Grace’s Blog

DHA is an essential fatty acid that we get from foods.  Most people know about EPA, an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish. DHA is also an omega-3 as is ALA or alpha-linolenic acid.

We get these important fatty acids from our foods.  Along with fatty fish, we get some from plants such as olive oil, flaxseed and walnuts.

The body converts ALA to EPA and DHA, the most readily used in the human body.  This is not an efficient conversion.  Only about 5% gets converted.

We know that EPA and DHA have long been beneficial in cardiovascular health for adults and to help reduce inflammation.

Science is emerging suggesting that DHA is important in the early development of the brain and vision of infants and children.

DHA is the most abundant omega-3 fatty acid in the brain of a developing fetus in the last trimester of pregnancy.  It continues to be abundant throughout the first few years of life.

Supplemental DHA is given to premature infants to aid growth, development and vision.

There is a large-scale human trial being conducted by the National Institute of Health to determine the effects of DHA on Alzheimer’s disease.  Low levels have been associated with Alzheimer’s, ADHD, and depression.

ADHD is one of the most common childhood problems.  More and more children are being diagnosed and more and more children are receiving medications.

This problem can continue into early teen years and into adulthood. 

Studies are suggesting that these individuals have lower levels of omega-3′s, including DHA, in their bodies.

Clinical trials assesing the effects of supplementing with omega-3 may be beneficial, while others have found no benefit.

DHA is not readily available in today’s kid’s diets. Many don’t eat sardines, tuna, and organ meats, such as liver.   Some fish may contain mercury which is detrimental to children.

As a grandparent, having my grandchildren SUPPLEMENT WITH A VITAMIN that includes DHA, I think, would be a smart thing to do.

It is essential for developing brains.

Shaklee Dist.

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Scientists are spending billions with a “B” to unlock the secrets to living longer. 

Eighteen years ago, the CBS show 60 Minutes examined what was called the French paradox.  The French consumed a diet high in fat but also consumed a lot of wine.

They had a markedly lower incident of heart disease than Americans.

Could there be something in the wine that protected them from this deadly disease?

Researchers have found that resveratrol, an ingredient found in red wine, can influence the biological aging processes in positive ways.

Imagine if you will, people living to 150, 175, or even 200 years!  Maybe you don’t want to live that long considering the diseases of old age.  What if those diseases did not exist?

It is exciting to think about.  Perhaps you could see your great grandchildren or your great-great grandchildren graduate from college.

On May 21, 2009, 60 Minutes updated their story on resveratrol.  If the promises hold true, according to Morley Safer, it could change healthcare forever.

One COMPANY has spent years developing a product containing resveratrol and was the first to create and isolate a unique profile of polyphenols. 

Their resveratrol product is available now.  Drug companies are looking at five to ten years before they have a drug that can extend life.

In laboratory studies, this unique formula has been shown to fight cellular aging. 

You know that DNA is part of our cells.  When there is a “typo” or something wrong with the cell, it duplicates wrong.  Then disease or aging starts. 

This product repairs and protects cellular DNA.

It also increases mitochondria, what I call little energizing batteries, in the cells that keep the cells energized.  Children have bunches of them.  We lose them as we get older.  When they are gone, the cell dies.

It positively impacts genetic regulators that determine if a cell lives or dies.

This PRODUCT also contains another polyphenol which is protected by a patent-pending extraction process.  No one in the world had been able to extract it until now.

This polyphenol slows the accumulation of Advanced Glycation End Products (AGE) which slowly clogs up cells. 

These AGE products can compromise cell integrity and longevity.

Multiple patens have been filed to protect this exclusive breakthrough product.

Do a Google search on Resveratrol.  See what you find. 

If you could prevent the diseases of old age, would you?  If you could perhaps extend your life another 25 years, would you?  Only you can answer that question.

I don’t know how much longer I will extend my life, but I am using this PRODUCT now, everyday.  It is 10 x more powerful than resveratrol alone.  I love it.

Shaklee Dist.

Register for our Health and Wellnes Newsletter at our WEB SITE.

Lactoferrin.  What is it and why is it important? 

Lacto=milk, ferrin=iron.

Lactoferrin is found naturally in breast milk, tears, and other body fluids.  It is really important in building the immune system in infants. 

Once an infant stops nursing, continuing to have lactoferrin in a child’s diet can prove beneficial. 

In some cultures, mothers continue to nurse their children far longer than in Western civilizations giving their children extended immune support.

Lactoferrin is an iron-containing protein which is easily absorbed.

Iron is absolutely necessary for the immune system.

When the immune system is weakened it is one of the first signs of an iron deficiency.

Lactoferrin increases the nutrient-absorbing cells in the intestine enhancing the absorption of other nutrients a child needs for a healthy immune system.

Some studies suggest that lactoferrin acts as a prebiotic.  Prebiotics feed the beneficial bifidobacteria, or good bugs, which support a healthy digestive system.

Having a healthy digestive system is one of the body’s first defenses against invaders.

Lactoferrin may also activate immune cells whose job it is to gobble up foreign materials such as killed bacteria and viruses, and digesting them so they are no longer harmful.

Lactoferrin is extremely important in helping infants develop a healthy immune system.  Once developed it would be great if it continued to operate at peak performance, but we know our foods are loaded with ingredients not conducive to keeping a child healthy.

In addition there is an overuse of antibiotics that kill the good bacteria which keep the immune system healthy.

Shaklee’s new CHILDREN’S MULTIVITAMIN is the first in the U.S. with lactoferrin, to help keep the immune system supercharged long past the time the child stops nursing.

Shaklee Dist.

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Our children are at risk.  More and more are being diagnosed with adult diseases!

These include hypertension, diabetes, elevated cholesterol, sleep apnea, asthma, depression, anxiety and orthopedic problems.

What is happening to our children? 

It can be answered in two words: weight and nutrition.

I do not remember one overweight kid when I was growing up.  We ate real foods, not highly processed .  Our school cafeteria served foods prepared fresh on site each day.

We had several recesses a day.  We played sports at school such as softball, track, and volleyball.  We jumped rope, played dodge-ball and jacks.  And this was grade school, not high school.

We did not suffer from ADD or ADHD.  No one took drugs.  When we went to the nurse’s office it was for scraps and bruises.

There is now a resurgence of Vitamin D deficiency.  Children spend less time outdoors and have inadequate dietary intakes of this important nutrient.

A recent AJCN study found that 55% of children tested had low levels of vitamin D.  In the winter months that number increased to 68%.

Vitamin D is critical in the development of strong bones and teeth.  It assists in calcium absorption and utilization.

Asthma and allergies are on the rise.  Common triggers include environmental pollutants, chemicals and food allergens.

Given the fact the EPA says only a fraction of the more than 75,000 registered chemicals have gone through testing for human health concerns, is it any wonder our children, the most vulnerable of us all, are suffering?

Starting with nutrition, it is the parent’s responsibility to provide for their children, yet 30% of infants and toddlers don’t eat any fruits or vegetables.

Another statistic, 25% of the calories consumed in a typical school day come from junk foods.  Most 8 year-olds drink soft drinks every day.  Those drinks typically contain 9 teaspoons of sugar per 8 oz.

Carbonation leaches calcium from bones and teeth. 

Kids today lead a sedentary lifestyle.  Their thumbs get the most exercise while the body barely moves.

Schools are cutting back on P.E. and recess.  Money is more important than health, but at what price?  Either we pay now or later.  Medical expenses are far higher.

Then we have the environmental concerns.  As stated above, the EPA doesn’t know a fraction of what the harmful effects of chemicals are on humans.  Who is minding the store???

1,4-dioxane, a probable carcinogen, and formaldehyde are found in 61% of 28 children’s bath soaps, shampoos, lotions, and other personal care products tested. 

Phthalates are known endocrine disrupters and skin irritants.

The obesity rate in children is rising.  Type 2 diabetes is now the most frequent type of childhood diabetes. 

This is a degenerate disease!!!  That means old age disease, and children are getting it!

Wake up!  Get educated!  Start with your family!

ONE COMPANY is doing something about the nutritional side of the problem. 

Incredible NEW PRODUCTS for kids and babies have recently been introduced.

Watch 2 short videos to learn more.  

Click HERE for the first one and HERE for the second.

Our children are the future. Let’s make sure they have one.

Shaklee Dist.

Register for our Health and Wellness Newsletters on our website.

Most people, especially women, care about their skin and want to keep the wrinkles at bay for as long as possible.

I know I do.  I don’t want to look as old as I am.  As a teenager I had what some called “troubled skin.”

Now I have people tell me how nice my skin is.  What a change.

Here are some things you can do to keep your skin vibrant and alive through the years.  I’ve included what I use and have found to be very effective.

Exercise is important.  It increases blood flow to the skin and helps it regenerate faster.

Having a healthy diet is a must.  You know, you are what you eat. 

Include foods loaded with anti-oxidants…those free-radical scavengers that help to prevent skin damage. 

Try to decrease the amount of sugar in your diet.  It has been associated with increased aging.

Water is an important nutrient to keep your body functioning well.  Consider adding an anti-oxidant to your water, like green tea.

Remember to get enough good oils in your diet.  Eat foods that are fatty but good for you like salmon, flax seed and avocadoes.

For dry skin, use high quality supplements that contain OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS and/or LINOLEIC ACID, an essential omega-6 fatty acid.

Omega-3′s fatty acids are also good for the heart.

People with eczema and rosacea have gotten good results by increasing this nutrient in the diet.

Eating foods rich in anti-oxidants won’t take away wrinkles you may already have, but they will help stave off new ones.

What about having a fruit salad applied to the face, things like kiwi, banana and such?

Some will help, others won’t.

Lemons can help with exfoliation and fine lines.  Avocados can add moisture.

Don’t expect some fruits such as berries to do much good topically, as the skin will not absorb the anti-oxidants in them.  Better to eat them.

Cucumbers can be anti-inflammatory and reduce puffiness and cool the skin.  Tea bags can reduce redness.

Do you feel you need a scrub to exfoliate dead skin?  Some people make their own using salt or nuts like walnuts.  These are too rough and can damage the skin. 

I use a wonderful SCRUB in the shower.  It hydrates my skin while gently exfoliating it.

Smoking is a no-no.  It will age skin very fast making one look older than their years.  It is also the # 1 cause of cancer.

Getting enough zzz’s will give skin the time it needs to regenerate cells. 

Using a good skin care product is important.  I have chosen an anti-aging product proven to work. It has on my skin.  You can learn more about it by clicking HERE. 

Check out the Features and Research on the side bar.

Register for our monthly newsletter at our web site.

Shaklee Dist.

You’ve probably seen the email making the rounds about a woman who starts out in one room, thinks of something she needs to do, goes to another part of the house, forgets what she came there for, but saw something that needed to be done and was soon distracted to something else.

By the end of the day, nothing had gotten done.

Have you ever experienced walking into a room and wondering why you came in there?

I have.  Perhaps you have too.  I stop to think where I was last and what I was thinking and my brain pops into gear to remind me what I was doing.

We have a good laugh, but wonder, “Am I getting Alzheimer’s?”

Good news…probably not.  It is a sign of aging though.

You will be interested to know about research being conducted by Arthur Kramer and his colleagues at the University of Illinois.

It seems that exercise can actually make you smarter. 

The researchers divided a group of people between the ages of 60 to 80.  The first group did aerobic exercises and the second group did stretching and toning exercises.

After six months, the ones doing aerobic exercise had a significant increase in the volume of brain cells in the prefrontal, temporal and parietal regions of the brain and hippocampus.

These areas of the brain become less reliable as we age and memory is lost.

The results of the studies are very clear.  Regular aerobic exercise improves mental function and prevents cognitive decline.

Get up off the couch…go for a walk, ride a bide, dance around the house…do something to get the heart rate up, the breathing up and sweat a bit. 

It will “bulk” up those brain cells along with your body.

 Now where did I put my keys???

Shaklee Dist.

Yesterday was my mother’s 90^th birthday.  She passed away last Sept. 1 at the age of 89.  This coming Sunday we will celebrate Mother’s Day, so I decide to write about some of my memories.

 Mother was born May 3, 1919. She was the oldest of three girls.

She married my dad when she was 17 years old.  Together they raised 9 children, 6 girls and 3 boys.

 I am the fifth girl in a row.

When I was about eight years old my Dad bought a dairy farm.  My mother would trade milk to pay for my piano lessons.  I’m sure my sister’s lessons were also paid for with milk.

Mother could cook about anything. My dad was a rancher and some of the things he would bring home for Mother to cook were not too pleasant, but she prepared it anyway.

She loved to can or bottle all kinds of fruits and vegetables.  In later years I asked why she continued to can all the things she did.  She told me she loved the way the finished product looked in the bottle.

When I was in high school, Mother made pies and cinnamon rolls for a local café.  All the truck drivers loved to eat there and have some of those delicious goodies.

In exchange for some of those pies and cinnamon rolls my lunch was paid for. The café was only a few blocks from the school and I would walk there each day to eat.

I learned through osmosis to make pies and cinnamon rolls along with all kinds of other things.  Mother never formally taught any of us how to cook, we learned by helping and watching.  All of us girls turned out to be fairly good cooks.

She could also sew and most of my clothes were made by her.  As I was the fifth girl, I got plenty of hand-me-downs.  Mother always remade them for me.  I was smaller than the other girls.

Some of my prom dresses were prettier and better than many of the store bought gowns of the day.

When I started my in-home business, Mother became my biggest fan, greatest cheerleader and support.  I once asked her why she used the products in the beginning.  It was because I was her daughter and she wanted to help me.

She soon became sold on what I was doing and for a while had her own business going.  Even today her downline is using products and providing income to my dad, who at this time is still living and using the products I market.  He will be 96 soon.

One of the things Mother enjoyed doing was hanging out her laundry.  Even though she had a dryer, she liked to see her clothes on the line and always remarked that whenever she hung out the clothes, a breeze would come along to quickly dry them.

After all of us kids were grown, Mother returned to school learning many things including the computer which she said did not like her. 

She learned to play the piano after making sure all of us had the opportunity first to learn to play. 

She loved to sing.  In her younger days she played the guitar and sang on the radio. 

Each year the community college presented the Messiah.  At the age of 86, she was the oldest member to sing in it.

The Sunday before her passing, she sang in her church choir.

Her last instructions to her family were: “My children have gladdened my heart! Be true to yourself.  Keep on singing no matter what. Exercise your mind and your body everyday.”

She could still do the splits when she was 86.  She wouldn’t try after that.  All of us know what “Stand like a Tree” means.

At the time of her passing she left a legacy of 9 children, 46 grandchildren, 117 great grandchildren, and 41 great, great grandchildren. 

Mother was only 4 feet 10 inches, but she was mighty in spirit.  All of us will miss her and look forward to a future glorious reunion.

Shaklee Dist.