Chronic Pain Relief

Chronic Pain and Being Careful with Narcotics

The average person who is dealing with chronic pain is likely to be needing to take narcotics for pain control. Narcotics are a class of drugs that do have the ability to powerfully control chronic pain. Unfortunately they are also addictive and likely to push a person into needing to take the medication all the time.

There is a real disagreement as to whether people who have chronic pain should take narcotics. Some doctors refuse to use narcotics in patients with chronic pain. Others are rather liberal with the medication. As you can imagine, people who "like" narcotics tend to become patients of doctors who prescribe them with little qualification as to the need for the narcotic or the reason for the pain.

Well, we all know what pain is. But what is chronic pain? Well the purpose of pain is to help us avoid bad things happening to our body. When an injury happens, things hurt. That’s the way it's supposed to be. That is called "acute pain".

Chronic pain, however, is pain that lasts well after the 6 week time that it should normally take for an injury to get better. Some would say that you can't call it chronic pain until it has lasted for 3 months. Either way the pain is lasting well after the injury.

There are many medical strategies to try to help deal with chronic pain and it is absolutely crucial that anybody who has chronic pain seek medical attention to figure out why they have it and what can be done about it. Nobody and I repeat nobody should ever deal with their chronic pain using alternative strategies until they have had a thorough evaluation.

Unfortunately for many people, after the evaluation there is the reality that their chronic pain is still with them. It just stays and stays and stays. In that case it becomes very reasonable to pursue alternative strategies as long as they are safe. Particularly for the person who is not going to give up.

I have discovered that a very powerful nutrient grown right in the Sonoran Desert called "betalains" may help to decrease chronic pain. At least that’s been the experience of some people who have been fortunate enough to get ahold of this nutrient.

Fortunately this nutrient can now be obtained through a whole food in drink form that actually tastes good. You can read the story about this very powerful nutrient and how it might help chronic pain at Pain Relief.

There is a reasonable chance that you will need less narcotic treatment for your chronic pain if you are using these betalains. So I encourage you to get them the drink tastes very good and you don’t have to worry about pills. The only thing you have to lose is - your chronic pain.

Get Your Chronic Pain Relief

Stan Lang
Independent Business Affilate
Trivita ID#13179375
(814) 590-9300

Weigth Loss

Desperate To Lose Weight

A few studies indicate that caffeine may slightly enhance weight loss in people who exercise and maintain a low-fat diet. But there’s no evidence that increased caffeine intake results in significant or permanent weight loss.

Marketers of fad diets and weight-loss supplements often exaggerate the benefits of caffeine, claiming that caffeine will significantly curb your appetite and help you drop pounds quickly. However, clinical studies on the relationship between caffeine and weight loss don’t support these claims.

Here’s what researchers have found:

• Caffeine may act as an appetite suppressant. However, while studies have shown that some people eat less after consuming caffeine, this effect is brief – not long enough to lead to significant weight loss.
• Caffeine may increase your body’s ability to burn calories. Caffeine is thought to stimulate thermogenesis – one way your body generates heat and energy from digesting food. However, caffeine’s role in thermogenesis probably isn’t enough to result in significant weight loss.
• Caffeine acts as a diuretic, which means it causes an increase in the amount of urine you excrete. This water loss may temporarily decrease your body weight.

It’s important to keep in mind that caffeine is a stimulant that can increase your heart rate and blood pressure, interrupt your sleep, and cause nervousness and irritability. Also, many caffeinated beverages are high in calories, which can contribute to unwanted weight gain.

David Ogden- Helping People Help Themselves
TriVita Affiliate 13142173
Sonoran Bloom- New ant-inflammatory, antioxidant and detoxifying drink providing natural pain relief for inflammation
phone 1-386-308-1956 After 6PM EST
Skype seadogs11

Vitamin D

 

With all the current pregnancies in our church, I thought I'd look into some of the disorders that may arise during a pregnancy. I also looked at vitamins and minerals, and their affect, both good and bad, on pregnant women. One such order that I've found is Preeclampsia, which from at least one study showed that all the women suffering from this disorder had low levels of vitamin d and omega-3.

What is Preeclampsia?

According to the Preeclampsia website, "Preeclampsia is a disorder that occurs only during pregnancy and the postpartum period and affects both the mother and the unborn baby. Affecting at least 5-8% of all pregnancies, it is a rapidly progressive condition characterized by high blood pressure and the presence of protein in the urine. Swelling, sudden weight gain, headaches and changes in vision are important symptoms; however, some women with rapidly advancing disease report few symptoms." [1]

The exact causes of Preeclampsia remain unclear, although researchers suspect poor nutrition, high body fat, immune deficiencies, and insufficient blood flow to the uterus, with ethnicity and heredity seen as possible factors.

Hopes have been raised for a number of possible preventive factors – including antioxidant vitamins and chocolate – but these indications were not supported by subsequent research (Triche EW et al. 2008; Rumbold A et al. 2008; Klebanoff MA et al. 2009). [2]

Can low vitamin D levels have an affect on women during their pregnancy?

A recent study conducted in Norway showed that "nulliparous women who develop Preeclampsia had low concentrations of vitamin D in serum sampled in mid-pregnancy. The aim of the present study was to estimate the association between intake of vitamin D during pregnancy and the risk of Preeclampsia in 23,423 nulliparous pregnant women taking part in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study." [3]

The findings in the study may not be conclusive, however, it did show that women who had Preeclampsia, did have a lower level of vitamin d. "The findings are consistent with other reports of a protective effect of vitamin D on Preeclampsia development. However, because vitamin D intake is highly correlated with the intake of long chain n-3 fatty acids in the Norwegian diet, further research is needed to disentangle the separate effects of these nutrients." [3]

Because of the high consumption of fish in the Norwegian diet, researchers also noted that the women who reported higher vitamin D intake also reported higher omega-3 intake (from food and/or pills). This makes sense, given that fish are by far the best food sources of both nutrients.

You may have heard that omega-3 essential fatty acids are an important part of your diet, and so is vitamin d. Whether you are pregnant or not, eating healthy foods and taking a daily supplement is the key to good health.

A good source of vitamin d is TriVita's VitaCal-Mag D, which provides, five forms of chelated calcium, over 20 bone-fortifying vitamins and minerals, 100% RDI of Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc and Vitamin D, and Chlorophyll-coated tablets that protect valuable nutrients, time-releasing optimal absorption.

And a good source of omega-3 is TriVita's Omega Prime, which meet the American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines. One daily dose of Omega Prime provides the amount of Omega-3 recommended by the AHA for healthy individuals, as well as for those who have heart disease or the risk of it.

To learn more about TriVita's VitaCal-Mag D, go to TriVita Products and click on the Vitamin D link.

Jeffrey Sloe
440-725-3729
jeff@internetmarketingadvisors.net
TriVita Independent Business Affiliate, 12871028
Vitamin D

Sources:
[1] http://www.Preeclampsia.org/about.asp
[2] Triche EW, Grosso LM, Belanger K, Darefsky AS, Benowitz NL, Bracken MB. Chocolate consumption in pregnancy and reduced likelihood of Preeclampsia. Epidemiology. 2008 May;19(3):459-64.
[3] http://journals.lww.com/epidem/Abstract/2009/09000/Vitamin_D_Supplementation_and_Reduced_Risk_of.18.aspx

desperate to Lose Weight

Desperate To Lose Weight

Obesity has indeed become a chronic condition through the years. Although it can be a “temporary problem” which can be solved and treated for a couple of months or years with a rigid diet, losing excessive weight gain is not always possible and easy.

For most obese people, it can be a frustrating and life-long effort if not addressed properly. In order to promote safe and effective weight loss, various weight loss programs have been created to provide long-term approach in controlling obesity. If you are determined to lose weight by enrolling into a specific weight loss program, here are some of the tips you can use to find that responsible and safe weight loss program for you.

- Make sure the diet is safe. You can do this by double-checking if the diet offered by the weight loss program includes the vitamins, minerals, and proteins required in the Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs).

- Check if the weigh loss diet offers low calories. Since too much calorie intake is one of the primary reasons of obesity, make sure that the diet provided by the weight loss program you are planning to enrol is low in calories and not in essential and essential contents.

- A responsible weight loss program should be directed towards a slow and steady weight loss. Since weight loss cannot be achieved overnight, make sure that the weight loss program promotes slow but sure weight loss strategies. Most experts agree that the safest weight loss is about a pound a week after the first 2 weeks. It is expected that since many weight loss programs based losing weight with calorie-restricted diets, you will experience rapid weight loss during the 2 weeks. Don’t worry because this loss is mainly fluid and can be regained quickly when you go back to a normal-calorie diet. Unless your physician thinks that losing weight rapidly is best for your health condition would benefit, stick to quick weight loss.

- The weight loss program can give you an idea how much weight you should and you could lose, can present to you the appropriate weight-loss program for your body’s condition, and can give you a rough estimate on how much weight you should lose in a specific period of time.

- Check if the weight loss program you are planning to enrol with offers weight maintenance plans after the weight loss phase. A safe weight loss program must ensure the safety and effectivity of the weight loss diet by monitoring its after effects. Inquire if the weight loss program offers weight maintenance because it is the most difficult part of controlling weight.

- Make sure that the weight program can help you permanently change your lifestyle towards healthy living. A responsible weight loss program should help the person change his/her dietary habits as well as the level of physical activity in order to avoid repeating the factors that led him/her to obesity before.

- Look for Behavior modification help. The weight loss program should include education in healthy eating habits and long-term plans in dealing with weight problems. It should also include individually tailored exercise programs for the student.

- Keep an eye on financial transparency. Make sure that the weight loss program provides a detailed statement of fees and actual costs of additional items like dietary supplements in your bill.

David Ogden- Helping People Help Themselves

TriVita Affiliate 13142173
Sonoran Bloom - New ant-inflammatory, antioxidant and detoxifying drink providing natural pain relief for inflammation
phone 1-386-308-1956 After 6PM EST
Skype seadogs11

The B-12 Family of B Vitamins

Homocysteine, Genetics & Vitamins - by Brazos Minshew, TriVita's Chief Science Officer

Homocysteine (HCY) is a tool used by your body to modify protein. Specifically, homocysteine carves up the amino acid methionine into smaller amino acids. Each of these amino acids has important functions. The "leftovers" from this construction project are not thrown away. Instead, your body recombines the debris back into methionine again.

Methionine is the protein that serves as the foundation for all other proteins. It's like concrete: You can build a small cottage or a large skyscraper on the same concrete foundation. You can build brain cells, heart cells, bone cells, and healthy cells for your entire body on the protein methionine. Homocysteine is responsible for crafting that foundation. While homocysteine is an excellent tool for your body, too much of it can be fatal.

There is a common gene defect among people in North America. It is called an MTHFR defect. It allows homocysteine to escape into the bloodstream and literally shred your arteries, causing a stroke; tangle your brain cells causing Alzheimer's disease; shatter your bones causing osteoporosis; and inflame your heart, causing a heart attack.

Another common genetic defect is MTHFD. It allows homocysteine to run amok inside your cells. This can lead to cell mutations and even cancer.

What an elegant, yet destructive element homocysteine can prove to be! How can we modify homocysteine and harness its constructive power while protecting against its destructive rampage?

The answer is found in Vital Amines.

Vital Amines are active enzymes in your blood, organs, and even inside your cells. You may know them by their shortened name - vitamins! In the world of "B" vitamins there are two families:

1. The MTHFR family

• a. B-12
• b. Folic acid
• c. B-6
• d. Biotin

2. The MTHFD family

• a. Riboflavin
• b. B-1
• c. Niacin
• d. Pantothenic acid

Elevated homocysteine can be caused by genetics or poor nutrition. When a person has an active genetic defect they require intense nutrition to offset the imbalance caused by the gene mutation. Supplemental nutrition is very effective in most cases. TriVita's HCY Guard® was designed specifically for high HCY. One study on TriVita's HCY Guard found that HCY levels could be reduced by 35% in just 6 weeks!

Vital amines such as the Riboflavin family of B vitamins combine with antioxidants to help reduce the activity of cellular homocysteine. One study found that the specific antioxidant ECGC (the antioxidant found in green tea) stopped the trigger DNMT (an enzyme) from releasing homocysteine inside the cell. People consuming large amounts of ECGC have reduced DNMT and have fewer cases of cancer.

Riboflavin and ECGC are both found in Energy Now!®. In fact, just as TriVita's Sublingual B-12 and HCY Guard supplements contain the B-12 family of B vitamins, Energy Now! contains the complementary Riboflavin family of B vitamins. They work together to form a perfect B complex that helps your body reduce homocysteine.

Is there a way to tell if you have one of these common disease risks? Yes; one way is to have a genetic test performed. This is usually done by drawing enough blood to collect DNA and submitting this to one of only a few labs in North America that can perform genetic testing. A second way is to have your homocysteine levels tested. This can be performed by most medical laboratories. Ask your doctor to do this test with your annual physical.

Another indicator of elevated homocysteine is your own family tree. Does any "first-degree" relative (father, mother, brother, or sister) have any of the conditions attributed to homocysteine? If so, you likely have the gene defect. Does a "second-degree" relative (grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins) have any of the conditions attributed to homocysteine? If so, you may have the gene defect as well.

Did you know nutrient deficiencies can mimic a genetic defect by failing to provide the minimum amount of vital amines necessary to prevent elevated homocysteine? A poor diet, illness, pregnancy, aging, and stress can place you at risk for elevated HCY. Children and adults with asthma and irritable bowel syndrome are at high risk for elevated HCY.

Lowering your homocysteine

High HCY in your blood is linked to serious illness. Helping your body reduce high HCY may greatly reduce your risk for serious illness. These actions will also help:

• Eat fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants - 5 servings daily for children, 7 servings for women, and 9 servings for men.
• Reduce your stress load.
• Get at least 30 minutes of vigorous activity every day.
• Supplement your diet with nutrients such as TriVita's HCY Guard and Energy Now!.
• Defeat stress by nurturing your spirit with healthy relationships and a healthy sense of purpose.

Remember, genes are not fate; you have as much control over your genes (through nutrients and nurturing) as they have over you. Build a healthy foundation for your future by balancing your homocysteine.

Be sure to have your homocysteine levels tested if:

• You have a family history of:
  • Heart disease
  • Stroke
  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Osteoporosis
  • Cancer
• You experience gastric disturbances, breathing difficulties, or kidney issues
• You are over 50 You are pregnant
• You are experiencing high stress levels
• You eat a poor diet
• You don't exercise regularly

---

This article was reprinted in its entirety to keep its integrity. The artcle was written by Brazos Minshew, TriVita's Chief Science Officer.

Jeffrey Sloe
440-725-3729
jeff@internetmarketingadvisors.net
Independent TriVita Business Affiliate, 12871028
Additional Vitamin B-12 Information

Affects of Omega-3 on DOMS

For everything that's suggested as being good, there is usually something that's bad. It's no difference when it comes to physical fitness.

Just when you thought exercise was important in order to maintain your ideal weight, and keep you physically fit, we hear about a down side, Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS). It's not likely that you'll ever experience DOMS, but the fact remains that it does affect many people who are determined to stay, or get in shape.

According to Wikipedia, "(DOMS), sometimes called muscle fever, is the pain or discomfort often felt 24 to 72 hours after exercising and subsides generally within 2 to 3 days. It is commonly thought to be caused by increased lactate concentrations; however, this is a misconception as it has been shown elevated levels of lactic acid rarely persist after an hour of rest." [1]

This sort of muscle pain is not quite the same as the muscle pain or fatigue you experience during exercise. This delayed pain is also very different than the acute, sudden pain of and injury such as muscle strains and sprains, which is marked by an abrupt, specific and sudden pain that occurs during activity and often causes swelling or bruising.

There are no known simple treatments for DOMS; however, several theories or home remedies, if you will, have been used to treat DOMS. Research continues on DOMS, but researchers haven't come up with a solution for a quick recovery from DOMS. Although there is no real cure, research has been focusing on "anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents."

One of the key elements of focus is omega-3. Many of us may know that omega-3s are known for their anti-inflammatory agents. That's why attention has been moving towards these broadly beneficial fatty acids.

Not only do essential fatty acids (EFAs), which are primarily found in fatty fish, such as salmon, herring, and to a lesser extent tuna, help protect the heart and lower cholesterol, but now researchers are finding that they can also help cure DOMS.

A research team in Iran has published the encouraging results of a small randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (Tartibian B et al. Clin J Sport Med 2009). [2]

"In this study, 27 men who had not participated in any exercise program for 60 days were asked to do bench-stepping in a way known to cause 'eccentric muscle loading', wherein the muscle lengthens as it contracts, frequently causing muscle damage and resulting DOMS." [3]

Before beginning the exercise, the men were assigned to take either fish oil (high in omega-3 EPA and DHA) or placebo pills.

"The researchers measured indirect markers of muscle soreness, including perceived pain, thigh circumference (an indicator of muscle inflammation), and range of motion in the knee joint. Compared to the placebo and control group, the men in the omega-3 fish oil group showed significant improvements 24 and 48 hours following the exercise." [3]

If your starting a new exercise routine, follow the advice of physical fitness experts and start slowly and make sure you warm-up, before exercising, and cool-down, after exercising. These simple steps may prevent DOMS. If you're like me, you want to go full out right away, which is not the best way to loss weight or get in shape.

If you do happen to experience DOMS, or if you’re looking for an omega-3 supplement, try TriVita's Omega Prime, a supplement that supplies your daily requirements of omega-3 fatty acids.

You can find additional information on Omega Prime and all of the TriVita nutritional products by going to my TriVita Products page.

Jeffrey Sloe
Independent TriVita Business Affiliate - #12871028
440-725-3729

Sources:
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_onset_muscle_soreness
[2] Tartibian B, Maleki BH, Abbasi A. The effects of ingestion of omega-3 fatty acids on perceived pain and external symptoms of delayed onset muscle soreness in untrained men. Clin J Sport Med 2009 Mar;19(2):115-9. doi: 10.1097/JSM.0b013e31819b51b3
[3] http://newsletter.vitalchoice.com/e_article001546097.cfm?x=bg4sCWR,bfv5gTb0

 

 

 

 

Omega Prime

For everything that's suggested as being good, there is usually something that's bad. It's no difference when it comes to physical fitness.

Just when you thought exercise was important in order to maintain your ideal weight, and keep you physically fit, we hear about a down side, Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS). It's not likely that you'll ever experience DOMS, but the fact remains that it does effect many people who are determined to stay, or get in shape.

According to Wikipedia, "(DOMS), sometimes called muscle fever, is the pain or discomfort often felt 24 to 72 hours after exercising and subsides generally within 2 to 3 days. It is commonly thought to be caused by increased lactate concentrations; however, this is a misconception as it has been shown elevated levels of lactic acid rarely persist after an hour of rest." [1]

This sort of muscle pain is not quite the same as the muscle pain or fatigue you experience during exercise. This delayed pain is also very different than the acute, sudden pain of and injury such as muscle strains and sprains, which is marked by an abrupt, specific and sudden pain that occurs during activity and often causes swelling or bruising.

There are no real known simple treatment for DOMS; however, several theories or home remedies, if you will, have been used to treat DOMS. Research continues on DOMS, but researchers haven't come up with a solution for a quick recovery from DOMS. Although there is no real cure, research has been focusing on "anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents."

One of the key elements of focus is omega-3. Many of us may know that omega-3s are known for their anti-inflammatory agents. That's why attention has been moving towards these broadly beneficial fatty acids.

Not only do essential fatty acids (EFAs), which are primarily found in fatty fish, such as salmon, herring, and to a lesser extent tuna, help protect the heart and lower cholesterol, but now researchers are finding that they can also help cure DOMS.

A research team in Iran has published the encouraging results of a small randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (Tartibian B et al. Clin J Sport Med 2009). [2]

"In this study, 27 men who had not participated in any exercise program for 60 days were asked to do bench-stepping in a way known to cause 'eccentric muscle loading', wherein the muscle lengthens as it contracts, frequently causing muscle damage and resulting DOMS." [3]

Before beginning the exercise, the men were assigned to take either fish oil (high in omega-3 EPA and DHA) or placebo pills.

"The researchers measured indirect markers of muscle soreness, including perceived pain, thigh circumference (an indicator of muscle inflammation), and range of motion in the knee joint. Compared to the placebo and control group, the men in the omega-3 fish oil group showed significant improvements 24 and 48 hours following the exercise.:" [3]

If your starting a new exercise routine, follow the advice of physical fitness experts and start slowly and and make sure you warm-up, before exercising, and cool-down, after exercising. These simple steps may prevent DOMS. If you're like me, you want to go full out right away, which is not the best way to loss weight or get in shape.

If you do happen to experience DOMS, or if your looking for an omega-3 supplement, try TriVita's Omega Prime, a supplement that supplies your daily requirements of omega-3 fatty acids.

You can find additional information on Omega Prime and all of the TriVita nutritional products by going to http://trivitaproduct.info.

Jeffrey Sloe
Independent TriVita Business Affiliate - #12871028
440-725-3729

Sources:
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_onset_muscle_soreness
[2] Tartibian B, Maleki BH, Abbasi A. The effects of ingestion of omega-3 fatty acids on perceived pain and external symptoms of delayed onset muscle soreness in untrained men. Clin J Sport Med 2009 Mar;19(2):115-9. doi: 10.1097/JSM.0b013e31819b51b3
[3] http://newsletter.vitalchoice.com/e_article001546097.cfm?x=bg4sCWR,bfv5gTb0