Shaklee Pure Performance Team at Olympics in Sochi

How many of us were watching the Olympics in Sochi?  My family was cheering for every Olympic athlete but especially the U.S. athletes.  Many large companies pay athletes with large contracts to use their products and promote their brands.  Shaklee, the number one natural nutrition company in the U.S., sponsors athletes by providing Shaklee products to help fuel their success.  The Shaklee Pure Performance Team is made of Olympic and elite athletes who want to perform at their highest level possible using natural products without sacrificing peak performance or risking their career.  That is why Shaklee has been trusted for over 20 years by Olympic athletes and have been part of over 100 Olympic medals.  Here is a update of the Shaklee Pure Performance Team in Sochi 2014 from the Shaklee Healthwise blog.

Shaklee Pure Performance Team in Sochi 2014 “It’s heavy!” That’s how Team USA’s Chris Creveling described the silver medal he claimed at the 2014 Sochi Games in the 5000-meter relay in short track speed skating. “Of course the physical medal is great, and I dreamed of standing on the podium with a medal all my life,” the elite athlete explained, “but nothing can compare to the feeling of pride and accomplishment after you’ve overcome so many challenges to meet your goals.” Joining Chris on the relay team was Jordan Malone, another Shaklee Pure Performance Team member. These Shaklee Pure Performance Team members were two of the 10 athletes sponsored by Shaklee who came home with medals. Those 10 athletes, along with 14 more Shaklee Pure Performance Team members who competed in Sochi, engaged in some of the most hard-fought competitions on the world’s stage. “It was the most aggressive racing I’ve ever seen,” Chris said. “Even the qualifying heats were a brawl, a four-hour scrap-fest.” Indeed, each of the 10 medal winners fought valiantly for every centimeter, one-thousandth of a second, or goal they could scrape out, and Americans—including the Shaklee Family—could not be more proud of them. Here are our medal-winning Shaklee Pure Performance Team heroes: Kacey Bellamy:  Silver medal,  Women’s ice hockey Megan Bozek:  Silver medal, Women’s ice hockey Chris Creveling:  Silver medal, 5,000-meter relay, short track speed skating Brianna Decker:  Silver medal, Women’s ice hockey Jamie Greubel:  Bronze medal, Women’s bobsled Jordan Malone:  Silver medal, 5,000-meter relay, short track speed skating Brianne McLaughlin:  Silver medal, Women’s ice hockey Molly Schaus:  Silver medal, Women’s ice hockey Kelli Stack:  Silver medal, Women’s ice hockey Curt Tomasevicz:  Bronze medal, Four-man bobsled Talk about heavy expectations: The USA women’s ice hockey team garnered much attention for their epic battles with the Canadian team, and no one placed more pressure on the team than its own members. “This moment in these Games has been our driving obsession since Vancouver in 2010,” explained goaltender Brianne McLaughlin, “and although we didn’t get the outcome we wanted, we know we skated an amazing game and played incredibly well.” Brianne noted that Team USA had defeated Canada four straight times in the seven months leading up to Sochi, so the team was confident coming into the Games. “Our preparation was fantastic; compared to 2010 we changed the attitude and atmosphere on the team, changed our training, our structure, and everyone bought into it,” she said. “We wanted to be the best, so we knew we needed to play the best opponent and never back down. Although we’re still hurting at the loss, we realize we achieved an incredible feat and we are proud of each other’s commitment to the team.” While all the Shaklee Pure Performance Team members represented themselves admirably, not all carried away a medal. Erika Brown, the “skip” (team captain) for the women’s curling team, had high hopes for her team in Sochi, but the Americans could only claim one victory in nine matches. Still, participating in the monumental spectacle of the Games was an honor she’ll relish forever. “All the grandeur you might imagine about the Games is true—the world gathers in a peaceful but rousing event that helps us realize there are things bigger than ourselves,” she said. “It was awesome to be on our own small team, and an even greater honor to be a member of the ‘big team,’ Team USA.  And everyone simply wanted to do their best.” Bronze medalist bobsledders Curt Tomasevicz and Jamie Greubel might be on the back end of their competitive careers, but in Sochi they were leading the way for the U.S. bobsledders. Jamie finally won her medal in women’s bobsled after narrowly missing the U.S. team in 2010, and after a sterling World Cup season that gave her the confidence in her abilities heading into Sochi. Curt’s bronze medal in the four-man bobsled marked the second consecutive Games that he earned a medal, having been a member of the team that won gold in 2010, breaking a 62-year drought in that event for the Americans. Even if he steps away from the sled as he claims he will, Curt will do so with no regrets. “I feel great about this medal, and our years of hard work really paid off,” he proclaimed. Complete results for all Shaklee athletes and events in Sochi are available at this link. What you won’t find on that website are the numerous inspirational stories of the athletes who stood tall and charged forward with weighty expectations of all types, from the opening ceremonies to the challenges of every competition to the extinguishing of the flame. We’ll relate several of those stories from our Pure Performance Team members in upcoming reports on this Health Wise blog page, so check back frequently and on the Shaklee Corporation Facebook page. In the meantime, we offer our most heartfelt congratulations to all the Shaklee athletes in Sochi who stirred a rousing flame within each of us: Lanny Barnes , Biathlon  (15 km Individual) Craig Brown, Men’s Curling Kris Freeman, Cross-country skiing  (Skiathlon, 15 km classic, 50 km) Peter Frenette, Ski jumping  (Normal hill, Large hill, Team event) Kelly Gunther, Speed Skating  (long track – 1,000 m) Brian Hansen,  Speed Skating  (long track – 500m, 1,000 m, 1,500 m, Team pursuit) Jeff Isaacson, Men’s Curling John Landsteiner, Men’s Curling Debbie McCormick, Women’s Curling Jilleanne Rookard, Speed Skating  (long track – 3,000 m, 1,500 m, Team pursuit) Jessica Schultz, Women’s Curling John Shuster, Men’s Curling Jared Zezel, Men’s Curling Shaklee is committed to fueling excellence in any endeavor, whether you are an elite athlete, a business professional, domestic engineer, or student aspiring to your own weighty and lofty goals. How have these Pure Performance Team members motivated or inspired you? Comment below and take a shot at inspiring other dreamers and achievers! Shaklee athletes are either Distributors or dedicated users who have received compensation for their partnership and/or complimentary Shaklee products.

Urgent Call To Action: Tell USDA to reject "Agent Orange" GMO corn and soy

Tell USDA to Reject "Agent Orange" GMO Corn & Soy   

Submit Comments on 2,4-D Herbicide-Resistant Seeds from Dow  

Extended Deadline: midnight Tuesday - March 11, 2014  

2,4D-resistant crops will mean use of more herbicides, health issues and environmental problems  Submit Comments by Mar. 11, 2014   Action #1 - How to Comment  Action #2 - Spread the Word  Talking Points

    

Remember Agent Orange, the chemical from the Vietnam War that caused so many health problems and birth defects? If Dow AgroSciences has its way, one of the main ingredients of Agent Orange will be sprayed in massive amounts all over the U.S.

Tell the U.S. Department of Agriculture to say NO to "Agent Orange" corn and soy!

Dow has genetically engineered corn and soybeans so that the plants can withstand the application of 2,4-D, half of the notorious Agent Orange chemical cocktail. Studies show that 2,4-D disrupts hormones, damages the nervous system, lowers immunity to illnesses, and causes reproductive problems.
 
Unfortunately, this chemical is already being used in industrial agriculture. But its use is limited because it kills so many plants; farmers have to be careful about how and when they spray it. If Dow's GMO crops are approved, however, farmers will be able to spray 2,4-D throughout the growing season to kill weeds without damaging the GMO crops. This means a lot more 2,4-D in the environment and as residue on food!

"Agent Orange" corn and soy are making their way through the approval process, and this is the last chance the public has to submit comments to the USDA. We need to submit more comments than ever before to stop these crops from unleashing a new toxic assault on our health, our communities, and the environment.

Take a moment to tell the USDA to reject these new GMO corn and soy crops!  

Dow and Monsanto are requesting approval from USDA on herbicide-resistant seeds; there's an opposition statement and hardcopy petition you can share with others at farmers markets, conferences, etc.

EXTENDED DEADLINE:
Submit comments to USDA by midnight Tuesday, March 11 (11:59 p.m. Eastern)

Please share this alert with family and friends, 

Urgent Call To Action - Tell USDA to Protect GMO Free Farmers

If you buy organic food or are at all concerned about our food supply, this is an important issue and we need to let the USDA know we are paying attention and want them to protect GMO free farmers and us as consumers.  

Tell USDA to Protect GMO-Free Producers  

Submit Comments on Proposed Coexistence with GMOs   

Deadline midnight Tuesday - March 4, 2014  

Farmers who don't want to grow GMO crops must establish wide buffer zones to protect their crops.    Submit Comments by Mar. 4, 2014 Take Action - How to Comment   Talking Points

    

It's a fact: farmers' crops have been contaminated with genetically engineered crops, also known as GMOs. And as long as the U.S. allows GMOs to be planted, this will continue and likely increase.

Farmers who don't want to grow GMO crops face significant burdens. To protect their crops, farmers must establish wide buffer zones, losing the use of significant amounts of land. They spend time and extra money to find non-GMO seeds. And if they are contaminated despite their efforts, they lose sales in organic and non-GMO markets.

Who is responsible for GMO contamination?

   

In 2011, the USDA convened an advisory committee to discuss the issue. The topic was labeled "coexistence," based on the assumption that GMO and non-GMO crops can coexist in the same area. But that's already been proven false: non-GMO farmers are inevitably harmed by pollen that is blown or carried onto their farms, GMO material caught in harvesting and cleaning equipment, and the numerous other ways that contamination occurs.

  

The advisory committee recommended that farmers buy crop insurance to cover the costs of unwanted GMO contamination. How is this fair? Organic and other non-GMO producers would have to spend even more money to protect themselves, while the companies that profit from GMOs would continue to escape their responsibility for GMO contamination prevention and compensation.

USDA is now asking for comments from the public on the issue of coexistence. Tell them it's time to take steps to prevent contamination and put the costs where they belong!

Submit comments to USDA by midnight Tuesday, March 4 (11:59 p.m. Eastern)

Please share this alert with family and friends.

For more info and links to directly respond, go to http://www.farmtoconsumer.org 

Colds and Flu: are you con-FLU-sed?

Understanding cold and flu symptoms: are you con-FLU-sed?

Guest Post:  Dr. Jamie McManus

This year’s flu is turning out to be a nasty one. One of the primary strains we are seeing in folks this year is called H1N1 (also known as swine flu) and is the same strain that caused such a bad flu season in 2009. H1N1 is thought to be the same strain that was responsible for the global pandemic of 1918. Because the flu can be dangerous and the fact that most people cannot distinguish between a cold and the flu, I thought it might be helpful to give you some of the differentiating features.

I’ve made up a little cheat sheet, which I think will be helpful. (See below.)

Enough sickness to go around

According to the Centers for Disease Control, Americans suffer from a staggering one billion colds every year and, on average, each of us has a 20 percent chance of getting the flu. Adults average 2-4 colds a year; kids typically get more (with some getting as many as 12 colds every year).

Colds rarely cause serious complications; only about one percent of cases lead to complications (mostly sinus or ear infections). The flu, on the other hand, is responsible for around 35,000 deaths and 200,000 hospitalizations every year.

A virus is the cause of both colds and flu and though they share many symptoms, each illness has unique telltale signs.

Flu versus cold

In general, flu tends to come on quickly—meaning you go from feeling fine to bed-ridden in 24 hours or less. Most people will have a high fever, feel extremely achy and chilled, usually have a dry cough, and little appetite. The good news is that most people with the flu will have their symptoms resolve in a few days, while a cold can linger on. People with underlying health issues are much more likely to have complications from the flu—including pneumonia.

Colds, on the other hand, start with a runny or stuffy nose and a sore throat that you have probably felt coming on for days. When you have a cold, you rarely will have a fever, or it is very mild.

If you are coughing, sneezing, feeling a little run-down, with a scratchy throat, then you are more likely to be in the cold camp. If you are achy all over with a strong headache, you probably have the flu. Allergies can sometimes be mistaken for a cold or flu. Allergies typically present with itchy eyes, nasal congestion, or runny nose and sneezing—with no sore throat or fever.

Take a look at this cheat sheet to help you determine if it is a cold or flu:

Cold or Flu?
Questions	Flu	Cold
How fast was onset?	Sudden	Gradual
How tired do you feel?	Severe	Mild
Do you have a fever?	Yes, high fever	No (or mild) fever
Do you have cough or congestion?	Non-productive cough	Nasal congestion
How are your muscles?	Achy	Fine
Do you have the chills?	Usually	No

Prevention is the key

As with almost any illness, prevention is your best strategy. Remember to eat especially well, take your vitamins, get some regular exercise, and get enough sleep. The number one prevention tool you have is to wash your hands frequently.

When to seek help

The big concern about colds and flu is not the illness itself, but what occurs afterwards.

Bacterial infections are more likely to happen in someone with the flu, but can occur as complications of a regular cold as well. If your cold progresses to facial or ear pain or you develop a persistent fever, it may be best to see your doctor.

Severe flu, like the Swine flu, can have intestinal symptoms, including persistent vomiting and diarrhea. If you are feeling increasingly weak, with a worsening cough, chest pain, or shortness of breath, you should probably be seen by your doctor.

Most colds and flu come and go without any severe problems and are easy to take care of on your own. Paying attention to your symptoms will help you determine if you need to seek further medical advice.

Use the comment section below to let me know what you are doing to prevent getting sick this year.

Stay well, my friends.

Jamie McManus, M.D., FAAFP

You Are What You Drink

One of my New Year goals is to drink more water.  When we were in school we learned that our body is largely made up of water.  Did you know that pure water is the only fluid that hydrates our cells.  Did you know that being dehydrated can cause symptoms like... lack of energy, moodiness, headaches, constipation and can lead to kidney stones.

Many people get side-tracked and only drink when they are thirsty.  But our thirst isn't a very good guide because by the time we are thirsty, our fluid can be very low... especially if we are working out or if the weather is hot (but we don't have to worry about hot weather in the Midwest this time of year).

How much water should you drink?  Most of us have heard 8 glasses of water a day. But we are all different and have different needs.  Most experts now say to drink half your body weight every day in ounces.  So if you weigh 100 lbs, you need to drink 50 ounces.  But did you know that for every beverage you drink with caffeine, you have to offset that same amount in pure water to counter the caffeine?

Our body needs clean pure water.  Dehydration can speed up the aging process.  Imagine a grape as it sits out and becomes dry.

Here are some tricks I use to drink more water...

#1  Drink several glasses of water when you wake up.  Drinking water first thing in the morning is a good detox for your body after slowing down while you sleep through the night.  Adding fresh squeezed lemon juice and a dash of Cayenne Pepper is good for your digestive track.  This will give you a head start for your day.

#2  Eliminate all soda.  Soda was not meant to be a main source of what we drink.  If we go back to "You Are What You Drink"... consider the science projects in school.  Children take cola and show that it can corrode teeth, dissolve raw meet and shine a penny.  Imagine what it is doing to our bodies?  I also have a big issue with diet drinks because of the artificial sweetners.

#3  Jazz up your water the natural way.  Artificial anything isn't good for us but I agree that drinking plain water can get boring.  So, I like to add things like cucumbers, lemons, limes, etc. to a picture of water.  It is a great way to enjoy water and you will be surprised how easy it is to drink water this way.  

Easy Steps to Weight Loss

Guest Post by Dr. Jamie

I’ve spent a great deal of time over the last twenty years helping people go from feeling helpless about their weight to feeling (and being) in control of their weight. What I have noticed is that people who are able to lose and maintain their weight use the same steps to achieve success.

Let me share with you five simple principles from the people who I’ve seen have weight loss success:

1. Make the Commitment:  The first step for any change in your life is to commit to that change—and it seems to work best if it is a public commitment. Permanent weight loss takes a long-term commitment (really, for the rest of your life), but it also starts with the first step. So, decide what you can bite off—maybe that is two weeks or maybe you can commit to two months. I strongly urge you to try to commit to ninety days because that is a meaningful amount of time to change some habits AND to see results!
2. Remove Temptation: I don’t care how strong you are; no one can resist temptations all the time. There are simply too many tasty things around when you are tempted (a bad day at the office, not enough sleep, somebody’s birthday, etc.). The time to be strong is when you are at the grocery store, not when you are standing in front of your refrigerator after dinner. Start by having a protein bar before you go grocery shopping so you aren’t hungry, take a list of what you need, and stay out of the snack aisles!
3. Be Realistic: Who wouldn’t want to lose all their weight in one month? The truth is that it may have taken you a while to get to your current weight and it will take time to lose that weight. Set a goal of losing one to two pounds every week, which means, on average, six to ten pounds per month! That translates to 18-30 pounds in the next ninety days. That is realistic. 
4. Veggies are Your Friend: One type of food that most of us don’t eat enough of is vegetables. It seems unfathomable to me because vegetables are my favorite foods! They are packed with nutrition and low in calories. Make sure to include as many veggies in your diet as possible. This means every meal should include at least one serving of vegetables with at least three servings of veggies at dinner. For example, try including a salad and/or steamed or sautéed vegetables as a side dish.
5. Exercise: You may lose weight without exercise, but research has shown that exercise is the single most important way to keep the pounds off once you’ve done the work to lose them! Exercise will help you burn more calories and maintain your muscle mass as you lose weight. Losing muscle causes your metabolism to drop, which increases the likelihood of the weight coming back on. So, MOVE more!

From my perspective, THE single most important step to better health is weight control. I am committed to making positive changes for my health in 2014—so commit with me to move more, eat better, and be conscious of things that you do that may be counter-productive to being healthier! Even if you aren’t in need of weight loss, what you may notice from all of these changes is long-term value to your health.

Let us all commit to new habits for better health in 2014.

Be well!

Dr. Jamie

Make 2014 A Healthy New Year

Have you set your New Year goals for 2014?  How are you doing on them?  We are a couple weeks into January and it is a good time to check in on your progress and make any adjustments needed.  If you are in the Midwest... you may be a little behind because we have had some crazy cold weather but keeping yourself on track, even if you have an off day, is the key.  

92% of all New Year resolutions are centered on becoming more healthy and losing weight.  Many of us recommit to our goals multiple times during the year; every time determined to be successful.  However, I believe setting realistic, achievable goals is an important part to being successful.  For example... if you are just beginning to exercise, it may be unrealistic to set a goal to run the Indianapolis Mini Marathon in May.  A first step goal might be to walk the mini or run a 5K.

Here are some of my goals for 2014...

*  Drink more water  - A few years ago I stopped drinking diet sodas after learning about aspartame and the long term health consequences of it.  I do like coffee but usually have decaf and I also enjoy hot teas in the winter.  I have been making an effort to drink water with lemon before anything else in the morning.  This is a great way to get a jump start on your daily water intake and it helps flush your system and get things moving.  Remember, if you drink something with caffeine, it cancels out water so for every caffeine beverage, you have to drink an equal amount of water to even out.

* Move more  - It is recommended to get in 10,000 steps every day.  I have tried pedometers in the past and they sometimes fall off or are just in the way.  So for Christmas, I asked for a Fitbit which is a pedometer and more that you wear on your wrist.  It is simple to use, wireless, gives me updates and the battery lasts for multiple days and can be worn in the shower.  Pretty creative tool.  So far, so good.

* Cook with my kids - When I grew up, my Mom made great meals and they were always from scratch.  She would ask me to help her and that was something we enjoyed.  Our schedules were so busy running to all the after school practices and events, that it became easy to lose that opportunity with my family.  I have been taking advantage of the snow days (thanks to the fun winter weather we are having this year) and asking my kids to help me cook.  They are still warming up to it but I think it will make great memories and also help them understand the importance of real food and sharing meals together.

These are a few of my health goals.  I would love to hear what yours are and how you are doing on your path to achieving them so far.