The following is from Dr. Steve Chaney who established and teaches nutrition in the University North Carolina Medical School.

Beware of Cut Rate Vitamins!

Dr. Stephen Chaney, Ph.D.

One of the biggest mistakes people make is taking inexpensive vitamins. Mail-order vitamins offer fantastic “deals” and are worth just about what you pay for them.  NEVER buy these vitamins or supermarket/pharmacy brands without checking them out first.

Cut-rate products often contain addictive ingredients, food allergens, sugar, artificial food coloring and flavoring.  Many are coated with shellac, or contain potentially hazardous chemicals like cholorine.

Potency and purity can vary widely from pill to pill and bottle to bottle.  A study at Duke University examined 13 bottles of one popular supplement.  These samples showed they contained 60% or less of the amount of nutrients claimed on the label!

Another problem is freshness.  The FDA does not require expiration dates on supplement bottles so many companies don’t include them.  Calcium and some other nutrients can last for a year, while others, like vitamin B and C are unstable.

Shaklee performs up to 176 separate tests for purity, freshness, potency, and safety on the raw ingredients for a single product.  Products undergo as many as 262 separate quality assurance tests throughout the manufacturing process as well.  In addition, all product label claims have documented substantiation.

Cause in point, Shaklee stopped production of its Asian Ginseng, dispite the huge demand for the product, due to contaiminants like herbicides and pesticides found in raw ingredients after floods in China.  They will not resume production until they have a proven safe and pure source for the product.  Many brands at the supermarkets, health stores, and mail order companies are still selling Asian Ginseng! Scary, isn’t it?

Some things to look for in a multivitamin/mineral supplement:

• Biotin—an extremely important but expensive B Vitamin
• 100% of the DV for all B vitamins
• More than 100% of all the antioxidants Vitamins C & E
• Trace minerals—needed to fight oxidation, regulate blood sugar, and help build bones, critical for brain function and essential for growth and development.
• Fast Dissolving = better absoption (drop it in water; how long does it take to dissolve?)

Shaklee Vita Lea has been the best nutritional insurance you can buy for over 40 years. Vita Lea provides the most comprehensive, balanced supplementation available, with no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.  Independent laboratory tests have showed the disintegration time of Shaklee vitamins at only 17 minutes, while some take hours!

Yield: 1 – 9×13 inch dish, cut into squares

• 1 cup Chocolate Cinch protein powder*
• 1 1/4 cup oats
• 1/2 cup wheat germ, flax seed, or flax meal
• 1/2 cup shredded wheat, granola, or more oats
• 2 – 4 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder (depending on how much you like!)
• 1 cup Agave (or honey)**
• 1 tsp pure Vanilla
• 1 cup peanut butter or almond butter***

Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside. In a sauce pan, bring Agave to a boil then immediately remove from heat and add peanut butter or almond butter and vanilla. Stir until combined. Pour peanut butter mixture into bowl of dry ingredients and stir until combined – you may need to use your hands. Pres down into un-greased 9 x 13 inch pan. Cool in the refrigerator. Cut into squares.

Variations:

• Add fruit to dry mix (1/2 cup chopped dates, raisins, cranberries, or cherries)
• Add nuts to dry mix (almonds, walnuts, pecans, or other nuts)
• Add 6 Tbsp. cocoa powder to dry mix
• Add 1/2 cup chocolate chips ON TOP of mix after it is pressed into pan. Turn oven on broil. Place bars into oven for about 1 minute. Remove and use a knife to spread melted chocolate chips around on top of bars. Refrigerate.

* Shaklee Instant Soy Protein. You can use any Shaklee protein and it will turn out pretty much the same (ie: Cinch vanilla protein)

** Agave is the ideal sweetener because it does not raise your Glucose level like honey does, which will help your insulin level not rise as much.

*** Almond butter is the better option. If you use peanut butter, try to use natural or organic peanut butter.

I borrowed this recipe from my friend, Jenni Oates. She is an amazing fitness, health and nutrition guru! I love learning from her. Check out her site at: www.healthyoates.com She and her family truly are an example of working toward health (physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental).

• 1 cup coconut milk (or you can use rice milk, almond milk, or water)
• 1 banana
• 1 cup of another fruit (I used strawberries and pineapple)
• 1 cup spinach
• 1 Tbsp ground flax seed
• 1 serving CINCH Vanilla Shake Mix (or whatever flavor you like!)
• 4-5 ice cubes
• ENJOY!!!

I made this recipe the other night so I would have it for the upcoming work week as a snack or for part of my meal with some yogurt. Well, we had a big cook-out on Friday night since James came home. We had a ton of friends and family over. I put my container of granola bars (which I had made Friday morning) away, not even thinking somebody would see them and want them. Well, one of my friends asked what they were and wanted to tasted them. She loved them, and then the CRAZE hit! My granola bars were completely gone! So, I guess they were good. They were actually gone before the cheescake was eaten! I’m happy that our friends and family choose to eat the healthier treats!

I’m going to try adding some protein powder in them this week & I’ll add the changes to the recipe!

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups old-fashioned oatmeal

• 1 cup chopped almonds (I use chopped, but you can use sliced)

• 1 cup shredded coconut, loosely packed

• 1/2 cup flax seed meal (or toasted wheat germ)

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

• 2/3 cup agave nectar (or you can use 1/3 c agave + 1/3 c maple syrup)

• 1 1/2 tsp tsp pure vanilla extract

• 1 1/2 cups dried fruit (I used raisins + cranberries)

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Farenheit. Line a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with parchement paper.

Toss the oatmeal, almonds, and cocnut together on a sheet pan and bake for 10 – 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned. Transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl and stir in the flax seed meal.

Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees Farenheit.

Place the butter, honey, maple syrup and vanilla in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook and stir for a minute, then pour over the toated oatmeal mixture. Add the dried fruit and mix well.

Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Wet your fingers and lightly press the mixture evenly into the pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until light golden brown. Cool for at least 2 – 3 hours before cutting into squares.

Place in an air tight container!

I  ♥  pumpkin! Who doesn’t this time of year? Well, instead of eating a piece of pumpkin pie everyday or getting a Starbuck’s Pumpkin spice latte (which by the way has 380 calories, 13 grams of FAT, and 51 carbs – 49 SUGARS!!!), there is another option. I made this pumpkin protein shake after my workout today, and it is Fabulous, Yummy, and HEALTHY!!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 Cup milk (soy, coconut, regular, or almond)

• 3 Tbsp. Shaklee Cinch Vanilla protein

• 1/4 – 1/2 cup pumpkin

• 1 tsp vanilla

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• pinch of nutmeg

• 1-2 Tbsp Agave

• 4 ice cubes

Put ingredients in blender & mix! ENJOY!!

This shake only has 270 calories, with 24 grams of PROTEIN and only 16 grams of sugar. 

Ingredients

• 2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, boiled in 3 cans of chicken stock and 3 cans water (cut up chicken after done cooking)

Dumplings

• 1 cup milk
• 1 egg (beaten)
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• Shaklee unflavored soy protein (about 2 1/2 cups), until mixture is thick

Roll dumpling mixture on floured board, and cut into 1″ x 1″ pieces.

Bring chicken stock/water broth to a boil and add cut up/shredded chicken. Then add dumplings. Reduce heat to medium, and cover. Cook for about 20 minutes. Remove lid and reduce heat to low. You can add 1/2 cup milk and 1 can cream of chicken soup to thicken dish.

$46 BILLION dollars & hundreds of diets later……

More than 65% of Americans are overweight to obese.

WHAT???

So why are these “diets” failing? Keep reading.

Most diets are:

• Nutritionally inadequate = you feel bad, sooner or later.

• Too hard to follow = interferes with life.

• Results are too slow =  frustration.

• Unsafe ingredients = negative side effects (ephedra, ephedra alternatives, other stimulants).

• Slow your metabolism = the “yo-yo” effect.

The Viscious Diet Cycle:

So, you start a diet, you reduce your calories, and lose some weight. BUT there is no way to tell if you are losing MUSCLE or FAT. Well, with most diets you lose fat & MUSCLE. After dieting, you can’t burn calories like you did before. So you gain the weight back. Then you start your next diet, and now you are a part of the yo-yo dieters!

Well, here is what I am using to help lose fat and inches without losing muscle: CINCH !!!!

Why Cinch Works:

•  Formulated to help you get off the dreaded diet cycle.
• Leverages 50 years of nutritional science leadership and innovation.
• The Cinch program and products are based on more than 100 published studies and clinical papers on individual ingredients.
• Clinically tested leucine formula.
• Powered by Leucine.

 Formulated to help break the diet cycle, so you can:

1. Keep muscle you have.

2. Burn fat you don’t need.

3. Lose inches you don’t want.

How Cinch works:

The Cinch Inch Loss Plan is different. It addresses one of the primary reasons other diets fail. Cinch provides you a plan to lose the weight right away. Instead of losing weight from fat and muscle , the Cinch Inch Loss Plan is powered by Leucine – an essential amino acid, to help preserve muscle while you lose weight from fat. The Cinch Inch Loss Plan is scientifically formulated to help you lose weight, lose inches, and break the cycle of perpetual dieting. The Cinch Inch Loss Plan is designed for real life, so it also addresses the the physical and emotional challenges that come along with your weight contrl efforts. With proprietary formulas, the Cinch products will help you control your hunger, boost your energy, and keep you feeling satisfied. Plus, you’ll get healthy personalized menus, specific to your body’s needs and your individual preferences.

Benefits:

• Helps you lose weight and inches without feeling hungry.
• Clinically tested with leucine formula to help preserve muscle during weight loss.
• Provides protein to help control hunger and preserve muscle.             
• Provides the support and tools you need to be successful.
• Helps you achieve healthy lifestyle changes.                                             
• Offers personalized and flexible meal plan options.
• Helps you lose pounds and inches.
• Promotes weight loss from fat.

Everything you need to get start losing inches today!

With Cinch, you get to meals a day in a delicious shake or meal-in-a-bar, a yummy snack bar to treat yourself, a 3-in-1 supplement with ingredients to kick up your metbolism naturally, and an extraordinary tea fo naturually energy. Plus, the kit come with an eating guide, CD software, pedometer, tape measure, and more. Each product uses proprietary formulas, which were developed after 50 years of Sport’s nutrition development.

Please contact me if you need more information about getting started on the Cinch Inch Loss Plan.

Well, if you’ve been told you have any of the following:

• High blood pressure                                                                                  
• Elevated blood sugar levels (but you don’t have diabetes)
• Central obesity (aka: You have a spare tire around your waist!)  
• Elevated cholesterol

Then, you should care…..A LOT. You may have metabolic syndrome.

            Metabolic syndrome is also known as “Syndrome X” or “Insulin Resistance Syndrome”. It is a cluster of symptoms, that together, increase your risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. If you have JUST ONE of the above conditions, you are at an increased risk to serious disease. If you have multiple….then your risk just increased exponentially.

            Experts don’t always agree on the exact definition of metabolic syndrome, but the combination of risk factors have been talked about in the medical profession for years – regardless of the definition. The problem is, these risk factors appear to becoming more prevalent in today’s society. It is estimated that over 50 million Americans have metabolic syndrome.

            The American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recommend that metabolic syndrome be identified as the presence of three or more of the following:

1. Elevated waist circumference:
   1. Men – equal or greater than 40 inches
   2. Women – equal or greater than 35 inches
2. Elevated blood triglycerides:
   1. Equal or grater than 150 mg/dL
3. Reduced HDL (good cholesterol):
   1. Men – less than 40 mg/dL
   2. Women – less than 50 mg/dL
4. Elevated blood pressure:
   1. Equal to or greater than 130/85 mm Hg
5. Elevated fasting glucose:
   1. Equal to or greater than 100 mg/dL

Whether you have ALL the risk factors, or one, diet, weight management and lifestyle are great places to make changes. Commit to a healthier diet, getting more physical activity, losing weight, and quitting smoking.

So, here is what you can do 

1. Diet! Dieting isn’t a complicated calculus formula. Your diet should be balanced. Eat things like fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein foods like fish and white meat chicken. Cut back on foods high in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol. Avoid fast foods, sugar laden sodas and cut back on using the salt shaker! You can also use meal replacement shakes for on the go – rather than stopping to get fast food. Shaklee’s Cinch shakes are a great place to start. They help you lose pound and inches while preserving muscle.
2. Exercise! Find activities you enjoy: walking, jogging, or swimming. Do this for 30-60 minutes most days of the week. If you have not been physically active, have physical limitations or a chronic health condition, talk to your doctor first about finding the right exercise program for you.
3. Supplement! These can provide additional value when dealing with Metabolic Syndrome. Omega-3 fatty acids contribute to healthier triglyceride and blood pressure levels. Magnesium supports healthy blood pressure (and by the way – more than 80% of Americans may be deficient or consuming inadequate amounts).

            We can all do a better job of taking care of ourselves. That is what our family is doing. We sure are not perfect at being healthy, but we are trying! Small changes lead to big results…..so start small, rather than not starting at all!

The FDA states that vitamins are essential nutrients that play an important role in living a healthy life. Millions of people worldwide take vitamin supplements as a part of a healthy living regimen.

There are numerous reasons WHY to take vitamin supplements. Your body uses vitamins for growth, digestion, and nerve function. The body actually HAS TO HAVE 13 vitamins to function: A, C, D, E, K and the B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, B-6, B-12, and folate).

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans states that many people consume more calories than needed without taking in recommended amounts of nutrients. The best way to intake the recommended amount of nutrients is by eating a healthy diet. According to the Director of FDA’s Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling, and Dietary Supplements, Barbara Schneeman, Ph.D., ”The Guidelines emphasize that supplements may be useful when they fill a specific identified nutrient gap that cannot or is not otherwise being met by the individual’s intake of food.” She adds, “An important point made in the guidelines is that nutrient supplements are not a substitute for a healthful diet.”

Americans are becoming more and more overweight. In the early 1980’s – 45% of Americans were overweight. Now, that number has ballooned to 66%. The consequence of poor diet’s and lack of exercise. These things are leading to an increased prevalence of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, arthritis, respiratory difficulties and many cancers (McClellan, Mark, MD, PhD, Changing the American Diet – Harvard School of Public Health).

The majority of Americans are NOT even reaching minimums of nutrition through food intake. Dr. Gladys Block of UC Berkeley School of Public Health states that surveys confirm that most U.S. adults consume LESS THAN 2 servings of fruits and veggies per day (Hint – we should be consuming 7-9!!). Why is this happening:

• Fast foods, convenience foods and take-out meals. These tend to be high in calories, saturated in trans-fats, salt and sugar.
• The processing and refinement of foods, leading to dietary deficiencies when consumed regularly.
• Cravings creating a vicious cycle of overeating and a sad reality of overweight and obese individuals who are actually malnourished!

So, what have we leaned: WE ARE WHAT WE EAT!

Looking for a reputable company to provide you and your family the supplements you need? For more than half a century, Shaklee has been pioneering the field of health and nutrition with innovative, quality products using state-of-the-art technologies. Today, Shaklee Corporation employs over 60 highly qualified scientists who ensure unsurpassed quality, safety and efficacy of all product lines. Shaklee has invested over $250 million in product research and development, and clinical trials. Each year, over 80,000 laboratory and quality assurance tests are performed on our products and ingredients.

CHANGING BRANDS CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE

The first ever landmark study on a rare population of long-term dietary supplement users showed that people who took Shaklee supplements had markedly better health than both multivitamin and non-supplement users. If you would like detailed information regarding this study, please email me and I will forward the information to you.

Preparation time: 5 – 10 minutes

Yield: 1 – 9×13 inch dish, cut into squares

• 1 cup Instant Soy Protein Mix*
• 1 1/4 cup oats
• 1/2 cup wheat germ, flax see, or flax meal
• 1/2 cup shredded wheat, granola, or more oats
• 1 cup Agave (or honey)**
• 1 tsp pure Vanilla
• 1 cup peanut butter or almond butter***

Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside. In a sauce pan, bring Agave to a boil then immediately remove from heat and add peanut butter or almond butter and vanilla. Stir until combined. Pour peanut butter mixture into bowl of dry ingredients and stir until combined – you may need to use your hands. Pres down into un-greased 9 x 13 inch pan. Cool in the refrigerator. Cut into squares.

Variations:

• Add fruit to dry mix (1/2 cup chopped dates, raisins, cranberries, or cherries)
• Add nuts to dry mix (almonds, walnuts, pecans, or other nuts)
• Add 6 Tbsp. cocoa powder to dry mix
• Add 1/2 cup chocolate chips ON TOP of mix after it is pressed into pan. Turn oven on broil. Place bars into oven for about 1 minute. Remove and use a knife to spread melted chocolate chips around on top of bars. Refrigerate.

* Shaklee Instant Soy Protein. You can use any Shaklee protein and it will turn out pretty much the same (ie: Cinch vanilla protein)

** Agave is the ideal sweetener because it does not raise your Glucose level like honey does, which will help your insulin level not rise as much.

*** Almond butter is the better option. If you use peanut butter, try to use natural or organic peanut butter.