Recently in Wellness Category
This is my favorite product out of the wellness preservative-free skincare line (containing no parabens, fragrance, animal products, harsh chemicals, or preservatives). I've blogged about this eyecream before and still love how well it works at reducing the puffiness and dark circles underneath my eyes. A few of my friends also use is as a firming cream for their neck and face. A little goes a long way and if you use it for your eyes alone, it should last for 2 - 3 months.
I went a little crazy and stocked up while in Japan (no shipping to pay!). If you'd like to purchase a jar, please contact me directly at healthluxe at gmail.com. Retail this product sells for $106.43 USD, but while I have a few on hand, you can purchase it at the Member price of $83.37 USD. Purchase more than one and I will include a bonus 4-piece travel set Free ($20 value).
Most preservative-free products require refrigeration or have a short shelf life, this line uses a special water formulated to prohibit bacteria growth without introducing harsh or possibly harmful chemicals. 60% or more of what we apply to our skin is absorbed into our bloodstream. I recommend this eyecream to everyone, especially to women who are expecting and have heightened sensitivity to what goes onto their skin and into their bodies.
Along with a daily serving of fresh fruit (fuji apples are his favorite) and vegetables, we add glyconutrients to our Fancy Green Cheek Conure, Lucky's, food. He is the healthiest, sweetest, and smartest pet I've ever had! (and I was never really a "bird person" until he came home with us) Please feel free to contact me if you would like to purchase glyconutrients.
Special Monthly Call
"All the things you wanted to know and understand about natural health care for pets but didn't know who to ask".
GLYCONUTRIENT VET EXPERT
Dr. Arthur Young, DVM
5PM PT / 8PM ET
865-362-4150 1027#
On this call Dr Young will be speaking about Glyconutrients and their role in dealing with the epidemic of immune mediated diseases in pets. To ask questions, please visit his web site at http://www.homeopathyanimals.com and click on the Ask the Dr. page.
With over 56 years of experience, Dr. Young has observed the price our pets have paid because of the effects of over-vaccinating and excessive use of steroids and antibiotics, in addition to the questionable quality of most processed, commercial pet foods.
Dr. Young will provide alternative solutions that are non-toxic, natural ways to treat animals—even animals who are seriously ill—including preventative steps that you can take to ensure your pets’ health and increase their quality of life.
This call will take place every first Thursday of the month.
For the past few months there have been numerous (but not new) reports on the benefits of drinking tea, especially the green kind! Naoki's family has a beautiful green tea farm in Mie, Japan and they are ready to ship 2007 spring leaves. The cut off date to order will be this Thursday, May 10.
This green tea tastes different and has a sweeter and fresher flavor than what is available in most stores here. It can be cold brewed as well as served hot. Please allow boiled water to cool for a few minutes before adding the delicate tea leaves to prevent burning, which can alter the taste. Hadaseicha's tea is dark green in color, has a bold taste and was carefully harvested by Naoki's parents. Orders are available only once a year and large orders can be stored in the freezer to preserve freshness. My mother likes to order the teabags in bulk and repackage them to give as gifts to her health-conscious clients.
Last Thursday I went in for my annual blood test to check TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) levels. Yesterday I received word from the doctor that my levels are normal. It's been nearly five years since I was diagnosed with Graves Disease (hyperthyroidism). Although it's now been three years of being symptom free and having my test results come back normal, I cannot help feeling a sense of relief.
Diet and managing stress is important, but most of all I owe my current health to taking glyconutrients, phytosterols and a good line of supplements. I think I'm one of thousands (possibly more) that feel a sincere sense of gratitude to this particular company for developing this technology and making it accessible to people like me .
I am thankful that I was not deterred by any of the negative things written by a few people who were not knowledgable in this field. Had I listened, I may not have been fortunate enough to have found my health again and would still be struggling with the side effects of the medications I was taking. I often wonder how many miss a chance at finding something that might help improve their quality of life after reading or listening to someone's opinion.
Did you know that there are a number of indoor plants that can help improve the air quality of your home?
NASA, along with the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) conducted a clean air study on plants that may provide a natural way of removing certain toxins such as benzene and formaldehyde that often come from a number of manufactured items we place in our homes and offices (carpets, mattresses, etc.). The study looked at ways these plants might be effective at neutralizing the effects of sick building syndrome (SBS).
SBS has a lengthy list of symptoms such as the following -
* Headache
* Eye, nose, or throat irritation
* Dry cough; dry or itchy skin
* Dizziness and nausea
* Difficulty in concentrating
* Fatigue
* Sensitivity to odours
* Increased incidence of asthma attacks/appearance of asthma in non-asthmatics
* Personality changes such as rage/weeping/paranoia/depression
* Putative cases of bronchitis or pneumonia which do not respond to antibiotic treatment
* Symptoms resembling Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
This is just a shortened list of the 50 symptoms usually associated with SBS. Indoor pollution does take a toll on our immune system and overall well-being. With the recent concern over the use of ionic air filters and the issue that they may cause ozone pollution, it may be worth it to invest in plants that will not only help clean the air but make your home beautiful.
If you have pets that like to nibble on greens, please make sure you purchase safe/non-toxic plants.
Sophie's beautiful mother recently ordered us a bazooka-load of these delicious organic, sundried dates from Oasis Garden Farms!
When I was younger, my friend's mother used to make the most amazing homemade chicken soup and used these types of dates to give it a touch of sweetness. The dates also flavor tea in the most remarkable way too. What's special about the dates we received is that they're organic, do not contain sulphur, and their huge size. Most of the ones sold in markets are small and have a tiny seed, whereas you can tell that these were allowed to grow to full size before harvesting.
Please contact me via email if you would be interested in ordering any of these dates. You can learn more about these special fruit (sometimes known as "jujube" Chinese, "daechu" Korean, or "natsume" Japanese) on Wikipedia!
This is an image of a mustard sprout (Brassica Juncea) which is the plant used to absorb and generate plant based minerals via a patented hydroponic system in this new real wholefood vitamin/mineral product.
In addition to glyconutrients, I regularly take a plant-based phytosterol, an antioxidant that ranks highest on the ORAC-O* test, and a multivitamin/mineral. For the past week, I've been taking a new multi that is 100% plant-based, including it's minerals. My energy levels have surprisingly gone up and it feels as though my eyesight has improved as well.
Most of the better quality supplements sold on the market currently chelate (coat/roll) their minerals in protein or other matter so the body will readily digest them. Occassionally though this is not enough and some of us that are sensitive may experience nausea or an upset stomach. During the digestive process many of the minerals we take in supplement form are flushed from our system once the body recognizes that they aren't in food form.
How the system of consuming vitamins and minerals is supposed to work -
Plants consume vitamins and minerals from the soil => Humans in turn consume the plant to get these essential nutrients. Of course this is a simplified explanation, but the fact is 97% of the multivitamin/mineral supplements sold are not fully assimilated in our bodies.
When we recently visited the supplement aisle at Wholefoods, the only wholefood supplements on the shelf were ones that incorporated spinach or another vegetable along with their chelated or non-chelated minerals.
You can click here to order this wholefood supplement or email me at jeanette337 at gmail dot com for more information.
* Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity
From a recent Preventions Magazine -
By Elizabeth Somer, RD
If you're a part of the 7% of women who never miss a meal or make unhealthy food choices, maybe you don't need supplements. For the rest of us, supplements are a great way to fill in what's missing from our diets and may even prevent against disease. But with all the pills and potions on the market, which ones do you really need? The following guide will spell out which nutrients we should be taking every day based on the latest safety and efficacy research, which forms are best absorbed, and optimal doses.
The ground rules - Unless otherwise noted, all the nutrients on this list should be taken in a daily multivitamin with a meal. A multivitamin saves you money compared with buying dozens of individual bottles, and the nutrients will work better as a team. Also, recommended amounts are for adult women, not men or children. (It is specified if doses are different for pregnant, breastfeeding, or menopausal women). Bring this guide with you when discussing supplements with your doctor or when shopping. Most important, please remember vitamins cannot replace a healthy diet, but they can help compensate for what's missing - and provide you with peace of mind as well.
On that note, I'd like to interject and state that a wholefood, natural food multivitamin can be taken without food and without worry of nausea and stomach upset. Oftentimes multivitamin/mineral supplements contain minerals which are essentially dirt chelated in either protein or another matter that will trick the body into digesting it as food. The issue is that most of it isn't properly absorbed. The best way to get these necessary nutrients into the system is to take a multi that is made from natural plant matter that the body recognizes as food and is able to assimilate.
There's something about the sound of laughter that's contagious, especially when it comes from a baby. Have you ever laughed so hard it hurt? The worst/best is when you can't stop laughing. I don't know how that affects health, but some of my favorite memories are of times like those. A few of my good friends have the best laughs, which are sometimes peppered with snorts as they try to catch their breath.
I love it when people laugh with abandon!
I've written about this skincare line before, but have only learned recently that it will launch shortly in the U.S. This is exciting news as I've only been able to have it delivered to one address in Japan and then reshipped to us here in the States. It couldn't have come at a better time either as I'm running low on that amazing eyecream!
Interested in trying a sample kit? They're $25 including shipping. That's how much I'm purchasing them for, so there's no added costs. You can email me at jeanette337 at gmail dot com for info and/or a sample kit! There's also a prelaunch business opportunity, which I can provide more info on as well if requested.
For current glyconutrient associates - My sincerest apologies, but I am unable to market/retail products to you according to our company's legal compliance department.
Last weekend on Saturday, October 21, the ANA (American Nutraceutical Association) held it's annual Nutraceuticals and Medicine Fall 2006 Conference in Memphis, Tennessee. The focus was on the role of nutraceuticals, diet and nutrition in disease prevention. This continuing education program provided CME credits for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists and other medical practitioners.
The cover of the program featured a DNA strand interlaced with fruits and vegetables, quite similar to a recent Newsweek cover that discussed the same topic.
Can what we eat/consume influence our genetic makeup and can we take a preventative approach to developing the diseases that are coded in our genes?
photo: Photographs By Kenji Toma For Newsweek
Good foods (from left): Edamame, turmeric, broccoli, green tea
Good nutrition and supplements make a positive difference in our health and for most of us, without our health often not much else matters. Mothers-to-be can really impact the future health and lives of their children by making sure their bodies are well nourished, rested, and avoiding substances and environments that can be harmful to both them and their growing fetus.
Steer clear of these - alcohol, smoke, sugar-free foods containing aspartame or saccharine (such as diet sodas, candy, gum, etc.), too much intake of high-glycemic foods (such as white rice, bread, and potatoes).
Instead consume plenty of these - organic produce (fruits and vegetables), brown rice (Nijiya Japanese Market carries the best tasting organic brown rice we've tried), sprouted wheat bread, and proteins purchased from trusted places such as Whole Food Market, Prather Ranch Meats, etc.
For several years, the medical community disputed that supplements were necessary. It wasn't until a recent publication from JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) stated otherwise. Vitamins/minerals, amino acids, phytonutrients, glyconutrients (saccharides), fatty acids, and phytogenins should be supplemented into everyone's diet.
From the American Heritage Dictionary -
sup·ple·ment (spl-mnt) n.
1. Something added to complete a thing, make up for a deficiency, or extend or strengthen the whole.
The old nutrition paradigm was of a one-way process: "bad" foods gave you heart disease or cancer unless "good" genes intervened to protect you. New research suggests a continual interaction, in which certain foods enhance the action of protective (or harmful) genes, while others tend to suppress them. This supports what we know from observation, that some individuals are better adapted than others to survive a morning commute past a dozen doughnut shops. Individuals have widely varying responses to high- or low-fat diets, wine, salt, even exercise. Overwhelmingly, though, researchers expect that conventional dietary wisdom will hold for most people. [from MSNBC / Newsweek]
* 100% Pure Organic Blackberry Honey from Oregon. - My dear friend introduced us to the best honey that makes everything you put it in tastes dreamy! That's not an exaggeration either. She is also able to get other wonderful natural bee products like propolis and royal jelly from the same beekeeper. Honey is currently on hand, so if you'd like to make a purchase let me know.
* All Natural Gelatin-free Gummy Bear Snacks - These contain a blend of freeze-dried fruits and veggies, along with other added essential nutrients. (No colors, fillers or preservatives) They are so tasty, I find them hard to resist eating by the handful.
* Natural and Super Fresh Tasting Japanese Green Tea - Brewed hot or cold, this is honestly the best green tea I've ever had. Most of the tea we buy at the supermarket has been sitting forever on the shelves or have been overprocessed. This tea is actually green and makes the perfect substitute to coffee in the morning. Does contain caffeine, but does not cause the jitters like coffee.
* Travel size Aloe Gel - Oftentimes most aloe products do not contain the active ingredients that fresh aloe does. This easy to carry gel is soothing to burns, cuts, and irritations. The healing ingredient of aloe has been stabilized in this product. Sunburns, papercuts, scrapes and bug bites are a few of the things we use this get on.
* Preservative/Paraben-Free Skincare - This line will launch in the U.S. in March of 2007; however, we are able to have our family ship it to us from Japan. It isn't anything like what is currently on the market and the results are remarkable! Did I mention I love the eye cream?
Please contact me directly via email at jeanette337 at gmail.com
One of the first and biggest changes I noticed after taking glyconutrients and phytosterols was that I slept better and woke up actually feeling refreshed. Before it would take a good hour of so, along with a shower and a cup of tea to be clear-headed enough to focus and work.
Most of us seem to be starved on sleep as much as we are on nutrition. Included in this entry are a few tips on developing good sleep habits and maintaining them.
Nothing beats the taste of a freshly picked strawberry or tomato grown in your garden, or in our case, balcony planter. I never believed it til actually trying it for the first time! Our local farmers market carries a fabulous assortment of tasty, organic produce, which I believe probably tastes even more amazing right after it's picked.
We purchased organic baby tomato seedlings and wild strawberries plants from Whole Foods in Campbell earlier this spring. It was the first time I'd ever grown something edible.
HealthLuxe is a site that I've been working on for a few weeks now. I'm hoping this site will introduce more people to Glyconutrients and help to promote businesses that we work with that use them either in their practice or establishments.
It's been challenging using Adobe GoLive and Xoops, but luckily Naoki is familiar with both and has been teaching me. I would like to share what I learned once I've completed both HealthLuxe.com and HealthLuxe.biz.
Beautiful white peaches from Kashiwase Farms (Organic, specializing in stone fruit, almonds, and Asian pears (yum!))
Today we headed to the Farmers Market at Santana Row. Thankfully the crowd was light, as I believe most people were swarming around downtown San Jose for the Grand Prix racing event. There were quite a few certified farmers there and a handful of organic vendors as well. We left with decent sized bags of delicious white peaches, white nectarines, shiney red plums, juicy strawberries, and one crisp, j-shaped Armenian cucumber - all organic of course!
Afterwards we made a quick stop over at the Great Mall in Milpitas for something to eat and to get a bit of exercise in. Window shopping at a mall that's the size of four football fields definitely counts as exercise.
This particular mall has a mix of really cool and some seriously junkie stores. I usually have a lot of fun visiting the accessory shops that sell all types of sparkley stuff. It's a bad case of "Magpie Syndrome", being attracted by things that glitter and catch the light. Maybe it was from being full or from shopping the day before at the Gilroy Outlets, but I couldn't find anything to purchase even though there were some excellent sales going on.
Last Friday, Naoki and I attended a two-day Health and Glyconutrition Conference in Sacramento. We met and spoke with people that have been taking glyconutrients to help their bodies heal from esophogal cancer, Muscular Dystrophy, severe allergies, renal cell cancer, CFS, Fibromyalgia, migraines, and arthritis, just to name a few.
A recent report stated that people who were currently taking prescription meds did not take additional steps to better their health, such as losing weight, exercising and improving their daily diet. On the other side, people who took supplements did take the time to shop for organically grown produce, at minimum walked daily and avoided poor lifestyle choices (smoking, fast food, etc.).
It's amazing how many drug commercials are on television these days. It's seems for every disorder you think you may or may not have, there's a prescription for it. I don't remember there being that many ads 20 years ago, but then I don't remember there being that many cases of cancer, diabetes, asthma, and other illnesses then either.
Do parabens (preservatives) in skincare and cosmetics cause cancer? I'm not sure, but there have been a number of studies to show they do. Of course, there are still skeptics and a handful of people that say they don't and that the small amounts in their products aren't significant enough to cause any longterm damage. Others, including myself, wonder about the accumulative effects over time with multiple products. Parabens are in almost everything, even products that are touted as safe and natural. For those with a history of cancer in their family, I think extra care and consideration should be given to what we put in and on our bodies.
When our company recently launched a new paraben-free skincare line that uses a new technology utilizing bacteriostatic water to prevent bacteria growth, I thought it might be a good idea to do a little research. Aside from finding information online, what better way to learn about a new product than to use it?
There are seven (7) products total in this interesting assortment of skincare.
1. Cleansing oil
The idea of rubbing oil of any kind on my face to remove makeup seems foreign (and it is!). Many Japanese and Korean cosmetics have a cleansing oil in their line to gentle take off makeup. The texture is very light and not at all like olive oil or even baby oil. It does a fine job of lifting embedded dirt, foundation and eyeliner.
2. Cleansing cream
Included in our pack was a "foaming net" made from corn husk. It's a light and airy little net that does an amazing job of creating well, foam. It made the most luxurious lather which I couldn't seem to do with water and my hands alone. The cream contained fine particles of a special stone that does an excellent job of exfoliating and evening the skintone.
3. Skin lotion
When I think of "lotion", I think of a cream-based liquid, but this is a clear and very light moisturizing toner without any alcohol. It's cooling and moisturizes well without any heavy feeling.
4. Skin serum
Oh this contains vitamin C and a few other key ingredients meant to help with dark spots and improve dull looking, saggy skin. It's supposed to restore elasticity from within. (We'll see...)
5. Skin cream
This is the other product I really liked! It goes on light, but gives that extra moisture without feeling oily or heavy. It comes with a handy little spatula to pull out the perfect amount. I'll use this day and night.
6. Eye cream
I LOVE this stuff!! It's far better than anything else I've tried and really does live up to the hype. It's only been a few days and I've noticed significant different in a reduction of puffiness and definitely lightening of the dark circles.
7. Aftershave milk (for men or women to use as body lotion)
Haven't done this just yet, so stay tuned...
These products were developed and are currently only available in Japan. We are importing these products into the states until they're launched in the U.S., which is around a year or so from now. If you are interested in ordering them, please let me know. We can usually have them delivered directly to you via air shipping.
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