Tag Archives: healthy fats

Women’s Health Feature – Do you look your age?

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Beauty comes from within. The same is true about health and age. By the time illness or aging shows in your physical appearance, the causes have been inside you for some time. Common sense tells you to do whatever possible to protect your body so that it reflects the finest you from the inside out. AIM has the perfect pair of products to help you achieve a healthy, youthful reflection – AIMega® and AIM Proancynol® 2000.

The Beauty in AIMega

Omega-3 and -6 essential fatty acids (EFAs) are healthy fats that nourish and heal. Your body does not make EFAs, so they must come from your diet on a daily basis. AIMega provides a balanced 2:1 ratio of omega-3 and -6 EFAs from organic seed oils.

Why are essential fatty acids so important? EFAs are one of the main structural components of cell membranes and vital for cell repair, growth, and activity. The overall health of your body is dependent upon their presence in every cell, tissue, gland, and organ.

Skin is your body’s largest organ. Dry, wrinkled skin is just one of many indications that you may not be getting enough EFAs. Supplementing with AIMega is like applying an internal cosmetic that helps to make your skin smooth and supple.

But there is so much more! EFAs help to restore your energy, digest your food, transport nutrients, burn fat, balance hormones, and prevent chronic disease. For your optimal health and well-being, take two to three capsules of AIMega twice daily with meals.

The Power in Proancynol 2000

The antioxidants in Proancynol 2000 protect your body from the damaging effects of free radicals. Although free radicals are a normal part of your body’s metabolism, too many of them are the major cause of damage to your cell membranes, genetic material, and body tissue.

According to Dr. Richard Passwater, Ph.D., free radicals can result in more than 80 age-related diseases, including cancer, heart attack, and stroke. As a researcher of antioxidant nutrients since 1959, Dr. Passwater made the connection between antioxidants and a way of increasing the human lifespan.

Antioxidants are micronutrients that deactivate free radicals, thereby stopping their damage and reducing the effects of aging. In fact, Dr. Richard Cutler, a researcher at National Institutes of Health’s National lnstitute on Aging from 1976-1995, stated: “The amount of antioxidants in your body is directly proportional to how long you will live.”

Seven ingredients in Proancynol 2000 provide a powerhouse of antioxidants that stop free radical damage. Different body systems require different antioxidants, so the greater the variety, the greater the benefits. Effective both individually and together, Proancynol’s team of antioxidants helps to protect against diseases, keep your immune system strong, and slow down the aging process.

The Perfect Pair

“Aging first and foremost takes place internally,” stated Jack Masquelier, Ph.D, who pioneered the extraction of powerful antioxidants from grape seeds – just one of the seven ingredients in Proancynol 2000.

The anti-aging antioxidants in Proancynol 2000 and the nourishing EFAs in AIMega provide a perfect pair of products that help to maintain your health and keep you looking younger than your years.

All statements above have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

If there is a super nutrient, it just might be Omega-3

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Flax SeedsIt is just the way it is with certain supplements in an industry that seems to be constantly searching for the key to anti-aging and better health. Too often they are billed as “the next big thing.” And too often, they are here today, gone tomorrow. But the test of time distinguishes the pretenders from the real thing.

One nutrient that always deserves to remain at the head of the class is Omega-3s. And their place at the top is an appropriate distinction for one of the most useful and varied supplements available.

Essential fatty acids (EFAs) such as Omega-3s are integral to the health of our bodies, yet they are not nutrients that our bodies can produce on their own. EFAs have to come from diet or supplementation if we are to reap the many benefits that they offer.

EFAs are important because they exist in every cell of the body, and they help maintain structural, metabolic, and regulatory functions in the body. This wide variety of tasks plays an important role in the health of our immune system. As part of each cell, EFAs produce prostaglandins that help the immune system stay at a high level. Omega-3 fatty acids set themselves apart in this regard because the prostaglandins produced by Omega-3s are anti-inflammatory in nature, which can provide many benefits for our bodies.

If the EFAs were missing, continual and cumulative damage may occur in the cell membranes and, if that happens, our health would erode, our immune system would weaken, and we would be more susceptible to aging and disease.

The ability of EFAs to strengthen the immune system is a big reason why it can have so many different benefits for our overall health. One of the other ways fatty acids help is by increasing the blood flow throughout the body. This increase can help nutrients to travel faster to where they need to go, it can unclog arteries and aid cardiovascular health, and it keeps brain function at a maximum by providing increased blood to the brain.

Fish oil versus flax oil

Fish oil is by far the main source of Omega-3s. Most of the Omega-3 on the market is processed from fish oil as found in AIM Cellsparc 360®. Mediterranean and European diets, which have a greater emphasis on fish, often contain an appropriate amount of Omega-3, but Americans have a harder time getting naturally-occurring supplies of the nutrient. Thus, many Americans have turned to Omega-3 supplements, making it an extremely popular supplement.Cellsparc

AIM recognized the importance of Omega-3s and chose to include them in AIMega® when we introduced the product in 2005. AIMega® is a blend of organic seed oils that includes Omega-3 in addition to Omega- 6 and Omega-9 fatty acids. This EFA combination gives AIMega® a balanced blend of fatty acids from monounsatured and polyunsaturated fat sources (healthy fats).

The biggest difference between AIMega® and the other Omega-3 supplements on the market is that AIMega® is one of the unique products that does not get its Omega-3 from fish oil. The Omega-3 in AIMega® is derived primarily from flax seed oil, which typically contains double the amount of Omega-3 found in equal quantities of fish oil.

The list of benefits from Omega-3 is immense and impressive..Flax Seeds

Cardiovascular health

From as early as the 1970s, Omega-3 has been linked to heart health. Cardiovascular research in relation to Omega-3s is one of the most thoroughly established bodies of work among all of the Omega-3s benefits, and the results are very positive.

Studies have found that Omega-3s can help lower cardiovascular disease risk, improve heart rhythms, and lower the risk of experiencing a second heart attack. The findings relating to a lowered risk of a second heart attack first surfaced in 2006, thanks to a study done by researchers from the Mid America Heart Institute and the University of Missouri. Even more recently, Italian researchers found that Omega-3s might help reduce hospital visits for those suffering from heart-related conditions by as much as 9 percent, and a different study said that Omega-3s can help with vascular tone, heart rate, blood lipid levels, blood pressure, and clogged arteries.

Mental acuity

After cardiovascular health, the second most popular use for Omega-3s is increased cognitive ability. To be more specific, Omega-3s are particularly helpful when it comes to protecting against age-related cognitive decline, as recent studies have demonstrated.

Alzheimer’s disease especially is under the microscope when it comes to how Omega-3s relate to the disease. Preliminary trials have shown that the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in Omega-3s can reduce the build-up of Alzheimer’s related proteins in the brain, which can lead to the development of the disease and damage to the brain. Another study showed that the Omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the amount of harmful plaque build-up in the brain that can impair cognitive ability and can be a precursor to Alzheimer’s.

Mood and behavior

Similar to its effect on cognition, Omega-3s also can improve mood and behavior in adults and in children. One such trial claimed that Omega-3s can have positive effects on depression, decreasing the rate by as much as 50 percent in patients who take a daily Omega-3 supplement. A similar reduction in depression figures can also be achieved by clinical drugs, but Omega-3 supplementation can do the same work without the cost or side effects.

Cancer

A number of studies report that Omega-3s can help prevent cancers such as breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers. Though there is a need for more research on the link between Omega-3 fatty acids and cancer, results from some studies suggest that the anti-inflammatory properties of Omega-3s could be integral to reducing cancer risks.Flax Seeds

Eyes

Macular degeneration numbers could be reduced with Omega-3 supplements, and overall eye health could be aided with regular supplementation. The DHA found in Omega-3 fatty acids is an important nutrient for the health of nerve cells in the retina, and getting an appropriate amount of Omega-3 can help keep these nerve cell layers from falling into disrepair, resulting in macular degeneration. Some studies even claim that the risk of macular degeneration can be reduced by as much as 70 percent with proper Omega-3 supplementation.

In addition to macular degeneration, researchers found that a topical application of fatty acids would help relieve certain eye-related issues (like dry-eye syndrome).

Mother and child

A connection has been found between healthy fetuses and mothers who receive a proper amount of Omega-3s. Studies indicate that children stand to benefit from their mothers having appropriate levels of fatty acids during pregnancy. One study found that motor skills in children increase if the mother uses Omega-3 supplements during pregnancy, and other studies have found that proper fatty acid levels could improve vision, brain function, and development in children. In addition to these benefits, Omega-3s can also help reduce the risk of offspring developing issues such as diabetes, skin disorders, and weight management.

Pyramid emphasizes healing properties of food

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Q: What is the Healing Foods Pyramid?
A
It is a health foods pyramid created by researchers at the University of Michigan. The pyramid is a triangle composed of 10 tiers. It is based on the idea that foods have the power to fight illnesses and ailments including chronic pain, heart trouble, and cancer. In brief, the pyramid advances the idea that we should all consume less meat and more plant products and we should enjoy a variety of foods that put an emphasis on healthy fats.

Q
What are the pyramid’s 10 tiers?
A
The base of the pyramid, and therefore the key to healthy living, is water because our bodies are more than 50 percent water. The five tiers or layers above water are to be eaten daily. These include fruits and vegetables, grains, legumes, seasonings, and healthy fats such as olive oil, eggs, and dairy products. The next two tiers or layers represent food choices that are to be consumed weekly. These are fish and seafood and lean meats. The ninth tier of the pyramid is called accompaniments, which includes tea, dark chocolate, and alcohol—all to be used in moderation. The top tier is blank, to be filled in by the user with a favorite treat, but in moderation.

Q
Who are the researchers who came up with the Healing Foods Pyramid?
A
It was developed by Monica Myklebust, MD, and Jenna Wunder, MPH, RD. Myklebust is the director of the University of Michigan Integrative Medicine Clinical Services. She believes that by combining the philosophies and practices of several healing systems, that people struggling with medical challenges will have options to pursue wellness and healing. Dr. Myklebust completed a residential fellowship at the University of Arizona in Integrative Medicine in 2002 and a residency at the May Graduate School of Medicine in 1996. She received her medical degree from the Minnesota School of Medicine in 1993.

Q
Is the Healing Foods Pyramid the same as the USDA Food Guide Pyramid?
A
No. The USDA’s guidelines were published in 2004 and are not the same as the Healing Foods Pyramid. They both use a pyramid to emphasize food choices and options but the selections are different. The Healing Foods Pyramid can be found at www.med.umich.edu/umim. The USDA pyramid can be found at www.mypyramid.gov.

Q
Does Dr. Myklebust have any eating tips?
A
Yes. (1) Eat two to four servings of fruit and five or more servings of vegetables daily. A serving is a half-cup. (2) At mealtime, half the plate should be fruits and vegetables leaving a quarter of the plate for protein including meat, fish, chicken, nuts, beans, eggs, cheese, or yogurt and another quarter for whole grains such as whole wheat pasta or brown rice. (3) When selecting fruits and vegetables, select one of every color because each color represents different nutrients. The basic colors are white, yellow, orange, red, and purple.

Q
Anything else important about the pyramid?
A
As consumers move from the bottom of the pyramid to the top, they should understand that the triangle shape is in proportion to the amount and importance of foods found on the pyramid. For example, Tier 1 is water, so plenty of water is necessary to good health. Tier 8 is lean meats so fewer of them should be part of a healthy diet. The grains category contains corn, squash, and sweet potatoes, which are vegetables but these vegetables act like grains in the body. In general, says Dr. Myklebust, the Healing Foods Pyramid derives its name from the belief that there are healing properties in food. “Food is medicine,” she says.

All information provided is for educational purposes only and is not to be regarded as medical advice.
Consult a healthcare professional for specific advice about your situation.