by Jean Carper

Cranberries vs. urinary tract infection: Drinking cranberry juice decidedly reduces recurrent urinary tract infections in women, reports a British analysis of 10 studies. Most common recommended dose: a glass of juice twice a day. Undecided: whether cranberry capsules or tablets are as effective.

Oatmeal vs. cholesterol: Proof that oatmeal can lower cholesterol is stronger than ever, says a new review by University of Kentucky researcher James Anderson, M.D. He concludes that eating whole-grain oatmeal not only cuts total and "bad" cholesterol but also lowers risk for high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and weight gain.

Soybeans vs. hot flashes: A new blockbuster study by Harvard's George Blackburn, M.D., finds that a compound in soybeans slashed the frequency of hot flashes by 52% in a group of menopausal women. The study used a soy extract called AglyMax, which is like human estrogen but without the negative effects, the researchers say.

Legumes vs. diabetes: Eating more legumes (peanuts and dried beans, especially soybeans) may cut the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by more than 40%, says a new Vanderbilt study of 64,000 middle-aged Chinese women. Possible reason: All legumes suppress spikes in blood sugar.

Fish oil vs. brain damage: Much evidence shows that omega-3 fish oil, especially its DHA component, protects brain cells. In a new UCLA study, DHA helps prevent damage that leads to the onset of Alzheimer's. Eaters of fatty fish are less apt to get Alzheimer's.

This EatSmart column is reprinted from USAWEEKEND Magazine and is copyrighted by Jean Carper. It cannot be reprinted without permission from Jean Carper.

Our Omega-T Fish Oil contains pure, all-natural fish oils from Norweigan salmon and is certified to be contaminant-free by independent testing.

by Jean Carper

A multi-vitamin/mineral pill has the power to relieve depression in elderly patients, according to a new international study.

Acutely ill, older medical patients on a normal hospital diet took either a supplement with 100% of their vitamin/mineral daily needs or a placebo once daily for six weeks. Symptoms of depression -- like sleep problems, loss of appetite, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness -- improved in the multi-vitamin-takers after six weeks, regardless of their initial level of depression.

The findings are consistent with studies linking folate and vitamin B12 deficiency with depression.

This EatSmart column is reprinted from USAWEEKEND Magazine and is copyrighted by Jean Carper. It cannot be reprinted without permission from Jean Carper.

Stop Aging Now’s Multi Nutrient Formulas are complete, high-potency multi-vitamin that protects cells against aging, provides a broad spectrum of nutrients to balance out deficiencies in your diet and supports optimal wellness and health. Each formula contains at least 28 different vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

by Jean Carper

If you have high blood pressure, cut back on sugar (including the high fructose corn syrup commonly found in soft drinks) and refined carbohydrates, says Harry Preuss, M.D., of Georgetown University. Many animal studies find that sugary diets induce hypertension.

QUICK TIP: A new study by Dr. Preuss finds that taking chromium supplements (200 mcg daily) helps to counter sugar's blood pressure effect.

This EatSmart column is reprinted from USAWEEKEND Magazine and is copyrighted by Jean Carper. It cannot be reprinted without permission from Jean Carper.

All 9 of our Multi Nutrient Formulas provide a daily dose of 200 mcg of highly absorbable ChromeMate® chromium.

by Harry Preuss, MD, MACN, CNS

A lot of emphasis has been placed on avoiding fats in the diet, particularly saturated fats. After all, fats are calorie-dense, containing about nine calories per gram, while proteins and carbohydrates contain approximately four calories per gram. Constant, authoritative warnings to avoid fats have made the public focus almost exclusively on reducing their fat intake. When examining the labels on foods, the first and often only concern for many people is the saturated fat content. Accordingly, people pay less attention to the calorie and sugar, or refined carbohydrate, content of foods, and consume more calories and more refined carbohydrates as a trade off. This behavior coincides with the expansion of the public girth.

In the midst of the worldwide epidemics of obesity and diabetes (diabesity), the realization finally hit home that it isn’t primarily the fat, but the calories and refined carbohydrates that are the major culprits in these epidemics.

Improving Insulin Sensitivity

In order to help people develop a weight-loss program that is safe and efficient, I often steer them towards class of weight-loss supplements that promote fat loss and muscle gain in an interesting, somewhat indirect way—by improving the working of the insulin system. These supplements, which can also be used to help manage blood sugar in diabetics and hypoglycemics, include trivalent chromium, popularized by the ChromeMate brand, and cinnamon extract, often sold under the name, Cinnulin, are known as “insulin sensitizers.”

Metabolic Syndrome

About 40 years ago, a British scientist, named John Yudkins wrote a series of articles implicating the heavy consumption of sugars in the increasing prevalence of obesity and cardiovascular disease. He described the syndrome that we now refer to as “metabolic syndrome” or pre-diabetes. Yudkin proposed the idea that insulin restistance is the silent precursor to conditions ranging from obesity and diabetes to hypertension and atherosclerosis.

Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, helps the body’s fat, muscle and liver cells convert glucose obtained from food into energy. Insulin resistance occurs when the body’s cells become unresponsive to insulin, and excess glucose builds up in the bloodstream, setting the stage for metabolic syndrome—and weight gain. Certain refined carbohydrates are rapidly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and, when consumed in excess, can bring on insulin resistance by desensitizing cells to insulin. Often, the pancreas begins to produce more insulin in an effort to regulate elevated blood glucose levels, but eventually the pancreas loses its ability to produce insulin, which results in type 2 diabetes.

Research has also shown that elevated insulin levels can result in high blood pressure and more advanced forms of cardiovascular disease. It’s no wonder that many supplements now used in the war against obesity—widely-accepted to be a major risk factor in the development of both diabetes and cardiovascular disease, the leading causes of death in the U.S.—are “insulin sensitizers” that work by helping people overcome the insulin resistant state. I have investigated many of these in the laboratory and via clinical studies and will discuss these in the upcoming articles.

The Anti-Aging Bottom Line: Living a long healthy life and maintaining a healthy body weight go hand in hand. Natural products can be instrumental in helping you achieve your weight-loss goals. However, it is important to understand the underlying causes of weight gain in order to create an effective weight-loss regimen involving supplements.

Stop Aging Now's first-ever weight-loss formula, SynergySlim PLUS, combines five all-natural, non-stimulant ingredients which each play a different role in helping you lose weight. Burn calories, reduce fat, curb appetite, block carbs and build lean muscle - all at the same time!

by Carey Rossi

Imagine changing your body composition and fighting off unwanted pounds without exercising. According to a recent clinical trial, this is exactly what CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) can do. (Steck, SE et al. Journal of Nutrition. 2007. 137: 1188-1193.)

This study confirms that CLA supplementation increases lean body mass. People who supplemented with 6.4 grams of CLA daily experienced an increase of about .64 kilograms, or 1.4 pounds, of lean body mass. They also didn’t participate in exercise, which suggests that the increase was related to CLA supplementation, and not to physical activity.

The Anti-Aging Bottom Line: Pair CLA with exercise if you really want to make sure you keep the pounds off and your body mobile. Both are effective at improving your body composition and the effects are cumulative when they’re used together. If you decide to supplement with CLA, take 1-2 grams with breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Our CLA is made from 100% Tonalin brand CLA, the purest, most absorbable and most researched variety. And our daily dose of 3,000 mg corresponds with clinical research.

by Gale Malesky, MS, RD

Many people around the world are not getting enough vitamin D, and it’s having a major impact on their health. That is the opinion of one of the U.S.’s leading vitamin D experts, Michael Holick, M.D. He calls for the recommended daily intake to be quadrupled-- to 800 IU/day of vitamin D.

For many years, what was considered a “normal” blood level of vitamin D was a level that prevented bone diseases caused by a vitamin D deficiency. But research now shows that much higher blood concentrations of vitamin D are necessary to prevent many health problems.

Vitamin D insufficiency has been found in people with chronic pain, fibromyalgia, depression, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, low bone density and multiple sclerosis, and may contribute to those problems, experts say. Vitamin D deficiency also seems to be related to insulin resistance, heart disease--even how long you live.
Especially at risk for vitamin D deficiency are older people, who make less vitamin D from sun exposure and who also tend to get less sun exposure.

To check your vitamin D status, your doctor can do a blood test. People with extremely low levels may have to take large amounts of vitamin D for some time to return to normal. Once they have attained normal levels, 1,000 IUs a day of vitamin D may be sufficient to keep your blood levels in a good range.
  
The Anti-Aging Bottom Line: Don't let low vitamin D levels undermine your health and well-being. Make sure you are getting at least 1,000 IU of supplemental vitamin D daily.

Last year, Stop Aging Now increased the levels of vitamin D in all of our Multi Nutrient Formulas from 600 to 1,000 IU.

by Gale Malesky, MS, RD

If you want to stay strong as you age, you have to work at it. And you by can support your efforts by getting enough vitamin E.

A new study found that blood levels of vitamin E were a strong predictor of how well people performed physically as they got older. In people ages 70-80, low vitamin E increased the odds of physical decline by 60%.

Researchers say that it is possible to get enough vitamin E to avoid losing physical abilities by eating vitamin E-rich foods like nuts, seeds, whole grains and unrefined vegetable oils. (Bartali, et al. JAMA 2008;299(3):308-315.) But in reality, most people don’t get enough vitamin E to provide optimum antioxidant protection unless they take supplements.

Previous research has found that 1,000 IUs a day of supplemental vitamin E can reduce soreness, inflammation and weakness in aging muscles. Long-term use of lower doses (400-800 IU) a day may give exercisers the same benefits, researchers think.

The Anti-Aging Bottom Line: Maintaining strength as you age has a major impact on your quality of life. Help your muscles stay strong and recover more quickly from exercise by getting at least 400 IU of vitamin E a day.

Coming soon! Look for our line of specialized vitamin E supplements, anti-aging creams and therapeutic oils from Yasoo Health.

If you’re overweight, make sure you take fish oil, not just to protect your heart but because it could help you lose body fat, even if your calorie intake remains the same.  That’s the finding of a study by French researchers.

They examined a group of 27 older women with type 2 diabetes. Half the group took 3 grams of fish oil a day for two months. The other half took a placebo. Their food intake remained constant.

At the end of the study, the women taking the fish oil had 3.5% less body fat and their fat cells were 6% smaller, compared to the placebo group. They had also reduced their risk for premature heart disease, with lower triglycerides and less inflammation.

The Anti-Aging Bottom Line: Add fish oil capsules to your weight-loss regime, even if you already eat fatty fish such as salmon or herring at least three times a week.

Our Omega-T Fish Oil contains pure, all-natural fish oils from Norweigan salmon and is certified to be contaminant-free by independent testing.

by Maggie Spilner

You can build bypasses around blockages by walking. Let me repeat that. Your body has the ability to widen and connect collateral blood vessels so that they can reroute some of the blood flow around a blockage in the heart.

There’s only one thing your body requires to make this happen --exercise. When you exercise you increase blood flow through coronary arteries. Increased pressure in those arteries stimulates collateral blood vessels to elongate, widen and form new connections. Growing new collateral blood vessels is no joke; it can ease chest pain, limit heart attack damage, improve your chances of survival and maybe offer extra time for emergency therapy if you’re having a heart attack.

How much exercise is necessary to perform this little miracle? Brisk walking, that gets your heart beating faster, for 20-30 minutes at a time, several times a week should do the trick. If you have coronary artery disease and you’re not exercising now, you may want to talk to your doctor about how to get started. But in general, walking is a safe way to start.

The Anti-Aging Bottom Line: Exercise can mean the difference between having bypass surgery or not if you already have narrowed coronary arteries. The January 2008 Harvard Heart Letter asks, “Why not give yourself a natural bypass before you need a surgeon to perform a more painful and hazardous one?”

by Maggie Spilner

I recently reviewed a compelling book The Arthritis Cure by Jason Theodorasakis, MD. Here is his “recipe” for arthriti  prevention and relief.

1. Do exercises that strengthen quads to reinforce knees.

2. Use low weight and high repetitions.

3. When doing squats, lunges, or leg presses, avoid locking knees completely.

4. Walk or run with the correct form.

5. Invest in a good pair of shoes that cushion the impact on knees.

6. Back off from activities such as walking hills or knee-bending exercises that cause you pain.

7. Stretch adequately, emphasizing quad and hamstring muscles. Warm up before stretching.

8. Consider preventative use of a high quality glucosamine and chondroitin supplement.

9. Avoid longterm over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription painkillers. These might damage joint health, even if they temporarily relieve pain.

10. Maintain a healthy weight.

Note: Always see a doctor if you experience knee pain that is not relieved by several days of rest, ice, massage and elevation.

The Anti-Aging Bottom Line: Osteoarthritis affects an estimated 35 million Americans after midlife and can be severely debilitating. It is important to be proactive in preventing joint pain in order to preserve your quality of life as you age.

Our Osteo-GC and Super Osteo-GM are safe, effective ways to support optimal joint, cartilage and bone health.

by Carey Rossi

If cancer is a concern for you, start eating lots of Indian food—or at least take some curcumin, the pigment that gives turmeric its golden color, because it may delay or even stop cancer cell growth, according to two recent studies.

The first concluded that curcumin induced tumor cell death, meaning that it prevented cancer cells from multiplying and spreading throughout the body. (Liao YF, et al. Life Sci. 2007 Dec 7:Epub ahead of print.) The second report concluded that doses up to 12 grams of curcumin is safe for humans. (Steward WP, et al. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2008 Jan 9:Epub ahead of print.)

The Anti-Aging Bottom Line: You can increase your intake of curcumin by eating more curried dishes, but know this: there is only 3% to 6% curcumin in turmeric. Luckily, curcumin is available in supplemental form. We recommend taking 20 mg to 200 mg per day of a standardized extract.

Each of our Multi Nutrient Formulas contain 20 mg of curcumin standardized to 95% curcuminoids. Our Brain Energizer Formula contains a full 200 mg of standardized curcumin.

This sweet and savory salad is a fresh pick-me-up for any season. The blueberries contain epicatechin, an antioxidant compound that may help to preserve brain power.

Blueberry Vinaigrette

Makes twelve 2 T. servings.

1/2 c. olive oil
1/2 c. balsamic vinegar
1/2 c. frozen or fresh blueberries
1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 T. brown sugar
1 tsp. minced shallot
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. paprika

1. Combine all ingredients in blender or food processor, and process until smooth.
2. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
3. Extra dressing will keep for about two weeks in the refrigerator.

Salad

Makes two 2 c. servings.

2 c. mixed salad greens
1 c. fresh blueberries
1/2 c. mandarin oranges, drained, or fresh tangerines, sectioned
1 T. almond slivers
1 T. feta cheese
4 T. blueberry vinaigrette

1. Toss the greens in 2 T. of blueberry vinaigrette and arrange on two salad plates.
2. Top each serving with blueberries, orange slices, almonds and feta cheese.

Nutritional Information per Serving: 195 calories, 2.8 g protein, 21 g carbohydrates, 11.8 g fat (2 g saturated), 4 mg cholesterol, 3.5 g fiber, 118 mg sodium.

Shrimp is a fast, fun and fabulous entrée. Capers have an array of health-protecting compounds, while shrimp provide healthy omega-3 fats.

Serves 2.

12 large shrimp
2 T. olive oil
1/2 c. white wine (or fish or vegetable stock)
1 T. lemon juice
2 T. capers, drained
1 T. fresh herbs, such as basil, parsley or thyme
1 clove garlic, crushed (optional)
1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes (optional)

1. Use a heavy skillet large enough to hold the shrimp in one layer. Heat the skillet over a medium-high heat and add olive oil. Quickly sear the shrimp on both sides. Remove and keep warm.

2. To the same skillet, add the white wine, lemon juice, garlic and red pepper flakes, if using. Cook until thickened and reduced.

3. Add shrimp back to the pan, coating with the sauce. Add capers, sprinkle herbs on top and serve on pasta.

NOTE: This cooking method and sauce goes equally well with scallops or fish.

QUICK TIP: Capers are one of the highest food sources of quercetin. A powerful antioxidant, quercetin is one of the most active flavonoids, and is found in high concentrations in many medicinal plants.

Nutritional Information per Serving: 255 calories, 11.5 g carbohydrates, 10.2 g protein, 14.6 g fat (2 g saturated), 63 mg cholesterol, .3 g fiber, 341 mg sodium.