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Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Supplement Safety Myths & Facts

MYTH: If it's natural, it must be good for you.

FACT: While research has shown many natural treatments to be safe and effective, they should be taken with consideration.

While many vitamins, minerals, and herbs are known to safely prevent or treat a variety of diseases, they work by altering your body chemistry—just like a medicine from your pharmacy. So before you take an herb or supplement, find out how it might interact with medications you are already taking. Sometimes an interaction can mean that a medicine is depleting vital nutrients from your body, and that an extra vitamin supplement is best for your health—but it's always a good idea to check. It’s also important to never discontinue or change dosage of a medication in favor of a natural treatment unless supervised by a doctor.
MYTH: Everything I need to know about a supplement I can read on the bottle.

FACT: Government regulations restrict manufacturers from making specific health claims—even those based on results of scientific studies.
To find out about the potential benefits and risks of taking a supplement start by doing a little research. It’s always wise to talk to a knowledgeable healthcare professional before taking any supplement, especially if you are taking medications. Also, special safety considerations apply to pregnant or breast-feeding women and to children.

To learn what scientific research has found about your medication’s interactions with herbs or supplements, look in Healthnotes Rx Answers. For reported side effects of a specific herb or nutritional supplement, look it up in Vitamins & Herbs.

MYTH: The latest scientific research is the last word on a supplement’s safety or effectiveness.

FACT: The quality of the full body of research should be considered—not just the latest.

In scientific process, scientists never consider one single study to be the last word; rather, each new study is added to previous research and becomes part of the medical community’s “discussion.”
Keep in mind that when the news media report on new studies, they tend to look for the sensational. Though thousands of studies are published every year showing the benefits of herbs and supplements for a wide range of diseases, studies that make the news are frequently those that claim a supplement is dangerous or doesn’t work. On the other hand, some research is conducted by groups that stand to profit from positive results, such as a supplement manufacturer “proving” that their supplement works for a particular health condition.

The next time you see a headline splashed across the news—especially about those supplements that continue to be the subject of heated debate, such as St. John’s wort, echinacea, vitamin E, vitamin C, ginkgo, ephedra, and kava—keep some perspective by thinking about the following:

Who is doing the reporting? Is it a health column describing the study itself? A TV reporter relating second- or third-hand news from a press release or conference proceedings?

How strong is the evidence? (Some studies lead to convincing conclusions while others are preliminary.)

Are the results published in a scientific journal?

Did the researchers use a control group to compare treatment results with the experiences of people who didn't use it? (If not, improvement attributed to a treatment may be a placebo affect.)

Was the supplement given in a form and amount, and for a duration, that could be expected to be effective?

Was the study conducted by people who have no vested interest in the outcome?

Is there a body of research that suggests it may help with a particular health condition?

Caution: It is never advisable to discontinue or change dosage of a medication and/or begin a different treatment without a doctor's supervision.

MYTH: Medicines are always more effective than natural treatments.

FACT: Some natural treatments can be at least as effective as medicines; however, it's important to properly evaluate treatment options before deciding which to use.

When you are considering treatment options, discuss the following with your healthcare provider when considering what to try:

What are the risks of delaying known effective treatment in order to try an alternative remedy?

Is the body of research on a supplement’s effectiveness positive or inconclusive, and does it appear to be safe when taken in the proper amounts?

How strong is the evidence for the medical treatment, and what is the expected degree of improvement from taking it?

Are a supplement’s costs equivalent or less than those of the medicines used to treat the same condition?

How do the potential dangers of taking the supplement compare with the relative dangers of taking the over-the-counter or prescription medicine?

Asking such questions will help you interpret the significance of scientific findings. To find answers, talk to a knowledgeable professional, and use a science-based resource, such as Healthnotes, that provides an evaluation of up-to-date research.

Being informed is the best way to make good decisions for your health.


Learn more
Children & Supplement Safety
Why Take Vitamins?
Supplement Safety in Pregnancy
How Do I Pick the Right Vitamins?
Understanding Herbal Terminology

Jenefer Angell, MALS, MA, has edited fiction and nonfiction material for software, books, Web sites, and other publishing formats. As Healthnotes managing editor, she has come to understand the complexities of sorting out scientific evidence.

7 benefits of regular physical activity

Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity
Date updated: July 26, 2007

Content provided by MayoClinic.com

Want to feel better, have more energy and perhaps even live longer? Look no further than old-fashioned exercise.

The merits of exercise - from preventing chronic health conditions to boosting confidence and self-esteem - are hard to ignore. And the benefits are yours for the taking, regardless of age, sex or physical ability. Need more convincing? Check out seven specific ways exercise can improve your life.

1. Exercise improves your mood.
Need to blow off some steam after a stressful day? A workout at the gym or a brisk 30-minute walk can help you calm down.
Exercise stimulates various brain chemicals, which may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed than you were before you worked out. You'll also look better and feel better when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem. Exercise even reduces feelings of depression and anxiety.

2. Exercise combats chronic diseases.
Worried about heart disease? Hoping to prevent osteoporosis? Regular exercise might be the ticket.

Regular exercise can help you prevent - or manage - high blood pressure. Your cholesterol will benefit, too. Regular exercise boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol while decreasing low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad," cholesterol. This one-two punch keeps your blood flowing smoothly by lowering the buildup of plaques in your arteries.

And there's more. Regular exercise can help you prevent type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and certain types of cancer.

3. Exercise helps you manage your weight.
Want to drop those excess pounds? Trade some couch time for walking or other physical activities.

This one's a no-brainer. When you exercise, you burn calories. The more intensely you exercise, the more calories you burn - and the easier it is to keep your weight under control. You don't even need to set aside major chunks of time for working out. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk during your lunch break. Do jumping jacks during commercials. Better yet, turn off the TV and take a brisk walk. Dedicated workouts are great, but activity you accumulate throughout the day helps you burn calories, too.

4. Exercise strengthens your heart and lungs.
Winded by grocery shopping or household chores? Don't throw in the towel. Regular exercise can leave you breathing easier.
Exercise delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues. In fact, regular exercise helps your entire cardiovascular system - the circulation of blood through your heart and blood vessels - work more efficiently. Big deal? You bet! When your heart and lungs work more efficiently, you'll have more energy to do the things you enjoy.

5. Exercise promotes better sleep.
Struggling to fall asleep? Or stay asleep? It might help to boost your physical activity during the day.

A good night's sleep can improve your concentration, productivity and mood. And, you guessed it, exercise is sometimes the key to better sleep. Regular exercise can help you fall asleep faster and deepen your sleep. The timing is up to you - but if you're having trouble sleeping, you might want to try late afternoon workouts. The natural dip in body temperature five to six hours after you exercise might help you fall asleep.

6. Exercise can put the spark back into your sex life.
Are you too tired to have sex? Or feeling too out of shape to enjoy physical intimacy? Exercise to the rescue.

Regular exercise can leave you feeling energized and looking better, which may have a positive effect on your sex life. But there's more to it than that. Exercise improves your circulation, which can lead to more satisfying sex. And men who exercise regularly are less likely to have problems with erectile dysfunction than are men who don't exercise, especially as they get older.

7. Exercise can be - gasp - fun!
Wondering what to do on a Saturday afternoon? Looking for an activity that suits the entire family? Get physical!

Exercise doesn't have to be drudgery. Take a ballroom dancing class. Check out a local climbing wall or hiking trail. Push your kids on the swings or climb with them on the jungle gym. Plan a neighborhood kickball or touch football game. Find an activity you enjoy, and go for it. If you get bored, try something new. If you're moving, it counts!

Are you convinced? Good. Start reaping the benefits of physical activity today!

Health & Freedom '08 incentives

In January and February, entice prospects to attend Health & Freedom Presentations with a chance to win a trip for two to Orlando, Florida. Guests and their sponsoring Associates will win. Travel dates are Monday, April 21 to Sunday, April 27, 2008. Trip includes airfare for two to Orlando; two-day Walt Disney World Park Hopper passes; six-night hotel stay at the Peabody Orlando, a 4-Star, 4-Diamond hotel; and tickets to the Orlando Celebration.How to EnterEach guest will need to fill out a contest entry form. As a sponsoring Associate, you will need to download and complete your portion of the form for each guest prior to the presentation. The meeting host is responsible for sending entries to USANA. (Consider providing a box for collecting entries.) Because of the quick turnaround time, we suggest hosts either fax entries or mail through Priority Mail or FedEx. Please only use one method of sending contest entries.Mail: USANA Data ProcessingOrlando Trip DrawingAttn: Geri Cleveland90 LodestoneTooele UT 84074Fax: 1-800-289-8081 Two trips will be awarded each week. Weekly winners will be drawn and announced every Wednesday via e-mail. Non-winning entries will be carried over to the next week’s drawing. The sooner your entries are received, the better chances you and your guests will have of winning. Deadline for entries is noon (MST) on dates as follows:

January
01/15/08
01/22/08
01/29/08

February
02/05/08
02/12/08
02/19/08

Get full rules and more details on USANAtoday.

Webcast Presentations and Training

Success Connection
Webcast Presentations and Training

http://www.myeconference.org/

(Visit the link above to access ALL of the webcasts listed -- new webcasts starting in October)

Featured Webcasts for January 6 - 12:

Health & Freedom for Moms

Prior to finding USANA, Jamie Jachimiec earned a BFA graduate in theatre and has worked various "jobs" ranging from flight attending to church administration. After having her first child, she was determined to earn money from home and raise her children the "good ol' fashioned way" --meaning no day care. After two years of searching and extensive research (and then pregnant with their second child) Jamie and her husband, Joe, found USANA Health Sciences and have been growing in business, family, and health ever since! Join Jamie as she shares with you USANA's Health & Freedom from a mom's perspective.
Saturday, January 12 (9:00 - 10:00 am) *Health & Freedom Room

Health & Freedom

Bev Jambois, currently a Ruby Director in USANA, was a practicing attorney before she started her USANA business. Bev joined USANA when a neighbor asked her to take a look at the Product Information booklet. Bev made it clear she had no intention of doing USANA as a business but wanted to get a discount on the products and she was helping her neighbor out. However, after losing 4 dress sizes in 4 months by using USANA products Bev's friends and acquaintances wanted to know what Bev was doing and she started signing up customers and was getting enough income to cover her monthly product expenses. . Bev was able to quit the practice of law and became a foster parent. Bob was the longest serving District Attorney in Kenosha County, Wisconsin history before taking the position of Chief Legal Counsel for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Together they are Ruby Directors in USANA. Pam Dunwald has been an R.N. for over 24 years and is a Director with USANA Health Sciences.

Join them as they give a Health & Freedom Presentation.
Tuesday, January 8 (6:00 - 7:00 pm) *
Health & Freedom Room


Training
Gold Director, Annette Walbon, is passionate about training. She has created a team with a focus on retention, which has solidified her success in USANA. She is excited to help you train your new Associates about the basics of USANA. In this training, Annette covers your Partners and Resources, the Definition of a USANA Business, in addition to Successful Foundations, Your Beliefs and the "Entrepreneurial Mindset."
Monday, January 7 (6:00 - 7:00 pm) *

Education & Training Room

Webcasts Coming Soon!

Financial Advisors Perspective
Additional Chiropractor Presentations
Gen Y Health & Freedom
** Note: All webcast times are listed in Pacific Time Zone. **

Many webcasts are scheduled weekly. You can be confident about inviting, because you KNOW these presentations are there for you and your guests. These webcasts are available to all USANA Associates and their guests at no cost.

Watch for more Health & Freedom Presentations at convenient times for Pacific and Eastern Time Zones.

Weekly Events in the Health & Freedom Room:
Every Tuesday at 6pm- H/F Presentation, Rotating Speakers

Weekly Events in the Training Room:
Every Monday at 6pm- Getting Started Training, Annette Walbon (Starting in October these will be held every Monday)

Weekly Health & Freedom Presentations in Other Languages:
1st Wednesday of each month - Mandarin Chinese
3rd Friday of each month - Cantonese

Weekly Webcasts in the Special Events Room:
Please visit the calendar (link below) regarding webcasts in the Special Events room. There is a repeating cycle for each topic. For example, the fourth Wednesday of each month is for Chiropractors and the second Monday of each month is for Personal Trainers.

Click here for the complete calendar of events

RESET YOUR BODY - RESET YOUR FINANCES

RESET YOUR BODY - RESET YOUR FINANCES!

Hosted by 2-Star Diamond Directors, Bud and Bunny Barth

Featured Guest Speaker: Ladd McNamara, M.D.
Expert in Nutraceutical Supplementation & Anti-Aging Medicine,
Best-selling Author and International Speaker


Create Permanent Weight Loss Without the Cravings!!!
Have More Energy, Better Focus & Feel Great
Improve Your Health and the Health of Your Family
Learn how to Create a Lifetime Stream of Residual Income
You are in Business for Yourself, but not by Yourself
Low Start Up Cost, and High Income Potential in the Next Trillion Dollar Industry: The Health & Wellness Industry
Thursday, January 17, 2007 – 7:00-8:45 PM
*****NEW LOCATION!!!!!*****
Laguna Hills Community Center
25555 Alicia Parkway
Laguna Hills, California

For Information call
Nadine Lederfine - 562-972-2753 or
Kathleen Rockney - 714-968-5102
ASSOCIATES - $10 GUESTS ARE FREE

Health & Freedom '08

USANA will also be offering the presentation. There will be NO phone line available to dial into, so you will need to listen to the audio through your computer. There are three rooms set up for each Web conference on the East and West Coast. 2008 H&F Presentation Kick Off - East Coast (East of Texas) Time: 6:00 p.m. MST

Live Meeting Links:

Northeast
https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/usana500/join?

Central
https://www.livemeet%20ing.com/cc/usana500/join?

Southeast
https://www.livemeet%20ing.com/cc/usana500/join?

2008 H&F Presentation Kick Off -

West CoastTime: 8:00 p.m. MST

Live Meeting links:
Northwest https://www.livemee%20ting.com/cc/usana500/join?

Centralhttps://www.livemee%20ting.com/cc/usana500/join?

Southwest https://www.livemee%20ting.com/cc/usana500/join?

We look forward to having you join one of these incredible events.
Health & Freedom '08 is sure to be a smash hit!

Health & Freedom 08 Presentation THURSDAY NIGHT!

Health & Freedom 08 Presentation THURSDAY NIGHT!

We will be hosting a Health & Freedom 08 Presentation in El Paso this Thursday night for you and your guests in the El Paso / Las Cruces area.
Wingate Inn & Suites
6351 Gateway West (I-10 & Geronimo)
El Paso, TX
Thursday, January 10, 2008
7:30 pm (registration starts at 7pm)

If you are not in the El Paso area, you might be located near one of the large cities below where you can take advantage of the LIVE presentations via satellite... or you may have guests living in these cities. If you do, you'll want to get as many people as you can to these presentations! USANA is also offering these presentation via webcast for those of you who are not near a live presentation. See the links and other information below.

This is also perfect for your guests! Just send them the links so they can watch the presentation and followup with them afterwards! Let's get as many people as we can to these presentations and launch our businesses in 2008!

USANA could be broadcasting a live version of the new Health & Freedom Presentation near you. Check these listings for the locations where they will be appearing. Details will be announced as available.