Tag Archives: GlucoChrom

Chromium yeast for blood sugar maintenance

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AIM strives to source naturally-occurring and organically-bound
nutrients for our natural health products. We have recently
replaced our chromium source for AIM GlucoChrom™ with an organically-bound chromium yeast—the best natural alternative to our old chromium barley, which can no longer be obtained.

AIM avoided the use of other less appealing alternatives to chromium yeast, including man-made synthetic compounds such as chromium nicotinate or chromium picolinate. Many of our competitors’ supplements contain chromium picolinate. There is research
indicating that this form of chromium may cause genetic mutations.

As for choosing chromium yeast, a vital factor is the bioavailability of the mineral, which ensures that the body can use the chromium
and reap its benefits. Several studies have shown that organically bound yeast minerals are more bioavailable than inorganic sources of minerals.

As a matter of fact, yeast fermentation is one of the safest and most natural ways to produce and concentrate nutrients in foods. For example, the following AIM products contain nutrients produced from yeast:

Peak Endurance = ATP (yeast fermentation)
PrepZymes = digestive enzymes (from yeast)
CranVerry+ = beta glucanase (from yeast)

We chose the yeast, Saccaromyces cerevisiae, as one of today’s most researched organisms and has been instrumental to baking since ancient times. After it has been grown and bound to chromium, it is killed so that it can longer product viable colonies. Based on our research, when it came to replacing our chromium source for GlucoChrom, organically bound yeast was the natural choice.

Along with chromium, GlucoChrom combines vanadium, Gymnema sylvestre leaf, and bitter melon fruit for a synergistic combination that maintains healthy blood sugar levels by increasing the effective
action of insulin.

If insulin is not maintaining healthy blood sugar levels, the result can be chronic inflammation that can lead to disease. And if you are trying to lose weight, unregulated levels of insulin make it difficult to burn off stored fat.

For those concerned about high blood sugar or losing weight, GlucoChrom can make a positive difference.

High Blood Sugar?

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The following facts are from the World Health Organization (WHO):

• 346 Million People worldwide have diabetes

• 2004, an estimated 3.4 million people died from consequences of high blood sugar

• Deaths from diabetes will double between 2005 and 2030

• Healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight, and avoiding tobacco use can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes

The last fact says so much because tests that indicate high blood sugar do not mean that type 2 diabetes will surely follow. Although some risk factors for this disease cannot be changed, such as family history, ethnicity, aging, or a history of pre-diabetes, the above lifestyle changes can reduce your risk. You can also take supplemental steps to reduce high blood sugar (glucose) levels, and AIM has just what you need to do so.

 AIM GlucoChrom™

 At the top of the list is AIM GlucoChrom™—a synergistic combination of two trace minerals chromium and vanadium—and two herbs—Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract and bitter melon fruit. All four ingredients work together to maintain healthy blood sugar levelsby increasing the effective action of insulin. 

Insulin is secreted by the pancreas when the body detects a rise in blood sugar. After insulin attaches to the surface of a cell, blood sugar can be absorbed into the cell and used for, energy. Type 2 diabetes is a disease that occurs,when the body cannot effectively use insulin, so high levels of sugar remain in the blood, causing chronic inflammation.

Insulin simply does not work without the presence of chromium, the trace mineral that gives GlucoChrom its name. The requirement of chromium for insulin was discovered by accident in the 1970s when hospital patients developed high blood sugar from being fed intravenously.

Since chromium was already known to be required for insulin action in animals, it was added to the patients’ feeding solutions, correcting their blood sugar issues.

Believed to activate insulin receptors, vanadium—the second trace mineral in GlucoChrom—improves systemic responsiveness to glucose (insulin sensitivity), so it helps to promote a healthy reduction of blood sugar levels.

Gymnema has been used in India as a natural, Ayurvedic remedy to treat diabetes for nearly 2,000 years. In fact, one of the many names of this woody, climbing plant is gurmar, which translates from Hindi as the destroyer of sugar.Chewing on gymnema leaves can reduce sugar cravings. This herb is noted for lowering blood sugar levels and stimulating insulin secretion, so it is an ideal leaf extract for the GlucoChrom formula.

The second herb in GlucoChrom comes from the fruit of the bitter melon (Momordica Charantia), which has been shown to lower high levels of blood sugar (hypoglycemic properties). “The advantage of bitter melon is that there are no known side effects,” stated Dr. Jiming Ye, a scientist at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Australia. “Practitioners of Chinesemedicine have used it for hundreds of years to good effect.”

 

 

 

 

Disasters! Are you Prepared?

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One look at the news these days tells you that anything can happen, especially when it comes to disasters—natural or technological. It is extremely important to be prepared beforehand so that you have the essentials needed to survive—enough food and water to last through and beyond any catastrophic event.

Stocking up on AIM whole-food concentrates and natural health products can help you, your family, and friends prepare for a disaster. Most AIM products have a two-year expiration date, making it simple to have a six-month supply of nutrition on hand.

For example, having a supply of the Daily Essentials—greens, essential fatty acids (EFAs), and fiber—ensures that an easily assimilated source of nourishment is available to maintain good health throughout a catastrophe.

The Daily Essentials come in packs of four different combinations that include a choice of greens in an AIM BarleyLife® or AIM BarleyLife ® Xtra powder, EFA’s in AIMega®. and fiber in an an AIM Herbal Fiberblend® or AIM FibreBalance®(CAN) powder. It’s your choice.

Imagine for a moment what a six-month supply of Daily Essentials would do for maintaining the health of those affected by the tsunami and resulting nuclear reactor disaster in Japan.

Members like AIM Director marth Price consider the Daily Essentials as “must have” products to keep well-stocked in her home to be prepared for emergency situations, such as hurricanes, freezing weather, or radiation in the atmosphere. Martha recognizes that during disastrous times, food and water sources are compromised, so having an available source of greens, EFAs, and fiber on hand allows her to be nutritionally prepared to handle an emergency situation.

A supply of other AIM products, such as the AIM Garden Trio® or AIm ProPeas™. provide additional  sources of nutrition during the challenging times following a disaster. AIM Proancynol® 2000 boosts a compromised immune system with a powerful variety of antioxidants that combat free radical damage. And if you have specific health issues, stocking up on your Plus Ones, whether AIM GlucoChrom™ for balancing bood sugar, AIM CellSparc 360® for supporting the heart, Or AIM Compousre® for reducing stress, puts your mind at ease knowing that AIM wholefood concentrates and natural health products are by your side during the worst of times.

 

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

 

The AIM Daily Essentials Plus One

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needs their nutritional benefits to function optimally and keep you on a path of good health.

AIM provides green nutrition from AIM BarleyLife® or AIM LeafGreens™, EFAs from AIMega®, and fiber from AIM Herbal Fiberblend®, AIM FibreBalance® (CAN), or AIM fit ’n fiber® (US) to supplement your diet daily with these three essentials.

Along with the AIM Daily Essentials, you can give your body additional support from one (or more) AIM products when you want to target individual aspects of your health, for example, your weight, joints, or immune system.

 

Plus One—AIM Proancynol® 2000
for Your Immune System

to work with, the better it can defend you and your immune system.

 

Plus One—AIM Frame Essentials®
for Your Joints 

With the combined benefits from glucosamine, MSM, and boswellia, Frame Essentials provides the building blocks for healthy joints, reduces joint inflammation, and helps to maintain musculoskeletal health. For a healthy frame, make Frame Essentials your Plus One, especially if you have osteoarthritis and suffer from its associated pains.

 

Plus One—AIM GlucoChrom™
for Your Blood Sugar

If you are exercising and trying to reduce body fat and increase your lean muscle mass, GlucoChrom can be your Plus One. Simply take one capsule twice a day with your essential BarleyLife at least thirty minutes before a meal. GlucoChrom provides a unique combination of trace minerals (chromium and vanadium) plus sylvestre gymnema, and bitter melon 

that increases the effective actions of insulin and helps your body to metabolize carbohydrates and fats.

If you need help in finding your Plus One, contact AIM for healthy suggestions to add to your Daily Essentials.

“BarleyLife feeds my body with the best food available to humans. Herbal Fiberblend keeps me cleaned out and regular. AIMega keeps my body well oiled. The Big Three are the reason I have been in great health all these years, and they’re the primary reason my cancer went away almost twenty-two years ago and has not returned. Also, taking Frame Essentials daily has gotten rid of the aches, pains, and stiffness I used to feel from working out five to six times a week.”

 

Charlie Brown, Blue Diamond Director 

Matthews, North Carolina

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

Detox Your Mood:Feeling better in the New Year

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By Tracey Karele – AIM Nutritionist

 

The festive season is a time of joy and merriment; it’s a time to put aside your daily routines and to celebrate with your loved ones. More often than not, rich food and alcohol form part of this celebration, and overindulgence during the holiday season is the norm. While a day or two of indiscretion may be OK, a few weeks worth of unhealthy foods, parties, wining and dining can leave you feeling low and sluggish. Get healthy and happy again by exercising, eating right and supplementing well to begin the New Year on a high note.

 

According to the Mayo Clinic, some preliminary research suggests that having a poor diet can make you more vulnerable to depression. Researchers in Britain looked at depression and diet in over 3000 middle-aged office workers over the course of five years. They found that people who ate a junk food diet — one that was high in processed meat, chocolates, sweet desserts, fried food, refined cereals and high-fat dairy products — were more likely to report symptoms of depression.

A study by BBC health investigated the impact of diet on the mental health of 200 people in Britain. Researchers reported that changing the diet improved mental health significantly. 26% said they had seen large improvements in mood swings, 26% noticed improvement in panic attacks and anxiety, and 24% noted an improvement in depression. The participants said that cutting down on food ‘stressors’ and increasing the amount of ‘supporters’ that they ate helped to improve their mood. ‘Stressors’ were foods such as sugar, caffeine, alcohol and chocolate (all festive favourites!) ‘Supporters’ included water, vegetables, fruit, oil-rich fish, nuts, beans, non-fat dairy products, egg whites and whole grains.

 

Along with wreaking havoc on your blood glucose levels, the refined sugar found in chocolates, sweets and other treats has been implicated in aggressive behaviour, depression, fatigue, anxiety and many other conditions. Excessive consumption of refined sugar is also undesirable because sugar uses B-vitamins for its breakdown, and the B vitamins are very extremely important in regulating the mood.  

What to eat

 

There are certain things that you can eat that can actually help to boost your mood. The B-vitamins, for example, are important in this case, as a B-vitamin deficiency can lead to exhaustion, irritability and depression, amongst other things. Over the past several years, evidence has mounted that B-vitamins—B12 and folate in particular—may ward off depression and other mental problems. Sources of folate include asparagus, spinach, beef liver and lentils, while foods of an animal origin (i.e. meat and dairy) are sources of vitamin B12.

It is widely believed that a deficiency in the neurotransmitter serotonin plays a role in depression. Tryptophan is an amino acid precursor to serotonin, and is especially rich in foods such as fish, turkey, chicken, cheese, tofu, oats and eggs. However, eating a meal that is high in tryptophan won’t raise your serotonin levels unless you eat a meal that is relatively high in carbohydrates too, especially unrefined carbohydrates.

The role of carbohydrates in uplifting the mood must also be emphasized. Glucose (from carbohydrates) is the brain’s primary source of fuel; so a reduced carbohydrate intake will reduce the brain’s source of energy. Carbohydrate-containing foods like breads, cereals and pasta can produce a temporary increase in brain serotonin, and a subsequent calming or anxiety-reducing effect.

 

However, it’s not just what you eat but also how you eat that will affect your mood. Eating small, regular meals will help to balance your blood sugar levels, and there is no question that individuals who battle to keep their blood sugar levels stable also experience fluctuations in mood.

 

Get moving

 

If you ask someone why they exercise, they will often tell you “Because it makes me feel good.” As it turns out, it actually does! Exercise is slowly being linked through research with improved psychological functioning. Exercise actually seems to help people cope with the negative effects of stress. Some psychologists actually recommend exercise as therapy for their patients who are having mental or emotional difficulties. The exact cause of exercise’s influence on an improved mental outlook is not completely understood. It may be as simple as a feeling of satisfaction and self-worth that is created by getting and staying in shape.

Guidelines for physical activity from the American College of Sports Medicine include doing moderately intense cardio for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week OR doing vigorously intense cardio for 20 minutes a day, 3 days a week AND doing 8 to 10 strength-training exercises, with 8 to 12 repetitions of each exercise twice a week.

 

AIM products for detoxing your mood

 

  • GinkgoSense contains fish oil and therefore DHA, which is the predominant essential fatty acid (EFA) in your brain. It helps to maintain neurological health, and also helps to improve brain function, memory, concentration and mental clarity. It also contains ginkgo biloba, which improves blood flow to extremities. Ginkgo has been studied for many years and shows very positive results for improving concentration and memory, listlessness, depressive moods, anxiety and many others conditions.

 

  • Peak Endurance provides 50% of your daily requirement for those all important B-vitamins – Vit B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B12.

 

  • GlucoChrom contains chromium, which has been shown to help maintain normal blood sugar levels, and this is significant as fluctuations in blood glucose levels are associated with changes in mood.

 

  • AIMega is a source of EFA’s, which constitute a major part of lipids (fats) in the brains and nerves, and are involved in the transfer of messages between nerves. If EFA’s are in short supply, then these messages are never transferred properly.  Also, EFA’s are important in the metabolic pathway that controls serotonin metabolism. Clinical trials have indicated improvements in patients who are on antidepressant drugs where supplementation with EFA’s minimized symptoms. 

 

  • Reassure SP contains 100% of your daily requirements for zinc. Low serum zinc levels have been linked to major depression.

 

  • Composure consists of a special combination of 8 herbs that exert a calming effect on the nervous system. These herbs also work together to supply the body with some of the nutrients that can be depleted in times of stress.

 

  • Proancynol 2000: According to a small study from a Texas University, selenium supplementation of 200 micrograms a day for 7 weeks improved mild and moderate depression in 16 elderly participants. More studies are needed, but it can’t hurt to make sure that you’re eating foods that help you to meet the Dietary Reference Intake for selenium (55 micrograms a day).

 

Top 10 foods for feeling better  

  1. Wild salmon – rich in omega-3 fats and vitamin D
  2. Spinach – rich in folic acid and soluble fibre
  3. Skim milk – rich in vitamin D and vitamin B12
  4. Ground flaxseeds – rich in soluble fibre, omega-3 fats and folic acid
  5. Blackberries – rich in soluble fibre and folic acid
  6. Omega-3 fortified eggs – rich in omega-3 fats, vitamins D and B12
  7. Sardines – rich in omega-3 fats and vitamin D
  8. Soybeans – rich in soluble fibre, folic acid and omega-3 fats
  9. Beans – rich in soluble fibre and folic acid

10.  Brussels sprouts – soluble fibre and folic acid

Courtesy of www.fitsugar.com

Is Sugar Killing You?

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Life is made sweeter by sugar. A piece of luscious chocolate or a sumptuous dessert makes a moment special. Enjoyed in moderation, such nutritionally deficient treats comfort you, especially when you’re having a bad day.

You may say, “I don’t eat a lot of chocolate” or “I rarely eat desserts.” Even so, it’s likely that your diet contains far too much hidden sugar. The average American consumes around 160 pounds of sugar a year. How is this possible? The answer is in the kind of food that you eat.

Sugar is present in most foods. The problem lies in the excess of highly refined sugars used in so many common foods – bread, cereal, ketchup, and peanut butter just to name a few – along with the all-too-numerous processed and packaged food items that line supermarket shelves. And don’t forget the popularity of specialty coffees, soft drinks, and fruit juices, all of which contain large amounts of sugar. On top of this, if you eat out a lot, you can never be sure of how much sugar ends up in your meals.

Not So Sweet Inflammation

The rapid increase of sugar (glucose) levels in your blood can create inflammation. Sucrose (table sugar), dextrose (corn sugar), and high-fructose corn syrup are examples of pro-inflammatory sugars found in common, processed foods (high glycemic). Such foods have the greatest impact on your blood sugar levels, giving you short bursts of energy and frequent hunger pangs.

The sugar in most healthy food (low–mid glycemic), such as whole-grain bread, whole oatmeal, and most vegetables, is released slowly into the bloodstream with little impact on your sugar levels. Such foods provide sustained energy and make you want to eat less often.

If you are eating a diet of primarily high-glycemic foods (see chart), then you are subjecting your body to continual inflammation. A steady diet of modern, pro-inflammatory foods has led to most of the leading health issues, such as high blood pressure, allergies, arthritis, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.

The U.S. sugar industry claims that there is absolutely no evidence that sugar consumption is related to diseases such as obesity or diabetes. The truth is that diabetes is a chronic illness caused in part by high blood sugar levels. Body fat, inactivity, stress, and genetics are additional factors.

Not So Sweet Diabetes           

World Health Organization (WHO) statistics show that over 220 million people worldwide have diabetes. In 2005, an estimated 1.1 million people died from diabetes, but this number is likely higher because diabetes damages organs such as the heart and kidneys. Reported deaths by heart disease and kidney failure may have been the result of diabetes.

The sugar in food becomes stored energy through the effective action of the hormone insulin. If your body does not make or use insulin as required, blood sugar levels remain high. The result may be the onset of diabetes. 

You may have a family history of diabetes, which only means you have an increased risk of being a diabetic as opposed to a guarantee of becoming one. Still, with the ever-increasing number of cases, the likelihood is that more and more people are becoming diabetics primarily because of obesity, poor diet, and inactivity. 

For over 28 years, The AIM Companies™ has promoted the importance of regular exercise and a healthy diet while offering supplementation through whole-food concentrates and natural health products.

The Sweetness of Exercise

One of the best things that you can do for your health is to exercise. Walking, working out, swimming, and doing aerobics are just a few examples. Choose something that you enjoy and stay committed because exercise reduces the stress factors in your life, helps you to manage your weight, boosts your energy, and perhaps most importantly, combats chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes.

The Sweetness of a Healthy Diet

A healthy diet is all about healthy choices and quantities. Eat five to seven small meals a day instead of three big meals. Choose roasted chicken and stay away from deep fried. Choose a side salad instead of a side of French fries. Eat daily servings of vegetables. When it comes to snacks, choose fresh fruit or nuts instead of a sweet dessert or a processed snack such as potato chips. As for beverages, choose the vitality that water provides and avoid sugar-laced drinks such as soda. A diet that provides good nutrition and reduces your daily intake of high-glycemic foods is important to overall good health and absolutely essential for diabetics.

The Sweetness of Supplementation

Modern sources of food make it difficult to give your body all of the daily nutrition required for sustained good health, so supplementation is the answer.

AIM GlucoChrom™ is a unique combination of two trace minerals – chromium and vanadium – and two herbs – gymnema leaf and bitter melon fruit. As much as 90 percent of the North American population may be chromium deficient. One symptom of chromium deficiency is glucose intolerance, which may lead to diabetes. Chromium improves the body’s response to efficiently use insulin. Vanadium, gymnema leaf, and bitter melon fruit help to promote a healthy reduction of blood sugar levels and work synergistically with chromium.

For maintaining healthy blood sugar levels, GlucoChrom increases the effective action of insulin and helps your body to metabolize carbohydrates and fats – actions that are essential for preventing and controlling type 2 diabetes. Along with diet and exercise, supplementing with GlucoChrom can help to reduce body fat and increase lean muscle mass.

AIM makes it simple to supplement your diet with nutritious greens. From the juice powder of young barley plants, AIM BarleyLife® provides a natural source of easily absorbed vitamins, minerals, enzymes, antioxidants, phytochemicals, and chlorophyll. AIM LeafGreens® is a unique combination of four leaf-juice powders – spinach, field pea, faba bean, and barley – plus broccoli sprout powder. LeafGreens harnesses the potency of each green component to provide superior levels of iron, chromium, protein, chlorophyll, and vitamins A and K – ideal for diabetic diets. BarleyLife and LeafGreens are alkaline green drinks that neutralize an acidic body system.

AIM Herbal Fiber­blend®, AIM fit ’n fiber®, and AIM FibreBalance® (CAN) supplement your diet with healthy sources of fiber, a key dietary factor in controlling blood sugar levels.

For a balanced 2:1 ratio of omega-3 to -6, AIMega® provides the essential fatty acids (EFAs) that your body needs on a daily basis for every one of your cells to function optimally. An EFA imbalance has been linked to diabetes.

Making the necessary lifestyle changes can make a dramatic difference to your health, and AIM provides the nutritional support to help make it happen.

The World Health Organization recommends that added sugars contribute no more than 10% of total calories. By that criterion, a person on a 2000-calorie diet should consume no more than 50 grams of carbohydrate in the form of sugar.

Check labels!

• 4 grams of sugar = 1 teaspoon

• 8 ounces of orange juice contains 21 g of sugar

• 21 g sugar = 5 teaspoons of sugar!

Finding an even Keel

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Balancing sugar and insulin levels is necessary in preventing diabetes

The body gets the energy it needs to function from the metabolism of blood sugar (glucose). Blood sugar is created during the digestion of foods and is taken into the blood from the intestines. After a meal, blood sugar levels rise sharply. The pancreas responds by releasing enough insulin, a hormone, to escort all the newly added sugar into cells where it can be used. Insulin bonds to receptor sites on the outside of muscle cells and other tissues and acts like a key to open a doorway into the cells through which the sugar can enter. When insulin is active, blood sugar levels fall. Excess blood sugar is stored in the liver and muscles as glycogen and is converted to blood sugar and released as needed for energy. When the pancreas does not release enough insulin or when the cells do not accept it, blood sugar levels rise, resulting in a condition called diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes

The two most common types of diabetes are Type I and Type II. Type I diabetes, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes, most often occurs in children and young adults. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) claims that Type I diabetes accounts for 5 to 10 percent of diabetes. Type II diabetes, also known as noninsulin-dependent diabetes, most often develops in overweight adults. It is the most common form of the disease. The ADA indicates that Type II diabetes accounts for 90 to 95 percent of diabetes. It is also more common in people of Native American, Hispanic, and African-American descent.

The ADA also estimates that approximately 14 million Americans under the age of 50 (about 5 percent of the population) have diabetes. This number increases to 10 to 15 percent in those over 50. Unfortunately, as many as one-half of them are unaware that they have it.

The symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination, fatigue, excessive thirst, weight loss, and increased appetite. If left untreated, it can damage or cause failure of the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, blood vessels, and other body organs.

Lifestyle habits

Sometimes called age-onset or adult-onset diabetes, Type II diabetes is nearing epidemic proportions due to an increased number of older Americans and a greater prevalence of obesity and sedentary lifestyles.

The typical American diet is one high in fats, refined sugars, and animal products, and low in fiber, fruits, and vegetables. When we eat simple carbohydrates, we receive a quick, intense but short-lived burst of energy due to the increase in blood sugar. This causes a large burst of insulin to enter the bloodstream. When insulin removes blood sugar from the bloodstream, the body believes that the energy is gone and that we need to eat and we feel hungry again. The result is a cycle of intense energy as blood sugar rises, a letdown as insulin is released, and then a feeling of hunger again. The amount of insulin needed to remove blood sugar and the intensity of the cycle can result in inefficiency in the system and lead to diabetes.

Preventive measures

Balancing sugar and insulin levels is necessary in preventing diabetes. While insulin tablets and injections are used in more severe cases, diet and moderate exercise can often support healthy blood sugar levels in those with mild, early, or late onset of the disease.

If we eat smaller amounts of food that are less carbohydrate-heavy throughout the day instead of the larger meals we are accustomed to, we will not experience energy ups and downs and will have energy all day.

Missing meals is just as detrimental as eating big meals. When we consistently skip meals, the body becomes accustomed to storing energy so that it has it for later when it thinks it will need it. This energy eventually becomes fat. Overweight or obesity is a risk factor for diabetes.

The body has a phenomenal capacity to adjust to its situation. However, over time, these adjustments become routine. When the body doesn’t operate the way it was meant to, problems such as diabetes arise. The good news is that just as the body can learn “bad” habits or ways of dealing with its situation, it can relearn the way it was meant to operate. Many Type II diabetics will experience benefits from weight loss, usually achieved through better nutrition and moderate exercise.

GlucochromIn one study, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that moderate exercise helped reduce the risk of developing Type II diabetes in those who are most at risk. By walking 30 minutes per day and losing 15 pounds, high-risk study participants were able to reduce their odds of developing Type II diabetes by 58 percent. Researchers in the NIH study chose participants whose glucose tests revealed that they were already improperly processing blood sugar. Those participants who exercised moderately for 150 minutes per week and lost 5 to 7 percent of their weight successfully prevented the onset of diabetes for at least 3 years.

AIM products

AIM GlucoChrom™ is specifically developed to provide strong nutritional support for healthy blood sugar management. It is the ideal product for those seeking to maintain their good health and to support the natural blood sugar balance of the body.

Why plant-based minerals are good supplements

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Supplementation of the diet with plants goes back to ancient times. Greek athletes would consume a barley mush before competitions because it was nutrient rich and easily digested. Roman gladiators also fed on barley and were known as the “hordearii,” or barley men. 

Plants are a superior source of minerals, in comparison to conventional mineral sources. Common sources of minerals found in the majority of multivitamin tablets are inorganic minerals and mineral chelates. 

  • Inorganic minerals are those that have been mined from the earth or are developed in a lab by reacting one chemical with another. Only a small portion of inorganic minerals are assimilated by the human body, due to their large size and lack of solubility (Ashmead et al. 1985).
  • Mineral chelates are formed by attaching an organic molecule or complex such as a protein to the mineral. Most of these mineral chelates are compounds not normally found in nature and may even be viewed as foreign substances by the body. There are many conflicting studies on the absorption of these so-called “organic minerals” that can attest to this fact (Gregor 1987, Monsen 1988, Scholmerich et al. 1987).

Plants are the ideal mineral factory. The plant can take up both inorganic and chelated minerals into its root system and convert them to small, water soluble minerals. In this way, large, insoluble minerals are pre-digested by the plant into a form that the human body was designed to utilize. Plant-bound minerals have been found to be more soluble in simulated gastric and intestinal fluid and therefore are potentially more bioavailable than other commercial supplements (Elless et al., 1998). The plant is a perfect “factory,” no laboratory required. Instead of producing a mineral through reaction of a metal with a chemical or protein, the plant does the work for us. Our bodies are designed to digest minerals from natural food sources, and recognize plant minerals as food. Plant minerals are formed within the plant matrix; therefore they have the stability and order that are associated with naturally occurring compounds. 

AIM Barleylife® is an example of this perfect plant factory. It contains an abundance of many different minerals in a natural form. LeafBrand™ chromium, found in AIM GlucoChrom™, is another example, targeted to the mineral chromium. 

Why is barley grass such a good natural food?

Barley grass acts as a perfect mineral matrix for a number of reasons: 

  1. Barley grass is a very effective accumulator of minerals, particularly at the beginning of the growing period (Kivisaari, 1998).
  2. Barley grass is known to have an affinity for binding minerals to proteins, due in part to its exceptionally high protein content (Gissel-Nielson, 1987).
  3. Juvenile barley grass plants are free of anti-nutritional factors and, in fact, are rich sources of enzymes that act as catalysts and cofactors in numerous reactions involving minerals in the body (Duffus, 1984).

Regular consumption of barley grass and plant-based minerals such as those found in AIM GlucoChrom™, along with a healthy, well balanced diet, will help ensure that our bodies are receiving the nutrients required. As Roman gladiators and ancient Greek athletes consumed barley for strength and stamina, we need to consume it to get us through today’s fast-paced and often hectic lifestyle.

AIM GlucoChrom – Discovering one of AIM's best-kept secrets

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When the two people most involved with quality control and quality assurance for The AIM Companies™ both list the same product as a “hidden gem” for the Members, it isn’t going to remain a secret for long.
Biologist Ryan Davis and his assistant, Heather Cooper, both point to AIM GlucoChrom™ as a product that should excite Members.

Maria GarciaOne AIM staff member, Call Center representative Maria Garcia, has been fired up about the product since first trying it.
“The year that AIM introduced AIM GlucoChrom™, I had gone to the doctor and had a routine blood test. The test results showed I had high glucose levels. My doctor recommended that I change my diet because I was borderline diabetic. That was the start of my commitment to the AIM products, in particular AIM GlucoChrom™.

“I started taking the product on a daily basis as suggested. Within a year by taking the product and reducing my sugar intake, my blood sugar levels returned to normal. But the best thing, and I am sure a lot of women will agree, is that I lost weight. Within a couple of months I had lost 10 pounds. That motivated me to start exercising. That first year I lost 30 pounds. This improved my health tremendously.

“After giving birth to my second child in June of 2005, I started taking the product again and I’ve had the same wonderful results. It has helped me lose some of the extra weight I put on during pregnancy.”

For years it has been accepted that chromium is useful in regulating blood sugar levels and helping a person maintain a constant energy level. What was less publicized, however, is its role in weight loss. According to nutritional-supplement-info.com, “because glucose (sugar) is the body’s primary source of fuel, what is not used by the body is stored as fat.” It adds that chromium supplements have been shown to aid in keeping elevated glucose levels in check therefore reducing the potential for weight gain.
Chromium is an essential trace mineral and it is estimated that 90 percent of the North American population is chromium deficient. Thus, chromium is one of the top three selling supplements in the U.S.

The chromium in AIM GlucoChrom™, unlike most competitor products, is natural, not synthetic. AIM GlucoChrom™ begins its life in water, not soil. Chromium is added to the water and the roots of the host barley plant absorb it. When the plant is harvested, the result is a product rich in chromium that is easily absorbed into the body due to its natural form.

Other ingredients in AIM GlucoChrom™ include:

Vanadium: An ultra-trace mineral that can aid in decreasing blood sugar levels and has value in making the cells more receptive to insulin, a hormone secreted by the pancreas. Insulin is necessary to metabolize glucose and works to achieve a balance in the body of glucose, fats, and energy levels.

Bitter melon: This tropical fruit is thought to be valuable in lowering blood sugar levels. And a recent trial study, based on rats, indicates “that there are components in bitter melon that possess anti-obesity properties, which may be helpful for weight control …”

Gymnema sylvestre: In Hindu, it means “the destroyer of sugar.” The woody plant has been found to stimulate insulin secretion, as well as lower cholesterol and triglycerides. A study in India added that it may play a role in the health of the pancreas by regenerating healthy cells.

Overall body health depends on acceptable blood sugar levels, avoiding energy ups and downs during the day, and a sensible body weight. Help is just an AIM product away – AIM GlucoChrom™. It is a secret that Ryan and Heather are not interested in keeping.

The Healthy Cell Concept™: Promoting a Healthy Mental Attitude

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They say it’s not what happens to you that counts, it’s how it affects you. And modern research suggests this is even truer than we may have thought—our attitude can have a huge impact not only on our happiness but also on our health. As just one example, anxiety and stress are considered to be two of the key elements leading to coronary heart disease, the cause of death for more than 50 percent of all Americans. 

In this, the last element of the Healthy Cell Concept™, we’ll examine how our attitude affects us and how we can nurture an attitude that will make a meaningful contribution to our cell life. 

Is laughter really the best medicine? 

Researchers around the world are discovering that there is a connection between body and mind that is much stronger than anyone ever realized. The mind, it now seems, is capable of curing or preventing many of our pains and illnesses, and researchers are turning their attention to unleashing this incredible power. More and more, it is becoming apparent that the most important part of the Healthy Cell Concept™ may be a healthy mental attitude. 

A healthy mental attitude is a chosen set of thoughts and emotions that are energetic, vital, positive, and strong enough to result in outward or physical achievement.

 

Dr. Lee Berk and fellow researcher Dr. Stanley Tan of Loma Linda University in California have shown that laughter lowers epinephrine levels (which lower blood pressure), reduces cortisol levels (stress hormones), and boosts immune function by raising levels of infection-fighting T-cells, disease-fighting proteins called Gamma-interferon, and B-cells, which produce disease-destroying antibodies. Laughter also triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, and produces a general sense of well-being.* 

You don’t even need a good belly laugh to benefit from a positive attitude. According to another research study published in the June 1998 issue of the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, healthy first-year law students who endorsed optimistic beliefs prior to the beginning of the school year had higher levels and function of key immune cells in the middle of their first semester.** While there were no immune differences between optimists and pessimists prior to beginning law school, those students who began the semester optimistic had more helper T cells and higher natural killer cell cytotoxicity mid-semester than students who had been pessimistic. The changes in the immune system are attributable to two psychological characteristics of optimists: they experience events as less stressful, and they show less negative mood, such as anxiety and depression. 

Even hugs are good for you. Studies have shown that the amount of hemoglobin in the blood increases significantly when you are hugged, which means your blood is more readily able to deliver life-giving oxygen to your cells. 

But does all this mood lifting and immune-system boosting actually make a difference in your health? Perhaps the most compelling study was recently completed at Stanford University. Psychologist Dr. David Spiegal conducted research with 86 women suffering from terminal breast cancer, an affliction that kills 50,000 women in the U.S. each year. He took the women and divided them into two groups. Half received traditional treatment such as chemotherapy and radiation. The other half also received treatment but also participated in a therapeutic support group. The women in the therapy group lived twice as long as the women who simply received only the traditional medical treatment. 

Stemming the tide of negativity

A quick analysis reveals that we are living in the midst of an attitude crisis today. One only needs to watch the nightly news or pick up a daily newspaper to see that we take in large portions of negative information every day. What is most devastating about this exposure to negative information is that, very rarely, do we hear about anything over which we are able to exercise any control. The result is a slow, growing sense of hopelessness and cynicism about the world around us. 

Attitudes that can negatively impact our health include depression, cynicism, negativity, irritability, guilt, resentment, anxiety, pessimism, sadness, and worry. These “diseases of attitude” are often precursors to much more serious problems such as substance abuse, violence (both verbal and physical), hormonal and chemical imbalances, immune system deficiency diseases and the worst of all, suicide. 

So how do you counter this barrage of negativity? Fortunately, there are lots of things—both mental and physical—you can do to improve your attitude and your health. 

Change your mindset to improve your mood

When we see to it that our days and minds are filled with the right thoughts and activities, there will not be any room for the inappropriate to influence us. Here are some ideas that could help. 

  • Develop a strong sense of purpose for your life. Almost without fail, happy people feel that they have a specific contribution to make in the lives of others. Don’t just let your life move past you without thinking about where it is going: take control of your own future.
  • Develop meaningful relationships. In today’s hectic world, it is a constant challenge to make sure we put people and relationships first. And these relationships reap tangible rewards. Along with offering some of the most rewarding and fulfilling experiences in our lives, close relationships are also important for the health of every cell in our bodies. Loneliness is one of the easiest emotions to link with suppression of the immune system. Remember the women with breast cancer: by fostering strong relationships, they extended and lived fuller lives. Finally, consider this: men who marry and remain in a life-long relationship have longer life spans than single men or men who are married and then divorce.
  • Find opportunity in difficult situations. We all face difficulties throughout our lives. Many of us will face tragedy that defies any sense of logic or fairness. We can choose to either be defeated by life’s blows or learn from them, grow as a person, and move on to better things. Seek out others who have suffered and triumphed. In times of difficulty, they can make us see that life doesn’t have to defeat us if we don’t let it.
  • Study for a positive mental attitude. Rather than allowing your mind to be filled with all that is negative in life, search out the positive. Study books and tapes on how to live life to the fullest. Listen to people who make you laugh. Understand the words of those who have learned from adversity.
  • Do the best you can. Every day, we make deposits or take withdrawals from our bank account of self-esteem. When we give our best, we feel good about ourselves. When we compromise and take shortcuts, our self-esteem suffers.
  • Enjoy life’s small pleasures. Living in the moment, really being aware of our surroundings, has been shown to have value beyond just providing relaxation and enjoyment. It makes us more appreciative of the things we love yet take for granted, and helps us better cope with stress and difficulty in life.

Change your actions to improve your attitude

  • Get adequate sleep. Your bed is the repair shop for your immune system, and sleep is the mechanic.
  • Exercise. Studies have shown that exercise can help us deal more effectively with stress.
  • Try meditating. Anxiety causes your breathing to become shallow, while depression makes it heavy. By bringing a gentle focus to the breath, you can literally shift your emotional state. Meditation reduces the rate of oxygen consumption by 10 to 20 percent (compared to sleep’s 8 percent) and this induces a slowed-down, restful condition called hypometabolism which allows your immune system to recharge.
  • Eat right. Research shows that certain foods contain compounds that affect the nervous system and influence mood. Carbohydrates stimulate serotonin production—a lack of which can cause depression. Caffeine and sugar can have a negative effect on mood. Foods required for good mental health include plenty of fruit and vegetables and those containing essential fatty acids, such as sardines, tuna, salmon, pumpkin and walnuts. The combination of foods releases sugars slowly, in contrast to caffeine and chocolate, which give an immediate boost followed by a dip. A high-fiber diet can help, too. In fact, a new study by psychologists at Cardiff University shows that high-fiber eaters are less stressed and have a more positive mood. Those who regularly consumed a high-fiber diet were less emotionally distressed, had fewer cognitive difficulties, had a more positive mood, had less difficulty falling asleep and had lower depression scores.

The AIM products

All AIM products conform to the Healthy Cell Concept™, but some are specifically designed to boost our immune system, make us feel good and enhance our quality of life. 

  • AIM Cell Wellness Restorer™ contains DHEA, associated with enhancing the immune system. A soak in this bath will leave you both relaxed and rejuvenated.
  • AIM Composure® helps maintain a healthy attitude with a combination of relaxing herbs.
  • AIM GlucoChrom™ helps regulate the body’s blood sugar level to avoid the highs and lows of energy and mood.
  • AIM BarleyLife®, AIM Just Carrots®, AIM RediBeets® and AIM CranVerry® help meet the needs of a high-vegetable-and-fruit diet.
  • AIM Herbal Fiberblend® provides the dietary fiber recommended for a “positive mood” diet.
  • AIM RevitaFem® combines eight botanical ingredients that support physical and emotional balance during menopause.

Use your knowledge 

Armed with this information about how a healthy mental attitude can affect cell health, you’re well equipped to help yourself and others live a healthier, happier, and more fulfilling life. 

  • Next time you share a good laugh with a friend or co-worker, point out the health benefits of laughter that you’ve just read about. Use the breast cancer example to drive home the impact a healthy attitude can have on our bodies, and share with them the AIM products that can help achieve and maintain a positive attitude.
  • If someone you know is feeling blue, recommend a soothing soak in AIM Cell Wellness Restorer™ in place of a piece of chocolate that can add pounds and deepen their low mood.
  • When life gets crazy, make a conscious effort to switch your family to a “good mood” diet for a few weeks and see what happens.
  • Maintain balance in your own life so that others will see how content you are and ask you for your secrets.
  • If you know someone who lives alone, invite them out for a walk and a talk. You’ll both feel better, and you can pass along the other tips you’ve learned about leading a happier, healthier life.

*Referenced on www.holisticonline.com
**Referenced on www.apa.org