Posts Tagged ‘wellness’

Sometimes I equate a really messy car-I’m talking gym shoes, old magazines, big gulp containers, and wrappers littering the backseat-with bad eating habits.  It seems as though, when I get off on the wrong track, i.e. it’s a Monday and I’m already in  the break room at work scarfing down cake from Friday’s birthday party, that I’ve sabotaged myself, and the only way to deal with it is simply to order a large pizza.

But take my word for it: this is a slippery (and fatty) slope.

We’ve all been tempted to just give up, even in the throes of healthy eating and systematic exercise.  Just like the old, trashed car that we drove around in college, it just seems easier to throw another steak on the bbq, just like we threw another big gulp container in the backseat, rather than committing to cleaning the car out.  The thing we have to remember is that the more trash we fill the car with-or that we stuff down our gullet-the longer and harder it will be to clean it (and get rid of the excess weight.)

It’s also important to understand what may be causing this self-defeating behavior.  Stress and anxiety can be catalysts to poor eating habits.  Getting enough sleep, taking a yoga class or going for a long walk can help.  And taking a natural supplement such as Solanova’s Relora®, which can alleviate stress, tension, irritability, and may regulate stress-related eating behaviors and subsequent weight gain, can also aid in your fight for control of your cravings.

Ban the it doesn’t matter now anyway self-sabotage.  Because in truth, it really Does matter.  So you had a piece of cake.  Hey, to eat junk food is human, to forgive yourself and not eat a sheet cake, is divine.  One 300-calorie indiscretion can lead to a 2000-calorie burrito-margarita-ice cream sundae glutton-fest.  Don’t give in to it.

There’s always a second chance for a healthy tomorrow. So get on it.  Oh.  And save me a piece of cake, will ya?

To learn more about healthy  habits, check out our health information section of Solanova.com.

Not being able to get to sleep or to stay asleep is one of the most frustrating things in the world.  Without proper sleep, it’s hard to do your job, stay healthy and enjoy life in general.  But now there is some exciting research that has concluded that taking a Melatonin supplement can make a huge difference and can assuage insomnia.  All without side effects or addictive properties.

In a randomized, placebo-controlled, multi-center study involving 170 primary insomnia outpatients (aged 55 years or older), treatment with prolonged-release melatonin (2 mg/d) for a period of 3 weeks was found to improve quality of sleep and morning alertness, without producing any rebound insomnia or withdrawal effects after discontinuation of treatment. Improvements in quality of sleep and morning alertness were strongly correlated, suggesting “a beneficial treatment effect on the restorative value of sleep.” When the effects of prolonged-release melatonin were assessed in a subgroup of subjects with greater symptom severity, similar beneficial effects were found. Adverse events were not common, with most side-effects considered minor. The authors conclude, “PR-melatonin is the first drug shown to significantly improve quality of sleep and morning alertness in primary insomnia patients aged 55 years and older�.” Vitasearch Comment: Since drugs can lead to dependence, it may be appropriate to try PR-melatonin 2-3 mg/d 60 minutes before bedtime for the treatment of insomnia.

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To read more about sleep problems, click here.  Try Solanova’s special Dual-Release Melatonin, a time release formula that delivers Melatonin at different intervals to increase duration of sleep and to improve your quality of sleep.

Reference: http://www.vitasearch.com/get-clp-summary/37146

“Prolonged-release melatonin improves sleep quality and morning alertness in insomnia patients aged 55 years and older and has no withdrawal effects,” Lemoine P, Nir T, et al, J Sleep Res, 2007; 16(4): 372-80. (Address: Nava Zisapel, Department of Neurobiochemistry, The George S Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel. E-mail: navazis@post.tau.ac.il ).

What truly motivates us? For some, it is the almighty dollar, for others it’s perhaps feeling like we do our job well, or maybe it’s helping the less fortunate and realizing a greater purpose.

But what really motivates us to eat right, exercise and take care of ourselves?

Basically, I have negative willpower. If I am confronted with any of the following at a party, (margaritas, chips, cookies, chocolate, those toasty little quiches, cake et al.) I am powerless to resist. I then calculate how many hours I’d need to spend on the treadmill to burn off all of the superfluous calories. Twenty-six hours ought to do it.

This was no way to live.

But a recent trip the doctor’s office changed all of that; I highly recommend it to everyone. My doctor served me up a heaping bowl of reality and I had no choice but to grab my spoon and dig in.

It turned out that my LDL cholesterol level was pretty good, though the HDL “good cholesterol” number was low. However, my blood pressure was a bit on the high side, but nothing to be too concerned with. Yet.

Not wanting to fill the pharmaceutical company’s coffers, I decided not to push my doctor for pills to “cure” my mild afflictions. Instead, I decided to get motivated about my health. I would create a DIY health program, if you will, which included investing in some high quality CoQ10 supplements.  Research has shown CoQ10 to have important heart strengthening and other heart health properties.  Now don’t misunderstand me. If my doctor had urged me to take medicine for either of these health concerns, I would definitely take that seriously. But I, like so many of us, was on the cusp of something that could turn into a problem in the future, if I wasn’t diligent about my health today.

I decided to take control. I learned to love hiking. I learned to tolerate a lower sodium diet and I made sure that all of my vitamins and supplements were lined up on the bathroom sink so I wouldn’t forget to take them.

And the margaritas? Once in a while won’t hurt, but remember to hold the salt.

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Not sure where to start with a healthier you? Read more about Daily Health tips here!

And the best place to start for an overall health supplement is to take a daily multivitamin. Make sure the one you’re taking is highly absorbable or it’s just not worth the time. Read more about our optimum absorption, easy-to-swallow softgel MultiSential PLUS vitamin here.

Reference: http://www.vitasearch.com/get-clp-summary/4418“Coenzyme Q10 and Respiratory Chain Enzyme Activities in Hypertrophied Human Left Ventricles With Aortic Stenosis”, Maurer, Iris, M.D., et al, The American Journal of Cardiology, August 15, 1990;(66):504-505.

What’s the matter? Can’t think of the exact word you need to convey your mood or tone?  Forgot the name of the neighbor down the block?  It’s right on the tip of your…your…you know!  All of a sudden you’re noticing that the synapses aren’t firing quite as quickly as they used to.  But don’t worry. Just like the body, it’s a wonderful idea to exercise the brain, or as Hercule Poirot might quip, it’s important to work out the little gray cells.

It is an unfortunate fact of life that many of us tend to forget things as we age.  But we aren’t powerless.  One easy way to combat brain “freeze” is to eat head-healthy foods.  Fish that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids is an indispensable part of a healthy diet.  Fish has been linked to improved memory capacity and also lowered risk of dementia and stroke.  Don’t like our scaly friends?  Try a high quality omega-3 supplement instead.  Other brain strengtheners include blueberries, whole grains, avocado, nuts and even (a little) dark chocolate.

Aside from normal exercise that can enhance overall health of the body and mind, try some brainteasers to increase your memory and alertness.  Learning a foreign language, doing the crossword in your paper every day, working through the latest Sudoku book or playing chess can all raise your mental acuity.

And who wouldn’t want that, smarty pants?

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Some other ideas on how to tease, work, and take care of your brain can be read about here.  Also try investing in our high quality Omega-Gel ® omega 3 supplement.  Our Omega-Gel® can enhance brain, eye and immune system function as well as help to raise HDL “good” cholesterol levels.

I might as well confess because it will become abundantly clear soon enough.  I love wine.  I enjoy rose, white, and of course all red varietals and at the risk of sounding a little too much like Roy Rogers, I never met a grape I didn’t like.

Lucky for me, if consumed in moderation, wine can not only be quite good, but also good for your health.   Studies have shown that moderate wine drinking can protect against heart disease, boost your immune system, fight free radicals and of course, make a great accompaniment to a gourmet meal. There has even been recent research indicating that moderate drinkers can live as much as five years longer than their tea teetotaler compatriots.

Of course the key idea is “moderate” drinking.

Another reason to rejoice about the grape is that lately there’s been an influx of wonderful and inexpensive wines perched on grocery and specialty store shelves.  Often you can find a tasty red from Argentina or Spain with an even tastier price tag.  Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand are always delicious and usually very price friendly.

In short, if you like wine, there’s no reason not to indulge a little.  Add the grape to your regular health and wellness regimen and enjoy.

Hey, I’ll drink to that!

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Read more about daily health tips at Solanova’s health library. We have several nutritional supplements that support heart health, immune system health and overall daily health.  Order your Q-Gel® CoQ10, Omega-Gel®, and MultiSential Plus multi vitamins today.  And click here to save 10%.  We’re ready to take your order!

Oftentimes we don’t see eye problems coming.  Everything seems to be going along fine.  You can still discern individual, green leaves on the trees and easily avoid hitting a dog taking a nap on your cul-de-sac.  However, you might be speeding down the freeway one Friday evening and sail right by the exit you want, thereby missing your favorite cousin’s surprise birthday party by a vital fifteen minutes.  All of a sudden you realize you have to face the hard facts:  I can’t see as well as I used to.

Rather than living in blind denial, it’s always best to make an annual appointment with your Ophthalmologist or other eye care professional.  It could be that whatever is bothering your eyesight is less problematic than you imagine.  Your doctor may recommend taking short breaks every hour while working on the computer to alleviate eyestrain.  It’s also a good idea to have proper lighting when reading or doing something that requires consistent eye focus.  Additionally there are certain antioxidant-enriched foods and supplements that promote healthy eyesight and can even thwart some chronic eye conditions and diseases.

So take off the blinders and make a beeline for your annual vision check up.  Oh, and call your cousin.  Promise him you won’t be late next year!

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Interested to learn more about maintaining healthy vision?  Check out our eye health article.  Be sure to purchase nutritional supplements that support good eye health.  MultiSential Plus is a complete blend of essential vitamins and nutrients in an optimally absorbed form.  And Omega-Gel, a powerful antioxidant, can help to fortify your immune system for better overall health and vitality.

You’re not alone. We’ve all been there: Staring at the clock at 2 a.m., unable to sleep.

There are conflicting beliefs about how much sleep we need – but it’s clear there is a rough range to aim for. Getting too much or not enough sleep can have a negative effect on our health. Many studies show 7 to 8 ½ hours is your best bet for giving your body and brain enough time to restore. And although some research has shown 6 hours of sleep can be sufficient, fewer than 5-6 hours (or more than 9 hours) might be a detriment to not just our daytime energy and performance but also our health, possibly leading to health issues including heart health concerns, diabetes and obesity.

There are many factors that may be contributing to our insomnia. Some studies show that duration of sleep appears to decline with age. As well, stress, anxiety, depression, jet lag or even our sleep environment can all affect our ability to get a good night’s sleep. Other culprits could be medical conditions, medications or possibly just decreased levels of the hormone Melatonin. As we age, we produce less of this naturally occurring hormone in our brain that helps regulate sleep. In fact, those of us over 60 produce very little Melatonin at all.

There is good news:
There are some very easy things we can do to help us get a more restful and longer night’s sleep. First, it’s important to create a relaxing and soothing atmosphere in your bedroom. This means no t.v. in the room, as well as making sure to never do work or anything else stressful while lying in bed. It helps to train your body and your brain that once you retire to bed, it’s time to slow down, relax and go to sleep. (Although the common belief is that t.v. is “relaxing”, in fact it involves our brain, sometimes even creating elevated levels of adrenaline which make it hard to fall asleep.) Rather than watch t.v., some individuals find it helpful to read or even meditate for at least half an hour to help introduce relaxation.

Next, be sure to incorporate a regular exercise program into your routine. Studies have shown that regular exercise can fight insomnia. However, try not to exercise too close to bedtime as it takes time for regular stress hormones to decrease after a workout. Finally, it also helps to try and avoid caffeine, alcohol, food, and t.v. at least 2 hours before bedtime. In addition, consider the supplement Melatonin. Be sure to invest in a high quality Melatonin like ours that is specially formulated for dual-release: 1.5 mg is released immediately after ingestion and 1.5mg is released gradually over a 6 to 8 hour period. The first phase helps you fall asleep quickly, the second phase helps you to stay asleep.

Sweet dreams!

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Click here to read about insomnia and the proactive ways to help yourself feel better and get a good night’s sleep.  Sometimes stress can be an insomnia culprit.  Taking an all natural stress-relieving supplement can help.  Our nutritional supplement Relora® helps to relieve stress, anxiety, tension and can curb stress-related eating patterns and subsequent weight gain.  Try some today for a more restful sleep tonight.

Exercise, it turns out, makes your cells happy.

When you walk, jump rope, run, lift weights or whatever it is you choose for exercise, the mitochondria (energy sparks in your cells) actually increase. And that energy boost you feel after a period of consistent exercise demonstrates the adaptation your cells have made. Anytime you have that sense of “I’m feeling fitter” it’s because your cells are adapting to the work you’ve been asking of your body.

I’ve had really good results with an audio treadmill workout routine called iTrain (iTrain.com). You download the workout onto your iPod and basically have a professional trainer at your side coaching you through your workout. “Breathe deeply,” the trainer will say. “Relax your facial muscles. You got to shock your body to change your body.” Behind that trainer speak what she’s really saying is “Make your cells happy. Give them oxygen. Calm them. And condition them so they’ll condition you.”

Nutrition, less surprisingly, also makes your cells happy. Nutrient-rich foods–protein, fats, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and more–help keep your cells happy. Cells fueled with the nutrients they need can grow, replicate, repair and operate. Feed your cells well and they’ll thank you for it.

So the next time your hear someone say “Exercise,” “Eat Right,” “Drink More Water,” know that what they’re really saying is “Make your cells happy.”

When communication is your business you know the rules: start with the big concept and gradually move into the small. For this first blog entry, however, I’d like to break the rule and start small, very small, cell small. A large cell is no bigger than the diameter of a strand of your hair. A small cell is one tenth the diameter of a strand of hair.

Cells are small because cells are smart and highly evolved organisms. They know that to be healthy and thrive, they need to have lots more surface area than volume so that they can optimize their ability to take in life-essential nutrients. It helps to think of a cell as a tiny house with lots of doors and windows. But when the doors and windows (a.k.a. membranes) get stiff or stuck, or the house gets filled with toxic stuff, the health of cells is jeopardized.

Two nutrients that significantly enhance cellular health are CoQ10 and Omega3 fatty acids. CoQ10 gives cells energy and CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant that protects cells from free radical damage. Omega 3 fatty acids make cell membranes more flexible so they can more easily take in the nutrients they need.

One of the best ways to take the health of your body seriously is to not think about your body at all. Instead, think about your body’s 10 trillion cells. And each time you eat something ask yourself, “What’s this doing to or for my cells? Am I making them healthier or less healthy?”