Pumpkins typically take center stage during the month of October as they are transformed into smiling jack-o-lanterns. But the value of the pumpkin goes way beyond its ability to decorate. Pumpkins are brimming with nutrients that can boost the immune system and contribute to optimum health. So this year, don’t toss that jack-o-lantern. Turn it into a nutritious side dish for your family.

The pumpkin is a member of the squash family and its tough outer skin is typical of squash that is harvested in cooler weather. The pumpkins that we buy in October come from seeds that were planted three or four months ago.  The “handle” on top of a pumpkin is part of the vine.

The firm orange and yellow meat inside of the pumpkin is an excellent source of carotenoids, fat-soluble compounds that occur in a variety of plants. They protect the plants from sun damage while they help them attract birds and insects for pollination. Foods rich in carotenoids have been linked to a reduced risk of cancers involving the lung, colon, bladder, cervix, breast and skin. Carotenoids have also shown great promise in their ability to lower rates of heart disease.

Pumpkin meat is high in lutein and zeaxanthin, which scavenge radicals in the lens of the eye and may prevent macular degeneration, a serious eye problem that usually results in blindness. A study by the USDA indicated that diets high in pumpkin as a fiber source tended to curb the appetite yet provided more food for the same calorie count.

Pumpkins can be cut into chunks, peeled, roasted and dressed with a bit of olive oil, salt, and pepper for a simple, tasty dish.  Pumpkin meat can also be pureed, grilled or lightly boiled. Because of their mild flavor, pumpkins can easily be transformed into delicious soups.

While the flesh of the pumpkin provides us with important nutrients, the pumpkin seeds are also a healthy addition to the diet.  Pumpkin seeds, also called pepitas, are flat, dark green seeds. Some are encased in a yellow-white husk, although some varieties of pumpkins produce seeds without shells. The seeds can be purchased ready to eat, or you can easily roast your own in the oven with a light toss of olive oil and your favorite combination of spices. Adding roasted pumpkin seeds to soups and salads provides a nutty flavor; and pumpkin seed oil can be used as a salad dressing when combined with products like honey and olive oil.

The seeds should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. While they may stay edible for several months, they seem to lose their peak freshness after about one to two months.

Yours in good health,

Failing Eyesight is Not an Inevitable Part of Aging

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 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.

Yours in good health,

Year Round Rejuvenation and Refreshment

Usually people who like to read health information are the sort of folks who also read i ngredients o n fo od labels. If you're one of these people, I'll bet you've also noticed an increase in the words "high-fructose corn syru p", o r HFCS, on labels for everything from ketchup, mayo, soups, salad dressings, to most canned goods and even sodas and juices. Just what is this stuff? Are there any dangers to consuming it?

When you see a green and vibrant field of sweet corn, you probably think of summertime, and old-fas hioned picnics. Why would any of us think of sugar? Because the larger percentage of sweeteners used in processed food comes from corn, not sugar cane and not beets - corn. That's right. High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) was developed in the 1970s as a less expensive alternative to cane and beet sugar; and it is nearly 20 times sweeter too. It's made by tre ating corn with enzymes that convert some of the glucose to fructose, since fructose tastes sweeter than glucose. Use of HFCS grew rapidly, from less than three million tons in 1980 to almost 8 million tons in 1995. During the late 1990s, use of sugar actually declined as it was overshadowed by HFCS. Today Americans consume more HFCS than sugar.

Many opponents to the growing use of HFCS are becoming more vocal, in an attempt to wake up American consumers to the dangers of something so "sweet" and simple, but dangerous - lurking in our pantries and refrigerators, lurking in restaurants, school cafeterias and even hospitals! For instance, the well-respected book, You: The Owner's Manual, by Dr. Mehmet Oz and Michael Roizen warns us:

"One of the biggest evil influences on our diet is the presence of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), a sugar substitute that itself is a sugar found in soft drinks, and many other sweet, processed foods. The problem is that HFCS inhibits leptin secretion, so you never get the message that you're full."

Opponents of HFCS argue that HFCS:

• Links to the rise of obesity.
• Increases risk of Type 2 Diabetes.
• Increases LDL's (low density lipo-proteins, the "bad" cholesterol) that could increase the risk of heart diseases.
• Inhibits copper absorption, which many Americans are already thought to be deficient in. (A copper deficiency can cause problems such as bone fragility, anemia, defective connective tissue formation, and more.)

Supporters of the use of HFCS tell us that fructose is a natural, simple sugar; while spokespeople for the corn refiners state that there is no scientific evidence to support the belief that HFCS is a contributor to diabetes or obesity. So, playing the devil's advocate, what could be harmful about extracting the sweetest part of sweet corn? Well, let's take a deeper look into the actual process and find out.

High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is made by processing corn starch to yield glucose, and then processing the glucose to produce a high percentage of fructose. It sounds simple - white cornstarch is turned into crystal clear syrup. But the process is actually quite complicated. Three different enzymes are needed to break down cornstarch, which is composed of chains of glucose molecules of almost infinite length, into the simple sugars glucose and fructose.

HFCS has the exact same sweetness and taste as an equal amount of sucrose from cane or beet sugar but it is much more complicated to make, involving vats of murky fermenting liquid, fungus and chemical mixing, all of which take place in one of 16 chemical plants located in the Corn Belt. Yet in spite of all the special enzymes required, HFCS is actually cheaper than sugar. It is also very easy to transport - it's just piped into tanker trucks. This translates into lower costs and higher profits for food producers.

Today HFCS is a multi-billion dollar business. HFCS is found in just about every type of processed food you can consume. Start really reading those labels, and you'll see HFCS everywhere.

But here's the glitch. Because people often think that because HFCS contains fructose, (they connect it with fruit) that it is somehow healthier than sugar. Oh, if only it was that simple or true. Research by a team of USDA investigators has revealed the opposite. Dr. Meira Field led the research, and discovered that when sugar (composed of glucose and fructose) is given in high amounts to rats, they develop multiple health problems, especially when the rats were deficient in certain nutrients, such as copper.

Dr. Field explains that fructose in combination with copper deficiency in the growing animal interferes with collagen production.

"The medical profession thinks fructose is better for diabetics than sugar," says Dr. Field, "but every cell in the body can metabolize glucose. However, all fructose must be metabolized in the liver. The livers of the rats on the high fructose diet looked like the livers of alcoholics, plugged with fat and cirrhotic."

HFCS contains more fructose than sugar and this fructose is more immediately available because it is not bound up in sucrose. Since the effects of fructose are most severe in the growing organism, we need to think carefully about what kind of sweeteners we give to our children.

This information is pretty tough to swallow!!! Especially at a time when we read about such dramatic increases in high cholesterol and heart problems - could this be one very significant link? It's time to take a peek into your kitchen pantry, with an eye for HFCS, high-fructose corn syrup. Next time you shop, look for products that DO NOT contain HFCS. Only if people close their purses and wallets to this ingredient will manufacturers get the idea that this is not something we're going to continue to swallow!

Yours in good health,

Benjamin Franklin was a frequent visitor to France where they appreciated his wit and charm with the lad ies. 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.

Before you take any supplement, please consult your physician or other licensed healthcare professional to determine if it's appropriate for you.

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

One of the most heart-wrenching aspects of our sagging economy is the effect that it has on our four-footed friends. Thousand of precious animals have become forgotten victims of the economic downturn and the housing foreclosure crisis. Animal shelters, rescue groups and animal care and control agencies are seeing an increase in surrendered animals as homeowners struggle to make living arrangements that may or may not include their pets.

Life circumstances are forcing people to make decisions they never thought they’d have to make. Given the strong bond we have with our pets, children and adults who are forced to part with their beloved animals face devastating emotional issues. It’s especially sad for elderly people who want to keep their animals, who are sometimes their only companion.

Experts say that if people believe they may find themselves in a financial crunch, they should start planning early for pet care. The American Humane Society offers tips for homeowners, mortgage lenders and shelters that may be feeling the impact of meeting new demands. The American Humane Society also is offering grants to shelters and animal welfare organizations to help care for and find solutions for animal victims of this national crisis.

First and foremost, take your pets with you when you vacate your home. They are not likely to survive if abandoned in the home or set loose. Domesticated animals can’t survive on their own. They can get hit by cars, stalked by larger animals or they might slowly starve to death.

Impaired liver and gallbladder function has been linked to accelerated aging, weakened immune system and dozens of major illnesses and diseases including asthma, coronary heart disease, cancers, migraines, allergies, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and kidney disease. When your liver can't cleanse your blood, all the toxins you ingest and absorb are passed unchecked into your bloodstream where they poison your lungs, your skin, your kidneys, your reproductive organs, your bones, and every cell in your body!

Why? Because your liver is your body's mastermind detoxifying agent and blood filter and your first and most powerful line of defense in a polluted world. (That's why the traditional Chinese doctors call the liver "the general in the army," and why the oldest healing systems on earth always clean the liver first!)

Shift your health and energy into high gear!

Fulvic has been around as long as our precious planet. But its surprisingly powerful role in defying and delaying the aging process has been virtually unknown. That is, until a few short years ago when Dr. Dawn M. Wolf and his diligent researchers discovered how this rare miracle element may hold the key to never having another sick day!

REV™ contains Fulvic in an exclusive, nanoized form. It goes to work at the molecular level to help transform your energy and overall wellness. REV™ also packs the punch of 4 energizing ‘super-fruits’ – ACAI, MANGOSTEEN, NONI, and WOLFBERRY– four of the most nutrient-dense, longevity-boosting foods that may help flood your body with more vitality, more stamina, and more well-being than you’ve ever felt before.

Before you take any supplement, please consult your physician or other licensed healthcare professional to determine if it's appropriate for you.

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

Computer screens, air pollution, the aging process, dry air in offices, poor lighting and s u n e xposu re cause millions of Americans to suffer from dry eye syndrome. This disorder results in decreased tear production an d dryness in the tear film. Dry eyes can cause a gritty, sandy sensation accompanied by burning, stinging and itching. Some people notice their eyes sticking shut when they wake up. Others experience a "foreign body sensation," the feeling that som eth ing is in the eye. And it may seem odd, but sometimes-watery eyes can result from dry eye syndrome, because the excessive dryness works to over stimulate production of the watery component of our eyes’ tears.

Older people are more likely to suffer from dry eye syndrome than younger people because as we get older our bodies sometimes have an oil deficiency. Oil is a necessary component of our tears and without it the water in our eyes can evaporate too quickly, leaving dry areas on the cornea. Various systemic diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or Sjogren’s Syndrome can also cause dry eyes. Women who are going through menopause have an increased risk of dry eye syndrome.

The popularity of computers during the past several years has led to increased incidence of dry eye syndrome, especially when you consider that millions of Americans spend eight or more hours a day on the computer at work or at home. When you concentrate you don’t blink as often and therefore your eyes aren’t properly lubricated. People blink about 22 times a minute while relaxing, 10 while reading, but only seven times when working on a computer.

Fortunately, there are a number of natural remedies that can be used to treat dry eyes. Some people have been able to eliminate dry eyes completely simply by adding omega 3 fatty acids to their diet or taking supplements. Omega 3 acids increase the viscosity of oils made by the body, especially in the eyes. Eating foods rich in vitamin A or taking vitamin A supplements may also help.

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.

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.

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!

Before you take any supplement, please consult your physician or other licensed healthcare professional to determine if it's appropriate for you.

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

During the past few years holistic practitioners and other health experts have become increasingly sold on the health benefits of lignans. Lignans are a unique group of phytochemicals (plant chemicals) known as phytoestrogens, estrogen-like compounds that also act as antioxidants. Phytoestrogens, in addition to their antioxidant activity, may reduce the risk of estrogen-sensitive cancers, like breast cancer, by binding to estrogen receptors and thus preventing estrogen attachment.

The most noted of the phytoestrogens are the isoflavones of soybeans. Isoflavones have helped give soy its reputation as a health-promoting food. Lignans may do the same for foods like flax, already becoming popular for its content of omega-3 fatty acids.

Lignans have been associated with improved prostate health, stronger bones, cancer prevention, better heart health and reduction of inflammation. A diet rich in lignans is believed to reduce the size, aggressiveness and severity of tumors in mice that have been genetically engineered to develop prostate cancer, according to new research from Duke University Medical Center in the US.

One of the best sources of lignans is flaxseed. Contrary to popular belief, flaxseed is not a “new” discovery. Ancient Egyptians and Greek physicians (like Hippocrates) touted its ability to cure various ills. In the 8th century A.D., King Charlemagne believed that flax was so essential to health that he wrote a series of laws requiring his subjects to consume a certain amount each year.

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™

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

RECONNECT™ is the 100% natural way to 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.

Before you take any supplement, please consult your physician or other licensed healthcare professional to determine if it's appropriate for you.

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

Yours in good health,

If you were stuck on a desert island with only one thing to eat, which food would you chose? Chocolate? Nah, sorry. Corn? Doubtful. Brown rice? Maybe. While brown rice is thought to contain the perfect balance of acidity and alkalinity, it might have what you need to survive, but you sure wouldn't thrive on brown rice alone. So what food do you think you could survive and flourish with, on our imaginary desert island?

Well, the answer might surprise you, but it's bee pollen. Bee pollen has been shown to be one of nature's most completely nourishing foods. Bee pollen is a "superfood" and contains nearly all the nutrients required by the human body. Bee pollen can give your energy level a super boost too! About half of the protein in bee pollen is in the form of free amino acids, ready to be used immediately and directly by the body. Bee pollen is the food of the young bee and it is approximately 40% protein.

All of the essential components of life are contained in humble bee pollen. These rejuvenating, health-building elements remarkably exceed the elements contained in brewer's yeast or in wheat germ. Bee pollen corrects unbalanced nutrition, common in so many of our modern-day diets. Bee pollen is considered an energy and nutritive tonic in many cultures throughout the world. Bee pollen has an amazing number of health applications including improving endurance and vitality, extending longevity, aiding recovery from chronic illness, adding weight during convalescence, reducing cravings and addictions, regulating the intestines, building new blood, preventing infectious diseases such as colds and flu, and helping to overcome developmental problems in children. Bee pollen is a natural anti-biotic, and it is thought to help protect against radiation and to have anti-cancer qualities.

Bee pollen contains all the nutrients necessary to sustain life. Bee-gathered pollens are rich in proteins, free amino acids, vitamins, including B-complex, and folic acid. Bee pollen is truly an amazingly complete food, and it contains many elements that animal products do not possess. Bee pollen is richer in proteins than any animal source. It contains more amino acids than beef, eggs, or cheese of equal weight.

Farmer's markets that carry honey and bee products often sell fresh bee pollen. You can simply swallow it with water or juice, or you can add it to smoothies, or muffins and sweet breads, or top off your morning cereal with it. It tastes sweet, kind of like crunchy honey. Many people take a spoonful of bee pollen mid-morning and mid-afternoon to naturally and safely balance their blood sugar levels.

So what do carrots, broccoli, cucumbers, pumpkins, onions, apples, squash, blueberries, avocados, cherries and almonds all have in common? None of these delicious and vital sources of vitamins and minerals can grow without the pollinating help of honeybees. Without these hardworking honeybees, none of these fruits and vegetables, or any flowering plants, would be able to survive. We rely on the efforts of healthy honeybees every day of our lives.

The awareness of the health properties of bee pollen seems to be increasing; however, beekeepers have been reporting the strange disappearance of bee colonies over the last few years. It seems that seemingly healthy bees were simply abandoning their hives en masse, never to return. Researchers are calling the mass disappearance Colony Collapse Disorder, and estimate that nearly one-third of all honeybee colonies in the country have vanished.

While scientists have not determined the exact cause of this phenomenon, they do believe a combination of factors could be making bees sick, including pesticide exposure, an inadequate food supply, and a new virus that targets bees' immune systems. While more research is needed to determine the exact cause of this problem, the Natural Resources Defense Council has a few tips to share that can help the bees, and help humans, since our food source relies on healthy bees.

Bee Friendly, Bee Safe: Here's How

Bees play a central role in our food supply. Congress has held hearings on the issue of vanishing honeybees, but needs to take quick action to support further scientific research into Colony Collapse Disorder, and help beekeepers affected by the disorder to revive their hives so our crops can keep growing. You can help keep bees healthy by making your yard and garden colorful, diverse and pesticide free. Here are some tips on how you can Bee Safe:

• Bee Native: Use local and native plants in your yard and garden. These plants thrive easily and are well suited for local bee populations, providing pollen and nectar for bees to eat.
• Bee Diverse: Plant lots of different kinds of plants in your yard. Plant diversity ensures that your garden attracts many different varieties of bees and gives them a range of flowering plants to choose from throughout the year. Make sure your yard plants vary in:

• Color: Bees have good vision and are attracted to several different colors of flowers.
• Shape: Different species of bees are better suited for different shapes of flowers. Give your bees some variety!
• Flowering times: Having a sequence of plant species that flower throughout the year helps sustain the food supply and attract different species of bees.

• Bee Open to Pollen: Pollen is bee food. Genetically engineered pollen-free plants trick bees into thinking they'll find food, and then leave them hungry. (Don't worry; flower pollen isn't a big contributor to most people's allergies.)
• Bee Pesticide Wary: There are many natural methods to control pests in your garden. Researchers believe pesticides are a contributing factor to Colony Collapse Disorder. Moreover, some insecticides are harmful to bees and wipe out flowers that provide bees with food. If you must, use targeted pesticides and spray at night -- when bees are not active -- on dry days.

Luckily, we don't have to rely on one type of food to survive... but if we did, bee pollen would bee a good choice.

Yours in good health,

• 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.

How Can the Rooster Help Men and Women
Keep Their 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.

Before you take any supplement, please consult your physician or other licensed healthcare professional to determine if it's appropriate for you.

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

Cancelled airline flights. Escalating gas prices with no end in sight. Financial uncertainty. With the overwhelming financial stress facing our nation today, most Americans are in dire need of some downtime to recharge their fading batteries. Because of the downturn in the economy, a traditional vacation is out of the question for many Americans. In fact, 30 percent of the families in this country are changing their summer plans and sticking closer to home, according a recent survey conducted by the travel web site TripAdvisor.

Fortunately, mental health experts say that the psychological effects of "staycations" can be just as beneficial, if the stay-at-home event is treated with the same respect as a traditional vacation. For instance, a staycation must have a start date and an end date and you must make a commitment not to let household chores distract you from your goal of rest and relaxation.

Planning a vacation is part of the fun and staycations are no exception. Get the whole family involved. Have the children make lists of local attractions and activities they would like see included in your itinerary. Set an agenda for every day of your staycation. One day, you might have a barbecue followed by a "campout" in the backyard. Another day might include a visit to a local zoo or a picnic in the park. Set aside a day to spend time at a wave pool, water park or a local lake.

As rude as it may sound, you may have to put out the "you're not welcome mat" in order for a staycation to be successful. For instance, you might find that it's better not to tell your employer that you will be vacationing "in town" so they won't be tempted to call you about the "little things" that emerge while you are enjoying your well-deserved, hard-earned respite.

Being close to home probably means you'll have e-mail access. But just because you can check your e-mail or scroll through your BlackBerry doesn't mean you should. Psychologists recommend completely swearing off e-mail and letting co-workers know that you'll get back to them when you return from your staycation, just as you would if you were removed from the technology.

Above all else, vacations need to be fun. Set a mood, create an atmosphere and choose a theme. Go to local discount stores and purchase fake palm trees, beach music and maybe some new beach towels. Rent a few movies that your family has been wanting to see. Cook up some healthy, fun snacks to enjoy for the duration of your staycation. Having fun doesn't have to be expensive.

In addition to helping your personal economy, "staycations" have the added benefit of helping Mother Earth because they can reduces emissions from cars. If 30% of Americans are actually committed to "staycations" the cumulative effect could be significant. The actions we take in the next several years will determine the kind of world our children and grandchildren will inherit.

Yours in good health,

Think You Don't Need a Desert Survival Drink?
Think Again Because...

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. And...

You can do all this and more with the great taste of a watermelon summer.

Before you take any supplement, please consult your physician or other licensed healthcare professional to determine if it's appropriate for you.

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