Snap Out of Your Sugar Surplus

Sweet on sweets?

For more reasons than cavity prevention, it’s time to tame your sweet tooth once and for all.

In the past 20 years, Americans have more than quadrupled their individual sugar intake. A health survey showed that between 2001 and 2004 the average intake of added sugars for Americans was 22.2 teaspoons a day. That packs 355 calories! But weight gain is not the only health risk sugar poses.

Researchers and health associations such as the American Dietetic Association and the American Diabetic Association say sugar is one of the three major causes of degenerative disease.

Foods that are high in simple sugars raise blood sugar levels quickly. As a result, the pancreas pumps out insulin to bring levels down. This roller coaster fluctuation stresses the body and can depress the immune system. It also causes dramatic mood and energy swings. Meanwhile, an increase in insulin in the blood stream promotes fat storage and paves the way to elevated triglycerides (blood fats). Both of these factors can lead to heart disease.

Control Your Cravings

The American Heart Association (AHA) now recommends men consume no more than 9 teaspoons of added sugar and women consume no more than 6 teaspoons per day. To put this in perspective, one can of regular soda has about 8 teaspoons of sugar. So give soda the boot as your first step in getting your sugar consumption under control.

The AHA stated that “there is strong scientific data linking excess sugar above these limits and an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes.”

Several animal studies also link sugar consumption to high blood pressure, another heart and stroke risk. Other research suggests high sugar intake can lead to cancer, insulin resistance and arthritis.

12 Ways to Kick the Sugar Habit

Studies have found sugar is habit-forming and possibly addictive — both physically and emotionally. While it may not be easy, cutting back on sugar is a smart way to protect your health. Here are some ways to kick the sugar habit:

1. Find out how much sugar you’re actually consuming each day so you know where you need to cut back. Keep track of all the sugars you consume daily, including white bread, pasta or rice, honey, brown rice syrup, fruit juice concentrate and high fructose corn syrup.

2. Choose complex carbohydrates such as whole wheat breads and pasta along with fruits and vegetable rather than refined sugars. Naturally occurring sugars in fruits, milk and plain yogurt don’t seem to have the same unhealthy effect as refined sugars.

3. Bump up fiber intake. Adding fiber to your diet slows the absorption of sugars to prevent unhealthy blood sugar spikes. A great way to increase your fiber intake is with Reliv FibRestore® packed with 10 grams of soluble and insoluble fiber.

4. Eat small meals or snacks throughout the day so your blood sugar stays more even. If blood sugar levels plunge, you’re more likely to crave sugar.

5. Start the day with protein and whole grains to keep you satisfied and prevent sugar cravings.

6. Sweeten foods with spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg to calm your urges for sugar.

7. Give your body adequate vitamins and minerals since nutrient deficiencies can lead to sugar cravings. Reliv Classic® and Reliv Now® provide a full range of essential nutrients in just two shakes a day.

8. Get your energy boost from exercise and enough sleep rather than sugar.

9. Sugar cravings usually last about 10 to 20 minutes. Distract yourself during that time with a walk or some other activity to keep your mind and body busy.

10. Drink more water. We sometimes mistake hunger or cravings for thirst.

11. If your sweet tooth is calling loudly, munch on fruit such as a banana or orange to squelch the craving while stoking up on important nutrients.

12. Substitute the sugar in your coffee or tea with Relivables® All-Natural Sweetener, with zero calories plus fiber.

SOURCES:

• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristin-kirkpatrick-ms-rd-ld/sugar-focus-on-how-it-can_b_777634.html
• http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/sugar.htm
• http://www.newsroom.heart.org/index.php?s=43&item=800
• circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/106/4/523
• timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health/Sugar-has-more-devastating-effects/articleshow/6553416.cms
• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-frank-lipman/sugar-addiction_b_783203.html#s182946

Reliv Classic®

Feel Your Best  through optimal nutrition

When it comes to your body, never settle for less than the best. Isn’t your health worth more than just another multivitamin pill? With a synergistic blend of healthy soy protein, vitamins, minerals, amino acids and select herbs, you can be confident you’re getting the best nutrition available from every scoop of Reliv Classic.

Safe:

Unlike some discount vitamins, Reliv Classic is produced at our facility in the U.S. in near-pharmaceutical manufacturing conditions.

Proven:

The nutritional ingredients in Reliv Classic are backed by 20+ years of proven scientific research.

Effective:

Ingredients undergo stringent purity testing before and after going into Reliv Classic to deliver superior potency in every can.

Classic Beginnings: 

Pioneering microbiologist Dr. Theodore Kalogris (“Dr. Ted”) spent more than a decade developing a special nutritional blend which would become the foundation for Reliv Classic. Soon after Reliv was launched in 1988, renowned food scientist and soy expert Dr. Carl Hastings joined the company and worked with Dr. Ted to fine-tune the formula. The duo produced a bioavailable shake with the most complete balance of herbs, vitamins and amino acids.

After more than 20 years, Reliv Classic remains one of the world’s premier nutritional supplements.

Proven Effective: A daily regimen of Relìv Classic and Innergize!® may help relieve radiation fatigue in cancer patients. View Study     

Product Brochure    View Benefits

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Reliv Now – Product Reviews

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Tammy and Jason Artz of Aberdeen, South Dakota, have seen remarkable health changes in their family because of Reliv Now and other Reliv products. Jason suffered terrible headaches, as well as back and leg pain. Within a month of starting Reliv, his headaches and joint pain improved dramatically. Tammy’s children have had remarkable results as well with attention and behavior challenges. “Within weeks,” Tammy says, “their difficult behaviors greatly improved.” As for Tammy, after five very difficult pregnancies she made Reliv a key part of her prenatal care. She saw her energy levels soar and never once went to the hospital until it was time to deliver. “I didn’t know pregnancy could be like that!”

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The statements contained in this material have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The personal testimonials shared reflect individual experiences of Independent Reliv Distributors and are not necessarily typical of the results you may obtain. Reliv products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Essential Nutrition: Reliv Now® with LunaRich™

Feel Your Best through cutting-edge nutrition

Reliv Now with LunaRich goes beyond a standard multivitamin pill, giving you more of everything your body needs.

Vitamins and Minerals:

Contains more vitamins and minerals than leading multivitamin pills, in an easily absorbable liquid form. You get double the amount of vitamins B and E, and as much as eight times the vitamin C. In addition, Reliv Now delivers higher levels of essential minerals such as copper, zinc and calcium.

Antioxidants:  

Provides many antioxidants not found in popular vitamin brands, including patented Pycnogenol® — one of the most cutting-edge ingredients available today. More than 170 studies have demonstrated Pycnogenol’s ability to fight free radical damage, improve blood circulation and lower blood glucose, among other benefits.

Protein:  

Packs a powerful protein punch. Doctors recommend 50 grams of protein daily, but most multivitamins contain none. Reliv Now gives you 7 grams per serving of the highest-quality, healthy soy protein available.

LunaRich: Super Soy

LunaRich is the most advanced soy powder on the market today — and it’s only available from Reliv. Research shows a naturally occurring soy peptide called lunasin is responsible for many of soy’s remarkable health benefits. Reliv’s exclusive LunaRich soy powder contains five to ten times the bioactive lunasin of ordinary soy powders. LunaRich can improve your heart health by aiding cholesterol management. Cholesterol comes from two sources:dietary intake and our body’s own production in the liver. Over 80% of cholesterol comes from the liver, so the most effective way to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol is to control the liver’s internal production.

LunaRich does so in two ways:

1.  disrupts the production of cholesterol in the liver

2.  improves the liver’s ability to clear LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream

If you’re looking for cutting-edge nutrition, it’s time for Reliv Now.

Proven Effective: Relìv Now® and FibRestore® have been shown to help lower risk factors for cardiovascular disease. View Study ‘Breakthrough’ study supports Pycnogenol’s vascular benefits

Product Brochure   View Benefits    Us vs. Them

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Reliv Now – Product Reviews

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Tammy and Jason Artz of Aberdeen, South Dakota, have seen remarkable health changes in their family because of Reliv Now and other Reliv products. Jason suffered terrible headaches, as well as back and leg pain. Within a month of starting Reliv, his headaches and joint pain improved dramatically. Tammy’s children have had remarkable results as well with attention and behavior challenges. “Within weeks,” Tammy says, “their difficult behaviors greatly improved.” As for Tammy, after five very difficult pregnancies she made Reliv a key part of her prenatal care. She saw her energy levels soar and never once went to the hospital until it was time to deliver. “I didn’t know pregnancy could be like that!”

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Gabrielle Beyer, of Dayton, Ohio, says Reliv Classic® has given her life back to her. “I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia,” she explains, “and for three years, I tried everything to no avail. I was in pain 24/7, couldn’t sleep so I was always fatigued, and I couldn’t focus — I was in a constant fog.” Gabrielle started on Reliv and says she saw results in six weeks: “I began sleeping through the night and experienced great mental clarity — I got my brain back! Four years later, I now work out, lift weights and swim. I can live my life based on what I want to do, not on physical limitations. Reliv has allowed me to be the woman and mother I want to be!”

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For Heather Rogers, of Newburyport, Massachusetts, it has been one “miraculous” year since starting the  Reliv products.

Heather was spending her days on the couch, either sleeping or crying from the pain of a mysterious neurological disorder that doctors couldn’t diagnose. She couldn’t walk, speak clearly or swallow, and she had no use of her hands. “I felt like a burden on my family,” says Heather, a wife and mother of three, who started improving with Reliv’s essential nutrition. “One day, I was strong enough to walk by myself from the couch up to the kitchen. It was a huge moment.”

Today, Heather can do just about anything, including playing baseball with her children and bowling. She was even able to help coach her daughter’s cheerleading squad. Just the year before, my husband had to help me get up and down the bleachers so I could watch,” she says. “As I share my story, I’ve learned that there are a lot of people out there with non-specific neurological disorders. Knowing what I know about this great company and its product, I don’t ever want to see someone sitting on the couch with no hope. I have to share it.”

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Manley Lane, from Bath, Maine, has seen significant improvements with his health since starting on Reliv products two years ago.  “When I was introduced to Reliv, I was suffering from two auto-immune diseases, causing needle-like shocks that radiated throughout my legs,” Manley recalls. “I wound up losing my ability to drive and pretty much was confined to a wheelchair.”

Within three months of starting on Reliv’s essential nutrition, Manley was preaching at his church standing on his feet, rather than sitting in a chair. “The other day, I hiked to a fishing pond with a four-pound pack on my back!” he notes. “I never before realized the importance of great nutrition for our bodies.”

Now Manley has added GlucAffect to his nutrition regimen, and is reporting even more results. “At my annual physical, I weighed five pounds less than the previous year,” he states. “My blood pressure has improved, and my blood sugar has stabilized.  “I now have even more energy and vitality than before!”

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Connie Gray of Austin, Texas, is an emergency room nurse, and she admits she’s a skeptic when it comes to most nutrition products. But when she heard about Reliv, she was intrigued enough to give it a try and to get her husband, Austin Kessler, to join her. Both suffered from ongoing allergies, the kind that often led to flu-like symptoms, sinus infections and bouts of bronchitis. A thyroid condition meant Connie felt cold all of the time. And Austin’s cholesterol levels were troubling.

“After beginning to take Reliv shakes, I felt warmer,” Connie says. “And I’ve felt warm ever since.”  Both got relief from allergies and for the first time in years, Connie’s had neither her annual sinus infection nor missed any work because of bronchitis.  Austin lost weight, started sleeping better and his cholesterol dropped. His triglycerides were down, as well.  Connie counts on a Reliv shake for a pick-me-up during her 12-hour shifts in the ER. “Sometimes I don’t have time to stop and eat,” she says, “so when I feel my blood sugar getting low, I go to my locker and fix a shake.”

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For six years, Cinthya Servín Castillo of Fremont, Nebraska, suffered chronic migraines. Her friend came to visit, “and she saw how bad I was feeling, suffering from my daily migraine,” Cinthya recalls. “She told me that she had started taking Reliv for her own headaches and that they were so much better. I wanted Reliv immediately.”   A month after starting the essential nutrition, Cinthya says her pain had significantly improved. She was also getting relief from other symptoms, including constipation and backaches. But that was just the beginning of her Reliv renaissance. Cinthya also suffered from panic attacks and nervousness, making it difficult to be the kind of wife and mother she wanted to be. “Now my family tells me that I look happier,” she says. “Before, my kids couldn’t be loud around me, and now they can be kids again.”

Cinthya’s sense of well-being was so great that she wanted everyone in her family to try Reliv. “My husband, José Escobar, also suffered from chronic back pain and by day three of taking Reliv, he was noticing a difference.”

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The statements contained in this material have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The personal testimonials shared reflect individual experiences of Independent Reliv Distributors and are not necessarily typical of the results you may obtain. Reliv products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

 

Addressing Allergies and Asthma

Asthma and Allergies: An Increasing Problem

• Nearly 50 million people in the United States suffer from allergies.

• The incidence of in the United States doubled between 1980 and 2000, with nearly 20 million Americans suffering from asthma.

• More than 30 million Europeans suffer from asthma.

• Australia has one of the highest prevalences of allergic disorders in the developed world.

• Asthma, hay fever, chronic sinusitis and “other allergy” comprise four of the top 10 most common long-term self-reported illnesses in youth aged 12-24 years in Australia, and the prevalence is increasing.

• The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) says the most up-to-date research shows a massive increase in the prevalence of allergic disorders in children.

• A World Allergy Organization global study, “State of the World Allergy Report,” shows allergies and asthma have doubled in many countries in Asia, compared to just a few decades ago.

• You’re at increased risk of allergies if you have family members with asthma or allergies such as hay fever, hives or eczema.

• Having one type of allergic condition makes you more likely to be allergic to something else.

Understanding Asthma and Allergies

Allergies are a result of an immune system gone haywire: The immune system mistakes a typically harmless substance for a harmful invader. Your immune system then makes antibodies against the substance, which launches the release of histamines and other chemicals that cause allergic reactions such as sneezing, itchy and watering eyes, runny nose and other miserable symptoms. Allergies also can cause symptoms that involve your skin or digestive system.

Some of the common allergy culprits are pet dander, dyes, detergents, mold and pollen. Some foods,  insect stings and medications can trigger allergies, too.

While asthma and allergies are separate conditions, they’re related. People who have respiratory allergies are more likely to have asthma, and having asthma increases your risk for developing an allergy.

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that causes airway obstruction. Allergies, smoke and air pollution can trigger asthma and cause the airways to become inflamed. As the airway swells, less air flows to the lungs while mucus production increases. This causes symptoms like wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and trouble breathing.

Standard allergy and asthma treatments often include steroids, antihistamines, nasal sprays, prescription medications or allergy shots. But building your defenses through good nutrition is another option.

Tackling Asthma and Allergies Through Nutrition

Findings published in the journal Thorax show low dietary intake of vitamins A and C may increase the risk of developing asthma. At the same time, a new study from Tanta University in Egypt shows a combination of omega-3 essential fatty acids, vitamin C and zinc may improve symptoms of asthma in children. The researchers note that omega-3s and zinc each have anti-inflammatory effects, while Vitamin C, a potent antioxidant, may reduce attacks in the lungs from bacteria, viruses or other sources.

Clearly, supplying your body with optimum nutrition is a key step in keeping your immune system functioning properly to fight the development or symptoms of allergies and asthma.

The anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3s have been shown to benefit the immune system and have a positive effect on allergies as well as asthma. Omega-3s can be found in GlucAffect®, ReversAge®, and Reliv Now® for Kids.

Vitamins A, C, E and zinc, enzymes, garlic and cayenne also have been shown to help strengthen the immune system to reduce allergy symptoms. Reliv Now®, Reliv Classic® and FibRestore® are good sources of all of these nutrients, plus other beneficial herbs and enzymes.

These nutritional products also contain bromelain, an enzyme with anti-inflammatory properties shown to help manage asthma and other allergy responses.

Probiotics offer another option shown to be effective in decreasing allergy development. Probiotics, also called “friendly bacteria,” are live microorganisms similar to beneficial microorganisms found in the human gut. These include Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium. Probiotics stimulate the immune system to help your body protect itself. Good sources of probiotics include SoySentials®, which contains Lactobacillus acidophilus, and ReversAge, which includes both Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus acidophilus.

High fiber diets also encourage probiotic growth in the digestive tract. FibRestore is loaded with 10 grams of soluble and insoluble fiber per serving, providing a third of the recommended daily amount.

A Note from Dr. Carl Hastings: Add Nutrition to Your Allergy RX

While the change in seasons is a welcome event for most people, millions of allergy sufferers across the globe view the arrival of spring or autumn with trepidation. Runny noses, itchy eyes, congestion and sneezing make it difficult to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine outside.

The incidence of allergies and asthma is on the rise — a clear sign that our immune systems are under siege. While allergy medications do an excellent job of treating the symptoms, they don’t get at the root of the problem. That’s where a quality nutritional regimen can really make a difference.

Numerous clinical studies around the globe have identified a variety of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that can help reduce inflammation associated with allergy and asthma, and support a healthy immune system, which is less likely to “overreact” to environmental allergens.

So this season, when you reach for your allergy medication, consider washing it down with a Reliv shake. Then get out there and enjoy the day!

To Your Health,

Dr. Carl W. Hastings, Reliv Vice Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer

Healthy Bones And Joints

In addition to good nutrition, exercise is a vital part of good health. A regular, active lifestyle reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and high blood pressure, and it helps lower cholesterol and control your weight.

Get Moving for Healthier Joints and Bones

●  Osteoporosis is a condition in which the bones weaken and lose density, becoming thin, brittle, and susceptible to fractures.

●  Exercise can help slow the progress of osteoporosis and build strong bone. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, a program of moderate, regular exercise (three to four times a week) is effective in the prevention and management of osteoporosis.

●  In osteoarthritis, cartilage that normally cushions the joints becomes soft and breaks down, causing bone to rub against bone. The disease most commonly affects hands and weight-bearing joints such as the knees, hips, feet and back.

●  Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term degenerative disease that results from the body attacking its own joint tissue. Symptoms may include morning stiffness, joint pain or tenderness, and swelling of the joints.

●  Regular exercise can improve the symptoms of back and knee problems by increasing muscle strength and flexibility, as well as reduce the excess body weight that can aggravate bone and joint conditions.

●  Exercise is very important if you have arthritis because it keeps the joints flexible; the muscles around the joints strong; bone and cartilage tissue strong and healthy; and reduces pain.

Keep Joints Jumping

Your joints are often the first to remind you that you’re aging. They may become less flexible and more painful. But continuing the right exercises combined with good nutrition can make a significant impact on your joint health — no matter what your age or activity level. Nutritional therapy can also relieve arthritis pain, reduce inflammation and swelling, improve function, and sometimes even repair damage.

Collagen is an essential nutrient in joint health. Collagen is the part of cartilage that gives it shape, flexibility and strength. As we age, we lose the ability to make collagen, which is why we often have stiffness and decreased flexibility in the joints. A key ingredient in Reliv’s Arthaffect® is Arthred®, a patented, predigested collagen powder that aids in manufacturing and repairing connective tissue. A study at Penn State University found collagen hydrolysate improved joint pain, mobility and inflammation in athletes. In addition, vitamin C helps manufacture collagen, a connective tissue protein.

Arthritis causes inflammation around cartilage and joint structures. Several anti-inflammatory ingredients can ease the pain, swelling and stiffness of arthritis. These include Boswellia, a well-known herb used in Eastern medicine to help with arthritic and muscle swelling; Ashwagandha, which reduces inflammation and relieves pain; Borage Oil, a powerful anti-inflammatory; and Bioperine, a unique nutrient that helps the body better absorb and use other nutrients. These ingredients can all be found in Arthaffect.

Another powerful nutrient that helps joint pain is Pycnogenol, which can be found in Reliv Now® and GlucAffect®. A study published in the April 2008 edition of Phytotherapy Research shows Pycnogenol reduced osteoarthritis symptoms by 56 percent over three months. Relief was measured in joint pain, stiffness and physical function. Stiffness was reduced by 53 percent and physical function was improved dramatically. Ankle and foot swelling decreased in 79 percent of people taking Pycnogenol.

More amazingly, the benefits of Pycnogenol continue even after people stop taking it. A study in the August 2008 edition of Phytotherapy Research showed no relapse in symptoms even after Pycnogenol was discontinued for two weeks. This suggests that Pycnogenol’s anti-inflammatory properties may actually help joints recover.

Bone Up on Bone Health

Keeping your bones strong is a lifelong endeavor. A new study from Canada found postmenopausal women receiving a combination of the antioxidants vitamins C and E, along with resistance exercise, didn’t have any bone loss during a six-month period, while women receiving a placebo did experience detrimental bone loss. Another way to strengthen bones is with calcium. The average adult consumes only half the recommended daily intake of 1,000-1,300 mg of calcium each day.

When you’re calcium deficient, your bones weaken, which increases the risk of stress fractures, especially if you run or do other impact activities. Calcium is critical for bone formation and strength, nerve impulse transmission, muscle contraction, blood clotting and blood pressure control.

According to a pooled analysis of study data published in the British Medical Journal, daily supplements that combine vitamin D and calcium significantly reduced fractures by 8 percent and hip fractures by 16 percent. This positive effect benefits both men and women of all ages. The nutrients act synergistically: The calcium supports bone formation and repair while vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium.

Reliv Now® and Reliv Classic® each contain100% of the RDI of calcium and vitamin D.

Nutrition & Exercise: A Winning Combo

By staying active during your “prime,” you’ll be more likely to remain active and healthier as you age. Inactivity starts a domino effect that leads to decreased strength and muscle size, decreased bone mass and density, and less elastic tendons and ligaments. Good nutrition, combined with being active, can delay or even prevent some of these changes.

Reliv products contain high-quality nutrients that work synergistically to provide many benefits for joints and bones. Arthaffect®, for example, helps promote lifelong joint health. The formula combines the best of traditional Eastern herbal therapies with cutting-edge nutrients that have been clinically proven to help repair and rebuild joint tissues.

In addition, FibRestore®, Reliv Classic® and Reliv Now® all contain the enzymes bromelain and papain, which help reduce inflammation, plus a host of antioxidants and other nutrients that benefit joints and bones. And Pynogenol®, found in Reliv Now and GlucAffect®, is showing amazing benefits to joint health thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Reliv products offer the ideal support for active lifestyles. I’m so impressed with the number of people who are getting moving through the Team Reliv initiative. This active lifestyle choice combined with Reliv nutrition makes for a winning combination!

To Your Health,

Dr. Carl W. Hastings, Reliv Vice Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer

Thanks Dr. Carl for another great article!

A Collective Call for Higher Vitamin Intake

In 2002, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) began advising all adults to take multivitamins to help prevent such common chronic illnesses as cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis.

“Most people do not consume an optimal amount of all vitamins by diet alone. It appears prudent for all adults to take vitamin supplements,” according to the JAMA statement. “Recent evidence has shown that suboptimal levels of vitamins, even well above those causing deficiency syndromes, are risk factors for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and osteoporosis. A large proportion of the general population is apparently at increased risk for this reason.”

JAMA’s recommendation that all adults take multivitamins underscores the growing concern that the recommended amounts for many vitamins are set too low.

Getting the 411 on RDI

RDI, or Reference Daily Intake, is a set of nutrient reference values that show adequate intakes for healthy people. The RDI has replaced the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) in the United States and the Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) in Canada.

Experts Weigh In

Many researchers think the RDI, which generally recommends higher nutrient amounts than the old RDA, is still too low and doesn’t reflect current research.

For example, the Independent Vitamin Safety Review Panel (IVSRP), which includes physicians, academics and researchers, says: “Government-sponsored nutrient recommendations, such as the US RDA/RDI, are not keeping pace with recent progress in nutrition research. While current official recommendations for vitamin A, iron, calcium, and some other nutrients are generally adequate, the public has been asked to consume far too little of many other key nutrients. Inadequate intake, and inadequate standards to judge intake, have resulted in widespread nutrient inadequacy, chronic disease and an undernourished but overweight population.”

Citing physician reports and clinical studies, the IVSRP continues: “Clinical and sub-clinical nutrient deficiencies are among the main causes of our society’s greatest healthcare problems. Cancer, cardiovascular disease, mental illness, and other diseases are caused or aggravated by poor nutrient intake.

The good news is that scientific evidence shows that adequately high consumption of nutrients helps prevent these diseases. Raising the RDA/RDI will save lives and improve health.”

Setting a New Standard

The IVSRP called for a new standard called an Optimum Health Requirement, which recommends increases in daily intake of certain nutrients, particularly the B vitamins, vitamins C, D and E, and the minerals magnesium, chromium, selenium and zinc.

“In the past, over-conservative government- sponsored standards have encouraged dietary complacency,” the Panel says. For adequate vitamin and mineral intake, a healthy diet along with the intelligent use of nutritional supplements, is “more than just a good idea; it is essential.”

Vitamin E is a prime example. The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine has established an upper intake level of vitamin E much higher than the current RDI. So what are the benefits of a higher vitamin E intake? Vitamin E functions as a powerful antioxidant and has been shown to aid in anti-inflammatory processes, inhibition of platelet aggregation and immune enhancement.

Physicians are paying attention. Did you know that 72 percent of physicians personally use dietary supplements? Obviously, supplementing with high quality nutrition based on the latest science is an ideal prescription for health.

Nutrition Made Simple

Relìv products are formulated to give you optimal amounts of key nutrients and is loaded with vitamins, minerals, super-powered antioxidants . Together with proper diet and exercise, supplementing with Relìv provides the ideal support for an active, healthy lifestyle.

Reliv’s exclusive LunaRich™ soy powder contains the highest possible levels of lunasin. Numerous studies demonstrate lunasin’s superior support for cancer-preventive effects, cardiovascular health, significant anti-inflammatory properties, anti-aging, and skin health.

Relìv Stands Up for Quality, Safety and Optimal Nutrition

Nutritional supplements were recently in the news, but unfortunately it wasn’t a flattering portrayal. A magazine pinpointed certain ingredients that could be dangerous. It also claimed many supplements were “contaminated” and that the FDA has not inspected supplement factories in China.

Other articles have commented about the levels of nutrients in supplements: Some claim they’re too high to be safe; others claim the potency levels in the product are lower than what is stated. I’d like to address where Relìv stands in the nutrition arena that sets us apart. Let’s start with our manufacturing. Because we own our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, we are able to ensure product purity and potency in every can. We maintain tight quality control start to finish.

Relìv products contain only guaranteed quality ingredients that come from the most reputable suppliers. When ingredients come to our facility, they are quarantined and undergo rigorous testing before they are used. They are tested again at each step in the manufacturing process.

Another Relìv Difference is that we strive for optimal nutrition in our products beyond minimum daily requirements. Optimal nutrition includes standards developed by researchers who have shown that higher levels of key nutrients are essential to good health. We select these nutrients to work synergistically to be the most effective. In fact, many of our products have clinical studies supporting their effectiveness.

Backed by strong science and unwavering ethical standards, you can feel confident in

Relìv products — now and in the future.

To Your Health,
Dr. Carl W. Hastings, Relìv Vice Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer

Thank you Dr. Carl for another great article on nutrition!