During exercise your metabolism generates not only energy from glucose with the mitochondria of your muscle cells, but also a by-product known as free radicals.  These are small oxygenated molecules that have only one purpose in their short life:  to grab electrons from their nearest neighbor and in so doing, destroy them.  Hence, muscle cells are destroyed and have to be replaced.

In addition to free radical oxidative damage, tissues such as your joints, tendons and ligaments can become damaged during hard exercise and competitive performance. This initiates the inflammatory response of the immune system leading to swelling, inflammation and pain. A certain amount of inflammation occurs with most exercise, although it is not always noticeable.

The first benefit of organic cocoa is its high antioxidant content(1).  It contains more flavanoids than highly antioxidant foods such as blueberries and tea(2), and can be used by more than  just athletes seeking to reduce the oxidative stress initiate by training and competition. Antioxidants destroy free radicals on sight – in fact as soon as they are formed. Not only do they prevent the oxidative stress of exercise, but they also prevent atherosclerosis, where free radicals render low density lipoproteins water-insoluble so that they precipitate from the blood and form cholesterol plaques on arterial walls.

With regard to exercise and recovery, however, the antioxidants in organic cocoa prevent damage to muscle cells and the proteins that form muscle tissue. The same phytochemicals also possess anti-inflammatory properties, and so help to reduce the effects of inflammation. It is ironic that the inflammatory response of your immune system is intended to protect your body tissues from damage, but doesn’t know when to stop and ends up causing swelling and pain. Anti-inflammatories are used to alleviate the effects of inflammation that can retard recovery after exercise. Experimental evidence indicates that organic cocoa contains powerful anti-inflammatory effects(3).

Another benefit of organic cocoa is that it can promote cardiovascular health. By dilating your arteries and other blood vessels it can improve blood flow, and hence help to maintain muscle oxygenation during exercise.  This in turn not only permits longer and more effective athletic performance, but also helps to convert exercise into more powerful muscle density. It regulates your hear rate and lowers your blood pressure, and generally promotes athletic prowess and effective exercise.

Another benefit that is not truly appreciated is offered by the neurotransmitter content of cocoa. Remember that great feeling you get after jogging a few miles?  Referred to as ‘jogger’s high’ it can be provided by the endorphin content of organic cocoa. Endorphins are ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitters and cocoa, in providing that plus others such as serotonin promote a positive outlook and a general feeling of well being.

These attitudes are important to athletes, and another that cocoa offers is anandamine, a chemical released by the brain that promotes relaxation and enables you to relax easier after extreme exercise, thus promoting more rapid recovery. Finally, phenylethylamine helps you to focus on the objective in hand, and together with the other neurotransmitters that cocoa either contains or promotes in the brain, can put you in the right mood for hard work and athletic achievement and improve the symptoms of fatigue, particularly of chronic fatigue(4).

1. British Journal of Nutrition (2009), 101, 931-940

2. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Dec 3, 2003.

3. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2006;47 Suppl 2:S163-71; discussion S172-6.

4. Endocrine Abstracts (2006) 12 P68

Copyright 2010 LifeHealthSecrets

LifeHealthSecrets

Why don’t you have different products for different body types/blood types?

The underlying purpose of all our supplements is to strengthen vital life current, which is a foundational health issue. Increase your core energy and your body is better equipped to deal with peripheral issues and conditions. Our approach to health is cleansing and strengthening from the inside out – from the cellular level to the entire body. Everyone functions better when their cells are healthy, which is where Protein Extreme Energy and GSH-Ignite come in. Maxodin and Adrenal Reboot provide additional support to the adrenals and the nervous system – the two areas most commonly affected and weakened by stress and our modern lifestyle. Life Health Secrets supplements provide a strong base to address virtually universal health issues.

What’s the ideal daily supplement plan?

• Morning: One serving of Protein Extreme Energy first thing on empty stomach, followed by a glass of water.
• Breakfast: 2 Maxodin with food
• Mid-afternoon (this is flexible): A scoop of GSH-Ignite, followed by a glass of water
• Dinnertime: 2 Adrenal Reboot with food

What if I just want to start with one product, which one should it be?

Though it depends on your particular needs, generally it’s a good idea to start with the Protein Extreme Energy (in the morning before breakfast).

When should I take more than one serving per day of Protein Extreme Energy or GSH-Ignite?

When you are physically active or are trying to lose weight.

I’m overweight, is there a special plan I should follow?

Follow the ideal daily supplement plan listed above and add a second scoop of Protein Extreme Energy, followed by a glass of water, a half hour to one hour before dinner.

I’m working out –what should I take before and after workout?

One serving of GSH-Ignite (½ hour ideal timing) before workout, Protein Extreme Energy soon after.  Also, check out our sports blog, www.elitesportsandfitness.com, for helpful ideas on training and their supplement intake.

I’m on medication, is there any product I shouldn’t take?

If you have high blood pressure or are taking an MAO inhibitor (anti-depressants), then don’t take Maxodin, but the others are all compatible with those conditions. However,  should you have any medical condition, consult your doctor and you should check back with your doctor a few weeks after starting the LifeHealthSecrets supplements.

BioActive Protein Lowers Cholesterol

A recent study found that men and women with moderately high cholesterol, 210 to 270 total count, had a 6% drop in total cholesterol after just three weeks of taking an immunoglobulin supplement. More importantly, LDL cholesterol, or the “bad” cholesterol most closely associated with heart disease, decreased by 7% while HDL, the “good” cholesterol, remained constant.

How much of the BioActive Protein do I need to take in Protein Extreme Energy to take to replicate these effects?

Over the course of the study, participants took the equivalent of 2 servings daily just 74% of the time, suggesting even greater benefit with full compliance.

How soon should I see the benefits?

Within one month.

Where can I see that study?

It was published in the April issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2005 81 (4) p 792). The results are based on a six-week study, conducted by the Dallas, TX-based Cooper Institute.

Are there any other studies?

Because this is a relatively recent discovery, there have yet to be more studies conducted on this topic. However, two studies in the 1990s showed milk from immunized cows had higher immunoglobulin content than did milk from non- immunized cows, and appeared to lower cholesterol in those who drank it. The researchers surmised that the immunoglobulin, also the main ingredient of Protein Extreme Energy, was responsible for the effect.

Copyright 2009 LifeHealthSecrets

1. Eat Well

This seems like it should go without saying, but many people don’t realize the extent to which every single thing you eat affects your body chemistry. Foods either boost your energy or deplete it, they either donate electrons or rob you of them, they either harm or heal. So, while the supplements you take work to energize your cells and keep them working in optimal condition, if the foods you’re consuming aren’t healthy, then you’re making it harder on yourself. Look out for upcoming posts on how to optimize your nutrition, foods to avoid (some will surprise you!) and recipes.

2. Drink Enough Water

Staying hydrated is key to activating Protein Extreme Energy and helping GSH-Ignite, Maxodin and Adrenal Re-Boot do their work. Water helps to flush out cellular toxins and metabolic waste from the body so that your cells don’t get overloaded and bogged down. Staying hydrated is also essential to keep your internal organs functioning properly. How much water a day should people drink? While there’s no scientific consensus, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies recommends that men consume about 13 cups, or 3 liters; and women approximately 9 cups, or 2.2 liters, of fluids a day.

3. Get Enough Sleep

Think about it. Kids sleep a lot and heal a lot faster than we do. They don’t need caffeine to get them through the day – when they’re up they’re bouncing off the walls, and when they crash, they sleep so deeply it’s virtually impossible to rouse them. As we get older, we train ourselves to make do with less and less sleep, and often the sleep we do get is restless, unsatisfying. Sleep is fundamental to our well-being: we regenerate and rejuvenate our bodies when we sleep deeply, it helps us deal with stress and improves our mood and cognition. In the next few months we’ll be discussing sleep in more detail: tricks on how to get it and why it’s so vital to your health. For now, just try to get at least 8 hours a night, preferably closer to 9.

4. Make a Supplement Plan & Stick to it

As much as possible, stick with your plan. A missed pill here and there won’t make a difference, but the more you stick with a schedule, the happier your body will be.

For example, here’s my plan:

Morning: A scoop of Protein Extreme Energy first thing on empty stomach, followed by a glass of water.

Breakfast: 2 Maxodin with food

Mid-afternoon Slump: A scoop of GSH-Ignite, followed by a glass of water

(this works for me every time)

Dinnertime: 2 Adrenal Re-Boot with food

If I’m exercising, then I add in an extra serving of Protein Extreme Energy pre-workout and GSH-Restore (this is the vanilla version of GSH-Ignite) post-workout.

5. Breathe

As the adage goes, breath is life. We’ve been doing it since we were born, so we should all be experts now, right? Wrong. Most of us don’t take full breaths, we keep them shallow and this causes a whole slew of health problems for us relating to low levels of blood oxygen (which we will elaborate on in future posts). You don’t need to be a yogi or devote hours to this. If you can get outside and go for a walk every day, great – do it and focus on your breathing. If not, just take a few minutes while you’re at work to concentrate on your breath and practice deep breathing. This is an especially effective thing to do when you’re under stress or feeling tired. It will help get more oxygen to your brain, center and calm you.  Plus, it just feels nice to breathe.

What about you? How do you take your Life Health Secrets supplements? Share your tips for increasing core energy with us!

Copyright 2009 LifeHealthSecrets

Athletes, dieters and body builders stand to benefit from taking coconut oil because its fat content is converted easily into energy, it does not promote accumulation of fat in the heart and arteries, it helps promote healthy thyroid functioning, and accelerates metabolism by reducing pancreatic stress.

Turmeric has been described in Turmeric: A Brief Review of Medicinal Properties, by R.C. Srimals, as possessing the ability to protect the liver against toxic substances, in particular heavy metals such as lead, as well as preventing the formation of gallstones, decreasing the size of stones already formed, and increasing the flow of bile.

Turmeric alcohol extracts have been found to reduce blood sugar levels, and may soon be used in the treatment of diabetes. Clinical trials in China have shown turmeric to reduce serum cholesterol. Turmeric use has been recommended by the World Health Organization.

Lipopolysaccharide, isolated from turmeric root, has been shown to stimulate and increase the activity of the immune system and the cucurmin found in turmeric is being studied as a possible preventative treatment to cancer.

Our immunoglobulin concentrate provides two and one-half times the Immunglobulin G (IgG) found in colostrum, and fifteen times that found in whey isolate. IgG responds against pro-inflammatory cytokines, binding to pathogens and protecting the body from their effects. It has been shown to reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines by up to 95%, resulting in significant improvement in colon health and a systemic reduction of whole body inflammation.

Immunoglobulins have also been shown to help improve liver function, leading to a reduction in LDL (bad) cholesterol. A recent study found that men and women with moderately high cholesterol, 210 to 270 total count, had a 6% drop in total cholesterol after just three weeks of taking an immunoglobulin supplement. More importantly, LDL cholesterol, or the “bad” cholesterol most closely associated with heart disease, decreased by 7% while HDL, the “good” cholesterol, remained constant.

LivingWell

tion and cellular replication and detoxification reactions. One of its therapeutic uses is to treat high homocysteine levels in the blood, which is a powerful risk factor in cardiovascular disease. It has also been used to aid digestion, treat depression, and treat types of liver disease involving inflammation.

Copyright 2009 LifeHealthSecrets