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Partners in Hormonal Health- Fall 2009 Catalog

Posted on November 4, 2009 by stevetallent

Partners in Hormonal Health:

The Adrenal-Thyroid Dance

By Jessica Bischof

In our rushed society most of us could use huge does of energy and stamina, topped off with a serving of something to boost our ability to deal with stress. If anyone had such a concoction for sale, they would do quite well–even in our uncertain economy. Unfortunately, no magic pill can provide a boost like this, but the good news is that, with proper care, support and lifestyle choices, you thyroid and adrenal glands can make a magical difference in how you feel.

Eight years ago, I could hardly make it through the day. A new mom in my mid-twenties, my energy levels and stamina were nil. Finally, I woke up one morning and thought dismally, “This must be what it feels like to be old.”

For a long time, I just sucked it up and pushed through, going about my responsibilities as a wife and mom. No one but my husband knew that, after attending church and Bible study three mornings a week, I would spend the rest of my week on the couch, doing only the basics of feeding and caring for my toddler. I tried improving my diet, being more faithful with vitamins, even exercising. Three times a week for a year and a half, I met a friend at the gym at 5am! But, no matter what I did, I couldn’t build up stamina and would often go home from a 45-minute workout and sleep for the next 4 hours. The final straw came when I experienced three miscarriages back-to-back. Although I still didn’t think anything was seriously wrong with me, my mom was wise enough to suggest one day, ‘You should look into thyroid problems. Miscarriage can be related to that.’

I started reading about thyroid dysfunction, and it was like reading out of my diary. I was horrified and thrilled at the same time. My problems weren’t all in my head–and there was a way to fix what was wrong!

The Thyroid — Part 1

The thyroid is the butterfly-shaped gland in your throat, just below the Adam’s apple. Place your fingers on either side of your windpipe, gently press as you run them up and down, and you will probably feel this soft, squishy gland.

The thyroid serves two primary purposes. Its foremost job is to produce thyroid hormone which “powers” each and every cell in the body. Think of your thyroid as the power plant, but instead of providing electricity, it “feeds” thyroid hormones with the energy cells need to function correctly. Since all cells have thyroid receptors, a deficiency in this hormone can cause many different symptoms, although the most common are low energy, feeling cold all the time (caused by low body temperature), weight gain, hair loss, tiredness (no matter how much you sleep), and “brain fog” where you feel like you just can’t think and everything is cloudy. I’ve compiled a list of more than 200 symptoms thyroid patients report resolving once they balance thyroid levels.

The second purpose of thyroid hormone is to be a “gatekeeper” to protect us from toxic substances. Radiation and excess iodine are both collected in the thyroid, often with disastrous results. The good news is that if you’re exposed to radiation, it will accumulate in your thyroid and potentially protect the rest of your body from destruction, but the thyroid is often killed in the process. Not only is our thyroid a gathering place for “big bad” toxins, but it is sensitive to chemical and toxin exposure across the board.

Topping the list of chemicals we should avoid for thyroid health are fluoride and chlorine, two toxic substances found in most municipal water supplies. These substances, along with bromine (often use as a preservative in baked goods!), compete for the same receptor site that needs to get plugged with iodine so the body can produce thyroid hormone. Even a little exposure to these substances will crowd out the iodine we need.

Adrenals — Part 2

We have another hormonal powerhouse in our bodies, the adrenal glands. Even more critical than thyroid hormone–and more far reaching–the adrenals control nearly all the hormonal activities of the body. About the shape and size of a walnut, the adrenals are a pair of glands, one residing on top of each kidney. The health or impairment of these two tiny glands is felt by nearly every system and function of the body–energy levels, memory, immune system, processing sugar, and cardiovascular health.

Adrenals produce a host of significant hormones, among them adrenaline, cortisol, and DHEA. Adrenaline is the “fight or flight” hormone. We’ve all experienced the warm rush that makes our hearts pound and palms sweat and can give us a burst of energy to react quickly to a high-stress situation. Adrenaline is supposed to be an occasional hormone triggered only in the face of surprise, danger, or threat. In our modern world, though, we experience more adrenaline rushes than our forefathers. Everything from having to react quickly to the car in front of us slamming on its breaks to conflict in the relationships to being late for one of the many events we put on our schedule activates adrenaline.

Cortisol and DHEA are two hormones released to respond to “long term” stress. These stresses are more subtle but equally prevalent in our lives. Food and environment allergies, chronic illness, acute injuries, long-term financial problems, feeling “trapped” in an unsatisfying job or unhappy home life, environmental toxins, lack of rest, and pregnancy are stressors that our bodies must respond to continually.

Although our adrenals must “refuel” in order to have more to give, most of us habitually draw and draw and draw on our adrenals and fail to provide them with the nutritional fuel and rest and they need to keep meeting our demands. Some people, for example, who at one point are “super-achievers”, sail through a demanding period only to crash afterward and never regain their previous stamina. Others gradually experience their adrenals slowing down–by not recovering from illnesses or noticing that the adrenaline rush from watching a suspenseful movie last for 30 minutes instead of quickly going away. Either way, the adrenals are depleted to the point where they simply cannot provide the hormonal stress management the body needs.

In the traditional medical world, only complete adrenal failure or severe adrenal “overdrive” is recognized as treatable conditions. Common sense, though, would suggest that most things work poorly before they stop working altogether. You take your car to the mechanic when your brakes are squeaking and don’t expect to be told “brakes problems are only real if the brakes completely fail or it they lock up your tires.” Just as no one wants to wait until their brakes fail to take care of them, so we should not wait until our adrenals fail before nourishing and protecting them.

Partners in Health

The thyroid and adrenal can be thought of as partners in a dance. They each have unique moves, but depend on each other to operate the way they were created to. The adrenals are the lead or male dancer and set the pace. Adrenals influence thyroid hormone indirectly by controlling the organs that control the thyroid. The thyroid controls the “energy” of all cells, including the adrenals. In this way, the two systems are mutually dependent.

It’s rare to find a person with thyroid imbalance who does not also suffer from compromised adrenals. But sadly, many people fortunate enough to have a thyroid problem diagnosed are never told about or tested for adrenal function. Often, the patient with low thyroid will be started on a dose of thyroid replacement medicine, only to feel worse and have new symptoms pop up. This is because, over time, the adrenals have slowed the manufacture of thyroid energy because they’re so burned out they can’t keep up. They’re trying to work less and recover. When you introduce a bunch of thyroid hormone in this scenario, it stresses the adrenals further with unpleasant side effects.

For this reason, wise practitioners will try to determine both a patient’s thyroid and adrenal health. In some people, adrenal healing needs to begin before introducing thyroid hormones. In others, the adrenals are trying to perform their half of the dance, but the thyroid partner is lagging, and the extra energy from a higher supply of thyroid will balance the dance.

By taking steps to fuel and nourish adrenals and to provide the thyroid with nutrients specific to making its powerful hormone, you can reverse adrenal burnout and support thyroid health. If you have been told your thyroid is “low normal,” you may be able to resume balance by strengthening your adrenals and providing supporting nutrients to you thyroid. If you low thyroid is due to adrenals slowing down thyroid production, adding thyroid nutrients is not going to help. Supplementing with thyroid nutrients in appropriate doses is the safe solution for most people (check with your health professional to see if you’re a candidate).

Regardless of which dance problem you have, good health for thyroid and adrenals will help. The top five ways to nourish your thyroid are (for in-depth explanations of each, visit http://www.thyroidadvisor.com):

1. Drink and cook with fluoride and chlorine free water.

2. Avoid soy and soy products

3. Consider supplementing with the amino acid L-tyrosine.

4. Consider supplementing with the trace mineral selenium.

5. Eliminate as many chemicals from your life as possible. Makeup, skincare, shampoo, cleaning supplies, and food with additives are all areas to work on. Anything you ingest or rub on skin is especially important.

The top 5 ways to nourish your adrenals are:

1. Get adequate rest–best if you can be in bed by 10pm.

2. Be ruthless about avoiding known food allergens–get tested if you suspect allergens are a problem for you.

3. Maintain blood sugar levels. Eat small meals more often and avoid processed carbs.

4. Consider supplementing with L-tyrosine.

5. Take Vitamin C daily, to bowel tolerance.

To learn more about physical clues that indicate adrenal and thyroid problems, please visit http://www.thyroidadvisor.com and read about the symptoms of adrenal fatigue and thyroid imbalance. It’s a great step toward getting the adrenal-thyroid dance in rhythm.

Beeyoutiful co-owner, Stephanie Tallent, and I have talked a quite a bit as she has sought to better understand her thyroid and adrenal problems. As a result of some of my suggestions for her health, Beeyoutiful now carries two products specifically designed to provide foundational support and healing of the thyroid and adrenal systems. Thyro-vival, and Selenium Secure can be found on page 24 and page 23 of this catalog.

Jessica is a Nutritional Therapy Consultant and the owner of Simple Steps Nutrition where she works with clients both in the US and internationally to create customized nutritional protocols to support their health, using nutrition, diet, and lifestyle modifications to support healing and function in the body.

Her own health challenges started in her early 20’s after the birth of her first child and forced her to become educated about what her body needed to heal. She believes that through healing and supporting the underlying cause you can actually regain health – not just treat symptoms.

Jessica specializes in restoring energy, resolving fatigue issues, hormonal balancing, digestive issues, and adrenal healing. Jessica offers a complimentary 15 minute consultation for anyone who would like to find out more. Visit www.simplestepsnutrition.com for information.

Rise Up Against Yeast – Winter 2008-2009 Catalog

Posted on May 7, 2009 by stevetallent

By Nancy Webster

Late one night after the children were tucked in bed, I pulled out the tin of homemade chocolate chip cookies, fresh from that morning. The first crunchy bite thrilled my taste buds as the chocolate bits melted in my mouth. For a repeat sensation, I ate another. Then another. And another. I finished the whole batch without any help from my husband.

Disgusted with myself, I ripped off a strip of masking tape and hung yet another Bible verse about gluttony in an obvious place on the pantry shelf. Below the verse, I scribbled my vow to never eat sugar again. Then, feeling sick, I crawled into bed, glad I’d never do that again.

The next morning, when my blood sugar had dropped to absolute zero and life with a houseful of little people was stressful again, I found myself gravitating toward the freezer, where I’d hidden a carton of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream behind several bags of frozen vegetables. I avoided eye-contact with the open pantry door, where I knew my convictions of the night before would haunt me. Once again, I gave in to my love of sugar.

The Sweet Taste of Defeat

Have you ever fought this battle? Did-or do-you feel like a vile sinner, guilty, yet trapped? I’ve been so desperate for sugar at times that I’ve eaten the little colored sprinkles used to decorate cookies when all other resources were exhausted!

Yes, there were times when willpower sustained me, but they never lasted long enough. I even managed once to not eat sugar for an entire year. But when Christmas came, I just couldn’t endure missing our family’s yuletide cookie favorites. I only ate three-at first. Then I fell hard into the sugar trap, gaining back almost 20 pounds I’d lost during the previous year. Oh, how I hated me again!

Meanwhile, my arthritic knees, painful since my 30’s, starting hurting so badly I often limped. Itchy rashes broke out regularly on my torso. Eye floaters sent me to a retina specialist. And I found myself having to clear my throat like a tobacco-chewing old lady because of post nasal drip.

When a friend suggested I check out the possibility I might have a yeast problem, her counsel turned out to be some of the most life changing advice I ever took. After learning about yeast-or candida, its scientific name-I discovered that, like most people in modern civilizations, I was inundated with yeast.

Invasions of the Body Snatcher

Dr. William Crook, an American doctor practicing in the 1970s, wrote The Yeast Connection, a pioneering book on the problem. Because there is no simple blood test to determine if a person has a problem with candida, he developed a now-famous questionnaire of symptoms and a way to rate them. (His test is still used today, and I encourage everyone to take it. You’ll find it at http://www.healingnaturallybybee.com/articles/intro3.php)

Bee Wilder, a former candida sufferer who healed herself using nutrient-dense foods as promoted by the Weston A. Price Foundation, has assembled an exhaustive website to help fellow sufferers: http://www.healingnaturallybybee.com. On her site, you’ll find a thorough description of candida and the astounding range of symptoms and diseases it causes-from allergies to cancer and most everything in between. Bee also runs a yahoo support group for her anti-candida diet, at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/candidasupport.

Simply put, candida is an invasive form of yeast that, when given opportunity, will practically take over the body. It grows root-like fingers through the intestines, into the bloodstream, and on into organs and tissues. Everyone has some candida-along with strep, E coli, and other bad guys-living in their gut. However, these foes are supposed to be kept in check by a proliferation of good bacteria, like the ones that make yogurt so famous.

The reason most folks have a yeast problem today is because candida is an opportunist. Practically from birth we’ve taken antibiotics, which kill not only the germ causing sickness but the friendly bacteria in the intestines as well. On top of that, immunizations may also attack our good bacteria.

Most of us have eaten our share of processed and sugary foods. Even if your mom didn’t let you eat many sweets, she probably gave you crackers and breakfast cereal, which eventually break down into sugars. Sugar is yeast’s favorite food, and when yeast takes over, it demands, through your body’s cravings, more and more sugar to satisfy its lust for the stuff . That means my-or your-lack of willpower is not the only reason it’s so hard to resist going back for more cookies and ice cream. Yeast is screaming for a meal!

But wait-there’s more. Environmental toxins assault friendly bacteria and give yeast a leg up. Chlorine and fluoride, both added to most city water supplies, kill the good guys. Out-gassing from plywood and carpets that contain formaldehyde is also a villain in our own homes, as is any of countless petroleum and cleaning products we’re exposed to almost daily.

What Candida Can’t Stand

Even if your life feels too overwhelming to take on a strict diet change as outlined by Bee Wilder, you’ll learn invaluable information on her website to tuck away for a time when life might ease up a bit. Meanwhile, there’s relief available in one of Beeyoutiful’s best-sellers, Biome Blast. I love the name, because once I discovered the source of many of my ailments and cravings, I couldn’t wait to kill it!

Biome Blast is a potent combination of herbs and extracts: caprylic acid, pau d’arco, black walnut, and oregano oil. Caprylic acid is found naturally in coconut oil, palm oil, butter fat, and human breast milk. Pau d’arco is the inner bark or heartwood of a tropical member of the bignonia family which has been studied for its anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antibacterial, antifungal, and immuno-stimulant activities [1,2]. Pau d’arco has been used since the days of the Incas to build immunity. Black walnut hulls are especially high in organic iodine. Oregano oil (my favorite all-purpose essential oil-also sold separately by Beeyoutiful), which studies indicate has bactericidal properties [3, 4], rounds out this awesome foursome.

If you qualify even only slightly on Dr. Crook’s candida questionnaire as having a yeast problem, Biome Blast is a great, do-able starting point for you to fight back. Take two capsules with breakfast and two with supper. Summon your willpower to fi ll up with vegetables and meats while slowing your consumption of fruits, honey, and even dairy products. Skip desserts and other junk foods. Learn from Sally Fallon’s Nourishing Traditions cookbook to make lacto-fermented sauerkraut along with other fermented vegetables and dairy products such as kefir (fermented foods greatly diminish sugar cravings). If you can hang in there for a week while Biome Blast hammers at the candida in your system, you’ll start to notice it’s not so hard to avoid “bad” foods and that you will naturally start to prefer healthier alternatives.

During yeast cleansing, it’s important that you not become constipated since the dead enemy is eliminated through the bowels. If irregularity tends to be a problem for you, consider taking Beeyoutiful’s Aloe Vera gel caps which safely and comfortably lubricate the intestines for easier eliminations. An occasional warm water enema provides another helpful, immediate relief. And in the enema water, dissolve a couple of probiotic capsules to help repopulate your lower digestive tract with good bacteria.

A part of this assassination plot is to replace the decimated good bacteria in your digestive tract. Take a probiotic with many strains of living, beneficial bacteria. Beeyoutiful’s Tummy Tuneup fits the bill perfectly with its blend of eight strains to recolonize your intestines.

Beeyoutiful’s Anti-Yeast Pack is a cost-efficient way to get all of the above plus Ultra Immune, a powerful blend of allicin from garlic, elderberry, olive leaf, and oil of oregano, to boost immunities. It provides back-up protection as your body detoxes from yeast overgrowth.

If, however, you are pregnant or nursing-my state-of-being for almost 20 years-you should not take Biome Blast because many of the ingredients are known to contribute to miscarriage. That’s why Beeyoutiful also offers the Pregnancy Anti-Yeast Pack. While it does not include some of the heaviest assault weapons against candida, it offers these excellent second-bests: Tummy Tuneup and Acidophilus Blast, probiotics to crowd out the yeast; Odorless Garlic, known as being anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial; and Colostrum Transfer Factor, which increases overall immunity and assists in maintaining a healthy bacterial response. This great team, together with your own make-sure-my-baby’s-healthy willpower, and eating lacto-fermented foods, will serve any pregnant or nursing mother well until she can execute the full-blown Biome Blast program.

Win Big by Losing It All

At long last, there are no more vows taped to my pantry shelves. Thanks to a successful assassination attempt against yeast, I happily choose vegetables and fruits over sweets and chips-clear evidence that miracles DO happen! As a bonus, I’ve lost my excess weight, most of the pain in my knees is gone, and no more rashes, either! I credit Biome Blast and its accompanying supplements as the helping hands I prayed for so many, many nights after a sugarfest. May I suggest you try it, too? And start your own uprising against yeast.

Breaking news! Just at catalog press-time, Beeyoutiful, ever mindful of pregnant or could-be-pregnant-any-day mommies, added Caprylic Acid to their yeast-cleansing arsenal! It is made of caprylic acid without the potentially harmful-in-pregnancy extra ingredients found in regular Biome Blast. Many alternative health care providers solely treat yeast overgrowth with high doses of caprylic acid, because of its effectiveness. Pregnant and nursing mothers struggling in their battle against yeast should consider using this resource as well as the above recommendations.

Willow S. Pau D’Arco medicinal properties. Altern. Nat. Med. 2010 http://willowsidhe.hubpages.com/hub/Pau-DArco-Medicinal-Properties [Google Scholar]
Kaur G, Verma N. Nature curing cancer – review on structural modification studies with natural active compounds having anti-tumor efficiency. Biotechnol Rep (Amst). 2015;6:64-78. Published 2015 Jan 24. doi:10.1016/j.btre.2015.01.005
Lu M, Dai T, Murray CK, Wu MX. Bactericidal Property of Oregano Oil Against Multidrug-Resistant Clinical Isolates. Front Microbiol. 2018 Oct 5;9:2329. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02329. Erratum in: Front Microbiol. 2021 Jul 12;12:713573. PMID: 30344513; PMCID: PMC6182053.
Sienkiewicz M, Wasiela M, Głowacka A. Aktywność przeciwbakteryjna olejku oreganowego (Origanum heracleoticum L.) wobec szczepów klinicznych Escherichia coli i Pseudomonas aeruginosa [The antibacterial activity of oregano essential oil (Origanum heracleoticum L.) against clinical strains of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa]. Med Dosw Mikrobiol. 2012;64(4):297-307. Polish. PMID: 23484421.

Products mentioned in this article:

Biome Blast

Oregano Oil

Nourishing Traditions

Pregnancy Anti-Yeast Pack

Colostrum Transfer Factor

Acidophilus Blast

Odorless Garlic

Caprylic Acid

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Cranberry Benefits- Spring 2008 Catalog

Posted on February 2, 2009 by stevetallent

by Nancy Webster

If there were a religion for cranberry juice drinkers, my mother would join it. A chronic sufferer of cystitis (bladder infections), Mama has kept a supply of cranberry juice in the fridge for years. Although she still has flare-ups, she vows that the juice keeps them from being as bad or as frequent as they otherwise would be.

Health experts affirm her conviction. The virtues of pure, unsweetened cranberry juice-especially for the urinary tract-are unparalleled. Drinking it, though, is not without its downside unless you happen to enjoy a severely bitter daily beverage. For a person with even a mild sweet tooth, drinking six to eight ounces of cranberry juice twice a day may be an unendurable torture no matter what the benefits.

Is There a Bitter End?

Many people aware of cranberries’ benefits but averse to the harshness of straight juice drink cranberry juice cocktail instead. It’s cheaper and tastes much better, but it’s also doctored with high fructose corn syrup, an ingredient so pervasive and so bad for you another entire article would be necessary to explain it. Cranberry juice cocktail is simply not a healthy substitute for plain cranberry juice.

So why drink cranberry juice instead of tastier orange or apple juice? People have known for centuries that raw cranberries are beneficial for the urinary tract although they thought for a long time the benefit comes from the acidity of the little red fruit. Now, however, scientists know cranberries contain a natural compound called proanthocyanidins which effect a chemical and physiological change in the lining of the urinary tract. They make it “slippery” so that E. coli, the bacteria responsible for urinary infections, cannot adhere and cause sickness. Only cranberries (and to a lesser extent blueberries) inhibit bacteria from sticking. Orange and apple juices may be friendlier, but they won’t do the job.

If you suffer from chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs), cranberries are a must. And now, the end of bitterness is at hand with healthful, handy, and less expensive Beeyoutiful Cranberry Power Cleanse. Three vegcaps per day (two in the morning and one in the evening or vice versa) provide the same protection as those two glasses of juice doctors recommend, but there’s no bad taste, dirty cup, or refrigeration to dissuade you from using it regularly.

Cranberry Power Cleanse also contains the herb uva ursi, long used for its healing powers over UTIs, cystitis, and kidney stones. The primary compound in uva ursi is arbutin, which the stomach absorbs and converts into a substance with disinfectant, antimicrobial, and astringent properties. Arbutin fights infection, soothes irritation, and reduces inflammation.

Not Just for Bladders Any More

Even if you don’t suffer from ongoing urinary tract infections, there are a multitude of benefits for the rest of your body that make Cranberry Power Cleanse worth adding to your health arsenal. Here are two that matter to everyone:

Oral Health. The anti-adhesion properties of cranberry may also inhibit the bacteria associated with gum disease and stomach ulcers, and the benefit starts in your mouth. The removal of tooth plaque is the most important reason to visit a dental hygienist regularly. Plaque is a build-up of oral bacteria that have attached themselves to tooth and gum surfaces and to each other. This biofilm hangs on in spite of the best brushing and is largely composed of S. mutans-one of many strains of Streptococcus- and the main bacteria which causes dental caries and gum disease. Thanks to the “no- tick” property of cranberries, these destructive bacteria are less able to attach in the mouth.
Gastrointestinal Health. If you think stomach ulcers happen only to people who let stress get the better of them, think again. Helicobacter pylori, a virulent bacteria that thrives in the mucosal lining of the stomach and upper intestinal tract, is increasingly considered to be the culprit for peptic ulcers in adults as well as children. Left untreated, H. pylori infection has been linked to stomach cancer, acid reflux disease, and gastritis (inflamed stomach). Again, the anti-adhesive quality of cranberries, makes it hard for the bad bacteria to stick in gastric mucus.

Antioxidant Power!

The buzzword in health products these days is antioxidants. These stalwart disease fighters are compounds that are both naturally manufactured by the body and ingested by eating fruits and vegetables. But because of the many harmful molecules we are exposed to every day, our bodies can’t keep up with the need for antioxidants.

Cranberries contain copious amounts of antioxidants and other phytonutrients that may help protect against heart attack, cancer and other diseases. To the antioxidants in the cranberries themselves, Cranberry Power Cleanse adds grape seed, known for its superior antioxidant capabilities.

Antioxidants help protect you from atherosclerosis, plaque build-up in the arteries that restricts blood flow. This “bad cholesterol” leads to chest pain, blood clots, and even heart attacks. The American Heart Association says one person in the U.S. dies every 33 seconds from a cardiovascular illness, and that startling number suggests most of us are at risk if we don’t protect ourselves with a diet high in antioxidant-rich fresh fruits and vegetables.

Ranking far higher than strawberries, spinach, alfalfa sprouts, and oranges in antioxidant power, cranberries have been shown in animals to protect brain cells from free radical damage and the consequent loss of motor and cognitive function.

I wouldn’t blame you if you just can’t bring yourself to join Mama in a toast with pure, unsweetened cranberry juice twice a day. But nothing’s stopping you from filling your glass with water and chugging it down with a couple of Cranberry Power Cleanse Vcaps®. You’ll toast health to your urinary tract, your mouth, stomach, heart, and your brain cells. And that’s no bitter pill.

Beeyoutiful Products Mentioned in this Article:

Cranberry Power Cleanse

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Wonderful Water- Spring 2008 Catalog

Posted on February 2, 2009 by stevetallent

by Stephanie J. Tallent

“How much water are you drinking each day?” asked my health care professional. You see, I am expecting our second child and have placed myself in the hands of a dear lady for my own health as well as that of my unborn baby. With test results in her hand showing that I was not drinking enough water I had to fess up. “Probably not enough,” I replied sheepishly. Looking me square in the eyes she said, “I want you to drink at least three quarts a day. Get three, one quart jars and fill them up each morning. Then make sure you drink them each day.” Although she said it very nicely, I knew it was more of a prescription than a request.

While I know water is important, she had me wondering why it is so necessary that she would practically order me to drink sufficiently each day. So I did some research, and here is what I found.

Hydro-Significance

Did you know that nearly three-quarters of your body is made up of water? It infuses every cell and tissue. Each day our body can use 64 ounces of water just for basic body functions such as regulating temperature, aiding in digestion, keeping skin hydrated, and giving us energy. Water is the foundation of our blood. It helps maintain strong muscles, lubricates joints, hydrates organs, flushes toxins, and much more. Without water, your body simply cannot function.

Water is the most common and important compound on earth and is made of two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen-hence the familiar chemical formula H2O. Studies confirm numerous health benefits of water. Because our bodies are made up of so much water and because it is responsible for almost all the vital processes that occur, it is important to replace, replenish and rehydrate each day.

As we grow older it becomes more important to pay attention to water intake. Mature adults retain less cellular water. A major contributor to this loss of water is the lack of sensitivity to the body’s cues for thirst. For instance, we often misinterpret the feeling of hunger. Sometimes we think we are hungry when our bodies are actually crying out for water. Try this to see if you confuse your signals: next time you crave a snack, take a drink of water and see if you remain hungry. Your body may be needing water, not food, especially if it is not meal time yet. Because fruit is largely made up of water, it is often a perfect choice for a snack if you still think you are hungry.

Studies have shown that most of us require 6 to 10 glasses of water a day for proper hydration. The more you drink, the more you help your body cleanse itself of toxins absorbed from the environment. Since some of these toxins can show up in skin, drinking more water may rejuvenate your skin and help ward off some types of facial acne. Is your hair dull and lacking the luster it used to have? Drinking enough water each day may help bring that shine back to your hair.

Because of the rapid cell growth and reproduction that takes place when moms are expecting, water intake needs to increase for the demands of the growing baby. In fact, Dr. F. Batmanghelidj in his book You’re Not Sick, You’re Thirsty, believes that morning sickness is a thirst signal for both the mom and the unborn baby. Increased water intake is also needed during lactation as we provide both water and food for our babies.

No Substitutions, Please

What if you’re “just not a water drinker?” Can other fluids take its place? In a word, no. Other fluids cannot replace the results we can get from water. Juice contains water, but your body will get more nutrients from eating the actual fruits. Milk provides needed calcium and Vitamin D but is still not a replacement for water. In fact, drinking too much milk can have a constipating effect-the opposite of what water helps your digestive tract to do.

What about coffee, tea, and sodas? Though they have a water base, they are actually diuretics and will dehydrate you. For every 6 ounces of caffeinated or alcoholic drink a person consumes it requires an additional 10 to 12 ounces of water to re-hydrate.

Are other health benefits obtained from drinking water? In days past, our parents and grandparents recognized the importance of water, and today, we hear the message from nutritionists and health experts. They confirm that the health benefits of water are numerous. Yet our most common health problem is dehydration.

Dehydration occurs when the body starts drawing water from its own tissues, cells, and skin to replenish itself. Although a very serious condition, it can be avoided simply by drinking the proper amount of water. Since water aids in flushing toxins from our bodies, it is helpful for proper functioning of our kidneys and liver, whose job is to capture and cleanse our bodies of those toxins.

Water has also been shown to possibly reduce heartburn. Heartburn signals a water shortage in the upper gastrointestinal tract. The use of antacids or other medications does not correct the dehydration so the body continues to suffer from a lack of water. Over time, these corrective medications will cause other problems that could have been avoided by drinking a glass of water.

Water can help reduce the pain of arthritis and lower back pain which are also possible signs of a water deficiency. Lack of water in the spine, spinal column, and discs is very painful. The discs are water cushions that support the weight of the body. Intake of water and small amounts of salt have been shown to help reduce some of the pain of arthritis and lower back problems.

Colitis can signal water shortage as well. It is associated with constipation and dehydration as the body squeezes every last drop of water from the excrement. This extraction in turn causes pain as the body tries to eliminate non-lubricated feces. This can potentially lead to diverticulitis, hemorrhoids, polyps, and other more serious gastrointestinal problems.

How Much, How Fast?

But can you drink too much water? Surprisingly, it is indeed possible, though rare. The condition is called Water Intoxication and is caused by drinking too much too fast. The recommended daily water intake is 8 to 12, 8 ounce glasses spaced throughout the day. When you drink too much water-a gallon or more in an hour- Water Intoxication can set in. The debilitating results range from swelling of blood vessels to brain swelling and kidney overload.

Water Intoxication occurs when too much water enters the body’s cells. The tissues swell with excess fluid. As the over abundance of water accumulates the normal saline serum in your body is diluted. Your body tries to compensate for this by sending in more of the saline solution to help balance the excess water. While your body does its best to compensate for the excess water, sometimes it cannot. For already saturated cells, too much water can be like drowning.

Symptoms of Water Intoxication include irregular heartbeat, fluid in the lungs, and fluttering eyelids. The swelling of cells can put pressure on the brain and nerves which can cause seizures, coma and even death. A complete recuperation can occur if water is restricted and additional salt and electrolytes are administered.

But the problem lies not in how much you drink, so much as in how fast you drink it. Your kidneys can process 15 liters (roughly 4 gallons) of water a day, so you are unlikely to experience Water Intoxication as long as you drink over a period of time. Most adults need about three quarts a day. You might need to drink more in warm weather to compensate for perspiration or if you have been exercising or are on certain medications. In my case, though-and likely some of you other busy moms-we suffer from not drinking enough water rather than intoxication.

Quality, Not Just Quantity

The quality of water also matters. If you live in the city, your water has been cleaned and infused with many different things which may include chlorine and fluoride. If you live in the country, you may have well water that should be tested on a regular basis for impurities such as sulfur. No matter where you live, it is a good idea to invest in some form of water purification system to insure that you and your family have the purest water possible. Incidentally, my last checkup showed that my water intake had properly increased! How about you? Do you drink enough? Make sure you get plenty of wonderful water during your day!

(If you would like to further explore the wonders of water, you might want to read for yourself some of the sources I used for this article: Your Body’s Many Cries for Water and You’re Not Sick, You’re Thirsty by F. Batmanghelidj, M.D.; Also Dr. Ben Kim and Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D., for articles on Water Intoxication.)

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Health

Phyll’er Up! Taking the Gag Factor Out of Green Supplements- Summer 2008 Catalog

Posted on January 6, 2009 by stevetallent Leave a comment

By Amy Leiter

I would guess my family isn’t the only one that recognizes the importance of eating greens. How many families-and women in particular-have spent much of their lives choking down a glass of green grit every morning that tastes like it was just scooped out of the ocean? You know what I’m talking about-that green stuff made from barley. Or, as my father calls it, barf-ley. The health benefits may be great, but it even used to embarrass me when my 3-year-old sister had to count “1-2-3” to get Mommy to chug it each morning.

So I say, “Why not have a green supplement with all the same benefits-if not some even better-in a drink that’s palatable?” Well, Beeyoutiful’s chlorophyll is just that. But exactly what is so marvelous about chlorophyll?

Cheers for the Red, White, and Green

Chlorophyll is every green plant’s blood. What’s so amazing is that it is remarkably similar to our own blood. The difference is actually only one metallic molecule. The central element in chlorophyll is magnesium while the core element in our blood is iron. And this differing component, magnesium, is one our bodies can easily convert to iron.

Chlorophyll such as Beeyoutiful’s is usually extracted from alfalfa, which has more vitamins and minerals than most any other plant. Alfalfa’s chlorophyll level is also one of the highest. Not only are you getting the chlorophyll but also a lot of calcium and trace minerals necessary for good health.

Chlorophyll helps a variety of conditions such as anemia, low energy, hypoglycemia, digestive disorders, and cleansing the body of toxins (especially the liver). It deodorizes the body naturally by stopping the growth of harmful bacteria, boosting the immune system, and promoting overall wellbeing. As if that isn’t enough, chlorophyll is rich in calcium, which makes it great for menstruating women, since we lose so much calcium through menstruation. The high calcium levels also make it good for joint and bone problems, and especially hip joint conditions.

Green and Bear It

Taking chlorophyll can be fun, not something you have to endure. You can mix a few drops with water to make a natural fruit and veggie wash. It’s so gentle at cleansing the system that it is good for people and children of all ages and is considered safe during pregnancy.

In my midwifery practice, I recommend chlorophyll for pregnant moms who are really tired and have low iron level. Sometimes if the hemoglobin is particularly low, I have them combine chlorophyll with Yellow Dock and a tea of Red Raspberry and Nettle to really give them a boost (in some cases, Yellow Dock causes diarrhea, so if that appens, I stick with just the chlorophyll). Chlorophyll is high in vitamin K, which helps build healthy blood that clots well.

A benefit of using natural things like herbs and chlorophyll is that our bodies can so readily assimilate the nutrients they need. Traditional iron pills, by contrast, are horrible for not absorbing and cause all kinds of problems. But when you’re taking whole herbs-the way God created them-your body can assimilate what it needs and excrete the excess.

The pleasant mint flavor of Beeyoutiful’s chlorophyll makes it easy to take straight or in a glass of water. I’ve never known anyone to mind the taste. It’s great to have on hand during labor to sip on to help boost energy. If a woman hemorrhages after delivery, chlorophyll is usually the first thing I give her to rebuild red blood cells and her overall blood volume. You can’t overdose on it, and when someone has bled a lot, chlorophyll is like giving your body a transfusion since it’s so similar to our own blood.

Good for Baby, Too

In addition to being good for rebuilding blood loss, chlorophyll is also great for lactating mothers. Not only should it help with the milk production, it is also believed to increase the iron levels in breast milk. I recently saw a mom for a six week post-natal checkup, and she mentioned that, since she went back on chlorophyll, she had noticed her baby wasn’t so fussy. A lot of you who have had colicky babies would give it a try for that reason alone!

I put one mother on chlorophyll while pregnant with her sixth baby because her iron level was low. It brought her count up to a much better level and also boosted her energy. She stopped taking it after her son was born, but it wasn’t long before she came to me saying how exhausted she was. I checked her hemoglobin again, and sure enough, it was low. I told her to go back on the chlorophyll and just stay on it. To her surprise, she conceived again when her baby was only eight months old and could hardly believe she was pregnant this time around because she has felt so good. She didn’t experience the usual nausea, nor was she as wiped out. Now I hear her singing the praises of chlorophyll to other tired, anemic, pregnant women.

One thing that was pointed out to me recently is that another popular chlorophyll supplement-which I used before discovering Beeyoutiful’s-contains the chemical preservative, paraben. Beeyoutiful’s all-natural chlorophyll, as you might guess, doesn’t have it.

Although for obvious reasons, I tend to focus on the benefits of chlorophyll for pregnant women, its healthfulness is good for everyone. I believe chlorophyll should be in all refrigerators. It has no known side effects or toxicity levels, delivers many great nutrients, and offers a pleasing taste and more health benefits than that glass of barf-ley.

Amy Leiter is a professional midwife who provides home birthing services as a donation-based ministry. An herbalist, she actively incorporates the latest research in natural prenatal products into her practice. Amy lives with her parents and six brothers and sisters in Tennessee. She welcomes email at dsleiter1@juno.com.

Beeyoutiful Products listed in this Article:

Liquid Chlorophyll