Tag Archives: cholesterol

AIM PrepZymes® Supplemental Enzymes for Good Health

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Enzymes are proteins that behave like a workforce, making it all happen inside the body down to the cellular level. Thousands of enzymes are present within individual cells and body systems, and each one has a function. Your body requires specific enzymes to digest food, transport nutrients, balance cholesterol and triglycerides, clean out toxins, strengthen your immune system, and so many other functions. In other words, enzymes act as the catalysts for all biochemical reactions in your body, so you need to maintain a strong workforce.

Your body naturally produces enzymes, and they are also present in food. However, cooking food deactivates most of its enzymes. If you eat processed foods, you might not have enough workers to thoroughly digest the bulk of this modern diet. Without enough food enzymes, your body draws on its other enzymes to help with digestion, compromising other body systems, such as your immune system. When food is not properly digested, it can lead to a buildup of waste that remains in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, where toxins are released and can have a negative impact on your overall health.

 Additionally, your enzymatic workforce is downsized as you age. With fewer enzymes being produced by your body, food digestion can take a longer time, and as a result, you may not get all of the available nutrients. For digestion and the multitude of other bodily functions that require enzymes, AIM Prepzymes® can supplement the enzymes in your body and food to help maintain this vital workforce.

Digestive Enzymes

Your digestive system begins in your mouth. When you’re hungry and you think about something you’d like to eat, you begin salivating. That’s the enzymes in your saliva preparing to go to work even before you start chewing some food. After you swallow and the food enters the gastric acid in your stomach, digestion continues through more enzymatic activity. But that’s not where it stops. In fact, a vital result of digestion takes place in your small intestine, where, with the help of digestive enzymes released by the pancreas, nutrients are extracted and enter the bloodstream.

PrepZymes provides digestive enzymes that are active in both acidic (stomach) and alkaline (intestine) environments. This means they make it to your stomach to aid digestion, as well as into the intestine, where they help the body absorb vital nutrients from digested food.

 The Breakdown

Food consists of a variety of elements, including protein, sugar, carbohydrates, fat, and fiber. The variety of cultured enzymes inPrepZymes helps to break down these elements so that your food is thoroughly digested, its nutrients are available for use by your body, an waste is eliminated.

The PrepZymes formula also includes alpine wild garlic leaf, which aids in digestion and provides antioxidant properties for repairing metabolic damage, and papaya fruit powder, which helps to digest protein andsoothe your stomach. When you are properly digesting food, you are contributing to the overall health of your body. Let PrepZymes make a healthy contribution.

 

 

 

Inner Spring Cleaning

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Spring is traditionally a time to clean out houses and garages of winter clutter and miscellany. The same could be said for our bodies. After a season of splurging and sitting, our bodies could use a clean sweep, too. Digestive problems comprise the number one health problem in North America, and one way to combat that fact is through a clean digestive system and healthy eating habits. AIM can help with both. Make this spring your chance to get yourself cleaned up with the following AIM products.

AIM Herbal Fiberblend®

A deep clean for your digestive tract begins with detoxification—an Herbal Fiberblend specialty. Made with a powerful combination of cleansing herbs, all-natural Herbal Fiberblend provides the soluble and insoluble fiber that is often lacking in our diets. The combination of fiber helps the body rid 

itself of harmful toxins. Soluble fiber forms a bulky gel in the intestine that regulates the flow of waste materials through the digestive tract. Insoluble fiber cannot be dissolved in water and so works through the intestine, scouring intestinal walls of waste matter. And for both kinds, the benefits are many, including bowel regularity, detox, colon cleansing, and even a reduction in cholesterol and a healthy blood sugar level. Together, soluble and insoluble fiber make Herbal Fiberblend one of the most valuable fiber and herbal products available today.

AIM Herbal Release®

For getting your immune system spiffed up this spring, you may consider starting with the lymphatic system—the secret solution to reinvigorating the immune system. Overlooked and undersold, the lymphatic system is involved in the growth, development, and deployment of white blood cells, an essential part of a healthy immune system. Lymphoid organs—bone marrow, thymus, lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, spleen, adenoids, and tonsils—

are key to the white blood cell factor. Keeping these organs in tip-top shape is a job for Herbal Release. The herbs in Herbal Release were carefully selected to work with the lymphatic system to produce a positive cell environment, one of the five key areas of AIM’s Healthy Cell Concept®. Among its helpful herbs are barberry bark, cascara sagrada, chickweed,
and Echinacea. The benefits of these herbs are many, including antibiotic and laxative properties.

AIM Para 90® (U.S. only)

How many people do you think are living with intestinal parasites? Would you believe one in every six? That is the number that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discovered through a nationwide survey, showing that parasites are clearly a more pressing matter than most realize. Parasites can arrive in your body through a variety of means, most commonly through the food and water we consume. Once inside, they grow and feed off their host, without contributing anything to the host’s survival. One way to get rid of them is with

Para 90, AIM’s herbal cleansing supplement. Para 90 combines a number of cleansing herbs with bromelain, a digestive enzyme. The 30-day parasite cleanse is a great way to kick off
an inner spring cleaning regimen.

Greens—AIM BarleyLife® and AIM LeafGreens®

As trees outside turn green this spring, so too should your diet. Foods that contain chlorophyll are packed with outstanding nutritional benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. And for your inner spring cleaning, chlorophyll also cleanses and detoxifies your body. Green, leafy vegetables are an ideal source of chlorophyll. That’s where AIM’s two
green-nutrition products—LeafGreens and BarleyLife—derive much of their nutrient profile. Both BarleyLife and LeafGreens boast green barley nutrition, which gets even greater with the addition of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, proteins, enzymes, and phytochemicals.

itself of harmful toxins. Soluble fiber forms a bulky gel in the intestine that regulates the flow of waste materials through the digestive tract. Insoluble fiber cannot be dissolved in water and so works through the intestine, scouring intestinal walls of waste matter. And for both kinds, the benefits are many, including bowel regularity, detox, colon cleansing, and even a reduction in cholesterol and a healthy blood sugar level. Together, soluble and insoluble fiber make Herbal Fiberblend one of the most valuable fiber and herbal products available today.

 

AIM Herbal Release®

For getting your immune system spiffed up this spring, you may consider starting with the lymphatic system—the secret solution to reinvigorating the immune system. Overlooked and undersold, the lymphatic system is involved in the growth, development, and deployment of white blood cells, an essential part of a healthy immune system. Lymphoid organs—bone marrow, thymus, lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, spleen, adenoids, and tonsils— 

are key to the white blood cell factor. Keeping these organs in tip-top shape is a job for Herbal Release. The herbs in Herbal Release were carefully selected to work with the lymphatic system to produce a positive cell environment, one of the five key areas of AIM’s Healthy Cell Concept®. Among its helpful herbs are barberry bark, cascara sagrada, chickweed,
and Echinacea. The benefits of these herbs are many, including antibiotic and laxative properties.

 

AIM Para 90® (U.S. only)

How many people do you think are living with intestinal parasites? Would you believe one in every six? That is the number that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discovered through a nationwide survey, showing that parasites are clearly a more pressing matter than most realize. Parasites can arrive in your body through a variety of means, most commonly through the food and water we consume. Once inside, they grow and feed off their host, without contributing anything to the host’s survival. One way to get rid of them is with  

Para 90, AIM’s herbal cleansing supplement. Para 90 combines a number of cleansing herbs with bromelain, a digestive enzyme. The 30-day parasite cleanse is a great way to kick off
an inner spring cleaning regimen.

 

Greens—AIM BarleyLife® and AIM LeafGreens®

As trees outside turn green this spring, so too should your diet. Foods that contain chlorophyll are packed with outstanding nutritional benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. And for your inner spring cleaning, chlorophyll also cleanses and detoxifies your body. Green, leafy vegetables are an ideal source of chlorophyll. That’s where AIM’s two
green-nutrition products—LeafGreens and BarleyLife—derive much of their nutrient profile. Both BarleyLife and LeafGreens boast green barley nutrition, which gets even greater with the addition of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, proteins, enzymes, and phytochemicals.

Testimony from Dakota Chapman, age 17, daughter of Group Builders
James and Melissa Dobney from Payette, Idaho:

“When my mom showed up with this green stuff, she opened the can and I was like, “You want me to take what?” We have horses, so I literally thought my mom was trying to make me take ground-up horse poop. And I did not want to do that, so I kind of rebelled for a while. Then I ended up taking it, and it gives me the most energy I’ve ever experienced in my life.


Last year, I went on a mission trip to Peru. I ate all sorts of weird food, and when I came back home, I was really, really sick. My mom thought I had Montezuma’s Revenge. I didn’t think it was that bad, but I went to the hospital. They gave me IVs and couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me.
Well, I started taking Para 90 and Herbal Release. I got better within a week. 

I’m really happy that AIM makes these products because I didn’t want to be sick for a long time.”

 

Testimonials should not be construed as representing results everybody can achieve.

Cholesterol – Lowering Your Risk

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By Tracey Karele – AIM Nutritionist

 

Cholesterol is a kind of lipid or fat; it’s a soft, waxy substance that’s made in your liver and is also found in a variety of animal-derived foods like meat and dairy products. Your body needs some cholesterol in order to function properly, as cholesterol is an essential part of your cell membranes and it’s also needed to synthesize vitamin D, hormones and bile acids. However, too much cholesterol is undesirable. Cholesterol is a major part of the plaques that cause the hardening and narrowing of the arteries in atherosclerosis, and it is the underlying cause of heart attacks and strokes.  

When blood cholesterol levels are tested, the total cholesterol, as well as the different types of cholesterol are determined. As lipids cannot travel through the bloodstream alone, cholesterol travels by attaching to a protein and forming a little package known as a lipoprotein. The density of a lipoprotein is determined by its lipid-to-protein ratio. A low-density lipoprotein (LDL) has a high ratio of lipid to protein and is especially high in cholesterol, while a high-density lipoprotein (HDL) has more protein relative to its lipid content.

LDL cholesterol is the “bad” cholesterol that is found in the fatty deposits in the arteries and can contribute to heart disease. The higher the LDL level, the greater the risk of heart disease. HDL cholesterol is the “good” cholesterol that helps to clear excess cholesterol from the blood and arteries and back to the liver. The lower the HDL level, the higher the risk for heart disease.

What is the significance of High Cholesterol?

 

When there is too much cholesterol in your blood, it builds up in the walls of your arteries, causing a process called atherosclerosis, a form of heart disease. The arteries become narrowed and blood flow to the heart muscle is slowed down or blocked. The blood carries oxygen to the heart, and if enough blood and oxygen cannot reach your heart, you may suffer chest pain. If the blood supply to a portion of the heart is completely cut off by a blockage, the result is a heart attack. The higher your cholesterol, the earlier the episode is expected to occur.

High blood cholesterol, particularly when the ratio of LDL to HDL is high, is a predictor of cardiovascular disease. Generally, cholesterol carried in LDL correlates directly with risk of heart disease, whereas cholesterol carried in HDL correlates inversely with risk of heart disease. A population whose average blood cholesterol is 10% lower than another’s will suffer one third less cardiovascular disease; and a 30% difference in blood cholesterol predicts a cardiovascular disease rate that is four times lower.

Diet and Blood Cholesterol – Is there a Link?

 

A diet high in saturated fats and trans-fatty acids contributes to high blood cholesterol. Generally, wherever diets are high in saturated fats and low in fish, fruits and vegetables, blood cholesterol is high and heart disease affects the population. Conversely, wherever dietary fat consists mostly of monounsaturated fats and there is an abundant intake of fish, fruits and vegetables, blood cholesterol as well as death from heart disease rates are low.  

 

 

 

What are the Symptoms of High Cholesterol?

 

High cholesterol itself does not cause any symptoms; so many people are unaware that their cholesterol levels are too high. It is therefore of the utmost importance to find out what your cholesterol numbers are. According to the SA Heart and Stroke Foundation, the following are target values:

 

Total cholesterol:        less than 5.0 mmol/l (millimols per litre)
LDL cholesterol:          less than 3.0 mmol/l
HDL cholesterol:         greater than 1.2 mmol/l

Common Medications for Lowering Cholesterol

 

Statins block the production of cholesterol in the liver itself. They lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and have a mild effect in raising HDL cholesterol. These drugs are the first line of treatment for most people with high cholesterol. Side effects can include intestinal problems, liver damage and muscle tenderness or weakness.

 

Niacin is a B-complex vitamin. It’s found in food, but is also available in high doses by prescription. It lowers LDL cholesterol and raises HDL cholesterol. These drugs also lower elevated triglycerides. The main side effects are flushing, itching, tingling and headaches, yet aspirin can reduce many of these symptoms. Niacin found in dietary supplements should not be used to lower cholesterol.

 

Bile acid sequestrants work inside the intestine where they bind to bile and prevent it from being reabsorbed into the circulatory system. Bile is made largely from cholesterol, so these drugs work by reducing the body’s supply of cholesterol, thus lowering total and LDL cholesterol. The most common side effects are constipation, gas and an upset stomach.  

 

Fibrates lower triglyceride levels and can increase HDL and lower LDL cholesterol. The mechanism of action is not clear but it is thought that fibrates enhance the breakdown of triglyceride-rich particles and decrease the secretion of certain lipoproteins. In addition, they induce the synthesis of HDL.

Even if you begin with medications to lower your cholesterol, you will need to augment your treatment with diet and lifestyle changes. Cholesterol-lowering medicine is most effective when combined with a low-cholesterol diet and an exercise program.

 

Eating Right for High Cholesterol

Even if you have years of unhealthy eating under your belt, simply making a few changes in your diet can reduce cholesterol and improve your health. According to the Mayo Clinic, the following are a few dietary tips to improve your cholesterol scores:

  • Choose unsaturated fats: Saturated fats (found in red meat and dairy products) raise your total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. As a general rule, you should get no more than 10 percent of your daily calories from saturated fat. Instead, choose leaner cuts of meat, low-fat dairy and monounsaturated fats (found in olive and canola oils) for a healthier option.

    ·         Eliminate trans fats: Trans fat can be found in fried foods and many commercially baked products, such as cookies, crackers and snack cakes. But don’t rely on packages that are labelled “trans fat-free.” In the United States, if a food contains less than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving, it can be labelled “trans fat-free.” Even though this amount may seem small, it can quickly add up if you eat a lot of foods that contain trans fats. Instead, read the ingredients list. You can usually tell if a food has trans fat in it if it contains a partially hydrogenated oil.

    ·         Limit the cholesterol in your food: Dietary cholesterol comes mainly from meat, poultry, fish and dairy products. Organ meats such as liver are especially high in cholesterol, while foods of plant origin contain no cholesterol. Aim for no more than 300 milligrams (mg) of cholesterol a day — less than 200 mg if you have heart disease. The most concentrated sources of cholesterol include organ meats, egg yolks and whole milk products, so opt for lean cuts of meat, egg substitutes and skim milk instead.

    ·         Stock up on fruits and vegetables: Fruits and vegetables are rich in dietary fibre, which can help to lower cholesterol. Experiment with veggie-based casseroles, soups and stir-fries, and snack on seasonal fruits.

    ·         Eat foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids: These can help lower your LDL cholesterol. Some types of fish — such as salmon, mackerel and herring — are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Other good sources of omega-3 fatty acids include walnuts, almonds and ground flaxseeds (as found in AIMega).

     

    Lifestyle Modifications for Lowering your Cholesterol  

    Regular exercise (about 30 minutes a day, most days of the week) positively affects cholesterol levels by raising levels of HDL “good” cholesterol and lowering levels of LDL “bad” cholesterol.

    In some studies, moderate use of alcohol is linked with higher HDL cholesterol levels. However, because of other risks, the benefit isn’t great enough to recommend drinking alcohol if you don’t do so already. If you drink, do so in moderation. People who consume moderate amounts of alcohol (an average of one to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women) have a lower risk of heart disease than non-drinkers. Lastly, if you smoke, quit. Stopping smoking can improve your HDL cholesterol level.

     

    AIM Support for High Cholesterol 

    According to an extensive review done by scientists at the UK’s Oxford University, the soluble fibre from psyllium, pectin and guar gum (all found in AIM’s fit ‘n fiber) is proven to lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol.

    As soluble fibre passes through the gastrointestinal tract, it binds cholesterol and bile acids, making them unavailable for absorption. As the liver needs cholesterol in order to make bile, it now pulls cholesterol from the bloodstream. The less cholesterol you have in your blood, the less will deposit on your arterial walls and clog your arteries. One serving of fit ‘n fiber provides 10g of heart-healthy soluble fibre.  

    CellSparc 360 is a superior cardiovascular health formula containing coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), tocotrienols and fish oil. Studies show that tocotrienols (a form of vitamin E) help to reduce both total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels, while the omega-3 essential fatty acids in the fish oil help to reduce the risk of blood clots and lower blood pressure.

    Bear Paw Garlic is a powerful antioxidant that may keep your cholesterol from oxidizing (cholesterol itself is not the culprit in heart disease, but rather oxidized cholesterol). It may also activate macrophages (white blood cells) that help reduce the synthesis of LDL cholesterol.

    According to research done on garlic supplements, including alpine wild garlic (found in Bear Paw Garlic), it is not uncommon for people to experience a slight increase in cholesterol levels over perhaps the first month as cholesterol is pulled out of storage in the tissues and transported to the liver.  Total cholesterol levels are reduced over a 1 – 3 month period.  Serum triglycerides levels are often lowered in the same time frame.

    AIM Testimony: What Would You Do to Lower Your Cholesterol by 81 Points?

    All that Tami Cole had to do was add AIM fit ‘n fiber to her routine. “I have been using fit ‘n fiber for about six weeks,” says Tami, a Wholesale Member from Raymond, New Hampshire in the USA. “My cholesterol numbers went from 286 to 205, and I have no more sleep apnea or acid reflux!  My primary doctor and Ob-gyn were so pleased; they want to know my secrets.” 

    Tami’s secret is common knowledge to tens of thousands of AIM Members: combine the AIM products with a healthy lifestyle and the results speak for themselves. Tami is one of a growing number of Members to achieve improved health with AIM’s heart healthy fiber product, fit ‘n fiber. Packed with 12 grams of fiber per serving, the fit ‘n fiber formula is designed to cut down bad cholesterol, aid in healthy weight loss, and improve cardiovascular health. 

    High cholesterol was one of several health issues that Tami was enduring. “Back in March, I started to really do some research on nutrition and why I wasn’t feeling so good. My cholesterol was high, and I had the beginnings of acid reflux and sleep apnea.  I was tired all the time and had trouble with cramping and bloating and difficulty with bowel movements.” 

    Tami’s search for help took her a lot of different places.” I changed my eating habits and added more fruits and vegetables as well as cutting out white flour, sugar, and other simple carbohydrates and adding in whole or sprouted grain complex carbs, lean proteins, and beneficial fats. I also added some very good multi-vitamins and antioxidants. 

    “I must admit, I was feeling much better with just those changes, except I was still having trouble with hard stools and infrequent eliminations, possibly from my increase in protein. I had been using AIM Herbal Fiberblend twice weekly for about six months, which did help some.  I wasn’t real crazy about the taste, but when I tried the fit ‘n fiber, I found the taste was great!” 

    Fit ‘n fiber and Herbal Fiberblend work great as a team, helping users to easily attain daily fiber recommendations. Herbal Fiberblend’s insoluble fiber works as a colon cleanser, and fit ‘n fiber’s soluble fiber helps reduce appetite and lower cholesterol. 

    And Tami’s right. The fit ‘n fiber does taste great thanks to a natural orchard peach flavor. Like other new AIM products ProPeas and CellStar, fit ‘n fiber is sweetened naturally with stevia, a plant-based extract. “I mix one scoop of fit ‘n fiber with my AIM BarleyLife® Xtra every day,” Tami says, “and my stomach is not bloated and I don’t strain during my two to three bowel movements per day! It is a big relief to not have to strain to go. No loose stools or diarrhea – just normal elimination. 

    “I believe the improvements are from my lifestyle change in eating, but also the results of a healthy digestive tract and colon thanks to AIM products. In fact, I liked the products so much, I became an AIM distributor.  “Thanks for fit ‘n fiber. It is such a great product!” 

What would you do to lower your cholesterol?

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ArrowWhat would you do to lower your cholesterol by 81 points?

All that Tami Cole had to do was add AIM fit ’n fiber® to her routine.

“I have been using fit ’n fiber for about six weeks,” says Tami Cole, an AIM Wholesale Member from Raymond, New Hampshire. “My cholesterol numbers went from 286 to 205, and I have no more sleep apnea or acid reflux! My primary doctor and Ob-gyn were so pleased; they want to know my secrets.” {Research suggests a reduction of 11-17% cholesterol can be achieved with supplementation of 8-12 g of soluble fiber per day for 16 weeks. –Salas-Salvado J, et al. (2008) Br J Nutr 99, 1480-1387.}Tami Cole

Tami’s secret is common knowledge to tens of thousands of AIM Members: combine the AIM products with a healthy lifestyle and the results speak for themselves. Tami is one of a growing number of Members to achieve improved health with AIM’s heart healthy fiber product, fit ’n fiber. Packed with 12 grams of soluble fiber per serving, the fit ’n fiber formula is designed to cut down bad cholesterol, aid in healthy weight loss, and improve cardiovascular health.*

High cholesterol was one of several health issues that Tami was enduring.

“Back in March, I started to really do some research on nutrition and why I wasn’t feeling so good. My cholesterol was high, and I had the beginnings of acid reflux and sleep apnea. I was tired all the time and had trouble with cramping and bloating and difficulty with bowel movements.”

Tami’s search for help took her a lot of different places.

“I changed my eating habits and added more fruits and vegetables as well as cutting out white flour, sugar, and other simple carbohydrates and adding in whole or sprouted grain complex carbs, lean proteins, and beneficial fats. I also added some very good multi-vitamins and antioxidants.

“I must admit, I was feeling much better with just those changes, except I was still having trouble with hard stools and infrequent eliminations, possibly from my increase in protein. I had been using AIM Herbal Fiberblend® twice weekly for about six months, which did help some. I wasn’t real crazy about the taste, but when I tried the fit ’n fiber, I found the taste was great!”

fit ’n fiber and Herbal Fiberblend work great as a team, helping users to easily attain daily fiber recommendations. Herbal Fiberblend’s insoluble fiber works as a colon cleanser, and fit ’n fiber’s soluble fiber helps reduce appetite and lower cholesterol. fit'n fiber

And Tami’s right. The fit ’n fiber does taste great thanks to a natural orchard peach flavor. Like other new AIM products – AIM ProPeas™ and AIM CellStar™ – fit ’n fiber is sweetened, in part, with stevia, a plant-based extract.

“I mix one scoop of fit ’n fiber with my AIM BarleyLife® Xtra every day,” Tami says, “and my stomach is not bloated and I don’t strain during my two to three bowel movements per day! It is a big relief to not have to strain to go. No loose stools or diarrhea – just normal elimination.

“I believe the improvements are from my lifestyle change in eating, but also the results of a healthy digestive tract and colon thanks to AIM products. In fact, I liked the products so much, I became an AIM distributor. Thanks for fit ’n fiber. It is such a great product!”

{This testimonial cannot be construed as representing results everybody can achieve. Tami received product for her endorsement.}

Health Feature – The China Study – Part 2

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‘Reading it may save your life’
China Study (Note: This is the second of a two-part story on the China Study and how its findings relate to health and the AIM products. The first part in the series was published in the March-April Partners Living Well magazine.)

When the China Study was first introduced in 2005, the New York Times profiled it, proclaiming the book as “the Grand Prix of epidemiology.” Whole Foods CEO John Mackey called it “the most important book on health, diet, and nutrition ever written.” Dr. Dean Ornish, an author and personal physician to such famous stars as Oprah Winfrey, said that “reading it may save your life.”

But in the four years since its debut, it has been met with significantly less fanfare and even less of an impact.

The dietary world of today remains largely the same as the one that the China Study warned against. Eating habits have gone unchanged, whole food nutrition still remains a niche movement, and cancer is just as troublesome as it was four years ago.

What is the reason for the relative anonymity in which the China Study has lived? Its nutritional breakthroughs should have been enough to get any person to sit up and notice. The China Study was the first of its kind to provide substantive evidence of the benefits of eating a plant-based diet – benefits that included a lower risk of disease, including cancer.

Dr. T. Colin Campbell, the book’s author, has some theories about why his research has stayed under the radar. One of his assumptions is that there are a handful of influential people who fear the ramifications of the China Study being put into practice. Many businesses stand to lose a lot of money if a conversion to plant-based diets were to actually come to fruition. Fast food chains, food suppliers, and much of the health field would be drastically trimmed if the dependence on current dietary status quo waned.

Another criticism deals with errors in the study’s methods. At face value, the research done in the China Project – a 20-year study covering 880 million people in 2,400 Chinese counties – is not entirely bulletproof. The mortality rates that Campbell and his associates used for comparison were taken from nearly a decade earlier and extrapolated to fit the study’s timetable. The measurement of nutrients that the China Project used was dietary data from a broad table measure rather than the individual foods themselves. This would have neglected the specific nutrient benefits of particular foods that were otherwise grouped into the generic categories of “bad” animal proteins and the “good” plant proteins.China Study

Generalizations, too, are another issue that some have with Campbell’s China Study. Statements like “eating foods that contain any cholesterol above zero milligrams is unhealthy” tend to be looked at with a critical eye when there are so many variables left unaccounted for.

What these criticisms fail to mention, though, is the unique, original voice that the China Study provides that contradicts the current standard of diet and health in Western cultures. Campbell’s research may lack specifics on certain results, but it does not lack for a compelling case to reconsider the way that animal-based proteins are used in contemporary diets.

The sheer volume of disease-related research that the China Project compiled is enough to warrant a serious look. The following is a list of diseases that the China Project claims could be avoided and lessened by using the proper diet.
• Diabetes
• Brain disease
• Breast cancer
• Colon cancer
• Eye disease
• Heart disease
• Kidney stones
• Obesity
• Osteoporosis

A movement toward whole food health is the China Study’s desire, and it is a foundational principle of The AIM Companies™. AIM Members have seen the benefits of whole food nutrition, and these benefits are exactly the types of results that Campbell and the China Study would expect.

AIM Member Jacqueline McDermott, a Director from Fonthill, Ontario, Canada, is one who discovered the health benefits of plant-based nutrients through AIM BarleyLife® and a host of other great AIM products.Jacqueline McDermott

“In July of 2004, four years after a lumpectomy due to breast cancer, I was diagnosed with bone cancer. The cancer had metastasized very rapidly into my bones causing my femur to break. The cancer not only attacked my left leg, but my pelvis, ribs, vertebrae, and skull as well.

“Six heavy doses of chemo were prescribed and completed in December 2004.

“All the while, I continued under the direction of a homeopath who included natural products to help keep my immune system as strong as possible during the treatments. I have always kept a healthy eating lifestyle and often entertained new health products. It wasn’t until four months after my last chemo treatment that a friend introduced me to BarleyLife by giving me some samples.

“I was so touched by his visit that it led me to sign up immediately. This product testified to cleansing and healing, so why wait, when something sounded so good. At that time no matter what I ate and took, I still lacked energy and my body remained very acidic, which is a prime state for cancer to thrive in.

“I also know from past experience that when you begin a new product, whether for cleansing purposes or building your immune system, you have to give the product a fair chance; therefore, I knew that when my samples ran out, my first shipment would have arrived and I could continue taking the BarleyLife without interruption.

“The big question for me was, ‘How much should I take?’ The cancer had already done massive damage, eating away at my leg and my spine.

“This is where AIM Member Muriel McPherson (a Chairman’s Club Director) came into my life, giving me her ‘recipe’ for cancer treatment, which I faithfully began to take. It involved taking the AIM Garden Trio® eight times per day. The Garden Trio is BarleyLife, AIM Just Carrots®, and AIM RediBeets®. It sounded like a lot, and it was. But my body had been intruded by an ugly disease and had left me weakened and in pain. Two weeks into the Garden Trio recipe, not only did I notice a tremendous increase in energy but for the first time ever, my body was no longer acidic. BarleyLife was the only product that worked for me and brought me into the healthy neutral acidity zone. I was thrilled.

“I have been told that I am a walking miracle. My oncologist says that I’m still full of cancer, but it is not active and not eating at the bones. The cancer remains quiet, and that is glorious news for a bone cancer patient.

“I faithfully take a good portion of the Garden Trio each day as well as a number of the other products such as AIM Proancynol® 2000, AIM Cellsparc 360®, AIMega®, and AIM Herbal Fiberblend®, which I have found to be ‘my happy balance’ for maintenance purposes.”

Jacqueline and others like her are prime examples that there is enough evidence in the China Study to at least constitute a reconsideration of current habits. The China Study’s research was unique: rather than blame disease on genetics, it turned the attention to nutrition and nutrition’s role in activating good and bad genes.

It would be a shame if revolutionary ideas like this were forgotten so quickly.

Health Feature – The China Study – Part 1

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China StudyOne of the largest scientific studies of our time, the China Project, has given scientific proof to the foundation of The AIM Companies™ for the past 27 years: nutrition works.

The study, in sum, concludes that eating right and staying healthy can boost your immune system, ward off disease and, in some cases, prevent cancer.

The China Project has helped open the door to a new conversation about healthy eating habits, diet, and nutrition. Cancer and disease are a tragic part of everyday life. People search high and low for help, but the China Project would have us believe that one of the answers has been sitting right in front of us all along. On our plate.

Background

The China Project was organized by researchers from Oxford University, Cornell University, and the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine. The study took more than 20 years to complete, and it monitored the death rates of more than 12 different types of cancer in millions of Chinese citizens.

Dr. T. Colin Campbell, a leader of the study during the 1980s and 1990s, and his son, Thomas, wrote about the project in a book titled China Study: Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health. Their summary echoed the project’s final findings – that high-protein diets, especially protein from animal sources, are ultimately harmful to our systems.

Impact of high blood cholesterol

One of the goals of the China Project was to find out the impact that plant-based diets had on the body. Researchers divided the study’s participants into two groups – those who ate a diet very rich in plant-based foods and those who did not – and compared the results between genetically similar individuals.China Study

Researchers believed that an impact might be seen or a correlation discovered between diet and many of the more prevalent diseases in Western culture (i.e., coronary heart disease, diabetes, organ cancer). They were right. The largest predictor that they found was high blood cholesterol, an indicator that led to a 99.9 percent rate of developing disease. In other words, if a subject in the study were diagnosed with high blood cholesterol, there was a 99.9 percent chance that he or she would have one of the many diseases listed by the study.

Lowering cholesterol, the study found, was key in reducing the risk of many types of disease, including cancer. During the study, when cholesterol was cut in half, the risk of developing cancers including liver, colon, lung, and breast cancers, also decreased, with some rates falling more than 90 percent.

But what was most interesting about the study’s findings in relation to cholesterol was that the Chinese participants in the study who were found to be susceptible to these diseases all had significantly lower cholesterol levels than those found in the average American. The ones with high cholesterol still had lower cholesterol than the majority of Americans. As cholesterol levels rose in the study’s subjects, the likelihood of disease increased as well. The numbers indicate that the problem with cholesterol could be a much worse issue for those living in countries with Westernized diets that are full of cholesterol-building foods.China Study

The cholesterol issue brought the discussion back to the diets that the study set out to research. According to the China Project, one of the foods most directly responsible for an increase in cholesterol levels is animal-based protein (i.e., beef, chicken). In addition to animal-based protein, saturated fat and dietary cholesterol can also raise blood cholesterol, but animal-based protein was by far the biggest culprit.

Chinese participants with high levels of cholesterol contracted disease at an alarming rate, but the Chinese diet contained nowhere near as much animal-based protein as does the Westernized diet. Participants in the study averaged only 7.1 grams of animal protein per day. The standard American diet averages 70 grams.

Decreasing one’s intake of animal-based protein became an obvious conclusion for the study’s organizers. Among the Chinese participants, lowering the amount of animal protein from 10 percent of total calories consumed to zero percent was found to be an ideal percentage in the diets of those who are predisposed to the disease. Doing the same in American diets that contain a significantly higher percentage of animal protein would presumably do even more good.

The final verdict was that an ideal percentage of animal protein in a diet is zero. Anything higher exposes the risk for cholesterol and, therefore, disease.

Importance of plant-based diets,
AIM products

In contrast to animal protein diets, it makes sense that plant-based diets would be a better alternative, especially considering the evidence from the China Project. Upon further analysis of plant-based diets, researchers found that these types of foods contain a large amount of antioxidants, which help fight free radicals – one of the leading causes of cancer in the body. The antioxidant properties of plant-based foods are so powerful that they were even capable of lowering cholesterol by clearing arteries and supporting a healthy bloodstream.

Plants also help to keep the body’s pH at an optimal level and to make up for the overly acidifying effects of animal-based foods. When the body pH is not balanced, it can lead to a myriad of problems including a compromised immune system.

This is where the AIM products fit into the discussion. Alkalinity versus acidity is a well-known topic by AIM Members who have found that products like AIM BarleyLife® and AIM Herbal Fiberblend® really make a difference in balancing the body’s internal pH level.China Study

BarleyLife’s focus is on green nutrition from young barley grass – one of the most nutritious plants on earth. Great results have been experienced by people who have tried BarleyLife because it is a natural, healthy alternative to the processed diets that are standard in Western cultures, and the barley provides unparalleled antioxidants and immune system support.

The results from the China Project showed just how harmful animal-based proteins can be. But plant-based proteins are another story. They are a healthy alternative for getting the nutrition we need, and AIM takes care of this issue with products like AIM LeafGreens®.

Fifty percent of LeafGreens is protein, and it is made from natural sources of plant-based nutrition. Barley leaves, faba bean leaves, spinach leaves, and pea leaves provide a synergistic blend of nutrition that acts as a counter to the unhealthy foods that currently exist on the market.

AIM has plenty more that fit the health bill, too. AIM Garden Trio®, AIM Just Carrots®, AIM RediBeets® – the list can go on and on. To hear that so much of our health can be affected by putting good foods and natural supplements into our bodies has to be encouraging for AIM Members because it is what they have been saying for more than 27 years.

(Note: This is the first of a two-part story on the China Project and how its findings relate to health and the AIM products. The second part in the series will be published in the May-June Partners Living Well.)

One of the largest scientific studies of our time, the China Project, has given scientific proof to the foundation of The AIM Companies™ for the past 27 years: nutrition works.

The study, in sum, concludes that eating right and staying healthy can boost your immune system, ward off disease and, in some cases, prevent cancer.

The China Project has helped open the door to a new conversation about healthy eating habits, diet, and nutrition. Cancer and disease are a tragic part of everyday life. People search high and low for help, but the China Project would have us believe that one of the answers has been sitting right in front of us all along. On our plate.

Background

The China Project was organized by researchers from Oxford University, Cornell University, and the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine. The study took more than 20 years to complete, and it monitored the death rates of more than 12 different types of cancer in millions of Chinese citizens.

Dr. T. Colin Campbell, a leader of the study during the 1980s and 1990s, and his son, Thomas, wrote about the project in a book titled China Study: Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health. Their summary echoed the project’s final findings – that high-protein diets, especially protein from animal sources, are ultimately harmful to our systems.

Impact of high blood cholesterol

One of the goals of the China Project was to find out the impact that plant-based diets had on the body. Researchers divided the study’s participants into two groups – those who ate a diet very rich in plant-based foods and those who did not – and compared the results between genetically similar individuals.

Researchers believed that an impact might be seen or a correlation discovered between diet and many of the more prevalent diseases in Western culture (i.e., coronary heart disease, diabetes, organ cancer). They were right. The largest predictor that they found was high blood cholesterol, an indicator that led to a 99.9 percent rate of developing disease. In other words, if a subject in the study were diagnosed with high blood cholesterol, there was a 99.9 percent chance that he or she would have one of the many diseases listed by the study.

Lowering cholesterol, the study found, was key in reducing the risk of many types of disease, including cancer. During the study, when cholesterol was cut in half, the risk of developing cancers including liver, colon, lung, and breast cancers, also decreased, with some rates falling more than 90 percent.

But what was most interesting about the study’s findings in relation to cholesterol was that the Chinese participants in the study who were found to be susceptible to these diseases all had significantly lower cholesterol levels than those found in the average American. The ones with high cholesterol still had lower cholesterol than the majority of Americans. As cholesterol levels rose in the study’s subjects, the likelihood of disease increased as well. The numbers indicate that the problem with cholesterol could be a much worse issue for those living in countries with Westernized diets that are full of cholesterol-building foods.

The cholesterol issue brought the discussion back to the diets that the study set out to research. According to the China Project, one of the foods most directly responsible for an increase in cholesterol levels is animal-based protein (i.e., beef, chicken). In addition to animal-based protein, saturated fat and dietary cholesterol can also raise blood cholesterol, but animal-based protein was by far the biggest culprit.

Chinese participants with high levels of cholesterol contracted disease at an alarming rate, but the Chinese diet contained nowhere near as much animal-based protein as does the Westernized diet. Participants in the study averaged only 7.1 grams of animal protein per day. The standard American diet averages 70 grams.

Decreasing one’s intake of animal-based protein became an obvious conclusion for the study’s organizers. Among the Chinese participants, lowering the amount of animal protein from 10 percent of total calories consumed to zero percent was found to be an ideal percentage in the diets of those who are predisposed to the disease. Doing the same in American diets that contain a significantly higher percentage of animal protein would presumably do even more good.

The final verdict was that an ideal percentage of animal protein in a diet is zero. Anything higher exposes the risk for cholesterol and, therefore, disease.

Importance of plant-based diets,
AIM products

In contrast to animal protein diets, it makes sense that plant-based diets would be a better alternative, especially considering the evidence from the China Project. Upon further analysis of plant-based diets, researchers found that these types of foods contain a large amount of antioxidants, which help fight free radicals – one of the leading causes of cancer in the body. The antioxidant properties of plant-based foods are so powerful that they were even capable of lowering cholesterol by clearing arteries and supporting a healthy bloodstream.

Plants also help to keep the body’s pH at an optimal level and to make up for the overly acidifying effects of animal-based foods. When the body pH is not balanced, it can lead to a myriad of problems including a compromised immune system.

This is where the AIM products fit into the discussion. Alkalinity versus acidity is a well-known topic by AIM Members who have found that products like AIM BarleyLife® and AIM Herbal Fiberblend® really make a difference in balancing the body’s internal pH level.

BarleyLife’s focus is on green nutrition from young barley grass – one of the most nutritious plants on earth. Great results have been experienced by people who have tried BarleyLife because it is a natural, healthy alternative to the processed diets that are standard in Western cultures, and the barley provides unparalleled antioxidants and immune system support.

The results from the China Project showed just how harmful animal-based proteins can be. But plant-based proteins are another story. They are a healthy alternative for getting the nutrition we need, and AIM takes care of this issue with products like AIM LeafGreens®.

Fifty percent of LeafGreens is protein, and it is made from natural sources of plant-based nutrition. Barley leaves, faba bean leaves, spinach leaves, and pea leaves provide a synergistic blend of nutrition that acts as a counter to the unhealthy foods that currently exist on the market.

AIM has plenty more that fit the health bill, too. AIM Garden Trio®, AIM Just Carrots®, AIM RediBeets® – the list can go on and on. To hear that so much of our health can be affected by putting good foods and natural supplements into our bodies has to be encouraging for AIM Members because it is what they have been saying for more than 27 years.

(Note: This is the first of a two-part story on the China Project and how its findings relate to health and the AIM products. The second part in the series will be published in the May-June Partners Living Well.)

Fats: The good, the bad and the ugly

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Fat is not exactly a word one wants to hear in describing anything. But fat isn’t necessarily an all-bad word or negative description. One crucial aspect of weight management and health is “fat” content and type. What is a good fat? What is a bad fat? How much cholesterol is too much?

What are good fats?*

•Monounsaturated – Monounsaturated fats are called “good or healthy” fats because they can lower your bad (LDL) cholesterol. Among foods containing monounsaturated fats are avocadoes, almonds, olive oil, and sesame seeds. Be aware, however, that “good fat” does not necessarily equate to “low calorie.”

•Polyunsaturated – Polyunsaturated fats are also “healthy” fats. Sources of polyunsaturated fats include cottonseed oil, soybean oil, walnuts, some salad dressings, and pumpkin seeds.

•Omega-3 – Omega-3 fatty acids help prevent clogging of the arteries. Many of us are already aware that certain types of fish are a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids, such as Albacore tuna, herring, and salmon. But there are plant foods that contain these great fats, too, such as tofu, walnuts, and the flax-sunflower-sesame seeds found in AIMega™.

How about this for a uniquely AIM idea? Next time you make a smoothie, break open and blend in six AIMega™ capsules to obtain a great nutty flavor and the Omega-3 fatty acids needed in a balanced diet.

What are bad fats?*

•Saturated – Saturated fats can raise your cholesterol level which increases your chances of having heart disease. To help determine if a fat is saturated, ask yourself, “Is it solid at room temperature?” If it is, it is a saturated fat. Examples of foods that contain saturated fats are high-fat dairy products (whole milk, cheese, butter, and regular ice cream) and processed meats (bologna, hot dogs, sausage), lard, and the skin of poultry. It is recommended that 10 percent or less of your total calories come from saturated fat (this means less than 20 grams a day for those who consume 2,000 calories a day). If a product contains one gram or less of cholesterol per serving it is considered a good candidate for consumption.

•Trans – Trans fats are produced when liquid oil is made into a solid fat. This process is called hydrogenation. Trans fats act like saturated fats and can raise your cholesterol level. Perhaps you have noticed the number of products on grocers’ shelves that make mention of the term trans fats. Listing trans fats on the label is now required, making it easier to identify foods with trans fat content. Items that are likely to contain trans fats are processed foods – chips, crackers, muffins, cakes, and most fast foods like French fries.

•Cholesterol – Your body makes some of the cholesterol in your blood. The rest comes from foods you eat. Foods from animals are sources of dietary cholesterol. Cholesterol from the foods you eat may increase your blood cholesterol, so it’s a good idea to eat less than 300 mg per day. Cholesterol is required on the label if the food contains it.
Sources of cholesterol include egg yolks, organ meats, and high-fat meats.

Fat plays a role in everything we consume and in what quantities we consume it. Omega-3 fatty acids assist in brain development, mono- and poly- unsaturated fats help you lower bad cholesterol (LDL), and implementing enough of the good fats in your diet will make you feel satiated (which means you eat less). They also play a vital role in your body’s ability to absorb the vitamins and minerals it needs to function at its best. So fat doesn’t have to be a bad word. It is only bad if you don’t understand it and don’t take steps to avoid the bad kinds of it.

*Source: www.diabetes.org

AIM GlucoChrom™ for good health

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AIM GlucoChrom™, with its easily absorbable form of chromium and other synergistic ingredients, can play an important role in almost any health program.

Chromium supplementation is often used to help balance blood sugar levels, and is especially useful for managing glucose levels in diabetics. Chromium may also help to promote healthy triglyceride levels and maintain healthy blood levels of cholesterol and other lipids. It may even help to control sweet cravings and assist in weight loss. 

Chromium deficiency in the modern diet

Chromium is an essential trace mineral that is not made by the body and must be obtained from the diet. Food sources of chromium include: brewer’s yeast, wheat germ, broccoli, sugar and molasses, but when processed, many of these foods are stripped of their chromium content. Very few people consume brewer’s yeast since it sometimes causes abdominal distention (bloating). Black pepper contains small amounts of chromium, but is typically consumed in small quantities. 

A chromium deficiency may produce diabetic-like symptoms, such as high glucose levels and decreased insulin-binding. Most nutritionists recommend that adults may safely consume between 50 to 200 mcg of chromium per day, but few (less than 10 percent of healthy adults) obtain that goal. Aging and pregnant people, those who consume highly processed foods, and those who participate in strenuous exercise programs may require the maximum serving of chromium per day. 

The manner in which foods are grown and processed today has stripped many foods of their natural chromium content. Chromium is a natural element of the soil, but modern farming practices have resulted in chromium-deficient crops. Moreover, the processing of our foods has made the dietary availability of chromium scarce. 

“Because it is so difficult to meet the recommended daily allowance of chromium through food alone, dietary supplements are becoming an extremely popular source of chromium. Many people are discovering that, along with a healthy diet, chromium supplements are an effective means of ensuring they are getting enough of this essential mineral.” (www.chromiuminformation.org)  

Chromium’s strong nutritional support 

Chromium plays an important role in nutrition by breaking down the fats and carbohydrates in the foods we eat to produce glucose. In this way, scientists think that chromium becomes a cofactor to assist in regulating the production of insulin, helping it to transport glucose across the cell membranes. In short, chromium assists with glucose balance and helps to regulate the need for insulin production. Diabetics and those with insulin resistance find supplementation with chromium beneficial in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Those with weight-loss goals also find chromium helpful as a way to balance insulin levels and potentially offset “sweet cravings.” 

In addition to the metabolism of food, chromium also plays other important roles within the body. Chromium stimulates fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis, which are important for brain function and other body processes. Chromium is an activator of several enzymes which are needed to drive the numerous chemical reactions that we need to live. With chromium supplementation, triglyceride levels often improve. 

“In diabetic and overweight individuals, chromium supplements have been shown to reduce triglyceride levels by almost 20 percent, improve glucose tolerance and normalize insulin levels. Supplements of 400 mcg have helped overweight women lose about 50 percent more fat in three months compared to a placebo group.” (www.supplement.watch.com)  

When glucose and fats remain in the bloodstream at unhealthy levels, triglyceride and cholesterol levels increase. Diabetics and those prone to insulin resistance frequently show elevated triglyceride and cholesterol levels prior to full onset of disease. The successful management of triglyceride and blood lipid levels may be helpful in combating not only weight-loss and obesity, but cardiovascular disease and diabetes as well. 

AIM’s superior leaf-bound chromium 

Chromium can be a difficult mineral for the body to absorb, and many supplements offer synthetically produced chromium formulas such as chromium polynicotinate, chromium picolinate, and chromium chloride. However, scientists have long known that nutrients found in concentrated food sources (such as AIM’s) offer better absorption. 

With this knowledge, AIM discovered a way to grow green barley plants in water rather than soil. As the barley plant grows, chromium is added to the water. The chromium is absorbed into the cells of the plant where it becomes bound to the molecules of the barley grass, becoming a natural part of the plant matrix. When the barley plants contain the optimum amount of chromium, the plants are harvested, dried at temperatures low enough to preserve the enzymatic activity, and concentrated into a powder. 

AIM’s unique formula 

The AIM GlucoChrom™ powder is then encapsulated in a vegetarian capsule along with other herbal ingredients to enhance the body’s natural response to chromium. This synergistic blend includes: vanadium, bitter melon, and Gymnema sylvestre. These natural ingredients work together with chromium to support balanced glucose levels, promote fat loss, maintain healthy triglyceride and blood lipid levels. AIM’s herbal formula includes: 

Vanadium—an ultra-trace mineral found in very small amounts in grains and oats, radishes, and parsley. Vanadium is an essential micronutrient needed for cellular metabolism, and it may play a role in reducing cholesterol. Vanadium improves insulin sensitivity, and it also decreases hypersecretion of insulin. Hypersecretion, or the excessive secretion of insulin from the pancreas, sometimes occurs as the result of a poor diet and it can be associated with the metabolic changes associated with aging. 

Bitter melon—this tropical fruit has been used for ages in folklore as a remedy for diabetes, and has gained recognition in recent years for its polypeptide properties. Bitter melon may help to lower blood glucose levels by increasing the activity of hexokinase and glucokinase, the enzymes in the body that convert glucose into glycogen, which is stored in the liver and used by the body later for energy. 

Gymnema sylvestre—this woody climbing plant native to the tropical forests of central and southern India is known to stimulate insulin secretion while lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels. G. sylvestre is favored for long-term use as a supplement for blood-sugar stabilization. G. sylvestre has been known to lower fasting blood glucose levels and it has been studied for improving the health of the pancreas by regenerating beta cells. 

AIM GlucoChrom™ provides a natural way to support healthy glucose and triglyceride levels. It is recommended to take 1 capsule with meals twice per day. As always, those with serious health conditions, diabetics, and those who are pregnant or nursing should consult with a healthcare practitioner before adding anything new to the diet.

Improved nutrition begins with a healthy digestive system

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Here’s how ‘good’ bacteria and enzymes can help…

Digestive problems are perhaps the most common health concern in North America today, particularly as we continue to eat high-fat content, highly processed foods. With our frequent trips to the restaurant drive-through window, not to mention our participation in the latest fad diet craze, it’s no wonder our digestive systems are a mess! 

Many digestive problems can be prevented through a healthy lifestyle. Getting the proper amounts of fiber, fruits and vegetables, and not eating on the run, may be a healthful start. At times, we may also see the need to supplement with beneficial bacteria and helpful enzymes that our digestive systems need to function efficiently. 

Are you deficient in digestive enzymes? 

If you have frequent bloated stomach, belching, burping, gas, fatigue, weight issues, headaches, constipation, to mention but a few—then you may have a digestive concern that should warrant your attention. 

Enzymes are the sparks that cause or speed up the essential chemical reactions that the body needs to live. Digestive enzymes are particularly important since they allow the foods we eat to digest more completely so that we can use the food’s energy more efficiently. 

‘Leaky gut’ and more… 

As we age, the body produces fewer enzymes. Daily living also depletes the body’s source of enzymes by placing tremendous demand on body systems through stress, strenuous exercise, illness, extreme weather conditions, and the loss of perspiration, urine and feces. Pasteurization, microwaving, hybridization (or genetically modifying foods), and excess intake of hydrogenated fats can cause further depletion of digestive enzymes. 

When foods are not well digested, they remain in the stomach where they rot and putrefy. This results in buildup of waste in the colon. As fecal matter begins to decay, bacteria produce toxins. The toxins eventually seep through the bowel wall, where blood capillaries pick them up and distribute them throughout the body, causing havoc on the body systems. This process is sometimes known as ‘leaky gut’ syndrome. 

Of all foods, protein may be the major contributor to intestinal toxemia (‘leaky gut’ syndrome). Proteins are building blocks of the body and are necessary to transport vitamins and minerals to the bloodstream. However, protein is also the most difficult dietary constituent to digest. 

“Contrary to the information on fad diets currently promoted by some popular books, a diet that is high in protein can actually contribute to disease and other health problems,” according to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.1 

High protein diets may weaken the pancreas, which in turn, may fail to provide the necessary enzymes to digest the protein in the first place. Certainly, a vicious cycle that can lead to immune deficiency and leave a person vulnerable to chronic infections or disease. 

Supplementing with AIM PrepZymes® 

Raw foods have functional, live enzymes; however, raw foods provide just enough enzymes to digest that particular food only—there is no extra to digest cooked or processed foods. And, many people find the fiber content in large quantities of raw food difficult to digest. 

There are many designer enzyme formulas in the marketplace, but AIM PrepZymes® is considered to be a complete general enzyme formula. What makes it so special? The enzymes are cultured, strained off, and purified, so no fungi, bacteria, or yeast remain in the product. AIM PrepZymes® also contains an extract of papaya fruit, which assists in protein digestion, and has a soothing effect on the stomach. A known metabolic stimulant, garlic has also been added, which may aid in digestion, contribute antioxidants, and offer antibacterial and antifungal properties. 

A good digestive formula will contain a variety of enzymes that address every type of food ingested: protein, fats, starches, dairy, plant, vegetable material and sugar. AIM’s complete general formula addresses the variety of foods we eat. Each capsule of AIM PrepZymes® contains: 

  • Protease I & II to aid protein digestion
  • Amylase—to aid carbohydrate digestion
  • Lipase—to aid in fat and oil digestion
  • Cellulase—for dietary fiber digestion
  • Invertase—for digestion of sugar
  • Maltase—for malt sugars and grain digestion
  • Lactase—for dairy product digestion

Supplementing with digestive enzymes is a good way to efficiently break down protein, carbohydrates and fats, thereby stimulating the good bacteria in the gut, and detoxifying and cleansing the colon. As an added benefit, with a clean colon, we utilize more nutrients, eat less, and maintain a stable weight. 

How important is beneficial bacteria? 

There are upwards of one hundred trillion bacteria in the digestive system. A healthy balance of intestinal flora (bacteria) is considered integral to good health. The so-called ‘friendly’ bacteria counteract unfriendly bacteria in the digestive process by: 

  • aiding in the digestion of food
  • cleaning the intestinal tract
  • purifying the colon
  • promoting regular bowel movements
  • establishes a healthy balance of good bacteria in the intestinal tract:
  • balances the intestinal pH
  • promotes the destruction of molds, viruses and parasites
  • protects us from environmental toxins
  • increases the number of immune system cells
  • helps to manufacture vitamins and essential fatty acids
  • assists in maintaining healthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels
  • breaks down and rebuilds hormones.

With so many benefits, it’s easy to see that when the ratio of good to bad bacteria in the intestines has become skewed, a host of health problems may result. 

Supplementing with AIM FloraFood® 

Multi-strain probiotic products are more likely to show health benefits than those formulas with only one strain of friendly bacteria. Generally, it is recognized that minimal concentrations should not be less than 1 billion viable cells per dose. AIM’s FloraFood® meets all of these requirements. It is a powerful probiotic formula packed with three essential bacteria: L. acidophilus, B. longum, and B. bifidum, to provide a better balance of intestinal flora. And, AIM is proud to guarantee 1 billion good bacteria cells per capsule until expiration in 

AIM FloraFood®. 

If product superiority weren’t enough, AIM’s FloraFood® is easy to use since no refrigeration is required. Through a unique and proprietary processing method, AIM FloraFood® will remain stable at room temperature. This makes AIM’s product particularly convenient to use when traveling. 

Dr. Michael Murray, N.D., states, “The intestinal flora is intimately involved in the host’s nutritional status and affects the immune system function, cholesterol, metabolism, carcinogenesis, and aging.”2 Our overall health is greatly influenced by the balance of friendly and unfriendly bacteria in our digestive system, and AIM FloraFood® can help. 

AIM FloraFood® and AIM PrepZymes® are best taken with meals. You may take AIM FloraFood® with other AIM products; however, AIM PrepZymes® will break down the bacteria in AIM FloraFood®, so take these products with alternate meals. As always, it is best to consult with a healthcare practitioner before adding anything new your diet. 

1“The Protein Myth,” Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Washington, DC, 2003.

2Boris, et al. Infect. Immun. 66(5): 1985-1989, 1998.

The Cardiovascular Disease Cycle

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Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the major cause of death in the United States and Canada. One of the constituent diseases, coronary heart disease, accounts for 20 percent of all deaths, while other heart-related diseases account for another 33 percent. Cerebral vascular disease (stroke) is the third most common cause of death. As the risk factors continue to build up and damage the body, the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes is increased.

If nothing is done to eliminate the risk factors, this leads to increased risk factors and increased damage to the body and body functions. This cycle continues, putting you at increased risk for cardiovascular disease.

Risk Factors

Key risk factors include: smoking, poor diet, low antioxidant levels, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, Type II diabetes, physical inactivity, obesity, stress, and family history.

The risk factors affect the cardiovascular system, leading to damage to the body and body functions such as:

  • Cholesterol buildup on artery walls
  • Low antioxidant status
  • Oxidation of cholesterol

    • This damage eventually can lead to:

    • Atherosclerosis
    • High blood pressure
    • Increased risk of diabetes
    • Stroke
    • Varicose veins

    How’s Your Cardio Health?

    Take this heart health evaluation to determine your risk for cardiovascular disease. In each category, circle the number next to the statement that reflects your lifestyle.

    Cigarette Smoking

    • Never smoked or quit smoking 3 or more years ago…..1
    • Don’t smoke but exposed to second-hand smoke…..2
    • Stopped smoking within the past 3 years…..3
    • Smoke regularly…..4
    • Smoke regularly and exposed to second-hand smoke…..5

    Total Blood Cholesterol

    • Lower than 160…..1
    • 160-199…..2
    • Don’t know…..3
    • 200-239…..4
    • 240 or higher…..5


    HDL “Good” Cholesterol

    • 60 or higher…..1
    • 56-60…..2
    • Don’t know…..3
    • 35-55…..4
    • Lower than 35…..5

    Systolic Blood Pressure

    • Lower than 120…..1
    • 120-139…..2
    • Don’t know…..3
    • 140-159…..4
    • 160 or higher…..5

    Excess Body Weight

    • Within 10 pounds of desirable weight…..1
    • 11-20 pounds above desirable weight…..2
    • 21-30 pounds above desirable weight…..3
    • 31-50 pounds above desirable weight…..4
    • More than 50 pounds above desirable weight…..5

    Physical Activity

    • Job requires very hard physical labor at least 4 hours per day OR Exercise 4 or more times per week for 20 or more minutes…..1
    • Exercise 3 times per week for 20 minutes…..2
    • Job requires walking, lifting, or carrying, or other moderately hard work, for several hours per day OR Spend much leisure time doing moderate activities (dancing, gardening, walking, or housework) OR Exercise 1 to 2 times per week…..3
    • Occasionally exercise…..4
    • Never exercise…..5

    Heredity

    • No known history of heart disease among relatives…..1
    • 1 relative with heart disease after age 60…..2
    • 2 relatives with heart disease after age 60…..3
    • 1 relative with heart disease before age 60…..4
    • 2 relatives with heart disease before age 60…..5

    Age

    • 10-20 years…..1
    • 21-30 years…..2
    • 31-40 years…..3
    • 41-50 years…..4
    • 51 or more years…..5

    Eating Habits

    • Vegetarian or rarely eat meat and dairy products…..1
    • Eat meats and low-fat milk fewer than 6 times per week…..2
    • East mostly lean meat and low-fat milk 6-12 times per week…..3
    • Eat meat, cheese, eggs, and whole milk 12-24 times per week…..4
    • Eat meat, cheese, eggs, and whole milk more than 24 times per week…..5

    Scoring Total score _________

    Add the numbers you circled to get your total score. Your score is an estimate. Neither high nor low scores indicate that you will or will not have a heart problem.

    Total Score

    • 9-21—low heart attack risk
    • 22-33—moderate heart attack risk
    • 34-45—high heart attack risk

    Cardio Health Products

    Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in North America.

    Blocked arteries (atherosclerosis), pain in the heart due to insufficient oxygen (angina), abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia), swelling of the arterial wall (aneurysm), high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, cold hands and feet—any of these can be the result of a failing cardiovascular system and put us at risk for a major medical problem.

    But these cardiovascular problems can easily be prevented by reducing their risk factors.

    Supplements like those described below can also help.

    AIM CellSparc 360®cellsparc

    AIM CellSparc 360® combines coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) with tocotrienols and fish oil to make the complete cardiovascular product.

    CoQ10 is the spark that manufactures energy at the cellular level. Without enough CoQ10, the body cannot create enough energy. Studies have shown that CoQ10 supplements can decrease the amount of medication used by heart disease patients, improve health as measured by the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional scale, improve overall quality of life for heart patients, and help maintain healthy blood pressure levels.

    Tocotrienols are a type of vitamin E that have been found to reduce cholesterol and have antitumor and antioxidant properties. One study shows that tocotrienols have 40 to 60 times more antioxidant ability than alpha-tocopherol, another type of vitamin E.

    Fish oil provides a fat-soluble substance to carry the CoQ10 and helps reduce triglyceride levels. High triglyceride levels are a factor in heart disease. Fish oils are rich in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which are believed to decrease the risk of thrombosis (blood clot) and lower blood pressure.

    AIM Bear Paw Garlic®

    AIM Bear Paw Garlic® is garlic with a difference. It is not made from the bulb as other garlic supplements are, but from the leaf. This unique garlic, also known as alpine wild garlic, has three advantages over domesticated garlic: 1) It has more of the active substances; 2) It has active substances not found in cultivated garlic, or found only when large quantities are taken; 3) Upon digestion, it is odorless. It has been studied at Georgetown University Medical Center for its effect on maintaining healthy blood pressure levels. It has also been found to help maintain healthy cholesterol levels. And, of course, it provides the same, time-honored benefits of domesticated garlic, such as antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal properties for immune system support.

    Complementary Cardio Health Products

    AIM GinkgoSense™ helps maintain healthy circulation and AIM Proancynol® 2000 helps fight free radicals and maintain a healthy immune system.

    Reaching 20- to 55-year-olds
    Reduced risk: As the risk factors for cardiovascular disease become more and more prevalent, the incidence of disease increases at younger and younger ages.
    5.05% of the population as young as 20-24 years of age suffers from some form of cardiovascular disease. And the numbers only get worse.
    7.35% at age 25-34 15.5% at age 35-44 31.55% at age 45-54
    The ingredients in AIM CellSparc 360® and AIM Bear Paw Garlic® appeal to younger people who are at risk or who want to avoid the problems all together.
    Improved performance: Younger, more active people want the energy to do the things they want to do. Some even want to excel in their physical activities. Research shows that CoQ10, as in AIM CellSparc 360®, enhances performance. CoQ10 is depleted during exercise, and supplementation ensures that they won’t run out of gas.

    AIM Cell Wellness Restorer™Cell Wellness Restorer

    AIM Cell Wellness Restorer™ is a unique and natural substance you simply add to your bath or rub on to your skin.

    It is a special blend of desalinated seawater and powerful minerals that are essential for the functioning of the body’s cells. Further enhanced with unique crystals, AIM Cell Wellness Restorer™ is thought to supplement magnesium.

    Magnesium

    An essential mineral, magnesium is necessary for many of the body’s metabolic functions, including the production and transfer of energy at the cellular level, the contraction and relaxation of muscles, the conduction of nerve impulses, and the synthesis of protein.

    Studies have shown that people who consume greater amounts of magnesium from hard water or their diet are less prone to cardiovascular disease and sudden death.

    Magnesium has been used for asthma, as it helps relax the lung muscles that open the airways for easier breathing.

    It is also important in controlling blood sugar levels, because it can improve insulin response and reaction. It is also being studied for its positive effect on chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, migraine and tension headaches, muscle cramps, osteoporosis, and premenstrual syndrome.

    Magnesium deficiency

    It is estimated that 72 percent of Americans are magnesium-deficient, and the Gallup Survey found that consumers are largely unaware of its importance.

    Diuretics, antibiotics, chemotherapy, and immunosuppressive drugs increase the risk of magnesium deficiency.

    Dietary imbalances in Western society have contributed to less magnesium. The high intake of fats and refined foods and the consumption of soft water, alcohol, caffeine, and excess sugar are all linked to a deficiency of available magnesium.

    Getting it

    Although diet is always the best way to increase your intake of important nutrients, there’s an easier way, and it’s good for the soul. Soaking in AIM Cell Wellness Restorer™ is the perfect way to help supplement your magnesium. Its magnesium (and other helpful minerals) are absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream and are distributed throughout the body.Prills

    AIM Prill Thin Water™

    AIM Prills™ are the perfect complement to AIM Cell Wellness Restorer™. AIM Prills™ are magnesium oxide balls. When you add them to your “regular” water, you not only get an additional source of magnesium, but you make AIM Prill Thin Water™. “Thin” water has less viscosity than regular water, giving it additional benefits. As a spray, it refreshes; as a drink, it rehydrates; and when combined with the AIM Garden Trio® or AIM Herbal Fiberblend®, it results in a smoother and better-tasting product.

    Reaching 20- to 55-year-olds
    Pampering: Most people like to be pampered, and if soaking in a tub with AIM Cell Wellness Restorer™ can improve your health, too, why not?
    Productivity: Nobody likes to be laid up with minor irritations like a headache or sore muscles, let alone low energy, respiratory problems, and cardiovascular issues. AIM Cell Wellness Restorer™ can help.

    This information has not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
    These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease