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

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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

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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™!

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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!

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	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?

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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,

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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™.

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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!

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	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.   

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

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

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.

	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

WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET THE FLU

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?

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

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.