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Wednesday, September 21, 2016

New You

Hey friends!

Sorry I've been MIA -- no excuses here. Just busy.

I've had a request to research New You, a great product that It Works makes. New You is a "body revitalizing formula!"

First I'll tell you about my personal experience with New You, then I'll explain all the details.

So me:

I have been taking New You for about 3 months. I LOVE NEW YOU! I can't say it enough. I would say it and be a faithful customer even if I didn't sell It Works.

Let me tell you why:

1. ANXIETY

I am an anxious person. Sometimes I find myself not able to sleep at night because my brain is wide awake and I can't slow it down. It's like I have adrenaline pumping through my veins at 11pm and my body is exhausted but my brain won't let it sleep. I would finally fall asleep naturally about 12:30 or 1:00am. Or I would end up taking a sleeping pill so I could get a good night sleep.

NEW YOU helps! Oh how it helps! Now I'm TIRED and FALLING ASLEEP at 10:30 or 11. Saturday night I was full on asleep at 10:30. That is so weird for me.

It's like it quiets my brain so my body can sleep. It's amazing.

((The funny thing is, after taking this and noticing the difference it makes in my anxiety, I started researching the ingredients and there are quite a few that help with anxiety! Win!)

2. SLEEP

Like I said above, I CAN SLEEP! New You helps you get better/deeper REM sleep. So when I sleep I'm resting better. My body operates perfectly on 6.5 to 7.5 hours of sleep a night. If I get more than that I can't sleep well the next day. If I get less than 6 I'm grumpy and frustrated all day.

So since I'm going to sleep earlier and sleeping deeper (and falling asleep faster after I wake up to use the bathroom at night), I'm waking up earlier and feeling great! I'm not dragging my body out of bed. I've gone running in the morning more often.

For me to run in the morning, I have to be back by 6:45. That's a huge deal for me to have in 3 - 5 miles before 7 am.

3. MUSCLE

I have been working on gaining muscle and losing fat. I've always wanted some definition in my arms, and let's be honest. I want to see my abdominal muscles. I never really have and it's about time.

To do that, I've started to count macros. Counting macros is a whole other blog post (or blog!) in itself, but basically you focus on eating the right amount of proteins, carbs, and fats for your body. Then lift weights and while you may/will lose weight, it will ensure that the weight you lose is fat, not muscle.

Even though I'm not really wanting to lose weight, I have lost some. But I just want to focus on building muscle. And guess what?? New You helps build lean muscle!

I have had a handful of friends notice that I've more lean. I can tell I'm more lean. And it's a pretty good feeling.

I'm not perfect at counting macros. I have many many off days, but taking New You, and knowing that I'm putting something into my body to help myself build muscle is good motivation for me to do my part with eating and exercising.

LAST TAKEAWAY!

And lastly, here's my last takaway from New You.

There was about 3 weeks where I was out of New You. I didn't think it would be a big deal and I forgot to add it to my order one month.

I was wrong. I was truly truly wrong.

You know how when you start something, sometimes it's so gradual that it's hard to know what a big difference it makes? But then you stop whatever you are doing and you realize how much it had helped?

Stopping taking New You was like a slap in the face. My anxiety rose and I couldn't sleep. I was more dependent on my Target brand sleeping pills and I didn't feel good. Even if I had a night where I didn't take a sleeping pill, I would wake up to use the bathroom and I couldn't go back to sleep. Some mornings I was just awake at 4:30 without being fully rested.

I was more dysfunctional. So now I'm making sure I get New You every month.

It's $50 a month as a loyal customer. Sometimes it feels like a high price to pay. But if it helps me get a good night sleep and feel less anxious, $50 a month is a steal!

Here's the more technical info!

New You is a "one of a kind" longevity formula. It is designed to naturally stimulate your human growth hormone. Human growth hormone is essential for your body's growth and development, but as you age, your body makes less and less (starts to decline after age 30). But with taking New You, your body will naturally start to produce your growth hormone, so you will see improved sleep and memory, enhanced exercise endurance, and increased muscle mass.

New You also has natural polyphenols that help improve blood supply to the muscles and help reduce the harmful effects of free radicals.

You take one caplet of New You in the morning and two caplets at night.

Ingredients:
Niacin: Niacin is a form of Vitamin B3. Niacin is used for treating people with high cholesterol, circulation problems, migraines, Alzheimer and age related thinking skills, depression, alcohol dependence, and edema. Some people use it for ADHD, memory loss, arthritis, digestion, protecting against toxins and pollutants, reducing the effects of aging, lowering blood pressure, improving circulation, and promoting relaxation. Niacin may also help people with heart disease because of it's beneficial effects on clotting. Even being deficient in Niacin can cause skin irritation, diarrhea, and dementia. read more here.
Calcium and Phospherus (as dicalcium phosphate): Dicalcium phosphate is a ionic salt made up of calcium and phosphate. You need calcium and phosphate in your diet, and it's also an anti-caking agent that can help keep food fresh. source
Grape seed and apple fruit extracts (80% total polyphenols): Research has linked heterocyclic amines (HCAs) with cancer. Researchers from the University of Hong Kong and Rutgers University have tested extracts from apples and grape seeds (and other fruits) and found that apple and grape seed extracts can reduce the formation of HCAs by up to 70 percent! Read more here.
Tri-source Arginine (L-Arginine HCI, L-Arginine pyroglutamate, and L-Arginine alpha-ketoglutarate): L Arginine is a an amino acid. It relaxes blood vessels and has cardiovascular benefits. It may ease symptoms of angina, and boost the health of people with heart failure. Studies have shown L-Arginine may help ease migraines, improve blood pressure, lessen recovery after surgery, and speed up wound healing. read more here.
L-Lysine HCI: L Lysine HCI is an amino acid that can be taken by mouth to improve athletic performance. read here
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM): MSM is a chemical found in plants, animal, humans, and it can be made in a labratory. It's used as a medicine. There's even a book written about it, "The Miracle of MSM." Find the book here. But there's a huge list that MSM is used to treat. I'm listing the link here because the list is so extensive.
Velvet Bean extract: Also called Cowhage, Velvet Bean extract is used to treat Parkinsons. Interesting, huh? It's also used to treat anxiety, arthritis, and to relive pain and fever among other things. Read more here.
L-Glutamine: Glutamine is an amino acid found naturally in our bodies. Glutamine is used to combat side effects of medical treatments, to help digestive systems, and depression, anxiety, and insomnia (among a huge list of other things). See here.
GABA (gamma-amino butryic acid): GABA is a chemical that is made in the brain. GABA is used to relieve anxiety, improve mood, reduce symptoms of PMS, treat ADHD, promote lean muscle growth, burn fat, stabilize blood pressure, and relieve pain. What a awesome list. I don't know anyone who doesn't need AT LEAST one of these issues addressed in their life/body! read more here.
Inositol: Inositol is a vitamin like substance found in plants and animals. It can also be made in a lab, but it is used for diabetic nerve pain, panic disorder, high cholesterol, insomnia, cancer, depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimers, ADHD, autism, promoting hair growth, psoriasis, and treating side effects of taking lithium. It also can help with PCOS, high blood pressure, high triglycerites, and high levels of testosterone. Read more here.
L-Ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate: This is an amino acid to help build proteins. It can be taken by mouth to help improve athletic performance. read more here
Ginger Root: Ginger is commonly used to treat stomach problems, rheumatoid arthritis, menstrual pains, respiratory problems, migraines, and diabetes. Ginger can be used to stimulate breast milk among other things. Read more here.
Gamma Oryzanol: This is made out of rice bran and other fruits and vegetables. It is used for high cholestoral, menstrual symptoms, and aging. Some people use it to increase testosterone and human growth hormone levels, as well as improving strength in resistance exercise training. It may also help reduct the amount of cholesterol absorbed. read more here.
Ferulic Acid: Ferulic Acid is a potent antioxidant. It protects against photo-aging and skin cancer. read more here
Vanadyl Sulfate: It is a mineral and often used as a medicine. It is used for treating diabetes, low blood sugar, high cholesterol, tuberculosis, syphillis, anemia, water retention, improving athletic ability, and preventing cancer. read more here.

microcrystalline cellulose: Microcrystalline cellulose is commonly used in the pharmacutical industry to be used as an anti-caking agent, It's generally regarded to be safe when used in normal quantities. source
croscarmellose sodium: croscarmellose sodium delivers drugs to a persons intestines. It's FDA approved it as an inactive ingredient in any pharmacutical. source
stearic acid: The FDA has affirmed that stearic acid is generally regarded as safe and can be added to foods in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices. Stearic acid is one of the most common long-chain fatty acids found in both animal and vegetable fats. Stearic acid is naturally present in many food in greater quantities than in supplements. Stearic acid is one of the main fats in cocoa butter. source.
magnesium stearate: Magnesium stearate is derived solely from palm oil. It is the magnesium salt of fatty acid and doesn't contain trans-fatty acids. Magnesium stearate is the combination of stearic acid and magnesium (an essential mineral). source.
silica: There's lots of information on silica. Silica is a mineral found in our bodies that help make our bones strong. There are supplements out there just to take Silica because most of our diet doesn't provide the adequate amount of silica. source. But if you look on the internet, there's a danger associated with inhaling silica. Like on a construction site, where there's sand, soil, concrete, masonry, etc and those items may be disturbed, moved, or cut, little particles of silica get in the air and when you get them in your lungs, it's not good. source But that's not how you are taking the silica in New You.

Well, if you made it this far, good job!

Any questions, let me know! I would be happy to help you start an order. It truly has been worth every penny I have spent on it!

Here's to a great day and a great night sleep!

Here's my website if you need more info or want to order!

http://stephkeller.myitworks.com/

New You

Hey friends!

Sorry I've been MIA -- no excuses here. Just busy.

I've had a request to research New You, a great product that It Works makes. New You is a "body revitalizing formula!"

1. ANXIETY

2. SLEEP

3. MUSCLE

LAST TAKEAWAY!

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

It Works and Diabetes

So there's this product call Fat Fighters.

I wasn't super interested when I heard the name, because I like to do things "the old fashioned way" of eating right and exercising. But hey -- I also like to eat spoonfuls of peanut butter. And that doesn't help me see my rock hard abs. ;)

But then I heard something else really awesome about Fat Fighters. Like WOW!

Fight Fighters are GREAT for a person suffering from Diabetes. WHAT?

Here's the info. I'll start with the basics.

Diabetes is a disease where a person's body has a problem with the hormone insulin. WebMD says normally your pancreas releases insulin to help your body store and use the sugar and fat that you eat. There are different types of diabetes, but basically the disease occurs when your body
1) doesn't make insulin
2) doesn't make enough insulin
3) or when your body doesn't respond to insulin correctly. (all info is from this source)

Diabetes is a lifelong disease. Over 18 million people have diabetes and over 5 million don't even know they have it! And over 41 million people have pre-diabetes (that means their blood sugar is higher than normal, but not so high to get a diagnosis of diabetes). There is no cure for diabetes, but there are ways to control it and stay healthy.

Basics of Insulin and Food

When you eat, your body converts most of what you eat into a simple sugar called "glucose." The glucose travels in your blood to different parts of your body to give them energy. Insulin regulates the amount of glucose in your blood. Your pancreas is always releasing small amount of insulin to regulate this glucose. When there's a lot of glucose in your blood, the pancreas will release more insulin to push more glucose into your cells. Since the glucose goes into your cells, the glucose level in your blood drops. Your body doesn't want this glucose level to drop too low, so your body signals you to eat, and I guess there's some glucose stored in the liver that can get circulated around.

People with diabetes don't make (enough) insulin, or their body is resistant to insulin, so instead of the glucose being pushed into the cells, the glucose stays in the blood stream and it makes them have high blood sugar (because remember, glucose is sugar).

So the goal is to manage diabetes. Since there isn't a cure, there's only mitigating damages.
The goals of managing diabetes are to:
1) Keep blood sugars as close to normal by balancing food with medication and activity
2) Maintain your cholesterol and triglyceride levels and close to normal by avoiding sugars, processed starches, and reducing saturated fats and cholesterol.
3) Control your blood sugar
4) Slow or prevent diabetes related health problems.

So how does a person suffering from diabetes do this?
1) plan and eat a balanced diet
2) exercise regularly
3) monitor blood sugar and blood pressure at home
4) regularly see a doctor and do required lab tests

And like I said, I am a big believer in eating right and exercising. BUT -- sometimes you can't eat 100% healthy. No one can do that. There are times where you eat things that aren't good for your body. And some days, everything you eat isn't good for your body. And sometimes you don't even KNOW what isn't good for your body. You feel me?

So Fat Fighters is AWESOME -- because it absorbs some of the fat and carbohydrates (sugar!) from your food so your body doesn't absorb it! I'll detail the ingredients below, but it uses NeOptunia (ingredients from prickly pear cactus) to absorb all that stuff you wanted to eat, but didn't want your body to absorb.

So I'm not saying you should feel fine about going through the McDonald's drive through every day and eating whatever you want and taking some Fat Fighters. No. You shouldn't be doing that. Eating unhealthy food isn't good for you no matter what supplements you take. Of course, you could choose to go through McDonalds AND take your Fat Fighters and it would work. But if you are trying to be healthy, just be healthy. Eat right. Take the Fat Fighters for those occasions when you don't. Take them to help control your blood sugar levels. But overall, be good to your body. Treat it nicely.

SO -- Fat Fighters basics are this:
a) Blocks some of the fats and carbs from meals
b) Helps balance healthy blood glucose level and reduce cravings
c) Designed to be taken up to an hour after a meal
d) Cactus based formula
e) Does not contain shellfish

So really, how does it work?

There are two ways Fat Fighters works. First, the active ingredient, NeOptunia, is the most powerful, kosher, and vegetarian fat binding ingredient on the market today. The cactus's natural fibers have lipopholic (definition of lipopholic: tending to combine with or dissolve into lipids or fats) properties binding to the fats from your food in your stomach. Because some of the fat and carbohydrates are binded together with the NeOptunia, the food isn't absorbed into your body, but is excreted through your body naturally.

The second way Fat Fighters works, is it contains phaseolamin. Phaseolamin is a white kidney bean extract that acts as a carb inhibitor. The Phaseolamin paralyzes the enzyme in your stomach that's job is to turn the starch from carbs into sugar. Since the carbs are not turned into sugar, those carbs are excreted naturally.

Ok, so it sounds like it works. How often can I take it?

Well, It Works says you can take one to two tablets 15 minutes to one hour after eating your two largest meals of the day. Or after a snack with a high fat content. So you can take it every day. Awesome. Don't take more than 4 per day. It may cause some constipation.

Can I take the Fat Fighters with other supplements or medications?

Well, since it binds things together, NO. You want your body to absorb your medication or supplement. Fat Fighters stops that. So allow one to two hours to pass between taking Fat Fighters and any medication or supplement.

Now, here's a breakdown of the list of ingredients. I was impressed. Who knew so many fat/carb fighting ingredients existed? I sure didn't!

Chromium (chromium dinicotinate glycinate): Chromium is a mineral. Very small amounts of chromium are essential to our health. Chromium helps keep blood sugar levels normal by improving the way our bodies use insulin. Some people use Chromium to improve weight loss, increase muscle, and decrease fat. Chromium is also used to aid in athletic performance, increase energy, and prevent age related mental decline. source
NeOptunia (cactus leaf): Prickly pear cactus leaf is a plant. The young ones are eaten in a Mexican diet. They are also used for medicine. The cactus contains fiber and pectin which can lower blood glucose by decreasing the absorption of sugar in the stomach and intestines. Some researchers also think it can decrease cholesterol levels and kill viruses in the body. WebMD states that prickly pear cactus can be "possibly effective" for diabetes in decreasing blood sugar levels by 17% - 46% in some people. source
Proprietary blend:
Garcinia cambogia fruit extract (hydroxycitric acid): Garcinia is a tree that grows in India and Southeast Asia. The fruit rind contains the chemicals hydoxycitric acid (HCA), and HCA may prevent fat storage, control appetite, and increase exercise endurance. source
Green Tea Leaf Extract (20% caffeine):
Phaseolamin (white kidney bean extract): Phaseolamin may aid in weight loss by lessening the body's production of alpha-amalyse, an enzyme that helps digest carbohydrates. A study suggests that phaseolamin significantly interferes with the digestion of starch, and the people who took phaseolamin were significantly more likely to lose weight than those that took a placebo. Because the body doesn't break down and digest these
bitter melon fruit extract (2.5% bitter principles): Bitter melon is a plant whose fruit and seeds are used to make medicine. The chemicals contained in the melon may act like insulin in the body to reduce blood sugar levels. source.
banaba leaf extract (Lagerstroemia speciosa)(1% corosolic acid): Banaba is a species of crepe myrtle tree found in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. The leaves make a medicine that seem to lower blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes. It may help the body use insulin better. source.
Gymnema slyvestre leaf extract (25% gymnemic acids): Gymnema is native to India and Africa and the leaves are used to make medicine. The Hindi name "gurmar" means "destroyer of sugar." Gymnema decreases the absorption of sugar in the intestines and it may also increase the amount of insulin in the body and increase the growth of cells in the pancreas. source.
Wheat amylase inhibitor: amylase inhibitors are also know as "starch blockers" that prevent dietary starches from being digested by the body. Starches are complex carbohydrates that cannot be digested unless broken down by enzymes in the body. source.
vanadium (as vanadyl sulfate): Vanadium is a mineral. There is some evidence that vanadium may act like insulin, or help to increase the effects of insulin. source
dicalcium phosphate: Dicalcium phosphate is a ionic salt made up of calcium and phosphate. You need calcium and phosphate in your diet, and it's also an anti-caking agent that can help keep food fresh. source
microcrystalline cellulose: Microcrystalline cellulose is commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry to be used as an anti-caking agent, It's generally regarded to be safe when used in normal quantities. source
croscarmellose sodium: croscarmellose sodium delivers drugs to a persons intestines. It's FDA approved it as an inactive ingredient in any pharmaceutical. source
stearic acid: The FDA has affirmed that stearic acid is generally regarded as safe and can be added to foods in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices. Stearic acid is one of the most common long-chain fatty acids found in both animal and vegetable fats. Stearic acid is naturally present in many food in greater quantities than in supplements. Stearic acid is one of the main fats in cocoa butter. source.
magnesium stearate: Magnesium stearate is derived solely from palm oil. It is the magnesium salt of fatty acid and doesn't contain trans-fatty acids. Magnesium stearate is the combination of stearic acid and magnesium (an essential mineral). source.
silica: There's lots of information on silica. Silica is a mineral found in our bodies that help make our bones strong. There are supplements out there just to take Silica because most of our diet doesn't provide the adequate amount of silica. source. But if you look on the internet, there's a danger associated with inhaling silica. Like on a construction site, where there's sand, soil, concrete, masonry, etc and those items may be disturbed, moved, or cut, little particles of silica get in the air and when you get them in your lungs, it's not good. source But that's not how you are taking the silica in the Fat Fighters. Just like lots of materials that are good for your body (like water), it's not a good idea to get them in your lungs!
pharmaceutical glaze: Pharmaceutical glaze is a good grade shellac often used for coating medicines. It's found in time released or extended release medicines to slow down the drug breaking down in the stomach. source.

It is ALWAYS a good idea to talk with your doctor before starting a supplement. If you are taking this to help control your diabetes, I would encourage you to chat with your doctor about it.

Sounds like a pretty great and diverse list of ingredients!

You can check out the Fat Fighters here. It's $23 a month if you sign up as a Loyal Customer. That means you order for 3 consecutive months.

You can also see a great demonstration on youtube here about how great the Fat Fighters dissolves.

Friday, April 22, 2016

Greens - Berry

First things FIRST -- I am no scientist, nutritionist, or leader in anything medical. I am a good "Googler." I do many many google searches and I read. That's about it. Here's the results of many Google searches.

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One of the products I was attracted to most after learning a little about It Works was a product called "GREENS."

It's a little powder you mix with water that's healthy. That's about all I knew about it before I started researching for this blog post. And I have learned a lot!

It Works describes Greens as

"an energizing, detoxifying, and alkalizing blend of 38 herbs and nutrient-rich

superfoods that provides vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and enzymes

you need for your best health. The nutrients found in Greens - Berry are at

their highest naturally occurring, bioactive, bioavailable form to ensure

maximum absorption by your body. The natural blend of ingredients in

Greens - Berry, including an acidity-fighting combination of magnesium and

potassium, is designed to alkalize the body and restore pH balance. With

restored alkalinity, your body experiences improved immune system health

and increased energy. A cutting-edge probiotic helps you maintain that

healthy balance by keeping your digestive system regular and toxins flowing

out.

If you regularly order Greens, it costs about $33 a month if you order a product for at least three months. So it's about $1.10 a day. Maybe that's expensive, maybe it's cheap. But that really depends on how great the product is, right?

My awesome "upline" or the girl who I signed up under (Lindsay) send me a sample package. I tried the Greens (berry flavor), and I like them. They are sweetened with stevia, so they have that "sweet" taste. I don't LOVE the taste of stevia, but it's not sugar so that's good. Right? Yes, mostly if you are drinking it to be healthy!

Anyways, this whole research project started while shopping with my son Sam in Target. He was begging me for a bottle of their specialty juices. You know, the yummy more expensive ones in the produce section?

I'm not going to name names, (because I don't really want to get into a brand war) but I bought it for him, took a picture of the ingredients and label, and set off to start my first comparison. I really didn't know which one would be better, but I was interested to find out!

I'll compare Ingredients, Nutrition Labels, Processing, Price, and add in a little about akaline and acid.

I will call the juice I bought Sam the "Specialty Juice." The ingredients that are the same in each juice are in bold.

Specialty Juice Ingredients

apple juice, mango puree, pineapple juice, banana puree, kiwi puree, spirulina, natural flavors, alfalfa, broccoli, spinach, barley grass, wheat grass, parsely, ginger root, kale, odorless garlic.

The bottle says is it non-gmo. It has 2 3/4 apples, 1/2 banana, 1/3 kiwi, 1/3 mango, and 1/2 pineapple. 1335mg of spirulina, 409mg alfalfa, 102mg broccoli, 102mg spinach, 51mg kale, 51mg garlic, 76mg barley grass, 76mg wheat grass, 51mg ginger, 51mg pasley.

Greens Ingredients

Proprietary Blend 1: Soy Lechitin (97% phosphatides), soy protein isolate, spirulina pacifica, apple fiber, barley grass, eleutero root extract, brown rice flour, alfalfa leaf, barley malt, beet juice powder, royal jelly, bacillus coagulans (Lacospore), acerola, chlorella, milk thistle seed, astagalus root extract, green tea leaf extract, Ginko biloba leaf extract, dulse, bilberry extract, and aloe vera gel

Proprietary blend 2: Broccoli, black walnut leaf, blackberry fruit, blueberry fruit, consilk stylus, cranberry, dandelion leaf, goldenseal herb (aerial parts), kale, lemongrass, marshmallow root, meadowsweet herb (aerial parts), oat straw (aerial parts), papaya leaf, parsley, pau d'arco bark, platain leaf, red raspberry leaf, rose hips, rosemary leaf, slippery elm bark, spinach, strawberry fruit, tomato, tumeric root, watercress, white willow bark, and okra.

Nutrition Labels

The Nutrition Label for the Greens doesn't have percentages on the Vitamins and Minerals because it says it is not a "vitamin supplement" so the values aren't listed.

Greens has a significant amount less calories, sugar, sodium, and carbs. Without the percentage values for the vitamins and minerals, it's hard to do an exact side by side comparison of the two, but the greens do have ingredients that provide all the vitamins and minerals, except for Vitamin B12.

Processing

Specialty Juice: Under the label, it states the juice is "gently pasteurized." I had never read about "gently pasteurized" juice before, but this is a great article. read here. Basically, the juice is heated up for a short period of time (so it's not fully pasteurized) but even that heating up destroys vitamins and phytonutrients. So it will save you from most bugs and diseases, but it decreases the health value.

Greens: So you need about 1/2 of a teaspoon for one serving of Greens. You mix it with water or juice and drink it. So how do all the above ingredients get mixed up to 1/2 of a teaspoon? First, the fresh greens are dried slowly under low heat. High heat would damage the potency and nutritional value of the ingredients. Then the dried ingredients are made into powder using a cool air in a turbo jet mill. The jet mill breaks up the particles and reduces their size.

Price

The Specialty Juice cost me $2.50 on sale at Target.

Greens costs $1.10 a day if you choose to try it for at least 3 months (or you can switch to another product after a month).

In one month, you would spend at least $75 if you drank a specialty juice each day. Greens cost $33 a month, and there are even ways to save money by sharing the product, using It Works points, and being a committed customer. Seriously. Worth a try!

Alkaline v Acid

What's the hype about alkalizing my body? What's wrong with an acidic body?

Here's an article about your health and an acidic body here.

Greens says this: All fresh fruits and vegetables have important alkalizing benefits, but a diet of those highest in potassium is best for maintaining an alkaline, pH-balanced body. Each serving of Greens provides 260 mg of potassium in the form of potassium citrate, the strongest alkalizing agent found in citrus fruit. An acidic body is not only low in potassium but likely low in magnesium as well, as magnesium is important for regulating your body’s potassium levels. When your body is unbalanced and overly acidic, it tries to counteract that acidity by releasing calcium and magnesium from the bones to promote an alkaline pH, which can lead to a magnesium deficiency within the body. Greens alkalizing blend of potassium and magnesium helps to restore adequate supplies of both of these vital minerals that your body needs to maintain a healthy pH balance.

Conclusion

Greens is a great contender against this specialty juice. It's less expensive, has more of a variety of ingredients that promote great health, and it's easy. Of course, you may miss the consistency of the specialty juice. Here's what you do: Mix it with a juice. Make a smoothie and put it in there. (I think this is a smoothie Lindsay made with avocado, coconut water, spinach, and Greens.) And maybe for the health benefits and the great price, you just stay with Greens because you are saving a great amount of money while still getting such a great benefit.

Here's a more in depth list of the health benefits of the ingredients in the Greens. This took a while to research. I could have added more information of EVERYTHING each ingredient had in it and what it helped with, but I just gave a quick overview and sent you to read the article. It was super informative and really helped me appreciate the great ingredients in the greens.

It did make me realize that if you are pregnant, you really should consult your Dr about taking Greens. All in all, it's worth a try.

AND -- what is the next It Works product you would like me to research? I'm debating between the Hair, Skin, and Nails and the Cleanse. And we have a great promotion right now with essential oils and a diffuser for Mother's Day. So researching the quality of the essential oils would be interesting!

You can search the website here. Or even order your Greens! You get the wholesale price of $33 per month when you sign up to order for at least 3 consecutive months.

Click here to see the Products :)

Greens detailed ingredients!

soy lechitin: its a fat essential to the body and treats certain disorders. read more here
soy protein isolate: plant based protein source - fine to eat in moderate amount read this
spiritunila pacifica: a rich natural source of nutrients, it's algae farmed in shallow ponds near the pacific ocean. read about it here
apple fiber: fiber from an apple. it's for sale on amazon. read about it here
barley grass: it helps alkalize the body and is full of nutrients! read here
eleutero root extract: one of the best documented plants in herbal medicine (WHAT? I have never heard of it!) read about it here
brown rice flour: good for vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids. read here
alfalfa leaf: extremely nutritious, but may need to use caution if you have an autoimmune disease or hormonal cancer. read here
barley malt: good sweetener and adds fiber. read here
beet juice powder: antioxidant, vitamins, minerals. read here
royal jelly: made from bees. interesting and good for your health. read here
bacillus coagulans (Lactospore): a great probiotic used to help your digestive system. may affect your antibiotic because it kills bacteria and it says use caution if pregnant or nursing. ItWorks always suggests if you are pregnant or nursing to take a list of the ingredients to your doctor and ask them their opinion. read about it here.
acerola: contains vitamin A, C, thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin. read here.
chlorella: actually contains some really great nutritional benefits. cancer fighting, increases your immune system, etc. read here.
milk thistle seed: helps liver function. read here
astagalus root extract: increases the immune system, heaps heart health and other great physical benefits. read here.
green tea leaf extract: many health benefits (cancer, bowl diseases, Parkinson disease, heart, etc). It does contain caffeine. read about it here.
ginko biloba leaf extract: helps with anxiety, dementia, mental function, PMS. read here.
dulse: clinically proven antioxidant, protein source, and plant source of iodine, and potassium. (never know this - I had never even heard of this!) read here.
bilberry extract: good for eyes, heart, blood vessels, chronic fatigue syndrome, etc. read here.
aloe vera gel: helps with constipation. Just make sure it doesn't help too much! read here.

broccoli: Fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Iron, Potassium. Read here.
black walnut leaf: helps with skin and inflammation. read this - it's actually really interesting.
blackberry fruit:Vitamin C, Antioxidants, Antibacterial. read here.
blueberry fruit: Fiber, Vitamin C, Antioxidants. read here
cornsilk stylus:proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, fiber. used to combat some illnesses. read here.
cranberry: great for UTIs and other health benefits. read here
dandelion leaf: diuretic, decrease swelling. read here
goldenseal herb (aerial parts): it was hard to find info on the aerial parts, but here's some general info. read here.
kale: Calcium, folate, antioxidants, Iron, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, read here
lemongrass: great for headaches, stomach aches, high blood pressure, etc. read here.
marshmallow root: good for reducing swelling of mucous membrane, cough, etc. read here.
meadowsweet herb (aerial parts): decreases inflammation and mucous. read here.
oat straw (aerial parts): similar nutrition to oats, except Oatstraw is higher in vitamin A and C. May lower cholesterol, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant in it. read here.
papaya leaf: commonly used to prevent and treat gastrointestinal trace disorders. read here.
parsley: used for GI disorders, high blood pressure, etc. read here.
pau d'arco bark: treats infections, cancer, etc. interesting. read here.
platain leaf: helps decrease pain and swelling, mucous production, and opens airways. may also kill bateria and fungi. read here.
red raspberry leaf: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. read more here.
rose hips: used for stomach disorders, gout, leg and back pain, diabetes, high cholesterol, etc. read here.
rosemary leaf:used for digestion problems, gout, coughs, headache, high blood pressure, etc. read here.
slippery elm bark: may help soothe sore throat, help with stomach and intestinal problems. read here.
spinach:has vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. read here for uses.
strawberry fruit: protects heart, increases good cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, and guards against cancer. read more here.
tomato: prevents various cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and asthma. read more here.
tumeric root: it treats SO MANY health issues. it's a great read. helps reduce inflammation. read here.
watercress: used to fight bacteria and is a diuretic. read more here.
white willow bark: great for pain because it's similar to aspirin. read here.
okra: rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. read here.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Why It Works?

So I signed up to be a distributor for It Works at the end of February. I am completely new. I don't know a lot about this company, but it was a great opportunity, so I jumped in.

So this little blog will not likely be updated regularly. But it WILL highlight It Works products. There's SO MANY products out there that claim THIS and THAT... and I'm wondering... did I just join another one of those companies? I hope not, and after researching my first product, I'm pretty sure this business is pretty awesome.

So here's to a blog that will hopefully educate us all about the products that It Works sells.