Artificial Sweeteners

I know that this topic, Artificial Sweeteners, has been presented many times but I still hear people all the time believing that they are safe and good. It is amazing to me that so many still use the pretty little packages of pretend sweeteners. Some of them may be FDA-approved, but according to a long-time medical professional/clinically trained pharmacist, Suzy Cohen, firmly believes that they are dangerous. Some clinical research has associated artificial sweeteners with migraines, seizures, depression, fatigue, hearing loss, tinnitus, and memory loss, not to mention anxiety and panic attacks. Suzy is particularly concerned about children because their developing brains may be affected by chemicals currently deemed “safe” by the FDA.

In 2008, after several major food companies (including Coca-Cola and PepsiCo) performed scientific reviews that deemed stevia extract to be “generally recognized as safe,” the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved its use as a food additive. Prior to the FDA approval, stevia could only be marketed as a dietary supplement and was commonly sold as a liquid extract in natural foods stores. Stevia-extract-sweetened foods and beverages are most likely a healthier option than similar items made with artificial sweeteners such as aspartame. But for optimal health, it’s best to cut back on processed foods and choose naturally sweet alternatives.

Here are some recommendations for naturally produced sweeteners which are more readily recognized by the body and therefore, processed and eliminated properly:

*Natural cane sugar or brown sugar - unbleached and unprocessed.
*Stevia – calorie-free natural dietary supplement. It is heat-stable so you can cook with it and use it with any food or beverages. This sweetener is being recognized more and more as a wonderful natural and safe sugar substitute.

*Agave nectar - another natural sweetener; a sap extracted from the agave plant. 1/3 cup of agave syrup is equal to 1 cup of sugar.
*Honey
*Maple syrup
*Brown rice syrup
*Molasses

Stevia is my favorite sweetener and I use it with everything. No calories and available through Whole Foods and many of the big chain grocery stores now. Stevia is grown all over the world and is being used by so many, especially diabetics and people with weight loss problems.

I absolutely love the smart, high integrity health companies who use Stevia in their products instead of sugar, high fructose corn syrup and other types of unhealthy sweeteners. Max International is one of those companies and is another reason why their products are exceptional.

Their vitamin/mineral product, Max-n-Fuze, is exceptional using nano-technology to deliver their nutrients. Max International uses Stevia to sweeten this product and it begins to deliver the nutrients to the body while still in your mouth. Awesome!

Check out Max International’s glutathione accelerator, MaxGXL…amazing product that provides the body with the precursors needed for the body to manufacture its own glutathione. The first and only scientific, health breakthrough for glutathione. Check it out at Max International.

Warmly,
Connie Clark
303-770-3180

Tags: agave nectar, alternative health, alternative health product, alzheimers, artificial sweeteners, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, diabetes, diabetics, fatigue, Glutathione, health solutions, natural sweeteners, stevia

The Importance of Magnesium…things you may not know!

Magnesium deficiency triggers or causes these 22 conditions; the introduction of magnesium either by a high magnesium diet, with green drinks, or magnesium supplements, can help eliminate these conditions. This is according to Carolyn Dean, M.D., N.D.
1. Anxiety and Panic attacks
2. Asthma
3. Blood Clots
4. Bowel Disease
5. Cystitis
6. Depression
7. Detoxification
8. Diabetes, Syndrome X, and Metabolic Syndrome
9. Fatigue
10. Heart Disease
11. Hypertension
12. Hypoglycemia
13. Insomnia
14. Kidney Disease
15. Liver Disease
16. Migraine
17. Musculoskeletal conditions
18. Nerve problems
19. Obstetrics and Gynecology- Premenstrual Syndrome; dysmenorrhea (cramping pain during menses); infertility; premature contractions, preeclampsia, and eclampsia in pregnancy; lessens the risk of cerebral palsy and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
20. Osteoporosis
21. Raynaud’’s Syndrome
22. Tooth decay

Science finds magnesium too difficult to measure, as it is responsible for the correct metabolic function of over 350 enzymes in the body. The creation of ATP-adenosine triphospate-the energy molecules of the body; the action of the heart muscle; the proper formation of bones and teeth; relaxation of blood vessels; and the promotion of proper bowel function are all in the domain of magnesium. Medicine has turned its back on magnesium because most of the funding for medical research now comes from drug companies. Magnesium is not a patented drug and therefore will not be studied by drug companies, except to try to disprove its action.

While researching her book, “The Miracle of Magnesium”, Carolyn Dean, M.D., N.D. found that doctors have been prescribing magnesium for heart disease since the 1930’s. A review of seven major clinical studies showed that IV magnesium reduced the odds of death by more than half in patients suffering acute myocardial infarction (heart attack). One study, LIMIT-2 developed a protocol for giving magnesium as soon as possible after onset of the heart attack and before any other drugs. If those criteria were followed, heart muscle damage was greatly reduced, and neither hypertension nor arrhythmia developed.

Magnesium is able to dilate blood vessels; prevent spasm in the heart muscle and blood vessel walls; counteract the action of calcium, which increases spasm; help dissolve blood clots; dramatically lessen the site of injury and prevent arrhythmia; and act as an antioxidant against the free radicals forming at the site of injury.1-4 One of the main reasons that heart drug, digoxin, becomes toxic is because there is not enough magnesium in the body.5

In spite of the fact that heart drugs, mainly diuretics, have the bad habit of depleting magnesium-along with potassium and even though magnesium is absolutely required for stabilizing heart muscle activity – magnesium is not utilized properly by conventional medicine.

A small group of international magnesium researchers, however, have continued, against all odds, to prove the importance of magnesium – not only as a nutrient for thousands of body processes-but also as a medicine to treat magnesium-depleted health conditions. Drs. Bella and Burton Altura are two hard-working magnesium researcher who have performed laboratory research and clinical research to the tune of about 1,000 studies over the past forty years. The Alturas personally confirmed that the 22 magnesium-related conditions, listed above, have a solid basis in science.

A reason that Dr. Altura felt magnesium was not given its due is because there has been no lab test that will give an accurate reading of the magnesium status in the tissues. Only one percent of magnesium of the body is distributed in the blood, making a simple sample of magnesium in the blood highly inaccurate. That’s why most doctors who rely on blood tests for magnesium and not magnesium deficiency signs and symptoms and realization that up to 80 percent of the population is deficient, will miss an important diagnosis.

The Alturas took it upon themselves to develop and research a method that would test specifically for magnesium ions. It came about in 1987 and is called the Blood Ionized Magnesium Test. Its accuracy has been confirmed countless times with sensitive digital imaging microscopy, atomic absorption spectroscopy and the magnesium fluorescent probe. With this test it is now possible to directly measure the levels of magnesium ions in whole blood, plasma and serum using ion-selective electrodes.8 The Alturas have used the ionized magnesium test in hundreds of research trials on dozens of different conditions proving, for example, that the 22 conditions listed above are related to magnesium deficiency.9-15

If there is enough magnesium in the soil where green leafy vegetables, nuts, and seeds are grown, then we have a chance to obtain magnesium from our diet. Organic foods may have more magnesium, but only if farmers replenish their soil with magnesium-rich fertilizers. Growers should be required to use top-quality fertilizers and should test their crops for the long list of nutrients we need to stay healthy.

In general, to get as much magnesium as possible in the diet, eat plenty of organic leafy green vegetables, nuts and seeds every day. Adding green drinks to your menu will help you achieve a higher magnesium status. However, if you are suffering from the following symptoms you may need supplemental magnesium: muscle twitches, tics, or spasms; “Charlie horse” (the muscle spasm that occurs when you stretch your legs); insomnia or restless sleep; stress; back pain; headaches, cluster headaches, migraines; stiff and aching muscles; bones and joints that need continued chiropractic treatment; weakness; hypoglycemia; diabetes; nervousness; hyperactivity; high blood pressure; osteoporosis; PMS; constipation; angina; kidney stones; aging; depression; heart attack; irregular heartbeat; attention deficit disorder; aggressive behavior; chronic fatigue syndrome; stroke; anxiety; confusion, muscle weakness; hiccups; seizures; high-strung; exhaustion from exercise.

Supplementing with magnesium must also take into account the balance between calcium and magnesium. Finland, which, from 1973 to 1999 had the highest recorded incidence of heart attack in middle-aged men in the world, also has a high calcium to magnesium ratio in the diet at 4 parts calcium to 1 part magnesium.16-17 Americans, in general, have a high calcium to magnesium ratio in their diet and consequently in their bodies; the U.S. ratio is 3.5-to-1. Our dietary emphasis on a high calcium intake without sufficient magnesium and because of the excessive emphasis on women taking high doses of calcium for osteoporosis, we are creating more imbalance between the two minerals.

(Excerpts taken from http://www.calmnatural.com/miraclemagnesium)

Dr. Carolyn Dean is a medical doctor and naturopathic doctor. She is a writer, researcher, and health advocate. Her most recent book is Death by Modern Medicine written with Trueman Tucks. She is a health advisor to yeastconnection.com and curesnaturally.com. Her website is carolyndean.com. The Miracle of Magnesium is written for both the lay public and practitioners. It is packed with hundreds of journal references that will convince doctors of the importance of magnesium and its efficacy in dozens of conditions—before reaching for the prescription pad.

Resources

Blood Ionized Magnesium Test
Drs. Bella and Burton Altura. State University of New York, Health Science Center at Brooklyn, New York, New York 11203, USA. (718) 270-2194 or (718) 270-2205.
Intracellular Magnesium Test
Dr. Burton Silver at www.exatest.com

References
1. Woods KL, et al, The Second Leicester Intravenous Magnesium Intervention Trial (LIMIT-2) Intravenous magnesium sulfate in suspected acute myocardial infarction: results of the second Leicester Intravenous Magnesium Intervention Trial (LIMIT-2). Lancet, vol 339, pp 1553-1558, 1992.
2. Woods K.L., Fletcher S, “Long-term outcome after intravenous magnesium sulphate in suspected acute myocardial infarction : the second Leicester Intravenous Magnesium Intervention Trial (LIMIT-2),”Lancet, vol 343, pp 816-819, 1994
3. Ravn HB. Pharmacological effects of magnesium on arterial thrombosis–mechanisms of action? Magnes Research, vol 12, no 3, pp 191-9, 1999
4. Young IS, et al, “Magnesium status and digoxin toxicity.” Br J Clin Pharmacol, vol 32, no 6, pp 717-21, 1991
5. Lewis R, et al, “Magnesium deficiency may be an important determinant of ventricular ectopy in digitalised patients with chronic atrial fibrillation.”: Br J Clin Pharmacol, vol 31, no 2, pp 200-3, 1991
8. Altura BM, Altura BT. “Role of magnesium in patho-physiological processes and the clinical utility of magnesium ion selective electrodes.” Scand J Clin Lab Invest Suppl, vol 224, pp 211-34, 1996
9. Altura BT, Altura BM, “A method for distinguishing ionized, complexed and protein-bound Mg in normal and diseased subjects.” Scand J Clin Lab Invest Suppl, vol 217, pp 83-7, 1994
10. Altura BT, et al, “Comparative findings on serum IMg2+ of normal and diseased human subjects with the NOVA and KONE ISE’s for Mg2+.” Scand J Clin Lab Invest Suppl, vol 217, pp 77-81, 1994
11. Altura BT, et al, “Characterization of a new ion selective electrode for ionized magnesium in whole blood, plasma, serum, and aqueous samples.” Scand J Clin Lab Invest Suppl, vol 217, pp 21-36, 1994
12. Altura BT, et al, “A new method for the rapid determination of ionized Mg2+ in whole blood, serum and plasma.” Exp Clin Pharmacol, vol 4, pp 297-304, 1996
13. Altura BT, Altura BM, “Measurement of ionized magnesium in whole blood, plasma and serum with a new ion-selective electrode in healthy and diseased human subjects.” Magnes Trace Elem, vol 10, no 2-4, pp 90-8, 1991-1992
14. Altura BT, Altura BM, “A method for distinguishing ionized, complexed and protein-bound Mg in normal and diseased subjects.” Scand J Clin Lab Invest Suppl, vol 217, pp 83-7, 1994
15. Altura BM, Altura BT. “Role of magnesium in patho-physiological processes and the clinical utility of magnesium ion selective electrodes.” Scand J Clin Lab Invest Suppl, vol Vol 224, pp 211-34, 1996
16. Karppanen, H.; Neuvonen, P.J. Ischaemic heart-disease and soil magnesium in Finland; water hardness and magnesium in heart muscle. The Lancet. Dec 15, 1973
17. Tunstall-Pedoe H, Kuulasmaa K, Mahonen M, Tolonen H, Ruokokoski E, Amouyel P. Contribution of trends in survival and coronary-event rates to changes in coronary heart disease mortality: 10-year results from 37 WHO MONICA project populations. Monitoring trends and determinants in cardiovascular disease. Lancet. 1999 May 8;353(9164):1547-57
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And, of course, if you add a glutathione accelerator to your health regimen, you will be optimizing your health even more. Glutathione is widely recognized as the most powerful of all antioxidants, and one scientist has referred to it as “the great multi-tasker” in a 2006 article. MaxGXL® is not a glutathione supplement, but rather provides the body with the precursors it needs to manufacture and absorb glutathione.

Get your health up to the MAX and keep it that way with good, high quality health products:
Glutathione Accelerator: MaxGXL
Whole Live Foods: Nuriche Live
Wellness Company: Toxic-Free Living Products (contact me to learn how to SAVE 30% to 40% on cost)
Miracle Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera 5000

Warmly,
Connie
303-770-3180

Tags: aging, allergies, Aloe Vera, alternative health, alzheimers, anti-aging, antioxidants, arthritis, auto-immune disorder, chronic diseases, chronic fatigue syndrome, detoxify, elderly, energy, Glutathione, health solutions, inflammation, irritable bowel syndrome, liver support, toxins

Beat the January Blues

Many psychologists worldwide theorize that January is the most depressing month of the year. Some even say it can lead to Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD. So how can you celebrate the Holidays in usual fashion without feeling a little let down when it’s all over?

Hey, December was a blast! Driving life down a happy highway of gift-giving and present-unwrapping, tickling scents and tasty treats, friends and family gathered together for a special time that comes but once a year.

In the heap and hype of the holidays, you ignore your thinning wallet’s starvation and splurge on your loved ones–or yourself–in a manner likely unequalled by any other time of the year, and all during the heat of an economic downturn. Your soul’s warming cheer makes the cold weather seem like perfect holiday weather. And to top off your New Year’s celebrations, amid your Holiday Season high, you set exciting resolutions that’ll improve your life ten-fold once they’re achieved.

Then your holiday season high ends abruptly when you wake up New Year’s Day.

All the traits that created your holiday cheer suddenly turn on you to create a feeling of January dejection.

While it may be too late to prevent over-eating, over-spending, and over-expecting, it’s never too late to repair the damage. Here are a few suggestions to help you dig yourself out of January depression or steer clear of it altogether.

Be Grateful
One of the best ways to cheer up is to count your blessings. Make a written list of the things you have and how much better life is with them. Though deceptively simple, the act of writing out the things you’re grateful for activates a different part of the brain than just thinking about them. Plus, your list may come in handy later down the road on other blue days.

Get Outside
It may be cold, but going for a walk and breathing in fresh air can refresh your mind and body. Besides, indoor air quality is at its worst during the Winter.

Exercise
Depression, especially in seasonal situations, has been linked to chemical imbalances inside the brain. Exercise is scientifically linked to your brain’s neurotransmitters, which help balance the brain’s chemicals. Though exercise has not been proven to completely cure depression, mental health experts agree that going for a daily jog or hitting the weights can help you work out your worries or subside your struggles.2

Talk
It always helps to talk–to a friend, to a family member, to a loved one. Anybody who will listen will help just by listening. And it never hurts to listen to their struggles, too.

Do What Makes You Happy
It’s a pretty simple concept. If you’re not happy, do something that will make you happy. But don’t indulge in destructive activities that may make you feel good now, but may hurt later down the road like overeating, alcoholism, over-spending, or using drugs. Instead, try to engage in activites that’ll make you happy in short-term and long-term respects. Uplifting activities like playing, reading, exercising, chatting, serving, watching movies, and the like might be the right way to go.

Try Our All-Natural Luminex
The Wellness Company offers an all natural, patented supplement that can give you a more positive outlook on life. Luminex® helps regulate the key neurotransmitters in your brain linked to depression. It’s not an antidepressant prescription, but a vitamin supplement that includes St. John’s Wort, Griffonia, and vitamin b12, all proven to aid your brain’s neurotransmitters.

Consider the Circumstances
Depression in January is often a phase. You made it through last January. Rediscover the tools that helped you through last year’s phase and put them to work.

Seek Help
If you can’t seem to climb out of the hole with any of these suggestions, seek help. There are literally thousands of support outlets online. Just search for “depression support” and you’ll find a myriad of help. There’s a lot of help out there because you’re not alone. Depression is a common struggle, especially in January. And if you’re still struggling, visit a doctor or counselor. Medication may be the solution.
(from Melaleuca Article archives)
1: “Jan. 24 Called Worst Day of the Year” – www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6847012/
2: “Exercise Helps Treat Depression, Many Mental Health Experts Agree”
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/17/health/main681456.shtml

Contact me at optforsuccess@msn.com if you would like to know how to order from the Wellness Company at a substantial savings.

Warmly,
Connie
303-770-3180
Glutathione Information: http://www.connieclark.max4u.com
Wellness Company Information: http://www.melaleuca.com

Tags: alternative health, chronic fatigue syndrome, energy, Glutathione, healthy immune system, inflammation, toxins

Hello Everyone and Happy New Year!

Here’s to a very special and enlightening year! I hope that you are looking forward to 2010 as much as I am. Last year was a tough year for me, as were the previous 3 years. I lost my mother-in-law, my mother, my father and my 15 year old dog, Pepper. These last few years were my first time for facing death and trying to make peace with this phenomena of life…not very easy for me.

It has been very hard on my health, taking care of my mother-in-law, mother and father for the past 8 years or so. Stress does that to us many times over our lives. Eventually, we must take a hard look at ourselves and decide to focus again on what will best serve us for a good and healthy life.

That is the point where I am at this time and my optimism has kicked in again. I’m grateful for that and I’m also focusing on my spiritual growth, as well. I’ve decided to work with an energy healer and am looking forward to experiencing this opportunity for growth and better health. I will try to keep you updated on my progress and how this energy healing works.

In the meantime, I want to share again one of the most important “health breakthroughs” I’ve ever seen in my 40 plus years of researching and studying the health industry. If you google “glutathione“, you will find out how intensely important it is to your body and your health.

However, glutathione cannot be introduced to the body just by taking a pill, tablet, liquid or capsule supplement. It is destroyed in the stomach acid almost immediately. Finally, a doctor of renown, Dr. Keller, developed and formulated (with a composition patent, reserved for pharmaceuticals only) a glutathione accelerator, MaxGXL, which introduces the precursors needed by our bodies to manufacture our own glutathione.

Scientists call it the “Master Antioxidant”. Glutathione has never been able to be introduced into the body and recycle itself prior to this product. Doctors, researchers, and scientists have been looking for a way for a very long time to get glutathione levels in the body raised so that the body functions properly. Glutathione has been used intraveneously in ER for a long time for life-threatening health problems. But, of course, it is terribly expensive and you have to have it done over and over again because it doesn’t allow the body to recycle it and manufacture its own glutathione.

Glutathione is natural to the body; we are born with the ability to manufacture our own glutathione. But as we age, have illnesses/disease, take in toxins over the years from chemicals and pollution, our body’s ability to manufacture its own glutathione declines rapidly. This health product, MaxGXL, is the first scientifically-based with placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical and crossover studies to give the body what it needs to produce/manufacture its own glutathione.

I am including some links for you to check out, if interested, to learn more about how this all works. If you would give me your address, I will send you more information. Plus, you can Google glutathione and see more about all the studies that have been done.

Please feel free to call me anytime with questions. I would also be able to connect you with some doctors that you could talk to about this product, as well. There is a very unique and special vitamin/mineral supplement that supports the MaxGXL with additional support for manufacturing glutathione in the body; it is called Max-n-Fuze and has a nanotechnology delivery system.

My sister is taking MaxGXL, as I am and also my husband and youngest son. I have some wonderful friends and business partners who would be willing to share their personal testimony about this product and how it has helped them. I will also try to get a hold of some testimonies pertaining to your health issue and be more pertinent to your needs if you wish to learn more.

To learn about this new discovery that has been awarded a “Composition Patent” which is usually only given to Prescription Drugs, and to learn about this AMAZING product called MAX GXL….

First go to http://www.stevenkscott.com and watch the 5 minute interview with LARRY KING LIVE to know who Mr. Scott is…..

Then go to http://www.connieclark.max4u.com and click on a 14 minute information video with Mr. Scott talking about MaxGXL and World Famous Dr. Robert Keller ( a Triple Board Certified MD in Oncology, Hematology, and Immunology. Then click on Products, then MaxGXL for a wealth of information. Then click on Testimonials.

There is also a 1 hour MaxGXL TV show on DirecTV on Monday nights every week. But here is a link where you can actually watch the TV shows and pick which segments you are most interested in viewing. Go to my team website at http://www.smilin2TheMax.com and click on Max GXL TV link in left column to see the MaxGXL show.

Warmly,
Connie Clark
303-770-3180 hm
303-898-7376 cell

Life to the Max: http://www.connieclark.max4u.com
Smilin & Livin 2 the Max Information: http://www.smilin2themax.com

Tags: aging, allergies, alternative health, alternative health product, alzheimers, anti-aging, antioxidant, antioxidants, arthritis, cancer, chronic diseases, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic illness, detoxify, diabetes, elderly, energy, Glutathione, health solutions, healthy immune system, inflammation, liver support, proven product, science-based, strengthen your immune syst, toxins

What makes Aloe Vera So Effective for Health?

Aloe Vera, the Miracle Plant …Aloe Vera is one of the most versatile plants in the world …even with all the notable factors of other healing plants. The Aloe Vera plant is not exclusive in it’s nature for healing powers …there are many other plants that are used for healing purposes, as well, like: Noni, Eucalyptus, Yucca, Evening primrose, Madagascar periwinkle, Grape seed, Grape skin and many others.

Aloe Vera rises to the top of the list when it comes to a very complete chemistry composition. Aloe Vera contains 21 key vitamins and minerals and it also possesses all 22 amino acids plus ligin, saponins, a long list of anthraguinones and an effective amount of complex enzymes.

This unique composition of nutrients enjoys the presence of its active component… called polysaccharides, which trigger Aloe’s extensive enzymatic activity. Polysaccharides are plant sugars that play an important part of it’s complex activity.

One of the most important health factors is that Aloe Vera has no toxicology levels. When given to animals in large doses, there have been absolutely no amounts of toxicity …leaving no animal either harmed, ill, or dying.

Aloe Vera finds where it is needed and goes to work building your body’s own immune system. This process is notable when working with the malfunction of various body systems …which happens when the immune system malfunctions. Aloe Vera helps the communication of the systems to get back in balance …the process of phagocytosis.

Simply said …history has proven that Aloe Vera has a synergy factor second to none. And with all of the… on going science …Aloe Vera still remains a mystery. That’s why we call it the “Miracle Plant.” Now, isn’t Aloe Vera something worth adding to your diet?

Just by adding two to four ounces of Organic Aloe Vera Juice to you’re diet everyday…it will benefit the immune system and synergize the healing process.

But remember, know your supplier!! The best Aloe Vera that I’ve found if through Healthy Systems:
Healthy Systems Nutritionals
“100 % Organic Aloe Vera Juice” Guaranteed
“Best Tasting Aloe Vera Juice”
with four unique flavors:
1) Mango-Papaya (my favorite)
Cran-Grape
Strawberry-Kiwi
Natural

Certified Organic
Here is some basic information about their unique, organic, and US patented Aloe Vera.

There are over 240 species of Aloe Vera, growing mainly in the dry regions of Africa, Asia, Europe and America. Although Aloe Vera is a member of the Lily family, it is very cactus-like in appearance.

Of the 240 species, four are recognized as having nutritional value, with barbadensis miller leading the group. Barbadensis is the type of Aloe Vera used in most commercial products available today.

The gel contains over 75 nutrients and 200 active compounds, including 20 minerals, 18 amino acids and 12 vitamins. A high quality product, which uses only the nutritious inner gel …not the outer rind …the rind of the leaf, is one of the most nutritious drinks and best skincare products, available.

Aloe Vera is proven to increase new cell growth three fold and promotes rapid wound healing after skin resurfacing treatments using chemical and mechanical procedures.

Aloe Vera is effective in treating a variety of dermatological conditions and diseases of the skin. Aloe Vera penetrates deeply without the aid of “heat.”

Aloe Vera relieves pain, swelling and tightness associated with strains, sprains and burses while reducing inflammation in muscles, tendons (tendonitis) and joints (bursitis).

Aloe Vera relieves itching and skin irritations resulting from many causes. It also promotes healing of chemical burns, minor sunburns, razor burns, floor burns and mat burns.

Taken internally, Aloe Vera acts as an aid in digestion, inflammation problems and combats yeast infections.

You really can’t go wrong with this great Aloe Vera and it is affordable by most people. Try it out and see by visiting Healthy Systems Nutritionals.

To your very best Health!

Warmly,
Connie Clark
303-770-3180

Tags: allergies, Aloe Vera, alternative health, antioxidants, arthritis, digestive problems, healthy immune system, inflammation, strengthen your immune syst, ulcers

Aging Skin – Get Rid of the Toxins!

Are you using these toxic substances on your skin?

Most skin care products are loaded with toxic ingredients that can cause everything from mild irritation to cancer! Here are the eight most common ones you could accidentally be slathering on your skin:

Mineral oil – A petroleum derivative. Because it causes toxins to build up in the skin, it can accelerate the aging process.

Petrolatum (petroleum jelly) — The most familiar petroleum derivative. Prevents skin from being able to breath, traps toxins inside the skin’s layers.

Sodium laurel (or lauryl or laureth) sulfate — An industrial detergent that strips skin of its moisture barrier and has been linked to eye damage — among many other harmful things.

Propylene glycol — The main active ingredient in anti-freeze and brake fluid. It breaks down cell structure and has been linked to kidney damage as well as liver and brain problems.

Parabens — Highly toxic preservatives used to extend product shelf life.

Talc (talcum powder) — Shown to cause cancer in lab animals. It creates acute respiratory distress if inhaled and has been linked to ovarian cancer.

Fragrance — Can contain thousands of potentially toxic ingredients! It is the most common cause of allergies and reactions to skin care products.

FD&C Colors — Usually made from coal tar. They are often used in skin care products, and some are considered carcinogenic (cancer-causing).
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Pay close attention to ingredients and avoid these mentioned above at all costs. Check into natural healthy types of skin care and cosmetics. Be sure to check their ingredients before using them.

And eliminate toxins from your body in the best way that I know will actually work by taking MaxGXL and Max-n-Fuze. Max International is the a company of the highest integrity and it is committed to bringing only the best “breakthrough” and safest products possible to the public. Subscribe to this health blog and get the full information on what makes this company have such an excellent reputation as an “A” company!!! You will receive a 30 page ebook of vital information for choosing a company with excellent products.

If you are familiar with Mark Victor Hansen, co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, you should know that he suffered from heavy metal toxicity and he completely eradicated his heavy metal toxicity by utilizing the above products to aid his body in healing itself* from these toxins.

To your best health and life!!!

Warmly,
Connie Clark
303-770-3180
http://www.connielclark.com

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Tags: aging skin, eliminate toxins, heavy metal toxicity, skin care, Subscribe to this health blog and get the full information, toxic ingredients, toxic substances

Journey through Alzheimers – My Mom

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about Mom and her journey with Alzheimers. If I had known then what I know now, I believe that journey could have been so much easier. Of course, hindsight is always 20/20.

Mom’s greatest fear throughout life was that she would get Alzheimers like her Mom. I remember when grandma and grandpa lived with us for a while; one day grandma was so confused that she took off out of the house running down the street calling for grandpa. We all had to chase her and bring her back home. Finally, Mom realized that she couldn’t take care of her mom and dad; so grandma was put in a nursing home and grandpa went to live in a large house with other elderly folks.

Dad was struggling so much, trying to accept that Mom had Alzheimers. But it was near impossible for him to understand. She started repeating herself constantly and he would get so mad at her. She would start crying and he couldn’t ever get her to stop so I always went over then to rock her and calm her down.

I finally began looking for a senior type place that had enough security to keep her safe and also give her some things to do. She began going to a Total Longterm Care facility that provided the security and recreation for her several days a week. That really helped to give her a break from Dad and likewise, for him too.

I have a lot of pictures of her from that facility showing her at many different activities…gardening, making flour tortillas, making tissue flowers and other things. But she was always trying to escape from the place…it was difficult for the staff to keep her interested in things.

Her eating habits changed a lot and it was difficult to get food down her. I remember sitting at her kitchen table urging her to eat some snacks with me. I would take a bite and then have her take a bite. We kind of made it a game and it worked out sometimes. Mom was a tiny woman, less than a 100 lbs and under 5′. She started losing weight.

Interestingly, before Alzheimers, Mom was not a particularly “loving” person outwardly. She was a little harsh and opinionated; didn’t give hugs and was pretty fussy. She and Daddy were very involved in their church and did so much for others in that way. Mom taught a women’s Sunday School class, played piano and visited immobile church friends to help them out. Daddy was a music/choir director in many churches around the US, and overseas in Germany. Neither he nor Mom were particularly nurturing. BUT, amazingly, as Mom’s Alzheimers progressed, she became more and more loving, nurturing, laughing, giggling and I treasure those times with her. We became so much closer and had a very loving and caring relationship in her last years…..I am so grateful!

Be VERY CAREFUL in choosing a place for your loved ones to spend their last years if they need extra care. I will tell you more about that in my next MOM post. If I had known what I know now, I would have quit my job and brought my mom home to live with us. We had the worst experience at Julia Temple in Englewood, CO and I would never recommend that place for anyone. They, essentially, ended my mother’s life in 2 days. Be VERY, VERY CAREFUL!

Get your elder loved ones on the best health products possible because those last years can be so very difficult. This is the best health product, by far, that I have ever found to help everyone feel their absolute best and help to prevent disease/illness. I wish I had know of this supplement when I was caring for my Mom. Visit http://www.connieclark.max4u.com to learn more about it.

Blessings for Abundance and Health!

Warmly,
Connie
303-770-3180

Tags: aging, alternative health product, anti-aging, antioxidant, antioxidants, caregiver, energy, Glutathione, strengthen your immune syst

Laughter Yoga

Research has shown that little children LAUGH up to 300 times a day, while the average adult laughs less than 15 times per day. And I’ll bet you know some people who never seem to laugh at all! What have we been missing?

It seems that the innate wisdom we had as little children faded as we grew older. The stresses and responsibilities of adult life gradually creep into our everyday experience, and can take their toll on our bodies, minds and spirits. Before long the natural sense of spontaneity, playfulness and fun that we knew as children gets replaced by seriousness, stress and worry.

Medical science is now beginning to discover that this shift in our attitudes and activities contributes to high stress levels and deteriorating mental, physical and emotional health. Laughter Yoga was developed to reverse these trends.

Studies show that hearty laughter provides three main benefits:

• First, laughing signals our glands to produce increased levels of beneficial hormones and other compounds into our bloodstream and brain. After smiling and laughing for just a few seconds, endorphins, serotonin, dopamine and other compounds begin to flood your brain. They bring a surge of pleasure (similar to the “runner’s high”), relieve aches and pains, stimulate your immune system to fight off disease, and help counteract the effects of aging. Laughing releases these compounds much faster than traditional exercise. While it takes at least 20 minutes of strenuous exercise (like running) to trigger the release of these compounds, hearty laughter releases them in only 17 seconds! Laughing is an easy way to battle the blues and improve your outlook on life. After about 10 minutes of hearty laughter, your body’s stress indicators are reduced by as much as 70%.

• Second, hearty laughter itself is real physical exercise that stimulates your body in multiple ways. The deep and intense breathing that accompanies laughter floods your body with oxygen, which helps energize your cells, clear out toxins, increase your physical energy, reduce blood pressure and prevent disease from ever taking hold. Dr. Otto Warburg, twice Nobel Prize winner in medicine, said, “Remember, where cells get enough oxygen, cancer will not—cannot occur.” The aerobic benefits of laughter are dazzling. Just one minute of hearty laughter produces the same aerobic benefits as 10 minutes of exercise on a rowing machine. Even the staccato rhythms of laughter (ha, ha, ho, ho) help to literally shake up your internal organs, promoting better digestion, improved release of toxins and healthier organ systems.

• Last, but not least, laughter shifts your consciousness into the “here and now.” Once you start laughing, shyness, fears, anxiety and worry drop by the wayside.
It becomes easy and fun to relate to other people, despite differences in age, race, culture, economic status or physical abilities. When you’re laughing, none of this stuff matters. Laughter knows no particular language, either. In fact, you could say that laughter is the Universal Language. Laughter brings out the playful side of our human nature that tends to get lost as we grow older. It’s FUN! And for many people, this is most important benefit of all.

Here’s how the Littleton Laughter Club works. As people gather at the Riverwalk Clubhouse, we chat a bit with everyone and catch up on our laughter-friends’ lives. Then at 10 am we begin with about 10 minutes of gentle stretching, clapping and deep breathing to warm-up our bodies and minds. As we’re doing this, we’ll act out the major benefits of laughter yoga in a playful fashion. Then we launch into the laughter exercises. There is little talking, and lots of laughter. The exercises are mostly physical, and allow us to act out (mime) common everyday experiences that we accompany with laughter. There are no jokes or comedy, as such. Just the playful hilarity of simple situations made funny simply by laughing at them. There are hundreds of variations of the laughter exercises, and the Littleton Laughter Yoga group encourages your creative input to choose or develop your favorites for us to share. One of our simple rules is to FAKE-IT-TILL-YOU-MAKE-IT. If your laughter is not arriving spontaneously, then fake your laughter enthusiastically until the real thing takes over. With the help of all the other people laughing, you’ll soon be yukking it up and laughing yourself silly. The laughter exercises take about 20 minutes. Then we wind down the action and move into a relaxing laughter meditation. Most people emerge from the 45-minute session feeling relaxed and energized. Some folks report that their lingering aches and pains are gone, and the stresses and worries they came in with have dissolved.

The benefits of a single laughter club session can be profound. But as with many things in life, regular practice brings additional benefits. We encourage people to attend our laughter club sessions regularly, so the benefits can accumulate. Just as doing a single push-up won’t make you stronger, a single laughter club session is just the beginning of an internal revolution that will transform you from the inside out. By practicing laughter you gradually shift your mental outlook, stress levels and overall health and well-being. Then you’ll begin to move toward a happier and healthier life. We also offer tips on how to bring increased laughter into your normal daily activities, so the things that used to bug you just become fodder for more laughter. Imagine laughing your way through your troubles…

Thank you for deciding to laugh with us! See you at the Riverwalk Clubhouse soon…

Yours in love and laughter,
Bev & Brian Davis
Our motto: Learn to laugh and be happy, and the world becomes a better place.

www.LaughBeHappy.com
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Check in your own area to see if there is a Laughter Yoga group nearby for you to begin your own laughter therapy. I am enjoying this one in Littleton, CO and have been told that there are over 6000 such groups around.

I have often heard that laughter is great medicine and it is apparently substantiated by medical science. It certainly can’t hurt us and maybe can help us.

Warmly,
Connie Clark
http://www.connielclark.com
http://www.connieclark.max4u.com
http://www.connieclark.mynuriche.com

Tags: energy, health solutions, healthy laughter, hearty laughter, laugh, laughing, Laughter, laughter yoga

Toxin Alert: Are Your Baby’s Bath Products Safe?

By Jacqueline Tourville

In this article:
Coming Clean About Dirty Ingredients
Ban the Bubble Bath?
Tips for Picking Safe Bath Products
Avoid Toxins Outside the Tub
A Less Toxic Tomorrow

Bath time for Baby should be fun, relaxing—and most of all—safe. but news reports about toxic chemicals found in popular children’s bath care products have put many parents on edge. Should you be concerned? Before you touch that tap, here’s what every parent needs to know.

Despite labels carrying such reassuring claims as “extra gentle” and “safe for Baby’s delicate skin,” dozens of top-selling children’s bath care products contain trace amounts of the toxins 1,4-dioxane and formaldehyde, according to a buzz-worthy report from consumer watchdog group, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. Far from safe and gentle, both substances are classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as “reasonably anticipated to cause cancer in humans.”

Coming Clean About Dirty Ingredients
Spurred by a previous investigation that detected toxic chemicals in bath products marked “all natural,” this time the Campaign decided to round up a sampling of mainstream children’s bath products. From baby shampoo to bubble bath, lotion to body wash, 48 well-known products were independently tested for 1,4-dioxane; 28 were also checked for traces of formaldehyde.

Lab result highlights?

61 percent of the products tested (17 out of 28) contained both formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane. These included some big names:
Johnson’s Baby Shampoo
Sesame Street Bubble Bath
Grins & Giggles Milk & Honey Baby Wash
Huggies Naturally Refreshing Cucumber & Green Tea Baby Wash

82 percent of products (23 out of 28) contained formaldehyde at levels ranging from 79 parts per million (ppm) to 610 ppm. Exposure to formaldehyde concentrations as low as 250 ppm may cause skin rash in children with chemical sensitivities; the product with the highest level of formaldehyde—Baby Magic Baby Lotion—would require a warning label if sold in Europe (where the formaldehyde cut off is 500 ppm).

67 percent of products (32 out of 48) contained 1,4-dioxane at levels ranging from 0.27 ppm to 35 ppm. American Girl shower products from Bath & Body Works contained the highest levels of 1,4-dioxane. The United States classifies the toxin as a “probable human carcinogen”, but has not set cut-off levels for its use. In contrast, Canada and Europe completely ban products containing any amount of 1,4-dioxane.

If these results have motivated you to scour the ingredients of your favorite baby shampoo, you won’t find 1,4-dioxane or formaldehyde listed, even if you use one of products mentioned above. Both toxins are considered contaminants, meaning they ended up in the product as a result of chemical breakdown during the manufacturing process—and were not intentionally added.

As Stacy Malkan, a lead author of the Campaign’s report, points out, “because they’re technically not ingredients, formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane are exempt from current US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labeling laws.”

Ban the Bubble Bath?
Since the study’s worrisome findings were made public March 12, 2009, many manufacturers have stepped forward to defend their products. In a statement released by Johnson & Johnson, the company noted that “trace levels of certain compounds can result from processes that make our products gentle for babies and safe from bacteria growth. The FDA and other government agencies around the world consider these trace levels safe.”

Dr. Jim Sears, MD, author of The Baby Book and co-host of the new hit syndicated television show The Doctors, urges parents to remain calm. “Since this is the first study to look at these substances in baby products, it’s probably going to be a while before we see any big changes in the ingredient lists. I’m not too worried about these ingredients, since we don’t know for sure if their effects are harmful…. Hopefully, the FDA will take a closer look at these chemicals, and if there is a problem, there will be a change in regulations.”

And according to Dr. Sean Palfrey, MD, a pediatrician in the Boston area, “What parents need to know is that unless a child actually swallows the shampoo or lotion [ingesting the product directly from the bottle], there is no immediate risk of toxic poisoning from any of these products.”

But Malkan believes real risk is present, even when the amounts being debated are so small. “These results might seem insignificant to some—it’s just a little bit of carcinogen absorbed through the skin,” she says. “The problem is that the same toxic chemicals are found in many products and these small exposures can add up. For example, the same baby can be exposed to formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane from baby shampoo, bubble bath, and body wash—in a single bath.”

Dr. Greg Germain, BabyZone’s resident expert on pediatric health, understands why this report prompts parents to feel concerned—and he’s also a little confused himself. “Unfortunately, toxic exposure is complicated and somewhat controversial,” he says. “How much exposure is really toxic? What if animal data exists, but no human data? Does mouse data even apply to your baby?”

Tips for Picking Safe Bath Products
Malkan’s report also reminds parents that small babies do not require a tub full of cleaning products every time they take a bath. Unless they are dirty, infants do not require a daily head-to-toe bathing, and when they do, water and a tiny amount of mild soap are all Baby needs.

But what if you’re in the market for new baby bath care products? How can you be sure you’re choosing wisely? Labels can still hold valuable clues about the kinds of toxins a product may contain. According to Malkan, formaldehyde contaminates personal care products when common preservatives release formaldehyde over time in the container.
The ingredients that signify that formaldehyde may lurk within the bottle or tube include the following:
quaternium-15
DMDM hydantoin
imidazolidinyl urea
diazolidinyl urea
1,4-dioxane is a byproduct of a chemical processing technique called ethoxylation, in which harsh cosmetic ingredients are processed with ethylene oxide to become gentle enough for human use. Manufacturers can easily remove the toxic byproduct, but are not required by law to do so.

Common ingredients likely to be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane include the following:
PEG-100 stearate
sodium laureth sulfate
polyethylene
ceteareth-20

Another toxin-avoiding tip? “Try to choose more ‘natural’ products with the shortest ingredient list possible,” recommends Dr. Sears.

Avoid Toxins Outside the Tub

Dr. Germain advises parents who aim to reduce their child’s overall chemical exposure to look beyond the suds: Cigarette smoke is a potent and direct source of both formaldehyde and 1,4 dioxane. By taking such steps as not smoking around your child and not exposing her to second-hand or so-called “third hand” smoke (cigarette smoke sediment on clothing), you greatly reduce your family’s exposure to these potentially carcinogenic ingredients.

According to Dr. Germain, there are countless ways parents can reduce toxic exposure in everyday life. Some of his favorites? “Avoid heating foods in plastic dishes and breastfeed your baby for as long as possible,’ he says. “Clean up mold around the house as soon as you see it, and don’t forget to install carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Also, keep your children’s vaccines up to date. Bacteria [from illness] release toxins, too.”

A Less Toxic Tomorrow
Finally, some good news! Even before the Campaign for Cosmetic Safety’s report rocked bathtubs across the nation, positive signs started to emerge that consumers, manufacturers, and state and local governments are newly committed to reducing toxins in our environment and in the lives of children.

Consumer demand for toxin-free baby products is higher than ever, and more than 1,000 companies have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, a pledge to replace hazardous chemicals with safe alternatives. To pick up the slack for lax federal laws, in 2005, California passed the Safe Cosmetics Act, requiring companies to disclose toxic chemicals known to cause cancer or birth defects. Other states have introduced similar cosmetics legislation.

“The onus should be on companies to fix this problem, because they already know how to fix it,” says Malkan. “In the meantime, we can reduce chemical hazards in our homes by choosing safer products. But we can’t just shop our way out of this problem; we also need to change the laws so parents can stop worrying about this stuff.”

The Wellness Company has been manufacturing safe products for families for over 23 years. They have a full line of kid friendly products guaranteed to be free from harmful toxins and carcinagins. (http://www.saferforyourhome.com)

Our handy Koala Pals Bath Time Pantry Pack combines your two favorite kid cleaners: Koala Pals Tear-Free Body Wash and Koala Pals Tear-Free Hair Wash. Koala Pals Tear-Free Body Wash gently and quickly removes the dirt young kids pick up so easily. In one easy step, Koala Pals Tear-Free Hair Wash tenderly cleans and conditions hair. The bright, attractive bottles and delicious fruity scents turn bath time into playtime.
Koala Pals Tear-Free Body Wash uses natural ingredients—coconuts and oats—to safely and effectively clean skin while vitamin E, aloe vera, and chamomile moisturize and soften. Using provitamin B, chamomile, and naturally derived conditioners, Koala Pals Tear-Free Hair Wash tames tough tangles stopping tears before they start leaving young hair soft and manageable for easy styling.

Remember…..these products are SAFER for your family, SAFER for your home, SAFER for the environment and SAVE you money on a monthly basis by simply SWITCHING stores.
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For information on how to order and save money, contact me at optforsuccess@msn.com or call me at 303-770-3180 and take MaxGXL, a glutathione accelerator to eliminate toxins from the body.
Warmly,
Connie Clark

Tags: 4-dioxane, alternative health, baby shampoo, body wash, bubble bath, carcinogen, children's bath products, contaminants, detoxify, formaldehyde, good health, health solutions, toxic chemicals, toxins

Parkinson’s and Glutathione – Testimonial

PARKINSON’S

Jean, Improved Cellular Function-Neurologic

I am a 52 year old woman with Parkinson’s. I was diagnosed in 2002, at the age of 47. My neurologist is Ali H. Rajput, OC, SOM, MBBS, FRCPC, of Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon, Canada. I was last seen by Dr. Rajput in December of 2006, when it was determined I could no longer work (I was a bakery manager at the time). This is a part of his letter to my family doctor. “Jean was examined 3 hours and 30 minutes after the last dose of Sinemet. There was a 2+ resting tremor in the left upper limb and 1+ resting tremor in all other limbs. There is 2+ postural tremor in the right upper limb and 1+ in the left upper limb. Her pronation/supernation is at 2+ on the left side and 1+ on the right side, and heel tapping is 3+ on the left and 1+ on the right. There is 1+ rigidity. Her posture is stable; she is therefore at Stage 2 disability.”

I first started taking the glutathione supplement in late May 2007. I started with three capsules in the morning and three in the afternoon. I felt nauseated, weak, developed a headache, and broke out in hives. So I then started taking only 1 capsule twice daily for three days. Then I went to 1 and 2 for 3 days. I still did not feel really well. Then I went to 2 and 2. By day 10, I started to feel really good. I actually slept for 4 hours straight, something that had not happened in the last 2 years. By day 12, I was feeling great! My medication did not “wear off” in one to one-and-a half hours like it usually did, but lasted 3 hours before wearing off! My pain level went from about an 8 to a 2. For the first time since about January of 2007, I did not have to use a cane to walk! What a wonderful feeling that was! There was no more Parkinson’s shuffle, and the cramping in my left arm and leg was minimal. And instead of sleeping half the afternoon away, I only need about a 15-minute nap. I started taking 3 and 3 capsules on about day 30. The hives have gone away and no more headaches. So, to sum up the first 3 months:

1) My energy level increased (from about a 2 to a 6)
2) I sleep for about three hours straight and for a total of about 6 hours per night, whereas before, I was lucky to get a total of 4 hours per night.
3) My medications last 3 to 3-and-a-half hours instead of 1 to 1-and-a-half hours, resulting in:
a) Less tremors
b) Less muscle cramping
c) Less muscle rigidity
d) Do not lose my voice very often
e) Do not have as much trouble swallowing
f) Pain in joints is minimal (as opposed to all day)
g) Do not need cane to walk
h) Less depression
i) My thinking is a lot clearer, not so foggy in the morning
j) Panic attacks are less
k) I feel more confident in such things as my driving, going out alone, etc.
l) Overall, more “on” time than “off” time

In September, I felt the glutathione supplement was not working as well, so I started taking 3 in the morning, 3 just after lunch, and 3 at around 4 or 5 p.m. This seems to be working well.
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I am amazed the more I read about MaxGXL (glutathione accelerator) and how it is changing people’s lives. This is the most phenomenal health breakthrough I have seen in my 35 plus years of research and study in the alternative health arena.

Since I have been taking MaxGXL, I have gained so much energy that I no longer need 3 or 4 naps a day, like I did before taking MaxGXL. My energy stays constant all day long now without any downtime and I am thrilled. I have chronic depression and take meds for that….have been taking meds for almost 20 years. I’ve noticed, though, that my mood levels have risen in the most positive way since taking MaxGXL. Maybe I will be able to go off my meds one of these days.

Warmly,
Connie Clark
http://www.connieclark.max4u.com

Tags: alternative health, alternative health product, auto-immune disorder, chronic diseases, detoxify, energy, Glutathione, glutathione supplement, health solutions, healthy immune system, Parkinsons, strengthen your immune syst