Resveratrol - Slowing Down Our Clock

Living longer, healthier and productive lives is what everyone wants. And, we all know that the foods we eat, the exercise we get, and the situations and emotions that we allow ourselves to be exposed to, have a significant affect on our health and quality of life. We know that you really can't turn back the clock, but researchers now believe they've found a way to slow it down.

The amazing discovery relates back to the "French Paradox" and the drinking of red wine. From red wine, and specifically the muscadine grape, comes a product known as Resveratrol. Resveratrol has been tested and proven that when used in high concentrations, it will fight age related illnesses, AT A CELLULAR LEVEL.

Here are the key mechanisms of cellular aging:

1 - DNA Damage: Every day, every cell in your body is bombarded by up to a million DNA-damaging assaults. These assaults can damage the cell's genetic database, creating a "typo" that may compromise cell function and longevity.

2 - Genetic Regulators: Genetic regulators contribute to age-related cellular deterioration.

3 - Declining Cellular Energy Production: Mitochondria is our cells creates energy we can't live without. As mitochondrial efficiency decreases, cell function declines.

4 - Accumulation of AGE proteins: Excess accumulation of Advanced Glycation End products (AG) can cause cellular damage that can compromise cell integrity and longevity.

New clinical tests have shown that using resveratrol based products, can markedly reduce cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease. Most of these tests have been to animals, but are now moving into human trials, and specifically focusing first on cancer patients.

Last night, 60 Minutes aired a story about this amazing substance, resveratrol. The episode focuses around a pill that is in the testing phases in the pharmaceutical world. But, what wasn't mentioned in the 60 Minutes story about resveratrol, is that there is already a natural resveratrol product on the market that doesn't require a prescription, and is 10 times more powerful than resveratrol alone. It's called Vivix, and it has undergone numerous tests and research already.

The all-natural, patent pending product, is exclusive to Shaklee. One of the Dr's interviewed in the 60 Minutes episode, is the resource that Shaklee used in obtaining the natural version of this anti-aging wonder drug. Shaklee has taken the super polyphenols from a "Super Grape", known as Vitis rotundifolia. This is the only grape found in nature with an extra chromosome, which scientists believe greatly enhances its polyphenol profile and potential health benefits.

So, while the drug companies are out there researching and developing a synthetic version of Resveratrol, we really don't have wait for a pharmaceutical product, nor rely on a pill, when there's already an all-natural anti-aging extract available. We can enjoy all the benefits with just one teaspoon a day, right now! Viva La Vivix!

CPSIA Could Bankrupt Small Businesses

In an valiant attempt to protect our children, the government passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), in August 2008. CPSIA's intent is to protect children from lead exposure in the products they come into daily contact with.

We've all heard about lead in paint, toys, etc, especially from toys manufactured in China, but the threat is an issue in products made throughout the world. So, in an effort to make some enforceable guidelines to battle this health issue, we now have CPSIA.

ONE BIG PROBLEM THOUGH....the government didn't think this one out well enough. (Imagine that).The regulations in the Act will include products that were manufactured and placed on the shelves prior to CPSIA going into effect, which is February 10, 2009. That means that all, "in inventory" products, such as new or used children's books, children's items in a thrift store, bicycles, children's clothing, etc, will all have to comply with CPSIA. Basically, any retailer that has products in their inventory, that include products focused to children ages 12 and under, must comply with CPSIA. It will be illegal to sell or give these items away to charities, and the government will require their destruction or permanent disposal. Gosh, I wonder what that's going to do to our landfills?

There are costly tests that resalers will be required to complete, to certify the product's safety, in order to keep it on their shelves. Of course, the resalers will be responsible for any expenses incurred, to certify the product's safety. A small manufacturer of children's clothing, recently priced out the manufacturing and testing expense, of a girl's skirt, keeping in compliance with CPSIA. What was a $40 skirt, would become over $15,000 retail. Check it out for yourself. As mentioned in a CNN article this month, the law makes no distinction between large-scale manufacturers, mom-and-pop businesses, and one-man operations. While large corporations may be able to easily absorb the costs of product testing, the price is potentially overwhelming for small businesses.

The organization, Change.org, has become actively involved in trying to get the word out about CPSIA. Obviously, the overall concept of CPSIA is a great one, but our Congress needs to review and amend the Act, prior to February 10, 2009. If they don't, the results could be catastrophic to small businesses throughout the globe. Please share your concerns with your local Congressman immediately. There's no time to waste on this one, as shown in the below video.



Also, here's a link the goverment's website, telling more about the Consumer Product Safety Protection Act.

Change Habits - Reduce Waste

No time...like the present, is a well-known saying, as well as: Why put off for tomorrow...what you can do today?, is another one. Well, today I'm sharing some no or low cost suggestions, that you can incorporate into your daily lifestyle. They have the potential of improving your health as well as planet's.

There's a large percentage of activities that we can do that are focused on reducing our carbon footprint on the planet, and that also can help us financially, physically and emotionally. An example would be to change the habit of driving to a restaurant or calling in a food order for delivery and instead, walking to a nearby restaurant on your lunch break.

How about changing your habit or creating one, by bringing your own "To-Go" containers, when dining out somewhere? What a great way to reduce the use of those styrofoam containers and such, that are detrimental to our planet's health.

Here's another, no-cost, in fact it's a cost-saver; of taking your own utensils from home to work and reusing them. This change of habit can have a trickle down effect, that probably measures quite high, on reducing the carbon footprint on the planet!

If, you'd like to see how the current resources you use, may be adversely affecting the planet, there's a great calculator through American Forests. There are also several other online resources to calculate your affect on the planet.

In the famous words of Martin Luther King, Jr: The time is always right to do what is right.

Biggest Loser Contest: Lose Weight - Gain Health

It's no secret. Being overweight has numerous side effects for anyone, both physically and mentally. And, a lot of the things that we eat not only are foods high in fat content etc, they also contain things that are believed to contributors to lung cancer and other serious diseases.

Recently, a published study on processed foods, provided some astonishing statistics about lung caner being associated to them. Processed foods contain inorganic phosphates which are used to improve a food's water retention and texture. Meats, processed cheeses, carbonated drinks, normally contain these phosphates.

Getting the weight off and going back to basics is the best way to lose weight and/or improve one's health. Shaklee has a patented weight-loss program that can help folks get started to better health and weight. And, for the first three months of 2009, they are also sponsoring a Biggest Loser Contest, with some seriously big cash prizes! The Cinch Inch-Loss Plan, could be the ticket to some health and wealth. Check out the website for yourself.