IVL Products Health Watch

Harmless Pastime Or Risky Addiction?

2009-08-19T17:50:45.164-07:00

In This Issue…

	Texting: Harmless Pastime Or Risky Addiction?
	Are you ready to HEAR AGAIN all the sounds you hold dear?
	Supercharge Your Daily Energy and Health by Getting Your Greens

Dear Reader,

On the surface, texting may seem like a harmless pastime for teenagers and a helpful way for youngsters to stay in touch with their families throughout the day. It can be very reassuring for parents to know that if their children have a problem or need something that they can communicate their needs to their parents in a matter of seconds.

But like most things, if it is overdone there can be negative impacts on the lives of teens. Excessive time spent texting or talking on cell phones is contributing to insomnia, which can be a factor in obesity, poor academic performance and an increase in automobile accident rates in teenagers. Millions of teens are texting into the wee hours of the night when they should be getting some much-needed sleep.

A new report finds that the average teen sends and receives 80 text messages a day. A recent Nielsen study found that the average U.S. teenager sends and receives more than 2,200 messages a month. Ninety percent of teens have their own cell phones and one third say they send text messages after 9 p.m. on a regular basis. At least 20 percent of the teens surveyed report texting past 11 p.m. at least three nights a week.

As one researcher put it: “Most kids go to sleep with their phone plugged in right by their heads. Every ping of an incoming message is a temptation to pick up the phone. Their phones are extensions of their bodies. They’ve gotten so good at text messaging they can do it with one hand and with their eyes closed.“

A poll from the National Sleep Foundation said teens with electronic items in their bedrooms were twice as likely to fall asleep in school. Our brains naturally respond to the light exposure that results when we are on the computer or a cell phone in the dark. Even tiny light distractions can cause significant changes in sleep patterns.

So what can parents do to help ensure their children aren’t overdoing it on nighttime texting? Set some ground rules. Keep phones out of bedrooms. Have teens put their phones on a charger in a central location (like the kitchen) after 9 p.m. at night. More and more parents are purchasing laptops instead of desktop computers for their kids. That way the computer can be completely removed from teens’ rooms at night.

Have the “text talk” with your teenagers. Help them understand that, like most things, texting can be a fun and helpful tool if it is used in moderation. With a little understanding you and your teen can work out a safe and healthy compromise.

Yours in good health,

Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch

Are you ready to HEAR AGAIN all the sounds you hold dear?

RECONNECT™ is the 100% natural way to help minimize or eliminate ringing, whistling, roaring, hissing, chirping, buzzing, and cricket sounds in your ears. It combines amino acids, vitamins, minerals, herbs and antioxidants into ONE powerhouse, proprietary formula – unlike any other, to promote the health of the ear and to help prevent additional hearing loss, or in some cases restore hearing.

With RECONNECT™ your hearing restoration is accomplished in two ways. The first is to promote the health of the circulatory system while the second is to provide the super nutrient and antioxidant support that the inner ear needs to repair, rebuild and renew itself.

Lots of other hearing formulas promise a broad range of ingredients, but there are none like RECONNECT™ that contain such a powerhouse spectrum of amino acids, vitamins, minerals, herbs and antioxidants –15 targeted super nutrients in all.

Supercharge Your Daily Energy and Health by Getting Your Greens

Most people know that plums, apples, carrots, broccoli, beets and anything green is better for you than anything in a box, can or bag that’s loaded with salt, sugar and preservatives.

In fact, REAL FOOD IS SUCH A POWERFUL HEALER IN THE HUMAN BODY THAT THERE ARE COUNTLESS STORIES OF SICK PEOPLE RECOVERING FROM LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESS JUST BY CUTTING OUT JUNK FOOD AND EATING REAL FOOD RIGHT OFF THE VINE.

But most people don't get their greens every day. In fact, in the course of a week, most people don't even eat one generous salad – so they suffer from acid overload.

The answer is simple...
All Day Energy Greens

Brought to you by The Institute for Vibrant Living™

To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245 or visit www.IVLProducts.com

Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322

The information contained within this newsletter is meant to be used to educate the reader and is not intended to provide individual medical advice. Before you take any supplement, please consult your physician or other licensed healthcare professional to determine if it’s appropriate for you. IVL Health Watch is a publication of Institute for Vibrant Living™.

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Keep Your Furry Friends Safe And Comfortable When The Temps Soar

2009-08-12T01:22:24.045-07:00

In This Issue…

	Keep Your Furry Friends Safe And Comfortable When The Temps Soar
	Can the World’s Longest Living Thing Help You Live Longer Too?
	What Would the ULTIMATE Fruit Drink Contain for Your Lifelong Health?

Dear Reader,

If you think you feel uncomfortable on those sizzling summer days just imagine how it would feel to wear a fur coat when the temperatures are in the 90s. Our fluffy four-footed friends need extra help to stay safe and comfortable when the weather is hot. Dogs and cats are prone to the same heat-related problems as humans including heat exhaustion, dehydration and even sunburn. Pets with dark coats, short muzzles and elderly pets are at increased risk for heat-related illnesses. Dogs aren’t as efficient at cooling down as we are because they release most of their body heat through panting and the pads of their feet.

To keep your pet safe and comfortable when the temperatures soar consider adjusting their exercise routines by taking them out for playtime only in the early morning and evening hours. Try soaking a bandana in water and putting it in the freezer and then put it on your dog before going for a walk outside. Be very cautious when walking your dog on pavement because it becomes very hot and can easily burn your pet’s paws. Always take along a thermos of fresh cold water and let your pet take frequent breaks in shady areas.

If you decide to take your four-footed friend along on your family’s summer vacation you will need to do some advance planning. In addition to food and water, make sure you pack leashes, comfortable bedding and a first aid kit. Favorite pet toys, blankets and treats will give your pet a sense of security and familiarity. Make sure your pet is wearing its ID tags and that the information on the tags is legible. Carry a photograph of your pet with you in case your pet gets lost.

If your road trip includes overnight stops be sure to call in advance to make sure your pet is welcome in the hotels where you will be staying. Whether you are staying in a pet-friendly hotel room or in the homes of friends and relatives a portable pet crate or kennel will provide a comfortable place for your pet to sleep. Make sure the carrier has room for your pet to sit, lie down, stand up and turn around.

Just like people, pets can suffer from motion sickness. In order to prevent stomach upsets, limit food and water to non-travel times such as an hour or two before your trip or during breaks. Take along ice cubes, which are easier on your pet than large amounts of water.

Do not allow your pet to ride with its head outside of the window. An obstacle close to the vehicle could potentially strike your dog’s head or dirt particles could get into your pet’s eyes. Never, ever leave your pet alone in a parked car. Temperatures in confined spaces in the spring and summer can rise to dangerous levels in a matter of minutes.

By taking a few precautions, we can protect our four-footed friends and enjoy spending the lazy days of summer with them.

Yours in good health,

Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch

Can the World’s Longest Living Thing Help You Live Longer Too?

The amazing super-nutrient that's taken Europe by storm is found only in the knot wood of the Norway spruce tree. According to the National Geographic, one Norway spruce has been alive for over 9,500 years!

This super-nutrient is said to have 300% more anti-aging, disease-fighting power than any other nutrient! Now, the longer-life secret of the world’s oldest living thing is found in a single super-powerful supplement: Life-Tree HMRlignans™.

What Would the ULTIMATE Fruit Drink Contain for Your Lifelong Health?

Go Ruby Go!™ contains 42 amazingly helpful blood purifiers, cleansers, detoxifiers and energizers including...

Cranberries, Red Currants, Peaches, Cherries, Blood Oranges, Strawberries, Papayas, Apple Pectin, Blueberries, Prunes, Blackberries, Red Grapes, Tangerine Oranges, Apricots, Star Fruit, Kiwi, Eleuthero Root, Coconut, Cherimoya, Mangos, Pomegranate, Tomatoes, Red Raspberries, Nectarines, Lecithin, Acerola, Phytosterol Blend, Grape Seed Extract, Guava, Passion Fruit, Plums, Bilberries, Red Delicious Apples, Pineapple, Vitamin C, Acai Fruit, Mangosteen, Pineapple Flavor, Probiotics and MORE!

THE PHYTOCHEMICALS THAT GIVE ALL THESE FRUITS THEIR UNIQUE COLORS ARE ALSO YOUR BEST POSSIBLE AMMUNITION AGAINST DISEASE!

Brought to you by The Institute for Vibrant Living™

To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245 or visit www.IVLProducts.com

Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Avoid Travel Tummy Ache

2009-08-05T18:26:31.965-07:00

In This Issue…

	Avoid Travel Tummy Ache
	Fix Your Digestion and Fix Your Health
	Dark Chocolate Is Delicious And Healthy

Dear Reader,

Our bodies follow natural rhythms and when those rhythms are disrupted by summer travel our digestive systems sometimes rebel. Abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea can turn your dream vacation into a gastrointestinal nightmare.

Travel can interrupt the internal body clock that regulates hunger and bowel movements. This can be particularly troubling when you cross time zones, especially when your vacation includes international travel. Suddenly you are awake when you should be sleeping, you are hungry in the middle of the night and your whole system is topsy-turvy.

Many travelers fall into poor eating habits and drink carbonated drinks, snack between meals and gulp down meals in a hurry when they are rushing to catch a plane. People on vacation often drink more alcohol and caffeine than their bodies can tolerate. Our bodies may respond to this by developing gastric disturbances.

Although anyone can experience gastric disturbances when traveling, it is more common in young children than in adults and they have a higher risk of dehydration and other complications. Pregnant women also have a higher risk because of lowered gastric activity and increased gastrointestinal transit time. Elderly people are more susceptible to dehydration and need to be carefully monitored if they contract diarrhea.

One way to help prevent gastric upset is to start taking probiotic supplements at least two weeks prior to your trip. Probiotics, which are available in supplement form, populate the gastrointestinal tract with friendly bacteria that limits the growth of unwanted bad bacteria such as salmonella, clostridia and E.coli. Many people take probiotics every single day to maintain a healthy microflora balance in the intestines.

If you experience gastrointestinal problems when you travel, try to get your body back on track with natural remedies. First of all, you will need to drink plenty of fluids to avoid becoming dehydrated. Start with sips of any fluid other than caffeinated beverages. Herbal teas, especially those containing mint, can be helpful in soothing an upset stomach. Chamomile is another herb that can be used in tea form to relieve a variety of stomach ailments including spasms, intestinal cramps and gas pains. Slippery elm, which is available in supplement form, can help reduce the inflammation associated with an upset digestive tract.

Above all, keep your immune system healthy because your first defense against digestive infection is a strong immune system built through proper nutrition, sleep and exercise. Make sure your travel plans include time for adequate rest and exercise. If you are traveling by plane, arrive at the airport in plenty of time so you don’t have to sprint to make your plane. Eat light meals and drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of clean purified water every day while you are on vacation. You look forward to your vacation all year long so you want to make sure it is trouble-free. Take good care of yourself so that all of your travel memories will be happy ones.

Yours in good health,

Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch

Fix Your Digestion and Fix Your Health

Your colon is a battlefield filled with “friendly” and “unfriendly” bacteria. The friendly bacteria (also known as probiotics) help you to assimilate nutrients. They also prevent the attachment of “unfriendly” microflora, which can dilute the strength of your immune system.

A wide range of both traditional and alternative health professionals now agree that a continually replenished stronghold of “friendly” bacteria is essential for a robust and worry-free digestive system. Unfortunately, levels of “friendly” bacteria rapidly decline with age.

Like no other probiotic formula on the market, VIBRANT FLORA 15/20™ replenishes your colon with the vital microflora to counteract toxic pathogens that threaten your immune system and your colon’s equilibrium.

Dark Chocolate Is Delicious And Healthy

Dark chocolate contains MORE flavonoids and antioxidants than milk chocolate WITHOUT the harmful fats and sugar. And better even than dark chocolate is pure cocoa powder from which all other chocolate is made.

How can you...
HELP LOWER YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE, BOOST YOUR IMMUNE RESPONSE, RAISE YOUR GOOD HDL CHOLESTEROL, HELP PROTECT YOURSELF FROM HEART ATTACK AND STROKE & BOOST YOUR SEX LIFE LIKE NEVER BEFORE?

COCOBERRI™ offers you all the luscious taste of the world's best chocolate with the refreshing fruity zing of fresh raspberries as well as the most widely-studied heart healthy antioxidants. There's no other chocolate-raspberry drink like it anywhere.

Brought to you by The Institute for Vibrant Living™

To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245 or visit www.IVLProducts.com

Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Preserve Mother Natures Bounty For Savory Meals All Year Long

2009-07-29T17:50:07.542-07:00

In This Issue…

	Preserve Mother Nature’s Bounty For Savory Meals All Year Long
	You Don't Have to Surrender to Lung Disease
	Good Caffeine? You Bet!

Dear Reader,

Let’s face it. Few things in life taste better than fresh summer vegetables. Those delicious meals of summer vegetables from your garden or your local farmers’ market don’t have to end in August. They can be available to you all year long. All you have to do is learn some basic preservation methods for canning, freezing and drying vegetables and herbs. Won’t it be wonderful to have those juicy July tomatoes as an ingredient in your chili on some cold, blustery winter day?

Canning summer vegetables involves a process of blanching, peeling, and cold-packing them into Mason jars. The jars and then covered with a wet, heated lid. The jars should then be placed in a boiling water bath for 15 to 20 minutes. The pot for this bath must be large enough that the jars and lids are covered with boiling water. The heat from the water bath forces the air out of the jar, sealing it once it cools. Since bacteria cannot enter a sealed jar, the food can be preserved for a number of years. After the water bath you should carefully remove the jars and place them on a dish-towel covered surface where they can cool gradually.

Freezing is another simple and convenient way to preserve food for several months. It slows food deterioration and stops the growth of bacteria. Preparing vegetables for freezing involves blanching. Blanching is a technique used to keep vegetables crisp and tender by scalding them in a quick boil and then submerging them in an ice bath for cooling. Package blanched vegetables in freezer bags or containers and freeze thoroughly for storage. Food expands as it freezes so do not overfill containers.

Drying is the best preservation method for herbs. Dried herbs should be stored in airtight containers such as small canning jars. The herbs will retain more of their original flavor if you store the leaves whole and crush them when you are ready to use them. Be sure to label and date your containers. Store containers in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Dried herbs are best used within a year. Bear in mind that as your herbs lose their color, they are also losing their flavor.

Whether you are freezing, canning or drying you should start out with the freshest vegetables available, preferably ones that are picked on the same day you preserve them. After all, the fresher they are when your preserve them the better they will taste when you enjoy them in the cooler months to come. Preserved vegetables and herbs also make great gifts so prepare some extra helpings and spread the delicious joy around next winter.

Yours in good health,

Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch

You Don't Have to Surrender to Lung Disease

Perhaps you’re among those who fight a daily battle against chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or constant respiratory infections. If so, you’re not alone. There has been an unprecedented growth in the number of serious lung problems in the United States, most caused by environmental pollutants that attack your respiratory system. If not stopped, these airborne particulates can cause disease and shorten your life.

Fight back with the all-new nutritional supplement—SECOND WIND™. You simply won’t find more potent protection for your respiratory system. Its unique formulation of natural ingredients works with each part of your respiratory system to help you breathe easy today and tomorrow!

Good Caffeine? You Bet!

Green tea is unique: it's made from pure, unfermented leaves that are harvested at their peak perfection and then stabilized through exposure to both humid and dry heat — giving green tea the highest concentration of polyphenols and locking in the tannins.

Tannins ensure that caffeine is taken to the brain in only small amounts so it can be easily used. This helps green tea drinkers improve their vitality and stamina without the up-and-down effect of black tea.

Tannins inhibit the oxidation of your body's DNA material, a leading cause of cell destruction and mutation.

Green tea tannins help clear urinary tract infections, stimulate digestion, reduce unwanted body fat, increase hair growth and support saliva secretion to keep teeth free of plaque.

Pretty amazing, don't you agree? Gain the enhanced immunity protection of 20 cups of tea with just ½ dropperful of GREEN TEA ELIXIR™!

Brought to you by The Institute for Vibrant Living™

To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245 or visit www.IVLProducts.com

Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Kidney Stones Are More Prevalent In The Summer

2009-07-22T19:04:13.498-07:00

In This Issue…

	Kidney Stones Are More Prevalent In The Summer
	What Do Your Kidneys Really Do For You Every Day?
	Failing Eyesight is Not an Inevitable Part of Aging.

Dear Reader,

Most people look forward to summer with its carefree days and restful vacations. But for people who suffer from kidney stones summer can be the most dreaded season of the year. Kidney stones are more prevalent in the summer because they are linked to low water consumption and many people don’t drink enough water to compensate for higher temperatures.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, over a million Americans are treated for kidney stones each year. Men are three times more likely to develop kidney stones than women. Age also plays a role and people between the ages of 30 and 60 are at the highest risk. Other risk factors include family history, obesity and recurrent kidney infections.

Kidney stones are mineral deposits that are comprised of calcium, uric acid and an amino acid called cysteine. The stones are hard masses which can be as small as a grain of salt or as large as a golf ball and they can be extremely painful. Typically, a kidney stone sufferer feels a sharp cramping pain in the back and sides in the area of the kidney or the lower abdomen. Sometimes the first sign of a kidney stone is sudden and excruciating pain, which occurs when the stone moves into the urinary tract causing irritation and blockage.

People who have experienced kidney stones live in constant fear of a recurrence. One of the best natural ways to prevent and treat kidney stones is with plenty of water. This is especially important when the weather is extremely hot. If you are at risk for kidney stones it is essential that you drink water throughout the day, even if you don’t feel thirsty. If your body doesn’t get enough water then waste products start to accumulate in the kidneys and those waste products can form kidney stones. People with a history of kidney stones should drink at least 14 cups of water a day. Put slices of lemon in your water because lemons are high in citrate, which helps inhibit the growth of kidney stones.

Because diets high in protein increase your risk of kidney stones it is important to reduce the amount of meat that is consumed. (Excessive consumption of animal protein contributes to the production of uric acid.) If you cut your meat intake by 30 percent you can substantially reduce your risk of kidney stones.

People with low levels of magnesium and B6 have an increased risk for kidney stones so many holistic health practitioners recommend taking supplements. Cranberry supplements may also be helpful because they support urinary health. Talk to your holistic practitioner about the supplements that will work best for you so that you can enjoy your summer without worrying about the excruciating pain of kidney stones.

Yours in good health,

Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch

What Do Your Kidneys Really Do For You Every Day?

It’s their critical job to filter blood (about 1700 quarts a day), ridding the body of waste products.

The kidneys filter metabolic waste products from protein, fat, various minerals, alcohol, drugs, and other ingested toxins. Your kidneys are your indispensable wastewater removal system.

Much of the water you drink is necessary to clean the blood and flush acid waste out of the body via the kidneys.

Your kidneys also regulate all your body’s water; electrolytes monitor the acid/alkaline balance of your blood and help control blood pressure.

Now, you can EASILY help cleanse, repair & maintain your body’s waste water removal system FOR LIFE…with Kidney Clear™.

Failing Eyesight is Not an Inevitable Part of Aging.

What are the two biggest culprits behind eye problems? Oddly enough, sunlight and pollution.

Your eyes (and mine) enjoy almost no protection from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. This bombardment of UV rays leads to free-radical damage responsible for the vast majority of vision problems.

Worse yet, because most of us live in or near cities, your eyes are overexposed to pollution and suffer from more free radical damage than any other organ in your body. Now for the good news. The latest medical research reveals you can combat and defeat this constant, ever increasing free radical assault on your eyes by feeding your body with high powered, targeted antioxidants. Vision Clear™ is the most potent, comprehensive and instantly bioavailable nutritional support for total eye health ever developed by longevity science. With Vision Clear™ you can help…

•	Prevent general oxidation-damage to your vision
•	Improve your night vision
•	Improve the microcirculation of retinal tissue
•	Protect your eyes from harmful sunlight
•	Keep your eyesight sharp and clear forever!

Brought to you by The Institute for Vibrant Living™

To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245 or visit www.IVLProducts.com

Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Keep Your Cool When The Heat Is On

2009-07-15T18:23:25.746-07:00

In This Issue…

	Keep Your Cool When The Heat Is On
	Snip the Fuse of Cardiovascular Dynamite
	Put lots of "Green" into the Bank Account of your Health

Dear Reader,

It’s summertime. A sweltering heat wave has gripped many parts of the country. The days are long and tempers are short, and it’s not just in your mind. There is solid scientific evidence that explains why and how the weather affects our moods.

As one researcher put it: “When it’s hot we are more likely to become dehydrated and when we are dehydrated our bodies are under serious physical stress. This physical stress level changes our moods and we are more likely to become irate and less likely to choose rational responses when things don’t go our way. We tend to whine and moan are more prone to give in to anger, irritation, poor judgment and fatigue.” Law enforcement studies show that long periods of extremely hot weather lead to an increase in violent crime rates. Scientists call it “heat aggravation.”

The awareness of a link between hot weather and short tempers predates the age of scientific research on the topic. In fact, heat has long been associated with anger in phrases like hot under the collar, hot head and boiling mad. The antidote to anger has found its way into our language with expressions like chill out, don’t lose your cool and take a chill pill.

For a first hand look at mood-changing affects of extremely hot weather all you have to do is get into your car and start driving. Statistics show that incidents of road rage increase in proportion to the temperature. Even the most benign incidents get blown out of proportion and people react with rude hand gestures, yelling, and in extreme cases, violence.

So what can you do to keep your cool when the heat is on? For one thing, make sure you spend some time in quiet meditation every day so that you stay focused on peace and calmness. Take good care of your body and soul. Drink plenty of water and take deep cleansing breaths when you start to feel stressed.

If something does happen that has the potential to upset you, try not to overreact. If a car cuts in front of you don’t go ballistic. Just let it slide. For the sake of your personal safety and your sanity, it’s best to not respond in any way to inconsiderate drivers. You can’t change their rude behaviors but you can certainly change how you react to them.

When the mercury rises it becomes critical to keep everything in perspective. If you allow yourself to become angry you can damage your physical health. Medical research shows that frequent or extreme anger can cause your blood pressure and heart rate to rise, which makes your heart work harder. Anger can cause angina (chest pain) because the vessels constrict and reduce the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart.

So do yourself and those around you a favor by keeping a lid on anger when the heat is on. Your body and soul will thank you for it.

Yours in good health,

Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch

Snip the Fuse of Cardiovascular Dynamite

Our new heart & inflammation formula is a 7-in-1solution that lowers inflammation throughout your whole body & restores energy FAST!

Chronic, low-grade total body inflammation is linked to every degenerative condition associated with aging including diabetes, arthritis, asthma, poor immune response, fatigue, dry, flaky skin, poor muscle tone and the list goes on.

This breakthrough formula—called CoQSupreme™— contains 7 heart-strong, powerhouse ingredients in their finest and most bioavailable forms that you need to snip the fuse of cardiovascular dynamite for good. CoQSupreme is designed to give you a dramatic energy boost as well as do wonders for your joints, your skin, your immune system and your brain – so you can live your life to the fullest every day!

Put lots of "Green" into the Bank Account of your Health

Wheatgrass has been called the nectar of rejuvenation, and it's easy to see why. Wheatgrass is rich in enzymes, vitamins, hormones and nucleic acids. It has widespread effectiveness, but its three most important health roles are: blood purification, liver detoxification and colon cleansing. These three components are the foundation of super great health.

Barley grass and wheatgrass are both abundant sources of superoxide dismutase (SOD). This is a powerful antioxidant and anti-aging enzyme. SOD is a proven anti-inflammatory for arthritis, edema, gout, and bursitis. Lemon Grass is another fantastic cleanser that helps detoxify the liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder and digestive tract. It helps cut down uric acid, cholesterol, excess fats and other acid wastes while stimulating digestion and blood circulation. If you want to cleanse your colon and liver, nourish your major organs, boost your energy, this combination, found in Super Wheatgrass Combo™ absolutely cannot be beat.

Brought to you by The Institute for Vibrant Living™

To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245 or visit www.IVLProducts.com

Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Everybody Needs Some Sunshine In Their Lives

2009-07-08T17:55:42.393-07:00

In This Issue…

	Everybody Needs Some Sunshine In Their Lives
	Fix Your Digestion and Fix Your Health
	Bone Strength Breakthrough

Dear Reader,

When the weather turns warm and it is only natural to step out into the sunshine and soak up the soothing rays. A certain amount of sunshine is good for us because it triggers a biochemical process in the body that leads to the production of Vitamin D. Too much sun, however, can lead to serious discomfort and permanent damage to the skin.

Unfortunately, the commercial sunscreens on the market that are meant to protect us are loaded with toxic chemicals. To avoid exposing yourself and your family to these chemicals, choose natural sunscreen products. Mango butter, aloe vera gel, emu, coconut and sesame oils are all effective in preventing sunburn when used properly. Look for natural alternatives to chemical sunscreens.

In addition to sunscreen there are some common sense measures that will go a long way toward sunburn prevention. Avoid being outdoors in direct sun when the sun is strongest, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. If you can’t avoid being outdoors during the hottest part of the day, seek shade. (Bear in mind that invisible rays can reflect up toward you from the ground so you will still need to use some skin protection.) Be especially careful if it is windy. Balmy breezes may disguise the fact that you are getting sunburned. Wide brimmed or floppy hats will help prevent sunburn on sensitive facial and neck areas.

If despite your best intentions you do get sunburned, use natural substances to relieve the pain. Dampen a washcloth with cool water and apply it to the area, or take a cool bath or shower. Adding some baking soda to your bathwater can help to soothe your skin. Pure aloe gel is also very soothing to sunburned skin. The fresher the gel, the better it works. You can even use a real aloe plant. Cut off a spear, split it open, and rub the clear gel from the inside of the leaf on the sunburn. You can also mix 10 ounces of non-fat dry milk, 2 tablespoons salt and 25 ounces water. Saturate a cloth with the mixture and apply to sunburn for 20 minutes. Drink plenty of water. Sunburn can be dehydrating, causing fluid loss through your skin.

Leave blisters alone, if they form. The fluid inside acts as a protective agent for your skin. Breaking the blisters will slow healing and increase the risk of infection.

In recent years, some people have become irrationally afraid of the sun because of dire warnings in the media. Don’t let the fear of getting sunburned keep you from benefiting from Mother Nature’s healing rays. Mentally and physically, everyone needs some sunshine in their lives!

Yours in good health,

Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch

Fix Your Digestion and Fix Your Health

Bone Strength Breakthrough

The Surgeon General has already told you the bad news. The older you get, the higher the odds that your bones will get so weak you’ll break a bone. If THAT happens, your prospects are bleak.

Now I want to tell you the good news. It doesn’t have to happen to you. Because here at IVL, we’ve found a breakthrough combination of vitamins and minerals that can actually help your bones get stronger day by day.

OsteoK2™ – the daily bone strength formula with plant-based calcium, horsetail, vitamin D and menaquinone-7 (vitamin K2) doesn’t just slow-down bone loss – it can actually help your body rebuild your bones.

Brought to you by The Institute for Vibrant Living™

To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245 or visit www.IVLProducts.com

Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Keep Mosquitoes At Bay

2009-07-01T17:57:26.72-07:00

In This Issue…

	Keep Mosquitoes At Bay
	How Can the Rooster Help Keep Joints & Muscles Free of Pain?
	Less Toxins = Less Pain, More Energy

Dear Reader,

Mosquitoes love summer outings and they don’t mind showing up without an invitation. These annoying uninvited guests can turn a pleasant gathering into a nightmare of swatting and itching. Female mosquitoes are especially troublesome because they need blood in order to produce a healthy brood of eggs. Most mosquitoes are active at dawn and dusk but there are also mosquitoes that seek hosts during the day. There are 150 different mosquito species that live in this country.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to minimize the chances of mosquitoes ruining your outdoor summer fun. It helps to understand a little bit about them. Mosquito larvae thrive in brackish stagnant water such as is found in discarded tires, clogged gutters and shallow ponds. The larvae develop into adults and leave the water about seven days after the female lays her eggs. Depending on the species, a female can lay between 100 and 400 eggs and produce a brood every two to three days (about 3,000 eggs in a lifetime). Removing any items containing stagnant water in your yard will greatly reduce your mosquito population.

If you are going to be outside for any length of time, be sure to wear light-colored clothing. Mosquitoes love dark clothing. They also love strong sweet smells so don’t use concentrated perfumes, deodorants, lotions, hair gels or hair sprays before attending a summer outing.

There are several types of plants that can repel mosquitoes. Citronella grass is used to make candles and citronella oil. Catnip is another good repellant. Rosemary, which is commonly grown in herb gardens, is also helpful. Marigolds have a smell that mosquitoes and many other insects find objectionable. The aforementioned plants can also be used to make an all-natural mosquito repellant. All you have to do is crush the leaves and flowers to release the oils and put them in alcohol. Once the plants have infused the liquid you can use the mixtures just as you would other repellants.

There is some evidence that suggests taking zinc supplements may make you less susceptible to mosquito bites. Bear in mind that it takes about a month to build up enough zinc in your system to discourage insects.

If you do get bitten there are many natural remedies to help reduce the itching and discomfort brought on by mosquito bites. Apple cider vinegar applied directly to the bite can help. You can also make a paste out of witch hazel and baking soda to relieve itching. Lavender oil applied to the bite can also reduce itchiness. Holding an ice cube on the area immediately after being bitten will reduce the chances of swelling.

So go ahead and plan your summer outing so you can enjoy the beautiful warm weather with your family and friends. Use natural methods to keep the mosquitoes at bay and hopefully the uninvited guests will stay away.

Yours in good health,

Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch

How Can the Rooster Help Keep Joints & Muscles Free of Pain?

100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain. Back pain, neck pain, knee pain, foot pain - you name it, we've got pain, all day, every day. In fact, joint and muscle pain cause more disability and missed work days than cancer and heart disease combined.

As we age, our joints and muscles lose Hyaluronic Acid (HA) and HA is the critical lubricant for your healthy joints, skin and eyes. This joint dryness is the principal reason why your cartilage - the shock absorber between your joints - becomes malnourished and starved, and why it starts to break down and disintegrate, causing terrible pain with each step.

HA is extracted from Rooster Comb and it's the best source for providing your body with a low molecular weight source of HA, which means higher absorption. HA is odorless, neutral in color, water-soluble and classified as a food. It is 100% natural and has shown to be effective in maintaining skin elasticity, joint flexibility and sharp vision among adults. And it’s found in Alleviate™ - Joint Formula!

Less Toxins = Less Pain, More Energy

Medical studies reveal that each and every day we’re exposed to harmful substances, not only in the form of common air pollution, but through the very foods we eat. The Standard American Diet (or SAD for short!!) is loaded with preservatives, antibiotics, pesticides, and dangerous chemicals — all waiting to inundate your system, from your organs, to your bloodstream, from your head down to your toes, robbing you of the vibrant good health that you deserve.

But once these harmful substances are removed from your system, you’ll begin to look and feel dramatically better.

Now there’s a clinically studied and effective formula from India that fights off pain while it boosts brain function. It’s called Pain & Brain™ - Ayurvedic Curcumin Formula.

GET READY to reduce metabolic wastes that trigger body inflammation and you may start to gain NEW flexibility, NEW energy, NEW mental alertness, and NEW cardiovascular health.

Brought to you by The Institute for Vibrant Living™

To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245 or visit www.IVLProducts.com

Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Sleep Apnea, Not Just for Men

2009-06-24T18:33:00.331-07:00

In This Issue…

	Sleep Apnea...It's Not Just for Men...
	Good Caffeine? You Bet!
	As a Result of Poor, Acid-Based Nutrition...

Dear Reader,

You've probably heard the term "sleep apnea," or maybe even the technical term "obstructive sleep apnea" or OSA. Or maybe someone you know and love suffers from this disorder, it may even be you. Chances are pretty high that OSA affects you or someone you care for, since over 12 million Americans suffer from this condition. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a disorder where a person stops breathing as many as 20 to 30 times an hour while they are sleeping. Just think how many times this adds up to in a full night's sleep. At least a hundred or more times a night they stop breathing! What's really scary is that about half of these 12 million Americans have no idea they have sleep apnea, no idea at all. One myth about sleep apnea is that if you have it, you'd know it. But often a person finds out they have sleep apnea if their partner notices that they snore loudly with periods of gasping or snorting. Just think about single people–or those that for whatever reason, sleep alone–they may never learn that they are affected by this common, yet deadly condition.

Beyond having your partner point out gasping and snorting while you innocently try to catch your zzz's, other clues are being extremely tired and irritable during the day; having trouble concentrating and remembering things at work or school; and waking up with a dry mouth, sore throat or a headache. And because sleep apnea deprives you of a good night's sleep, research shows that having OSA can double your risk of being involved in a car accident, since you're not getting adequate rest at night.

Another myth is that sleep apnea may make you tired, but it's not dangerous, or anything to worry about. Wrong! If sleep apnea or OSA goes untreated, it can increase your risk of having high blood pressure, a heart attack and even a stroke.

One of the biggest myths about sleep apnea is that it only effects men. In reality, sleep apnea can effect women and children too. Young women with asthma are twice as likely to have OSA. Sleep apnea often goes under diagnosed in women because they're often embarrassed to admit they snore, and sometimes they don't have other symptoms to indicate they have it. Being overweight can also increase a person's chances of having sleep apnea, as well as having hypertension or a family history of this condition. Your risk also goes up if the airways in your nose, throat or mouth are narrow, or if you suffer from nasal allergies, since they can cause congestion, which leads to a narrowing of the airways.

Many people mistakenly believe that surgery is the only fix for OSA. But like so many conditions and health situations, lifestyle changes can help many patients tremendously. Changes such as sleeping on your side and losing excess weight can help reduce the condition. In some cases, people suffering from sleep apnea wear a mask over their nose to increase air pressure in their throat, called CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure. This mask worn during sleep can help a person breathe better while they sleep.

Pay attention to your health and how you feel. If you suffer from any of these symptoms, please see your health care professional. Meanwhile, remember to take the best care of yourself that you can. Remember to drink plenty of fluids, get lots of rest, take a good multi-vitamin multi-mineral each day, avoid stress and get regular exercise. All these things may seem simple, but they can help you to feel better and sleep more soundly too! Sweet dreams!

Cindy Gray
Guest Health Writer
Author of The Spirit of Health

Good Caffeine? You Bet!

Green tea is unique: it's made from pure, unfermented leaves that are harvested at their peak perfection and then stabilized through exposure to both humid and dry heat — giving green tea the highest concentration of polyphenols and locking in the tannins.

Tannins ensure that caffeine is taken to the brain in only small amounts so it can be easily used. This helps green tea drinkers improve their vitality and stamina without the up-and-down effects of black tea.

Tannins inhibit the oxidation of your body's DNA material, a leading cause of cell destruction and mutation.

Green tea tannins help clear urinary tract infections, stimulate digestion, reduce unwanted body fat, increase hair growth and support saliva secretion to keep teeth free of plaque.

Pretty amazing, don't you agree? Gain the enhanced immunity protection of 20 cups of tea with just a half a dropper of GREEN TEA ELIXIR™!

As a Result of Poor, Acid-Based Nutrition...

It’s easy to become tired, weak, imbalanced, and dull-witted–like there’s a bag of wet wool around your head. You become congested in your lungs, liver, kidneys, and colon.

But let’s face it, it’s hard to eat enough salads and enough fruits to get all the fuel you need. Hard to get the right mix of proteins, amino acids, healthy fats, fiber and antioxidants. Harder yet to accomplish this regimen, day in and day out.

Now with one anti-aging super cocktail, Long Life Food Source™, you’ll be able to switch on a secret source of energy and strength every day for the rest of your life!

Brought to you by The Institute for Vibrant Living™

To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245 or visit www.IVLProducts.com

Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Daydream Your Way To A Happier Life

2009-06-17T23:28:37.851-07:00

In This Issue…

	Daydream Your Way To A Happier Life...
	Can the World’s Longest Living Thing Help You Live Longer Too?
	What Would the ULTIMATE Fruit Drink Contain?

Dear Reader,

Remember that lazy kid in school who was always daydreaming? Maybe he wasn’t so lazy after all. There was a time when daydreaming was associated with laziness and lack of ambition. A daydreamer was considered to be a person who couldn’t stay on task and who did not use their time wisely.

Modern science has dispelled the myth that daydreaming is a waste of time. In fact, statistics show that becoming sidetracked with your favorite daydream can greatly improve your productivity. Many scientists believe that daydreaming is a fundamental feature of the human mind and refer to it as our "default" mode of thought. Instead of responding to the outside world, the daydreaming brain starts to contemplate its internal landscape. This is when new and creative connections are made. As one researcher put it: “We call it the 'resting state,' but the brain isn't resting at all."

Daydreaming is an excellent way to mentally recharge and improve our focus. Recent research conducted by Dartmouth College showed that during daydreaming our brain is doing very important work. While our brain is not really active during daydreaming, it processes very important tasks for us. For instance, when your mind wanders and you imagine a bright future, you will actually become happier and that creates a mindset that can lead to success in real life.

Like meditation, daydreaming allows your mind to take a refreshing mini-vacation to release tension and anxiety. Daydreaming is a great way to stay calm in an intense situation. Experts suggest taking a five-minute breather from stressful situations and picture yourself walking on the beach or doing something else you find enjoyable.

There are countless stories about successful people who have used daydreams as wells from which to draw creative thoughts. Composers, novelists and filmmakers often develop new ideas through daydreaming. Research scientists, mathematicians and physicists have found major breakthroughs while daydreaming. Einstein was one of the most notorious daydreamers in history.

Mental health experts recommend that you set aside time each day for daydreaming. Even though daydreaming itself is a spontaneous action, you can still set a certain time when you sit in a quiet spot and let your mind wander. If you do this on a regular basis you will be amazed at the way it boosts your creativity. When you daydream, your thoughts know no boundaries.

Daydreaming is not just the mind's way of zoning out when reality is less than thrilling, psychologists say. It is an essential part of a healthy life. And like night dreams, daydreams reveal our innermost selves.

So give yourself permission to let your mind wander for a while. Find yourself a grassy spot in the park and just sit there and breathe in the fresh air while your mind takes a much-needed break from reality.

Yours in good health,

Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch

Can the World’s Longest Living Thing Help You Live Longer Too?

What Would the ULTIMATE Fruit Drink Contain for Your Lifelong Health?

Brought to you by The Institute for Vibrant Living™

To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245 or visit www.IVLProducts.com

Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Prevent ‘Weekend Warrior’ Discomfort

2009-06-10T12:16:34.611-07:00

In This Issue…

	Prevent ‘Weekend Warrior’ Discomfort
	Supercharge Your Daily Energy and Health by Getting Your Greens
	Why Heart Disease and Stroke are Linked to Gum Disease

Dear Reader,

Being cooped up in an office all week when the weather is sunny and warm can trigger a major case of spring fever. So when the weekend finally arrives, we rush outdoors to play a game of softball, go for a three-mile bike ride, paint the garage or plant a garden. While physical exercise is absolutely critical to good health, the “weekend warrior” who is sedentary all week often winds up with sore, aching muscles and limited mobility. While muscle soreness and cramps aren't generally life threatening, they can be uncomfortable and annoying and can dampen your enthusiasm for physical activity.

To avoid this, start an exercise program that keeps you moving several days a week so your body is ready for the challenge when the weekend comes. Pilates, brisk walks, aerobic exercise and strength training can get your body in shape so that you don’t wind up with tight, sore muscles at the end of your weekend.

Always perform gentle stretching exercises before you begin a physically demanding task. Cold muscles that are suddenly put to work are far more likely to become damaged than muscles that are warmed up properly. Warm ups increase your heart and breathing rates, which helps promote a healthy flow of oxygen and nutrients to your muscles so that the body is properly adapted to the demands of exercise.

Although gardening is an excellent tonic for the body and the soul, doing too much of it at one time can wreak havoc on your muscles and joints. The bending and kneeling associated with gardening can be troublesome, especially if you are over 50 years of age. If the dirt is hard and you are stomping hard on a shovel, you may be setting yourself up for sore muscles in your arms, shoulders or back. Take your gardening projects step by step. Trying to till an entire garden in one weekend is a bad idea.

If, despite your best efforts, you still wind up with sore muscles, there are several natural approaches to relieving the pain. Because of heavy advertising campaigns, some people think the answer to pain relief is nonsteriodal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen. Instead of subjecting your body to NSAIDS, try natural methods for pain relief.

A heating pad can be very helpful in relaxing tight muscles. Heat increases blood flow to painful muscles and can help relax muscle spasms. Apply heat for approximately 20 minutes at a time a few times a day. Massage is another natural approach to relieving muscle soreness. Massage increases circulation and reduces tension in muscles. There are various types of massages which may help, including deep tissue or massage with essential oils.

There are several herbs that can be used for muscle soreness. Menthol, a component of peppermint, can be of great benefit when added to a hot, steamy bath. Chamomile can also be added to the bath. Comfrey salves and ointments can be helpful. You can coarsely chop dry comfrey leaves, soak them with warm water, and apply to the sore area, covered, for at least 15 minutes. Valerian root, native to Europe and western Asia, decreases muscle spasms and acts as a tranquilizer.

This weekend, try to pace yourself so that you don’t wind up with sore muscles on Monday morning. Your muscles and your joints will thank you for it.

Yours in good health,

Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch

Supercharge Your Daily Energy and Health by Getting Your Greens>

Why are Heart Disease and Stroke Linked to Gum Disease?>

The surface of healthy mucous membrane in the mouth is rich with antibodies called "immunoglobulins" that protect us from viruses and bacteria.

As we age, the body makes less of them and we have less resistance to the 300 kinds of oral bacteria.

When oral bacteria enter the bloodstream through a gum tear, they have a direct pipeline through the carotid arteries to the brain.

This same bacterial plaque that causes periodontal disease can trigger an immune response and inflammation that, in turn, can cause the arteries to swell. And the swelling of the arterial walls results in a blood flow constriction that can lead to a higher rate of stroke and heart disease.

ORAL GUARD™ DENTAL SPRAY is a great solution for overall oral health!

Brought to you by The Institute for Vibrant Living™

To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245 or visit www.IVLProducts.com

Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Swine Flu…Is it Coming or Is It Going?

2009-06-03T12:11:32.467-07:00

Roses Provide Sensual Delight And Health Benefits

2009-05-27T11:58:39.504-07:00

In This Issue…

	Swine Flu…Is it Coming or Is It Going
	Why Do Wino’s Outlive Their Physicians?
	What Do Your Kidneys Really Do For You Every Day?

Dear Reader,

Not that long ago, all we heard on the radio and TV was “swine flu…epidemic…swine flu...pandemic…swine flu.” The media was awash with near-constant reporting of the swine flu situation across the U.S. and Mexico. It's as though the media was infected with the need to scare the living daylights out of people! And it worked. Then more recently, it's like the whole swine flu situation simply faded away–just about as fast as it came upon us!

While these reporting methods may feel like sensationalism, the bottom line is the Swine flu—or any type of influenza—should be taken seriously. As of this writing, over 200 cases of swine flu were confirmed, and some people actually died from it, or from related complications. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) monitor these types of medical emergencies, and local hospitals and national experts in infection control and epidemiology have exercised preparedness plans accordingly. In short, the situation was ready to be handled on nationally and locally.

But the news media does not tell us that regular seasonal flu kills 36,000 people on average every year. Swine flu comes nowhere near this figure. Almost all U.S. cases so far were reported as having been mild. Analysts believe that there could be a "second wave" of this flu in the upcoming fall or winter, and that it could be more virulent. It's been reported that vaccines take about three to six months to produce, so they will be ready for distribution by winter's flu season. Thanks to the avian flu scare of 2006, local, state, and federal agencies are well equipped to deal with a serious outbreak.

A perspective on this issue should be considered, however. Flu viruses are constantly changing and mutating into new strains, and while the swine flu was a new virus type, it was not necessarily more deadly than any other types. This type of flu spreads the same ways as other flu types are known to spread, and infection can be totally prevented just as with the “seasonal” flu. Of course, this is not to discount the fact that many people can and did get sick from this flu, and there were some deaths, but it must be taken into consideration that in the United States alone, almost 36,000 people die from the seasonal flu EVERY YEAR, and almost no news or media coverage happens about that.

Below are listed some facts and very important prevention measures that can help stop the spread of this virus (and other viruses) in its tracks.

KEY FACTS

The swine flu is a respiratory infection that occurs in pigs. While normally the cross infection to humans does not occur, this strain has mutated so that it was spread to humans and also can be spread human-to-human like other strains of flu. It is not more deadly and this strain can be treated with antiviral drugs (zanamavir and oseltamivir) to minimize the effect of the disease symptoms. Symptoms of the swine flu are the same as other types of flu: fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, etc. A person who has the virus is contagious from 1 day before they feel symptoms until 7 days after symptoms begin.

The swine flu virus is spread the same way as other flu types. Respiratory droplets from sneezing or coughing have the virus on them and can land on surfaces and live for up to 2 hours. More commonly we cover our mouth with a hand when we sneeze or cough and then transfer the virus from the hand to surfaces that other people come in contact with like door handles, counters or when shaking hands or touching people. You CANNOT contract the swine flu or any other disease from eating properly cooked pork. (Pork should be cooked to 160 degrees to kill any viruses or bacteria.)

As with the seasonal flu, young children, the elderly, people with suppressed immune systems, and those with underlying medical conditions are more susceptible to the virus and should take more precautions.

HOW TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF SWINE FLU – OR ANY OTHER KIND OF FLU

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze or cough and immediately throw away the tissue.
Wash your hands, wash your hands, and wash your hands! Wash them frequently, and especially after sneezing, coughing, or touching surfaces in public places. The alcohol hand cleansers are effective as well.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Avoid close contact with anyone who is sick.
If you feel sick with the flu STAY HOME and avoid contact with other people. It is especially important to keep sick children home from school.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET THE FLU

STAY HOME
Keep hydrated and monitor your symptoms
See your doctor if your symptoms are severe or become worse in a short time period.
Go to the Emergency Room if you have:

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in your chest or abdomen
Sudden onset of dizziness or confusion
Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea

In children, go to the Emergency Room if they have:

Fast or troubled breathing
Bluish skin color
They won’t drink enough fluids
Not waking up or if they are interacting with others abnormally
Being so irritable that the child doesn’t want to be held
IF THE FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS IMPROVE AND THEN RETURN WITH A FEVER AND WORSE COUGH
Fever with a rash

> >

While it is true that this is a new virus and there is much we don’t know about it, we DO know that it can be prevented using these very common measures and awareness.

So keep in mind that the media are eager to jump the gun in terms of reporting news. The first reports about swine flu in Mexico made the disease sound highly lethal. But now, public health officials are saying the swine flu (or H1N1 strain) may be no more deadly than plain old seasonal flu. Disease experts say that when there is an outbreak of any kind, testing tends to focus on the sickest people, and misses those with milder symptoms of the illness. Remember SARS, back in 2003? When this virus hit Toronto, it nearly shut down the entire city. The initial reports indicated that SARS was killing nearly 50 percent of the people it infected. But as the outbreak progressed, it became clear that the actual death rate was closer to 5 percent. Experts later stated that the early figures were misleading because they didn't include people who only had mild illnesses. A similar pattern was seen with the West Nile virus several years e arlier in New York.

Experts are learning that it's very difficult to figure out how many people have been infected with any particular virus, including swine flu. Hospitalized patients truly represent only a fraction of those affected.

Follow the above precautions, and work toward overall good health! Get plenty of rest. Drink lots of water. Eat healthy, fresh foods. Avoid processed and artificial foods. Get lots of exercise, especially outdoors. Take a quality multi-vitamin, multi-mineral supplement every day. Be proactive with your health, and have a good relationship with a health care practitioner you trust.

Let’s focus on staying healthy and enjoying life…and not letting the news media keep us coming and going!

Cindy Gray
Guest Health Writer
Author of The Spirit of Health

> >

Why Do Wino’s Outlive Their Physicians?>

Benjamin Franklin was a frequent visitor to France where they appreciated his wit and charm with the ladies. Franklin observed that the French seemed more robust, more alive, more healthy than their American counterparts.

Yet Franklin also observed, the French kept late hours. They ate dinner at nine. And they drank wine. And they preferred talking to dancing. In other words, the French did everything WRONG for their health which, I suppose, is what prompted Ben's question in the first place.

What is it about red wine that links it to health when we normally associate alcohol with excess sugar, weight gain, liver disease and diabetes?

Based on research from doctors at several leading universities including Harvard University, longevity scientists have pinpointed the remarkable life extension nutrient found inside the red grape skin – Resveratrol.

What Do Your Kidneys Really Do For You Every Day?>

Brought to you by The Institute for Vibrant Living™

To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245 or visit www.IVLProducts.com

Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

In This Issue…

	Roses Provide Sensual Delight And Health Benefits
	Supercharge Your Daily Energy and Health by Getting Your Greens
	Can Aloe Vera help extend your lifespan?

Dear Reader,

Roses have been cultivated for thousands of years and are ancient symbols of romance and beauty. They are lauded for their beauty and for the sweet, soothing nature of their scent. And their beauty is not just skin deep. Long after the blooms fade and die roses continue to bless us with sensual delight, health and wellbeing.

When rose blooms die they leave behind rose hips, which are berry-like fruits that are excellent sources of vitamins A, C, D and E. Rose hips also contain bioflavonoids, fructose, citric acid and zinc. They are considered ripe when they are pink in color. Orange rose hips are not quite ripe and deep red ones are too ripe. Rose hips have a fine, tart flavor and can be made into jams or jellies, crushed into tea, ground into medicinal powder or reduced to an essential oil.

Rose hips are helpful in relieving the symptoms of colds, flu, digestive distress and urinary tract infections. Some studies have shown that rose hips can ease the pain, stiffness and joint inflammation associated with osteoarthritis.

To brew rose hip tea, chop up an entire rose hip, cover with distilled or purified water and boil for at least 30 minutes. (Make sure the rose hips you use do not come from bushes that were treated with pesticides.) Strain through a fine strainer or cheesecloth. While rose hip tea is soothing and aromatic, it does not have high enough concentrations to aggressively treat chronic health problems. Rose hips can be capsule form which provides a much more concentrated dose. The dosage you need will be determined by your age, weight and the severity of your symptoms. Talk to your holistic health practitioner to determine the dosage that is best for you.

Rosewater and rose oil, which are derived from rose petals, have therapeutic properties that promote healthy skin. Rosewater is frequently used in Europe as a flavoring for sweets, but it is also beneficial for the skin. Its astringent and toning properties can reduce redness by soothing enlarged capillaries just below the skin’s surface.

Rose oil can be used on all skin types but it is particularly beneficial for dry, sensitive or aging skin. It should be applied directly to the skin. Because rose oil promotes tissue growth and collagen production, it is often used to treat burns and eczema. Bear in mind that rose oil is very concentrated so a small amount goes a long way.

If you use products containing rose oil for your skin it is important that you confirm that the product contains genuine rose oil. Some manufactures label their products “genuine” rose oil when in fact they are using a synthetic.

Treat yourself to the sensual delight and health benefits that roses have to offer. Poets have created “odes’” to the rose for centuries. Treat yourself to the sensual delight and health benefits that roses have to offer and you may be inspired to create a little poetry of your own.

Yours in good health,

Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch

Supercharge Your Daily Energy and Health by Getting YourGreens>

Can Aloe Vera help extend your lifespan?>

There are native peoples all over the world who live close to the earth and who primarily eat the fruits, vegetables, nuts and grasses of the earth. Whether in Africa, Greece, Australia or the American Southwest, Aloe Vera is regarded by native peoples as the "plant of immortality," and it's easy to see why.

Aloe vera contains dietary nutrients such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, and chromium which are all essential for maintaining a healthy metabolism. In other words, Aloe Vera is virtually a gold mine of health-supporting phytonutrients which have been shown to have anti-aging effects.

From its dramatic ability to help repair wounds, to ease nearly any stomach complaint, Aloe Vera has proven itself effective for speeding up the body's natural ability to bring itself back into balance. Now, it's your turn to take advantage of this amazing natural miracle by ordering NATIVE ALOE SOURCE™ today – RISK FREE.

Brought to you by The Institute for Vibrant Living™

To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245 or visit www.IVLProducts.com

Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Treat Lactose Intolerance With Supplements, Diet Changes

2009-05-20T11:49:52.825-07:00

In This Issue…

	Treat Lactose Intolerance With Supplements, Diet Changes
	Fix Your Digestion and Fix Your Health
	Bone Strength Breakthrough

Dear Reader,

While that little milk mustache may look cute in dairy advertisements, it is anything but cute to the 40 million Americans who suffer some level of lactose intolerance. For those who suffer from this condition a simple glass of milk can lead to severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, flatulence and bloating. Symptoms usually occur within one hour after ingesting milk or certain other dairy products.

People with lactose intolerance have trouble digesting lactose, the natural sugar found in dairy foods. The intolerance is caused by a deficiency in a particular enzyme (lactase) that the body uses to digest sugar.

Although there is nothing you can do to improve your body’s ability to produce lactase, there are things you can do to control the symptoms. The treatment for lactose intolerance includes avoiding dairy products (especially milk) using a lactase enzyme supplement and including lactose-free or lactose-reduced products in the diet.

Lactase enzyme supplements contain the enzyme that breaks down lactose. Lactase capsules and tablets can be taken orally immediately before eating a meal that contains lactose. Lactase drops can be added to regular milk 24 hours before drinking milk to reduce the lactose levels. Millions of people have found that using the supplements eliminates or significantly reduces the unpleasant symptoms of lactose intolerance so that they are able to include milk and other dairy foods in their diets.

Probiotic supplements can also be beneficial to people who suffer from lactose intolerance. Probiotics are active organisms that live in your intestines and help maintain a healthy digestive system. When used daily, they can help restore and maintain healthy flora in the intestinal tract so that you are less prone to gastric upsets.

Although milk and foods made from milk are the only natural sources of lactose, it is often “hidden” in prepared foods to which it has been added. People who have a low tolerance for lactose need to be aware of the many food products that may contain lactose, even in small amounts. Some of those include processed breakfast cereals, instant potatoes, instant soups, lunch meats, salad dressings and mixes for pancakes, biscuits and cookies. Some products that are labeled as nondairy (such as powdered coffee creamer and whipped toppings) may also include ingredients that are derived from milk. Lactose is also used in the manufacture of certain types of medications.

In planning meals, people with lactose intolerance should make sure that each day’s diet includes enough calcium. Many non-dairy foods are high in calcium, including dark green vegetables such as broccoli or fish with soft, edible bones, such as salmon and sardines. A holistic dietician can help you plan meals that maximize your calcium intake without adding dairy to your diet.

Yours in good health,

Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch

Fix Your Digestion and Fix Your Health>

Your colon is a battlefield filled with “friendly” and “unfriendly” bacteria. The friendly bacteria (also known as probiotics) help you to assimilate nutrients. They also prevent the attachment of “unfriendly” microflora, which can dilute the strength of your immune system.

A wide range of both traditional and alternative health professionals now agree that a continually replenished stronghold of “friendly” bacteria is essential for a robust and worry-free digestive system. Unfortunately, levels of “friendly” bacteria rapidly decline with age.

Like no other probiotic formula on the market, VIBRANT FLORA 15/50™ replenishes your colon with the vital microflora to counteract toxic pathogens that threaten your immune system and your colon’s equilibrium.

Bone Strength Breakthrough!>

The Surgeon General has already told you the bad news. The older you get, the higher the odds that your bones will get so weak you’ll break a bone. If THAT happens, your prospects are bleak.

Now I want to tell you the good news. It doesn’t have to happen to you. Because here at IVL, we’ve found a breakthrough combination of vitamins and minerals that can actually help your bones get stronger day by day.

OsteoK2™ – the daily bone strength formula with plant-based calcium, horsetail, vitamin D and menaquinone-7 (vitamin K2) doesn’t just slow-down bone loss – it can actually help your body rebuild your bones.

Brought to you by The Institute for Vibrant Living™

To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245 or visit www.IVLProducts.com

Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

The Underestimated Power of Quiet

2009-05-13T20:14:11.108-07:00

In This Issue…

	The Underestimated Power of Quiet
	More Americans Than Ever Have High Blood Pressure
	Chocoholics Rejoice! Dark Chocolate Is Delicious And Healthy

Dear Reader,

Have you noticed lately the amount of sound that constantly surrounds us? It's true. And true silence is a rare experience for most people nowadays. In fact, there are many folks who are simply so used to being surrounded by noise that they cannot stand to be without some kind of noise – be it the intentional "background" noise of a television or radio; or even a "white noise" machine, made with the intention of creating noise, on purpose. In our modern 24/7 world we never seem to be able to escape the sound of sound. It seems like everywhere we go, there it is, the sound track of music, blasting radio, blaring television. In public bathrooms, music is piped in. Waiting rooms, and waiting in line, sound, sound, everywhere.

Most of us have no idea how much of a toll noise takes on our well-being. Even low-level office noise can make it more difficult to focus and stay motivated. Research shows that those in private offices or who used one of those white noise machines (to help drown out background noise) performed better on tests. One study published in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology indicated that when women are exposed to high levels of frustrating noise, they tend to eat more high-carb snacks. Noise reduces persistence in problem-solving tasks, increases frustration and irritability, and increases the desire to eat--in an attempt to help release noise-created stress. Behavioral health research shows that people inundated by noise all week at work are more apt to over-eat on weekends, too.

Excess sound does more than drive us to the refrigerator. Exposure to high levels of noise can also pose a danger to our hearing. One single rock concert can cause hearing loss, even though you may not notice it right away. Same thing with using iPods or earphones set too loudly. Repeated exposure to loud noise may increase your chances of developing an acoustic neuroma, a slow-growing tumor that typically begins to affect hearing and balance after age 50. One German study connected chronic noise to an increased risk of heart attack, particularly in men. Another common effect is sleep disturbances, again, tipping the scale for further health implications.

So what can we do to decrease the racket, and increase peace and quiet? Here are just a few suggestions...

Turn it off, turn it all off. Turn off the radio, TV, cell phones, anything and everything that is or can make noise. Then just sit back and listen to the quiet. The soothing quality of silence may surprise you.

Keep dinner time sacred; focus on who you're eating with. Have a conversation and enjoy some peace and quiet along with your meal--and do not answer the phone.

If you have a cell phone, set it on mute, and let your voice mail pick up your calls. Then later on, have a designating time to check your calls. Put yourself in control of who to call back and when to call back.

In transit, turn off the car radio. Being in a car alone is one of the best times for uninterrupted peace, quiet and thinking.

While exercising, keep the headphones and the racket out of your ears and your brain! Focus instead on your body, your posture and your breathing--who knows, you might just figure out a problem!

Take a walk outside, ride a bike, swim, take a yoga or Tai Chi class--all these activities promote increased quiet time.

Go on a "news vacation." Seeing and hearing bad news all the time doesn't help anyone, it just stresses you out and keeps you on pins and needles. Take a vacation from hearing the news...see and hear how good it feels.

"Speech is the small change of silence." English novelist, George Meredith

Silence helps you to become more aware of your surroundings. Silence amplifies the spirit. Silence allows you to hear yourself think, literally. When you walk into a church, a museum, or a library, you cannot help but notice how calm the energy feels within that space. Just by being there, amidst the calm and the quiet, your energy becomes calm too.

Why not give silence a try? You just might enjoy it.

Cindy Gray
Guest Heath Writer
Author of The Spirit of Health

More Americans Than Ever Have High Blood Pressure

Now, there’s a natural, breakthrough way for you to achieve healthy blood pressure and keep it that way for life.

NATTO BP PLUS™ is a breakthrough formula that contains 5 super-nutrients and is the most advanced and complete formula ever created to support the entire range of critical functions for maintaining a normal, healthy blood pressure.

What is it about red wine that links it to health when we normally associate alcohol with excess sugar, weight gain, liver disease and diabetes?

Chocoholics Rejoice! Dark Chocolate Is Delicious and Healthy

How can you... HELP LOWER YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE, BOOST YOUR IMMUNE RESPONSE, RAISE YOUR GOOD HDL CHOLESTEROL, HELP PROTECT YOURSELF FROM HEART ATTACK AND STROKE & BOOST YOUR ROMANTIC LIFE LIKE NEVER BEFORE?.

COCOBERRI™ offers you all the luscious taste of the world's best chocolate with the refreshing fruity zing of fresh raspberries as well as the most widely-studied heart healthy antioxidants. There's no other chocolate-raspberry drink like it anywhere.

Brought to you by The Institute for Vibrant Living™

To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245 or visit www.IVLProducts.com

Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Toss Out The Salt And Spice Up Your Life With Herbs

2009-05-06T23:06:45.564-07:00

In This Issue…

	Beyond Bon Appetite!! What we can learn from the French...
	Why Do Wino’s Outlive Their Physicians?
	What Do Your Kidneys Really Do For You Every Day?

Dear Reader,

Folklore suggests that tossing salt over your left shoulder can bring good luck. But if you really want to change your luck (and your life) for the better, the best thing you can do is throw the salt completely away. According to a recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 70 percent of Americans consume more than double the daily-recommended level of sodium.

A diet high in sodium significantly increases the risk of high blood pressure, which can lead to heart attack and stroke. About 16 million people in the United States have heart disease and 5.8 million have had a stroke.

Most of the sodium consumed by Americans comes from packaged, processed and restaurant foods. Awareness is the key to reducing salt intake for ourselves and for our families.

Since we know health risks it poses, the best thing we can do is get salt completely out of our kitchens and off our tables. If it’s handy you’re more likely to use it. Many people automatically reach for the salt shaker before they have even tasted the food on their plates. Once you lower the amount of salt you use you will actually learn to appreciate the mouth watering subtle flavors in the foods we eat.

Be aware that many condiments contain significant amounts of sodium. For example, mustard, salad dressings, sauces, bouillon cubes, olives, pickles and soy sauce tend to be high in sodium. If you choose to use these opt for the lower-sodium versions.

More and more people are cooking with herbs to add savory flavors to food without adding fat, sodium and calories. Because they are easy to grow and maintain, many people create their own herb gardens this time of year. If you have limited space in your yard you can easily grow herbs in containers.

Fresh herbs have a stronger taste than dried herbs so you will probably want to use less. The best way to learn about the taste of herbs is to take a clean leaf of the herb and chew it, but do not swallow it. Notice the taste. Learning about the different flavors of herbs will help you decide which ones will best suit your culinary needs.

Following are some commonly used herbs:

Oregano:	This full-flavored herb is often used in stews, soups and pasta dishes that have tomato-based sauces. For best results harvest the leaves a few minutes before using them and pinch them to release the flavor.
Chives:	Fresh chives can be finely chopped and added to butters, cheeses and salads. Bright purple chive flowers make an attractive and flavorful garnish.
Basil:	This herb is probably the most popular cooking herb used today. It has a strong and pungent flavor that is often used in Italian cooking but also goes well with any dish that includes tomatoes.
Mint:	This herb comes in a variety of flavors including peppermint, spearmint, lemon and even chocolate. It adds a fresh and fragrant touch to desserts but can also be used with a variety of vegetables. A sprig of mint along with some lemon in iced herbal teas makes a low-calorie and refreshing treat on a warm spring afternoon.
Parsley:	Although many people think parsley is just a garnish it has many culinary uses as well. It can add subtle flavors to, soups, stews and fish. It also tastes great tossed in salads.

So toss out the salt shaker and spice up your life with fresh herbs. Your heart will thank you for it.

Yours in good health,

Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch

You Don’t Have to Surrender to Lung Disease

Fight back with the all-new nutritional supplement—SECOND WIND™. You simply won’t find more potent protection for your respiratory system. Its unique formulation of natural ingredients works with each part of your respiratory system to help you breathe easy today and tomorrow!

Change The Way You Look, Feel And Age

If you want to blast away inflammation that's turning your body into a train wreck…
If you want to eliminate built-up inflammation that’s slowing your heart– your mind & making your joints ache… If you want to start feeling great and enjoying your life…

Learn about the new program, originally developed for cardiovascular health, and how it could change the way you look, feel and age.

Step 1: Combine the highest quality, pharmaceutical-grade fish oil with...
Step 2: The highest quality conjugated linoleic acid, CLA, and...
Step 3: Strengthen it all with a powerful broad-spectrum antioxidant…

It’s called the TOTAL HEALTH REJUVENATION PROGRAM™.

Brought to you by The Institute for Vibrant Living™

To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245 or visit www.IVLProducts.com

Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Calcium And Exercise Are The Keys To Osteoporosis Prevention

2009-04-29T22:37:52.02-07:00

In This Issue…

	Calcium And Exercise Are The Keys To Osteoporosis Prevention
	Bone Strength Breakthrough
	Why Do Wino’s Outlive Their Physicians?

Dear Reader,

As the baby boomers continue to age we will see an increase in many age-related conditions, including osteoporosis, a condition characterized by the loss of the normal density of bone, resulting in fragile bones that are easily fractured. While women are four times more likely than men to develop the disease, some men also suffer from osteoporosis. According to the National Institutes For Health, 8 million women and 2 million men suffer from osteoporosis each year.

Bone density is greatly influenced by genetic factors, which in turn are sometimes modified by environmental factors and medications. Post menopausal women have an increased risk because women can lose up to 20 percent of their bone density in the five to seven years following menopause.

Small-framed people, smokers and those who use alcohol to excess have a higher risk of developing osteoporosis than the general population. Although there are some factors, such as heredity, that we cannot control, there are other osteoporosis risk factors that we can influence. Getting enough calcium can greatly reduce the chances of developing osteoporosis. Calcium is a mineral that is essential for healthy bones and for several important functions in the human body. It can be obtained through the diet (such as through dairy products) or through supplementation.

Most people do not get enough calcium. In fact, recent research conducted by the National Institute On Aging revealed that only 21 percent of us are getting the recommended amount of calcium. Because there are no obvious symptoms of calcium deficiency most people don’t know they have a problem until osteoporosis is discovered, either through bone scans (or other similar tests) or though a broken bone.

In recent years calcium supplements have become increasingly popular as a way to mitigate the risks of developing osteoporosis. Calcium supplements are safe and generally well tolerated.

Many medical professionals recommend weight-bearing exercises in addition to calcium supplements. Weight-bearing aerobic activities involve doing aerobic exercise on your feet, with your bones supporting your weight. Examples include walking, dancing, low-impact aerobics, elliptical training machines, stair climbing and gardening. These types of exercises work directly on the bones in your legs, hips and lower spine to slow mineral loss and keep your bones strong.

If you already have osteoporosis you can help maintain your existing bone density through exercise. Take calcium supplements and make exercise a priority so you can enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle for many years to come. You have waited your whole life to enjoy your golden years, so do everything you can to keep them golden.

Yours in good health,

Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch

Bone Strength Breakthrough

The Surgeon General has already told you the bad news. The older you get, the higher the odds that your bones will get so weak you’ll break a bone. If THAT happens, your prospects are bleak.

Why Do Wino’s Outlive Their Physicians?

Yet Franklin also observed, the French kept late hours. They ate Dinner at nine. And they drank wine. And they preferred talking to dancing. In other words, the French did everything WRONG for their health which, I suppose, is what prompted Ben's question in the first place.

What is it about red wine that links it to health when we normally associate alcohol with excess sugar, weight gain, liver disease and diabetes?

Based on research from doctors at several leading universities including Harvard University, longevity scientists have pinpointed the remarkable life extension nutrient found inside the red grape skin – Resveratrol.

Brought to you by The Institute for Vibrant Living™

To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245 or visit www.IVLProducts.com

Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Go Green for Great Health!

2009-04-22T01:27:25.363-07:00

In This Issue…

Go Green for Great Health!

Dear Reader,

It seems like everywhere you turn today you hear the word GREEN... green buildings, green fabrics, green restaurants, green cleaning products, green this, green that. Green choices, green decisions... Good grief!! It's like the world is trying to be earth-friendly in a hurry to make up for the lack of care we've given to the planet over the last 50 or so years. Hopefully, by making earth-healthy green choices in the "11th hour" we can undo some of the damage we've caused in terms of pollution and global warming.

Meanwhile, this same sort of "hurry up and fix it" thinking can apply to health care. Over the years, it's easy to do environmental damage to our bodies, contaminating it with pollutants, poor food choices and lack of exercise. Then in the "11th hour," when we're feeling unhealthy, or perhaps have become ill, we try to make up for it in a hurry, basically becoming green in our self-care. We start watching what we eat; we start taking vitamins, maybe even join a health club. All the while, hoping that all the years of unhealthy choices can be repaired. The bad news is, it just doesn't work that way--with the planet or our health.

But there is some really good news--and that good news is green! It's wheatgrass power, and you can't get any greener than wheatgrass! The juice from wheatgrass is truly a gift of nature, it's actually the blood of nature, and it's a perfect fit for dynamite health. Since ancient times, the wheat berry has been considered the most valuable of foods. Likewise, the chlorophyll from the growing wheatgrass has proven itself to be the most powerful blood cleanser on earth. The solid content of juice made from wheatgrass is 70% chlorophyll, the sunshine element from the plant that rejuvenates the human body. Chlorophyll is often called "the blood of plant life" because it closely resembles the molecular structure of human red blood cells. Chlorophyll is one of nature's greatest healers for conditions both inside and outside of the body, and it is considered a survival food because it feeds us dynamic nutrients, yet the body gives up very little energy to assimilate it.

Chlorophyll is the basis of all plant life; it is truly liquid sunshine. Chlorophyll absorbs energy from the sun and in some mysterious way it uses it to create sugar, starch and proteins. Science has proven not only that chlorophyll will stop the growth and development of unfriendly bacteria, but it is actually akin to human blood. Studies show that chlorophyll has the same chemical stucture as hemoglobin, the red cells in human blood. Both chlorophyll (wheatgrass juice) and hemoglobin consist in part of similar atoms. The only difference between them is that in human blood the metallic atom consists of iron; while in chlorophyll, this atom is magnesium.

When you think about all the many remarkable benefits of wheatgrass, it's crazy not to be taking advantage of it for great heath--for green health.

There are several ways to go about taking wheatgrass. You can buy a wheatgrass juicing machine, and juice your own. Wheatgrass is fun to grow, or you can buy it freshly grown from a health food store. Of course, the taste is usually a bit off-putting, because it tastes pretty much like a freshly mown field of grass, in a glass! Some health food stores sell "shots" of wheatgrass juice. You can get about one ounce of wheatgrass juice for about $3 to $10. You can also buy wheatgrass juice pre-bottled, however, the taste of that mown field is still there... I've found the easiest way to consume wheatgrass juice, and the most economical, is in supplement form. Depending on the supplement, it is the equivalent to consuming a giant green leafy salad! Studies show that 15 pounds of fresh wheatgrass is equivalent in nutritional value to 350 pounds of the choicest vegetables.

You can easily pump up your pH level with wheatgrass. pH stands for "potential of Hydrogen," and is the ratio measurement for acidity and alkalinity. The perfect pH level for humans is 6.8 to 7.2, and by maintaining this level, the trillions of cells in your body are free to absorb and use vitamins and other nutrients, and to excrete the waste. When your diet includes higher amounts of fat, sugar and animal protein, your body becomes more acidic and the cellular waste will ferment, rot, and not exit your body. When this waste doesn't get eliminated, it causes pain in your tissues, muscles, joints and major organs, setting the stage for illness and disease. The best way to reduce this acidity is with alkalizing foods such as wheatgrass. According to Nobel Prize winner Otto Warburg, cancer cells cannot grow in an oxygen-rich environment with a balanced pH. There's no super food on earth that promises so much health for so very little.

There are also some fantastic combination formulas available that bring together the alkalizing benefits of wheatgrass, lemon grass and barley grass into one energizing, immunity-enhancing green formula. Wheatgrass has been called the nectar of rejuvenation, and it's easy to see why. Wheatgrass is rich in enzymes, vitamins, hormones and nucleic acids. It has widespread effectiveness, but its three most important health roles are: blood purification, liver detoxification and colon cleansing. These three components are the foundation of super great health.

Barley grass and wheatgrass are both abundant sources of superoxide dismutase (SOD). This is a powerful antioxidant and anti-aging enzyme. SOD is a proven anti-inflammatory for arthritis, edema, gout, and bursitis. Lemon Grass is another fantastic cleanser that helps detoxify the liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder and digestive tract. It helps cut down uric acid, cholesterol, excess fats and other acid wastes while stimulating digestion and blood circulation. If you want to cleanse your colon and liver, nourish your major organs, boost your energy, this combination absolutely cannot be beat.

Taking this superfood combination may help turn around poor health in no time, making up for the many years of polluting the environment of our health. It’s like putting lots of "green" into the bank account of your health.

So invest in your health, it's the best "green" decision you can make!!

Cindy Gray
Guest Health Writer
Author of The Spirit of Health

Brought to you by The Institute for Vibrant Living™

To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245 or visit www.IVLProducts.com

Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Lutein Can Help Prevent The Heartbreak Of Macular Degeneration

2009-04-15T12:10:06.235-07:00

In This Issue…

	Lutein Can Help Prevent The Heartbreak Of Macular Degeneration
	Failing Eyesight is Not an Inevitable Part of Aging
	Stay Immune-Strong Year Round with Nature’s First Food

Dear Reader,

Macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of blindness in older adults, turns the golden years into a period of heartbreak and debilitation for the more than 10 million Americans who are diagnosed each year. As the baby boomers age we are likely to see a major increase in the incidence of macular degeneration.

Macular degeneration results when the fragile center of the retina (the macula) deteriorates after years of slow and steady damage. The macula is responsible for central vision. There is no pain associated with macular degeneration and the vision loss is so gradual that most people don’t notice it at first. As the condition progresses, those affected may experience blurred vision and objects may appear to be distorted. In some cases color vision may be altered. If left untreated, macular degeneration will eventually lead to a profound loss of central vision. The disease does not affect peripheral vision and usually doesn't cause total blindness. But since it causes loss of central vision those affected with it cannot drive and often have difficulty recognizing people’s faces.

Women are more likely than men to develop the condition. A decrease in estrogen after menopause appears to be the contributing factor. Smokers are up to four times more likely than non-smokers to have macular degeneration. Diets high in refined carbohydrates increase the risk because they cause a rapid increase in blood sugar and insulin release. Several studies have suggested a link between obesity and macular degeneration.

For years, medical researchers have acknowledged the benefits of certain minerals and vitamins in maintaining eye health, Lutein, an antioxidant belonging to the carotenoid family, has been closely linked to a decreased risk of macular degeneration. Foods that are naturally rich in lutein include dark green, leafy vegetables like spinach and kale, as well as other highly colored foods such as corn and egg yolks.

Most people do not get enough lutein in their diets but it is widely available in a variety of nutritional supplements and fortified foods and beverages. Consider adding lutein supplements to your diet, especially if you are over 50.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends a dilated eye exam at least every two to three years if you're between 45 and 60 and every year after the age of 60. Regular eye exams can detect macular degeneration in its very early stages, well before the disease causes vision loss. A combination of lutein supplements, a healthy lifestyle and regular eye exams can spare you the heartbreak associated with macular degeneration.

Yours in good health,

Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch

Failing Eyesight is Not an Inevitable Part of Aging

•
Prevent general oxidation-damage to your vision
•
Improve your night vision
•
Improve the microcirculation of retinal tissue
•
Protect your eyes from harmful sunlight
•
Keep your eyesight sharp and clear forever!

What are the two biggest culprits behind eye problems?
Oddly enough, sunlight and pollution.

Your eyes (and mine) enjoy almost no protection from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. This bombardment of UV rays leads to free-radical damage responsible for the vast majority of vision problems.

Worse yet, because most of us live in or near cities, your eyes are overexposed to pollution and suffer from more free radical damage than any other organ in your body. Now for the good news.

The latest medical research reveals you can combat and defeat this constant, ever increasing free radical assault on your eyes by feeding your body with high powered, targeted antioxidants.

Stay Immune-Strong Year Round with Nature’s First Food

Colostrum, sometimes called “Mother’s first milk” is a special fluid, which contains powerful immune and growth factors to insure the survival and healthy growth of the newborn. This bovine colostrum, from dairy cows, can help replace the life-sustaining growth and immune factors you were born with, which decline with age.

This immune-boosting, disease-fighting, anti-aging food is 100% SAFE and EFFECTIVE and it comes with a long, distinguished track record unsurpassed in the health world.

FIRST MILK FLORA™ also includes additional “friendly flora” (1.5 million colony forming units per tablet) to promote healthy digestion. All this is contained in a delicious, cherry flavored, chewable tablet.

Brought to you by The Institute for Vibrant Living™

To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245 or visit www.IVLProducts.com

Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Easter is a Time of Renewal

2009-04-08T10:40:09.57-07:00

In This Issue…

	Easter is a Time of Renewal
	Good Caffeine? You Bet!
	As a Result of Poor, Acid-Based Nutrition...

Dear Subscriber,

Easter comes late this year, and spring is well underway. The beauty of the spring brings a feeling of renewal to all people. Consider the birds of the air, and the lilies of the field as families gather for food and celebrations.

Easter celebrations often include fake grass, plastic eggs, chocolate bunnies loaded with preservatives and baskets covered in cellophane. For a healthier and much more cost effective approach, look for decorations and activities that don’t harm our bodies or the environment.

Decorate your home for Easter with recyclable materials. Create grass for Easter baskets with paper scraps that you cut and crimp in a paper shredder. Use colorful ads from old magazines for added effect. Fill your children’s Easter baskets with eco-friendly items like gardening tools and seed kits, books and organic chocolates.

Make an easy Easter themed wreath for your front door by covering a straw wreath with some bright green foliage or moss. Add lots of early spring flowers such as tulips, daffodils, narcissus, and forsythia. Complete your wreath with a bow created from recycled ribbon.

Easter lilies are inexpensive and they add a cheerful note to your home’s spring décor. Display your Easter lilies in an area away from direct heat and in indirect sunlight. The flowers prefer temperatures around 60°. When selecting Easter Lilies, buy ones that are just beginning to open. The blooms will only last a few days, so selecting one about to open will allow you the maximum bloom time in your home. After the flower has died off, continue to grow the lily in its container until the last frost in your area. Then, transplant your Easter lily in a flower garden. Easter lilies will grow and bloom in your garden for years.

Buy real eggs in cartons that are made of cardboard. (Free-range eggs are the best.) Don’t succumb to the temptation to use commercial dyes. Natural food dyes give you more color possibilities and a broader range of shades. Kids really enjoy having the opportunity of playing with food and coloring their Easter eggs in an original way that celebrates their creativity.

Boil your eggs in water with a bit of vinegar and add one of the ingredients below and let the pot simmer for about 15 minutes:

•	Purple grape juice for lavender
•	Red cabbage for blue
•	Spinach for green
•	Lemon peels for yellow
•	Coffee or black walnut shells for brown
•	Yellow onion skins for orange
•	Beets or cranberries for pink
•	Red onion skins for red

Explain to your children that you are using natural dyes because they are healthier and better for the environment. Explain to them that after all of the Easter egg hunts are over, the eggshells will be composted for use in the garden.

Use the Easter holiday as an opportunity to educate your children about the importance of renewal and taking care of our planet. Peter Cottontail will enjoy his visit much more if your Easter celebration is focused on healthy living.

Yours in good health,

Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch

Good Caffeine? You Bet!

Tannins ensure that caffeine is taken to the brain in only small amounts so it can be easily used. This helps green tea drinkers improve their vitality and stamina without the up-and-down effect of black tea.

Tannins inhibit the oxidation of your body's DNA material, a leading cause of cell destruction and mutation.

Green tea tannins help clear urinary tract infections, stimulate digestion, reduce unwanted body fat, increase hair growth and support saliva secretion to keep teeth free of plaque.

Pretty amazing, don't you agree? Gain the enhanced immunity protection of 20 cups of tea with just a few drops of GREEN TEA ELIXIR™!

As a Result of Poor, Acid-Based Nutrition...

It’s easy to become tired, weak, imbalanced, and dull-witted like there’s a bag of wet wool around your head. You become congested in your lungs, liver, kidneys, and colon.

But let’s face it, it’s hard to eat enough salads and enough fruits to get all the fuel you need. Hard to get the right mix of proteins, amino acids, healthy fats, fiber and antioxidants. Harder yet to accomplish this regimen, day in and day out.

Now with one anti-aging super cocktail, Long Life Food Source™, you’ll be able to switch on a secret source of energy and strength every day for the rest of your life!

Brought to you by The Institute for Vibrant Living™

To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245 or visit www.IVLProducts.com

Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Walk Your Way To Better Health

2009-04-01T16:39:23.24-07:00

In This Issue…

	Walk Your Way To Better Health
	Supercharge Your Daily Energy and Health by Getting Your Greens
	Can Aloe Vera help extend your lifespan?

Dear Subscriber,

It’s hard to believe that something as simple as walking can help you slow down the aging process, lose weight, boost your cardiovascular and skeletal health and improve your mood. But it can. A simple 30-minute walk every day will produce measurable benefits. Whether you walk through a mall, hike through the woods or stroll through your neighborhood you will improve your physical and mental health.

In today’s society, we simply don’t walk enough. Studies show that 40 percent of American adults spend most of their day sitting. In the long term, an inactive lifestyle can lead to obesity and other serious health problems.

Some of the benefits of walking include:

•	Reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke
•	Lowers blood pressure
•	Reduces high cholesterol
•	Reduces body fat
•	Enhances mental well being
•	Increases bone density
•	Helps to control weight
•	Helps flexibility and coordination
•	Lowers breast cancer risk

Walking is particularly beneficial for senior citizens. Studies show that senior citizens who are regular walkers are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures because the bones are stronger. They are less likely to sustain injury because their joints have a better range of motion and muscles are more flexible. Because of the overall benefit to general health, regular exercise (such as walking) is linked to longevity.

The key to a successful walking program is to make it part of your daily lifestyle. Try to make walking a routine – for example, try to walk at the same time each day. If you are pressed for time, try two 15 minute walks or three ten minute walks. Another way to gauge your efforts is in steps. Research shows most people take about 2,000 to 4,000 steps a day. Aim for 10,000 steps daily to really improve your health. A step counter, or pedometer, is an inexpensive gadget that you can clip to your waistband to count your steps. Pedometers are easy to use and they are available in sporting good stores and other stores that sell exercise equipment.

If you decide to improve your health through walking, consider investing in a good pair of walking shoes. Wearing the wrong type of shoe can cause foot or shin pain, blisters and injuries to soft tissue. Walking shoes should have a good arch support and a slightly elevated heel with stiff material to support the heel when walking to prevent wobbling. Take light, easy steps and make sure your heel touches down before your toes. Whenever possible, walk on grass rather than concrete to help absorb the impact.

So grab your walking shoes and hit the trail. Your body and mind will thank you for it.

Yours in good health,

Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch

Supercharge Your Daily Energy and Health by Getting Your Greens

Most people know that plums, apples, carrots, broccoli, beets and anything green is better for you than anything in a box, can or bag that’s loaded with salt, sugar and preservatives.

In fact, REAL FOOD IS SUCH A POWERFUL HEALER IN THE HUMAN BODY THAT THERE ARE COUNTLESS STORIES OF SICK PEOPLE RECOVERING FROM LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESS JUST BY CUTTING OUT JUNK FOOD AND EATING REAL FOOD RIGHT OFF THE VINE.

But most people don't get their greens every day. In fact, in the course of a week, most people don't even eat one generous salad – so they suffer from acid overload.

The answer is simple...
All Day Energy Greens

Can Aloe Vera help extend your lifespan?

Aloe vera contains dietary nutrients such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, and chromium which are all essential for maintaining a healthy metabolism. In other words, Aloe Vera is virtually a gold mine of health-supporting phytonutrients which have been shown to have anti-aging effects.

From its dramatic ability to help repair wounds, to ease nearly any stomach complaint, Aloe Vera has proven itself effective for speeding up the body's natural ability to bring itself back into balance. Now, it's your turn to take advantage of this amazing natural miracle by ordering NATIVE ALOE SOURCE™ today – RISK FREE.

Brought to you by The Institute for Vibrant Living™

To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245 or visit www.IVLProducts.com

Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Control Seasonal Allergies The Natural Way

2009-03-25T01:20:00.816-07:00

In This Issue…

	Control Seasonal Allergies The Natural Way
	Bone Strength Breakthrough!
	Year Round Rejuvenation and Refreshment

Dear Reader,

The same beautiful flowers that delight our senses this time of year wreak havoc on the millions of Americans who suffer from allergies. Basically, spring allergies are the body’s reaction to foreign pollen in the air. Pollens are tiny powdery grains released from flowering plants, which are carried by the wind or insects. Pollen can land in a person’s eyes, nose, lungs and skin and cause an allergic reaction. Pollen can travel long distances and the levels in the air can vary from day to day.

Sneezing and watery discharges from the nose and eyes are some of the body's methods for flushing away the allergen particles. Because mucus is the body’s way of trapping foreign particles to keep them from invading our entire bodies, the sinuses are almost always affected by seasonal allergies. Aside from the physical discomfort associated with allergies, they can also affect our mental health. Several studies have shown that during allergy season sufferers experience a general sense of fatigue and are more prone to feelings of sadness. Allergy sufferers are also more prone to migraine headaches.

Because of the unpleasant side effects of over the counter and prescription allergy medicines, many sufferers look for natural ways to treat their seasonal allergies. For relief, look no further than your kitchen. One of the best allergy relief substances is locally produced honey. Honey has the dual advantage of relieving the discomfort associated with coughing while also helping to minimize your body’s immune response to pollen.

Eucalyptus and thyme are very effective in easing congestion. Just soak an ounce of eucalyptus or thyme in a cup of boiling water and inhale the steam. A cup of your favorite mint tea will also help congestion. Check your local health food store for supplements containing these and other natural allergy relievers.

Maintaining a healthy diet helps your body resist and fight allergies. Saturated fats, preservatives, fried foods and sugar can worsen symptoms. Make sure your diet has plenty of protein, fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains. People suffering from seasonal allergies should avoid milk and other dairy products because they thicken mucus and make it harder for the body to flush out the toxic substances.

Regular exercise is very important for allergy sufferers. Exercise strengthens the cardiovascular system and that helps eliminate wastes from the body. The sweating associated with exercise also speeds up the elimination process.

Sneezing, watery eyes and nasal drainage don’t have to dampen your warm weather fun. Treat your allergy symptoms the natural way and rediscover the joys of spring.

Yours in good health,

Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch

Bone Strength Breakthrough!

The Surgeon General has already told you the bad news. The older you get, the higher the odds that your bones will get so weak you’ll break a bone. If THAT happens, your prospects are bleak.

Year Round Rejuvenation and Refreshment

Cool, refreshing drinks that renew and restore you are fast becoming everyone's friend. Problem is, most are chock full of caffeine and sugar instead of the super nutrients found in REVIVE & THRIVE™. The combination of aloe and watermelon is particularly rich in the super nutrients that can jumpstart any run-down body and get it moving again.

Imagine, now with REVIVE & THRIVE, you can...

•	REV across the desert of any dragged-out day...
•	REPAIR your body with the most potent new superfoods packed with protein, antioxidants, amino acids and more...
•	REWARD your health with a drink that helps protect against immune weakness and cell damage.

NOT JUST FOR SUMMER. REVIVE & THRIVE IS YOUR BEST REJUVENATING & REFRESHING DRINK ALL YEAR ROUND!

Brought to you by The Institute for Vibrant Living™

To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245 or visit www.IVLProducts.com

Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Enhance Your Life With The Healing Power Of Touch

2009-03-18T01:12:05.395-07:00

In This Issue…

	Enhance Your Life With The Healing Power Of Touch
	Natural Power to Improve Health
	Fix Your Digestion and Fix Your Health

Dear Reader,

We come into the world with a burning need to be touched and that need travels with us from the cradle to the grave. Of all the five senses, the most important one is touch. A simple touch can soothe a child, comfort a loved one or calm an anxious infant.

As babies, it was through touch that we made sense of the world. Study after study has shown that touch is not just important to a baby’s development but it is also crucial to its survival. Premature babies who are regularly stroked and touched develop and go home sooner than preterm infants who are not touched. Healthy infants deprived of touch, even when they are getting adequate nutrition, will fail to develop properly. Most hospitals with neonatal intensive care units have therapists on staff to introduce nurturing touch to infants.

Elderly people who receive regular massages have less depression, experience better physical coordination and have more energy. Geriatric massage is a growing field and many nursing homes and assisted living facilities have massage therapists on staff. Therapeutic touch has also been shown to reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease such as restlessness, pacing, vocalization, searching and tapping.

Several studies have concluded that animals that are regularly stroked and petted develop larger brains, stronger bones and muscles and healthier immune systems than animals that are not touched when they are young. Anyone who has ever cuddled a kitten in their lap can vouch for the calming effect it has on humans. One recent study looked at people recovering from a heart attack and found that those who had the fewest second attacks were people who had pets. Whether it's your own pet, or a friend's, petting an animal will take your mind off your worries and generally make you feel good.

The healing power of touch is so well documented that schools of nursing offer courses on the topic. It wasn't too long ago that touch therapy was struggling for acceptance in the medical world. Today it is very common for health providers to recommend massage therapy as part of an integrated treatment plan.

Our innate need to be touched, along with the scientific research documenting the benefits, has contributed to the growing popularity of therapies that involve touch such as massage, reiki and acupressure. In recent years, a form of touch therapy called “body psychotherapy” has emerged as an effective treatment for people who have faced physical or emotional trauma. This form of therapy combines touch and verbal reassurance.

Touch is simple, yet can have profound affects on our physical and mental health. Even a simple hug can have a significant impact on both the giver and the receiver. Explore ways to celebrate the power of touch in your own life. You’ll be glad you did.

Yours in good health,

Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch

Natural Power to Improve Health

Apple Cider Vinegar EXTRA™ has NO artificial colors ... flavors ... or preservatives! Just nature’s best ingredients to help renew your body!

Today, millions of satisfied ACV users worldwide swear by its natural power to help improve overall health—from lowering cholesterol without drugs and controlling weight without dieting to increasing energy without artificial stimulants to relieving joint pain without medication.

Perhaps the most reliable, all-purpose health aid around!

Fix Your Digestion and Fix Your Health

A wide range of both traditional and alternative health professionals now agree that a continually replenished stronghold of “friendly” bacteria is essential for a robust and worry-free digestive system. Unfortunately, levels of “friendly” bacteria rapidly decline with age.

Like no other probiotic formula on the market, VIBRANT FLORA 15/50™ replenishes your colon with the vital microflora to counteract toxic pathogens that threaten your immune system and your colon’s equilibrium.

Brought to you by The Institute for Vibrant Living™

To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245 or visit www.IVLProducts.com

Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Spring Fever Unites Science And Romance

2009-03-11T22:24:27.067-07:00

In This Issue…

	Spring Fever Unites Science And Romance
	What Would the ULTIMATE Fruit Drink Contain for Your Lifelong Health?
	What do Your Kidneys Really Do for You Every Day?

Dear Reader,

Spring fever has been a central theme in love poems and stories for centuries. Webster’s dictionary defines spring fever as: “The laziness or restlessness that many people feel during the first warm and sunny days of spring”. There is no doubt that those first few weeks of warm weather improve our mood and boost our creativity while our winter-weary bodies literally rejoice in the warmth and the light. After the spring equinox, the population as a whole starts to report a higher energy level, decreased sleep, reduced eating and less depression.

While wine is one of the great and civilized pleasures of the world, a symbol of friendship, good living and romance, doctors are wary of encouraging people to drink wine because too much alcohol can bring with it a host of harmful effects. In spite of this caution, doctors do agree that red wine appears to contain an abundance of this amazing substance.

Although it seems a bit unromantic to suggest that something as poetic as spring fever is actually rooted in scientific and medical data, the truth is that biology plays a role. Spring fever is a physiological and psychological shift in the body's response to changing seasons. As natural light increases the retina sends a signal to our brains that creates positive hormonal changes. Our melatonin levels drop, which elevates our mood and gives us more energy. At the same time the mood-elevating chemical serotonin rises. People who suffer from seasonal affective disorder may become downright giddy as the days become brighter and longer.

Anthropologists have suggested that spring fever may have developed over the course of human evolution. They point out that early humans often spent winter in a state of near-hibernation. Then, when spring arrived, they would enter an active period of intense hunting, gathering and procreating. (Perhaps that explains why many of us “evolved” humans turn into couch potatoes during the dark cold days of winter.)

Poets and scientists are in agreement that “a young man’s fancy turns to love” in the spring. Research shows that mammals follow a seasonal pattern, one that promotes survival. Warm sunshine on our skin and the sensual smells of spring flowers bring out the romantic in all of us.

Children are susceptible to the mania of spring fever, as any teacher can tell you. The sunshine becomes a powerful magnet and they are likely to squirm in their desks until recess when they can go outside and play.

So what’s the best way to cope with spring fever? Enjoy it! Look at spring as a time of rebirth. Do some mental and emotional “spring cleaning” and get rid of psychological baggage that has been weighing you down. Honor the return of the sun and soak up the healing light provided by Mother Nature.

Yours in good health,

Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch

What Would the ULTIMATE Fruit Drink Contain for Your Lifelong Health?

How about 42 amazingly helpful blood purifiers, cleansers, detoxifiers and energizers including...

Cranberries, Red Currants, Peaches, Cherries, Blood Oranges, Strawberries, Papayas, Apple Pectin, Blueberries, Prunes, Blackberries, Red Grapes, Tangerine Oranges, Apricots, Star Fruit, Kiwi, Eleuthero Root, Coconut, Cherimoya, Mangos, Pomegranate, Tomatoes, Red Raspberries, Nectarines, Lecithin, Acerola, Phytosterol Blend, Grape Seed Extract, Guava, Passion Fruit, Plums, Bilberries, Red Delicious Apples, Pineapple, Vitamin C, Acai Fruit, Mangosteen, Pineapple Flavor, Probiotics and MORE!

THE PHYTOCHEMICALS THAT GIVE ALL THESE FRUITS THEIR UNIQUE COLORS ARE ALSO YOUR BEST POSSIBLE AMMUNITION AGAINST DISEASE!

What Do Your Kidneys Really Do For You Every Day?

It’s their critical job to filter blood (about 1700 quarts a day), ridding the body of waste products.

The kidneys filter metabolic waste products from protein, fat, various minerals, alcohol, drugs, and other ingested toxins. Your kidneys are your indispensable wastewater removal system.

Much of the water you drink is necessary to clean the blood and flush acid waste out of the body via the kidneys.

Your kidneys also regulate all your body’s water; electrolytes monitor the acid/alkaline balance of your blood and help control blood pressure.

Brought to you by The Institute for Vibrant Living™

To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245 or visit www.IVLProducts.com

Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Many Heart Disease Risk Factors Are Within Your Control

2009-03-04T00:50:00.785-07:00

In This Issue…

	Many Heart Disease Risk Factors Are Within Your Control
	Change The Way You Look, Feel And Age
	How an ancient Japanese food could… KEEP YOUR HEART BEATING STRONG

Dear Reader,

Heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women and Americans experience 54 percent more heart attacks in winter than in summer. Winter heart attacks tend to be more serious, with a 9 percent fatality rate. Some experts believe the seasonal fluctuations may be due to the added physical strain of dealing with shoveling snow and plunging temperatures. Recent studies have suggested that sunlight plays a crucial role. There is well-documented evidence to support that moderate exposure to sunlight protects against heart disease.

Although heart disease was once considered a “male” disease research shows that it is the number one killer of women. In fact, more women die of heart disease each year than all forms of cancer combined. When a woman has a heart attack, the symptoms may be somewhat different and less extreme than in men. In some cases, heart attacks in women may mimic a sore throat, stomach ache or severe muscle pain. Other symptoms may include shortness of breath, sudden weakness or fatigue, heart palpitations, skipped heartbeats, racing heart, dizziness, nausea and pains in the arm, neck or chest

There are many risk factors for heart attack that are within our control. Regular exercise is a simple thing that can have a profound effect on our overall health, especially our hearts. The food we eat (and the amount) can affect other controllable risk factors such as cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. A diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole-grain and high-fiber foods, fish, lean protein and fat-free or low-fat dairy products is the key. Omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to offer significant heart health benefits. Omega 3 fatty acids can reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure and slow the growth of plaque in our hearts. hypertension, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), joint pain and other rheumatoid problems, as well as certain skin ailments. Some research has even shown that omega-3s can boost the immune system and help protect us from an array of illnesses including Alzheimer's disease.

Omega 3 fatty acids are essential for a healthy heart but they aren't manufactured in the body. Consequently we must obtain Omega 3 fatty acids through supplements or through the foods we eat.

According to a recent study conducted at Duke University Medical Center, people with heart disease can lower their risk of subsequent cardiac events by over 70% if they learn how to manage stress. The study concluded that patients with heart disease who used stress management techniques reduced their risk of a future heart attack or of needing cardiac surgery.

Yours in good health,

Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch

Change The Way You Look, Feel And Age

If you want to blast away inflammation that's turning your body into a train wreck…If you want to eliminate built-up inflammation that’s slowing your heart– your mind & making your joints ache… If you want to start feeling great and enjoying your life…

Learn about the new program, originally developed for cardiovascular health, and how it could change the way you look, feel and age.

How an ancient Japanese food could… KEEP YOUR HEART BEATING STRONG

Medical researchers have clearly linked heart disease to excess animal protein consumption and excess sugar intake. Why? Because the fat in animal protein does not easily break down and it’s not rapidly burned off through exercise. The result is that this excess undigested animal protein contributes to the accumulation of plaque, a thick, waxy substance that collects in the arteries.

The latest discovery from the alternative medical frontier indicates that blood viscosity (or thickness) is the central cause of heart disease...triggered by the body’s response to free radicals found in our air, water, soil and food.

Whether you aim to strengthen, repair or rejuvenate your heart, NATTO CLEAR™ may be the single best thing you can do to keep your heart strong and steady for life.

Brought to you by The Institute for Vibrant Living™

To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245 or visit www.IVLProducts.com

Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Beyond Bon Appetite! What we can learn from the French

2009-02-25T23:44:33.753-07:00

In This Issue…

	Beyond Bon Appetite!! What we can learn from the French...
	Why Do Wino’s Outlive Their Physicians?
	What Do Your Kidneys Really Do For You Every Day?

Dear Reader,

Ah, the French... We are so intrigued by their simple, yet mysterious ways...their exquisite cuisine, their sexy cafe culture, their aloof allure. We watch as they savor for hours their prize-winning wines and fat-filled sauces...wines and sauces so delicious, surely they're heaven-sent. Then, to make matters worse, we watch as the French are known for trim waistlines, long life spans—and despite their unhealthy intake of saturated fat—the French have an overall lower rate of heart disease!!! The audacity! How dare they!! How do they do this? More importantly... How can WE do it too?

Recent research tells us that in spite of those sinful sauces, there is something very special going on inside that delectable bottle of red wine, something very special indeed. It's called resveratrol. Scientists have found that resveratrol is the magic bullet that offers these amazing health benefits, without the cost of going to France!

Resveratrol in red wine comes from the skin of grapes used to make the wine; and because red wine is fermented with grape skins longer than white wine, the red wines contain more resveratrol. It has been suggested that eating grapes or drinking grape juice are ways to get resveratrol without drinking alcohol. Some studies suggest that red and purple grape juices carry some of the same heart-healthy benefits of red wine. Other foods that contain some resveratrol include peanuts, blueberries and cranberries. Scientists have yet to determine how beneficial eating grapes or other foods might be compared with drinking red wine when it comes to promoting heart health, and the amount of resveratrol in food and red wine can vary widely, and there can be regional variations as well. In general, wines made from grapes of the Pinot Noir and St. Laurent varieties seemed to show the highest level of resveratrol, while no particular wine or region can yet claim to produce wines with a significantly higher resveratrol concentration than any other. Interestingly, while blueberries have about twice as much resveratrol as bilberries, cooking or heat processing of these berries can reduce the amount of resveratrol by half.

Resveratrol isn't the only substance in red wine that shows promise, since the alcohol itself appears to be heart healthy. Various studies indicate that moderate amounts of all types of alcohol can benefit your heart by raising the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the "good cholesterol;" inhibiting the formation of blood clots; and helping to prevent artery damage caused by high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the "bad cholesterol."

Red wine in particular seems to have even more heart-healthy benefits than other types of alcohol. Studies suggest antioxidants in red wine called polyphenols help protect the lining of blood vessels in your heart. These antioxidants come in two main forms: flavonoids and nonflavonoids.

Flavonoids. These antioxidants are found in a variety of foods, including oranges, apples, onions, tea and cocoa. While white wine and beer contain small amounts, red wine appears to have higher levels.

Nonflavonoids. These antioxidants found in red wine appear to help prevent arteries from becoming clogged with fatty blockages. Resveratrol is the nonflavonoid that researchers are most interested in.

Researchers now believe that resveratrol may be the key ingredient in red wine that offers amazing health benefits, helping to prevent damage to blood vessels, reducing bad cholesterol and helping to prevent blood clots. Research in mice given resveratrol showed that the antioxidant in resveratrol might also offer protection from obesity and diabetes, strong risk factors for heart disease.

Wait a minute--were these mice French?

Now, to achieve the dose of resveratrol used in the mice studies, a person would have to consume about 100 to 1,000 bottles of red wine—a day. Well, luckily for us, our trusty American ingenuity has outsmarted these numbers and has taken resveratrol, the powerful life-enhancing essence from red wine, and placed it conveniently into an easy-to-take supplement that can help you to achieve these same heart-healthy benefits.

People around the globe have enjoyed wine for thousands of years. How fantastic that something so old and treasured by mankind turns out to provide one of the most potent health benefits under the sun. Perhaps this helps to reveal some of the logic behind what they call the "French paradox..." —how the incidence of coronary heart disease is relatively low in France, despite their high dietary intake of saturated fats.

Might we pause to consider that perhaps the French may be enjoying a slower pace of life? And that this slower pace may also contribute to their longevity and reputation for their joy of living—their joie de vivre? Compare the laid-back French lifestyle to our hurry-up, fast-food, fast-paced American lifestyle. The French eat their meals slowly, perhaps chewing their food more thoroughly, usually dining with family and friends. Could they be helping to reduce their stress, while in the process nurturing their network of family and friends? Could these factors also contribute to their overall health and happiness?

Maybe there’s a lot more we can learn from the French, no?

Bon Appetite!

Cindy Gray
Guest Heath Writer
Author of The Spirit of Health

Why Do Wino’s Outlive Their Physicians?

Benjamin Franklin was a frequent visitor to France where they appreciated his wit and charm with the ladies. Franklin observed that the French seemed more robust, more,alive, more healthy than their American counterparts.

Yet Franklin also observed, the French kept late hours. They ate dinner at nine. And they drank wine. And they preferred talking to dancing. In other words, the French did everything WRONG for their health which, I suppose, is what prompted Ben's question in the first place.

What is it about red wine that links it to health when we normally associate alcohol with excess sugar, weight gain, liver disease and diabetes?

What Do Your Kidneys Really Do For You Every Day?

It’s their critical job to filter blood (about 1700 quarts a day), ridding the body of waste products.

The kidneys filter metabolic waste products from protein, fat, various minerals, alcohol, drugs, and other ingested toxins. Your kidneys are your indispensable wastewater removal system.

Much of the water you drink is necessary to clean the blood and flush acid waste out of the body via the kidneys.

Your kidneys also regulate all your body’s water; electrolytes monitor the acid/alkaline balance of your blood and help control blood pressure.

Brought to you by The Institute for Vibrant Living™

To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245 or visit www.IVLProducts.com

Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

A Happy Marriage Nurtures The Body And The Soul

2009-02-18T00:09:43.316-07:00

In This Issue…

	A Happy Marriage Nurtures The Body And The Soul
	Failing Eyesight is Not an Inevitable Part of Aging
	Stay Immune-Strong Year Round with Nature’s First Food >

Dear Reader,

Tis the season to celebrate romance and recent studies have confirmed that the state of our physical health is determined, in part, by the quality of our relationships, especially marriage. Statistics show that happily married people live longer, are healthier, have fewer heart attacks and other diseases, have fewer problems with alcohol, behave in less risky ways and have more satisfying sex lives. Married people are more likely to wear seat belts, be active, eat breakfast and not smoke. In other words, when you decide to marry someone you are putting them in a position to significantly affect your mental and physical health and longevity.

When you consider the body-soul connection, it makes perfect sense that our partners affect our health. Our bodies, minds and souls work together to make us who we are. People who are married usually have an emotional connection that gives them physical and mental strength. Maintaining physical contact with a spouse while under stress has been shown to lower blood pressure and heart rate and increase the hormone oxytocin, which prevents the body’s stress responses from negatively influencing the body’s cardiovascular and endocrine systems.

Mortality rates are 50 percent higher for unmarried women and a whopping 90 percent higher for unmarried men than they are for married women and men. Married surgical patients are less likely to die than the unmarried. Researchers don’t know if this is because healthier people get married or because marriage helps them stay healthier.

According to the Centers For Disease Control, married men are half as likely to commit suicide as single men, and one third as likely as divorced men. Married people report lower levels of depression and distress, and 40% say they are very happy with their lives, compared to about 25% in single people. As married partners reach middle age, it appears that the effects of marriage on adult health become even more powerful. Growing older increases the psychological importance of having and engaging in intimate relationships.

The happiest (and healthiest) couples are best friends who share lives and are compatible in interests and in values. One of the great joys of marriage is the time that you, as a couple, spend laughing together and enjoying your sense of humor. As one holistic healer put it: “When couples laugh together they affirm each other's souls. Married people with inside jokes or pet names tend to have stronger ties.” Laughter reduces the level of stress hormones like cortisol, epinephrine (adrenaline) and dopamine. All this leads to a stronger immune system, as well as fewer physical effects of stress.

Take a few minutes every day to really connect with your spouse in a meaningful way. By nurturing your marriage you are actually nurturing your personal health and setting yourself up for a long and happy life.

Yours in good health,

Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch

Failing Eyesight is Not an Inevitable Part of Aging

How can you...
HELP LOWER YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE, BOOST YOUR IMMUNE RESPONSE, RAISE YOUR GOOD HDL CHOLESTEROL, HELP PROTECT YOURSELF FROM HEART ATTACK AND STROKE & BOOST YOUR SEX LIFE LIKE NEVER BEFORE?

COCOBERRI™ offers you all the luscious taste of the world's best chocolate with the refreshing fruity zing of fresh raspberries as well as the most widely-studied heart healthy antioxidants. There's no other chocolate-raspberry drink like it anywhere.

Stay Immune-Strong Year Round with Nature’s First Food

The surface of healthy mucous membrane in the mouth is rich with antibodies called "immunoglobulins" that protect us from viruses and bacteria.

As we age, the body makes less of them and we have less resistance to the 300 kinds of oral bacteria.

When oral bacteria enter the bloodstream through a gum tear, they have a direct pipeline through the carotid arteries to the brain.

This same bacterial plaque that causes periodontal disease can trigger an immune response and inflammation that, in turn, can cause the arteries to swell. And the swelling of the arterial walls results in a blood flow constriction that can lead to a higher rate of stroke and heart disease.

ORAL GUARD™ DENTAL SPRAY is a great solution for overall oral health!

Brought to you by The Institute for Vibrant Living™

To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245 or visit www.IVLProducts.com

Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322

The information contained within this newsletter is meant to be used to educate the reader and is not intended to provide individual medical advice. Before you take any supplement, please consult your physician or other licensed healthcare professional to determine if it's appropriate for you. IVL Health Watch is a publication of Institute for Vibrant Living™.

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Chocoholics Rejoice! Dark Chocolate Is Delicious And Healthy

2009-02-11T18:25:19.283-07:00

In This Issue...

Chocoholics Rejoice! Dark Chocolate Is Delicious And Healthy

If you want to increase blood flow from head to toe and everything in between...

Why are Heart Disease and Stroke Linked to Gum Disease?

Dear Subscriber,

Let's face it, Valentine's Day just wouldn't be the same without chocolate. Fortunately, recent studies have shown that you can satisfy your sweetheart's chocolate cravings in a healthy way, provided you give dark chocolate.

We crave chocolate for its aroma, creaminess and comforting flavor. How can anything that tastes as delicious as dark chocolate possibly be good for you? In recent years health conscious consumers have been delighted to discover that dark chocolate in its purest form is loaded with health-boosting phytonutrients and flavonoids, both powerful antioxidants that help combat free radicals in the body.

At high levels, free radicals may cause cell damage. Some experts believe that cellular damage caused by free radicals may be a factor in age-related health conditions. As a person gets older, the level of damage from free radicals in the body may increase, leading to cell damage and functional problems.

Dark chocolate also has small amounts of other healthy substances like magnesium, potassium, calcium, and iron. It contains high levels of tryptophan, an essential amino acid that increases the production of serotonin, antidepressants and stress relievers. Keeping up your tryptophan level may prevent cravings for starchy and sweet foods, which can help you if you are trying to lose weight.

Some of the significant health benefits of dark chocolate include:

•	Can help increase HDL or the "good" cholesterol.
•	Helps keep blood platelets from sticking together, thereby reducing the risk of blood clots.
•	Reduces overall risk of heart disease by lowering blood pressure.
•	Helps fight depression by boosting serotonin levels in the brain.

Unfortunately, many chocolate confections are processed with refined sugar, milk fats and hydrogenated oils that override the health benefits of the cocoa. The more the cocoa is processed and combined with other ingredients, the less healthy it is. For best results, choose dark chocolate that is at least 70% cocoa and that contains cocoa butter instead of milk fats. If you have never eaten dark chocolate you may have to gradually adjust your taste buds to the bitter taste. Start with dark chocolate that is about 40-50 percent cocoa. After that, try the 60, 70 or 80 percent versions. For maximum health benefits you should go with the highest cocoa content.

It is important to note that these benefits apply to dark chocolate only and it can't just be "added on" to your existing diet. It is still a high-calorie food and most people don't need extra calories. As a plant-based food, dark chocolate can be part of a healthy diet when used in moderation. So help yourself to this delicious, guilt free health food and be sure to share some dark chocolate with your sweetheart on Valentine's Day.