Martha's Vibrant LifeStyle Plan - Winning at Weight Loss

Today, 66 percent of adults in the United States are considered overweight or obese. Obesity puts people at increased risk for chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, and some forms of cancer. Health Risks

Obesity is more than a cosmetic problem. Many serious medical conditions have been linked to obesity, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. Obesity is also linked to higher rates of certain types of cancer. Men who are considered obese are more likely than nonobese men to develop cancer of the colon, rectum, or prostate. Women who are considered obese are more likely than nonobese women to develop cancer of the gallbladder, uterus, cervix, or ovaries. Esophageal cancer has also been associated with obesity.





Other Diseases and Health Risks Related to Obesity

• Gallbladder disease and gallstones.
• Fatty liver disease (also called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH).
• Gastroesophageal reflux, or what is sometimes called GERD. This problem occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter does not close properly and stomach contents leak back—or reflux—into the esophagus.
• Osteoarthritis, a disease in which the joints deteriorate. This is possibly the result of excess weight on the joints.
• Gout, another disease affecting the joints.
• Pulmonary (breathing) problems, including sleep apnea, which causes a person to stop breathing for a short time during sleep.
• Reproductive problems in women, including menstrual irregularities and infertility.

Health care professionals generally agree that people who have a BMI of 30 or greater can improve their health through weight loss. Fortunately, a weight loss of 5 to 10 percent of your initial body weight can do much to improve health by lowering blood pressure and other risk factors for obesity-related diseases. In addition, research shows that a 5- to 7-percent weight loss brought about by moderate diet and exercise can delay or possibly prevent type 2 diabetes in people at high risk for the disease.

So What is the Answer?

Cellular Nutrition

Holistic Family Nurse Practitioner, Martha Bray, has spent years searching for the best protocols that provides you with solutions. As part of that search, Martha has incorporated the Ideal Protein Cellular Nutrition Plan into her Vibrant LifeStyle Program.

It is a 4-stage retraining eating plan that helps stabilize the pancreas and blood sugar levels while burning fat and maintaining muscle and other lean tissue. This 4-stage plan is for long-term health promotion and weight control, not a “diet” that leaves participants with the “Now what?” question after weight has been lost.

Syndrome X

The plan targets prevention and solutions for Syndrome X, also called the “metabolic syndrome.” To qualify as part of this epidemic that is steamrolling North America, adults or children need only suffer from 2 of the 4 components of the metabolic syndrome:

1) Obesity

2) Blood sugar issues (diabetes)

3) Cholesterol problems

4) High blood pressure

Developed for Athletes

The plan was originally developed to secure the muscle mass of high-performance athletes and regulate their insulin levels.

Martha's Vibrant LifeStyle Plan is focused on the pancreas, insulin production, and stabilizing and maintaining weight loss long-term. Ideal’s engine is an alkalized and mineralized program made of 4 distinctive nutritional supplements

What to Expect

Based on over 23 years of experience and 5 million people in Europe, Canada, and now a large group of people in the United States, the program enables the following:

• Quick weight loss without sacrificing muscle mass

• Gaining an understanding of how food affects and is utilized by the body, including what causes fat storage

• Utilization of fat for energy usually by day 4—fat   (including cellulite) that sequesters chemical toxins

• Improved energy and appetite control, reduced   cravings—usually on day 4 or 5

• Improved blood sugar and cholesterol levels,   reduced blood pressure

Martha Bray's Vibrant LifeStyle Plan allows you to lose weight with minimal effort compared to most other diets that require buying all sorts of different foods and ingredients and following complicated recipes. With the convenience of Ideal Protein instant packets, you have the option of keeping it very simple… or you may get creative if you like.

Martha's Vibrant LifeStyle Plan gives you the tools and education to truly "Win At Weight Loss"!

For More Information or To Register, Click Here

"Glasbergen cartoons used with special permission from glasbergen.com"  

Taken from www.win.niddk.nih.gov

MENOPAUSE: The Time of Your Life

Menopause is a fact that affects every woman around the world.  It’s impact varies both within and across all cultures.   There is no universal menopause experience.  But, for all women, menopause can mark an exciting new time of life.

Each woman views menopause and treatment in a different way.  Some consider it a medical condition requiring treatment, while others view it as a natural transition that should be managed naturally.  Most women want more information but need to be sure they are obtaining accurate information about menopause and it’s variety of treatments.

Diversity in a woman’s social and cultural experiences can also affect her menopause experience and view of treatment options, as well as her overall health and well-being. As women experience all of the changes of approaching menopause, each woman will need to identify her own way of dealing with midlife wellness.  In fact, reaching menopause is a ideal time to begin or reinforce a healthy lifestyle.

Thoughts and Attitude

The transition to menopause can be a time of reflection and inspiration. Although transitions of any kind can be difficult, many women experience a sense of freedom and personal growth.  Attitude and thoughts about this transition can have a tremendous impact on your experience of it.  Have positive thoughts, appreciate things and enjoy your day!!

Laugh

Laughter brings us closer to people, moves us into more positive mind sets, can stimulate our immune system, enhance our learning and memory, and help us to better cope with the stressors in our life.  Laughter is a great menopause help.

Make Time For Yourself

Exercise, eat right, and incorporate relaxation techniques into your day.  This moves you out of the stress response that is harmful to your health.  Relaxation techniques can reduce hot flashes, PMS, problems with sleep and pain.   When women make themselves a priority (even 15 minutes per day), dramatic changes can occur.

By combining positive thoughts, a healthy lifestyle, and relaxation techniques, many women are changing the menopause experience.  Each woman is an expert in her own body, and she benefits most from being well informed.  The primary message for a woman at this stage of her life is that she can enjoy her body for many years to come, if she makes informed and healthy choices.

WATER FOR VIBRANT LIFE

It doesn’t matter how healthy or thin you are, reaching for a sugary drink is still dangerous for your heart. Four times as dangerous as not drinking one.

Is Acid Destroying Your Cells? Every chemical in your body contains water. Everything from the acid you need to digest food, to your hormones, to your immune cells that attack infections. And all that water must be maintained at the right pH balance in order for your body to function the way it’s meant to. "pH" simply means "potential of Hydrogen." And it’s measured on a scale of 0 (100% acidic) to 14 (100% alkaline). Every cell in your body should be slightly alkaline. But the modern world pours acid into you every single day from pollutants in your drinking water, the air you breathe… even most modern medicines and prescriptions drugs are notorious for producing acid. And this can lead to some serious health problems. That’s why we want to let you know about a pH balancing solution and why we offer our clients Kangen Water FREE of charge to help you rebalance the water in your body today. You may own your own KANGEN machine … just talk to Colleen at the Front Desk for more information (801-447-8680). For more information Click Here

New research presented at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association finds that women who drank only two sugary drinks a day were nearly four times as likely to have high triglycerides, the best predictor of heart risk for women.
They were also significantly more likely to have impaired blood sugar levels even when not eating or drinking.¹

Sugary drinks increase triglycerides because they are almost pure carbohydrate. Drinking flavored water, sweetened tea, soda, or those dessert-like coffees send a rush of sugar straight into your bloodstream.

When your body gets too much of this kind of carbohydrate, it wants to store it as fat. How does it do this? It turns the carbs into triglycerides. Then it transports them through the blood from the liver where they’re made to the adipose cells where they’re stored.
Problem is, even if you’re outwardly thin, this fat can accumulate around your organs without you ever knowing it. It’s called visceral fat. It causes inflammation, and can lead to the inflammatory diseases diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.

And sugary drinks are bad for that reason, but diet drinks may actually be worse. Researchers were shocked when looking at results from the San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging. They followed 474 people for nearly 10 years. They compared the change in waist size for diet soda users versus non-users (both sugary drink drinkers and non-drinkers). People who drank diet sodas had a 70 percent greater increase in waist size. And for those who said they drank two or more diet sodas a day, their bellies grew by 500 percent more.²That’s five times bigger waists for people drinking diet sodas. On average, for each diet soft drink you have each day, you’re 65 percent more likely to become overweight during the next seven to eight years, and 41 percent more likely to become obese. And it’s not just soda. All juices are just as bad when packaged.
You just can’t package things without ruining them. Because they’re either going to be homogenized, pasteurized or from concentrate and all of those ruin the vitamins and increase the glycemic index. Unless you’re going to pick the fruit and drink the juice fresh, don’t drink juice.


So what should you drink?

Plain water is a great way to go, and you could sweeten your water with just a little bit lemon or lime for flavoring, and if you want a bit of sweetness, use Sunectar, SunnyDew, or SweetLeaf Flavored Stevia. There are multiple choices of flavors. Stevia has been known to help regulate blood sugar and is excellent nutrition for the pancreas.

Calli Tea and Fortune Delight are also very good alternatives. They come in multiple flavors including Regular, Cinnamon, Raspberry, Peach, and Lemon.

One of our favorite flavored waters is cucumber water.

Here are two simple ways to make it:

1. You just cut up a cucumber into small chunks, cover them in the amount of water you want to drink and let it soak in the fridge overnight. In the morning, strain it into a glass or pitcher and throw away the cucumbers.
2. The second way is to add a bunch of slices of cucumber to some ice water, let it sit for a couple of hours, and you’ll have a tasty drink in no time.

Mint makes cucumber water even more refreshing. If you add mint, chop the mint and let it soak with the cucumber chunks in the first method, or just break up some mint and let it sit in the water for the second.

You may also do this with oranges, cranberries or strawberries. Adding a few drops of Sweetleaf to the water can add variety as well. Have fun, experiment, and take comfort in knowing you are drinking your way to better health!  

To order or learn more ... Visit Us On Our Website!

Supplement Prices Set to Explode

From our friend, Frank Shallenberger, MD, Finding your Real Cures

As you may know, the FDA isn't here to protect you, the American taxpayer. It's here to protect the pharmaceutical industry and other large corporate interests. It protects anyone with enough money to pad the pockets of the FDA. Recently, the powers at the FDA (Faster Drug Approval) decided that the supplement industry is starting to cut into the bottom line of the pharmaceutical industry. Less money for Big Pharma means less money for the FDA.

As a result, the FDA has come up with a set of guidelines that will make it extremely expensive and difficult for the nutritional industry to keep manufacturing supplements. So expensive and difficult, in fact, that it will put most of them out of business.

Why is the FDA doing this? It must be because nutritional supplements are dangerous, right? Not exactly. Back in 2008, one panel of scientists reviewed the dangers of nutritional supplements. They examined the data in the 174-page annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers. They published their report in the journal Clinical Toxicology. It specifically looks at the death rates from drugs, foods, and nutritional supplements.

Guess how many deaths there were from vitamins - zero. Guess how many from herbs - zero. Guess how many from those nasty, dangerous amino acids - zero. OK, how about minerals and all other nutritional supplements - zero. That's right, in 2008 nobody died in the entire country from any nutritional supplement of any kind! But let's put this into perspective.

The panel duly noted that, "Over half of the U.S. population takes daily nutritional supplements. Even if each of those people took only one single tablet daily, that makes 154,000,000 individual doses per day, for a total of over 56 billion doses annually. Since many persons take more than just one vitamin or mineral tablet, actual consumption is considerably higher, and the safety of nutritional supplements is all the more remarkable."

So if nutritional substances are safer than water (yes, water kills people every year), why in the world would the FDA decide to initiate oppressive Big Brother regulations that would essentially make them unavailable to you?

Here's why: Nutritional therapies are eliminating the need for most medications. And as more and more doctors learn how to use them, nutraceuticals are going to cut more and more into Big Pharma profits. Just last week, I was able to discontinue a total of 13 different prescriptions in my patients. That's just one doctor in one week. Imagine what happens when thousands of doctors are doing this routinely. "Something has to be done," says the FDA.

Marcia Angell a reporter for the Boston Globe put it this way. "For too long the FDA has behaved as though its job is to speed brand-name drugs to market, not to ensure that they are safe." According to Ms. Angell's scathing report, the FDA is simply a lap dog for the pharmaceutical industry. "It's time to take the Food and Drug Administration back from the drug companies," she says.

Well, I agree, and I think this might be just the time to start. If we don't do something quickly and effectively, I won't be able to take my patients off their drugs anymore. I won't have the supplements I need. If I can find them, they will cost 100 times more than they do now.

Can you stop this intrusion by Big Brother? Yes, you can. Public pressure works. It worked back in 1994 when the FDA and Congress tried to outlaw supplements. Instead, Congress passed a law that not only protected supplements, but opened the door for incredible innovation in the supplement industry. We can do it again. But only with your help.

Here's what you have to do:

First, go to http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml This web address is case sensitive. So type it exactly as it appears or follow the link. On the website, look up the phone numbers of your U.S. Senators and your Representative in the House. Then call them and tell them how you feel.

Please, do it right now. Don't wait.

The deadline for comments is December 1st. That's not far away.

Second, send this to all of your friends who take supplements and ask them to do the same thing. This is so important it could mean life or death for millions of people. Please, do this right now!

PS. If you would like to read more about this, please follow this link: 

CLICK HERE

REF:

Bronstein AC, Spyker DA, Cantilena LR Jr, Green JL, Rumack BH, Giffin SL. 2008 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System (NPDS): 26th Annual Report. Clinical Toxicology (2009). 47, 911-1084. The full text article is available for free download at http://www.aapcc.org/dnn/Portals/0/2008annualreport.pdf

5 Ways to Boost Melatonin for a Good Night's Sleep

Sound sleep can become elusive as you age

As we age, our sleep cycles change, and the amount of time you spend in the deepest, most restorative stage of sleep (rapid eye movement or REM), diminishes significantly. That’s one reason why after age 60, you’re more easily awakened.

Plus, starting at around age 40, production of melatonin—the sleep hormone synthesized in the pineal gland in the brain—begins to decline. Therefore, you have less melatonin to get you through the night, which is why many older folks wake at the crack of dawn even though they’re still tired.

To make matters worse, in your 60s and 70s your melatonin secretion patterns change. It takes much longer for melatonin to kick in at night, leaving you tossing and turning.

The good news is there are five ways to boost melatonin for a sound night’s sleep

1. Keep it dark during the night. Nighttime light exposure disrupts melatonin production and interferes with sleep. Research shows you don’t even need to see the light to have it ruin your sleep. This bodes poorly for people who fall asleep with the TV or lights on. A low-watt nightlight in an adjacent bathroom is okay, but when you are ready to go to sleep all other lights (and the TV) should be off and the shades drawn. And if you get up during the night to go to the bathroom, keep the lights dim.
2. Let the light in during the day. Just as light during the night interferes with melatonin production, inadequate exposure to light in the daytime also disrupts the body’s natural melatonin cycles. Make a point to spend some time outdoors every day.
3. Take melatonin. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study also showed that people who take 3 mg of melatonin before bedtime experience a significant increase in deep, restorative REM sleep. Another study found that 3 mg of melatonin given to poor sleepers improved overall sleep quality and reduced daytime sleepiness. The suggested dose is 1–3 mg of melatonin, taken 30 minutes to one hour before bedtime, preferably on an empty stomach. Melatonin should not be used by anyone who is pregnant or nursing or before driving. Be aware that this supplement causes some people to have vivid dreams.
4. Make sure you’re not taking a drug that inhibits melatonin production. Melatonin-inhibiting drugs include beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, anti-anxiety drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), steroids, and some antidepressants. If you’re taking one of these, avoid taking it in the hours just before bedtime if possible. Better yet, explore natural alternatives.

5. Get enough melatonin-boosting foods and nutrients. Good choices include oats, corn, rice, barley, ginger, tomatoes, and bananas. Also take a daily multi-nutrient containing 100 mg niacin, 75 mg B6, 500 mg magnesium, and 1,000 mg calcium, which are all involved in melatonin production.

Congratulations to Martha Bray!

Holistic Family Nurse Practitioner Martha Bray, FNP-BC, APRN, BCIM, of Farmington, UT, has been awarded Diplomat of the College of Whole Medical System in the American Association of Integrative Medicine (AAIM). Diplomat status is reserved for those individuals who are able to meet the stringent requirements of AAIM in the areas of knowledge, skill, education, training, and experience in their health care specialty.

AAIM is an international membership association developed to bring together health care professionals from a variety of health care specialities. Membership is comprised of integrative, alternative, holistic, complementary and traditional health care professionals. This forum allows members to share information in an effort to increase both public and professional knowledge and acceptance of integrative medicine. Thereby, benefiting the patient as well as the practitioner.

Martha works at Advanced Health Clinic in Farmington, UT. For more information about Martha Bray, please CLICK HERE.

For membership information, please visit the AAIM website at www.aaimedicine.com or contact AAIM Headquarters toll free at (877)718-3053, American Association of Integrative Medicine, 2750 E. Sunshine, Springfield, MO 65804

What NOT to do in the Summer Heat

12 Things NOT to Do in the Summer Heat

When the thermometer climbs over 80 degrees F, you can easily become fatigued just from being outside in the heat. Once the temperature rises above 90 degrees -- a common occurrence during the dog days of summer in the United States -- you're at a very real risk for sunstroke, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

Light-colored, loose-fitting, lightweight clothing is the rule for keeping cool in the summer heat.

In terms of its potential to harm you, only the cold of winter poses a greater threat than the summer heat, according to the National Weather Service, so knowing how to keep cool is essential to your, and your family's safety.
This summer, here are the top things that you should AVOID doing to beat the summer heat.

1. Don't let yourself get thirsty. Staying hydrated helps to keep your body cool. You should drink regularly throughout the day, even if you don't feel thirsty.
2. Don't drink too much alcohol. It will cause your body to lose water.
3. Don't eat heavy meals. Eating heavier foods, like protein, increases your metabolic heat production causing your body to lose more water. Stick with cool, light meals like salads, raw veggies and dip, crackers and cheese, or fruit and a little peanut butter. (Plus, eating cold meals means you don't have to heat up the house by using the oven.)
4. Don't spend too much time in the sun. Not only are sunny areas hotter than shady ones, but if you get sunburned your body will have a harder time dissipating the heat.
5. Don't stay in places without air conditioning. Air conditioning drastically reduces heat dangers, even if you're only in it periodically. If you don't have air conditioning at home, go to a public place (libraries, movie theaters, shopping malls) or cooling center that does. A cool bath or shower can also help (but electric fans will not prevent heat-related illness if the temperature is in the upper 90s or above).
6. Don't exercise or do strenuous activities during the hottest part of the day. Your body can easily become overloaded and unable to function. Ideally, you should only do strenuous outdoor activities when the heat index is below 80 degrees.

Make sure children and pets are getting plenty of water regularly throughout the long days of summer.

7. Don't leave children or pets in cars. On a hot, sunny day, temperatures inside a parked car can rise more than 30 degrees per minute -- even with open windows, according to the U.S. Humane Society. Leaving children or pets inside your vehicle can quickly become deadly.
8. Don't push yourself. If you've been outside and begin to have muscle spasms, heavy sweating, fatigue, nausea or weakness, it's past time to take a break. When it's hot outside, you need to rest more often, take frequent cooling breaks (inside in air conditioning) and drink plenty of water.
9. Don't drink lots of caffeine or sugary drinks. Like alcohol, these will cause your body to lose water.
10. Don't wear dark-colored, tight or heavy clothes. Light-colored, loose-fitting clothing made of lightweight materials will help you stay cool.
11. Don't use salt tablets (unless you've been instructed to do so by a physician).
12. Don't leave the elderly or pets unattended. Be sure to check on elderly neighbors to make sure they are keeping cool, and provide plenty of cool water, air conditioning and shade for pets that will be left alone for the day.

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Sources
National Weather Service

© 2011 Health Realizations, Inc