Keep Your Heart Healthy

PUBLISHED ON March 9, 2018

Keeping your heart healthy is a critical aspect of Active Wellness. Cardiovascular disease includes heart attack, stroke or congestive heart failure. 1 A new study shows that one of the main effects of being chronically overweight is that you are at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease than those with normal weight. This study is particularly meaningful given that the researchers followed 190,672 participants for at least 10 years and mined the accumulated data. 2

Participants were grouped according to age and weight. After adjusting the data for risk factors such as age, race, ethnicity and smoking status, head research Dr. Sadiya Khan of Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine and her colleagues found that the higher the BMI (body-mass index), the greater the lifetime risk of some type of cardiovascular event.2

Normal weight and BMI are personal issues and can best be determined with the help of a physician. People at exactly the same height can be at a wide range of weights and still be healthy. Bone structure and musculature may account for much of the variation. Other than staying at a comfortable and healthy personal weight, here are some other tips for heart health:

1. Aim for seven hours of sleep. According to a study discussed on WebMD, young and middle-aged adults who slept seven hours a night had less calcium in their arteries (an early sign of heart disease) than those who slept five hours or less or nine hours or more. In addition, those who got good-quality sleep had healthier arteries than those who did not sleep soundly.3 Kenko Sleep Products (hyperlink)  help support restful sleep.
2. Get your blood pressure checked regularly. The rule of thumb is to get it checked every three to five years if you’re between the ages of 18 and 39; and if you’re 40 or older, to check it annually. If you know you have high blood pressure, definitely check it every year or even more often. Kenzen Bergisterol (hyperlink)   capsules help support blood pressure that is within normal limits.*
3. Develop healthy eating habits. Focus on vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean protein. Limit salt, sugar, saturated fats and alcohol. One of the fastest ways to clean up your diet is to cut out sugary beverages like soda and fruit juice.3Kenzen Super Ciaga (hyperlink)   makes it so easy to quit drinking soda.
4. Get your blood sugar tested regularly. Millions of people have diabetes and aren’t aware of it until they suffer from a cardiovascular event. Diabetes adds to the risk of heart disease.
5. Dr. Monika Sanghavi, assistant professor of cardiology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center says, “We now know that even if you exercise for 30 minutes a day, being sedentary for the other 23.5 hours is really bad for your heart.”3 Break up long periods of sitting by standing or walking intermittently.
6. If you smoke, quit. Don’t replace tobacco with e-cigarettes. They may not have the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke, but they still contain nicotine.

*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

1 http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/What-is-Cardiovascular-Disease_UCM_301852_Article.jsp#.WqAxi7T83zI

2 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/article-abstract/2673289?redirect=true

3 https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/prevention-15/heart-healthy/12-tips-for-better-heart-health?page=1

CATEGORIES DETOX, HEALTH, MOTIVATION, PHILOSOPHY, PRODUCT, PROMOTION, SUGAR, WELLNESS

TAGS ACTIVE WELLNESS, HEALTHY EATING HABITS, HEART HEALTHY, KENKO SLEEP PRODUCTS, KICK THE SODA HABIT

Why Kenzen Bergisterol Capsules

Why Kenzen® Bergisterol™ Capsules?

PUBLISHED ON February 9, 2018

Clinical studies have shown that bergamot extract helps support cardiovascular health and cholesterol levels that are within the normal range.* In addition, science has identified bergamot extract as a way to help maintain levels of triglycerides, blood glucose and blood pressure within normal limits.*

The bergamot used in Kenzen Bergisterol capsules is harvested exclusively from the Reggio Calabria province of Italy between the months of November and March.

Citrus bergamia Risso is different from other bergamot variants, notably Citrus aurantium, which contains synephrine and other substances that may affect heart rhythms and arterial pressure. Instead, the active ingredients in Citrus bergamia Risso—namely Melitidine and Brutelidine—have been shown in research to have statin-like traits.1 Vincenzo Mollace M.D., professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy at University Magna Graecia in Catanzaro, Italy, led the clinical trial of 82 patients, all with total cholesterol and triglyceride over 250. He says, “In just four weeks, we saw a significant reduction in total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides…in addition, we are seeing significant increase in HDL, the good cholesterol and reduction in blood glucose as well.”2*

No pesticides are used on bergamot crops destined for Kenzen Bergisterol. The outer capsule is made with organic Pullulan. Pullulan is naturally fermented from tapioca and provides a high barrier to oxygen, thereby keeping capsules dry and fresh. This also ensures that Kenzen Bergisterol capsules not only are certified organic but vegan as well.

In addition to Citrus bergamia Risso, each Kenzen Bergisterol capsule contains 60 mg of vitamin C known as Orgen-C®. This derivative of Organic Amla Extract is commonly known as Indian Gooseberry. Valued for its high amount of natural vitamin C, Indian Gooseberry also contains more than 50 co-nutrients in the form of polyphenols and bioflavonoids. Orgen-C has the added benefit of a patent-pending water extraction process that produces a concentrated form of all natural and 100% organic vitamins derived from various fruits and vegetables along with existing co-nutrients of the same botanicals.

Kenzen Bergisterol Capsules are portable and convenient, especially during travel. Whereas liquid Kenzen Bergisterol could not be carried on board airplanes, the new capsules definitely can.

The recommended serving size is one capsule, giving you 250 mg of Organic Citrus Bermagia Risso Extract and 60 mg of Vitamin C. If you are currently on a statin, please check with your health care provider to see if you can take Kenzen® Bergisterol™ capsules.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

1 Journal of Natural Products, 2009.

2 http://youarecurrent.com/2010/10/11/citrus-bergamot-may-help-lower-bad-cholesterol/

What’s in Your Water?

PUBLISHED ON March 2, 2018

There are three different types of drinking water: tap water, filtered water and bottled water. In many countries, tap water is not potable, so it has to be boiled first. Even in North America, not all tap water is potable—for example, the Flint, Michigan water crisis1 and the First Nations indigenous water crisis in Canada2are still not fully resolved.

Water is supposedly tasteless, but everyone knows tap water can taste nasty. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) conducted a study in 2003 that showed public water supplies in 19 of America’s largest cities delivered drinking water that contained contaminant levels exceeding EPA limits, including rocket fuel, arsenic, lead, fecal waste and chemical byproducts.3

According to the NRDC, approximately 25% of bottled water is nothing more than tap water. The best way to find out is to read the label and see whether it tells you how the water is filtered. If it doesn’t say, chances are it’s straight from the tap.

The other problem with bottled water is the bottle itself. Many plastic bottles are created with a chemical called bisphenol A, otherwise known as BPA. It’s linked to numerous health issues, including infertility, obesity, diabetes, insomnia, arthritis, heart disease and more.4 And, the plastic bottles add to the trash that goes into landfills and the oceans, adding to environmental degradation.

Filtered water is clearly the best option for drinking. According to the Food and Water Watch Organization, even expensive water filters are more cost effective than bottled water, especially when evaluating costs over a 5, 10 and 20-year period.5

Water filters offer the last line of defense between the body and the more than 2,100 known toxins that may be present in drinking water.6 Experts recommend looking for a water filter that satisfies the standards of NSF International, a nonprofit organization that conducts safety testing for food and water industries. Look specifically for what type of contaminants the water filter will remove.

The PiMag Waterfall® complies with NSF standards as follows:

• NSF Standard 42—Reduction of chlorine, chloramine, taste and odor*
• NSF Standard 53—Reduction of mercury, volatile organic chemicals (VOCs)*
• NSF Standard 372—Lead compliance

*Reverse Osmosis systems do not remove VOCs, chlorine or chloramine.8

The PiMag Waterfall  (hyperlink for you)   is an advanced filtration system that produces water with added minerals (unlike expensive Reverse Osmosis systems that leach out beneficial minerals) in a pH range of 8.5-9.5. Regular tap water typically has a pH range of 6.5-8.5, with 7 considered “basic” and below 7 as acidic.7

Because the PiMag Waterfall works without electricity or plumbing, it can be used in any location. As with all PiMag products, the Waterfall is made with recyclable and biodegradable materials, including a polymer that does not leach chemicals into water.

1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flint_water_crisis

2 https://news.vice.com/en_ca/article/3kpjby/canadas-indigenous-water-crisis

3 https://www.greenamerica.org/green-living/facts-about-water-filters

4 https://draxe.com/bpa-toxic-effects/

5 https://www.waterbenefitshealth.com/filtered-drinking-water.html

6 http://www.allaboutwater.org/water-filters.html

7 www.water-research.net/ph.htm

8 https://www.waterbenefitshealth.com/filtered-drinking-water.html

Kick the Soda and Sugary Drink Habit!

Kick the Soda and Sugary Drink Habit!

PUBLISHED ON February 16, 2018

Last year, the many reasons to reduce or eliminate added sugar from our diets were explored on NikkenActiveWellness.  What we know is right and what we do, are unfortunately not always the same. That’s why Kenzen Super Ciaga® is such an exciting new product for Nikken to launch. It’s an organic mixed superfruit concentrate that’s going to help us kick the soda habit for good! And it’s coming to you on March 1, 2018!

Here are just a few simple numbers—average calories from sugar—of commercially sold beverages1:

• 12 oz. can of coca cola contains 140 calories from sugar at 39g
• 8 oz. can of Rockstar Energy Drink contains 124 calories from sugar at 31g
• 8 oz serving of Arizona Lemon Ice Tea contains 90 calories from sugar at 24g
• 8 oz serving of Snapple Lemon Iced Tea contains 92 calories from sugar at 23g

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, in one study, people who added soda on top of their current diet ended up consuming 17% more calories than before.2 That is because liquid sugar does not cause a feeling of fullness in the same way as solid foods, making people eat more total calories. Sugar-sweetened beverages may be the most fattening aspect of the modern diet. In fact, as little as one can of soda per day has been consistently linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. To put that number in perspective, if the entire U.S. population added one can of soda to their daily diets, almost 3.5 million people might become diabetic.3

Here’s why Kenzen Super Ciaga® can be so helpful in kicking the soda habit. It’s at least three times more concentrated than CiagaV, so dilution is recommended. That means instead of drinking one ounce in a shot glass, diluting to your taste is best. We suggest that you add three to four ounces of water per ounce. Add Super Ciaga to seltzer and you have a natural soda that’s jam packed with antioxidants—from maqui berry, elderberry, blueberry, blackberry and raspberry—and so delicious you won’t miss those nasty sodas, fully sugared or even worse, made with artificial sweeteners.

New Kenzen Super Ciaga  is really a perfect “mixer.” It makes the perfect companion to the following hyperlink:   Kenzen Ten4   Energy Drink  The natural sweetness from the organic mixed superfruit juice concentrate gives the organic matcha green tea a different flavor and double the antioxidant punch! Active Wellness has never been easier to maintain.