IVL Products Health Watch - October, 2008
The Official IVL Products Health Blog

In This Issue...

Discover The Nourishing Goodness Of Pumpkins
Work With Your Body, Rather than Against It
Failing Eyesight is Not an Inevitable Part of Aging

Dear Reader, 

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,


Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch

Work with your body, rather than against it!

We used to think that the human growth hormone naturally produced by the body was only necessary until we reached maturity. However, studies now show that the human growth hormone, or hGH, is vital in virtually all functions of the body throughout our entire lives, even into old age!

Sadly, as our bodies mature, the level of hGH decreases accordingly. This leaves us at the mercy of time, increasing our chances of premature aging, and all the trials that come along with it: creaking bones, back pain, weight gain, loss of sex drive, loss of eyesight, and more.

Many people try to continually replace these hormones with injections that can cost about $1,000 a month, month after month, after month! Luckily we now know that there is a natural way to stimulate our own body's release of its own natural hGH!


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.

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

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.

Thursday, October 30, 2008 12:19:02 AM (US Mountain Standard Time, UTC-07:00)  #      Healthy Living  |  Trackback

In This Issue...

 Bottled Water Awash With Controversy
 Bone Strength Breakthrough
 Year Round Rejuvenation and Refreshment

Dear Reader,

Simply put, our bodies depend on water for survival. Provided abundantly by Mother Nature, water is a significant part of our body’s constitution. In fact, two-thirds of our body weight is water. A mere 2% drop in our body’s water supply can trigger signs of dehydration. It is important that we drink plenty of water every day to maintain optimum health.

In recent years the way we obtain the water our bodies need has sparked controversy as millions of health-conscious consumers have become increasingly convinced that bottled water is purer and healthier than tap water. But is it?

According a recent report published by the National Resources Defense Council, much of the bottled water sold in the United States is neither cleaner nor safer than most tap water. In fact, the NRDC study revealed that close to 40% of bottled water sold in this country comes from municipal sources and that bottled waters “are subjected to less rigorous testing and purity standards than those which apply to city tap water.” For instance, government rules allow bottlers to call their product “spring water” even though it may be brought to the surface using a pumped well and it may be treated with chemicals. Some studies have shown that bottled water that is left in direct sunlight (such as in an automobile) can cause chemical changes that researchers believe are carcinogenic.

This comes as no surprise to the numerous environmental and consumer groups who have lobbied for years for closer scrutiny of bottled water. These groups have long contended that Americans are wasting billions of dollars on something that is not necessarily good for their health and is indisputably bad for the environment.

According to the Container Recycling Institute, 86% of plastic water bottles become garbage or litter. The process used to burn the used bottles produces toxic byproducts and buried water bottles can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade. Producing bottles for US water consumption required the equivalent of more than 17 million barrels of oil in 2007, not including the energy used for transportation.

Obtaining water from underground pipe is more energy efficient and uses far fewer natural resources than bottled water. Furthermore, tap water is strictly regulated by the FDA and must meet stringent safety standards before it can be dispensed for public use.

So what can we do to minimize our carbon footprint where water is concerned? Part of the appeal of bottled water is that it is a convenient way to stay hydrated on the go. But you don’t have to use water from plastic bottles. Instead, you can purchase a reusable container made especially for water from many health food stores. Be sure to sterilize before refilling it and don’t let a bottle sit for days after you have already started drinking it. If you have concerns about the tap water at your home, consider purchasing a water filtration system for your family’s drinking water.


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.

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.


 

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 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

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.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 8:16:09 PM (US Mountain Standard Time, UTC-07:00)  #      Healthy Living  |  Trackback