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| IVL Products Health Watch - September, 2007 |
| The Official IVL Products Health Blog |
Dear Reader,
In order to capture the attention of health-conscious
consumers, many manufacturers have resorted to what can only
be called label trickery. Package front labels that boldly
identify a product as heart healthy, low fat, enriched or
light can be very confusing for consumers who are trying to
make healthy food choices for their families.
Although the FDA regulates the small "official" nutrition
label on the back of a product, manufacturers can say
basically anything they want on the front label. In fact,
when you look at the FDA regulated nutrition facts on the
back you might wonder if the two labels even belong on the
same product. According to Kerry McLeod, author of "The Last
Diet Book Standing," consumers should speed read the front
label and then go straight to the nutrition facts. She
offers the following phrases as "red flags" to consumers:
* Fortified, enriched, added, extra and plus. This
means nutrients such as minerals and fiber have been removed
and vitamins were added in processing. Look for 100%
whole-wheat bread and high-fiber, low-sugar cereals.
* Fruit drink. This means there's probably little or no
real fruit and a lot of sugar. Look for products that say
100% fruit juice.
* Made with wheat, rye or multigrains. These products
probably have very little whole grain. Look for the word
"whole" before the grain to ensure that you are purchasing a
100% whole-grain product.
* Natural. The manufacturer started out with a natural
source, but once it's processed the food may not resemble
anything natural. Look for "100% All Natural" and "No
Preservatives."
* Organically grown, pesticide free or no artificial
ingredients. Look for labels that say "Certified Organically
Grown."
Read all of the ingredients on the nutrition label,
especially if you have food allergies. Ingredients are
listed in the order of how much is in the product from most
to least. Beware of hidden sugars in the form of syrup,
fructose and sucrose combinations. Any ingredient that
includes "chloride" is most likely some form of salt, so if
you are trying to reduce your salt intake, stay away from
those products.
Be sure to check the calories and fat per serving size.
Also, be sure you clearly understand how much is included in
a "serving size" because it is usually smaller than you
think it is. If you double the servings you eat, you double
the calories as well as the nutrients. Make your calories
count. Look at the calories on the label and compare them
with what nutrients you are getting to decide if a food is a
good choice. In order to call itself "healthy," the FDA
requires a food must be low in fat, saturated fat,
cholesterol and sodium. If it is a single item food it must
provide at least 10 percent or more of the daily value of
Vitamins A or C, iron, calcium, protein or fiber.
So the next time you go shopping for food, don't be taken in
by misleading claims on the front label. Read the nutrition
label to be sure you are getting the healthiest food
choices.
Yours in good health,
Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch
|
Visit our Health Forum and ask a question of one of the
country's leading experts in nutritional medicine. |
| Dr. Mikles is a Board Certified Internist,
and is the Medical Director of Choices Integrative
Healthcare Clinic in Sedona, Arizona. For more than 30
years, Dr. Mikles has been engaged in the study and practice
of the therapeutic effects of diet and nutrition, making him
one of the country's leading experts. |
Brought to you by Institute for Vibrant LivingTM
To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245
or visit
http://www.IVLProducts.com
|
Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322
|
Dear Reader,
"The kiss of the sun for pardon, the song of the birds for mirth, one
is nearer to heaven in a garden than anywhere else on earth. " Anybody
who has every experienced the physical, emotional and spiritual
well-being that gardening provides clearly understands the meaning of
that age-old rhyme.
Gardening connects us to nature and provides us with fresh fruits and
vegetables and the encouragement to eat them. In addition, it provides
improved flexibility, stronger muscles and better cardio fitness.
Regular physical exercise such as that associated with gardening has
been shown to help prevent heart disease, obesity, adult-onset diabetes
and high blood pressure.
Gardening can be especially beneficial for people with special needs or
those who are recovering from an illness. Gardening promotes an
increased range of motion, develops hand-eye coordination and improves
motor skills. Over the past few years special tools have made gardening
more accessible to people with limited mobility.
And the benefits are not all physical. There's a whole field of
practice called horticultural therapy, which explores the way that
gardening helps people heal, physically and emotionally. Horticultural
therapists have discovered that gardening provides a form of emotional
expression and release, and it helps people to connect with others.
A very interesting study conducted by the University of Colorado
surveyed how gardening, when used in prison systems, can have profound
positive impacts. The study provided master gardeners to several
prisons, who taught the inmates how to prepare and maintain a garden.
Some of the quotes from inmates who participated in the study include:
* "It helped me to start caring about life. I'm more relaxed and
see how living things are very fragile and need to be nurtured."
* "We can be indifferent or even cruel and mean and destroy life
or we can help life and take care of it. I guess people are not much
different than daisies. We need care, nurturing and balance in our
lives."
* "I have learned to deal with people as people instead of
overpowering them or manipulating them as some sort of object to
satisfy my wants. I have learned what it feels like to care about
something."
* "I have a feeling of peace that I have never experienced. I was
abused as a child so I never learned how to nurture anything. Now I am
learning and it is very powerful. It has made a very positive
difference in my life."
During the past few years, there has been an increased awareness in the
restorative value of plants in hospitals, homes for the aged and senior
centers. In such places many "healing gardens" are being constructed
for clients, staff and visitors. Even corporate America is now
including landscape considerations in its philosophy. Business owners
have found that having trees and plants nearby increases productivity
and morale and helps recruit new employees.
Economically speaking, gardening is within everybody's reach. Growing
your own vegetables is very inexpensive. Other than adding soil, buying
some tools, watering and purchasing seeds or pre-grown plants, the cost
is extremely minimal.
For an increasing number of people, a home garden provides an escape
from the pressures of the job and family responsibilities. As Minnie
Automonier put it: "When the world wearies and society ceases to
satisfy, there is always the garden."
Yours in good health,
Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch
|
Visit our Health Forum and ask a question of one of the country's leading experts in nutritional medicine. |
| Dr.
Mikles is a Board Certified Internist, and is the Medical Director of
Choices Integrative Healthcare Clinic in Sedona, Arizona. For more than
30 years, Dr. Mikles has been engaged in the study and practice of the
therapeutic effects of diet and nutrition, making him one of the
country's leading experts. |
Brought to you by Institute for Vibrant LivingTM
To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245
or visit http://www.IVLProducts.com
|
Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322
|
Dear Reader,
Every time we blink our eyelids spread tears over
our eyes to lubricate, moisturize and wash away debris. According to
the National Eye Foundation, tears are secreted by specialized glands
located around the eye and they are critical to good eye health. Tears
contain water to moisturize the eye, oil to lubricate the eye, mucus
for even spreading of tears and antibodies to help eyes resist
infections. Sometimes tear production becomes imbalanced and the result
is dry eyes.
An estimated 10 million Americans suffer from dry eyes and it is the
number one reason why people visit their eye doctors. People who have
dry eyes frequently have burning, itching or irritation that tends to
worsen as the day goes by. Some patients describe it as a sensation of
having something "gravelly" in their eye. Other symptoms include
redness, scratchiness, excessive tears and blurred vision that improves
when you blink.
Although there are many causes of dry eye syndrome, aging is probably
the most common one. 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. Hot, dry or windy
climates can cause dry eyes as well as rooms that are air-conditioned.
Cigarette smoke is another common trigger of dry eyes.
People who wear contact lenses have an increased risk of developing dry
eye syndrome. People who take antihistamines, antidepressants, birth
control pills and certain types of blood pressure medications are also
at high risk.
In some cases people who have dry eyes have a structural problem in the
eye, an eyelid disease or a deficiency of the tear ducts. Dry eyes can
also be a symptom of a systemic disorder such as lupus, rheumatoid
arthritis, thyroid disorder or vitamin deficiencies. Recent studies
have shown that hormone replacement therapy, pregnancy, lactation,
menstruation and menopause may also trigger dry eye symptoms.
Computer use or other close work where you need to concentrate can
cause or irritate dry eyes. When you concentrate you don't blink as
often and therefore your eyes aren't being properly lubricated. People
blink about 22 times a minute while relaxing, 10 time while reading,
but only seven times when working a computer.
There are a number of alternative health remedies that can be used to
naturally treat dry eyes. For example, some people have been able to
eliminate dry eyes completely simply by adding Omega 3 fatty acids to
their diet. Omega 3 acids increase the viscosity of oils made by the
body, especially in the eyes. Flaxseed oil and evening primrose oil may
also be helpful. Eating foods rich in Vitamin A or supplementing with
Vitamin A can also help keep the eyes moist.
To avoid dry eyes, you should keep your indoor humidity between 30 and
40 percent. If the air in your house is dry, use a humidifier to add
moisture. You might also consider buying an air filter to pull dust and
other eye irritants out of the air. When you are outside, wear
sunglasses to reduce your eyes' exposure to wind and dust.
You can purchase "artificial tears" at your local health food store or
drug store. These can be used frequently and are very effective in
returning moisture to dry eyes. Unless there is a serious underlying
medical condition causing the symptoms, dry eyes respond well to
natural remedies.
Yours in good health,
Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch
|
|
| Visit our Health Forum and ask a question of one of the country's leading experts in nutritional medicine. |
| Dr.
Mikles is a Board Certified Internist, and is the Medical Director of
Choices Integrative Healthcare Clinic in Sedona, Arizona. For more than
30 years, Dr. Mikles has been engaged in the study and practice of the
therapeutic effects of diet and nutrition, making him one of the
country's leading experts. |
Brought to you by Institute for Vibrant LivingTM
To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245
or visit http://www.IVLProducts.com
|
|
Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322
|
|
|