February 26, 2009 by Brad
Filed under Ultimate Fuel
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New www.awakenyourbody.com site is Live.
Thanks to the amazing feedback we received from our recent questionnaire, we have given the www.AwakenYourBody.com website a whole new look and feel. It’s now super simple to navigate around the site as we have added four main categories-Fat Loss, Women’s Health, Men’s Health and Anti-Aging. We will also be adding two new categories-Healthy Eating and New Research.
Overwhelmingly, adding video and audio components to our site is important, so we will be adding these regularly-check back often to see what’s new!
As you know, everything takes time to implement, but we are also working on giving you Natural Health Tips, Recipes, Simple Solutions and Research on a daily basis as well as monthly Teleseminars and Webinars (video) with myself and other Health experts.
Check out our Blog on a regular basis. http://awakenyourbody.com/blog/
It’s going to be an exciting year and I truly appreciate everybody’s continued support!
I look forward to meeting some of you when I am out on the road speaking at events-don’t be shy and come say “Hi”!
Have a peek at the new site www.awakenyourbody.com
To your abundant health,
Brad
Eat more to Lose Fat?
Anyone who has followed a low calorie diet will attest to the fact that it is extremely difficult to stay on, especially when your biochemistry seems to be working against you. Simply put: Low calories = lowered leptin = increased appetite and cravings
Keeping your thyroid revving
When we discuss metabolism and our ability to burn calories effectively, we must give credit where credit is due. In this case we must give special mention to that little gland that lies in the neck, just below the Adam’s apple–the thyroid gland. Your thyroid gland is responsible for controlling the bodies overall metabolism with the aid of its specialized hormones–thyroxin (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Even though 93% of the hormone secreted by the thyroid is T4, the great majority of T4 must be converted to T3 (the metabolically active thyroid hormone) in order to enhance metabolism.
Leptin also has the ability to lower your metabolic rate by negatively affecting the conversion of your thyroid hormones when you skip meals or severely restrict your calories–the end result is you find it next to impossible to lose any more fat.
A human study presented in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, proved that the thyroid lowering effects brought on by declining leptin levels–through weight loss and dieting–could actually be reversed by administration of “replacement” doses of leptin. But before you go asking your family doctor for an injection of leptin, let me explain how you can naturally stimulate its production.
Don’t be deceived by the “fad diet promise” of losing tons of weight in minimal time. As mentioned, severe caloric deprivation will send leptin plummeting. Instead, teach yourself to eat smaller meals 5 – 6 times a day (two high-alpha whey protein shakes and three small well balanced meals) and whatever you do, don’t skip meals–this tactic leads to lower levels of leptin and negative changes in your thyroid hormones and the dreaded Why can’t I lose anymore weight syndrome!
Another little trick is to supplement with the mineral zinc. Zinc has been shown in studies to raise leptin levels. In fact, a study published in the journal Life Science showed that zinc was able to increase leptin production by a whopping 142%.
Take a good Multi-Vitamin like the Ultimate Multi – Repair – Replace – Replenish!
So remember…
n Consume lean protein, fibrous carbs and essential fats with every meal
n Eat smaller meals 5 – 6 times a day (2 as liquid shakes)
n Never skip meals
- Add some weight-bearing exercises 2-4 times weekly
Top 10 Problems of Aging Men
January 30, 2009 by Brad
Filed under Men's Health
Developed by researchers at the St. Louis University School of Medicine, the ADAM [Androgen Deficiency in the Aging Male] Questionnaire lists a series of 10 symptoms that are highly predictive of low testosterone levels. A combination of any four of these symptoms should be followed up by a medical visit and a testosterone test.
- Decrease in sex drive
- Lack of energy
- Decrease in strength and/or endurance or both
- Lost height
- Decreased ‘enjoyment of life’
- Sadness or grumpiness or both
- Less erectile strength
- Deterioration in athleticism
- Sleepiness after dinner
- Decreased work performance
If you or a friend suffer from more than of these than you want, chck with a qualified Health Professional check out Ultimate Libido and Ultimate Male Energy
Testosterone – For Women?
January 30, 2009 by Brad
Filed under Women's Health
Not just a man’s hormone
It is well accepted that most women after menopause experience a less than adequate sex drive. This low libido status can often be due to lowered testosterone levels–especially free testosterone (the most biologically active testosterone). This is why many doctors now prescribe testosterone treatment–along with other hormones (hormone replacement therapy or HRT, preferably as bio-identical hormones)–for women suffering from low libido, with great success. Swedish researchers recently published a study showing that testosterone gel given to postmenopausal women with low libido had positive effects on several aspects of sexual life such as frequency of sexual activity, orgasm, arousal, fantasies and sexual interest
Prostate Health – The Hormone Connection
January 30, 2009 by Brad
Filed under Men's Health
Most men don’t even realize they have a prostate let alone what it does–that is, until it starts acting up. This walnut-sized gland consists of two lobes, enclosed in a layer of tissue and is located just below the bladder in front of the rectum. Encircling the urethra (the tube through which urine leaves the body) the prostate is part of the male reproductive system. One of the main roles of the prostate is to squeeze fluid into the urethra as sperm travels through it during ejaculation. This liquid helps to energize sperm and de-acidify the vaginal canal (and you thought you only had to go through Sex Ed. once in your lifetime!)
Unfortunately, as men age, a condition called benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) starts to develop, causing the prostate gland to enlarge, ultimately disturbing the flow of urine and greatly contributing to erectile dysfunction (ED). In fact, half of all men who suffer from prostate disease also suffer from ED, which makes perfect sense once you understand that the prostate is an integral part of a mans sexuality and proper ejaculation is dependant upon the health of the gland.
BPH affects more than 50 percent of men past the age of 50, yet many men start to notice the negative effects of BPH as early as age 40. As a result of BPH, the bladder becomes irritated and sometimes inflamed – inflammation of the prostate is often referred to as prostatitis. This causes the bladder to contract when it contains only a small amount of urine, leading to more trips to the bathroom. If urine remains in the bladder, urinary tract infections can occur. Long-term consequences include bladder stones or bladder damage, kidney disease, and incontinence.
BPH–the cancer connection
In 2005, more than 200,000 new cases of prostate cancer were detected in the United States alone, leading to 30,000 deaths. The problem is that the majority of earlier prostate disorders eventually become full blown prostate cancer, even though Urologists are still unclear as to why this is. Having said this, numerous studies indicate that the accumulation of body fat–especially in the abdominal region–seems to be a determining factor when it comes to prostate cancer risk.
The hormone link
Although men produce both the male hormone testosterone and the female hormone estrogen throughout their lives, aging men notice decreases in levels of active (or free) testosterone, which often leads to higher levels of estrogen. Imbalances of estrogen can increase the activity of substances that promote cell growth (i.e. cancer). Other research indicates that even though testosterone levels fall with age, older men continue to produce dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a substance metabolized from testosterone in the prostate, which may be a factor in its growth. It seems that men who don’t produce DHT do not experience prostate enlargement.
Prostate protective nutrients
Before we explore some of the most research proven prostate protective nutrients available today, let’s first look at some of the foods that aggravate the prostate. Research presented in the International Journal of Cancer, suggests that a menu including primarily refined grain products, processed meats, red meat and organ meats contributes to increased prostate cancer risk. Other research supports this conclusion, suggesting that some saturated fats and starches are directly associated with prostate cancer risk, while essential fatty acids (especially omega: 3 fatty acids like flaxseed oil and cold water fish oil) are prostate-protective.
Research published in the journal Carcinogenesis, shows that omega-6 fatty acids–found in commercial cooking oils and bakery items–enhance inflammatory messengers within the prostate. Inflammation is a well accepted risk factor when it comes to prostate cancer, as inflammation actually fuels prostate growth.
Now the good news
Substantial research shows that regular consumption of bright red fruits and vegetables can greatly protect prostate health. Watermelons, papayas, pink grapefruits, guava and especially tomatoes are excellent sources of the antioxidant lycopene–the main carotenoid responsible for prostate health and prostate cancer protection (in men, the majority of lycopene is concentrated within the prostate).
Studies have uncovered several nutrients that can effectively neutralize the formation of DHT within the prostate gland, thereby helping to maintain normal healthy prostate function. The most powerful and efficacious of these DHT blocking agents include properly standardized extracts (and dosages) of: phytosterols–especially beta-sitosterol, flower pollen extract, stinging nettle, , pygeum africanum, saw palmetto and zinc.
Many of us may be facing an inadequate vitamin D status due to the fact that we are constantly warned against sun exposure. Aside from exposing your skin to the sun regularly (this in no way condones tanning!), vitamin D supplementation may be a wise choice, as it has been shown in numerous studies to inhibit the proliferation, invasiveness, and metastasis of human prostatic cancer cells.
Don’t forget exercise
Researchers from the Harvard School of Public health have determined that regular vigorous activity could slow the progression of prostate cancer. And Australian researchers found that moderate physical activity actually reduces the risk of developing prostate cancer. When it comes to the healthy metabolism of prostate cells, exercise, proper diet and supplementation is no longer an option.
Ultimate Prostate is one of the most complete and powerful natural prostate-health supporting formulas available in the health industry today. The formula combines 12 of the most scientifically validated vegetable compounds, herbs, spices, flower extracts and minerals (Broccoli extract, Indole 3 carbinol, Stinging Nettle root extract, Pygeum extract, Flower pollen extract, Phytosterols, Natural Lycopene, Zinc, Selenium, Vitamin D3, Rosemary and Bioperine®) in synergistic ratios for maximum effectiveness
Cancer – Many diseases, one cause?
January 30, 2009 by Brad
Filed under Anti-Aging
Everybody knows that smoking is a major cause of cancer. Yet, according to research published in the British Journal of Public Health, obese adults have more chronic health problems than their smoking counterparts, some of which greatly increase their risk of cancer.
Many diseases, one cause?
The fact remains that more than thirty known diseases are now believed to be directly linked to excess body fat, including heart disease, diabetes, periodontal disease, inflammation3, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, infertility, and many cancers (including gastrointestinal, colon, kidney, esophagus, prostate, breast and endometrial, among others).
Over the last several years, more and more scientists have come to accept that there is an ever growing link between obesity and cancer. According to Dr. Graham Colditz, epidemiology professor at Harvard School of Public Health, “Given the trends in obesity and the increasing evidence of a broad range of cancers caused by excess energy balance, the projected burden of cancer over the coming years is worrisome.”
Cancer, obesity and insulin
One of the primary centers of concern when it comes to the accumulation of body fat is its association to high insulin levels, a condition often referred to as hyperinsulinemia. Aside from discovering that high insulin levels increased the incidence of obesity in prepubescent girls, researchers from Columbia University also found that hyperinsulinemia precedes the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes by 5-20 years.
So what does this have to do with cancer?
Well aside from the apparent connection between high insulin levels and obesity, it turns out that numerous cancers may also be linked with high levels of insulin.
Israeli researchers have discovered that patients suffering from colon, stomach and breast cancer had up to three times as much insulin, or insulin-like substances in their tumors. Hyperinsulinemia is often associated with insulin resistance, the condition where body cells resist or do not respond to even high levels of insulin. Turkish researchers have discovered a possible means in which obesity and insulin create an enhanced risk for breast cancer. The researchers indicated that in overweight and obese patients, both inflammatory messengers (possibly coming from fat cells) and high insulin levels, work synergistically to contribute to the development of breast cancer.
It is no wonder why cancer is at epidemic proportions when you consider that most people consume an abundance of overly processed high-glycemic foods that over stimulate insulin and in the process place our metabolisms into fat storage mode. When insulin levels are always elevated it is almost impossible for the body to dip into its fat reserves for energy–instead opting to store, store and store some more!
The main reason for this is because high insulin levels stimulate an enzyme called lipoprotein lipase (LPL), which greatly affects the way fat is stored in the body. Obesity researchers sometimes call LPL the gatekeeper of fat storage due to its powerful ability to enhance fat cell expansion.
Research presented in the journal Medical Hypothesis shows that low-glycemic, vegetables, along with a high fibre and high protein diet lower LPL activity. It would thereby stand to reason that if you reduce insulin through diet (not dieting), you can ultimately control the rate of fat storage, which would theoretically decrease your risk of obesity and cancer.
Get the sugar under control and you’re on your way to Good Health!
The Keys to Aging Gracefully – Look good and feel great!
January 30, 2009 by Brad
Filed under Anti-Aging, Featured
As we get older, we tend to notice a loss of; lean muscle, strength, bone mass and our once vital energy potential, all the while experiencing body fat increases, wrinkling of the skin, various mood changes and a declining immunity—oh joy! New scientific research is shedding light on why we age, and how we may be able to slow the process.
Protect your DNA
There are numerous theories explaining the aging process, however, most of these theories eventually come to the same conclusion – aging is a process of accumulated damage to our genetic blueprint – our DNA. If the DNA in one of your cells was to unwind to its fullest potential, it would stretch over one meter in length, which is why it tightly fits into compact units or – DNA packages – called chromosomes.
Over the last few years, longevity researchers have focused their attention to the caps on the ends of these chromosomes – called telomeres. Every time our cells divide, the telomere gets a little shorter until cellular division comes to a halt. Once a cell has run its full potential of cellular divisions, it is referred to as a senescent cell (an old cell).
Since aging is a process of the body becoming unable to repair accumulated damage, longevity researchers believe that cellular senescence may be one of the key causes of aging, with telomere damage leading the way. Research presented in a 2001 edition of the Journal of the American Geriatric Society indicated that telomere shortening is directly associated with accumulated DNA damage and cellular aging.
According to one of the pioneers of cellular senescence research, Dr. Judith Campisi, from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California, senescent cells don’t die once they stop dividing, but instead hang around emitting harmful proteins to neighboring cells, eventually leading to cellular malfunction. Research presented in the Journal of Experimental Gerontology in 2001 showed that cells with dysfunctional telomeres could contribute to cancer and aging, as telomeres are essential for maintaining the integrity and stability of our genes.
It is widely known that as we age, we often become more insulin resistant. Researchers have always known that insulin resistance and accumulated body fat can predispose people to cardiovascular disease and a shorter lifespan. The mechanisms behind this have not been as easily understood—perhaps until now. Research published in the journal Circulation, showed that increased insulin resistance along with a higher body fat content results in greater telomere shortening over time. This study is the first to show tangible evidence that insulin resistance and excess body fat leads to premature aging.3 Balanced blood sugar can lead to greater fat loss, more energy and a longer life.
Who say’s you can’t turn back the clock?
Aside from the fact we accumulate damage to our DNA, much of this DNA damage seems to occur in the biochemical power plants within our cells called mitochondria. Since mitochondria are responsible for turning food into energy, they are not only essential to life, but to our continual ability to produce energy. According to Dr. Tarnopolsky, director of the neuromuscular and neurometabolic clinic at McMaster University in Canada, “The reason we get weaker, thinner and have less endurance as we age is that there are fewer genes making mitochondria.”
Loss of muscle tissue and strength is a hallmark of the aging process itself, and one of the most important reasons to embark on a weight-resistance program—especially as we get older. Adequate protein intake is paramount to the success of any weight bearing program designed to maintain or increase lean muscle. A High Alpha Whey Protein may be used as 2 of the 5 suggested smaller meals that make up a well balanced eating plan.
According to a new study appearing in the journal Public Library of Science, 25 healthy seniors (average age 70) who exercised with light weights for only two-hours a week over a six month period of time, were able to improve their muscle strength by a whopping 50 per cent. The amazing part about this study is that the gene expression profile (genetic fingerprint) of the seniors ended up looking like those of a 20-30 year old by the end of the study.
A little help along the way
Aside from the usual healthy weight-loss advise: follow a sensible low-glycemic diet, exercise, get plenty of sleep, etc., supplementation with a natural compound called carnosine (beta-alanyl-L-histidine) has shown promise when it comes to the health of your genes and their telomeres.
Research in 2004 from the Chinese Academy of Sciences showed that when carnosine was added to a human cell culture, the cells showed much slower telomere shortening and a greatly extended lifespan.6 Other research indicates that carnosine may be one of the greatest longevity nutrients ever discovered. Daily suggested dosages for carnosine: 50-250mg/day (the one-a-day natural antioxidant, Ultimate Longevity with Carnosine contains 125 mg per capsule).
Start Your Anti-Aging program today!
Low-calorie diets – detrimental to long-term fat loss?
Protein is the primary building block for muscle. While carbohydrates and fat can provide the energy necessary to create muscle, only dietary protein supplies the body with the actual building materials, in the form of 22 amino acids. To build muscle, therefore, you must consume high-quality protein at regular intervals throughout the day.
And muscle is a primary agent of fat loss. Muscle tissue is the body’s key metabolic engine, and is responsible to a large extent for regulating metabolic rate. In other words, the more muscle you have, the higher your metabolism, and the greater your ability to burn calories, even at rest.
An extreme example illustrates muscle’s calorie-burning role in the body. We all have certain images from television or the newspapers burned into our minds: those of starving people from famine-stricken countries. These severely malnourished people look nearly skeletal. But they don’t look this way because of a loss of body fat. Rather, their appearance is the result of a severe depletion of muscle. The last thing a body without a constant food source needs is the enhanced ability to burn calories that muscle provides. During times of famine, therefore, the body devises ways to conserve every calorie it can, and one calorie-conservation method is to break down muscle and use it for energy – literally eating it away. In fact, a starving body will often choose to break down muscle for energy before it will raid its fat stores.
In North America, thankfully, most of us have not experienced famine. Our problem is the opposite one – with a constant supply of food, much of it in the form of high-glycemic carbohydrates, obesity has become a serious health problem (not just in the industrialized world, but also in developing countries), one so vast that the World Health Organization has identified it as a serious threat. Ironically, over-fat people often try to lose weight by depriving themselves of calories, on so-called “starvation diets” that mimic famine by subjecting the body to extremely little food in order to lose weight. Instead of losing fat, however, extreme dieters lose muscle – and therefore one of their key allies in fat loss. While they may lose weight in the short term, they don’t lose fat. Extremely low-calorie diets, therefore, are incredibly detrimental to long-term fat loss.
If you’re fortunate enough to live in a land of plenty, where you have access to a constant supply of nutritious food, then consuming adequate amounts of high-quality protein is one of the best things you can do for your health. It’s also one of your best strategies for long-term fat loss
Estrogen mimickers – The feminine side of Life
January 30, 2009 by Brad
Filed under Featured, Women's Health
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Aside from insulin, estrogen mimickers–also referred to as xenoestrogens–may also play a large roll (no pun intended) in how much fat you carry and how high your risk for hormonally related cancers are. Xenoestrogens come from a large group (tens of thousands) of foreign compounds derived from synthetic materials like pesticides, plastics, body creams, detergents, food supplies and our environment.
Xenoestrogens have the ability to disrupt our natural hormonal systems, creating hormonal havoc which can possibly lead to conditions that affect both men (andropause–male menopause, weight gain–especially in the abdominal area–and increased prostate cancer risk), and women (uterine fibroids, uterine cancer, ovarian cysts, perimenopause, PMS, menopause, weight gain–especially in the abdominal area–and increased breast cancer risk). The problem is that the majority of these xenoestrogens are fat soluble, which means they have a greater potential of becoming lodged within our fat cells, and once there, they are very difficult to get rid of.
When it comes to your metabolism, xenoestrogens are known to cause a disruption in the way your body metabolizes important biochemicals that deal with stress, moods, cravings and sleep. Research presented in the American Journal of Physiology indicates that xenoestrogens have the potential to create an enhanced environment for our bodies to store fat all the while making it extremely difficult to lose it.
An Inconvenient Truth – the solution is your internal environment
The good news is, through diet, exercise, and proven nutrient supplementation, both women and men can alter the way natural estrogens, xenoestrogens and their co-activators react with the various cells of the body, ultimately decreasing
their cancer risk and fat storing ability. In other words, with the right nutrients you can actually turn the right switches on and keep the wrong ones off!
Cruciferous extracts have been documented to help reduce the risk of various cancers, including breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men. One interesting fact is that cruciferous vegetable intake in China is more than three times that of North America, which may account for China’s extremely low rate of breast and prostate cancers.
The most important of these research-proven cancer-fighting nutrients can be found in cruciferous extracts of broccoli sprouts, sulforaphane and Indole-3-carbinol (I3C). I3C however seems to be the most powerful of the three, as it has the ability to create beneficial estrogens in the body, all the while blocking the undesirable estrogenic messages to the body.
A solution to the external and internal pollution
Following are a few proven ways in which you can take maximum potential of your natural fat burning ability and in the process greatly reduce your risk of disease–especially cancer. Here are a few tips to help:
- Avoid high glycemic foods–especially processed grains (white flour)
- Supplement with (high alpha) whey protein isolates once or twice a day – Ultimate High Alpha Protein or ISO Energy Protein )
- Supplement with natural–preferably organic fibre formulas – FibreLean approximately 15 minutes prior to each meal
- Supplement with cruciferous vegetable extracts that contain I3C, broccoli sprouts and sulforaphane (all of which can be found in gender specific formulas – Her Energy and Male Energy
- Get adequate sleep as researchers have found a link between insufficient sleep, hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance
- Take a long walk after dinner as this will help to clear excess sugars from your bloodstream
