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

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

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

Testimonial Article – Autism and Glutathione!

Born on February 1, 1999 in Forest Hills, New York, Rachelle (Chelley) was welcomed into the world by her mother Marie, her sister Christine, and her maternal grandparents Maxime and Solanges Leger. Chelley’s father had abandoned the family when her mother was carrying her at only three months.

Despite the lack of one parental figure in the home, Chelley knew no sadness or hardship, for she was surrounded by love. There was never a dull moment in the Philippe household. Chelley’s laughter could be heard throughout the house, as well as odd sounds that would reveal her mischievous actions from curious ventures. Her astounding beauty and charm was mesmerizing.

When Chelley looked at you with her big bold dark eyes, you had no choice but to submit. Accompanied with her shimmering smile which sealed the deal, you were under her spell…so to speak. She was a happy and healthy child. Chelley was rarely sick, always full of life and developing normally.

On February 4, 2000, three days after her first birthday, Chelley received four immunizations at the Pediatrician’s office. It wasn’t long after that her mother noticed a change in Chelley’s overall demeanor. She no longer displayed an interactive role in playing. She no longer looked at people with her peering eyes. At the age of one, she should have been able to eat some solid foods, but when trying only gagged. Her speech, though premature, had turned into babbling obscure sounds, almost appearing to be contra-verbalization. At age one she was also not walking. The once interactive child became introverted, only interested in objects
of color or stimulation. Songs became an addictive passion for her wanting to view programs such as Sesame Street and Barney which combined music and motion. People were no longer of interest to Rachelle.

It was not until the age of eighteen months and after pressure from her mother, that Chelley was finally evaluated by a Neurologist, and a Psychologist who reluctantly issued the diagnosis of Autism. To say the least, devastation was an understatement. Prior to this diagnosis, the family had planned on moving to Charlotte, North Carolina.

The move was melancholy. The family struggled to acquaint themselves in their new location as well as educate themselves in providing the best care for Chelley. Tragedy hit again on October 8, 2002, when Chelley’s maternal grandmother suddenly collapsed into cardiac arrest. The loss depleted the family of retirement income and
benefits, a caretaker for Chelley, the homemaker and the matriarch.

Soon after her grandmother’s passing, Chelley’s mother tirelessly researched to gain an understanding of this disease and to discover a means to make life more normal for everyone. Pulling together, Chelley’s mother took on another job, and adjustments were made in lifestyle to accommodate an in-home therapy program after Chelley had significantly regressed in a classroom setting. God’s favor led her mother to meeting proactive and knowledgeable parents affected by Autism, and also doctors practicing groundbreaking treatments for
Autism. A specific diet full of minerals, vitamins and organic foods were also found to be helpful to Chelley’s health and behavior.
These new findings were beneficial, but the results were slow coming. Secondly, none of these sources were acknowledged or accepted by any insurance company. The average cost was approximately $80,000 a year.

Concessions were made by the family in order to offer the glimmer of hope Chelley needed to one day become a viable member of society. Marie reached out to Chelley’s extended family and close friends for help, who willingly and selflessly supported the dream as much as financially possible during difficult times. Some local advocate organizations came through as well by providing nourishment, safety equipment, respite funding, and needed supplies. But as cutbacks were experienced by everyone after the September 11th 2001’s terrorist incident, all financial assistance to Chelley came to a halt, causing her to become an economic casualty/victim.

Marie was able to do what she could for Chelley, but savings were depleted, credit cards were maxed out, and a third job added. Although Chelley had significantly regained development and cognitive skills, everything had to come to a halt due to insufficient finances.

Years went by, and Chelley made limited progress. She was pretty much non-verbal, understood few commands, and hardly did anything independently at school. School was especially uneventful.

But God is faithful. On May 19th 2009, Captain Denise Blankenship, a friend of the family, and a strong believer in Chelley’s total healing, introduced Marie to a product by the name of MAXGXL. Denise was convinced that this would help Chelley improve.

Having nothing to lose, Marie started the product on Chelley that very night. The second dosage was given the morning of May 20th. Subsequent to her first dose, Chelley was given a standard of 2x-4x a day. Without exaggerating, the following occurred:
• May 20th (day 2) – Chelley’s teacher reported Chelley accomplishing several tasks (four) independently
(when on average she would accomplish zero independently and on a good day, possibly two tasks independently). In addition to that, for the FIRST time in the five years Chelley attended school, she came home with a star. The note on the back of the star stated: “for good counting & imitating in music with friends: We also noticed a calming effect from her usual rambunctious behavior.
• May 21st (day 3) – Chelley accomplished three tasks independently. Also on this day, we had taken Chelley out in the community to the popular event “Speed Street”. Two other children accompanied Chelley. At the end of the day, Chelley appropriately said on her own “good bye” to the children.
• May 25th (day 7) – Chelley accomplished three tasks independently, and a comment from her teacher “Good day, lots of good work”. Also at home, Chelley properly responded for the first time to the commands “turn off the light” and “get your toothbrush”.
• May 26th (day – Five tasks accomplished independently at school, with a note from her teacher “Good work – she is doing so many of her tasks independently lately, even packing and unpacking her backpack”.
• May 28th (day 10) – Chelley accomplished three tasks independently with a comment from her teacher “Working hard lately, lots of tasks independently”.
• May 29th (day 11) – Four tasks independently
• June 1st (day 14) – Four tasks independently
• June 2nd (day 15) – Four tasks independently
• June 3rd (day 16) – Note from teacher stated “Did a 100’s chart on computer independently:
• June 9th (day 22) – Basically the end of the school year, Chelley accomplished SIX tasks independently.

These are just a few things to mention for now. But since that time, Chelley has also been able to communicate when she needs to go to the bathroom and when she is hungry; situations which were pretty much guess work for us in the past. There have been so many milestones that there are too many to list. Chelley’s family is once
again encouraged and confident that Chelley, now the age of ten, has a chance for a full recovery.

MAXGXL is inexpensive, and yet extremely effective, and fast producing. I am so grateful to Denise for having faith in this product and for being generous in sharing it with us. My wish is for other families with special needs children get a hold of this product. It will be life changing.
*Submitted by Chelley’s family*
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What an awesome testimonial! I am also very grateful to Max International for this special, health “breakthrough” product. Alzheimers runs in my family on Mom’s side and Dementia on Dad’s side; this is the first product I’ve ever come across that may help me avoid Alzheimers and Dementia.

Visit http://www.connieclark.max4u.com to learn more about this amazing glutathione accelerator. Please read some of my back articles on this great nutritional antioxidant (scientists’ call it the Master Antioxidant).

Warmly,
Connie
http://www.connielclark.com

Tags: alternative health, alternative health product, alzheimers, antioxidants, auto-immune disorder, caregiver, chronic diseases, Dementia, science-based, strengthen your immune syst

Caring for Mom and Dad with Alzheimers/Dementia/Cancer

It’s been almost 6 months now since Daddy died (March 11, 2009). I wasn’t even over my grieving for my Mom who died a year before Daddy (March 21, 2008). The past 8 to 10 years have been some of the roughest, and yet, some of the greatest times spent with my parents. I was chosen to be the caregiver for my parents and I am grateful.

Mom and Dad moved back to Colorado in 1998, after living in Texas for 10 years. Dad was feeling like their health was deteriorating (Mom had a breast removed) and he wasn’t sure that he could handle everything. I was so thrilled to have them back nearby.

We really enjoyed being able to visit often, going to dinner together, having holidays together again and just spending time with the whole family…my Mom, my Dad, my Mother-in-Law and our 4 children. Brothers and sisters came out to visit when they could….from MN, IL, CA and it was super.

In 2000, way too soon, my Mom began showing signs of forgetfulness. Alzheimers runs in our family and she had always worried that she would be like her mother with Alzheimers. And sure enough, she was diagnosed with Alzheimers in 2001. I wish I had known about glutathione back then. What a dreadful disease…..helplessly I watched my Mom through the entire loss of her memories, her ability to form full sentences, her FEAR when she realized very frequently in the early stages that she was “losing everything” as she said so often. She began to wander a bit and Daddy would find her in some neighbor’s home. She would be frightened and not know who Daddy was so she didn’t want to go with him. She could no longer cook and Daddy had to always check the stove to be sure it was turned off. He would call me several times a week to come over because he couldn’t stop Mom from crying. I would go over, hold Mom in my arms and rock her, telling her that I would always be here for her whenever she needed me. Eventually, she would stop crying and I could coax a little laughter out of her.

Of course, I tried everything I could think of….medical treatments such as Namenda (I ordered it from Germany because it had not yet been approved here in the USA) and it did seem to help a bit. Mom couldn’t take the other treatments because they made her very ill physically. I made sure that Mom took vitamins, the very best that I could find at the time. I replaced all their chemically-laced toxic cleaners and personal care items with environmentally-safe products and I’m sure it was better for them, but probably way too late to do much good.

Mom complained about her leg hurting and she would cry asking us to please have her leg cut off. I would explain that we couldn’t cut her leg off but we would try to alleviate the pain. Her doctor gave her some arthritis med treatment but it didn’t do any good. He even gave her cortisone shots but they didn’t help at all. Finally, I tried one of my alternative health solution products and within a week, she no longer was complaining about the pain, her leg was no longer buckling under her and she was feeling just great.

I began looking for ways to keep her active and also secure. My Dad was becoming exhausted trying to take care of her and he needed breaks. I began contacting different kinds of senior care help, the Alzheimers Association, longterm health care, Adult Protection Agency and many others to learn what I could setup to help my Mom and Dad.

Watch for my next Post for this senior care help information. And please feel free to contact me if you would like to know more about Alzheimers and the solutions/hardships endured during this journey.

Be healthy and happy!

Warmly,
Connie

Tags: alternative health solutions, alzheimers, arthritis, caregiver, environmentally-safe, Glutathione, health, toxic cleaners

Glutathione – the great multi-tasker

Glutathione—The Great Multi-tasker

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. As you read his article, keep in mind: MaxGXL® is not a glutathione supplement, but rather provides the body with the precursors it needs to manufacture and absorb glutathione.
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Glutathione – the great multi-tasker
JOE SCHWARCZ, Freelance, Montreal Gazette
Published: Saturday, November 25 2006

Our body doesn’t take chemical insults lying down. It fights back. And one of its most powerful weapons in the battle against toxic invaders is glutathione, a molecule synthesized inside our cells from glycine, glutamic acid and cysteine, three amino acids found in the diet.

Glutathione turns out to be a great multi-tasker. It has antioxidant properties, it improves the activity of vitamin C, it helps white blood cells fight invaders, and it induces the formation of enzymes that help solubilize potentially dangerous substances so they can be eliminated in the urine. Given all of this, it stands to reason that higher levels of glutathione in the blood should correlate with good health. That does seem to be the case, at least if we go by a study carried out at the University of Birmingham in England.

Researchers measured glutathione levels in healthy volunteers, old and young, as well as in elderly patients who either suffered from chronic diseases, or had recently been admitted to a hospital with an acute problem. If glutathione were indeed related to health, such an analysis should muster evidence, the scientists suggested.

They were not disappointed. The healthy young volunteers had the highest plasma levels of glutathione, followed by the healthy elderly, then the elderly outpatients, and finally the elderly hospitalized patients. At the School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Mara Julius and colleagues also found that higher glutathione levels were associated with fewer illnesses such as arthritis, diabetes and heart disease. We also have data from animal experiments about the chemoprotective properties of glutathione. Rats exposed to aflatoxin, a potent carcinogen, fared better when given glutathione.

Animals not treated with glutathione died within two years of exposure to the carcinogen, but 80 per cent of treated animals were alive at the end of that period.

So why are we not wolfing down glutathione supplements? They are available, and there certainly is no safety issue. Nobody has shown any hazard associated with oral glutathione. The problem is that nobody has shown any major benefit either. How come? Unlike rats, humans do not absorb glutathione to any significant extent from the small intestine.

That doesn’t mean oral glutathione is useless. It can be used for benefit by cells that line the intestine. These often become damaged in diseases such as AIDS or cancer, resulting in impaired nutrient absorption, which leads to physical wasting with loss of weight and muscle mass. Oral glutathione has been shown to repair intestinal cells and has been used to advantage in AIDS patients. But for other health benefits, oral glutathione won’t do.

Since oral glutathione is ineffective, we have to look at ways of helping cells make more of the compound. The best way is by ensuring they have an ample supply of the raw materials needed to do this. Glycine and glutamic acid are plentiful in the diet, but cysteine presents a difficulty. It has limited solubility, on top of which it is readily destroyed before it can enter cells. Cysteine therefore becomes the component that determines the amount of glutathione that can be formed in cells. Because of the solubility and destruction issues, oral supplements of cysteine are not the answer either. But cysteine can be readily converted in the laboratory into N-acetylcysteine (NAC), which is more soluble and less prone to destruction in the bloodstream.

After absorption into cells it is reconverted into cysteine, which is available for glutathione synthesis. The many people who have been brought from the brink of death after overdosing on acetaminophen can attest to the efficacy of NAC.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol is a common trade name) is a widely used pain reliever. In the recommended dosage it is very effective, but like any medication, it’s a problem when abused. Overdosing on acetaminophen, which is facilitated by alcohol consumption, can lead to severe liver problems and possibly death. Suicide attempts with acetaminophen are not unheard of. Often, though, they remain only “attempts,” because of quick medical intervention with NAC. Our body recognizes acetaminophen as an intruder and tries to eliminate it by converting it into a more soluble compound.

Unfortunately, this compound, N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone-imine (NAPQI), is the one that is toxic to the liver. But fortunately, a glutathione-induced enzyme stands ready to help the kidneys excrete it.

When the acetaminophen dose is too high, however, glutathione stores are depleted and liver damage ensues. Unless, that is, NAC is quickly administered to replenish the cellular levels of glutathione.

If NAC works so well to boost glutathione, why are we not being urged to take it in supplement form to prevent disease? Well, we are, by manufacturers of NAC. While there is no major toxicity concern, nausea is a possible side effect. And nobody has really examined the consequences of taking NAC over a long term, or possible interactions with other medications. It would be great if an innocuous way of increasing our glutathione levels were available. And maybe there is. (Visit here for more information on increasing glutathione levels).

Cheese-making requires the separation of the curds from the whey, a liquidy residue that harbours proteins rich in cysteine. When processed in a special way, these proteins can deliver their cysteine content to cells where it can be released to enhance glutathione formation. Some studies have indicated that these special whey preparations have increased endurance in athletes, presumably by reducing free radical damage to muscles. Laboratory work has shown increased glutathione levels in human prostate cells exposed to whey protein, suggestive of protection against prostate cancer.

Animals fed the protein concentrate are more resistant to carcinogens, and whey has been seen to increase glutathione in normal cells, while it depletes it in cancer cells, making these more susceptible to chemotherapy or radiation. Of course we need more evidence before jumping on the bandwagon, but as far as glutathione supplementation goes, we may have found a “whey” to go.

Joe Schwarcz is director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society

Tags: absorption, acetaminophen, AIDS, antioxidants, arthritis, cancer, chemotherapy, chronic diseases, diabetes, elderly, Glutathione, good health, radiation, Tylenol