Support Your Brain Health with Powerful Nutrients

Your brain is powerful. You can even use it to think about how the brain itself works. Crazy, right? But this power doesn’t make your brain immune to factors that impact the rest of your body. Lifestyle and environment can affect your brain health. Luckily, there are nutrients for brain health shown to support cognitive function.

Lipids

For a long time, dietary fats (lipids) have been connected to brain health. Originally, lipids’ effect on the cardiovascular system was thought to facilitate that connection. But more recent research shows dietary fats have more direct actions on the brain.
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (like DHA from fish oil) normally make up cell membranes throughout your body. And like other saturated fat, they’re fundamental building blocks for your brain cells. That’s part of the reason fish is often called a brain food.

Flavonoids

The antioxidant effects of flavonoids are well-established in a test-tube setting. But these plant compounds—like cocoa, ginkgo, and grape-seed extracts—have more complex actions in the body that is continually being researched.
Some flavonoids show promising results in maintaining healthy brain function. Quercetin—a flavonoid that’s a major component of ginkgo biloba extracts—has been shown to maintain memory and learning abilities in some studies. Further research on the subject is needed.

B Vitamins

Adequate levels of the B vitamin folate are essential for brain function. The proof? Folate deficiency can lead to neurological disorders, like depression and cognitive impairment.
Clinical trial results have deepened the connection between folate and cognitive function. These studies have shown folate supplementation—by itself or in conjunction with other B vitamins (B6 and B12)—to be effective at maintaining healthy cognitive function during aging.

Other Nutrients

There are more nutrients for brain health. Here’s a short list of the other nutrients with researched roles in brain health:

• Alpha lipoic acid has been shown to maintain memory and cognitive function.
• Vitamin E, or α-tocopherol, has also been implicated in cognitive performance. Decreasing serum levels of vitamin E were associated with poor memory performance in older individuals.
• Curcumin is a strong antioxidant that seems to protect the brain from lipid peroxidation and nitric-oxide-based radicals.
• Several gut hormones or peptides—like leptin, ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1) and insulin—have been found to support healthy emotional response and cognitive processes.

Energy Production

The brain runs your body. And it takes a lot of energy to literally be the brain of the operation. Healthy macronutrients are necessary to fuel your brain and provide the energy it needs.
The mechanisms involved in the transfer of energy from foods to neurons are likely to be fundamental to the control of brain function. Processes that are associated with the management of energy in neurons can affect brain plasticity.

Far-Reaching Impacts

Lifestyle and diet have long-term effects on your health. That means they are likely underestimated for their importance to public health—especially when it comes to healthy aging. But they’re important to your brain. The gradual and sometimes imperceptible cognitive decline that characterizes normal aging can be influenced by the nutrients you feed your brain through a healthy diet.
These impacts go beyond your life, too. Through epigenetics, you pass on traits to your children and their children. Newer studies back this up. They indicate that these nutritional effects on your brain might even be transmitted over generations by influencing epigenetic events.

Gómez-Pinilla, Fernando. Brain foods: the effects of nutrients on brain function. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2008 Jul; 9(7): 568–578.

Thanks for this article to:  www.askthescientists.com 

From Deanna:  To address these studies, I personally take a daily dose of the USANA CellSentials vitamins/anitoxidants.minerals....the BiOmega  fish oils .... and the Procosa with curcumin and glucosamine....plus the nutritional drinks for macronutrients, like Nutrimeal

See How Laughter is Mega Important For Your Health

Did you know that laughing 100 times is equivalent to 15 minutes of exercise on a stationary bike? And, the average person laughs about 17 times per day?

Laughter helps reduce stress by increasing blood flow throughout the body, boosts the immune system, increases the threshold for pain, and even assists in better breathing. With a seemingly unending list of positive side effects, it's hard to deny the importance of laughter in life.

Do your body and mind some good and get plenty of laughter. And better yet, laugh with someone else.

Thanks to Ask the Scientists - Health and Science Education USANA 

From Deanna:   Apparently children laugh out loud throughout the day, whereas adults just chuckle....we need to get a good belly laugh in at every opportunity....even by ourselves, just make yourself laugh out loud until you feel it deep inside!

Can You Really Live Well on Government or Company Retirement Plans?

In a recent Winnipeg Free Press editorial, it was estimated that 62% of Canadians do not have an income from a company retirement plan. Why? Well, one reason is that many companies don't offer that anymore, or at least not for part time staff. The other, is that people change jobs every 7 years or so, canceling any accrued value for a retirement package. And it is almost impossible to live comfortably at all on government stipends.

Obviously, people need to plan ahead for retirement with investments, savings, paying off debt, real estate investments and so on. However, one of the fastest ways to add income at any age is through residual income earned through a team effort. I discovered that 23 years ago, by representing a world renowned health and wellness company, and helping others do the same. The extra income can be invested, spread to charities, provide help for your family, and be enjoyed during the retirement years. Now there is more time and freedom to enjoy those later years.

Does it take dedication and commitment to create that residual income? Yes. Do you need to choose the company your represent carefully? Yes! If it is the health field, then check out the ongoing level of science, the guarantees, the third party assessments. 

You can start here: www.ddwaters.com Deanna www.deannawatersbook.com 
Contact me at watersdd2@gmail.com with your questions or your desire to join my adventure.

How To Achieve Your Dreams and Overcome Challenges

Do you have something you want to change or achieve in your life or business?

During the past few weeks, I have been accelerating my connections on LinkedIn, and benefited from meeting a PhD with compelling answers for achieving more in all areas of life.   

Kamran Akbarzadeh, PhD, Founder of the Dream Academy, is a man who walks the talk.  He is the Senior Research Engineer - R&D Lead at Shell Oil and Gas located out of the Houston area.  His background is rich in this area of research.

So why establish the Dream Academy?  Kamran noticed in his corporate career how people were stressed out, even as they achieved what would seem to be their highest levels of achievement.  Other parts of their lives were suffering.  He was often asked how he kept everything in balance.  That lead to many invitations to speak on the topic, and eventually, seven years ago, to the forming of the academy.

So what does the Dream Achievers Academy provide?  

Kamran: 

we provide top quality and creative in-house, public, and online training and coaching services to help you dream bigger, overcome your top challenges, and get what you want in your personal and professional lives faster.

Whether you want to attract more money into your life, develop more fulfilling and loving relationships, build a more successful career, or simply live a happier and more peaceful life, we can help.

To learn more about Dream Achievers Academy, visit http://DreamAchieversAcademy.com

To order your copy of his new printed book or ebook, visit http://GetWhatYouWantFast.com

For personal contact:  Kamran@dreamachieversacademy.com 

Or find him on LinkedIn 

No matter what you’d like to change or achieve, the secrets to personal and business success are the same…

Get Clear: As specifically as possible, decide what you want. The more clear you are on what you want to have in your life and your business, the more likely you are to achieve it.

Get Perspective: Most people don’t tell anyone what they want or what they are struggling with and because of that they don’t get an outside perspective.

Get Support: Very few people (if any) achieve anything great alone. Sports stars have teammates and coaches. Be willing to ask the people in your life to support you.

If you want to speed up your success rate, then Kamran would like to help you do it with a special one-on-one “Dream Express” or "Business Blastoff" coaching/consulting session where you’ll work together for your "ultimate success".  Contact him for a FREE 45 minute coaching/consultation session, at LinkedIn or by email.

 

Live Longer with Higher Fruit and Veggie Intake

Relationship of Fruit and Vegetable Intake to Mortality Rate... www.askthescientists.com 

Less than 5 servings/day of fruits and vegetables is associated with an increase in mortality rates.

Many observational and epidemiological studies have shown a solid relationship between increased fruit and vegetable (FV) intake and better health outcomes. However, the association between FV intake and overall mortality has seldom been studied in large cohort studies.

In a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers examined the dose-response relationship between dietary FV intake and mortality as it relates to both time and rate. The participants included 71,706 Swedish adults aged 45-83 years. Fruit and vegetable intake was recorded using self-administered surveys.

During the 13 years of follow-up 11,439 deaths occurred in this population. Researchers found that in comparison to those that consumed 5 servings of FV/day, lower FV intakes were associated with shorter survival and higher mortality rates in a dose dependent manner. Compared to adults that ate 5 servings of FV/day, adults who never consumed FV lived 3 years shorter and had a 53% higher mortality rate.

When fruits and vegetables were considered separately, people consuming at least 3 servings of vegetables per day lived 32 months longer than those who never consumed vegetables, and those who never ate fruit lived 19 months shorter than those that ate at least 1 serving of FV/day.

The findings of this study confirm the previously known benefits of eating fruits and vegetables and show that consuming less than 5 servings/day is associated with a dose-dependent decrease in survival and an increase in mortality rates.

Bellavia A, Larsson SC, Bottai M, Wolk A, Orsini N. Fruit and vegetable consumption and all-cause mortality: a dose-response analysis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013;98(2):454-9.

5 Reasons Why You Need More Fiber in Your Diet

Fiber. Maybe you’ve heard it in conversations lately, or maybe you haven’t. (Believe me, it’s a pretty hot topic in the nutrition space.)

Whether you talk about Fiber or not, the bottom line is that most people need to increase their fiber intake to hit the recommended levels. Adequate dietary fiber levels for adults is 25 to 38 grams per day. Are your dietary habits within that range?

Higher amounts of fiber can be found in plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. With the busy lives we lead, it can sometimes be challenging to get enough fiber from our food choices alone. Fortunately, USANA has an excellent fiber product called MySmart™Shake Fibergy Plus to help boost your fiber intake.

Let’s discuss some reasons why adequate fiber is an important diet goal and what some of the main benefits are.

Keeping it Regular

Alright. First thing’s first. Bowel regularity. There, I said it. Now let’s talk about it.

Fiber aids in normal bowel regularity, which helps move wastes and toxins out of the colon quickly and efficiently. If you don’t eat enough fiber or drink enough fluids, you could experience bowel irregularity (constipation). Not good.*

Growing up, my mother always referred to this concept as eating enough “roughage.” I won’t go into all of the details of those conversations, but the idea stuck with me. We need to eat foods high in fiber that will help clear us out and keep us healthy.*

This is probably the main concept that comes to mind when you think about fiber, but there are many other benefits too.
  
Get Both Types
Diets high in soluble and insoluble fiber are important for digestive health. But what does that mean? What is “soluble” and “insoluble” fiber?

SOLUBLE FIBER can be found in foods like oatmeal, nuts, beans, and fruit. It absorbs water and turns into gel in the digestive tract. This helps soften stool, making it easier to pass. Soluble fiber also has great benefits for heart health.

INSOLUBLE FIBER can be found in foods like whole-grains and vegetables. This type of fiber helps promote regularity. It also helps control hunger pangs, which we’ll discuss in more detail below.

 Fibergy Plus contains a blend of both soluble and insoluble fiber, so we’ve got you covered.

Protect Your Most Important Muscle

Nope. I’m not talking about your biceps. Not your pectorals. Not even your glutes. Your HEART is the aim here.

Fiber not only promotes good digestive health but it is also important for the maintenance of heart health. Specifically, soluble fiber binds to cholesterol and helps remove it from the body.*
The FDA states that low-fat diets, rich in fiber-containing grain products, fruits, and vegetables, may reduce the risk of some types of cancer, a disease associated with many factors.*

The heart is one of the hardest working muscles in your body, so boost that fiber intake so you can take care of it better, and it will take care of you.

Feed Your Microbiome

Feed my what?! Don’t get freaked out. You may have heard about this. You have trillions of bacteria in your body at all times called the “microbiome.” In fact, many types of microbes are good for your body and even essential for basic functions like digestion.

You need to eat foods high in fiber to support these tiny, helpful organisms living within your body if you want to maximize the benefits they provide. Dr. Rhonda Patrick is a huge proponent to getting plenty of fiber in your diet to support these microbes:

“You also need to consume enough fiber on a regular basis so that the microbiome in your system is fed regularly. Most foods we eat (fats, proteins) are digested and absorbed fairly early on in the digestive tract. The microbiome is near the end of the digestive cycle, and they need food high in fiber that will make it to them.”

Feel Fuller Longer

Aside from these important benefits listed above, did you know that eating foods high in fiber actually helps you feel fuller, longer?

Do you find yourself snacking a lot throughout the day? If those are healthy snacks, like fruits and vegetables, then that probably isn’t a bad thing. But those healthy choices aren’t always within reach, so you might find yourself grabbing a sugar-filled option instead.

Try eating foods high in fiber during your main meals, and see if that impacts your snacking habits. Also, consider adding MySmart Fibergy Plus to drinks or even incorporating it in the food you eat. The high fiber content will leave you feeling satisfied, making it easier to skip unhealthy snacks throughout the day.

Eating a diet high in fiber should be a priority on your Nutrition To-Do List. To ensure you’re hitting those fiber goals, MySmart Fibergy Plus is a great addition to keep on-hand.

How do you make sure that you’re getting enough fiber? What are some tasty ways that you add Fibergy to your recipes for a fiber boost?


Article by: Austin Catmull June 23, 2016  USANA Health Sciences

7 Steps to Detox Your Body, Mind, and Lifestyle

Summer is around the corner. Are you ready?

If you’re still stuck in hibernation mode from the long winter, you’re not alone. But now is a great time to detox your body, your mind, and your lifestyle to set yourself up for an active and enjoyable summer. Here are seven steps to better health and a renewed sense of vitality to make the most out of the sunny months ahead.

Quick quiz: do you feel thirsty right now? If you do, you’re dehydrated. Water has so many amazing benefits: it helps control calorie intake, energizes your muscles, keeps your skin looking beautiful, and keeps those bowels working properly (hey, it’s important). If you’re not a fan of plain water, infuse flavor by mixing in your favorite fruit, like strawberries and blueberries or lemons and oranges, or mix in some veggies, like cucumber slices.

2. Eat more of some foods.

Asparagus, for example, contains amino acids and minerals that can help protect liver cells against toxins. And beets contain an antioxidant that can help support the cells in the liver. Check out this super simple asparagus recipe and these ways to add beets into your weekly diet.

3. Eat less of others.

 Okay, so alcohol isn’t a food, but if you’re trying to detox, you’ll want to avoid it. Same with too much salt; the body needs small amounts of it to function, but too much can lead to high blood pressure, water retention (read: bloat), and other issues. And did you think I’d let you get away with processed sugar? Nope. Try to minimize your intake. Stick to natural sugars from fruit and leave the baked goods and sweets for special occasions (and I’m not talking about Fridays, I’m talking about birthdays and weddings).

4. Get moving.

This should already be a staple of your everyday life, but if you’re not super active, just get outside and walk around the neighborhood after dinner each night. Not only can regular walks help you maintain a healthy weight and strengthen your bones and muscles, but it can also improve your mood. Major bonus.

5. Hit the hay.

And by that I mean make sure your head is hitting your pillow at least seven to nine hours a night. A proper night’s sleep can work wonders on your mood by lowering your stress levels, among other benefits. If you have trouble getting to sleep, make sure your bedroom is cool and dark, and try taking a shower right before your target bedtime.

6. Clean up your living space.

Detox doesn’t just take place in your body and mind—it also includes your surroundings. Spend some time decluttering your closet and getting rid of the things you don’t need anymore. Open your windows and let fresh air in. Organize that junk drawer. Decluttering has great benefits, but my personal favorite is taking back that feeling of control over your life. Your things don’t own you! Get rid of the excess and you’ll gain so much more in return.

7. Support your healthy diet with high-quality digestion and detox supplements.

Even if you’re eating a healthy diet, it can be difficult to get all nutrients your body needs from food alone. Aim for optimal nutrition with supplementation rather than simply skating by with the Recommended Daily Allowance (which is a minimum to prevent nutrient deficiency). The USANA Digestion & Detox Pack, along with the CellSentials™, made with InCelligence technology offers our best products to support your efforts for a renewed sense of well-being.* The pack is specially put together to last you 28 days—perfect for a pre-summer detox.

Challenge yourself to build some of these healthy habits into your daily routine for a healthier, happier summer—and beyond!

Article by Teresa Elias May 30, 2017  USANA Health Sciences

For more information:  Deanna Waters   watersdd2@gmail.com
To order USANA products:  www.ddwaters.com