Tag Archives: arthritis

How to deal with joint inflammation

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One of our greatest health challenges is avoiding the pain associated with arthritis — joint inflammation. Encompassing over 100 conditions, arthritis is prevalent around the globe with around 10 percent of the world’s population affected by its symptoms.

In the USA, approximately fifty million people have been diagnosed with some form of arthritis. As many as three hundred thousand of those afflicted are children, so it is a misconception only the elderly have arthritis. It’s a disease that affects both genders of all ages. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calls it “the nation’s most common cause of disability.”

This disabling disease creates pain, stiffness, aching, and swelling in and around the joints of the body. Depending on the type of arthritis and the severity of the symptoms, it can slow a person down or severely limit activities. In any case, it is a disease that can have a largely negative impact on one’s quality of life.

Everyday activities that most people take for granted suddenly become physical challenges. Arthritic pain that limits the ability to walk, climb stairs, or simply bend over also affects normally pain-free, daily activities, such as personal hygiene, cleaning, and cooking. Furthermore, complications from certain rheumatic conditions can impact muscles, bones, or internal organs. In the worst case scenario, arthritis can be life-threatening.

Arthritis and Inflammation

The most common type is osteoarthritis, a disease that wears away the articular cartilage — the synovial joint’s dense, rubbery tissue that provides a covering cushion between the ends of bones. When the cartilage grows thinner, adjacent bones start to rub together creating stiffness and pain.

As the disease progresses, the synovium becomes inflamed, and bone spurs may grow around the joint and create additional painful friction. Although osteoarthritis is usually related to the aging process, sport injuries or obesity can also stimulate the onset of the disease. For all types of arthritis, being overweight intensifies the strain, and therefore the pain, in the weight-bearing joints.

Roughly 1.6 million North Americans of all ages have rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an inflammatory, auto-immune disease that specifically attacks the synovium — joint membrane — as well as other body tissues. Women are affected by this crippling form of arthritis three times more often than men.

The many types of arthritis make a long list of conditions, including tennis elbow, back pain, fibromyalgia, gout, and lupus. At the core of all of these conditions is inflammation, the underlying factor in most diseases. Chronic joint inflammation affects quality of life by creating continual pain that limits what a person can do physically and, as a serious side effect, greatly affects mental well-being.

With an aging generation of baby boomers who are living longer, diagnoses of arthritis are likely to escalate exponentially. To maintain quality of life, the challenge is how to effectively deal with the disease, whichever type of joint inflammation. Healthy body weight, good nutrition, and regular physical activity naturally help to manage or prevent joint pain. The choice of taking medication for arthritic symptoms or using natural health products to help prevent or alleviate arthritis is an individual one. It’s your decision.

AIM provides a variety of natural products that help balance body pH, fight inflammation, remove toxins, and build healthy cells, all of which help the body to heal. AIM products that help to prevent arthritis or deal with its symptoms include AIM Frame Essentials® and the Daily Essentials — AIM BarleyLife® or AIM BarleyLife® Xtra (US), AIMega®, and AIM Herbal Fiberblend® or AIM FibreBalance® (CAN). Go natural and stop joint inflammation at the painful source.

I’ve been enjoying retirement since 2000 after twenty years of teaching high school. If it wasn’t for the Daily Essentials and Frame Essentials, I wouldn’t be the healthy, active (junior) senior that I am today. I don’t have any aches and pains. At sixty-eight years of age, I’m not on any medication, and I don’t have health concerns like my peers, or those younger.

Jan Baxter, AIM Director, from Waterloo, Ontario

After I started taking two Frame Essentials capsules twice a day, my aching back began to feel so much better. When I ran out for two weeks, the pain returned. Once I was on it again, my back felt so much better. Thanks AIM for great products.

Janis Damask, AIM Director, from Petersburg, Michigan

Carolyn Kling – Aging Outside the Box

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AIM Chairman’s Club Director Carolyn Kling appeared on “Aging Outside the Box®” Syndicated Radio Show on August 18 to share her testimony of health and wealth. Carolyn and her husband Jim were principal founders of AIM and recently reached the Seven Million Dollar Club in earnings through their AIM business.

During the Aging Outside the Box Program, Carolyn her experiences, starting thirty years ago with the founding of The AIM Companies™ and the first barley leaf juice to present day with her role as one of the leading business builders in the history of The AIM Companies. Throughout the hour long segment, Carolyn weaved testimonies of better health through AIM nutrition, opportunity, and success.

“Jim saw that this product was outstanding,” said Carolyn, as she recounted the origins of their BarleyLife history, “and he found people that were taking it who were getting well.One lady with extreme arthritis threw her walker away; another lady had cancer and her doctor wrote a note on a prescription pad that said radiation and barley had put her cancer in remission. So we just went from there.”

Carolyn and Jim quit their real estate business in Nampa, Idaho, to pursue the AIM opportunity full time. Their passion for the products was key to building a strong business.

“We wanted to share with everyone we met,” Carolyn said. “We had a three-foot rule where if you got within three feet, and we had an opportunity, we were going to tell you about having better health.

“We got inspired to help people. We saw testimonies of people getting well and getting healthy with our green leaf powder. So we decided that we had a story to tell and we needed to share it with as many people as we could around the world.”

 Aging Outside the Box host Shirley Mitchell described Carolyn’s business as a “roaring bonfire.” Carolyn shared tips from her book, Turning Green Into Gold. Written in 2000 with help from Carolyn’s daughter, AIM Star Sapphire Director Cathy McCrea, the book covers the Kling’s business experiences and business plans with the hope of inspiring others to reach the same heights.

“I don’t know of anything more important that you can give someone than to give them a better way of life and a better quality of health.”

Inflammation can happen

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Daily Essentials Plus One— Frame Essentials®

 

 

 

Inflammation is at the core of pain and can happen anywhere in the body. Aches and pains are often accepted as a natural part of aging. This is especially true when it comes to a condition like arthritis, the diagnosis of which includes a wide spectrum of more than one hundred disorders. According to a prediction by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), by the year 2020 about sixty million Americans will be affected by arthritis. Arthritis fuels the sales of pain relievers, even though using such drugs—whether over-thecounter or prescription—can produce numerous side effects. Is there a natural way to prevent or combat arthritis? AIM’s answer is a resounding YES! Start with the Daily Essentials—greens, essential fatty acids, and fiber—all of which combat inflammation. And then add AIM Frame Essentials ® as your Plus  One for good measure.

 

 

 

Greens—A Daily Essential

 

A daily intake of AIM BarleyLife®  or AIM LeafGreens™ provides an unparalleled, natural source of easily absorbed vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients, chlorophyll, and enzymes that feed and protect your cells. Greens are an essential part of your diet because they supply the nutrients required to balance your body pH, combat inflammation, and maintain good health.

 

Essential Fatty Acids—A Daily Essential

AIMega®  is an organic seed-oil blend of essential fatty acids (EFAs) in capsule form for a convenient daily supply of omega-3 and -6. Essential components for the structure, maintenance, and function of your cells, EFAs must come from nutritional sources because your body cannot synthesize them. Along with a multitude of health benefits, EFAs are an integral part of the inflammatory response. Omega-3 decreases inflammation. Omega-6 increases inflammation, and as the modern diet is high in omega-6, most of us tend to be deficient in omega-3. AIMega provides a 2:1 ratio of these EFAs that helps to correct this imbalance and help fight inflammation.

Fiber—A Daily Essential

Fiber is an essential part of your diet, and AIM Herbal Fiberblend ®, AIM FibreBalance®  (CAN), or AIM fit ’n fiber®  (US) supplement your fiber intake and help to reduce inflammation. Not getting enough dietary fiber may increase levels of blood sugar, cholesterol, or triglycerides, which can result in inflammatory health issues such as heart disease or diabetes. A cardiologist at the Mid America Heart Institute, Dr. James O’Keefe stated, “Inflammation is the common denominator in nearly all of the diseases we deal with … Heart disease, diabetes, dementia—they’re all tied to inappropriate, low-grade, chronic inflammation.” In such diseases, high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP)—an indicator of inflammation—are present in the blood. A highfiber intake may lower levels of CRP, so supplementing your diet with AIM fiber products can help to reduce inflammation. “Soluble fiber changes the personality of immune cells—they go from being pro-inflammatory, angry cells to anti-inflammatory, healing cells that help us recover faster from infection,” revealed Dr. Gregory Freund, a professor at the University of Illinois College of Medicine.

Plus One Frame Essentials

Along with the benefits of the Daily Essentials, Frame Essentials can be the Plus One needed to get you that much closer to helping prevent, combat, or ease the symptoms of many forms of arthritis, including osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis. Frame Essentials contains a combination of two types of glucosamine—sulfate and hydrochloride— plus methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) and boswellia resin, providing a natural health product that supports healthy joints, where the pain of arthritis originates. Glucosamine is an essential element in the formation and repair of cartilage and other body tissues. As you age, your body produces less glucosamine, so supplementing with Frame Essentials can help to correct a deficiency. Naturally found in foods such as meat, seafood, fruits, and vegetables in trace amounts, MSM  is a beneficial sulfur compound especially for reducing inflammation and repairing joints and tissue. By improving blood circulation, MSM may also help glucosamine molecules reach damaged cartilage. Frame Essentials’ third ingredient comes from the resin of the boswellia serrata tree. Commonly known as frankincense, boswellia resin has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries to maintain healthy joints due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, and analgesic properties. Research has shown that the benefits from boswellia result when, as in the Frame Essentials’ formula, the resin is standardized to 65% boswellic acid, which may support blood circulation, maintain mobility, and reduce joint swelling and pain. If you are living with arthritis or inflammatory conditions that create aches and pains, the Daily Essentials Plus  One—Frame Essentials—can help at the cellular level. You are made up of trillions of cells, and healthy cells are essential to your wellbeing. Nourish them and feel the difference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The unnecessary pain of arthritis

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Inflammation is your body’s protective response to infection or injury. Yet this normal response can become a chronic condition when it occurs even though there is no threat to your body. Long-term inflammation can damage your body tissue and create disease.

“Inflammation is a key underpinning of every disease process,” writes Jack Challem, personal nutrition coach and author of The Inflammation Syndrome.Furthermore, the dominant diet in North America consists of pro-inflammatory foods and drinks that are high in trans-fats, sugars, and refined carbohydrates. This low-quality nutrition induces inflammation and creates a body environment where disease thrives. According to Challem, this inflammation-promoting diet leads to insulin resistance, high levels of body fat, high blood pressure, accelerated aging, and inflammatory diseases, including allergies, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, cancer, and arthritis. Many experts agree that poor nutrition depresses the immune system and opens the door to life-threatening illnesses.

The unnatural nature of arthritis

Inflammation is a major factor in arthritis – joint inflammation. Arthritis comes in over a 100 different conditions ranging from tennis elbow to crippling rheumatoid arthritis. The most common form is osteoarthritis, which affects the joints that bear your weight, such as hips, knees, and feet. But it can also cause pain in your finger and thumb joints. Even though it is classified as a non-inflammatory arthritis, inflammation is a factor.

The pain of osteoarthritis results from the breakdown and wearing away of cartilage – a continually remodeled, durable tissue that covers the ends of your bones. Cartilage is kept slippery by synovial fluid. If you think of your body as a machine, synovial fluid would be the oil your body needs to keep your moveable parts in good working order. However, the synovial lining and fluid, which lubricates your joints and keeps your cartilage smooth, strong, and healthy, can become inflamed as the disease progresses. If your cartilage degenerates, the ends of your bones rub together, causing pain.

Osteoarthritis affects one in 8 Americans. Up to 90 percent over the age of 75 are affected by osteoarthritis but it is starting to show up in those much younger – even children. Whatever your age, osteoarthritis is not a natural fact of life. And whether the risk factors are dietary, hereditary, injury-induced, or from being overweight, your actions can help to prevent its onset or relieve its symptoms.

Avoiding the pain of arthritis

Common sense tells us to eat nutritional meals that include several daily servings of fruits and vegetables, which promote alkalinity. Maintaining an alkaline body environment is one of your best defenses against inflammatory diseases like arthritis.

More common sense tells us to exercise regularly. Similar to the modern diet that lacks many of our essential nutrients for good health, modern lifestyles eliminate the movement that is so necessary to keep your body in shape and your joints healthy. Sitting in front of computers for work or play is not a physical workout. You have to find some form of exercise that gets you moving regularly.

AIM’s common sense confirms the benefits of whole-food concentrates and natural health products that add nutrients to your diet and target specific health issues, including arthritis.

AIM defense against arthritis

AIM Frame Essentials® combines glucosamine, Boswellia serrata, and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) for a synergistic formula that helps to relieve osteoarthritic pain, whether you have debilitating joint soreness or tennis elbow.

Glucosamine contributes to the formation of cartilage, tendons, and synovial fluid and helps to relieve joint pain. As you age, the body produces less glucosamine. Dr. Michael Murray, author of the Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, defines osteoarthritis as “a degenerative condition where the body does not manufacture sufficient quantities of cartilage. Eventually you get bone rubbing on bone.” Murray recommends supplementing with glucosamine, which “leads to growth and regeneration of the cartilage.”

Boswellia serrata provides boswellic acids that are known to maintain blood supply to inflamed joints, reduce joint swelling, and reduce pain.

Sulfur is a mineral that is naturally present in every cell of your body, and most notably in the cartilage. MSM may help to reduce pain and maintain healthy joints.

AIMega® provides a necessary 2:1 ratio of omega-3 and -6 essential fatty acids (EFAs). Essential for the health and function of all of your cells, EFAs may also play a pivotal role in balancing the inflammatory response of the body.

Whole-food con­centrated greens, such as AIM LeafGreens® and AIM BarleyLife®, contribute to your overall wellness by providing a wealth of nutritional support. Their alkalinizing effect on your body goes a long way in keeping chronic inflammation at bay.

This combination of products taken in the correct amounts may combat arthritis.

Dancing in the Streets (or at least the backyard …)

When it comes to relieving the pain of rheumatoid arthritis, the whole-food concentrate BarleyLife proved to be the answer for AIM Member Christopher Hancock, who was diagnosed with this debilitating form of arthritis back in 1985. At that time, Christopher had no idea how much this disease would affect him and his family. Severe pain, joint deformity, and fatigue eventually required that he quit his job in 2000.

His pain was alleviated by medication, but over the years Christopher had to try different drugs after a drug stopped being effective. “Doctors warned me that everyone and their uncle would try to make me better through some ancient formula or secret that had been handed down through their families,” says Christopher. “Well, when you are in severe pain, you try other things, and I tried several, which always ended in disappointment.”

In 2006 Christopher’s good friend, AIM Director Ken Campbell, gave him a couple of free canisters of BarleyLife. “To be honest,” says Christopher, “I thought, oh well, here we go again, another secret formula that will have me dancing in the streets.”

At first he did not notice any great improvements and was ready to stop taking it. After attending an AIM meeting, it was suggested that Christopher give BarleyLife more time. This is the case with many severe conditions and natural medicine – it can take time to feel the health improvements.

After about four or five months, Christopher noticed that his energy level was up and his pain level was down. “I also found that I was sleeping better,” he explains, “With less pain, I didn’t wake up every time I had to turn over in bed.” Rest allows the body to repair itself. Christopher also found that he could go shopping and be on his feet for four to five hours.

And things got even better. “In 2008, I built a forty-five-foot-long wooden fence in my backyard, practically all by myself. Before BarleyLife, I could barely pick up a hammer,” says Christopher. “Now I’m not saying that BarleyLife is a miracle remedy for everyone, I can only tell you about my experience and how much it has relieved my pain and improved my energy levels.”

You do not have to suffer. AIM provides natural solutions to help relieve arthritis or prevent its onset.

This testimonial should not be construed as representing results everyone can achieve.

Carol Ann’s Story…

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of chronic pain from fibromyalgia, arthritis and spinal stenosis

By AIM Wholesale Member Carol Ann Roberts,
Port Jefferson Station, NY, December 2009

For many years since 1981, I have been suffering with chronic arthritis and fibromyalgia. My rheumatologist prescribed a number of medications (Aledrex, Bertra, Vioxx), but I did not want to take them. A short time after taking them I told my doctor, “No more.” I would rather deal with the pain, because I felt they were doing me more harm.

I have a long, long history of heart disease in my family. I have always believed in “natural” healing, even as a teenager. I am now 70 years old. My goal is to get off medication.

I first saw Dr. Chen’s name on a small news clipping in my cardiologists’ office. I asked my cardiologist about her, and he only had high praises for her. It was two years later when I saw a flyer in my local “organic” supermarket with her name on it. I called her immediately and went to my first meeting of the “Healthy Weight for Life” program the following evening.

I feel I have found what I have been looking for for so long – an alleviation of the pain. In less than one month on the nutrition program with Dr. Chen’s guidance, Herbal Fiberblend and the Garden Trio, many changes happened in my body that really astounded me. Hot days, cold, rain, snow; I seem to have lessening pain and a testament to that is I’m sleeping so peacefully – eight, nine, 10 hours a night. I used to wake up five or six times a night to shift my body to a different position. Due to the spinal stenosis, I kept looking for a comfortable place and only slept two or three hours a night.

My digestive system had become so mixed up for years. I was dealing with constipation, but Herbal Fiberblend and fit ‘n fiber have helped immensely. I feel I have rid my body of many toxins. I am full of energy.

I was on Lipitor for four years. In the fourth year, I started having muscular problems. Where I used to walk around my block three times – one mile – I couldn’t do it for a year. Now I am walking the mile again – and more – five times a week.

In a short month, there have been many, many other improvements. My cravings have subsided, I don’t feel hungry any more, I’ve lost eight pounds, and a cyst has diminished in size. If there is nothing else in my pantry, Herbal Fiberblend and fit ‘n fiber will be there.

This testimonial should not be construed as representing results everyone can achieve.

Detoxification is the key to vibrant health

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By AIM Chairman’s Club Director
Yu-Shiaw Chen, Ph.D., Stony Brook, New York

We all seek health, since “health is more important than wealth.” One of the key elements to our health is removing toxins and wastes from the body. This so-called detoxification is essential to vibrant health.

Carol Ann Roberts suffered chronic pain from fibromyalgia and arthritis since 1981. In recent years, her condition got worse, and two years ago a spinal MRI showed that she also developed spinal stenosis – a narrowing of the spine, which can cause cramping, pain, or numbness in the legs, back, neck, shoulders, or arms.

While taking my “Healthy Weight for Life” course, she impressed me weekly with her new improvements. The way she was able to remove her chronic pain was following the nutrition program and taking the AIM supplements. She has reaped the benefits of whole food nutrition from taking AIM Garden Trio® daily, because Garden Trio is loaded with vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and antioxidants. And AIM BarleyLife® has two other important substances, chlorophyll and enzymes, which have been found to be potent anti-inflammatory agents.

Carol Ann kept telling me what a difference AIM Herbal Fiberblend® made in her, which led her to realize that the root cause of her multiple health conditions originated from constipation. I could not agree with her more; when she started using Herbal Fiberblend regularly, she noticed the difference. Herbal Fiberblend helped her cleanse toxic buildup from years and years of accumulation. As a result of detoxification, her 29 years of chronic pain from fibromyalgia and arthritis subsided, and her energy resumed.

The combination of Herbal Fiberblend and AIM fit ’n fiber® makes cleansing the body a convenient and easy task for Carol Ann and for anyone who needs a thorough detoxification. Don’t wait until you are sick; just keep up the body cleansing routine.

The Key to CC – Donalds

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The key to Chairman’s Club – Lanny and Ken Donald

In the AIM Opportunity, the pinnacle of success for AIM Members is becoming Chairman’s Club Directors. Ken and Lanny Donald have worked hard to reach this level, and they continue to build on this achievement by caring about people. With a focus on helping others, they became successful AIM business builders in addition to running a busy dental practice. The Donald’s story began on opposite sides of the world.

Roots and Dental Direction

Ken was born in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and his family moved to British Columbia when he was a baby. Originally, Ken had ambitions of becoming an engineer until an orthodontist suggested that he should consider a career in dentistry.

Born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia, Lanny moved to Vancouver with her family in 1964. She dreamed of being an architect, but her father influenced the decision to pursue a medical career, and she chose dentistry.

Ken and Lanny crossed paths at the University of British Columbia, where they were both enrolled as students.

Becoming Dentists

“We met over a dead cat in a zoology laboratory,” says Lanny with laughter in her voice. Ken was smitten from the start, and pretending to be a lab instructor, he asked, “May I help you?” Fortunately for him, he knew the answer to her question about the cat’s anatomy.

Before the lab session ended, Ken asked her what she was doing that evening. Lanny told him she was busy. Ken found out that she was going to an exclusive event at the Faculty Club and, to her surprise, he was waiting for her when she arrived. This was the beginning of their long-term relationship.

Even though Ken decided to study dentistry at the University of Washington and Lanny enrolled at McGill University in Quebec, they remained connected. While going back and forth between Washington and his hometown, Ken would stop on the way to visit Lanny’s mother and help her out with chores. This impressed both her mother and sister, who thought that he would make a useful addition to the family. After graduation from their respective schools, Ken and Lanny were married.

Today, Ken and Lanny work side-by-side in their home-based dental practice in Surrey, British Columbia.

Health Problems

The first time that Lanny tried an AIM barley powder drink, she decided that it was “yucky.” Not noticing any difference after taking half a teaspoon, she stopped taking it after only a few days. Without explanation on proper usage and the myriad of possible health benefits, she was at a loss when stress began taking its toll.

“Stress can kill,” exclaims Lanny. Years of caring for her parents, brother, and sister as they struggled with illnesses that eventually led to their deaths created an enormous amount of long-term stress in her life. Lanny’s health began to fail, worsening to a point where she had no energy and could barely move, making it impossible to practice dentistry. The onset of arthritis pulsed constant pain into her hips and knees, eventually causing her fingers to lock up.

The AIM Answer

Ken and Lanny never give up, and they firmly believe that God has a plan for every individual, so it was not a surprise that barley powder reappeared in their lives.

In 1996, Helmut Petrak – a patient coping with multiple sclerosis – came to see Lanny and was shocked at the state of her health. Searching for answers on the internet, Helmut discovered barley powder and the benefits of raw vegetable juice, both of which would help to relieve his MS symptoms. (Note: Helmut eventually became an AIM Director and left a legacy for his family.)

“Helmut told me how to effectively use barley powder,” explains Lanny. Within two weeks of taking barley powder and drinking juiced vegetables, Lanny was able to work again. Her pain had gone away, and her fingers had unlocked.

Initially Ken and their children were skeptical about the benefits of the “green stuff,” but they could not ignore the positive changes in Lanny’s health. Over time, the entire Donald family became believers and regular users of AIM products. All four of their children – Anitra, Erik, Kalina, and Jensina –  are now AIM Directors.

Teeth and AIM

Over time, natural health products became a part of their treatment for patients, and without even trying, their AIM business evolved over a timely series of circumstances.

In August of 2002, the first opportunity to share AIM BarleyLife® with a patient arrived in a small package. One afternoon, a mother brought in her four-year-old daughter, who was suffering from two abscessed teeth. Due to the extent of the infection, the little girl’s face was so swollen that she could not open her mouth. In order to reduce the swelling before seeing a pedodontist, Lanny gave the girl’s mother a prescription for antibiotics along with a canister of AIM BarleyLife. However, the woman never filled the prescription. After two days of taking only BarleyLife, the girl was no longer in pain, and the swelling had subsided.

A month later, Lanny got the same results for a 60-year-old patient with two abscessed teeth. These successes motivated the Donalds to investigate the power of BarleyLife and they soon recognized its ability to help control infection. In addition, they observed a speedier recovery when a patient took BarleyLife three to four days prior to innovative laser surgeries.

The Chairman’s Club

Even though they signed up as AIM Members in 1998, Lanny did not do anything to build their business until 2002, when she began to suggest AIM products to their patients when appropriate.

“When people ask where I get my energy, I tell them about the AIM products. The most effective way to help someone,” says Lanny, “is to listen to them. Inevitably, when people see how much you care, it’s easy to explain how the AIM products can meet their needs.

“Be generous giving out product datasheets. They are essential to ensuring a better understanding of the products and their benefits.”

Providing a foundation of knowledge that supports the continued use of AIM products was instrumental in building their AIM business. Lanny continued to spread the word by holding home meetings. Lanny and Ken’s efforts have paid off both financially and in the smiles of healthy patients. In October of 2009, the Donalds were promoted to Chairman’s Club.

“Reaching Chairman’s Club was hard work,” says Lanny, “but then again, everything good requires hard work. We definitely couldn’t have done it without God’s blessing. We love the AIM family atmosphere, and everyone is so willing to help each other, even if we are not in the same business group. We could not have achieved this goal without the quality of the AIM products, the support from the staff of both AIM Canada and the USA, as well as the integrity of the owners.”

If you ask the Donalds what they enjoy doing in their leisure time, their initial reaction is laughter that is quickly followed by the words, “What leisure time?” Running a dental practice is incredibly time consuming, and as Lanny explains, “AIM has made us even busier!” Yet even these words are said with a grateful smile on her face.

The above testimonial(s) should not be construed as representing results everybody can achieve.

The Iron Man just keeps on strumming, plucking along

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Sometimes you can tell a lot by a nickname. “The Iron Man of Bluegrass” fits Jesse McReynolds, a Preferred Member from Gallatin, Tennessee.

What is not so obvious, however, is where he gives credit for his endurance and, thus, the tag his fellow musicians have given him. Jesse is 80 and credits AIM products for his health and vitality. He has been taking them for more than 20 years. “I started with AIM when I met this lady in Florida,” recalls Jesse. “She was in her 50s but she looked like she was in her 30s. I have taken AIM products every day for more than 20 years. Whatever it does, it works.”

It must. Jesse has been a Grand Ole Opry musician since 1964 and plays in a band, The Virginia Boys, that tours the country playing bluegrass music. “I usually work 40 and 50 festivals a year in the United States,” he says. “It should take a toll, but I have held up pretty well so far.” Jesse plays the mandolin and sings tenor. For years Jesse and his brother, Jim, were members of the band. Jim passed away in 2002, but the family connection lives on. Two of Jesse’s grandchildren sing in the band. When Jim passed, a musical duo that had been playing together for a record 55 years came to an end.

While Tennessee is home, the world has proven to be his stage. He has performed all over the U.S., in Europe, and in Africa. He has been nominated for a number of Grammys and has won his share in his 60 years in music. Most recently he was nominated for Instrumental Recording of the Year for his collection of mostly original songs. He is credited for developing cross-picking and the split string styles on the mandolin.

He has even dabbled some in rock ’n roll. Remember the rock group, the Doors? He played the mandolin on one of the group’s more successful albums, called The Soft Parade.

In addition to his beloved mandolin, Jesse plays guitar and the fiddle. He is credited with creating an instrument only the most avid of music buffs would recognize, the mandolobro. It is a combination of the mandolin and the Dobro. A mandolin is a member of the lute family, an instrument that is plucked and strummed. A Dobro is a type of resonator guitar.

Jesse has provided background music for the likes of legendary rocker Chuck Berry and fellow mandolin player and vocalist Bobby Osbourne. One of his contemporaries says to be a successful and sought-after studio musician may be the highest compliment for an artist for it is a sign you really know your stuff.

Berry once said of Jesse and his brother, Jim: “To me, Jim and Jesse’s style is wonderfully unique and readily accessible to any musician who admires originality.” The praise comes from the media as well. Muleskinner News describes Jesse as “the foremost innovator in bluegrass music” with “unsurpassed technical expertise” on the mandolin, adding, “most importantly there is no better mandolin player, and no better gentleman” than Jesse.

Jesse and his wife, Joy, have been married for 13 years. She says Jesse may be an iron man but he also has a heart of gold. For 16 years he has hosted the McReynolds Memorial Benefit Show, normally held each year in February. It began as a way to assist Jesse’s son in covering his medical bills as a result of having multiple sclerosis. The son passed away in 2000 but the show lives on – “to help someone in need,” according to Joy. “We are blessed to be able to continue this for folks who need it.” This year funds raised from the event went to the wife and son of a musician who died from a brain tumor. “Life is so sad sometimes,” says Joy. But the benefit show can aid in lessening the accompanying grief.

Jesse is no passive supporter of AIM BarleyLife®. His website calls attention not only to his belief in the product but he uses a number of testimonies as well. He even categorizes the help it provides.

Asthma: One lady’s son suffered from it since he was a baby. Then one year she received a Christmas gift of the green barley powder. She began giving it to her son. His asthma became “much less severe and shorter in duration.” He is now 20, has been taking it for eight years, and his asthma is under control.

Arthritis: “This product helps my arthritis and seems to improve my feeling of well-being.”

Chemo side effects: “I was diagnosed with leukemia in 2006.” The various chemo treatments and medications caused “many unpleasant side effects.” Then her grandmother told her about BarleyLife. “I was hoping it would do something good for me. Guess what? It did. I consider myself healthy again, and I am back working in my garden.”

Wife Joy: “I have watched my husband, Jesse, take BarleyLife. He even takes it on the road with him. He stays so active and imaginative, always writing songs, playing music, joking around. I am taking it now and I look forward to keeping up with him.”

When Jesse is not on the road, you can find him and his wife at their Pick Inn, a venue near Nashville for weddings, receptions, and any other event deemed appropriate for the resort. The location is also home base for a radio show that reaches listeners within a 150-mile range of Nashville. There is recorded music, live music, and call-ins. One listener describes it “as kind of like an old-fashioned radio show.” Jesse uses the show to plug BarleyLife, stay in touch with his fan club, and talk about the joys of bluegrass music.

If the true mark of someone is the description given by others, then Jesse need not fear the path he has taken, the decisions he has made in his 80 years. “He is an inspiration to everyone,” says his proud wife.

You can do something about arthritis pain

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Arthritis affects more than 46 million Americans, and millions more are at risk for the condition. Are you one of them?

A survey provided by the AARP would suggest that you very well might be. To find out, take a look at the following statements, and see which ones apply.

• You are over the age of 45.
• You are 10 pounds or more overweight.
• You have had a serious knee injury.
• You did, or currently do, spend more than three hours per day doing heavy lifting on a regular basis.

If any one of these conditions applies to you, then chances are good that you are at risk for arthritis.

Such a broad survey might seem overly simplistic, but it makes sense when you consider the broad scope of arthritis’s reach. Arthritis is a blanket term that describes more than 100 specific medical conditions ranging from back pain to fibromyalgia. Generally speaking, arthritis deals with problems of the joints, which include swelling, pain, stiffness, and joint damage. In these terms, it is easy to see just how prevalent arthritis can really be.

Dee Sanders, a Director from San Antonio, developed carpal tunnel syndrome – a form of arthritis that affects the wrists – and was very happy to find relief in the AIM products.

“In 2003 I was working as a computer program analyst and was required to use the computer mouse a lot for spreadsheets. I started suffering with carpal tunnel syndrome. The pain was from the wrist to the elbow, and I was gravely concerned about having to retire early and have surgery on my wrist.

“My upline, Star Sapphire Director Betty Casey, asked me if I had ever tried the glucosamine in AIM Frame Essentials®. It was foreign to me at that time, but I said I would give it a try. I took two capsules morning, noon, and night. I can honestly say that within three weeks the pain subsided. I then went to two capsules daily. I have not had an occurrence of carpal since!”

Glucosamine is the key ingredient in Frame Essentials. It stimulates the growth and repair of cartilage, helping joints to heal and recover faster and more effectively. Frame Essentials also contains methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) and Boswellia serrata. MSM is found in healthy joint fluid. Boswellia extract helps improve blood supply to the joints, which helps reduce joint swelling and pain.

Together, these three ingredients help make Frame Essentials a powerful joint supplement and one that many Members – like Cathy Palacios, a Preferred Member from Pharr, Texas – can’t imagine living without. She was tired of suffering from pain in her hands, elbows, and shoulders.

“A wonderful friend of mine introduced me to AIM products and told me she thought I would really benefit from taking them. I read all about Frame Essentials and decided to take them. In a matter of days I felt relief, and I’ve been on them ever since. I maintain with two capsules a day.

“I’m 65 years young and I do altar service at Mass that requires me to kneel several times on the tile floor, especially when I do the incense in front of the altar. I can honestly say that I never complain about joint pains. ”

Open wide …

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AIM products used for improved health
Lanny and Ken Donald are dentists who care

Giving up is not an option for dentists and AIM Blue Diamond Directors Ken and Lanny Donald.

In 1964, Lanny moved from Jakarta, Indonesia, to continue her education at the University of British Columbia. With only a smattering of English, she struggled through her classes until a fellow student, Ken Donald, took her under his wing and became her mentor, best friend, and eventually, husband.

After completing their degrees, Lanny at McGill University and Ken at the University of Washington, the two dentists set up a practice together in the heart of downtown Vancouver.

In 1976, they moved their practice to rural Enderby, British Columbia, so their children, Anitra, Erik, Kalina, and Jensina, could experience the outdoor, active lifestyle Ken had enjoyed in his childhood. It was there they had their first introduction to AIM’s original barley product when a patient gave them a jar.
“I tasted it and said, ‘Yuck! I don’t need this!’” Lanny recalls with a laugh.
 

At the time Ken, Lanny, and their children were healthy and felt no need for the product. “I’m one of those women who goes to the hospital, pops out a child, and 10 days later I’m back to work,” Lanny says.
But that all changed.
 

Lanny’s older sister was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, her mother with lung cancer. Lanny flew back and forth between Australia and Vancouver nursing them faithfully, but within a short time both women died. 

“Then, my older brother had a stroke,” Lanny says. “He was only 49. He had a second stroke, and then died of pneumonia. Before my brother died, my Dad had a stroke. After three funerals and caring for Dad, in 1995, I just collapsed. I literally had no energy and my endometriosis really flared up. My hemoglobin went to 5.2.” Endometriosis affects 89 million women worldwide. It is a condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows elsewhere in the body, usually in the abdominal cavity. Hemoglobin transports oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body; a rating of 5.2 is considered on the outer edge of an acceptable score.
 

With her family medical history, Lanny’s doctor felt it imperative that she get a hysterectomy.
Hoping to bounce back soon after the surgery, Lanny was disappointed when her lethargy remained. Even after 10 hours of sleep, the simplest chores wore her out.
 

“That was in October,” Lanny says. “By July, I still couldn’t get out of bed. By this time I had severe arthritis, to the point that my fingers would lock up, and I had severe pain in the hips and knees.”
Then, her father died as well, and her health deteriorated further.
 

When a patient, Helmut Petrak, came by and saw how much Lanny’s health had declined, he quickly offered a solution. A sufferer of multiple sclerosis, Helmut had done in-depth research on how he could alleviate his symptoms and had stumbled across the AIM products and information on improving his quality of life.
 

“I was introduced to AIM’s original barley powder for the second time,” Lanny says. “Within two weeks, I was on my feet with just drinking fresh carrot juice and AIM’s barley powder. I was able to work again! Helmut got tired of delivering the products so he sponsored me. That winter, I was the only one in the family who didn’t get the flu.”
 

Her family noticed the astonishing changes in Lanny, but they were highly skeptical about the benefits of the barley powder. Jensina, Kalina, and, then, Anitra followed after experiencing recurring health problems and seeing them alleviated through the use of the barley powder.
 

After yet another bout with the flu, Ken began rethinking his opinion of the AIM products. He started researching, trying to get past the anecdotal accounts to real, scientific evidence. It didn’t take long before he joined Lanny in both using and sharing the AIM products. Erik was the last hold out.
 

“He was the longest lasting skeptic,” Jensina says with a grin. “He would always get sick, and finally got sick and tired of being sick and tired and consented to trying AIM BarleyLife®. He took the AIM Garden Trio® and it helped him get better.”
Now all four children are AIM Directors, and the family has experienced even better results with AIM BarleyLife®, the new and improved barley powder.
 

Ken and Lanny never thought about utilizing AIM BarleyLife® in their dental practice until one day a little girl came in with a face terribly swollen from two abscesses.
 

Treatment was needed, but the mother was reticent. At that moment, UPS arrived with a delivery of AIM BarleyLife®. Lanny handed the mother a prescription for an antibiotic and a jar of AIM BarleyLife®.Two days later, the little girl came running across the church parking lot toward Lanny. “All she could say was, ‘Better! Better!’” Lanny says.
 

Believing the healing to have stemmed from the antibiotic, Lanny told the mother how glad she was to have prescribed the medication. Sheepishly, the mother pulled out the unfilled prescription from her pocket. Lanny was amazed.
 

When these results were repeated in another patient, Ken and Lanny realized that the restorative properties of AIM BarleyLife® could be effectively applied to their dentistry practice. They began prescribing it as part of the post-operative regimen and have seen great reduction in swelling and pain.
 

“We start our patients using AIM BarleyLife® at least a week before wisdom teeth extractions,” Lanny says. “They need less pain killers and they aren’t as swollen. Many of them don’t even experience swelling.”
In the last year, the Donalds have added laser dentistry to their practice and when anxious patients have taken AIM Composure®, known for its mild sedative properties, stress-induced trauma has been minimized even further.
Today, Ken and Lanny consume many of the AIM products, but can’t live without AIM BarleyLife®, AIMega®, and the fiber products, AIM Herbal Fiberblend® and AIM FibreBalance® (available in Canada.).
 

“If you want to stay healthy, you need to look after your cells because healthy cells make a healthy body,” Lanny says, citing the AIM Healthy Cell Concept®. “Eliminate, nourish, and replenish! I’m really thankful for The AIM Companies™. I appreciate their integrity to continually improve their products for their Members at the best possible price.”
No stranger to hard work, Lanny credits the example of her parents, immigrants who started life over in a new country in their 50s, not allowing prejudice and language barriers to hold them back.
 

Never satisfied with the knowledge they have acquired, Ken and Lanny continue to research health issues and are always eager to learn more about the whole food supplements that AIM produces.
 

Although Ken and Lanny both work as full-time dentists, their AIM business has grown tremendously.
 

“It is really God’s blessing,” Lanny says, “He leads me to the right people, providing opportunities to help others with the products that helped me. We never cared about the money, never intended to grow the business; we just focused on people.”
 

The best advice they ever received is to invest in people’s lives. “They will trust you if they know that you care about them,” Lanny says. “People don’t care what you know until they know that you care.”