Category: General Wellness

“The heart of human excellence often begins to beat when you discover a pursuit that absorbs you, frees you, challenges you or gives a sense of meaning, joy and happiness.” — Terry Orlick

Human emotional and spiritual fulfillment is designed in our hearts by our Creator to be found in the fidelity to a worthy purpose using our gifts, talents and resources. Yet at times, we behave as if we believe happiness and self –fulfillment is attained through self-gratification, only to discover its lack of fulfillment.

True happiness and fulfillment in your life are closer today than ever before. A quote I recently came upon puts finding purpose in life very simply; “The purpose of life is a life of purpose. A life of purpose is to contribute in some way in making our world better.”

Each of you has gifts, talents, resources and passions to make our world better. Take some time to reflect on how you can use yours for a better world. It is there that you will find happiness, self-fulfillment and well-being.

Aligning with our purpose in life is the optimal way of living. To determine if your actions align with your purpose, complete this ‘Purpose in Life’ test developed by Dr. Brian Burke. Take the quiz and see if you score above 50, indicating you are moving towards your purpose in life.

When Longevity Meets Vitality

Everyone wants to live a long and happy life, but what is another year without purpose, wellness and quality? Dr. Lorri Sullivan, Member since 2017, has long been living with purpose and wellness however her quality of life was less than optimal until she discovered MyoHealth. Lorri first heard about MyoHealth through a television program. “I’m a retired medical professional and I’m very selective about which products I use. I first learned of MyoHealth through an interview with Dr. Robert Wolfe. I was very impressed with his credentials, background in research and his lifelong commitment to health at any age especially for those recovering from trauma; as well as maintaining optimal quality of life throughout one’s senior years.” “I was so impressed with his background and the show that I was immediately prompted to try the product. When I received MyoHealth, I started taking it right away and took double the serving for the first thirty days because I was recovering from a total left hip replacement. Within the first four weeks, I started noticing a difference in my stamina. In the last six months, my friends and neighbors have been totally impressed with the difference they’ve observed in me. Before taking MyoHealth, I regularly needed help carrying heavy grocery bags. Several months ago I realized that I no longer needed help. I can lift and carry heavy bags of groceries into the house,” she recalls. “I visited my doctor after my hip replacement and found that my overall strength has vastly improved, as well as my stamina, muscle tone and endurance. I am so excited about this product. I take other supplements, but I’ll tell you something, this one is something I really can’t do without.” Lorri Sullivan, Ph.D., LCSW, worked in the healthcare industry for over 50 years and was keenly aware of what was healthy and what wasn’t. However, she admits that she didn’t always take care of herself. “If I’m going to be honest, when I was a busy professional working many, many hours a day, I did not always live an entirely healthy lifestyle. As most of us don’t when we are on a strict schedule, but I was cognizant of what I should be doing. I was immersed in problem-solving my patients’ needs and mine became secondary. Now that I’m able to shift gears, I can focus on my own health.”

Dancing has always been a passion for Lorri, but in recent years she was forced to slow down.

Since taking MyoHealth, Lorri has resumed line dancing and is the president of the Sun City Merry Makers. “I line dance three days a week for about two to three hours a day. I can dance twice as long as my counterparts who are half my age – they have trouble keeping up with me! I also do water aerobics. My stamina has improved and my muscle tone is excellent. Because of my improved muscle strength, I no longer have the issues I used to, and I recovered 100 percent from my total hip replacement. The only difference is that I’ve started using this product. And because of it, my musculoskeletal system is stronger!” “I’ve always been fairly active, and that’s the important thing. I get up early in the morning and walk a mile with my dog, Charlie. He keeps me active. I’m 79 years old, and this product has impacted my entire life because it has kept my weight down. When you are stronger and more active, you keep a healthier weight. But I also engage in a lot of social activity like different clubs and organizations. I’m proud to be president of the Merry Makers, as we sing and entertain at convalescent hospitals. This product gives me the foundation of strength to keep going and engage in all these quality of life activities. I’m amazed by the product and what the good Lord has done in my life. I’m healthier than I’ve been in years. I want to thank Dr. Wolfe for his work and TriVita for bringing a gift to this world. Lorri isn’t ready to slow down anytime soon. Concerning her physical goals, she says, “I want to maintain a healthy weight, live to 95 years and line dance until I’m 95! But I have a lot of other primary or spiritual goals. It all ties in together because if I’m happy, joyous and out there, then I’m able to bring light to others, to be a light to others in this world. As a Christian, that is my primary goal. I truly believe I will reach my goals!” “I’ve had health issues in the past, but that all has been overcome, and I know that with faith, positive thinking and the use of the wonderful products that God gives us that we can reach our goals. So keep believing in miracles!”

By Tammy Pon, M.D. When I reflect upon TriVita’s Essentials for Health and Wellness, the word “homeostasis” comes to mind. The goal of the Essentials is to help people “experience wellness,” which goes beyond supporting our biochemistry with nutrients and exercise.It includes emotional and spiritual health, all wrapped up together to help us stay in balance. So what does this have to do with homeostasis? A medical dictionary defines homeostasis as “a relative constancy in the internal environment of the body, naturally maintained by adaptive responses that promote healthy survival.” Many times people think this internal regulation of the body is something that is on auto-pilot and they don’t give it a second thought. For example, the body’s thermostat is set at 98.6°F (37° C) and has various mechanisms to maintain that internal temperature. These mechanisms are at work whether we are sweating bullets pulling weeds in our garden in the middle of a hot summer day, shivering trying to keep warm or trudging through a snowstorm on our way to work on a blustery winter day.

Homeostasis in action: putting on a coat

“Adaptive responses” can be automatic, like the example of the body self-regulating its temperature, but adaptive responses can also be supported—we can intentionally do something to help promote our own healthy survival. To stay with our temperature example, we can put on a coat before stepping out into frigid air to help our body maintain 98.6°. In a similar way, we can do something about what we ingest to help our body stay in balance: Essential #4, Eat Nutritiously. I’m not talking about just eating healthy foods, which is of course vital to wellness balance, but something more. Consider adaptogenic herbs, which have been used for centuries by Asian cultures to improve a person’s ability to cope with stress. In times of increased stress, these herbs normalize the physiological process of the body and help the body adapt to changes and move back toward homeostasis.

What people don’t realize is that homeostasis involves the body’s ability to adjust not only to changing conditions of the environment, but also to respond to psychological and social stressors.

We are not born with the inherent ability to know how to handle a demanding boss or strong peer pressure. These psychological and social stressors throw our bodies out of equilibrium. Our heart rate goes up. We begin to sweat. Our breathing becomes shallow. Our sleep is fitful. We crave comfort foods. Panic attacks occur. But we don’t have to be helpless victims.

True wellness, defined

Research shows we can help our bodies handle psychological and social stressors in very simple ways. An example would be practicing TriVita’s 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness. For instance, a 2014 study looking at 131 adults found that practicing Essential #7 (“Be Forgiving”) may help the heart by lowering blood pressure and improving heart function. Look at something more extreme: an organ transplant. Even in this situation, you can see more of the 10 Essentials at work: Essential #8 (“Practice Gratitude”) and Essential #9 (“Develop Acceptance”). When the body accepts the transplanted organ, the organ recipient is certainly grateful. An Australian study determined that organ transplant recipients had better outcomes when they saw themselves worthy of the organ gift and felt gratitude, wanting to “pay it forward.” Homeostasis may sound like a daunting medical word, but it really comes down to living in wellness balance. True wellness is striving for homeostasis in all areas of our lives. This article is intended for educational purposes only.

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References: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3573577/#ref1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25195798 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25192762 Hamren K, Chungkham HS, Hyde M. Religion, spirituality, social support and quality of life: measurement and predictors CASP-12(v2) amongst older Ethiopians living in Addis Ababa. Aging Ment Health. Aug 30, 2014: 1-12. http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0120-53072014000200015&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en

Once upon a time, the “retirement years” evoked images of RV travel, hobbies galore and a general life of leisure. Today, expectations are completely different for those entering “retirement age.” Recent research from the TransAmerica Center for Retirement Studies shows that a whopping 82% of those in their 60s expect to, or are already, working past age 65.1 The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that by 2022, the 65+ age bracket will be the fastest growing segment of the labor force.¹ Why? Most cite the need for income or health benefits.² Returning to the workforce can be daunting, especially with competition from younger generations. Although everyone’s background and skills are different, these tips can help in your search for an “encore” career.

Network

It literally pays to know someone. Contact former colleagues, clients, vendors, friends and family and let them know you’re seeking employment. You never know when a lead might come up.

Keep your resume short and to the point

You have a lifetime of skills and work experience, but they all don’t belong on your resume. Customize your resume for each position you apply for, highlighting the pertinent skills and experience. Limit your resume to one page, two at most.

Accept all interviews

Hone your interviewing skills by agreeing to all interviews, even for jobs that you don’t really want. This helps ensure you’ll be polished and ready for the job interview that really counts.

Don’t allude to age

Odds are good you’ll be interviewed by, or work for, someone younger than you. Avoid referencing age—theirs or yours. You don’t want to appear condescending or unintentionally reinforce any age bias they may harbor.

Stay on top of trends

We live in an increasingly tech-driven world; keeping up with the latest developments can help you stay competitive with younger job seekers.

Consider temp work

Bring in income while searching for that perfect job. For those who have been out of the workforce, it can also help you build up your resume.

Volunteer

Although you most likely won’t earn a wage, volunteering is great experience to include on your resume.

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References:

1. http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2013/article/pdf/labor-force-projections-to-2022-the-labor-force-participation-rate-continues-to-fall.pdf
2. https://www.transamericacenter.org/docs/default-source/resources/center-research/16th-annual/tcrs2015_pr_retirement_throughout_the_ages.pdf

By Mamiko Odegard, Ph.D. Are you ready to claim your true value without having to wait for others to like, accept, approve of and love you? Recognize the fear within you that needs the validation of your worth. What is it that is keeping you from that goal? Is it years of messages drawn from your earliest memories? Messages that you’re not good enough, not thin enough, not smart enough… even not lovable enough? It’s time to purge yourself from the agony of painful beliefs that you’ve carried all these years. Once you’ve identified your sabotaging beliefs, it’s time to formulate new ones that help you to heal and enjoy a happier and more successful life. If you find that you don’t believe these new, more supportive beliefs about yourself, then go back to your fears. Maybe you’re afraid that if you form affirming new beliefs that you are capable and worthy, you’ll be simply “fooling yourself.” Or maybe you fear being vulnerable and getting hurt. Yes, rejection does hurt. But remember, the price of pretending to be someone you’re not is high: it costs you your personal power, your well-being and your peace. You become what you think As Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can, or think you can’t—you’re right.” It’s time to step up and be your own nurturing parent or friend. Give yourself these affirmations:

“I am learning to accept and love myself more and more each day.”

“I like this about myself: ________.”

“I am taking charge of my life: my thoughts, feelings and actions.”

“As I practice self care, I am showing love to myself.”

“I surround myself with those persons who are caring, supportive and loving towards me.”

By thinking and saying these affirmations daily, you will grow in your own esteem and acceptance. You don’t have to be perfect! You just need to start now and let yourself believe in, and let yourself be, the miraculous person you really are.

A lot has changed in 19 years, but our appreciation for our members has not. Watch this special message from founder and CEO Michael Ellison and other TriVita employees.

By Christa Orecchio For many of us, summer eating means outdoor cooking and lots of barbeques. Grilling is a longtime fun tradition for so many of us—but did you know there are healthy and unhealthy ways to grill? When we grill using high heat, proteins in meat and fish can get converted to something called heterocyclic amines or HCAs. These HCAs are chemicals that have been linked to tumors in animals as well as a greater risk of breast, colon, stomach and prostate cancer. What happens is the fat and juices of the meat drip onto the grill, forcing smoke to be produced that contains carcinogenic (cancer-causing) chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Then smoke rises past the food, depositing these PAHs on the surface of the food. Not to worry: I would never ask you to give up this time-honored tradition that has connected friends, family and neighbors since grills were first invented. There are many ways to take caution for safer grilling.

Outdoor cooking for safety, health

1. Avoid grilling processed meats at all costs.

Processed meats contain an entirely different set of potentially carcinogenic agents than unprocessed meats. So in my view, this means saying good-bye to hot dogs and sausages on the grill. Always grill unprocessed meats: grass-fed hamburgers or steak, organic, free-range chicken, and wild fish.

2. Marinate!

Studies show that marinating food prior to grilling reduces the levels of carcinogenic compounds. Lighter, thinner marinades seem to work best, as the thicker ones with sugar burn more easily. I’ve included two of my favorites, an Italian Marinade and a Mexican Pesto Marinade, both always winners in my household and cooking classes. Both can double as salad dressings or dips for your fun summer picnics.

3. Go lean.

Choose lean organic chicken and grass-fed beef or fish over fattier alternatives like ribs and sausage. There will be less drippings and therefore fewer PAHs.

4. Smaller cuts of meat.

Kebabs, anyone? Choosing smaller cuts of meat that take less time to cook will limit exposure to chemicals.

5. Mind the barbeque and hone your technique.

If you’re on grill duty, make sure you flip burgers every minute, keep food a good six inches from the heat source, and use cedar planks whenever possible to prevent the juices from dripping onto the grill. (Cedar plank wild salmon is delicious!)

6. Go for the veggies!

If you are a kebab type of person, try grilling fruit and veggies as well as meat or fish because they contain very little protein. So, there is no danger of conversion to the chemical HCAs that can cause harm. Having 50% of your plate as veggies is good for your health in many different ways. Grilled fruit and veggies make for fantastic salad additions when you add them to fresh, raw greens. Or just use them with dips for healthy picnic snacks or appetizers.

7. Ditch burnt meat.

As appealing as char-grilled may look, the charring is toxic and I always recommend cutting off burnt or charred parts.

8. Check your briquettes.

If you use charcoal briquettes, go for the natural ones made from either real wood or coconut, (there won’t be any coconut flavor in your briquettes). Not all briquettes contain the same ingredients. The largest briquette manufacturer lists their ingredients publicly.

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Reference: Harvard Health Publications and Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center

Mitochrondria is an intimidating word that’s thrown around a lot in medical websites and journals, but how many of us really understand its importance? Mitochondria are simply the tiny factories in each of our cells that turn the food we eat and the oxygen we breathe into energy. Aging speeds up when the communication breaks down between the central part of our cells and their mitochondria. Mitochondrial deterioration produces excess free radicals (damaging molecules), which in turn can cause your body to perform like an old car engine that produces a lot of smoke and runs poorly. The good news is that you can also reverse this process. When intracellular communication improves, the aging process slows down and overall health and vitality will improve. Energy, metabolism and cognitive powers are all enhanced, and improved mitochondrial health may also help prevent a variety of age-related diseases.¹ Healthy mitochondria Every person is filled with mitochondria—there are trillions of these energy factories in each human body. Certain organs and tissue require more energy, and that’s why more mitochondria are packed in their cells. You’ll find abundant mitochondria in our hearts, brains and muscles. A stronger heart is more likely to be dense with mitochondria than a weak one. So, if your body contains more healthy mitochondria, you’ll naturally feel better, with more energy and focus, and an increased ability to maintain high levels of activity without getting tired. Poor mitochondria Most of us start life with healthy mitochondria, but a number of factors can deplete or damage the supply. These include poor lifestyle habits, stress, a sedentary lifestyle, free radical damage, and exposure to infections, allergens and toxins. One of the major reasons for mitochondria depletion is a poor diet. So, unless we take care of our general health—and our mitochondria—we are more likely to feel tired and suffer from foggy brain. Mitochondrial deficits can also increase the risk for numerous ailments.² Care and feeding Eating a well-balanced diet and reducing stress are two keys to improved mitochondrial health. Targeted supplementation may also help reverse mitochondria depletion. Many adults are deficient in one or more important nutrients, so you might consider supplementing with a high quality multivitamin for improved mitochondrial health, especially CoQ-10.³ Experts agree, if you take care of your mitochondria your body will take care of you.

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References:

1. http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/mutationsanddisorders?show=all
2. Mitochondria and human evolution. Biochemical functions of coenzyme Q10. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. December 20, 2001.
3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC21173/

Blessed Beyond Measure

“God put all the right people in my life at the right time. It was incredible!” Marie de Haan grew up in Skagit County, Washington and loves the area. It has everything from the ocean to the desert and beautiful mountains for hiking. “My husband and I bought a fixer upper 20 years ago and committed never to leave,” Marie says. In 1999, Marie was one of TriVita’s first members joining shortly after the company was founded. She is a songwriter, piano teacher, wife and mother of three, avid gardener, author and cancer survivor. Nine years ago, Marie went to her doctor for a routine exam and learned that she had Stage III breast cancer. “I felt healthy, and this came out of nowhere. I slept great and had good energy. I just had this little lump that I thought was a cyst. They didn’t come out and tell me how long I had, but when a naturopath tells you to do chemotherapy because they cannot help you fast enough you know it’s bad.” After her diagnosis, Marie faced a flurry of appointments, tests and treatments. She endured a year of intensive chemotherapy and surgery. She explains, “Every year after you are worried it’s going to come back, but it hasn’t. Then you experience survivor’s guilt, and it’s a very eerie feeling.” One of the ways that Marie gives back and supports others dealing with cancer is by writing. She has authored two books about her experiences and also has her blog on cancer is a funny thing.com. “I always knew I wanted to write a book, I just always thought it would be a children’s book, but God had other plans! I don’t write books to be a bestseller and make money. I get phone calls from people that read my books and my blog and felt hopeful again, and that is why I do it.” Cancer is a Funny Thing: A Humorous Look at the Bright Side of Cancer… And There is One was her first book and her follow-up memoir, Cancer is a Funny Thing: Reconstructing My Life, was published last year, in which she touches on the most sensitive subjects with grace and humor. “The reason I say ‘cancer is a funny thing’ is that sometimes it can be a blessing. People were coming out of the woodwork to help and show support. It’s a lesson for all of us. If you know someone that is going through cancer or something difficult, just be there for them in any way you can.” When Marie thinks about the role her community played during her treatment and recovery, she recalls, “My family and friends are everything. I’ve had such a great support system, and not everyone has that. I know how lucky I am. People that I didn’t even know were helping my family when we needed it the most. God put all the right people in my life at the right time. It was incredible!” For Marie, her cancer diagnosis came out of left field. Since her first visit with a naturopath at age 14, she’s been serious about living a balanced lifestyle. “When I discovered Slow Dissolve B12 it changed my life. When you take it you don’t feel hyper; it’s when you stop taking it that you notice you don’t have as much energy. I was really happy to find that, and I still take it after all these years. It’s great for stress too, and cancer is definitely stressful!” In addition to Slow Dissolve B12, Marie’s favorites are Zamu Protect, Joint Complex, VitaCal-MagD K2 and GlucoManage. Of these products Marie says, “I take others as well, but I can’t be without these!” However, healthy living isn’t just about taking the right supplements; it’s about making better choices. “Make small changes one at a time. Get more sleep, drink more water, exercise more and take your vitamins. That’s why I like TriVita’s Essentials for Health and Wellness; it’s about common sense. You don’t need to complicate your health!” Through her difficult journey, Marie discovered her purpose to help and inspire others. “I feel strongly that God has a reason. You wake up every day; you put your feet on the floor, do nice things for other people and let them know that there is hope. You just do every day the best you can. I don’t have everything in control, but thank goodness God does.”

One of the fascinating studies I did recently was on extending quality of life. I decided to research centenarians and get their advice. Anyone who is living past 100 and can get in front of a camera to describe how to live life with enjoyment and health is worth listening to. As one lady who is 103 years old described it, “People think money is what makes you happy….oh no, it is attitude. Keep your attitude up, up, up!! ”

By the way she described her life she must have found the TriVita Essentials at an early age! Attitude with gratitude is probably some of the best advice I received in my research. Here are 5 great tips for extending quality of life to embrace at any age.

1. 1. Have a purpose in life that is interesting, enjoyable and engages people and your mind! This is common amongst many of those who live long lives that are still full of zest and vibrancy even past 100. Today, leading healthcare physicians are encouraging people to embrace purpose for their lives to live with greater wellness and quality of life.
   2. Stay positive in the bad times and good times. Yes, keep your attitude up, up, up! Life gives us opportunities to respond or react. If we react to avoid failure rather than to enjoy success, your life will be lived trying to avoid failure and the real potential of your talents, gifts and purpose will be diminished. As one centenarian said, “Even the five years of World War, it was an adventure even amongst the bombs!” Positivity will add life to your years and years to your life!
   3. Keep physically active was a common theme throughout their lives. Find ways to enjoy physical activity from yoga, golfing, walking, hiking, swimming, tennis, dancing, gardening and the list goes on. Many people don’t like the idea of exercising as it denotes as not being fun. Find activities you enjoy that keep you moving!
   4. Remain socially engaged as frequently as possible. Most centenarians loved people all through life and being with people is a must for them. Don’t shut yourself off from people, love people! Even in an age of technology many people today are lonely. In fact, Harvard Medical recently reported that loneliness is the number one health risk now in corporate America! Friends on Facebook will not substitute for real friends in communities of worship, activities, volunteer work and most valued are the family members! Find a reason to engage socially at any age.
   5. Develop a relationship with God and His creation. I personally enjoyed the added dimension from the centenarians’ perspective of developing a relationship with God going beyond meditation and prayer which was in His creation. I have always loved the outdoors since I was a very young boy. Today that love is expressed even as I see a flower, I will see God in it; when I look at the beauty in a butterfly, I will see God in it. The rivers, meadows and mountains are all ways of reminding me of the wonderful Creator and His love for me. Look for new ways to engage in your relationship with God!

   At TriVita, we are always searching for new insight for quality of life. Wellness and purpose go together like hand and glove. Our purpose is to help you experience greater wellness!

I thought I was the poster boy of TriVita, but I step down (temporarily) to Harry at age 93 along with his wife Marvis at age 92. They are the new TriVita wellness poster boy and girl living with wellness!!

It is always a highlight of any day to receive a wellness testimony from a TriVita member like the one from Harry and Marvis. This is the experience we live for every day; the joy of wellness in our lives and the lives of our members!

Living with the abundance expressed through the Essentials for Health and Wellness jumps off of the page of their letter. Read their inspiring story of a life lived with freedom, independence and wellness!

This is our wellness story to inspire others to use your vitamins.

We have trusted TriVita since 2001. Harry and I are on no medications. Harry will be 94, October 15th and I am 92, as of April 1st this year.

We were featured on the front page of the TriVita magazine with our story inside along with pictures a while back.

We do TV commercials and modeling. We ran big yachts and ferried airplanes and now big RVs all over the USA.

We have been everywhere in our own RV, including Alaska. Our map on the outside of our motorhome is full.

Last summer, we left for Seattle to see our grandchildren in June, drove over 11,000 miles, stopping to see friends and family along the way, and didn’t return home until December 6th. It was a wonderful trip.

We dance a lot and enjoy life. I’m sure we wouldn’t be able to do all those things, if it wasn’t for taking TriVita all these years.

Thank you for our healthy life!

Harry and Marvis Long

 

Gratitude is an attitude that enhances wellness. I think this letter exudes gratitude, and I am grateful to Harry and Marvis for sharing their life, journey and wellness experiences to inspire all of us to the possibilities of greater wellness at any age. I believe in the awesome design of our body by our CREATOR when given the right nutrients and nurturing; it has the healing power within to enhance our wellness.

If you have wellness goals, call TriVita CARE at 1-800-991-7116 and share your goals and we will share our best steps towards helping accomplish those goals.

If you have a wellness story you would like for me to share to inspire others, write me at CEO@Trivita.com.

Pursue wellness with passion!!

In The Pursuit Of Wellness

“I have hope again and am motivated to continue my health journey. With TriVita there, I feel like I am not alone in this!” Laura Burford, Member since 2004, hardly ever visited the doctor. She always felt “fine” and never saw the need, until she received routine health screening at work; Laura was diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension. After this diagnosis, she followed her doctor’s recommendations, but she knew she needed to do more. “In the last ten years, things caught up with me. That was a whole process because I was in denial and I was angry. I had a lot of knee pain that turned out to be severe stage osteoarthritis. I couldn’t believe it; I just took my health for granted. I wasn’t doing anything to keep it and a lot of wrong things that hurt my health.” From that point on, Laura was dedicated to learning how to fuel her body and live a healthier life. “I found a couple of reputable companies that I thought I could trust and started taking some supplements. Then I saw an ad about TriVita and Alfred Libby’s Slow Dissolve B-12 for energy. I ordered some and what a life changer! I got the Super B-12, and I haven’t been without it since and never want to be.” After seeing that first program about TriVita’s Slow Dissolve B-12, Laura began reading the monthly catalogs and learning more about the body. From there she tried different products, “I added Nopalea to try and Adaptuit because stress has always been a problem for me. Then I ordered Nerve Formula because of my diabetes. These products really helped me feel better along with physical therapy. I want to save my own parts as long as possible rather than having surgery. The Adaptuit has helped me have a better attitude so that I can nurture the relationships in my life and work.” By the winter of 2016, Laura began feeling rundown and learned she had anemia. She was losing hair, her nails were splitting and lacked the energy she usually had. While her doctors tried to identify the source of her anemia they discovered an ulcer and benign tumor. To make matters worse, while preparing to undergo a small bowel resection, they found several large tumors on her ovaries and uterus. “It felt like a whack-a-mole game. What was going to pop up next?” And something did; “My piriformis muscle was swollen and pressing on my sciatic nerve. It was the worst pain I’ve ever experienced. I went to physical therapy and realized that I had stopped taking the Nerve Formula and gotten lax about taking Nopalea. Now I know the value of stretching and won’t stop taking Nerve Formula and Nopalea again.” In addition to these longtime favorites, Laura started using MyoHealth to help her regain the muscle she’s lost. “It is truly helping me feel stronger and able to exercise. This is amazing because I was sedentary for so long. My last surgery is behind me, and I want to make this my year of wellness! I am increasing my strength, mobility and overall health. It’s like my job now to be as healthy as I can so I can live a good life and help others!” “I sound like a real mess, and I have felt that way too, but the great TriVita products and the encouragement and knowledge I am getting from them help me know that I can overcome and be healthy so I can enjoy my life. Even though I had wonderful doctors and surgeons and I am grateful for how much they have helped me, I would much rather spend my time and money on these products so I can live a healthy and productive life.” For anyone looking to improve their health, Laura offers this advice, “First of all, never give up hope! Find what you can, for me, it is faith and believing that He is the healer. But I also know that I have to do my part. I have a responsibility to do what I can to build my health even though it’s a long process. We all have struggles, but everything can get better if we learn what we need to do and apply it. A lot of people are just like I was, they just don’t know.”

Guided by Hope

Let perseverance be your engine and hope your fuel. – H. Jackson Brown Jr. For many that have struggled with illness or setbacks in life, it may seem as though health and happiness are out of reach. However, hope is about perseverance and perspective. Joanna Schick’s journey to wellness and recovery hasn’t always been easy, but through it all, she kept searching for answers. “I was misdiagnosed for over 20 years. I went from doctor to doctor, and they changed my medications every week. I was like a zombie… When I was trying to find answers to all the pain I was in, I tried everything! But through it all, I learned a lot.” Joanna’s challenges with health began at a young age. As a child, she experienced terrible headaches and suffered three strokes when she was in her twenties. She suffered her first at 22 which left her with burns on her arms after collapsing on a radiator, and her final stroke at the age of 27 left her temporarily paralyzed. “Because I was young all my feeling came back, but that’s when all the doctoring started,” says Joanna. Joanna recounts that she constantly tried to obtain information and resources from anywhere she could, but all she found was drug after drug. After many years of searching for answers and always coming up empty-handed, she requested a particular test from her doctor. It took some convincing, but her doctor finally approved the scan. Little did she know it would change her life forever. The results showed that she had an obstruction that required brain surgery. “After my first brain surgery, I was able to return to school and receive my high school diploma. Because of my grades, it was recommended that I enter college. I didn’t finish college, but I came a long way,” Joanna explains. However, after the operation, she experienced depression, weight gain and developed disordered eating; “I was just lying around all the time, I couldn’t go to work, and my husband was ready to plan my funeral, that’s how bad it was.” But Joanna never stopped looking for answers. In her 40s, she turned to nutrition to help control her weight which is what led her to start researching nutritional supplements and sharing what she was learning with family and friends. After regaining her health and moving to Eureka Springs, Arkansas with her husband Ernie, some of Joanna’s issues returned. Once more, she struggled to find answers before learning she required another operation. Joanna recounts, “They said it was a good thing I came in because I could have died.” It was around this time that Joanna found TriVita’s products. She first read about Nopalea in 2012, and has since taken many other TriVita products. Joanna’s and Ernie’s favorites are CoEnzyme Q-10, Vital C, Cholestria, Vision Guard, Nopalea, MyoHealth and Adaptuit. “I love Adaptuit! I take three ounces before bed, and I sleep like a baby. It’s wonderful and besides it tastes good… I don’t know if there are any products I don’t take!” Looking back Joanna says, “It’s really the nutrition that saved me left and right … I highly recommend all these products!” For Joanna and Ernie health is a priority; “It’s very important for people to be consistent when it comes to nutrition because it pays off. And a little exercise doesn’t hurt.” The couple enjoys staying active with walks, and her husband enjoys working outside. Joanna makes it habit to exercise for 45 minutes a day, she even performs therapy exercises with her 14-year-old dog to keep him healthy! “Our doctors say we’re doing great and we should just continue what we are doing.” Joanna is also passionate about charity work and helping others feel better. “Right now I’m making jewelry for all the volunteers at Good Shepherd Rescue, the local animal rescue, which is over 40 people. We have a tiger rescue here, and I’m working on pieces of jewelry for all their volunteers, too. I also give to all their silent auctions. Plus, I’ve done some jewelry shows at assisted living facilities and the money is always going to charity. At Christmas and Valentine’s Day, we’ve given to residents at some of the assisted living homes because we feel that a lot of them don’t even get a visitor all year. That’s our passion!” Joanna and Ernie are currently planning a family trip to Stuttgart, Germany in August with their son, daughter-in-law and their two children. “We moved to Arkansas because it reminds us of Germany. I went to school in Germany for a while. My mother took me for my grandparents’ golden anniversary. The neighboring town’s school heard about me and invited me, so I went to school there for a year. It’s really a great memory!”

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Get to Know the Keto Diet

Weight loss diets aren’t new. From the Paleo, Vegan and Dukan diets to the well-known Atkins Diet, there are a plethora of modern low-carb diet plans that focus on maximizing health while facilitating weight loss. But in our rush to improve our health and enhance our life, we all too often overlook the one thing we can easily change — our diet. And as we strive to achieve long-term cardio and brain health, nothing holds the potential to have a bigger impact than our diet. The Keto Diet is a low-carb diet that focuses on limiting net carbohydrate intake in order to force the body to use more fats for fuel.  High carb diets lead to excess glucose and insulin production. This can lead to several problems. Because glucose is the easiest molecule to convert and use as energy, the body will choose glucose as its primary energy source whenever it’s available. However, with all that glucose present your body needs to produce insulin, a fat storing hormone, to distribute the surplus evenly. With the glucose now being used as a primary energy source, the fats your body would otherwise use as energy are not needed, which means they get stored…as fat. The Keto Diet functions to reverse this process by lowering the intake of carbs, thereby coaxing the body into ketosis, a natural survival technique whereby the body endures on low amounts of food. The Keto Diet gets its name from the ketones we produce while in this state, which are derived from the breakdown of fats in the liver.¹ Meal examples:

• Chicken breast basted in olive oil, with broccoli and cheese.
• Steak topped with a knob of butter and a side of spinach sautéed in olive oil.

KETO DIET BENEFITS

Numerous studies have shown that low-carb diets are extremely helpful when it comes to weight loss, especially for individuals that are overweight or obese.2 Low-carb diets have also been linked to numerous other health benefits, including the reduction of belly fat, a dangerous situation due to the proximity to our vital organs.3 A low-carb diet such as the Keto Diet works by reducing your appetite, and when you’re not hungry, you ingest fewer calories.⁴ Studies have also shown that low-carb diets may minimize many major disease risk factors, including weight loss to insulin and blood pressure levels.⁵ Weight Loss By using your body fat as an energy source, the ketogenic diet reduces your insulin levels to turn your body into a fat burning machine.¹ Control Blood Sugar Eating fewer carbs naturally lowers your blood sugar.  In fact, studies show that the ketogenic diet is a more effective means of preventing diabetes than traditional low-calorie diets.¹ Mental Focus Lowering your carb intake not only lowers your blood sugar, it also limits any sugar spikes along with it. As a result, Keto Diet devotees can experience improved focus and concentration. Along with that, studies have shown that the high concentration of fatty acids (the Keto Diet calls for a nutrient intake of 70% fats, 25% protein and 5% carbohydrates), can beneficially impact how our brains function.¹ Increased Energy & Normalized Hunger With a better, more reliable energy source fueling your body (fats are the most effective molecule to burn), you’ll feel more energized. As an added bonus, fat is also naturally more satisfying, which leaves you feeling “full” longer.¹ Cholesterol & Blood Pressure Compared to low-fat diets, low-carb/high-fat diets show a dramatic increase in HDL and decrease in LDL particle concentration. Low-carb diets have also been shown to treat blood pressure issues — frequently associated with excess weight or obesity — more effectively than other diets.¹ Insulin Resistance An abundant amount of research shows that a low carb diet can lead to lower insulin levels, thereby helping many people avoid contracting type II diabetes.  However, it’s equally important to realize that even people who exercise regularly can benefit from the insulin optimizing properties of many high omega-3 fatty acid foods found in the Keto Diet.¹ What to Eat

• Meats – fish, beef, lamb, poultry, eggs, etc.
• Leafy Greens – spinach, kale, etc.
• Above Ground Vegetables – broccoli, cauliflower, etc
• High Fat Dairy – hard cheeses, high fat cream, butter, etc.
• Nuts and Seeds – macadamias, walnuts, sunflower seeds, etc.
• Avocado and Berries – raspberries, blackberries, and other low glycemic impact berries
• Sweeteners – stevia, erythritol, monk fruit, and other low-carb sweeteners
• Other Fats – coconut oil, high-fat salad dressing, saturated fats, etc.¹

What Not to Eat

• Grains – wheat, corn, rice, cereal, etc.
• Sugar – honey, agave, maple syrup, etc.
• Fruit – apples, bananas, oranges, etc.
• Tubers – potato, yams, etc.¹

THE IMPORTANCE OF KETOGENIC AMINO ACIDS

Essential Amino acids are the cellular building blocks of protein.⁶ There are 20 primary amino acids in your body’s proteins, 9 of which are essential to your diet because your cells can’t manufacture them. By contrast, your body can produce enough non-essential amino acids to meet its needs.⁷ Glucogenic and Ketogenic Amino Acids Amino acids can also be classified as glucogenic, ketogenic or glucogenic-ketogenic depending on how they are metabolized. As it does with carbohydrates and fats, your body metabolizes the amino acids in proteins to derive energy. Glucogenic amino acids yield glucose for energy production, while ketogenic amino acids like lysine and leucine are converted into ketone bodies via ketogenesis. Ketone bodies provide an alternative fuel source when glucose, the body’s preferred energy source, is unavailable.⁸

How to Reach Ketosis

1. Limit your carbs
2. Limit your proteins
3. Don’t worry about fat intake
4. Drink plenty of water
5. Stop snacking
6. Start fasting
7. Exercise
8. Start supplementing¹ with Omega3 Prime and MyoHealth Essential Amino Acid complex from TriVita

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References

1. http://www.ruled.me/guide-keto-diet/
2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19082851
3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15533250 
4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17228046
5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11795/
6. Robert Wolfe, Essential Amino Acid Solutions for Everyone (unpublished, 2016), 29
7. http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/many-amino-acids-body-require-6412.html
8. http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/ketogenic-amino-acids-9147.html

KEEP ON, KEEPING ON Helen Swanson has lived in numerous cities and towns throughout the Midwest, and everywhere she goes she brings with her a keen sense of service. “I’ve always tried to help people and to have a servant’s heart. That’s just what I do because you never know what tomorrow’s going to bring. There are a lot of people my age with pretty severe physical problems who’re really struggling, and I try to do whatever I can to help.” In fact, several months ago she found herself trying to break up a fight in front of a bank. “It happened right in front of me—I couldn’t just ignore it. One of the men had his glasses knocked off, and they landed right by my car, so I got out of my car, grabbed the glasses and told those two to knock it off.” In other words, this is a woman who stands on principle. “I was born in Joliet, Illinois but we moved to South Bend, Indiana when I was six months old, so that’s where I call home. As you might guess, I’m a huge Notre Dame fan. My other love is babies. I’m planning to volunteer at the local YMCA daycare because I just love being around them so much. When I’m out, and I see babies, I almost have a fit.” After growing up in Indiana, Helen got a job as a teletype operator and load planner for United Airlines right out of high school in 1957. “This was back in the days of prop planes, and I was in charge of weighing each to make sure they got off the ground. Four years later I got married, and in 1965 my husband and I moved to Sandusky, Ohio. He was with a freight company, so we moved quite a bit; first to Marshall, Michigan in 1969, then to New Berlin, Wisconsin in 1972 and finally to Hermitage, Tennessee right outside of Nashville in 1973.” “While we were in Tennessee, I went through nurses training, and after we were divorced in 1975, I ended up moving back to South Bend in the late 70s with my son and daughter and working almost 20 years as an LPN on a medical surgery floor. It was a small hospital, but we really provided great care. By 1998 my daughter was married with a family and career of her own, and I moved to Pennsylvania to help care for my grandchildren.” “These days I live in New Hope, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, where I’ve been for 12 years—the last 10 in an independent senior living facility. When I first moved here, I worked for two home care agencies as a nursing coordinator.  That was right about the time I became a TriVita customer. I was working late one night, and I heard James Robison on TV talking about Super B-12, so I ordered a box. Well, I felt an immediate difference in my energy and my mood right from the start—and I still do. Ever since then, the first thing I do when I get up is drink a tall glass of water and take a B-12 tablet. I can’t imagine being without it.” “I have had my share of health problems, including breast cancer, and for many years I had extremely high blood pressure, too. At one time I was on about six different medications for that alone, and in 2009 I was put in the hospital when my numbers hit 265 over 120. But the doctors took out my adrenal glands, and now I’m down to one blood pressure medication a day, which helps because I’m very sensitive to medicine. “I currently take VisionGuard and Omega3 Prime, but last August I also started taking MyoHealth, and there’s no way to explain how it has made me feel. I have a herniated disc in my back that was very uncomfortable, and now I can do almost anything I want pain free. There’s none in my back, none in my hips, and none in my knees. Plus, within two days it killed my appetite, and I’ve lost 18 pounds! It’s just an absolutely wonderful product. Sometimes I take it in the morning and sometimes in the afternoon as well for an energy boost. If somebody had to take everything away from me, they couldn’t take my B-12 or MyoHealth.”

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