The more we learn about carbon footprints and greenhouse gases, the more mindful we become about the damage that is being done to Mother Earth. The fact is that much of the damage could be prevented with just a little effort. Surveys show that most Americans acknowledge the environmental crisis we are facing and most are concerned about global warming. Unfortunately, too few people translate those concerns into positive action.

Some think that "going green" is expensive. They think greening their home has to mean installing fancy solar panels, radiant heat floors or expensive outdoor greenhouses. But it can begin with simple, inexpensive steps. For example compact florescent lights (CFL) last 10 times longer than standard incandescent bulbs and use 75 percent less energy.

Some people don't embrace green living because they believe there is little that an individual can do to make a difference. The truth is an individual commitment can make a significant difference, especially when millions of individuals explore ways to honor Mother Earth. For instance, just taking your own coffee mug to work instead of using disposable Styrofoam cups can make a big difference, particularly if you encourage your coworkers to do the same. Stop drinking bottled water. How often do you recycle that plastic water bottle? Collectively we are dumping 40 million plastic water bottles per day. Purchase a home water filter and start carrying tap water in a stainless steel bottle.

Buy canvas grocery bags and take them with you when you go grocery shopping. Canvas bags are very durable and much easier to carry than flimsy grocery bags. If something spills in your canvas bag, just toss it into the laundry. Buy vegetables at your local farmer's market. Food from local farmers is fresher and usually less expensive.

Paying your bills online saves a lot of paper waste and is more convenient. Assert your spending power and refuse to purchase from companies who pollute or damage the environment. Join a consumer list that tells manufacturers you will not buy their product and why.

From the beginning Mother Nature has provided us with an abundance of natural resources but the human race has depleted many of them. It is time for us to nurture the earth. Going green is not a marketing fad; it is simply a matter of living mindfully and thinking about what we consume and how it affects the environment. The changes will only come when we translate our good intentions into meaningful actions. Perhaps the concept of green living can best be summed up in the following quote from Thomas Edison: "Until a man duplicates a blade of grass, Nature can laugh at his so-called scientific knowledge. Remedies from chemicals will never stand in favorable comparison with the products of Nature, the living cell of a plant, the final result of the rays of the sun, the mother of all life."

Yours in good health,

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™

You Need Protien to Grow and Heal!

You need protein every day, but... what kind of protein, that's the question. Protein is essential for muscle growth, brain function and energy. Without it, you'll drag, droop and drop before your time.

You need protein for the manufacture of hormones, antibodies, enzymes and tissue repair. And maybe most importantly, protein helps your body maintain the proper acid/alkaline balance in the body.

In two years of testing and tasting other people's protein powders we discovered three things that turned us off big time...

• Turn off #1 All of them tasted bad!
• Turn off #2 All of them were impossible to dissolve!
• Turn off #3 All of the soy products were high in fat, carbs and sodium.

So, we set out to make a super high-energy protien drink...

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 is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Even though for many of us, the snow is gone, and winter has passed again, and now you've gratefully pulled your sandals from the closet shelf, it doesn't mean that the potential to catch a cold hit the bricks with old man winter. No, unfortunately, a spring- or summer-time cold can hit you anyway, regardless of how warm it is outside. Sometimes it's simply a matter of an immune system that has been pulled in every direction, trying to protect you from your co-worker's cough, the kids' sneezes, and all the stress you can swallow in a given week. And of course, lifestyle and behavior can certainly wreak havoc on your immune system. This is what I call the "weekend" immune system—caused by excessive consumption of rich, processed foods, staying up too late, not moving enough, consuming alcohol, and generally ignoring the essentials. Certainly, occasions like holidays, birthdays, and vacations, are a time for celebration, but they can do damage to our systems. Balance these occasions of potential excess with deep body cleansing methods a week or two before and a week or two afterward. By keeping your system clean and "bookending" your celebratory sins with plenty of what's good for you, you help to maintain balance in your system. The important thing is to not feel guilty about it!

A WEEK OR SEVEN DAYS? There's an old saying that no matter what you do, a cold will last either a week or seven days. Isn't that comforting? To help keep colds away when everybody else seems to be getting one, you must be attentive to your essential care, but tweak it a little. Here are some core essentials: Try to avoid sick people as much as possible; drink even more water; include proper nutrition, but add to the prevention end of it with extra vitamin C, Echinacea, and garlic; get plenty of sleep; include fresh air and appropriate exercise; keep germs at bay by washing your hands frequently; sanitize the phones, doorknobs, drinking glasses and drinking fountains at work; and strive to keep your inner calm in the midst of any upheaval.

If you're unfortunate enough to get a cold, remember these core essentials, but know that if you are sick, you must reduce your activity level, and sleep, sleep, sleep! Consume lots of liquids and soup.

Speaking of soup, the expression "chicken soup" has become synonymous with medicine, for what's good for you. The slogan, "soup is good food" is ingrained in our memories and in our tummies. There's even a stream of self-help books just swimming in chicken soup. But does soup really help? Does it really have medicinal properties? You bet your wishbone it does! In fact, it's not just chicken broth, but any broth can be used medicinally to replace lost fluids, sodium, and electrolytes due to illness or injury. The hot liquid and steam helps to open and soothe nasal passages, and it helps to relieve congestion by increasing the flow of mucus.

So, if you don't feel well, by all means, try to pamper yourself! Don't forget to wash your hands a lot so you don't share your germy little gift. Take hot steam showers (or baths) with eucalyptus or peppermint liquid soap to help relieve congestion and body aches. And remember, it probably won't last more than a week or seven days!

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!

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.

Go for a swim. Plant a garden. Ride a bike. Take a walk. Learn a new dance step. Participate in an exercise class. Elderly people who do some or all of those things are making an important investment in their ability to remain healthy, vibrant and independent. In fact, research has shown that men and women aged 65 and older live 40% longer if they get some form of exercise.

The rapid growth of the elderly population has put a spotlight on the importance of exercise in order to reduce the possibility of disability and age associated diseases. Almost anyone, at any age, can do some type of physical activity.

Obesity is a growing problem in our country and it can be devastating at any age. For elderly adults, being obese may complicate other health conditions and make a person weaker.

Walking is one of the simplest and most effective forms of exercise. Research has suggested that doing 10,000 steps or more a day can improve blood pressure and weight. It's easy to reach this goal using a reliable pedometer as a companion, and you do not need to get all the steps in one go. You can fit them into your daily routine.

Low volume, high-intensity resistance training can counter the decline in muscle strength and size commonly associated with aging. If you decide to embark on an exercise program, here are some things you can do to make sure you are exercising safely:

1. Start slowly, especially if you haven't been active for a long time. Little by little build up your activities and how hard you work at them.
2. Don't hold your breath during strength exercises. That could cause changes in your blood pressure. It may seem strange at first, but you should breathe out as you lift something, and breathe in as you relax.
3. Use safety equipment. For example, wear a helmet for bike riding or the right shoes for walking or jogging.
4. Unless your doctor has asked you to limit fluids, be sure to drink plenty when you are doing activities. Many older adults don't feel thirsty even if their body needs fluids.
5. Always bend forward from the hips, not the waist. If you keep your back straight, you're probably bending the right way. If your back "humps," that's probably wrong.

Stiff joints and sore muscles can be a deterrent. When physical activity results in pain, it's hard to motivate yourself to continue. Minor muscle aches are to be expected with a new routine, but sharp or severe pain is unnecessary and unhealthy. Stretching can help by preparing your body for activity.

Make time to warm up and stretch before you go for a fitness walk or engage in any other workout. Slowing stretching your muscles will increase your flexibility and help to prevent muscle strain. After exercising, be sure to cool down and stretch again. You'll add only minutes to your routine, but you'll prevent hours of stiffness!

Yours in good health,

Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch

At least 65 million Americans now have high blood pressure. Which means this: all of those people are living at increased risk for heart attacks, stroke, kidney failure and blindness.

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.

You Can't Get Too Excited About Minerals?

Here's a little-known health fact:

You can live without vitamins, but without minerals, your brain, your heart and other organs would cease to function.

No less an authority than Dr. Linus Pauling, the only person ever to win the Nobel Prize twice by himself, says: "You can trace every sickness, every disease and every ailment to a mineral deficiency."

So-called "farm fresh" American produce no longer has much of its original nutritional value. There are essential minerals missing from the food you eat - everyday.