Ready for Earth Day?

You have probably been enjoying this beautiful Spring weather as much as I have. It is hard not to love being outside, enjoying the fresh air and beautiful scenery and wildlife. Then again, if you live in an urban area with pollution, smog, and trash littered frequently, you may not be enjoying it as much. No matter where you live, our earth is abused daily and it is taking a toll on us and on every other living thing.

Personally, I love the awareness that comes with celebrating Earth Day each year. I wish we would celebrate Earth Day more than just once a year, because so many wonderful things get done in April that make our planet even more beautiful to live in.

I want to get a little head start on Earth Day this year, and I want to share with you some ways you can get a head start also!

First of all, we need to be aware of what we are responsible for. Don't worry, this is not a guilt trip, but a trip to awareness. You can visit www.nature.org and click on Carbon Calculator to assess what you are doing positively or negatively to impact how many tons of greenhouses gases you are responsible for. You can choose whether to calculate just your own carbon footprint or your entire household's footprint. They tell you how many tons of greenhouse gases you are estimated to be responsible for and how that compares to the US average and the World average. I am glad to say that our household was below the US average, but sadly, we are above the world average. Another nice thing about this site is that it gives you several options for what to do to help offset those emissions. Don't forget to check those out!

Another site I love to help us get a head start is planetgreen.discovery.com/feature/earth-day/. This site has really neat volunteering activities, fun quizes, and great articles on everything from greening your food to greening our schools.

All you bloggers out there, I have another idea for you. Make your blog carbon neutral! I am doing that today and am very excited about it. They are going to plant a tree for my blog and then this blog will be carbon neutral for the next 50 years! How sweet is that? Each little thing we do makes a big difference! If you want to make your blog climate neutral go here: http://www.kaufda.de/umwelt/carbon-neutral/


In the next couple weeks, I will be writing about more tips on how to live in a more earth-friendly and natural way. So, stay tuned!

Let's Sort it Out - B Vitamins!

We all know the many reasons to supplement our diets and how beneficial they can be for our health. But there are so many vitamins and minerals and supplements, and it's easy to be confused right out of adding supplements to your diet!

In the land of what I do best, I sort all that hype and gobbly gook and help my clients figure out what might be a fit for them. I like everyone to feel that they actually know why this stuff is going into their body.

Today we are going to take a look inside one of my favorite supplements: B Complex! Maybe the reason I love it so much is for its many uses, and its nickname of the HAPPY vitamin!

So without further adieu, here are some things to know about B Vitamins:

-All B's must be taken together in a Complex form...This includes Thiamin, Riboflavin, B6, B12, Niacin, Folic Acid, Biotin, and Pantothenic Acid. (all B complex vitamins are not created equal, as a matter of fact most regularly skimp on folic acid and the biotin.)

-B Vitamins are water soluble.(this means you burn through them and they are not stored in the body)

-The more processed "snick snacky" stuff you eat the more B Vitamins you need.

-B Vitamins are depleted by these foods : coffee, alcohol, refined sugar and white flour.(Now you can really see the need for B vitamins!)

-They are destroyed by sleeping pills, sulfa drugs, estrogen: birth control and hormone replacement therapy

-B Vitamins convert food to energy.(One of the coolest things)

-Infection and stress increase the need for B's.(the stress part especially)

-B Vitamins are necessary for normal function by the nervous system.

-B Vitamins help produce protective antibodies.

-B Vitamins assist with the manufacturing of healthy blood cells.

-B Vitamins redistribute fat and convert fat to energy.

-B Vitamins are needed by the body to reduce homocysteine levels.

-B Vitamins reduce the risk of heart disease.

-B Vitamins prevent birth defects, cervical dysplacia, and colon cancer.

-B Vitamins promote healthy hair and skin.

-B Vitamins support normal growth in children.

-If you think of the nerves, the brain, your hormones and your adrenals, all of these are areas in the body that benefit the most from B Vitamins.

That is quite the list! Don't you agree? I want to thank nutritionist Barb Lagoni for that information, which is so helpful.

If you're looking for a quality B Complex, my recommendation is Shaklee's B Complex. You have heard me rave about Shaklee's incredible standards, that are so important in an industry that is minimally regulated. You can find Shaklee's B Complex at www.caranitz.myshaklee.com by clicking the shop button, and then the healthy nutrition button. B complex is also in my absolute favorite supplement pack, Vitalizer, which has over 80nutrients your body needs daily.

Here is a little tip to know if you need more B's - watch the color of your urine as your gauge (I know - I'm talking about the color of your pee!)
If you take a B Complex in the morning and your urine is pale by lunch time you are burning through your B. This means you need to take more and take it though out the day.

Taking B Vitamins definitely can contribute to a shift in attitude!

Take your B's and BE HAPPY.

Beecology Product Review

I just want to give a little shout out today to a great company, Beecology. They not only make great natural products for your body, but they also give back to charities in a neat way!

Beecology is a small company out of northern Ohio committed to making their products only from natural, renewable ingredients. They offer handcrafted soaps, hair care products, lotions, and two products using honey sourced locally - their lip balm and Bee Organic raw natural honey.

Now, personally, my favorite product is the lip balm. I can't get enough of it! I know every ingredient on the label, and I love every ingredient on the label. We're talking about soothing and healing that comes from bees wax, shea butter, olive oil, peppermint oil, acai butter, and the list keeps going. It feels good, smells good, and you don't have to worry about licking your lips, because the ingredients are completely safe!

My other favorite thing about this company is their charitable giving. Beecology gives 20% of all their net profits to a charity. The great part about it all is that you as the consumer get to pick the charity! Each supported product contains a charity code. All you have to do is go to their charity website: www.sweetyear.org, enter your code, and pick with charity you prefer. I was so excited about this part, and after thinking for awhile about it, I picked Beyond Pesticides, which works to protect public health and the environment to lead the transition to a world free of toxic pesticides.

Do you see now why I love this lovely company?
You can check them out here: www.beecology.com!

Realistic "Get Healthy" Tips

In a fantasy world, we could all just work out to our heart's content, only have healthy foods in our lives, always feel stress-free, and sleep until we woke up on our own. Unfortunately, it is quite the opposite.

I want to give you some ideas of how to realistically add more healthy habits to your life.

Let's start with exercise:

Walk more! If you don't have a pedometer, you might want to invest in one, just to get a realistic idea of how many steps you really do take in a day. Whatever your starting point, try to increase it first by 2,000 steps, eventually bumping it up by 5,000. How in the world do you get in all those steps? Try to park farther away from your destination and walk fast if you are in a hurry. While you are on the phone, walk around your house and chat. During commercials of your favorite show, get up and walk in place. Better yet, do a few pushups, crunches, and squats.

>Lift weights! No, you will not bulk up and turn into Hulk Hogan. What you will do is get more muscle, which burns fat faster and revs up your metabolism. It is one of the best things you can do for your body. Challenge yourself! Don't be content to lift one or two pound weights, and not even break a sweat. After about 10-15 reps, you should not be able to lift the weight one more time if you are using a hard enough weight. And please, don't be afraid of push-ups! They are awesome, and when you can do them well, you will feel like superwoman!

Let's move on to eating smarter:

No real food is off limits! Now, notice I said real food. Don't eat anything you cannot pronounce. Fuel your body with food that will help it, instead of hurt it. You can eat chocolate. You can eat pizza. You can eat cheese. But, don't go crazy. Eat until right before you are full, and make sure you have included lots of fruit and veggies.

Cook at home more often! I know, I know. You have every excuse in the books about why you can't cook at home. No time, no skills, no creativity. Throw those excuses away and let's talk about all the benefits. First of all, you know what you are eating. Do you even know what is in the food at restaurants? Nope. Also, you are going to burn more calories cooking than you will sitting in a booth waiting for who knows what to be brought to you. Can I say portion control? At home, eat on smaller plates. You can have seconds, but it is proven to help you eat less if you use smaller plates. At restaurants, the portions are monster-size! For healthy recipes, check out www.yourworldnatural.com or www.cinchplan.com/caranitz



Good sleep will help you feel refreshed and energetic:

Gotta get your sleep! If you don't get your seven to eight hours a night, you are putting yourself at risk for heart disease and weakened immunity, not to mention adding to weight gain. You may think you have too much to do, but if you go to bed earlier, you will get twice as much done the next day because you will have gotten enough rest.

Keep distractions out! No TV watching or laptops in bed! You want your bedroom to be a haven, not a reminder of all you have to do. Allow yourself 30 minutes to wind down before shutting off the lights. If you still have trouble sleeping, try counting up to 300 and back down again. That helped me the other night when I felt like I just couldn't get comfortable.

Try adding one of these tips into your life every couple of days, and you will notice a difference, not just in your weight, but in your overall health!

The "Get Healthy Challenge" 6 Week Mark!

Let me just say, I am so proud of everyone who is part of our "Get Healthy Challenge." We measured inches lost and BMI's again last week to see how our progress is going after 6 weeks. Of course, I didn't measure those of you who don't take my fitness classes, but I am still proud of you nonetheless.

The results were great. We didn't have outrageous numbers lost like on the Biggest Loser, but each person I measured had lost inches, which is a victory! And let me note how each person lost their weight differently. One lost all her inches from her chest, one lost some from each measurement, some lost a few here and none there. It is very individualized. A lot of times, we compare ourselves to others and get discouraged when we fall short of others progress. Please don't!! You are unique. Every person's figure is different, and the way they gain and lose weight is different.

What we want to celebrate is the dedication and each one of those little victories:

-your strong will said no to cookies and yes to an apple
-you rolled out of bed on Saturday morning, put your gym shoes on, and got your butt exercising
-you put half of your delicious dinner out at your favorite restaurant in a take home container, and saved it for the next day
-after a long day of work, instead of holding stress inside, you worked it off with exercise
-you ran/walked 1/2 mile farther than you ever have before
-you powered your energy by drinking your Cinch shake or having your Cinch meal bar every morning or lunch

Hurray to you!!! That is what getting healthy is all about! I am proud of you and want to encourage you to keep going and enjoy living healthier one day at a time! If you haven't joined in the Get Healthy Challenge, please start now. You can find lots of tips and a fabulous program to get your started at www.cinchplan.com/caranitz.

It is always great to share stories, struggles, victories, and questions, so please post what you have been thinking to help encourage the rest of us!!

Fish Oil: The Questions and Answers

Many of you have heard all the buzz about fish oil and how great it is for you, but is all the hype worth it?

The answer is Yes! It’s one of the MOST IMPORTANT things you could do for your health. Research shows you should take them every day… because multiple studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids (found in fish-oil) can reduce the risk of heart disease by as much as 68% and are also effective at fighting other inflammatory diseases like Alzeimer’s and Arthritis. Remember... it’s all about inflammation!

But I’ve also warned that you have to be very careful about choosing supplements, and it is no different in this case. In fact, most fish-oil supplements contain
toxins and should be avoided.

Yesterday on Good Morning America we learned the top 10 selling fish-oil supplements were tested and found to contain elevated levels of PCB’s, including: GNC, Solgar, Rite Aid, Nature Made, Walmart, Walgreens, and others.

Why is that important? Because PCB’s were outlawed decades ago.
Why? Because PCB’s cause cancer!

Lawsuits have been filed against these manufacturers.

The “experts” on the show recommended you chose the one with
the least amount of PCB’s!

What? Why not choose on with NO PCB’s?

Many of these fish-oil products contain mercury as well.
I personally know several people who had mercury poisoning
from fish-oil supplements they thought they could trust.

That’s why I totally trust Shaklee science. I love, love, love Shaklee OmegaGuard™ – it is Ultra-pure Fish-oil You Can Trust! If you want all the benefits of fish-oil without the dangerous toxins, Shaklee OmegaGuard™ is your best option.

Here are five good reasons why:

First, Shaklee goes to the deepest waters off the coasts
of Japan to find the purest fish possible

Then, we use a TRIPLE MOLECULAR DISTILLATION process
to REMOVE ALL IMPURITIES

This unique process actually CONCENTRATES the beneficial
Omega-3’s, making them even more potent.

OmegaGuard contains ALL 7 Omega-3’s (no other product does)

You get 1000 milligrams of important EPA and DHA in a single serving


What are the Health Benefits of high-dose fish-oil?

-Reduces inflammation – which leads to heart attack, stroke,
Alzheimer’s, Arthritis, and more

-Makes blood and blood vessel walls ‘slippery’ to prevent
build-up of plaque

-Helpful for those with ADD and ADHD (DHA is an omega-3
that is critical for proper brain function)

-Reduces dangerous triglycerides

-Aids in weight-loss

-Balances hormones

-Infant Eye-Brain Development

-Supports Joint Health

-Help for Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia and other brain disorders

Some studies are investigating the role that fish oil may play in preventing weight loss caused by cancer drugs, reducing the growth of colon cancer cells, and lowering rejection rates for heart and kidney transplant patients. Still others are looking at fish oil to help with dry eyes, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration, which can cause blindness.



What about Fish?

Fish contain a lot of toxins (this is where they come from). For this reason,
higher amounts of fish-oil are not possible through fish alone.
Also -- fish ‘muscle’ (what we eat) does NOT contain a high concentration
of omega-3s. That’s why supplements are the best option –
but you should also try to get fish twice a week -- it’s a great source of low-fat protein.

What about Flaxseed?

Flaxseed and other plant sources of omega-3s are not as concentrated.
They offer a fraction of the amount that marine sources offer.
In addition – it is a complicated process for the body to ‘convert’
the plant fatty acids into omega-3’s. Sadly, Diabetics cannot make this conversion at all.

How much is enough?

The experts recommend 2.5 grams per day as maintenance.
Those with chronic illness would bump up to 5+ grams per day
(always start small and build up slowly).

What if I’m on Blood Thinners?

Studies show that adding fish-oil when already taking blood thinners –
does NOT change the time it takes for blood to clot.
However, you should consult your doctor.

I hope this information is helpful to all of you who have had questions about fish oil and want to make the best choices for you and your family. As always, feel free to ask me any questions you may still have. Make it a healthy day!

I've Got Sunshine...

I am so excited about having sunshine for the last week that I just have to talk about it! Sunshine and warm temps just have a way of exciting me like a little child! Now that I have a little son, it is such a blast to feed his energy and feed off of his energy. He loves being outside, and it has been so hard to stay cooped in all winter. Now, that the sunshine and warmer weather is starting to come back, we are itching to be outside.

What is it about the sunshine that just draws you to soak it in? I think it is the feeling of it. It is like wrapping a warm blanket around you and energizing your batteries at the same time. Those first rays of the Spring that you soak up are the absolute best! It is almost like we are coming out of hibernation. Instead of running back and forth from our car or from building to building to protect ourselves from being chilled to the bone, we can slow our pace, breathe in the fresh air, soak in the sun and beautiful scenery. We can appreciate the beauty of each particular day.



Take a moment today and go soak up some sunshine and energy, and truly enjoy all that you have been given! I guarantee you will feel a renewed appreciation and renewed excitement for life. Remember, attitude is everything!

Do Supplements Really Work?

Some people may wonder, "Does Taking Supplements Make a Difference?"
YES! I am going to share with you a Landmark Study that was done to answer this very question. You know I love scientific studies that show proof behind words. Well, this is a great one, in fact, the only one of its kind. And the results are incredible!

It all started in 2005, when Shaklee paid for scientific research, done by an independent third-party organization, to test the long-term effectiveness of Shaklee food supplements. The study compared long-term Shaklee users with non-vitamin users and single multi-vitamin users.

You see, when Roger Barnett purchased Shaklee in 2004, Shaklee people repeatedly told him how Shaklee products were the best. He heard them tell incredible health stories, from solving allergies to Crohn’s Disease to diabetes. But this wasn’t enough. Roger wanted hard facts and proof of Shaklee quality.

The University of California at Berkeley, a well-known research institution, was selected. Dr. Gladys Block at the university is considered one of the top epidemiologists in the country.

Shaklee gave Dr. Block and her team at the UC-Berkeley full control over…
1. How the study was conducted.
2. Writing the results of the study.
3. Publishing the study, even if the results were not beneficial for Shaklee.

UC-Berkeley ran all the statistics, analyzed all the blood draws, and wrote the study. They had 100% control over the outcome, good or bad. Shaklee was required to pay for the study regardless of the results.

Once the study was completed, UC-Berkeley had to contact a publisher. Shaklee wanted a peer-reviewed publication, meaning that other 3rd-party scientists review UC-Berkeley’s results prior to publishing the information. This is the gold standard for clinical trials.

The Group Being Studied…
Non-Supplement Users - Users of Other Brands of Supplements - Shaklee Users

Average Age - 54 years old ---- 57 years old ---- 63 years old

Avg. Body Mass Index(BMI)- 29.4 ---- 27.9 ---- 25.9


Percentage of People with Specific Diseases…
Non Users - Other Brands - Shaklee

Heart Attack - 4.4% ---- 7.6% ---- 2.5%

Type 2 Diabetes - 8.5% ---- 11.1% ---- 2.9%
-
BP > 120/80 - 64.6% ---- 71.2% ---- 55.6%


Key Biomarkers for Health…
Non Users - Other Brands - Shaklee

HDL Cholesterol(higher=best)- 50.9 ---- 53.3 ---- 57.5

Triglycerides(below 150=best)- 180.1 ---- 145.3 ---- 121

C-Reactive Protein(below 3.0=best)-4.6 ---- 3.2 ---- 1.9

Homocysteine Levels(below 10=best)-9.6 ---- 9.1 ---- 6.1


Average Number of Drug Prescriptions Taken… (from American Pharmacy Assoc.)
Non Users - Other Brands - Shaklee

19.1 ---- 7.9 ---- 0.6


Conclusion…Taking Shaklee supplements can have a dramatic effect on your health! In fact, it can CHANGE your life!

That is why I want to shout the good news of Shaklee from the rooftops! Please let me know if I can help you achieve better health or visit my website: www.caranitz.myshaklee.com

What's the Big Difference?

So, what is the big difference between nutrition companies? There is so much information out there and so many opinions, so I want to lay out the facts about the only company that I trust with my family's health. I have done years of research on them, and so I will share you the most important facts about what makes Shaklee different.

THE UNIQUE SHAKLEE DIFFERENCE
Heritage of Success for Over 50 Years

This story began in 1915 when Dr. Forrest C. Shaklee developed Vitalized Minerals which was one of the first multi-vitamin, multi-mineral supplements ever developed.

His philosophy was that people would be more healthy if they lived in harmony with nature.

His passion to help people was fully realized in 1956 when he developed a company whose goal was to improve the health of people and the planet.




The Shaklee Philosophy

For over 50 years, generations of families, like mine, have counted on Shaklee to do what no other company can do in quite the same way—make products that are naturally safe AND proven effective.

The mission at Shaklee is to provide a healthier life for everyone and a better life for anyone. They do it by making natural products that are so exceptional, you just have to tell your friends.

Every product that goes into every Shaklee bottle is designed to improve health and be gentle on the planet.


Always Safe

Shaklee starts with nature. Shaklee scientists search the world over to find the finest natural ingredients. Then, they conduct over 350 tests on every single ingredient for any of hundreds of contaminants.

They also conduct over 80,000 quality tests annually to guarantee the purity and safety of every product.

Shaklee has never recalled a product and they discontinue producing a product when contaminant-free raw materials are not available.


Always Works

Plenty of companies claim their products work. But, at Shaklee, they have proof. You see it in the over 100 scientific papers - 90 of them published in peer-reviewed journals - that support the effectiveness of Shaklee products.

You see it in their $250+ million investment in clinical testing, research, and development. You also see it in the 54 gold medals won by Shaklee-powered, world-class athletes.

Shaklee guarantees that a product does what they say it does.

Always Green

Dr. Forrest C. Shaklee founded the company on the principle of Living in Harmony with Nature. Shaklee was the first company in the world to be Climate-Neutral certified to totally offset their greenhouse gas emissions resulting in net-zero impact on the environment.

Next time, we will look at the first and only study ever done about taking supplements to find out if supplements even make a difference and if so, which ones?

Optimal Health Vs. Degenerative Diseases

If you’re anything like me, you probably think you’re pretty healthy and that degenerative diseases only happen to other people. “It’s just the luck of the draw if something happens to me,” and “I seem healthy and try to eat pretty well, so my body must be receiving all the nutrients it needs. The food I eat is sufficient.”

Those were just some of the thoughts I had before my journey to good health. This month is National Nutrition Month, and so I would like to share with you valuable information about nutrition and how we can make a difference in our own and our family's health. Today, we are going to start by learning about health and nutrition in our society and the link between nutrition and disease.

Optimal Health…
Health, as officially defined by the World Health Organization, is a state
of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the
absence of disease or infirmity. Webster's Dictionary adds that health is a
state of 100% function. Health is all about function. Function of the body,
its organs, tissues, and cells. Only when we are functioning at 100% are we truly healthy. Our organs, tissues, and cells are in need of optimal nutrition to operate at peak efficiency. With today’s society filled with a plethora of processed and fast-food selections it is difficult to achieve 100% functioning of the body. Consequently to help attain an optimal state it is highly recommended to use supplementation to supply the missing nutrients.

Our Health: A Most Valuable Asset…
Our health, or rather lack of it, has become a costly process. Our lives depend on our body’s ability to function, and yet we continue to make poor lifestyle choices that undermine the very health we must have to continue living! Major health trends are appearing because of our poor diet choices.
80% of healthcare costs are attributed to four leading causes of death: Heart Disease, Cancer, Stroke, and Diabetes. In 1900, Infectious Diseases attacked from the Outside - Today Degenerative Diseases are decaying us from the Inside. Following is a list of staggering proportions:

$503.2 billion = 2010 estimated cost of Cardiovascular Disease
$228.1 billion = 2009 estimated cost of Cancer
$174 billion = 2009 estimated cost of Diabetes

In 2010 we will see an increase in obesity and diabetes, healthcare costs increase, healthcare benefits cut, fewer primary care physicians, and technology that focuses on treatment rather than prevention.

Therefore the consensus should be that if you take care of you, the body creates health...if you don’t, the body degenerates.

Looking further at the nutrition and health of today’s society we find that:
• 95% of Adults do not consume the recommended 5-9 servings per day of fruits and vegetables
• 66% of Americans are overweight and at risk of related health issues
• 44 Million Americans are at risk for Osteoporosis
• Up to 80% of U.S. Adults may have sub-optimal Vitamin D levels
• 70% of health issues are related to poor nutrition and lifestyle.
Additionally, according to the American Heart Association 2009, heart disease and stroke are largely preventable. The American Cancer Society 2008 states that over 60% of cancer deaths are preventable - 30% from tobacco use and 30% from poor nutrition, physical inactivity, and obesity. 90% of type 2 diabetes is preventable by following modestly healthier lifestyles (Arch Intern Med. . 2009; 169(8):798-807). Diabetes is due to five lifestyle factors: low physical activity; poor diet; smoking; high alcohol use; overweight/obesity.

So what do these health conditions have in common? They are all degenerative diseases and they are all, in some fashion, diet related. According to Johnson & Johnson’s executive director of global health services 70% of health-care costs could be prevented through lifestyle modification. Seeing that the typical American diet is nutritionally deficient it could be concluded that nutritional supplementation, as well as lifestyle modification, is a way to achieve optimal health and turn the tide on degenerative diseases. However not all supplements are created equal. Shaklee is the number one nutritional company in the U.S. with products proven to work! We will explore more about what makes Shaklee different in the next blog post on this topic.