In this Issue:
Greetings
[[firstname]],
The Sniff on Our New & Improved Sam's
Plus D
For those asking why our Sam's Plus D smells stronger than
usual, this kat has the scoop.
We updated our Sam's Plus D formula with selenomethionine, which offers
higher bioavailability than other selenium
forms.
Alas, no good deed goes unpunished! The new form of selenium is, let's
say, a tad more pungent than the old form. Okay, some think it stinks a
little. The price of good nutrition, fair members! ^..^
To order new and improved Sam's Plus D, visit our
product page.
Panax Ginseng --
Adaptogen Extraordinaire - In Stock!
Ginseng. Did you know that it's the best known and most used
herb in the world?
Did you know ginseng is also the world’s most
lucrative legal cash crop?!
Used in Asia for more than 5,000 years to stimulate health and vigor, ginseng
has at times been considered even more valuable than gold.
Why all the fuss over this "human shaped" root? Perhaps because it supports
everything from energy to immune health -- and much more!
“Panax” comes from the Greek word, panacea, meaning, “cure all." The main active ingredients in ginseng root are ginsenosides, but it
also contains other active constituents including flavonoids, polysaccharides,
and polyacetylenes (which possess antimicrobial properties).
To date there are at least eight unique ginsenocides in Korean Red Ginseng (the Panax
version)
that cannot be found in any other ginseng in the world.
Ginseng Supports Energy, Circulation, and Cardiovascular Health
Ginseng is considered an “adaptogen,” which means it helps the body to
regulate itself in a variety of ways, including coping with
stress.
An adaptogen is a substance that can have different effects on different
people, depending on each body's need for recovering to homeostasis.
For example, if a person has low blood sugar, an adaptogen can act to raise
blood sugar toward normal levels. A person with high blood sugar, taking
the same substance, can see a decrease in blood sugar toward normal
levels.
Ginseng can also have adaptogenic effects on the central nervous system too.
Other common “adaptogens” include reishi mushrooms, eleuthero (Siberian ginseng),
licorice, and goldenroot.
One study showing ginseng's adaptogenic effects involved diabetic
mice. Results showed normalized blood sugar levels, improved insulin
secretion and insulin sensitivity, and lowered cholesterol levels -- by a
whopping 30%!
The mice also lost more than 10% of their body weight, ate 15% less,
and were 35% more active than untreated mice. Methinks our fat kat members
are interested now! ^..^
Ginseng supports both the cardiovascular and central nervous systems,
and has a positive effect on blood flow to the brain and certain
neurotransmitters.
If that weren’t enough, clinical studies show ginseng to improve libido.
Methinks more members are paying attention now.
That’s right -- a double blind trial found that Panax ginseng improved sperm
count and sperm motility, and improved erectile function.
And just when you thought the news couldn't get any better...there's more.
Ginseng Supports Immune Health Too!
Panax ginseng can also support coping with fatigue and stress by supporting
the functions of the adrenal glands, thymus, and spleen -- a.k.a. your immune
system.
Studies in Italy show enhanced cell mobility and an improvement in cellular
ability to remove bacteria and pathogens from the body.
Furthermore, supplemental ginseng correlated with an increase in total lymphocyte count
and increased numbers of T helper cells (a type of white blood cell important to the
immune system).
If you’re planning on a flu shot this year, know that daily supplements of
Panax ginseng have shown to enhance the efficacy of flu
vaccines, lower the incidence of flu and colds, raise antibody counts, and
raise natural killer cell activity levels.
And, yes, there's more. In another study, patients with acute chronic bronchitis
were treated with
antibiotics or antibiotics plus ginseng. Those in the ginseng group showed
faster bacterial clearance.
This herb is starting to have superhero status, eh? No wonder Dr.
Rodier is so big on recommending ginseng, Panax ginseng to be specific.
Whether you've been patiently awaiting ginseng's arrival, or
you're brand new to this ancient Asian adaptogen, buy your first bottle of
fully-tested Panax Ginseng today ((7% Ginsenosides) 200mg, 90 Veg Caps at only $8.19)!
Panax Ginseng
Broken Heart
Syndrome: Truly Deadly Effects of Stress
This kat heard a very sad story this week. It turns out you really can suffer
from a broken heart.
Tess, our Marketing Director, has a friend, "Bonnie," who actually
suffered from Broken Heart Syndrome.
Broken hearts have
been referenced in great literature and broken romances for centuries, but the
physiological syndrome has only begun to be understood.
Bonnie recently graduated from college, and while deciding her path, her
step-mother presented her with an offer she had a tough time refusing. The
dilemma was whether to take an exciting job traveling the world and leave her
boyfriend or stay with him and forgo the career opportunity.
Shockingly, the stress of the decision caused a rare but very real cardiac episode
now known as "Broken Heart Syndrome," which can present very similarly
to a heart attack on the surface, with chest pain, shortness of breath, etc.
The catch is, unlike a heart attack, EKGs and angiograms read no blockages.
And most likely, the patient has no previous heart trouble.
So, what's powerful enough to simulate cardiac arrest?
Extremely stressful events can cause a surge in adrenaline and other stress
chemicals powerful enough to literally stun the heart, producing heart attack-like
symptoms.
This condition strikes primarily women, and while more common in
post-menopausal women, it can affect twentysomethings, too.
Thankfully, for most broken heart cases, heart function returns to normal in
as little as three weeks, and heart muscle damage is only temporary.
Unfortunately, in Bonnie's case, being unconscious and without oxygen for 17
minutes left her with significant brain damage, the extent of which has yet to
be realized. Tragic and very sad, indeed.
Help Your Heart Out: Increase Your Coping Skills
While Broken Heart Syndrome is extreme, the effects of stress are
serious business for everyone.
Fast fact: The body's stress response triggers somewhere in the
neighborhood of 1500 biochemical reactions!
While stress can be a useful response, chronic stress can have disastrous
effects. Stress has been directly associated with arthritis, thyroid dysfunction,
hypertension, compromised immunity, gastrointestinal disorders, and much more.
So, here are a few tips on self-care:
-
Nutrition --
Stress and nutrition often have a reciprocal relationship, meaning being
stressed often leads to poor nutritional choices, and poor nutritional
choices often lead to stress. Cortisol, in particular, can lead to cravings
for high fat and sugar foods.
Take care of your body with whole grains, fruits, and veggies; don't go
without meals; and stay away from too much coffee, which can strip you of
essential B vitamins and amp up your adrenal glands.
-
Exercise -- Exercise can do
wonders for a stressed system by increasing feel-good endorphins. Exercise
also helps relieve pent-up tensions and gives mental activity a rest.
Lastly, exercise can improve cardiovascular, circulatory, and general
health. So, as Teri often says to members, "Get off the couch and take a
walk!" ^..^
-
Relaxation -- In a world of
wireless everywhere, few humans actually "unplug" these days. Relaxation
means unstructured downtime, so your heart rate, breathing, and blood
pressure can slow down naturally. For some, it's massage. For others, it's
gardening or reading a book. Whatever it is for you, make time to relax.
Several supplements can also support your body's resilience when confronted
with stress:
-
Panax Ginseng
-- Ginseng's adaptogenic effects may increase the body's resilience by
acting to stabilize nervous system activity, energy, etc.
-
B-Vitamins -- B vitamins act directly
on important neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine.
B vitamins may also help balance and metabolize certain neuro-toxins linked
with anxiety and poor moods.
-
Magnesium -- Stress increases the
body's need for magnesium. Low magnesium levels during a stress response can
increase the risk of cardiovascular damage.
-
Fish Oil -- Fish oil acts through the
central nervous system to inhibit adrenal activation spurred by mental
stress. Fish oil may also reduce levels of stress hormone, cortisol, which
increases heart rate and blood pressure.
Health in the News
-
Have scientists figured out the appendix?
Some scientists think they have figured out the real job of the troublesome
and seemingly useless appendix: It produces and protects good germs for your
gut.
-
Are grandmothers an evolutionary necessity?
The contributions of older women to society have long been debated by
anthropologists. Women live into their 80s and beyond — a fact that may be
explained, in part, by evolutionary forces.
-
High blood levels of C-reactive protein,
a substance linked to inflammation, appear to be associated with an
increased risk for age-related macular degeneration, according to a report
in the October issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.
'Til next time, fair members!
Still purringly yours,
Guido
Guido Housemouser
Chief Kat and Community Manager
Our Health Co-op
4188 Westroads Drive, Unit 123
Riviera Beach, FL 33407
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