed and walnuts; eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA) found in fish—has sprung to the forefront of any healthy diet plan. These beneficial fats are profoundly beneficial for our hearts, our brains, our skin, and even our joints. Yes, these fats are vital to our health.

The dietary shifts that took place in the 20th century because of developments in food processing to animal feeding-operations not only displaced important aspects of a sustainable food-system, but also displaced these essential fatty acids in our diets. A common misconception is that nutritional quality of foods decreased, alongside reduced intake of omega-3s. While it would seem that the Western diet is replete in everything but omega-3 fats, this is not the case.

Nutrition Month Tip: Fruits and Veggies, Think Variety

Nutrition tipBy Isagenix Nutritional Sciences

Going to the grocery store and wading through the fruits and vegetables—fresh, frozen, packed and dried—can be confusing for anyone. So what do we do? We grab the same things every week. We buy what we are used to! Some fruits and veggies are better than no fruits or veggies, but research confirms that variety is, indeed, the spice of life.

Fusing Aging Theories: Telomere Shortening Leads to Mitochondrial Dysfunction

A study finds a link between two theories of aging, which could open doors for research into improved anti-aging therapies.By Isagenix Nutritional Sciences

New research is adding insight and linking three theories of aging—one that suggests telomere shortening governs lifespan, and two others that suggest dysfunctional mitochondria or oxidative stress leads to aging.

At Harvard-affiliated Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, scientists have gathered data suggesting telomere shortening is the cause of mitochondrial dysfunction and diminished antioxidant defenses. Together, they decrease the body’s energy and diminish organ function, both characteristic of old age.

Vitamin K2: Building Bones While Beating Back Arterial Calcification

By Isagenix Nutritional Sciences

Vitamin K2’s time to shine has come—move over vitamin D! Once only known for its role as a “koagulation” factor in blood clotting, vitamin K2 is emerging as another fundamental anti-aging nutrient. While vitamins D and E have garnered the majority of interest in the last decade, the impact of vitamin K2 on aging bones and hearts demands that we give it equal attention.

Whereas most vitamin and mineral supplements use vitamin K in its form of K1 (phylloquinone sourced from plants) because it is easily available and cheap, it is the natural form of K2 (menaquinone sourced from friendly bacteria) that is the most biologically active and shown to enhance both bone formation and vascular health.

Is There a Link Between Telomeres and Dietary Fiber?

By Isagenix Nutritional Sciences

Telomeres may partly explain why eating whole-grains helps people live longer. New evidence published in Archives of Internal Medicine has it that eating more dietary fiber, particularly from whole grains, could lead to a longer life. The large study found a high-fiber diet reduced risk of heart disease and cancer, as well as infectious and respiratory illnesses.

How Much Vitamin C Do You Really Need?

Higher intake of vitamin C may be needed to maintain healthy tissues. By Isagenix Nutritional Sciences

By Susie Rockway, Ph.D. 

Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid (ascorbate), is the most frequently taken dietary supplement in North America. Yet, despite its widespread use, national surveys report that 15 percent of the population still doesn’t get enough vitamin C to meet recommended amounts for health.

Initially, the Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) for vitamin C was set at 60 milligrams, the amount required to prevent scurvy. The deficiency disease—commonly characterized by bleeding gums and loosened teeth helped identify the vitamin as having an essential role in collagen formation.

Spotlight on SlimCakes® for American Heart Month

By Isagenix Nutritional Sciences

Rich in soluble fiber, Oatmeal Berry Slimcakes are a heart-healthy choice for a snack.February is American Heart Month, reminding us that cardiovascular disease, including stroke, is still the No. 1 cause of deaths in the United States. One in three Americans has some form of heart disease currently, which is projected to reach nearly one out of two in the next 20 years, according to the American Heart Association.

What’s the Right CoQ10 for Your Heart?

By Isagenix Nutritional Sciences

Everyone ages 30 and older should supplement with coQ10 to protect heart health. There is just no question because natural production of this vital heart-energizing nutrient peaks in a person’s early 20s and then biosynthesis lessens with age.

By age 60, biosynthesis has decreased by half (see graph below showing typical plasma levels of coQ10 with age) and the need for supplementation becomes more critical if a person is taking heart medications like statins that inhibit coQ10 production further.

coq as picture

With almost a quarter of the 120 million people of the Baby Boomer generation in the United States taking statin drugs, many suffer from muscle fatigue, a sign of severely depleted coQ10 levels and they don’t know it.