Wellness Blog

CoQ10 adds to the Mediterranean diet's heart health benefits in the elderly.

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:47:00 GMT

From Isagenixhealth.net

CoQ10 adds to Mediterranean diet's heart health benefits in elderly

Choosing to eat a traditional Mediterranean-style diet for its positive effects on heart health and healthy aging goes hand-in-hand with supplementing with coenzyme Q10 (coQ10), according to additional evidence from researchers at the University of Córdoba, Spain.

A year ago, the researchers reported that supplementing a Mediterranean diet with coQ10 provided greater antioxidant protection and could help slow aging (1). Now in their latest study, they report that the combination also reduces expression of genetic pathways involved in causing stress on cells—more precisely, on the organelle known as the endoplasmic reticulum (2).

The new crossover study randomly assigned older men and women to receive either a Mediterranean diet alone, a Mediterranean diet supplemented with 200 milligrams of coQ10 daily, or a Western diet rich in saturated fat. The researchers evaluated inflammatory and stress markers of the participants while on each of the diets.

The results, published in the Journal of Gerontology, showed that coQ10 improved the Mediterranean diet’s positive benefits for the elderly subjects. They wrote, “the consumption of a Med [Mediterranean] diet supplemented with CoQ [coQ10] is beneficial for healthy aging of individuals.”

Inflammation in the body is known to be a culprit in reduced health and accelerated aging, and it starts in the body’s cells. A component of cells that can contribute is the endoplasmic reticulum. Normally serving a multitude of normal functions in the cell, the endoplasmic reticulum, when overworked, releases major inflammatory and stress signals.

This is where antioxidants such as coQ10 step in. Acting in the mitochondria, coQ10 plays a major role in producing energy and resisting stress in cells. CoQ10′s antioxidant and stress-protective effects augments those of the Mediterranean diet.

Mediterranean-style Isagenix System

Rich in fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices, whole grains, fish, and monounsaturated fats from olive oil, the traditional Mediterranean-style diet has been long admired for its positive effects on heart health and healthy aging.

Elements of Mediterranean-style eating are found easily in an Isagenix system. For example, the primary source of fat in IsaLean Shake is olive oil and several products contain antioxidant-rich herbs and spices. The system also emphasizes healthy eating with 400- to 600-calorie meals consisting of lean proteins, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

When Ageless Essentials Daily Pack is included in an Isagenix system (as in this one), consumers can reap the benefits of 100 milligrams of patent-pending coQ10 formulated for high absorption (found in the Ageless Actives softgels). The A.M. and P.M. packets also provide concentrated fish oil, grape skin extract, resveratrol (a compound found in red wine), and vitamins and minerals.

References

1. Yubero-Serrano EM, Delgado-Casado N, Delgado-Lista J et al. Postprandial antioxidant effect of the Mediterranean diet supplemented with coenzyme Q10 in elderly men and women. Age (Dordr ) 2011;33:579-90. doi:10.1007/s11357-010-9199-8

2. Yubero-Serrano EM, Gonzalez-Guardia L, Rangel-Zuniga O et al. Mediterranean diet supplemented with coenzyme q10 modifies the expression of proinflammatory and endoplasmic reticulum stress-related genes in elderly men and women. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2012;67:3-10. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glr167

The Fructose Question: Once More With Feeling

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 02:18:00 GMT

December 10, 2011

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Fruits and vegetables supply fructose and glucose at naturally healthy levels, but sugar-sweetened beverages can increase consumption drastically.

by Michael Colgan, Ph.D.

There are a few folk out there who are still missing the scientific picture on sugar, because I get the same questions repeated at least once a week. Sugars form a natural part of the human diet and mechanisms to deal with them have been built into our DNA for millions of years.

If you eat vegetables, you eat naturally occurring fructose and glucose every day. If you eat fruit, you eat naturally occurring fructose and glucose every day. If you do not eat fruit & vegetables, you will suffer a lot of illness. If you like self-torture, avoiding all fructose and glucose in your diet will suit you very well.

All tree, bush, and vine fruits, and all berries that folk eat as fruits, contain fructose and glucose, as do most vegetables. In plants, fructose may be present as fructose, and glucose as glucose, or both as components of sucrose. Sucrose is composed of a molecule of glucose and a molecule of fructose bonded together.Here are some very conservative figures of fructose and total sugars content from the US Department of Agriculture, which always leans a fair way to support commerce. Note that the figures are for 3.5 ounces. A good-sized apple, the size I would consider to still be an apple, is 6 to 7 ounces. The Belle de Boskoop eating apples I can see right now on the tree outside my study window average about 10 ounces each. They are about 26 grams fructose each.

Sugar content of common plant foods (g/100g)(1)

Fruits	Total Carbohydrate (grams)	Total Sugar (grams)	Free Fructose (grams)
Apples	13.8	10.4	5.9
Apricots	11.1	9.2	0.9
Bananas	22.8	12.2	4.9
Figs, dried	63.9	47.9	22.9
Grapes	18.1	15.5	8.1
Peaches	9.5	8.4	1.5
Pears	15.5	9.8	6.2
Pineapple	13.1	9.9	2.1
Plums	11.4	9.9	3.1
Vegetables
Beets	9.6	6.8	0.1
Carrots	9.6	4.7	0.6
Corn, sweet	18.7	6.3	1.9
Red pepper, sweet	6.0	4.2	2.3
Onion, sweet	7.6	5.0	2.0
Sweet potato	20.1	4.2	0.7

Too Much Sugar

Sugar-sweetened sodas contain anywhere from 20 to 80 grams of sugar per serving.

One problem with the American diet today is too much sugar supplied in the form of sugary desserts and soft drinks. With the invention of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which was brought into the food chain in 1970, sugar consumption has increased substantially.

Since about 2000, numerous reviews link high consumption of HFCS to the current epidemics of obesity, adult-onset-diabetes, and other metabolic syndrome disorders in the US today. The largest source of HFCS in the American diet is sodas (the typical amount of sugar in soda ranges from 20 to 80 grams per can or bottle) (1-5). My book Nutrition for Champions tells you how to avoid most of it (6).

Non-caloric Sweeteners

Can you get around the sugar problem by drinking “diet” sodas and soft drinks, and eating “diet” foods sweetened with sucralose or other synthetic “no-calorie” (hypocaloric) sweeteners? No way! They fail utterly to satisfy the genetically mandated appetitive arousal of the brain and the gut. Consequently, users typically eat more calories elsewhere. You have a diet coke and 15 minutes later that piece of pumpkin pie in the fridge is hollering, “Eat me now!”

The latest, just published, review of hundreds of studies of these sweeteners concluded: “Despite tremendous interest in hypocaloric sweeteners as a potential tool to prevent obesity and its complications, we found little evidence to support their health benefits as compared to caloric alternatives” (7).

Nature spent millions of years developing our genes to respond with a precision that makes cell phone technology look quaint and cumbrous. Any time you try to fool them with lo-cal, no-cal synthetic foods, they will make you suffer down the road.

References

1.USDA National Database for Standard Reference. Available at: http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/
2. Malik VS, Schulze MB, Hu FB. Intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and weight gain: a systematic review. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006 Aug;84(2):274-88.
3. Vermunt SH, Pasman WJ, Schaafsma G, Kardinaal AF: Effects of sugar intake on body weight: a review. Obes Rev 2003, 4:91-99.
4. Tuomilehto J, et al. Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study Group: Prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus by changes in lifestyle among subjects with impaired glucose tolerance. N Engl J Med 2001, 344:1343-1350.
5. Knowler WC, Barrett-Connor E, Fowler SE, Hamman RF, Lachin JM, Walker EA, Nathan DM: Reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes with lifestyle intervention or metformin. N Engl J Med 2002, 346:393-403
6. Colgan M. Nutrition for Champions. Vancouver: Science Books, 2007.
7. Natasha Wiebe, Raj Padwal, Catherine Field, Seth Marks, Rene Jacobs and Marcello Tonelli A systematic review on the effect of sweeteners on glycemic response and clinically relevant outcomes. BMC Medicine 2011, 9:123 doi: 10.1186/1741-7015-9-123 Published: 17 November 2011.

About Dr. Colgan

Dr. Michael Colgan is a world-renowned research scientist, leading expert in the inhibition of aging, and a member of the Isagenix Science Advisory Board. Dr. Colgan has provided nutrition, training and anti-aging programs to more than 11,000 athletes, including many Olympians. He is director of his eponymous Colgan Institute, a consulting, educational and research facility concerned with the effects of nutrition and exercise on athletic performance, along with prevention of chronic degenerative disease, and prevention of degeneration of the brain.

What are Telomeres?

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 04:45:00 GMT

Article courtesy of Isagenix Corporation

To put perspective on the important role of telomeres, let’s take a look at the chromosomes they protect.

Chromosomes are long, organized strands of DNA and proteins found in cells. These strands are in charge of all the processes that occur inside cells. The proper placement and functioning of chromosomes can predispose people to a normal, healthy body. Chromosomes also contain hereditary indicators that play very important roles in the development of an individual.

At both ends of every chromosome strand is a telomere. Telomeres act like bookends. Much like bookends are used to hold a row of books upright and organized on a shelf, telomeres keep chromosomes protected and intact. Telomeres prevent our chromosomes from becoming frayed, from fusing into rings, or binding with other DNA.

Cellular Aging

Cells are key to keeping our body going. They supply energy, regenerate to heal wounds, and are the foundation of our organs. With such an important role, it’s easy to see how keeping cells functioning in top form as long as possible is vital to healthy living. When cells are no longer able to replicate, the body’s ability to defend and repair itself, this leaves you susceptible to the complications of aging.

To understand the aging process, it’s important to take a look at the cellular level to discover how our cells age, and what impacts the aging process.

Cellular Aging Process & Telomere Shortening

Increased Free Radicals

Each day, free radicals are created inside our bodies through normal, necessary chemical reactions. We also are exposed to and absorb free radicals that exists in our environments through pollution, UV radiation, x-rays, and second hand smoke and through our own actions from stress, smoking, and weight gain.

Over-exposure to free radicals damages not only our cells’ ability to function, but also the integrity of our cells’ overall composition. This results in a next generation of cells that is less healthy and less productive than the cells they came from. As we grow older, the number of mistakes incurred by daily cellular reproduction increases. The body actually creates nonfunctional cells, leading to more rapid deterioration of the body’s functions. As this process continues, it creates an increase in oxidative stress.

Increased Oxidative Stress

Our bodies constantly react with the air we breathe. We breathe in oxygen, as well as many other pollutants and toxins in our environment. As we breathe and eat, our body uses the oxygen and food to help create energy. The energy creating process, as well as the pollutants in our environment, create highly reactive molecules. These molecules are called free radicals. When free radicals interact with other molecules within the cellular structure, damage to proteins, membranes and DNA can occur.

Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance in a cell’s production and handling of free radicals and its natural ability to repair the damage caused by the exposure. Telomere shortening is accelerated by oxidative stress and inflammation. Both of these processes are affected by diet and lifestyle.

Telomere Shortening

With a few exceptions, the natural process for human growth and healing involves cells dividing. Cells divide primarily to grow or heal the body by replacing worn out cells with new cells.

Telomeres play an important role in cell division. Each time a cell divides, the DNA unwraps and the information in the DNA is copied. When the cell is finished dividing, the DNA comes back together and telomeres re-assume their protective roles at the ends of the chromosomes. Unfortunately, the telomeres lose a little bit of length each time this happens, like a pencil eraser gets shorter each time it’s used.

Scientists have noticed that cells stop replicating when telomeres become too short. Without adequate telomere protection, essential parts of the DNA can be damaged in the replication process. In humans, a cell replicates approximately 40-60 times before the telomeres become too short. This limit is called the Hayflick Phenomenon (or limit). Research has shown the more a cell divides, the shorter the telomeres get, and the less time the cell will be productive and able to divide.

Diminished Antioxidant Defenses

Free radicals are highly reactive, unstable molecules that are thought to oxidize molecules, causing oxidative and cellular damage and thus putting the body in a state of imbalance. Antioxidants are nature’s defense against the harmful effects of free radicals. They guard cellular structures and DNA against electron-scavenging free radicals. Antioxidants can donate or receive electrons to neutralize free radicals, stopping the cascading effect of oxidation.

The majority of the work is done by the body’s own master antioxidant, glutathione, and antioxidant enzymes including glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase. When telomeres shorten and fray, recent research suggests that these antioxidant defenses diminish and protection against free radicals goes unchecked.

Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Every cell in the human body, except red blood cells, is packed with tiny organelles called mitochondria. Mitochondria are often referred to as “powerhouses” because they produce the energy required for cells to function, and ultimately the body. Cells with a high metabolic rate, such as heart muscle cells, may be equipped with thousands of mitochondria, while other cells may only contain a few dozen.

Mitochondrial energy production is an absolute necessity for physical strength, energy, stamina, and life itself. Even the slightest drop in mitochondrial energy output, no matter how subtle, can lead to weakness, fatigue, and cognitive difficulties. Unfortunately, during a cells aging process, mitochondrial function becomes less efficient.

Recent research indicates as telomeres shorten the result is a signaling that causes mitochondria to become dysfunctional. Mitochondria in our cells create energy we can’t live without. As mitochondrial efficiency decreases, cell function declines and its natural defenses against free radicals is impacted, leading to an increase in oxidative stress.

Good News!

Fortunately, emerging research reveals we may be able to influence cellular aging processes in positive ways. This may affect how efficiently cells repair and replicate themselves, which affects your health, well-being and the aging process in various ways.

Nourishing Healthy Skin From Within.

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 09:54:00 GMT

From Isagenix health.

Skin requires essential vitamins and minerals to maintain its youth and vibrance.

The best way to ensure that you will enjoy healthy, youthful-appearing skin as you age is to combine a healthy diet and supplement choices with a daily skin care regimen using high-quality skin care products. This inside-out and outside-in whole body approach encourages a vibrantly healthy body and radiantly healthy skin.

While there are some basic characteristics that establish the foundation for a person’s skin health, such as genetic and hereditary factors and sebaceous oil gland functioning, we also need to consider the wholeness of the individual. The body, in its own wisdom, maintains a vigilant role in assessing, responding, adjusting, and adapting to changes in its intrinsic (internal) and extrinsic (external) environments. All systems of the body are part of this dynamic communication network, which includes the skin, the largest organ of the human body. The skin is influenced second-by-second by these internal/external changes, and it will reflect these changes through how it functions, regenerates, degenerates, and ages.

The good news is that the skin is constantly renewing itself. The outermost layer of the skin, the epidermis, sheds old lackluster skin cells and replaces them with new plump and healthy cells. In general, the body gets a new outer skin approximately every 28 days. This renewal process may take longer based on influences, such as your specific aging factors, general health, daily stresses, the foods you eat, lifestyle choices, alcohol consumption, smoking, and environmental aggressors. These aggressors include toxins, chemicals, and pollutants in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the foods we eat. Too much UV exposure from the sun and changes in the seasons can also be stressful to the skin.

Even though the skin is traditionally classified according to “type” (normal, oily, combination, and dry), it is important to remember that, in most cases, individuals have a combination of skin types in varying degrees of flux.

Using quality, effective skin care products greatly benefits the skin by supporting its natural self-repair and renewal processes. For a skin care program to be effective, it must be performed consistently. By this I mean daily – morning and evening. However, the way to boost your skin care program is to be vigilant with good nutrition choices, which includes quality supplementation and nutritional cleansing. This whole body approach to your skin care program will multiply your success by supporting regeneration of the skin from the inside out.

Make sure you include the following skin enhancing nutrients in your health and wellness program to support rapid transformation of your skin.

Nutrients for Healthy Skin

Vitamin A: An antioxidant that helps combat free-radical damage that may lead to visible signs of aging of the skin. It helps in the skin’s self-repair and rejuvenation processes and is effective in helping to improve skin damage caused by cumulative sun exposure.. Without enough vitamin A in the diet, it’s probable to see skin-related symptoms, which includes a dry, flaky complexion..

Biotin: Also known as vitamin H, biotin is considered part of the B-complex group and is the most important for skin health. This nutrient forms the foundation for skin, nail, and hair cells. Even a mild deficiency can cause dry or itchy skin.

Vitamins C and E: These powerful antioxidants taken orally help fight free radicals, which can break down collagen and elastin, integral components of the skin’s structure. This can lead to the formation of visible signs of aging such as lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, and loss of skin tone, firmness and elasticity. Vitamins C and E are also key in the skin’s natural self-repair and regeneration processes. A 2005 study published in The Journal of Investigative Dermatology found that people who take supplements with vitamins C and E eventually had reduced sunburns from UVB radiation exposure (1). What’s more, researchers found reduced factors associated with DNA damage inside skin cells, which led them to conclude that vitamins C and E help ward off DNA damage.

Magnesium: Magnesium is often referred to as “nature’s beauty mineral.” It supports the skin’s natural self-repair, rejuvenation and replenishing processes. It also revitalizes and energizes the skin, maintains moisture levels in the skin, and supports integrity of skin elasticity. It helps diminish the skin’s aging process.

Niacin: Also known as vitamin B3 and is available as niacinamide or nicotinic acid. This age-defying skin booster helps revitalize, energize, and rejuvenate aging skin. It also helps tighten, lift, firm, and smooth the skin. It supports the retention of skin moisture and soothes dry, irritated skin. It diminishes lines, wrinkles and other visible signs of aging.

Omega-3 fatty acids: The body does not naturally produce these fatty acids, and they have to be sourced from foods and supplements. This is why they are called “essential fatty acids.” Insufficient amounts of these fatty acids in the diet can lead to dry skin and premature aging of the skin. Adequate amounts of omega-3s offer skin health-boosting benefits that include: retention of skin moisture, improvement in skin softness, texture, and smoothness. It also helps in the production and retention of the skin’s natural oil barrier while diminishing lines and wrinkles.

Selenium: This mineral supports the skin against oxidative stress and is known for its excellent ability to strengthen and maintain skin elasticity.

Zinc: Playing an important role in tissue and cell growth, dietary zinc is necessary for maintenance of skin integrity. It is involved in several enzyme processes including the stabilization of cell membranes (2).

Coenzyme Q10 (coQ10): This vitamin-like lipid-soluble antioxidant tones and firms the skin, supports the skin’s collagen (firmness) and elastin (elasticity/flexibility) networks and natural self-repair process, and helps diminish lines and wrinkles. It is also known for its skin energizing and protective benefits. Although it’s not technically considered a nutrient because the body synthesizes it naturally, synthesis declines with age. Replenishing levels in the skin assists in reducing production of wrinkles and can be achieved when taken orally in combination with vitamin E, as well as when applied to the skin (3).

The skin responds well to these antioxidants, vitamin and minerals so make sure that you add them to your diet. Also, check your skin care product labels, because many of the above listed nutrients can also be found in topical skin care products, which will provide additional benefits for skin health and renewal.

Lifestyle Choices

Don’t forget that wise lifestyle choices are also important to an effective skin care program. These include:

1. Safe sun practices. Minimizing sun exposure (seek out shade) and using a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect your skin when exposed to the sun’s UV rays are important to your skin’s health. Cumulative sun exposure is a major contributor to skin damage and premature aging of the skin.

2. Drink plenty of pure water every day. The skin loves it! The skin is approximately 50 to 75 percent moisture so it needs to stay hydrated.

3. Maintain a regular exercise program. We know the many benefits of exercise for our overall health and wellbeing and it is also very beneficial for the skin. The skin is an eliminative organ and releases approximately one pint of impurities each day by sweating. Sweat also helps cool down the temperature on the surface of the skin. Good circulation also delivers vital nutrients to the skin for self-repair and regeneration.

4. Get plenty of rest, relaxation and sleep. It is during sleep that the entire body restores and regenerates itself, and the skin does it natural self-repair and rejuvenation processes.

Start today in integrating skin-healthy nutrients and wellness-supporting practices into your lifestyle so you can feel and look as good as you can for as long as you can!

The Isagenix Lifestyle for ultimate Telomere Health.

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 09:32:00 GMT

September 6, 2011 by Isagenix Nutritional Sciences

New Ageless Essentials with Product B is advanced support for telomere health.

The wait is over.

Nearly a year ago, we reported on the teaming up of Isagenix Founder and Master Formulator John Anderson and molecular biologist Bill Andrews, Ph.D. The two had just announced a strategic partnership wherein they would begin seeking out natural, safe compounds to create a revolutionary product that could help “turn back the clock” on aging.

The focus of their research would be telomerase, the enzyme that maintains telomeres, or the protective caps of chromosomes that shorten with age. Telomere length was already starting to become an exciting new biomarker of aging (1-4).

Over the next few months, Anderson and Dr. Andrews worked to verify the activity of a number of natural compounds and their ability to assist in the maintenance of telomere health. Then, within a year’s time, Anderson and Dr. Andrews had fantastic news: ”hits,” or discovery of natural compounds with potential of supporting telomere health; and a new product, Product B™ Antioxidants plus Telomere Support, which has garnered national media attention!

Telomere Health Lifestyle

As the months have passed, we’ve also highlighted several recent studies and scientific reviews on how diet and lifestyle can influence telomere length. As the science clearly points out, factors that contribute to oxidative stress play a key role in the speeding up of telomere shortening (2,3).

The major contributors of oxidative stress are exposure to environmental toxins, being overweight or obese, being overstressed, and eating a poor diet (4,5). To review, major strategies addressed previously for reducing oxidative stress and supporting the health of telomeres include:

Exercising regularly (6,7)
Maintaining a healthy weight (5)
Eating more nutrient-dense, reduced-calorie foods (4)
Meeting daily requirements for vitamins and minerals (especially antioxidant vitamins E and C, the B vitamins like B12, and the hormone-like vitamin D) (8-10)
Consuming sufficient amounts of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) (11,12)
Limiting exposure to environmental toxins, especially from smoking or excessive drinking (2,3)
Supplementation with specific bioactives that guard against oxidative stress or that promote the efficient activity of antioxidant enzymes (such as coQ10, green tea, milk thistle, curcumin, and resveratrol) (13-15)
Reducing or managing stress through exercise and meditation (6,7,16)
Practicing healthy sleep habits (16)
Encouraging detoxification and reducing oxidative stress through reduced calories and supplementation on Cleanse Days and Shake Days (17,18)
Consuming quality protein (such as whey) containing higher concentration of amino acids that help maintain glutathione levels (2,19, 20)

Many of these strategies are enhanced with regular use of an Isagenix system and the company’s Pillars of Health products:

IsaLean Shake
Ionix Supreme
Cleanse for Life
Ageless Essentials Daily Pack

The products used on Shake Days and Cleanse Days, respectively, help people maintain a healthy weight, achieve optimal nutrition, and limit their exposure to oxidative stress.

Introducing Product B

Isagenix introduced Product B at the 2011 “Ignite Your Future: Stay Young Forever” Celebration on Aug. 14, 2011. The billion-dollar breakthrough product, importantly, is now included as part of Ageless Essentials Daily Pack. Ageless Essentials with Product B is a matter of ultimate convenience for telomere protection based on the latest research and technology. The individually wrapped A.M. and P.M. packets contains each of the following:

Product B Antioxidants plus Telomere Support combines the cutting-edge science in the field of telomere support with oxidative stress-fighting antioxidants that help you regain and maintain a more youthful vitality. A complex blend botanicals and vitamins that goes to work targeting the sources of aging and protecting your telomeres, and you, from harmful free radicals that speed up aging and contribute to poor health.
Essentials for Men or Women, now featuring advanced disintegration and absorption technologies, provides the body with a steady stream of essential vitamins and minerals at timed intervals throughout the day.
Ageless Actives provides coQ10 (ubiquinone) in a tri-lipid solution that is 800 percent more absorbable than other forms. It also contains 1,000 IU per serving of vitamin D3, which enhances the body’s absorption of calcium and maintains a strong cardiovascular system, and 250 mg of resveratrol per serving, which is equivalent to more than 100 glasses of red wine. Red grape and pomegranate extracts also help protect cells from the effects of free radicals.
IsaOmega Supreme comes in a fresh, lemony taste and provides fish oil with a high concentration of DHA and EPA long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (1,200 mg) to meet recommendations for cardiovascular health. Each batch of IsaOmega Supreme is third-party tested for top-quality purity, meaning free of heavy metals, PCBs and dioxins.
C-Lyte provides vitamin C as a variety of mineral ascorbates to be gentle on the stomach and provide the extra antioxidant protection the body needs in an environment of constant bombardment from oxidative stressors.

Maintaining healthy telomeres has never before been so easy. Forget about having to have multiple bottles to meet nutritional requirements and address the underlying mechanisms of aging. Ageless Essentials with Product B supplies a scientifically backed combination of vitamins, minerals, and bioactives the body needs to support healthy telomeres.

The product also fits directly in to almost anyone’s lifestyle of Cleanse Days and Shake Days as part of major Isagenix Paks for weight management, total health and longevity.

Welcome to a new era of ultimate telomere protection and youthful aging.

Fish Oil May Help Older Women Strengthen Bones

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 04:39:00 GMT

October 26, 2011 by Isagenix Nutritional Sciences

A new study suggests combining omega-3 supplementation with exercise for stronger bones

It’s long been known that adequate intake of certain nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D, along with an active lifestyle, are important factors for promoting bone health during aging. Women are especially susceptible to the frailty, fractures and morbidity that accompany age-associated bone loss and osteoporosis. Now, before you lace up your tennis shoes for your next walk or run, or hit the weights, perhaps you should add omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil to your bone-enhancing arsenal.

In a just-published study in the journal Nutrition and Metabolism, researchers from the Urmia University in Iran, in collaboration with the University of Missouri, have evaluated the synergistic effects of six months of fish oil and aerobic exercise on biomarkers of inflammation and bone health in 79 post-menopausal women aged 58 to 78. They also determined whether fish oil and exercise alone could affect these markers implicated in bone loss.

The treatments consisted of a control group, an exercise alone group, a group that only supplemented with 1 gram of fish oil containing 180 milligrams EPA and 120 milligrams DHA, and a group that combined the fish oil supplementation with aerobic exercise consisting of walking or jogging for 25 to 30 minutes per day for three or four days a week.

After six months of intervention, the researchers found that those women in the exercise and supplement group had significantly lower biomarkers of inflammation (c-reactive protein, prostaglandin E2 and interleukin-6), and increases in their serum vitamin D, estrogen and bone mineralization compared with the control subjects. For many markers of bone health and inflammation, the supplement alone and exercise alone groups also tended to observe benefits, although less than in the combined exercise and supplement group. In addition, the researchers linked inflammation and bone mineralization, and reported a strong negative association between bone mineral density and inflammatory mediators, indicating that those individuals who increased bone health also had less inflammation.

According to the authors, “These findings clearly show that the combination of PUFA [polyunsaturated fatty acid] supplementation with aerobic exercise provides numerous benefits on bone density and inflammation over exercise alone or supplementation alone.”

Finally, the authors noted that, “These changes in inflammatory indices following long-term aerobic exercise training and N-3 PUFA [omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid] supplementation may contribute significantly to the inverse relationship between inflammatory markers and osteoporosis.”

So to maximize your workout and minimize age-associated bone loss, consider the following—stretch, exercise, and follow your workout with a glassful of healthy, muscle-promoting IsaLean Shake along with a packet of Ageless Essentials Daily Pack containing bone-building calcium, vitamin D, vitamin K2, and purified, potency-guaranteed fish oil!

Reference: Tartibian B et al. Long-term aerobic exercise and omega-3 supplementation modulate osteoporosis through inflammatory mechanisms in post-menopausal women: a randomized, repeated measures study. Nutrition & Metabolism 2011;8:71 doi: 10.1186/1743-7075-8-71.

Cravings for Junk Food Lessen with Discipline and Time.

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 02:05:00 GMT

October 28, 2011 by Isagenix Nutritional Sciences

A new study shows that cravings for high-fat and high-sugar foods do lessen over time

Did you know that cravings for foods like pizza, French fries, doughnuts, and ice cream are the most oft-cited reasons in controlled studies for people not sticking to a weight-management program? In fact, some people may not even attempt losing weight because they think they won’t be able to kick the “junk food” habit.

No one likes to set themselves up for failure. But is there hope of getting over the sweet tooth or a preference for fatty foods by sticking to a strict regimen? New research published in this month’s issue of Obesity suggests that, yes, there is, which could also explain why people who stay on an Isagenix program long-term see their cravings lessen over time.

The randomized trial, led by a collaborative effort from researchers at Temple University, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, University of Colorado and Washington University, studied the effects of following either a low-carb or low-fat diet. At the end of the two-and-a-half-year trial, the researchers found that both groups of dieters had decreased cravings and preferences for the foods their diet restricted.

The study participants, 270 obese adult men and women, attended regular group sessions where they were coached on how to stick with their diets. They filled out questionnaires rating how often they had food cravings, for what types of foods, what foods they naturally preferred to eat, and the size of their appetite. The low-carb group had significantly reduced cravings for carbs and starches, as well as a lesser amount of times that sweets or fast foods were craved. Also, their preference for high-carb and high-sugar foods decreased. Likewise, the low-fat group experienced reduced cravings for the high-fat and low-carbs foods that were restricted in their diet.

Since the low-fat group consumed fewer calories overall than the low-carb group, it’s not surprising that the low-carb group reported being less bothered by hunger. Or, it could also have something to do with the higher amount of protein the low-carb group was eating since protein is known to keep people feeling fuller longer—we know that high-protein IsaLean Shakes work on the same principle.

The authors conclude, “Promoting the restriction of certain types of foods while dieting results in decreased cravings and preferences for the foods that are targeted for restriction.”

This study showed that men had a bigger decrease in high-fat food cravings, in addition to larger decreases in overall hunger, times of being bothered by hunger, the desire to eat in response to the sight or smell of food, and thoughts about food. Interestingly, there was a gender difference when it came to food cravings and preferences. The authors note that this has been pointed out before: obese men tend to prefer foods such as pizza and French fries more, while obese women favor foods such as cake and doughnuts.

Something else to think about, although not noted in the study results, is that part of the study design and potential reason for participants’ success is that they attended regular group sessions where they discussed their progress and continued adherence to the diets. This may point to the benefit of being involved in a group where diet and health are discussed. People might hold themselves more accountable when it comes to their diet, while the support of the group may help people stay on track to reach weight-loss goals.

So, how to best stick to a program, consistently lose pounds and eventually get to that desired target weight? Stay disciplined—eventually your stomach may learn to no longer crave for those diet-busting, high-calorie foods that are rich in fat or carbohydrates. And a little help from a network of friends (like those on Facebook) to keep you on track can go a long way.

Questions -Questions -Questions

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 09:40:00 GMT

October 24, 2011 by Isagenix Nutritional Sciences

Health-conscious consumers need to be weary of some of the information available online

It’s a truism to say that you can’t believe everything you read on the internet. However, when it comes to the topic of health and nutrition, there’s all the more reason to remain on high alert when reading materials around the World Wide Web.

A few websites, articles and blogs can be deliberately misleading. They knowingly make scientifically inaccurate statements and peddle scare tactics unnecessarily—often with the intent to promote products that may lack in actual quality. Usually what these websites resort to is singling out a relatively minor ingredient, or a detail of its form as the sole focus of an attack.

These attacks have unfortunately caused a great deal of confusion for health-conscious people who are seeking to find the best quality products for their bodies.

Cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12)

For example, vitamin B12 as cyanocobalamin has recently been a target of misinformed criticism. The ingredient, which has been used in hundreds of studies for decades, is considered so safe that it’s often used as a placebo in randomized controlled trials.

Some have questioned its safety, citing the presence of minor amounts of cyanide residues. However, the facts on cyanocobalamin are that even when taken in extremely high amounts, it is absolutely safe and not associated with any kind of side effects. A full safety report from the Council for Responsible Nutrition drives this point in further (1),

“No toxic effects of B12 have been encountered in humans or animals at any level of oral intake (Miller and Hayes 1982; Food and Nutrition Board 1998). The overall evidence indicates that vitamin B12 is virtually nontoxic. Doses of 1,000 mcg per day were administered to a child by intravenous injection for a year without adverse effect (Merch 1958). Even if 100 percent metabolic liberation from Cyanocobalamin is assumed, the cobalt and cyanide contributions of 1,000 mcg of vitamin B12 are toxicologically insignificant (Hathcock and Troendle 1991)”

It’s important to remember that in everyday life we are exposed to varying levels of toxins such as cyanide from the air we breathe and naturally occurring amounts in many foods. Our bodies can handle these small quantities.

When present in supplements, cyanocobalamin offers vitamin B12 in a safe, stable and efficacious form backed by hundreds of scientific studies. The essential vitamin is needed for healthy functioning of the brain and nervous system. Most people, especially older people, could benefit from supplementation with B12. See more about B12 in our story “Holding onto Memory with B12″ here.

Magnesium stearate

Another example of an ingredient recently targeted is magnesium stearate. Magnesium stearate is simply a magnesium salt containing stearic acid. Stearic acid is a common fat found in cocoa butter and in meats. Magnesium stearate’s use in dietary supplements is as a lubricant to keep ingredients from sticking. Think of it as spraying “PAM” on the frying pan. This is important in the production of vitamins for quality, especially when formulas are complex and have multiple ingredients that would otherwise stick together.

The magnesium stearate used in Isagenix products is a vegetable source. It’s used in negligible amounts in dietary supplements (10 to 20 milligrams) and is absolutely harmless. By comparison, a chocolate bar contains about 5,000 milligrams of stearic acid and this is still harmless!

In contrast to what’s claimed in some articles about magnesium stearate, there is absolutely no scientific evidence that magnesium stearate has an effect on the immune system or affects nutrient absorption. This is pure bologna! (Note: bologna contains a great deal more stearic acid than any dietary supplement ever would.) As a minor source of saturated fat, stearic acid is actually shown to be potentially beneficial to health, not detrimental (2).

Lecithin

Lecithins are oily substances that are naturally found in plants (soybeans) and animals (egg yolks). It is extracted for use as an emulsifier in many prepackaged foods such as ice cream, milk shakes and chocolates. As an emulsifier, it helps keep fats and water from separating and produces smoothness in our IsaLean Shakes and IsaDelight Plus dark chocolates.

Far from being a “toxic sludge” as suggested around the internet, the phospholipid is an important part of all cell membranes. It plays a role as a component of bile in the small intestine and is a major source of choline in the diet, which is vital for proper metabolism of fats in the liver. It’s also a precursor for acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter in the brain. For these reasons, you may see lecithin available as a supplement in natural health stores.

The non-GMO soy lecithin found in IsaLean Shake is ultra-purified so it’s free of any proteins or contaminants. Soy lecithin doesn’t contribute any amount of soy protein (so it is hypoallergenic) and it doesn’t contribute any soy isoflavones (which are phytoestrogens). These are eliminated through purification and should not present a concern to those needing to avoid them.

Sodium benzoate

Naturally, preservatives are often targets of criticism despite their well-established long-term safety profile. For example, long-term studies have shown no health problems whatsoever associated with sodium benzoate in the concentrations used in our products. The ingredient is included because it prevents spoilage and extends shelf life in liquid products.

Sodium benzoate is simply the salt of benzoic acid, which is found widely in nature such as in apples, berries, cranberries, plums, prunes and cinnamon. In Isagenix products, the ingredient was used previously in Cleanse for Life and Ionix Supreme in a concentration of less than 0.1 percent. The amount is roughly equivalent to what could be found in a handful of cranberries.

A few years ago there was some indication that sodium benzoate in the presence of ascorbic acid could, in certain conditions (e.g. under heat or light), react to potentially produce the organic chemical benzene (3). Isagenix, consequently, decided to avoid use of sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid in any of its formulas. Nowadays, the ingredient sodium benzoate is no longer used at all in liquid Cleanse for Life and is not used in the powder forms of either Cleanse for Life or Ionix Supreme products.

Questions… Questions…

Isagenix understands that trust is a critical part of choosing nutritional products. This is why the company stands by a commitment to a “no compromise” policy when it comes to safety, potency and quality.

This post is intended to help clear up any questions people have about these ingredients in Isagenix products. In addition, we feel it’s important to add a word of caution about unscrupulous marketers that may publicize misleading information that could potentially be harmful to health.

References

Hathcock J. Vitamin and Mineral Safety 2^nd ed. Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN). 2004.
Kelly et al. A stearic acid-rich diet improves thrombogenic and atherogenic risk factor profiles in healthy males. 2001.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Questions and Answers on the Occurrence of Benzene in Soft Drinks and Other Beverages. 2006.

Hold On to Thinking and Memory with B12.

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:47:00 GMT

September 27, 2011 by Isagenix Nutritional Sciences

Low vitamin B12 linked to brain shrinkage and thinking problems in elderly, a new study reports.

The idiom “losing my marbles” is normally said in jest, but memory decline can be a truly frightening part of getting older. Fortunately, people can take heart in recent research showing that the right nutrients in the diet can help provide cognitive support. Now a new study reports that vitamin B12 may be crucial for preserving the brain.

Researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago found that individuals with lower levels of vitamin B12 are more likely to have smaller brains as revealed by MRI scans and scored poorly on cognitive skills tests.

The results, published in the Sept. 27 issue of Neurology, came from a blood analysis of 121 subjects who are a part of the Chicago Health and Aging Project (CHAP), a large, ongoing prospective study of 10,000 subjects over the age of 65.

“Our findings lend support for the contention that poor vitamin B12 status is a potential risk factor for brain atrophy [shrinking] and may contribute to cognitive impairment,” said Christine Tangney, Ph.D., a clinical nutritionist, who was the lead author of the study.

The brain relies on vitamin B12 because it is necessary for myelin synthesis, the protective sheath around neurons. Vitamin B12 is also required for detoxifying homocysteine, an amino acid that can be toxic to the brain, and known to be elevated in vitamin B12 deficient people. In this study, increases in homocysteine were associated with decreased cognitive scores.

Normally, people are able to obtain sufficient amounts of vitamin B12 from their diets from animal products, especially liver, milk, eggs and poultry. As people get older, however, their stomachs lose the ability to secrete sufficient hydrochloric acid to release B12 from food.

Absorption may be further complicated by failure of cells of the stomach lining to secrete intrinsic factor, a protein necessary for bind to B12 enabling it to pass through the wall of the small intestine. The inability to absorb B12 can be difficult to detect eventually leading to deficiency and pernicious anemia, often requiring treatment with B12 injections.

Other groups at risk for B12 deficiency are vegans and those with intestinal disorders.

Dietary supplementation could serve an important role for assisting older people achieve optimal intakes and absorption of B12. For example, a previous study from the United Kingdom showed high-dose supplementation may help to reduce the rate of brain decline and protect thinking and memory.

“It’s too early to say whether increasing vitamin B12 levels in older people through diet or supplements could prevent these problems, but it is an interesting question to explore,” Tangney said. “Findings from a British trial with B vitamin supplementation are also supportive of these outcomes.”

But could supplementation hurt? Studies on vitamin B12 have long established it as completely safe having no association with any toxicity even when taken in extremely high amounts. And, given its potential of guarding the brain, it seems like the sensible thing to do. It’s nothing to lose your marbles over.

Reference: Tangney CC, Aggarwal NT, Li H, Wilson RS, Decarli C, Evans DA, Morris MC. Vitamin B12, cognition, and brain MRI measures: A cross-sectional examination. Neurology 2011;77(13)1276-1282. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e3182315a33

Life’s Stresses Got You Down? Reach for Adaptogens.

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:43:00 GMT

September 29, 2011 by Isagenix Nutritional Sciences

When coping with stress and temporary bouts of fatigue, most Americans reach for that extra cup of coffee or energy shot to get through the day. Others resort to alcohol, high-calorie snacks, cigarettes, or TV and the couch for an escape. But these habits are counter-productive; they can bring on disrupted sleep, withdrawal symptoms, or weight gain that eventually worsens mental and physical performance.

There may be a better way: adaptogens.

Swedish Herbal Institute researchers Alexander Panossian and Georg Wikman examined randomized, clinical trials on extensively studied adaptogens including rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea), schizandra berry (Schisandra chinensis), and eleuthero root (Eleutherococcus senticosus). They found that these and other adaptogens not only reduce stress and fatigue, but also improve attention and focus.

According to their recently published scientific review on adaptogens published in Current Clinical Pharmacology (1), the reason these herbs are effective may be because they stimulate biochemical pathways that help mediate the harmful effects of stress on the body. Among the findings from studies the authors included in their review were the following:

Rhodiola improved levels of emotional stability, self-esteem, and attention while also reducing fatigue and insomnia.
Eleuthero root reduced feelings of fatigue and increased resistance to low-oxygen settings, such as in deep-sea diving or high altitudes.
Schizandra increased work accuracy and feelings of general well-being, and decreased feelings of sleepiness and exhaustion.

From the Greek word “adapto” meaning “to adjust,” the term adaptogen is applied to any botanical that enhances resistance to stress without the side effects of conventional stimulants. Caffeine, according to the researchers, works by “tricking” the brain to make it more alert, but depletes its energy and resources. On the other hand, adaptogens increase the work capacity of the body or brain by being “stress-protective” or “restorative”.

Stress Vaccines

One of the main questions Panossian and Wilkman sought to answer was how adaptogens work. In their paper, they propose that adaptogens may help the body adapt to stress by inducing a mild stress response in the body. Acting like a “stress vaccine” adaptogens then inoculate against future sources of stress.

In a sense, adaptogens mimic stress, creating an adaptive response in the nervous, cardiovascular, endocrine, immune and gastrointestinal systems. The authors suggest that through the regulation of stress with adaptogenic herbs, consumers may enjoy “enhanced mental and physical performance, and, possibly, increased longevity.”

Writing in a second review published in Pharmaceuticals in 2010 (2), the same authors wrote that these herbs normalize homeostasis (balance in the body) through several mechanisms akin to mild stress hormones. For example, active components of rhodiola, schisandra and eleuthero are structurally similar to catecholamines—primary regulators of stress—and other components resembling corticosteroids that help to inactivate a stress response. Fortunately, what adaptogens won’t do is impair mental function or cause addiction.

Ionix® Supreme: Adaptogen-rich Stress Tonic

Ionix Supreme is "nature's answer to stress."

Ionix Supreme, deemed “nature’s answer to stress”, is an adaptogen-rich drink designed with potent amounts of rhodiola, shisandra and eleuthero—as discussed by Panossian and Wilkman above—along with other beneficial herbs including:

Wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) acts as an adaptogen and an antioxidant for the maintenance of good health and increased mental and physical performance (3-5).
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) operates as an antioxidant for maintaining good health as well as stimulates liver detoxification (6). It may also support the brain (7) and immune function (8) while increasing the body’s resistance to stress (9).
Bacopa (Bacopa monnieri) acts as an antioxidant in the maintenance of brain health (10) and has been found to help maintain normal memory and cognitive function (11, 12).

With these herbal ingredients acting synergistically, drinking a shot or two of Ionix Supreme daily offers consumers an advantageous way of obtaining the protection adaptogens provide against stress. The drink can also help improve focus, attention or athletic performance.

Several recent studies also suggest that better management of psychological stress and minimizing its effects may also support more graceful aging. For example, a recent study published in August’s issue of Nature discovered that mice chronically infused with adrenaline, a hormone released by the body in reaction to stress, resulted in injured DNA (13). This study may help to explain why those individuals subjected to chronic psychological stress have shorter telomeres (14), the protective caps on chromosomes whose length is considered a biomarker of aging.

Researchers are already studying several ways of combating the ill effects of stress on cells and their telomeres, including the role of exercise. What role will adaptogens have? Adaptogens in a supplement such as Ionix Supreme could be the key to beating stress, supporting healthier aging, and increasing longevity.

References

Panossian A, Wikman G. Evidence-based efficacy of adaptogens in fatigue, and molecular mechanisms related to their stress-protective activity. Curr Clin Pharmacol 2009;4:198-219.
Panossian A, Wikman G. Effects of adaptogens on the central nervous system and the molecular mechanisms associated with their stress—protective activity. Pharmaceuticals 2010;3:188-224. doi: 10.3390/ph3010188
Amagase H, Sun B, Borek C. Lycium barbarum juice improves in vivo antioxidant biomarkers in serum of healthy adults. Nutr Res 2009;29:19-25. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2008.11.005
Zhang R, Kang KA, Piao MJ et al. Cytoprotective effect of the fruits of Lycium chinense Miller against oxidative stress-induced hepatotoxicity. J Ethnopharmacol 2010;130:299-306. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2010.05.007
Amagase H, Nance DM. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical study of the general effects of a standardized Lycium barbarum. J Altern Complement Med 2008;14:403-12. doi: 10.1089/acm.2008.0004
Jeyanthi T, Subramanian P. Nephroprotective effect of Withania somnifera: a dose-dependent study. Ren Fail 2009;31:814-21. doi: 10.3109/08860220903150320
Jayaprakasam B, Padmanabhan K, Nair MG. Withanamides in Withania somnifera fruit protect PC-12 cells from beta-amyloid responsible for Alzheimer’s disease. Phytother Res 2010;24:859-63. doi: 10.1002/ptr.3033
Ziauddin M, Phansalkar N, Patki P, Diwanay S, Patwardhan B. Studies on the immunomodulatory effects of Ashwagandha. J Ethnopharmacol 1996;50:69-76.
Davis L, Kuttan G. Immunomodulatory activity of Withania somnifera. J Ethnopharmacol 2000;71:193-200. doi: 10.1016/S0378-8741(99)00206-8
Uabundit N, Wattanathorn J, Mucimapura S, Ingkaninan K. Cognitive enhancement and neuroprotective effects of Bacopa monnieri in Alzheimer’s disease model. J Ethnopharmacol 2010;127:26-31. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2009.09.056
Morgan A, Stevens J. Does Bacopa monnieri improve memory performance in older persons? Results of a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. J Altern Complement Med 2010;16:753-9. doi: 10.1089/acm.2009.0342
Roodenrys S, Booth D, Bulzomi S, Phipps A, Micallef C, Smoker J. Chronic effects of Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) on human memory. Neuropsychopharmacology 2002;27:279-81.
Hara MR, Kovacs JJ, Whalen EJ, Rajagopal S, Strachan RG, et al. A stress response pathway regulates DNA damage through beta2-adrenoreceptors and beta-arrestin-1. Nature. 2011 (August online issue). doi: 10.1038/nature10368
Epel ES, Blackburn E, Lin J, Dhabhar FS, et al. Accelerated telomere shortening in response to life stress. PNAS 2004;101(49):17312-17315 doi: 10.1073/pnas.0407162101

Antioxidants for Healthier Arteries

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:38:00 GMT

Antioxidants for Healthier Arteries

September 30, 2011 by Isagenix Nutritional Sciences

Antioxidant combination improves arterial elasticity, according to recent study.

Among the several ingredients in Ageless Essentials with Product B are vitamin C, coenzyme Q10 (coQ10), vitamin E, and selenium. A recent study has found that this combination improves arterial elasticity when taken long term.

Arterial elasticity refers to how stiff or elastic arteries are, and more elastic means the better it is for your overall health and heart. Arteries become more rigid generally with age, hypertension or atherosclerosis.

The randomized, controlled trial (1), published in Nutrition and Metabolism, compared the effects of daily supplementation of the combination versus a placebo over six months on 70 participants who had at least two cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, or smoking). After six months, the antioxidant-supplemented group showed significantly increased large and small arterial elasticity compared to placebo.

The cardiovascular benefit was also associated with better maintenance of glucose and lipid metabolism as well as blood pressure.

“We have demonstrated that combined antioxidant supplementation with vitamin C, vitamin E, coenzyme Q10 and selenium has beneficial effect on glucose and lipid metabolism, blood pressure and arterial compliance in patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors,” the authors wrote. “The findings of the present study justify investigating the overall clinical impact of antioxidant treatment in this population,” wrote the authors.

Previous studies have found each of the nutrients deliver other benefits to the cardiovascular system and to myocardial function.

Vitamin C status is associated with vascular endothelial function, healthy blood pressure and protection against oxidative stress. In young women, higher plasma levels of vitamin C are associated with better maintenance of blood pressure and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) (2, 3). CRP is a protein that when measured in the blood reflects the amount of swelling in the body, and high levels can get in the way of having a healthy heart.

CoQ10 plays a key role as a fat-soluble antioxidant involved in the health of myocardial tissues and their function. Supplementation not only helps the body to fight off oxidative stress, but has also shown to increase physical performance and power in athletes and non-athletes alike (4, 5). CoQ10 is also important for recycling vitamin E.

Vitamin E is associated with better cardiovascular health when combined with other antioxidants and micronutrients in the diet (6). In addition, increased consumption of polyunsaturated fats also increases the requirement for the nutrient. In a survey of vitamin E intake of approximately 10,000 American adults (7), more than 90 percent failed to meet current recommendations for vitamin E intake!

Selenium is a trace mineral with antioxidant properties because it is required for the function of selenium-dependent enzymes known as selenoproteins. Selenoprotein examples include glutathione peroxidase, a key antioxidant enzyme involved in protecting against oxidative stress, which can harm cardiovascular health. Supplementation is shown to assist in reducing oxidative stress in overweight adults (8).

Ageless Essentials Daily Pack features the following: C-Lyte, which provides 520 mg of vitamin C per day as mineral ascorbates that are easier on the stomach; Ageless Actives, providing 100 mg of coQ10 per day in a lipid-solubilized form developed by Bill Judy, Ph.D. The coQ10 is eight times (800 percent) more absorbable than typical dry powder forms; Essentials for Men or Women, providing 90 IU of vitamin E (as natural mixed tocopherols and d-alpha tocopheryl succinate) and 100 mcg of selenium per day. With complementary nutrients such as fish oil (omega-3s) and vitamin K2, Ageless Essentials Daily Pack represents a convenient strategy for better cardiovascular health

References

1. Shargorodsky M et al. Effect of long-term treatment with antioxidants (vitamin C, vitamin E, coenzyme Q10 and selenium) on arterial compliance, humoral factors and inflammatory markers in patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors. Nutr Metab (Lond) 2010;7:55. doi: 10.1186/1743-7075-7-55

2. Block G et al. Vitamin C in plasma is inversely related to blood pressure and change in blood pressure during the previous year in young Black and White women. Nutr J 2008;7:35. doi: 10.1186/1475-2891-7-35

3. Judy WV, et al. Myocardial preservation by therapy with coenzyme Q10 during heart surgery. Clin Investig 1993;71(8 Suppl):S155-61.

4. Gokbel H, Gul I, Belviranl M, Okudan N. The effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on performance during repeated bouts of supramaximal exercise in sedentary men. J Strength Cond Res 2010;24:97-102.

5. Ylikoski T, Piirainen J, Hanninen O, Penttinen J. The effect of coenzyme Q10 on the exercise performance of cross-country skiers. Mol Aspects Med 1997;18 Suppl:S283-S290.

6. Jialal I and Devaraj S. Vitamin E supplementation and cardiovascular events in high-risk patients. N Engl J Med 2000;342:154-60.

7. Maras JE, Bermudez OI, Qiao N, Bakun PJ, Boody-Alter EL, Tucker KL. Intake of alpha-tocopherol is limited among US adults. J Am Diet Assoc 2004; 104 :567 –75. doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2004.01.004

8. Savory LA, kerr CJ, Whiting P, Finer N, McEneny J, Ashton T. Selenium supplementation and exercise: effect on oxidative stress in overweight adults. Obesity 2011 May 19. [Epub ahead of print]. doi:10.1038/oby.2011.83

Essentials of Youthful Aging.

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 07:17:00 GMT

September 25, 2011 by Isagenix Nutritional Sciences

Essentials for Men/Women is a component of the Ageless Essentials Daily Pack.

The prevalence of obesity and undernutrition only continue to grow despite continued practical advice from nutritionists to eat less and make fruits and vegetables a greater part of our diets. Rampant overeating of the wrong foods characteristic of the average adult in the United States has not afforded increased intake of vitamins and minerals.

On the contrary, clinical and epidemiological studies find that most Americans receive suboptimal intakes of these micronutrients and that most suffer from either undernutrition or are likely to exhibit a moderate deficiency in at least one essential vitamin or mineral.

We are indeed a population that is overfed yet undernourished. Consider these facts:

In 2009, less than 25 percent of U.S. adults consumed five or more fruit or vegetable servings per day (1).
Most Americans receive only suboptimal levels of vitamins and minerals needed to protect long-term health.
Recent evidence suggests that young adults may be deficient in B12 at much higher percentages than previously thought.
Remarkably, vitamin E intake is inadequate in 93 percent of all U.S. adults.
Almost all U.S. adults are extremely low in vitamin D.
Even with dietary supplementation, many U.S. adults do not meet estimated average requirements for vitamins D, A, E, C, and the mineral calcium (see chart) (2).

Experts agree that the incidence of “subclinical,” or moderate nutritional deficiencies, have become far too common.  These may cause metabolic and cellular harm over time. While nutrient intakes are high enough to prevent overt, classical symptoms of deficiency states, they are too low for our body’s optimal function (3). For example, vitamin C in the diet may be enough to prevent symptoms of scurvy, but not enough to maximize function as a coenzyme in skin health, or efficient quenching of free radicals, or in keeping the immune system vigilant. Other examples of subclinical or moderate insufficiencies have been described for magnesium, zinc, vitamin E, and vitamin C. Each of these nutrients is necessary to protect our cells and their components.

Vitamins and minerals work in synergy to keep cells functioning efficiently and our physical structures intact. Even a subclinical deficiency of one can affect the others. Folate and B12, for example, are required as methyl donors for maintaining DNA stability, important for cell health, and metabolizing homocysteine, a cardiotoxic amino acid (4 & 5). Additionally, seven vitamins and minerals are required in the diet daily for just one of many steps in mitochondrial energy production. Finally, a low vitamin E status requires other antioxidants such as vitamin C and selenium to take on greater responsibility in protecting our cells from free radicals.

Why take a multivitamin?

Do you spend time reading the nutrition facts panels of every food label and adding up vitamins and minerals to be sure you are meeting all dietary requirements? As the authors of a study published in the Journal of Nutrition (1) summed up nicely, “nearly the entire U.S. population consumes a diet that is not on par with recommendations.” It’s a staggering conclusion.

If it weren’t for the fortification of foods and dietary supplementation, another recent study just published in the same journal (2) found that many Americans would fail to meet even the minimum nutritional requirements set by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). Based on national surveys (NHANES) from 2003 to 2006, dietary supplements were responsible for improving the status of 17 micronutrients among more than 16,000 participants.

Comparing the percent of individuals meeting the estimated average requirement (EAR) of vitamin D, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E based on NHANES data and projected estimates by supplementing with Ageless Essentials Daily Pack.

Multivitamins are the most commonly used dietary supplement and play a large role in ensuring adequate nutrient intake in the diets of a large portion of the population. Not only do multivitamins help people meet their nutrient needs, but studies have also shown that taking them on a regular basis is associated with long-term health:

Reduced risk of accelerated metabolic disruption, mitochondrial decay, and degenerative pathologies associated with aging (3)
Improved maintenance of healthy concentrations of serum homocysteine, C-reactive protein, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides (4,5)
Improved maintenance of glucose metabolism and cardiovascular health (5,6)
Improved cognitive performance, especially verbal memory, and mood (7)
Improved calcium balance for cardiovascular and bone health (8-10)
Improved maintenance of chromosomal telomere length, a biomarker of aging (11)

Essentials for Men/Women

Isagenix is redefining what it means to age gracefully. Taking control of your health is as easy as taking Ageless Essentials with Product B. Its component Essentials for Men/Women is designed to provide optimal doses of vitamins and minerals for healthy aging.

To create the most advanced multivitamin supplement, Isagenix laid the groundwork for Essentials for Men/Women by performing a thorough review of the latest scientific studies. The focus was to ensure that the pack reflected quantities and quality of nutrients that meet criteria in line with updated nutritional guidelines, therapeutic doses and forms.

The tablets are designed with sustained-release technology by using forms of nutrients with different molecular weights, sizes, and solubility rates. The combination of these elements creates a staggered release of nutrients into the small intestine, providing steady passage and absorption of the various nutrients into the bloodstream. The multivitamins (unlike typical “whole-food” supplements) take into account the avoidance of anti-nutrient components such as phytates and reduction of mineral competitiveness. The separation into AM and PM packets also divides the doses over the course of the day for optimal absorption.

Lastly, Isagenix adheres to a “no compromise” policy that guarantees the products will deliver the nutrients we promise. We include the right amount of nutrients listed on the label, often with a responsible overage, to be sure that the product will deliver the same potency for the duration of its two-year shelf life. All raw materials are tested for purity and potency. Isagenix even ups the ante by performing Finished Product Safety verification through independent, third-party laboratories.

References

Krebs-Smith et al. Americans do not meet federal dietary recommendations. J Nutr 2010; 140: 1832-8. doi: 10.3945/jn.110.124826
Fulgoni VL et al. Foods, Fortificants, and Supplements: Where Do Americans Get Their Nutrients? J Nutr 2011 Oct;141(10):1847-54. Epub 2011 Aug 24. doi: 10.3945/jn.111.142257
Ames BN. Low micronutrient intake may accelerate the degenerative diseases of aging through allocation of micronutrients by triage. PNAS 2006:103(47);17589-17594. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0608757103
Richards JB et al. Homocysteine levels and leukocyte telomere length. Atherosclerosis 2008 Oct;200(2):271-7. Epub 2008 Feb 15.
Block et al. Usage patterns, health, and nutritional status of long-term multiple dietary supplement users: a cross-sectional study. Nutr J 2007;6:30 doi: 10.1186/1475-2891-6-30
Rautlainen et al. Multivitamin use and the risk of myocardial infarction: a population-based cohort of Swedish women. Am J Clin Nutr 2010. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2010.29371
Kesse-Guyot E, et al. Adherence to nutritional recommendations and subsequent cognitive performance: findings from the prospective Supplementation with Antioxidant Vitamins and Minerals 2 (SU.VI.MAX 2) study. Am J Clin Nutr 2011;93:200-10. doi: 10.3945/ ajcn.110.007815
Latham et al. Effects of vitamin D supplementation on strength, physical performance and falls in older persons: a systematic review. J Am Geriatr Soc 2003;51(9)1219-26.
Oudshoom C et al. Ageing and vitamin D deficiency: effects on calcium homeostasis and considerations for vitamin D supplementation. Brit J Nutr 2009;101:1597-1606. doi: 10.1017/S0007114509338842
Shea MK et al. Vitamin K supplementation and progression of coronary artery calcium in older men and women. Am J Clin Nutr 2009;89:1799-807. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2008.27338
Xu Q et al. Multivitamin use and telomere length in women. Am J Clin Nutr 2009;89:1857-63. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2008.26986

Why Isagenix uses only "Undenatured" Whey from New Zealand

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 11:28:00 GMT

Whey Protein Concentrate: A Brief Summary

By Dr. Michael Colgan

On average, high quality milk is 27 percent protein, 37 percent lactose (milk sugar), and 30 percent fat. The remaining 6 percent is calcium, other minerals, and ash.

Thus, what is called “4 percent milk” or “whole milk” is a high fat food, because the percentage determination includes the water, and milk is mainly water. Its label is largely a commercial fiction. It is not a prime food, especially when trying to increase muscle or to reduce body fat.

What is called “2 percent milk” still contains more fat and more lactose than protein. It is not a prime food either.

Skim milk has near zero fat but still contains a high amount of lactose. Skim milk powder, which some people use in cooking and as a low-fat protein source, is the worst of milk, because more than half of it is lactose.

Up to 30 percent of adults have varying degrees of allergic responses to lactose, because lactase, its digesting enzyme in the gut, declines rapidly during childhood. Humans and their pets are the only adult animals that drink milk.

Milk Proteins

There at least 14 different proteins in milk split into two groups, caseins and wheys.

Casein represents about 80 percent of milk protein. Casein has poor results in producing lean mass in athletes, and in hospital studies of muscle loss.*

Whey represents about 20 percent of milk protein. Whey has superior results to any other protein, including eggs, meats, fish, soy, nut, pea, rice, and other plant proteins, in producing lean mass in athletes, and muscle in hospital studies. Recent genomic research attributes much of the benefit of whey protein concentrate to two unique proteins, beta-lactoglobulin (60percent of whey protein), and alpha-lactalbumin (25 percent), that together regulate the activity of more than 200 human genes.

To legally call a product whey protein concentrate it can have anywhere from 29 percent to 89 percent whey protein. At the bottom end of that scale (29 to 49 percent protein), you can work out that the other 50 to 70 percent is almost all fat and lactose. You will see a lot of this cheap whey for sale in bulk stores and discount markets. Leave it on the shelf. The new shirt you buy with the money saved will not look good on a pumpkin.

Near the top end of the whey scale (70 to 89 percent protein), only 10 to 25 percent of the mix is fat and lactose. That’s where you want your whey to be.**

Whey protein concentrate is further extracted to become whey protein isolate (90 to 95 percent protein). The higher price of whey isolate, however, is money wasted. Both high-end concentrate and isolate are fast proteins, that is, they are very rapidly absorbed compared to casein or meat or fish proteins. But, until the advent of recent molecular genetics, we could not understand why whey isolate (90 to 95 percent protein) and high end whey concentrate (70 to 89 percent protein) produced identical results in increased free amino acid pools in the body, increased muscle protein formation, and reduction of fat deposition. Now we know that, after most of the fat and lactose is removed, the structure of the proteins is more important than the last few percent of extraction in expressing the genes that build muscle and inhibit adiposity. The structure of the proteins depends on the quality of the milk.

Quality, Quality, Quality!

Half the dry weight of your body is protein, over one hundred thousand different proteins, each of which is precisely determined by gene expression. The quality of your proteins determines both the quality and the quantity of their effects on the genome. Quality of the proteins in milk depends on the nutrition of the cows and the method of protein extraction.

Nutrition of the Cows

Cows are ruminants, continuous grazers. They have a rumen, a miraculous fermentation tank in their gut designed by tens of millions of years of evolution to digest grass and humus (grass that has died and broken down to become a stable mat for the growing grass). The rumen is designed precisely to ferment grass. In order to work properly it has to stay at a good level of fermentation continuously. Unlike the human gut, which operates intermittently by acid, the rumen is acid neutral, and requires constant grazing and a constant level of fermentation to remain healthy and support high quality protein production.

Over the last 50 years, the economics of commercial farming in the US has progressively eliminated most pasture feeding. To make a living, most farmers have to keep their cows in feedlots most of the time, and feed them on cheap hay, corn, barley, soybeans and fat. These feeds are much cheaper than pasture, but require an acidic gut to digest them. The feedlot cows are also fed only intermittently. So most dairy farming places a large intermittent and acid load on a rumen and liver that were not designed for it. Some places, notably New Zealand, still pasture feed most of their cows.***

The diet and confinement of US cows has produced most of the problems that now beset American milk production. Feedlot cows rarely go four months without infection, requiring constant dosing with antibiotics. Feedlot cows produce milk so poorly that production has to be stimulated with hormones. Feedlot cows last an average of only four years before liver and other problems from acidic food get them switched out and turned into beef. No surprise that feedlot cows produce inferior milk.

To give you a quick perspective on how bad it has become, in March 2010, the U.S. Department of Agriculture published new access to pasture rules for the best-of-the-best, organic cows producing high-quality organic milk. The new rules state that organic cows have to be out on pasture for not less than 120 days per year, and have to receive at least 30 percent of their feed by pasturing during the grazing season. At least they recognize the right way to raise cows. But what a minimal standard! And that’s for the-best-of-the-best, so you can imagine what’s happening to the rest of the cows (85 percent). I hope I have convinced you to buy whey protein extracted from the milk of grazed animals for your health’s sake.

Extraction of the Whey

Whey is extracted from milk by numerous methods. Most common use acids or salts, and heat. All these strategies denature the whey. Denaturing involves numerous breakdowns in the protein, but here I will mention only two of the main faults.

First, we now know from gene expression studies that undenatured whey contains many bioactive compounds including antibodies and enzymes that have multiple beneficial effects in humans. When the whey is denatured, these bioactive compounds are destroyed.

Second, undenatured whey contains numerous di-peptides (amino acid pairs) and tri-peptides (amino acid triples). These are keys that fit specific genetic locks in the body to turn on protein functions. If the whey is denatured, the keys are broken down into single amino acids and no longer work.

It’s true that the milk industry didn’t know of these problems until recent science uncovered them. But it is expensive to change your technology, and its not happening in this economy. Undenatured whey protein is extracted by cold-membrane filtration. It costs more, but it’s the only whey to go.

Dr. Michael Colgan is a world-renowned research scientist, leading expert in the inhibition of aging, and a member of the Isagenix Science Advisory Board. Dr. Colgan has provided nutrition, training and anti-aging programs to more than 11,000 athletes, including many Olympians. He is director of his eponymous Colgan Institute, a consulting, educational and research facility concerned with the effects of nutrition and exercise on athletic performance, along with prevention of chronic degenerative disease, and prevention of degeneration of the brain.

To read more articles by Dr. Colgan, click on one of the following links:

*Editor’s note: Although the majority of Isagenix IsaLean Shake protein comes from whey protein, there is some undenatured milk casein included because of studies showing it supports general satiety, sustained maintenance of blood level amino acids, and sustained maintenance of blood sugar. For more information about whey and casein studies, click here.

**Editor’s note: Isagenix only uses undenatured whey protein at 80 percent or more protein containing very low amounts of lactose.

***Editor’s note: Isagenix only sources dairy proteins from cows that are pasture fed in New Zealand. For more information, click here.

Is Fructose bad for us?

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 03:34:00 GMT

Who’s Afraid of a Little Something Sweet?

October 27, 2010 by Isagenix Nutritional Sciences

Some think sugar and sugar substitutes are so scary, they would prefer to eat just about anything else in sight.

There are few food ingredients that conjure up more fear in the public mind than sugar and sugar substitutes found in manufactured products. This fear can be bolstered by a common ploy some companies and organizations use to create panic and push their products by smearing nutritive and non-nutritive sweeteners used by their competitors.

The hysteria surrounding fructose is one such example — a simple fruit sugar found in almost every natural food on the planet has been unfairly targeted as the scapegoat for all of the extra pounds on America’s waistlines.

But although it’s appropriate for people to watch for extra calories from all sources, including sugars, reasonable amounts of fructose each day as part of a balanced diet is not really anything to worry about.

What’s alarming is the attacks on fructose have become so frequent that people have started to believe that the sugar is inherently harmful to health. The hype has even led people to believe they must reduce their intake of fruit and vegetables — now that’s frightening!

It’s time to put a stop to the demonizing and scare tactics.

But wait a sec… isn’t it true that high-fructose corn syrup (containing 55 percent fructose, 45 percent glucose) is a cheap sugar source widely available in sodas and processed foods, and is uniquely responsible for causing the obesity epidemic?

No, not at all. The initial study that posed this hypothesis has been largely discredited. According to the nutrition science experts, there is no evidence that overconsumption of a single nutrient, such as fructose from high-fructose corn syrup, has led people to gain more weight than other foods (1,2).

The fact is Americans live in a toxic, stressful environment, overeat everything and simply do not exercise enough.

Additionally, in 2009, a supplement in the Journal of Nutrition in 2009 called for a stop to the demonization of fructose and high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) (1). They wrote, “Evidence is presented that HFCS does not pose a unique dietary risk in healthy individuals or diabetics.”

In fact, in the same paper, the author seeks to dispel other myths about fructose by pointing out the following facts:

Fructose coexists with glucose in all common nutritive sweeteners including honey, fruits and vegetables, agave nectar, and regular table sugar (50 percent fructose, 50 percent glucose)
The human body is well adapted to handling sugars in normal ranges
Replacing all the fructose in manufactured foods with other nutritive sweeteners would not improve health or solve the obesity crisis

There is also a list of good reasons for why people should continue to have fructose in their diets.

Fructose is sweeter than glucose, so a balance of both helps food manufacturers use less sugar overall in foods.
Since fructose is absorbed differently than glucose, it blunts a glycemic response, leading to lower insulin levels.
Fructose makes things with naturally unpleasant flavors (like vitamins and minerals) taste better.
Unlike non-caloric, artificial sweeteners, fructose helps to fuel the body with energy.

Eating fructose in normal ranges daily, as part of a nutritionally balanced diet, shouldn't haunt you or your waistline.

As long as you’re not getting too much fructose, or any other added sugar, or using added sugars to replace nutrient-dense foods (2, 3), then there’s nothing to fear.

So, what of the scare tactics and supposed experts saying we need to limit fructose to only a few grams daily to avoid overproduction of fats in the blood and obesity? These claims are totally, utterly, unfounded.

The truth is that fructose is metabolized in the liver and is first used to replenish liver glycogen stores, which are in turn used to fuel the body during fasting. The average human liver has the capacity to store around 85 to 100 grams or more of liver glycogen.

When fructose is consumed in a normal range as our hunter-gatherer ancestors did when they ate fruits and vegetables all year round – and as part of a reduced-calorie diet for building muscle and losing weight – it and its cousin sweeteners such as sucrose, glucose, honey, agave nectar, fruit juice concentrates, and sugar alcohols really aren’t so freaky after all.

Sources:

White JS. Supplement: The State of the Science on Dietary Sweeteners Containing Fructose. J Nutr, 139(6), 1219S-1227S, June 2009, doi:10.3945/jn.108.097998.
Fulgoni V. Supplement: High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS): Everything You Wanted to Know, but Were Afraid to Ask. Am J of Clin Nutr, 88(6), 1715S, December 2008, doi:10.3945/ajcn.2008.25825A.
Thompson FE, McNeel TS, Dowling EC, Midthune D, Morrissette M, Zeruto CA. Interrelationships of added sugars intake, socioeconomic status, and race/ethnicity in adults in the United States: National Health Interview Survey, 2005. J Am Diet Assoc 2009;109:1376
Drewnowski A, Specter SE. Poverty and obesity: the role of energy density and energy costs. Am J of Clin Nutr, 79(1), 6-16, January 2004.

The worlds best Telomere Support is here!

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 03:59:00 GMT

The Isagenix Lifestyle for Ultimate Telomere Health

September 6, 2011 by Isagenix Nutritional Sciences

New Ageless Essentials with Product B is advanced support for telomere health.

The wait is over.

Over the next few months, Anderson and Dr. Andrews worked to verify the activity of a number of natural compounds and their ability to assist in the maintenance of telomere health. Then, within a year’s time, Anderson and Dr. Andrews had fantastic news: (1) ”hits,” or discovery of natural compounds with potential of supporting telomere health; and (2) a new product, Product B™ Antioxidants plus Telomere Support, which has garnered national media attention!

Telomere Health Lifestyle

The major contributors of oxidative stress are exposure to environmental toxins, being overweight or obese, being overstressed, and eating a poor diet. To review, major strategies addressed previously for reducing oxidative stress and supporting the health of telomeres include:

Exercising regularly
Maintaining a healthy weight
Eating more nutrient-dense, reduced-calorie foods
Meeting daily requirements for vitamins and minerals (especially antioxidant vitamins E and C, the B vitamins like B12, and the hormone-like vitamin D)
Consuming sufficient amounts of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA)
Limiting exposure to environmental toxins, especially from smoking or excessive drinking
Reducing or managing stress through exercise and meditation
Practicing healthy sleep habits
Encouraging detoxification and reducing oxidative stress through reduced calories and supplementation on Cleanse Days and Shake Days
Supplementation with specific bioactives that guard against oxidative stress or that promote the efficient activity of antioxidant enzymes (such as coQ10, green tea, milk thistle, curcumin, and resveratrol)
Consuming quality protein (such as whey) containing higher concentration of amino acids that help maintain glutathione levels

Many of these strategies are enhanced with regular use of an Isagenix system and the company’s Pillars of Health products:

IsaLean Shake
Ionix Supreme
Cleanse for Life
Ageless Essentials Daily Pack

The products used on Shake Days and Cleanse Days, respectively, help people maintain a healthy weight, achieve optimal nutrition, and limit their exposure to oxidative stress.

Introducing Product B

Product B Antioxidants plus Telomere Support combines the cutting-edge science in the field of telomere support with oxidative stress-fighting antioxidants that help you regain and maintain a more youthful vitality. A complex blend botanicals and vitamins that goes to work targeting the sources of aging and protecting your telomeres, and you, from harmful free radicals that speed up aging and contribute to poor health.
Essentials for Men or Women, now featuring advanced disintegration and absorption technologies, provides the body with a steady stream of essential vitamins and minerals at timed intervals throughout the day.
Ageless Actives provides coQ10 (ubiquinone) in a tri-lipid solution that is 800 percent more absorbable than other forms. It also contains 1,000 IU per serving of vitamin D3, which enhances the body’s absorption of calcium and maintains a strong cardiovascular system, and 250 mg of resveratrol per serving, which is equivalent to more than 100 glasses of red wine. Red grape and pomegranate extracts also help protect cells from the effects of free radicals.
IsaOmega Supreme comes in a fresh, lemony taste and provides fish oil with a high concentration of DHA and EPA long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (1,200 mg) to meet recommendations for cardiovascular health. Each batch of IsaOmega Supreme is third-party tested for top-quality purity, meaning free of heavy metals, PCBs and dioxins.
C-Lyte provides vitamin C as a variety of mineral ascorbates to be gentle on the stomach and provide the extra antioxidant protection the body needs in an environment of constant bombardment from oxidative stressors.

The product also fits directly in to almost anyone’s lifestyle of Cleanse Days and Shake Days as part of major Isagenix Paks for weight management, total health and longevity.

Welcome to a new era of ultimate telomere protection and youthful aging.