Reliv Announces Breakthrough in Fight Against Metabolic Syndrome

For those who have high blood pressure, high triglycerides, high blood sugar and low levels of good cholesterol, you may have a metabolic syndrome.  But here's a good news on a breakthrough medicine created by RELV.  Read on:


Cutting-Edge Ingredient Incorporated Into Clinically Proven Product


CHESTERFIELD, Mo., June 2, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Reliv International (RELV) has incorporated a breakthrough ingredient into its patented, clinically proven GlucAffect® formula.

The addition of LunaRich comes less than a month after the CDC published findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey indicating metabolic syndrome continues to rise among Americans.

Fighting an EpidemicMetabolic syndrome -- a cluster of symptoms including high blood sugar, obesity and cardiovascular problems -- has reached epidemic proportions. According to the American Heart Association, 47 million Americans now have metabolic syndrome. The syndrome afflicts 40 percent of people in their sixties and seventies. That number is expected to rise along with our aging population. The CDC also predicts that one-third of Americans will have diabetes if current trends continue.

In addition, a recent CDC study published in Pediatrics shows the epidemic isn't limited to older adults. Obesity in teens has skyrocketed in the past decade -- 23 percent of teens are now classified as diabetic or prediabetic.

A person with metabolic syndrome is twice as likely to develop heart disease and five times more likely to develop diabetes. Other silent symptoms include eye, kidney and nervous system damage over time. Metabolic syndrome typically includes three or more symptoms:

waistline of 40+ inches for men or 35+ inches for women

high blood pressure, or on blood pressure medication

high triglycerides

high blood sugar or type 2 diabetes

low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol

Balancing Blood SugarThe solution for metabolic syndrome lies in a three-pronged approach of balancing blood sugar, losing weight and improving cholesterol.

Blood sugar management and weight loss go hand-in-hand. Blood sugar levels can effect hunger feelings and energy levels. When blood sugar and insulin levels drop too low, we feel hungry. Weight loss is easier if blood sugar is continuously balanced.

Research shows that cutting-edge ingredients such as Pycnogenol®, banaba leaf and cinnamon have significant blood sugar management properties.

"GlucAffect's unique formula addresses multiple factors of metabolic syndrome at once," said Dr. Carl Hastings, chief scientific officer. "And the increased levels of lunasin in LunaRich soy powder have given GlucAffect an even greater edge in the fight against metabolic syndrome."

Beating Cholesterol at the SourceMost cholesterol is produced in the liver by the HMG-CoA reductase gene. Statin drugs work by blocking HMG-CoA, but they can often block too much. This leads to serious side effects because our body needs a minimum level of cholesterol for proper cellular function.

On the other hand, a naturally occurring soy peptide called lunasin targets cholesterol at an earlier stage, reducing the HMG-CoA without blocking it entirely. LunaRich soy powder harnesses the power of the lunasin peptide to balance cholesterol.

"A growing body of research shows that the lunasin peptide is one of the most important bioactive components of soy," said Dr. Alfredo Galvez, the scientist who first discovered lunasin. "Lunasin demonstrates superior support for cardiovascular health and exhibits significant anti-inflammatory properties. In developing LunaRich for Reliv, we have maximized lunasin levels in soy."

About Reliv International, Inc.Reliv International, Inc., based in Chesterfield, Mo., produces nutritional supplements that promote optimal nutrition along with premium skincare products. Reliv supplements address essential nutrition, weight loss, athletic performance, digestive health, women's health, anti-aging and healthy energy. The company sells its products through an international network marketing system of independent distributors in 15 countries. Learn more about Reliv at www.reliv.com , or on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.


more from here: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/reliv-announces-breakthrough-in-fight-against-metabolic-syndrome-2012-06-02

Obesity fight is an obligation

Take a look at this article citing all the negative effects of obesity.  Read on and help support eliminating obesity:

By Damon Tweedy
Henry had a problem: The medicine that calmed his mind was hurting his body. A middle-aged man with bipolar disorder, Henry had tried several medications before he became my patient. The only one that stabilized his mood made him crave fattening foods so intensely that after three years on the drug, he’d gained 50 pounds.

With this excess weight came diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol — and with them, more drugs to take. I urged Henry to keep his weight under control, but he kept gaining. Frustrated, I decided to let his primary care physician decide how to help him. After all, his mental health was in good shape. Ultimately, his weight wasn’t really my concern.

Today, no doctor can afford to think that way. Between 1980-2000, the percentage of obese Americans more than doubled; in children and adolescents, it tripled. The rate of increase has slowed since 2000, but the numbers are still rising. At this pace, 42 percent of American adults will be obese by 2030, costing our country an estimated $25 billion annually.

Doctors often don’t know what to do with obese patients. Just like them, we become impatient, frustrated and, at times, disgusted. Surgeons curse higher complication rates and sometimes refuse to operate, while medical specialists bemoan rising rates of weight-related chronic conditions.

In psychiatry, many have accepted obesity as collateral damage; some of our best medications can cause substantial weight gain. Often removed from day-to-day general medicine, we’re tempted to punt responsibility to the primary care physician, as I did. Even those of us concerned with our patient’s expanding waistlines must acknowledge that compared with the psychotic delusions of schizophrenia or bipolar mania, it’s better to be fat. Establishing mental stability while maintaining a healthy weight often seems incompatible.

Or at least that’s what I thought until Henry showed me otherwise. Just when I’d decided to stop nagging him about his weight, he showed up 10 pounds lighter. At first, I worried that he might have cancer or some other medical problem. Instead, his simple explanation was, “I finally started listening to you. I’m changing my eating pattern and walking each day.”

Three years later, he’d dropped 55 pounds, all while taking his bipolar medication. He no longer needed diabetes or blood pressure pills.

Henry had reminded me how important simple doctor-patient interaction can be. While the tide of obesity exceeds the power of any individual physician to defeat, all of us on the medical front lines need to engage in this fierce battle. Sadly, that is not happening. According to a 2011 study, nearly one-third of obese patients had never been told by a doctor that they were overweight. Some doctors think it’s a waste of their time. Others complain their efforts won’t pay enough.

But these excuses are unacceptable. We have a responsibility never to quit. Talking and persistence are sometimes the most powerful medicines for both doctor and patient.

Damon Tweedy, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center, is a staff psychiatrist at the Durham VA Medical Center.

more from here: http://www.ajc.com/opinion/obesity-fight-is-an-1450890.html

5 ways fibre can save your life

For those wanting to lower their cholesterol, here's a good article that I found on using fibre to control your weight and cholesterol.  Read on:

EATING more fibre is an easy way to fight off several deadly diseases.


1. Fibre lowers cholesterol

High cholesterol levels can lead to clogged arteries and a greater risk of heart disease, which kills more than 46,000 Australians a year. Thankfully, fibre can help.

"Beta-glucan, a type of soluble fibre, binds to bile acids in your small intestines," Orla Hugueniot, a nutritionist with Nutrition Australia, says. "Bile acids normally carry LDL, the bad kind of cholesterol, into your body. Beta-glucan helps the acids excrete, rather than re-entering the body."

Oats and barley are rich in beta-glucan. "Increase this type of fibre and you’ll quickly see an effect. Just how quickly depends on whether you’re on cholesterol-lowering medication, and how much saturated fat you’re having in your diet," Hugueniot says.

2. Fibre helps you lose weight

Being overweight or obese dramatically increases your risk of a range of life-threatening diseases, from cancer to heart disease and diabetes.

"Fibre helps with weight loss because high-fibre foods keep you fuller for longer," Hugueniot says. "You’re less likely to eat energy-dense or fatty foods."

Switching to high-fibre foods is also a simple way to modify your diet without having to count calories.

3. Fibre prevents and manages diabetes

All types of fibre help those with diabetes (types 1 and 2) and pre-diabetes, Hugueniot says.

"Soluble fibre slows down absorption of carbohydrates in the stomach, which helps regulate blood-sugar levels, a fundamental part of preventing and managing diabetes."

Soluble fibre’s effect on cholesterol is also useful for diabetics, as they often have higher LDL levels than non-diabetics. Insoluble fibre is also associated with controlling diabetes, but we don’t know exactly why yet, Hugueniot says.

According to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures, diabetes contributes to almost 15,000 deaths in Australia a year. Diabetes can result in heart disease, circulatory problems and other health complications.

4. Fibre prevents colon cancer

"Fibre increases the levels of the friendly bowel bacteria butyrate, which plays a role in preventing colon cancer," Hugueniot says. "Fibre also dilutes carcinogens and other harmful substances in our gut, and pushes them out of our body quicker, reducing our colon’s exposure to them."
Fibre-rich foods also tend to be high in antioxidants, which give general protection against cancer.

5. Fibre relieves constipation

This isn’t a life-threatening condition, but any sufferer will tell you it affects your quality of life significantly. It can also lead to more painful conditions such as haemorrhoids and diverticulitis, Hugueniot says.

"It all comes back to digestion. If you have enough fibre in your diet, you’ll have better overall digestive health."

All types of fibre help – soluble fibre softens the stool, while insoluble fibre adds bulk. Both make bowel movements easier and more regular.

** How to get your daily fibre
National guidelines recommend adult women have at least 25 grams a day and men at least 30 grams, but most of us only manage between 18 and 25 grams of fibre a day. A balanced diet that includes wholegrains, nuts and seeds, beans, fruit and vegies will ensure you get a balanced intake of both soluble and insoluble fibre and valuable vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

1/2 cup raw mixed-grain muesli with nuts and dried fruit         6g

1 medium pear, unpeeled                          4g

3 chopped prunes                             2g

350ml minestrone soup with vegies and beans             9g

1 thick slice soy and linseed bread                    2.5g

1 red apple, unpeeled                            3g

1/2 cup brown rice                            1.5g

Stir-fried chicken, carrot, snowpeas and broccoli             6g

TOTAL                                 34g


-- Soluble vs insoluble fibre

Soluble fibre, which helps with cholesterol and constipation, is found in foods such as oats, barley, rye, fruit, vegetables, psyllium and lentils. Insoluble fibre provides bulk to the stool and is found in the bran of foods including wheat, corn and rice, the skins of fruit and vegetables, and in nuts and seeds. Most fibre-rich foods contain both types, so you don’t need to worry too much about seeking one type out.

more from here: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad/ways-fibre-can-save-your-life/story-fn6ja7bc-1226379659925