Are There Alternatives for Water?

Trivita’s Weekly Wellness Report

By Brazos Minshew, TriVita’s Chief Science Office

Healthy Living Essential #2 is Drink Water. Many people don’t follow this Essential for one reason or another. Some use water “alternatives” instead. But I can tell you, with full conviction, that there are NO alternatives to water! You must drink water and you must drink it in abundance.

Pros and cons of water “alternatives”
Let’s look at some of the positive and negative aspects of so-called alternatives to water:

• 100% fruit juice – contains some vitamins, minerals and a lot of sugar. In fact, a 16-ounce glass of fruit juice contains about 50 grams of sugar and 220 calories. Fructose, or fruit sugar, reduces the rate at which we absorb fluid and can actually make you thirstier, leading to over-consumption of calories from juice.

• Sport drinks – often contain fructose or sucrose syrups, flavorings and colorings. The electrolytes, sodium and potassium are helpful for endurance-type exercise or activity, but not necessary for everyday exercise. A 16 ounce sport drink has roughly 30 grams of sugar and over 100 calories.

• Energy drinks – contain vitamins, amino acids, a lot of sugar and caffeine. Although advertised as providing more energy, what they really provide is more calories and caffeine. Added caffeine can be temporarily energizing, but often leads to a rapid dip in energy and can be potentially habit forming. An eight ounce energy drink has about 115 calories and 80 milligrams of caffeine.

• Fitness waters – these waters are laced with an assortment of nutrients, herbs, flavorings and/or sweeteners. These enhancements are usually too insufficient to have any meaningful impact on your health; plus these waters can be costly. As for calories, they can contain anywhere from 10 to 100 or more calories in a 16 ounce drink.

• Carbonated beverages – such as regular or diet sodas can be high in sugar or artificial sweeteners and caffeine. Colas are also high in phosphates, which bind with calcium and weaken bones. Regular soda can contain up to 200 or more calories for 16 ounces.

• Coffee, tea and lattes – are also very popular. But along with the caffeine, they often contain added sugars and fats which can add up to as many as 450 calories for a 16 ounce drink. Since most caffeinated products provide very few nutrients, it is typically advised to keep intake low.

• Flavored waters – are waters with a touch of natural flavoring. By itself, this is fine. Unfortunately, however, many flavored waters contain sugar (some even have more than a can of soda pop) or caffeine and other additives, all of which should be avoided.

In contrast to the water alternatives above, we can get water that is good for us from food. Many fruits and vegetables, for example, are high in water content as well as antioxidants (which is a nice plus). The guideline for consuming the right amount of fruit and vegetables is 5, 7 or 9 servings daily, depending upon our size and gender.

Healthy ways to spice up your water

In summary, we now know two things. First, there are no real alternatives to water – they all have too many drawbacks. And second, water is essential to good health – it helps the body both detoxify and fuel metabolism for energy.

But these two findings present a problem for all of the people who feel that water is just too boring to drink on a regular basis. They are likely to wonder, “Are there ways to make my water taste better? And are there drinks besides water that can help support my body’s detoxification and metabolic processes?” The answer is YES. You can use the recipes below to spice up your water while adding extra detoxification and metabolism support:

• Nopalea Splash: Take 6 ounces of naturally carbonated spring water and add 1 ounce of Nopalea™ to it for a hydrating, detoxifying and refreshing beverage that naturally helps reduce inflammation.

• Tea Time 10 Plus: Take 6 ounces of either hot or cold green tea and add 1 ounce of Adaptogen 10 Plus®. You can get the health benefits of green tea coupled with the stress-busting effects of adaptogens.

Water: the life-essential beverage

At birth, water can make up as much as 80% of a baby’s body weight. Yet at death, for adults in their 70s and 80s, water often makes up less than 40% of the body weight.

Water is life. And in a sense, dehydration equals death.

Drink Water – and claim the health benefits of this life-giving liquid!

Take Control of Your Health

Calculate your water needs using the simple formula below:

• Work with your body:
  • Drink 2 glasses of water when you get up in the morning
  • Drink 2 glasses of water per hour until your needs are met
  • After 3 p.m., drink only small amounts of water as needed
• Eat brightly colored, high water-content fruits and vegetables:
  • 5 servings for children
  • 7 servings for women
  • 9 servings for men

Try mixing Nopalea with sparkling water

Try adding Adaptogen 10 Plus to hot or cold green tea

Please note that Weekly Wellness Report topics will be chosen at the discretion of Brazos Minshew and based on general relevance.
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

“Love Notes”

TriVita’s Weekly Wellness Report

By Brazos Minshew, TriVita’s Chief Science Officer

One of the questions I receive most often is about a very delicate subject: the libido, or sexual drive. The human libido, however, is not only about sex – it’s also a very important marker for both physical and emotional health. Disturbance in sexual drive is connected with almost all serious disorders, such as heart disease and even Alzheimer’s. We need to learn what a disturbance in sexual function may mean – at any age.

Hormones: special messengers

You may recall from previous reports that hormones are messengers. They convey instructions that demand a specific response. When that demand is met, your body will often send another hormone out to say, “Mission accomplished”.

There are thousands of different hormones. We know the names of some of the more familiar ones: estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, etc. These are special hormones for reproduction, but they also serve many other functions not even remotely associated with reproduction – this is a very important point!

Consider the hormone progesterone. Progesterone is produced in men, women and children. Progesterone has such a vital effect upon the brain that it is given after brain injury to promote healing. Progesterone also improves the beauty of the skin, lowers blood pressure, reduces muscle spasms, increases energy and opens the airways. Higher levels of progesterone are associated with stress resistance and improved libido. Progesterone is the messenger conveying “love notes” to your mind and body.

Stress: anti-progesterone, anti-libido

With higher levels of progesterone come higher levels of testosterone and DHEA, the “anti-stress” hormone. But when stress increases, the libido goes down because the levels of progesterone, testosterone and DHEA all decrease. This happens because the nutrients that normally help fuel the production of these three hormones are instead redirected through the body’s homeostasis process to help fuel its “fight or flight” functions, which are activated by stress.

Furthermore, progesterone is made from cholesterol. So when intermittent or chronic stress causes progesterone production to go down, the cholesterol that is normally used to produce it is freed from that function and ends up being released into the bloodstream. As a result, the body’s overall cholesterol level rises. And when “bad” cholesterol levels rise, so does the risk for heart attack and Alzheimer’s disease.

What to do

Hormones have a life cycle of three stages: we make them, we use them and we eliminate them. For the first stage of “making good hormones”, we need to remember that good hormones are made from good cholesterol, which in turn is made from good fats. OmegaPrime® contains a balanced blend of Omega fats to help your body make good hormones. Try two or more per meal for several months to help rebalance your hormones, improve the sexual function and reclaim the sexual drive. This recommendation is valid for both women and men.

To further help with the hormone life cycle, Balanced Woman® capsules contain botanicals such as damiana that instruct your body to make hormones from these fats and use them appropriately. For men, Prostate Health Formula™ contains the botanical remedy pygeum which works in a similar way. Doubling the label recommendations for both of these powerful nutrient combinations can help deliver restorative levels of these important ingredients.

Finally, remember that stress is like a poison for healthy sexual drive and sexual activity. Taking the anti-stress adaptogen rhodiola (found in Adaptogen 10 Plus®) can help – it acts as a bulwark against the damaging effects of stress. Also, the antioxidants in Adaptogen 10 Plus work to improve the nitric oxide cycle in your bloodstream in a similar way as medications do for sexual dysfunction. If you want to help reduce your stress daily, take Adaptogen 10 Plus. And take more when you want to send your body more “love notes”.

Remember, no matter what your age, a healthy libido is a sign of a healthy body and mind. If you are suffering from sexual dysfunction you should see a doctor soon, as this can be a sign of a serious illness. To help support healthy sexual function, remember OmegaPrime®, Balanced Woman® or Prostate Health Formula™ and Adaptogen 10 Plus®.

Take Control of Your Health

• Reduce stress – it poisons sexual performance
• Get your rest – hormones are produced in your sleep
• Increase “good” dietary fats; reduce “bad” fats
• Avoid alcohol
• Stop smoking
• Have a medical check-up
• Check all medications for sexual side effects

Please note that Weekly Wellness Report topics will be chosen at the discretion of Brazos Minshew and based on general relevance.
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

To Sun or Not to Sun: The Benefits and Risks

Trivita’s Weekly Wellness Report

By Brazos Minshew, TriVita’s Chief Science Officer

Humans have existed on earth for many thousands of years. Until recently, we spent entire days in the sun. Now, physicians and scientists say that sun exposure is “bad” for us. Is that true? When did the sun become our enemy? How much is enough and what is the best way to maintain balance when it comes to sun exposure?

Sunlight: crucial for life, health and happiness!

• Life – Sunlight is crucial for life because all life on earth depends (to a greater or lesser extent) upon photosynthesis. This is the process in green plants by which carbohydrates are synthesized from carbon dioxide and water using light as an energy source. Most forms of photosynthesis release oxygen as a byproduct.
• Health – Sunlight is crucial for health because sunlight creates Vitamin D as it interacts with our skin.
• Happiness – Sunlight is crucial for happiness because sunlight activates hormones in the brain that create a sense of euphoria.

Humans are diurnal: we are awake in the daytime and asleep at night. We are designed to live in sunlight. Our skin interacts with sunlight to create Vitamin D, an essential part of our metabolism.

Vitamin D interacts with our bones to make them hard; without Vitamin D we get soft, deformed bones (rickets). Later in life we are at risk for osteoporosis if we have low levels of Vitamin D. This means if your bones are tender, or if you have a low blood level of Vitamin D, you may need to increase your sun exposure (see the “Take Control of Your Health” section below). Vitamin D also interacts with our hormones to balance our blood sugar. And it activates our immune system to help protect against cancer. Vitamin D is good for us in many ways. So it stands to reason that sunlight would be good for us too, wouldn’t it?

The Dark Side of light

Sunlight activates melanocytes. These are pigment-containing cells in our skin that help protect us from too much sun – and too much Vitamin D – by turning dark. Most people will “tan” or darken in the sun. If the sun exposure is prolonged or too intense for this melanocyte system, we will “burn.”

Overexposure to the sun creates oxidative stress similar to radiation burns from exposure to nuclear material. That’s because the sun itself is a huge nuclear furnace. A radiation burn from the sun can start a chain reaction in the melanocyte and other cells. This may lead to cancer in a year or two or in a decade or two. Oxidative stress from sunburn is insidious and dangerous.

Where’s the balance?

The skyrocketing incidence of diabetes, osteoporosis and certain cancers definitely says that we are not getting enough Vitamin D. And the increasing incidence of insomnia and seasonal depression says that we are not getting enough early morning sun.
We need more sunlight. But how do we make it safe?

Safe sun exposure

First, it’s important to recognize both the need for sun and the need for caution. Plan your sun exposure so that you maximize the benefits while minimizing the risks. For instance, get your sunlight early in the day. Early morning sunlight does not have the high ultraviolet rays that midday sun does. So, take a 20-minute walk in the early part of the day with your skin exposed to sunlight. This will give you the benefits without the risks of over exposure.

Alternately, take a 20-minute walk in the late afternoon with your skin exposed to sunlight. There are fewer UV rays in the late afternoon than at midday. So either early morning or late afternoon sun will provide you with many of the same benefits, while decreasing your risk of over exposure.

As for midday sun, never expose your skin to it for long periods of time. Wear clothing that covers most of your skin and wear a hat that provides shade for your face and ears.

Nutrients for healthy skin

Certain nutrients work well to protect against sun damage. Essential fatty acids interact with Vitamin D in your skin to help protect against harmful radiation. Vitamin C helps quench smoldering fires of oxidative stress once they have begun. Antioxidants, such as green tea and those found in berries, help protect against DNA damage from radiation. All these are excellent nutrients for dealing with the stress of too much sun.

So, is the sun our enemy? It can be if we are not careful! For most of us, however, sunlight may be the difference between good and poor health; or even between life and death! Get your sunlight, but be careful – too much of a good thing can cause trouble.

Take Control of Your Health

• Spend 20 minutes daily in the sunshine with 40% of your skin surface exposed

• Get your sun exposure early in the day or in late afternoon

• If you can’t avoid midday sun exposure:

• • Wear long pants and long sleeves
  • Wear a hat that provides shade for your face and ears
  • Wear sunscreen to protect your exposed skin
  • Never allow yourself to sunburn

• Take essential fatty acids, Vitamin C and antioxidants for maximum protection!

Eat foods rich in Vitamin D:

• Cod liver oil
• Fortified milk
• Salmon, mackerel and sardines
• Egg yolks

Beef liver