Protandim: Combating the Aging Process through Reducing Oxidative Stress

by Michael Hughes

If I were to ask you what acai berries, blueberries or pomegranates have in common, what would you think of?  Likely fruit and that they are rich in antioxidants. We've all seen the marketing campaigns highlighting the value these fruits have in fighting free radicals in our bodies. The trouble with having to focus on food to help our bodies fight off toxins is that you have to consistently consume these foods to dent the damage free radicals to our bodies. Shouldn't our bodies naturally have defenses to battle these free radicals?

To combat against the damage of oxidative stress, activating our own bodies natural defenses is the most effective way to disarm free radicals. Our body is equipped with enzymes that produce antioxidants in order to eliminate these free radicals. But as we age our body produces less of these antioxidants. When free radicals overwhelm the underproduction of antioxidant enzymes, oxidative stress occurs.

Oxidative stress is inevitable in us all. It is caused by the presence of free radicals in the body. We live in a world where free radicals like pollution and radiation surround us, creating oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is linked to many degenerative cellular diseases prevalent in our society.

For years I thought increasing our fruit and vegetable intake was the best option, until I heard about a supplement on the market that has been proven to activate your body's natural defenses and combat free radicals with incredible health benefits.

A member of ours recently exposed me to Protandim, a supplement on the market that has been studied by some of the top universities in the country and is clinically proven to reduce oxidative stress in humans by an average of 40 percent in 30 days.

Protandim is a blend of five potent botanicals that signal the DNA in your body to increase the production of its own natural antioxidant enzymes. These five botanicals together produce a protein called Nrf2 which re-stimulates our body's production of antioxidant fighting enzymes.

After researching more, and going to PubMed and finding peer reviewed studies on this supplement, we have decided to promote Protandim in Gymnazo.  Along with Fluid Muscle Recovery and Performance, we believe in researching and providing the best natural products to our members to continue to promote healthy lifestyles. 

While not currently available on our shelves, depending on the demand, we will look into purchasing en masse. As of right now, there is an exclusive online pricing that provides one month supply of Protandim shipped to your house every month for $40/month. If you would like to purchase this supplement, you can click here.  

On this website you'll see additional products all scientifically proven to reduce oxidative stress in dogs and animals as well as in humans through a topical skin care line. The product that sold us was Protandim, but these other products are excellent as well. 

Our team is happy to answer any questions you may have, and if we don't have an immediate answer, we will find one. We hope you continue to look into this product for yourselves and your loved ones. My wife and I have been taking Protandim for 3 months, and have already seen some positive results from this product like better sleep, less muscle soreness after a workout and more energy in the day. 

5 Quick & Healthy Snacks

By Isabel De Los Rios, 
Certified Nutritionist

Since eating healthy is an absolute must for me (I just wouldn't have it any other way), I really had to come up with some quick and easy snacks that I could grab at any time, especially if my little munchkin didn't let me get to make breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Even if you don't have kids and are just busy, busy, busy all day....here are a few of the healthy snacks I enjoy (most of which can be grabbed with one hand while holding a newborn in the other).

1. Nut Butter and Honey on Ezekiel Bread (or any sprouted grain bread) - Although this would taste better toasted, I can make do with the colder version. I put 1-2 TBSPs of natural peanut butter or almond butter on 1 slice of Sprouted Grain or Spelt bread with ˝ tsp of raw honey. I make 2-3 of these at a time and leave them in the fridge for easy grabbing.

2. Deviled Eggs - These do take a bit of prep time so I have to wait for my husband to come home in the evening to make them. I hard boil 6 eggs. Once cooled, I cut them in half and place all of the cooked yolks in a separate bowl. I add Dijon mustard and olive oil to the yolks and mash them up so they become creamy. I put the creamy mixture back into the center of the egg whites and sprinkle Celtic Sea Salt and Fresh Pepper on top. I keep these in the refrigerator for an easy protein snack.

3. Turkey and Roast Beef Rollup - These are simply just deli turkey breast and roast beef wrapped up in a rollup (I only buy the turkey and roast beef that is fresh and natural, not any of the cold cut supermarket brands with added nitrites and nitrates). I add some mustard to each rollup and keep them all in a container in the fridge. Again, another quick protein snack. These are also great with baby carrots.

4. Frozen Grapes - If you're searching for something sweet, grapes in the freezer are a great way to curb a sweet tooth. I keep a bunch of these in the freezer and snack on them along with some raw nuts. Just a handful of grapes with some walnuts really keeps me full and satisfied until I can get to my next meal. It's also a great "sweet" pick me up (for all those sleep deprived parents and even non-parents out there).

5. Bag of Trail Mix - I absolutely do not go anywhere without my bag of trail mix. Right now I have almonds, walnuts, brazil nuts, dried apricots and raisins all in a bag with a touch of Celtic Sea Salt added. Yesterday I took my little guy to the pediatrician and we were there for what seemed to be hours! Thank goodness for my trail mix, otherwise I probably would have cried more than the baby did.

Now that you're all set up with some yummy snacks...

3 Myths About Coconut Oil

By Isabel De Los Rios, 
Certified Nutritionist

There is an incredible thing that happens when you lose weight and finally get your health in order (I'm not talking about buying a new bikini)...Everyone wants to know how you did it. Am I right?

This is exactly what has happened to my mom. Last year she lost 40 pounds and was able to stop taking her blood pressure and cholesterol medications just by using the principles in The Diet Solution (I haven't asked her about the bikini).

Now, even a year later, all of her friends are constantly calling her to ask their nutrition and health questions. Funny thing, they never want to talk to me, they only want to talk to her!

Last week my mom called me and needed a bit of help. "Isabel, I tried to tell one of the ladies at the YMCA where I exercise that she should use coconut oil to cook and she nearly fell off the exercise machine. I think she thought I was trying to kill her. She said her doctor told her to stop eating all saturated fat and that oils like coconut oil are fattening. How do I explain to her that it's actually good for her?"

This same scenario happens to me all the time. People have a really hard time believing that coconut oil is not "fattening" or "dangerous". We have all been falsely led to believe that fat, especially saturated fat, is the cause of our weight gain and health problems. This is only true half true. Some fats like hydrogenated oils and vegetable oils do contribute to heart disease and weight gain, but good fats like coconut oil, butter and olive oil are actually great fats for our bodies. Think about how much healthier people were in the late 1800's and very early 1900's. Heart disease was almost unheard of back then.

Let's put some of these MYTHS about coconut oil to rest right now.

Myth #1 - Coconut Oil contains a lot of fat so it must be fattening.

Truth - Not all fat makes you fat (I want to get this tattooed on my forehead). Certain fats do cause weight gain, but other good fats will actually burn unwanted fat off your body and accelerate your metabolism. I explain this in much more detail in the FATS Chapter of The Diet Solution Program so be sure to reference your manual for those details.

Myth #2 - Coconut Oil contains almost all saturated fat so it must be bad for you.

Truth - Saturated Fat is not the cause of heart disease, weight gain and high cholesterol. Saturated Fat has been falsely accused and it is SUGAR that is Enemy Numero Uno (It is worse than the Joker in Bat Man). Again, this is explained thoroughly in your manual (The Truth About Saturated Fat), stating facts and figures that prove saturated fat is really not our major problem.

Myth #3 - Coconut Oil should be avoided by those who are at risk for heart disease .

Truth - The fat in coconut oil is one of the healthiest oils you can consume (yes, even for those with heart disease). It is rich in lauric acid, which is known for its antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties and contains no trans fat. The saturated fat in coconut oil is different than many other oils in that it is of the medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) variety. The body digests MCFAs more easily and sends these fats directly to the liver where they are immediately converted into energy. Now isn't that great? A fat that is used to make energy instead of storing it on our bodies. We can all use some of that.

I highly recommend everyone use unrefined, organic coconut oil for all of their cooking needs. 1 - 2 tsps for most cooking is more than enough. You can even use it raw if you like as I think, it tastes OH SO DELICIOUS! I usually have about 2-3 total TBSPs per day which is a perfect amount for a fat burning eating plan. While it's really good for you, there's no need to go overboard.

If you have a hard time finding coconut oil in your local supermarket, I buy mine here:

http://nutiva.net

Now go right ahead and enjoy your coconut oil.

What Kind of Cheese is Healthy?

By Isabel De Los Rios, Certified Nutritionist

So do you know which "cheesy" parts of this meal were healthy or not? Let's take a look at the anatomy of cheese and figure out exactly where cheese can fit into our healthy eating plan.

What kind of fat is in cheese?

The kind of fat in a particular cheese will be completely dependent on the source of that cheese. Just as the quality of our milk is only as good as the cow it came from, the same rule goes for cheese.

As many of you have read in the "Dairy" chapter of the Diet Solution Program, cows were really meant to be fed grass and be raised in free roaming pastures. Unfortunately, that is not the case with many milk manufacturers and cow farmers. It is much cheaper and much easier for them to feed their cows grains (a very unnatural source of food for cows) and raise them in extremely tight quarters (again, not how they would really live in nature) than give them the nourishment and enough land to grow the way nature intended. As a result many cows become extremely ill and require antibiotics in order to stay alive. These antibiotics that are now in the blood stream of the cows end up in our milk, cheese and yogurt (not to mention our beef) and are extremely detrimental to our health.

To make matters even worse, many cows are given growth hormones to speed up their growth and development (farmers are thinking they gotta make the most money from each cow right?). Not only do the growth hormones also make for some pretty sick cows but the actual hormones also get into our foods and cause a lot of health problems in our own bodies (and the bodies of our little children).

Oh boy Isabel. You are so depressing sometimes!

Don't worry. There's good news. Fortunately for us Organic Milk and Cheese has now become more readily available than ever before. This means we are able to purchase our favorite foods without the added antibiotics and hormones that are in conventional dairy products by choosing organic products.

Hold on, before another organic rant, let me get back to the question at hand: What kind of fat is in cheese?

Conventional cheese from poorly raised cows is very high in Omega 6 Fats. Again, remembering back to the "Fats" chapter in The Diet Solution, we want to reduce the amount of Omega 6's in our diets and consistently keep increasing the amount of Omega 3's in our diets. Cheese that is made from the milk of grass fed, free roaming cows (without antibiotics and growth hormones of course) is much higher in Omega 3 fats and conjugated linoleic acid (conjugated what?). CLA, as it is often referred to, is an extremely healthy fat that has been found to be a potent cancer fighter. The most abundant source of natural CLA is the meat and dairy products of grassfed animals. Research conducted since 1999 shows that grazing animals have from 3-5 times more CLA than animals fattened on grain in a feedlot. Simply switching from grainfed to grassfed products can greatly increase your intake of CLA.

So... Is the fat in cheese of the good kind or bad kind? As you can see, that greatly depends on the source of your cheese. Conventional, non-organic cheese can be quite high in bad fat and laden with antibiotics and hormones and really should NOT be included in our meal plans where as grass fed, organic cheese can be a wonderful and tasty addition to your healthy meal plans.

Also remember that raw dairy is always a better option than pasteurized dairy. Raw milk may be extremely difficult to find in many states but raw cheese can be found at most grocery stores and health food stores all over the world. I order our raw cheese online from http://grasslandmeats.com or buy it at the small organic health food store near our home. If you have never had raw cheese before, you are going to be absolutely amazed by the delicious taste. Raw cheese is so much more flavorful than any conventional cheese and makes all the difference in the world especially when used in recipes.

Certain cheeses should be avoided at all costs. Never and I mean never eat cheese out of a can (Does that even sound normal?) Also, American Cheese out of plastic wrapping is another big No-No. It's not even a "real" type of cheese and the fact that it's wrapped in plastic is quite scary to say the least.

Is cheese a fat or a protein?

Where as many nutrition plans count cheese as a protein, I count it as a fat option in The Diet Solution Program. That is because I do not feel that the protein content in cheese is high enough to qualify it as a full protein. With that being said, cheese does have a significant amount of protein, but for blood sugar balancing purposes, it just may not be enough for some. This is where the "listen to your body" tactic really comes into play. Some people can have 2 ounces of cheddar cheese and a small apple as a snack and feel great where as others may have this same snack and feel lethargic and sleepy just 30 minutes later. Let your body tell you if this would be a healthy option for you.

Let's remember that portion control comes into effect with just about everything and 1-2 ounces of cheese (1 oz is about the size of a domino) can go a really long way in any meal (No, not the whole block. That's way too much at once.)

Here are some great ways to add cheese into your healthy weight loss meal plans:

1. Sprinkle some shredded cheese on top of your morning vegetable omelet.
2. Combine cheese with an apple or pear and some raw nuts as a great 3pm pick me up.
3. Melt cheese over vegetables to get your whole family to eat their "veggies"

Remember, it only takes a small amount of cheese to add that extra flavor to most meals and recipes. There is no need to drown your salad, veggies, omelet, or meat in gobs and gobs of cheese. There is a healthy way to have your cheese and eat it too.

Can You Sleep Fat Away?

by Isabel De Los Rios, Certified Nutritionist

Ever wake up in the morning and wish you could sleep just a bit more?

Let me tell you about a friend's wedding I went to in Wichita Kansas. If you have ever attended an "out of town" wedding you know it's jam packed with events: lunches, dinners, late night celebrations. Don't get me wrong, I had a great time but I was SO tired and SO sleep deprived and it actually hurt. It really hurt.

The worst part of all, is after just 1 day of sleep deprivation I started reaching for chocolate and sweets for a quick pick me up. (Oh yeah, now you can relate.)

How does sleep (or sleep deprivation) affect your weight loss efforts? Believe it or not, the impact is huge!

Here are just a few reasons why sleeping may be the missing link to your weight loss efforts:

1. When you're tired, it is so much harder to make healthy choices. I'm not sure if this is more about psychology or physiology or a combination of both. However, I know I have experienced it firsthand. When I get a good night's sleep, sticking to my regular exercise and healthy eating routine is a cinch. But when I'm sleep deprived, I somehow think that chocolate and sugar will make me feel better. The truth is, it never does! It actually makes me feel worse. Much worse, because the blood sugar highs and lows makes me more tired and cranky than before I ate the sweets. (Nothing is worse than a cranky Isabel. Well, maybe cranky Michael is worse, but who am I to say?).

2. Now for some science. Researchers from several separate studies have found a link between sleep and the hormones that influence our eating behavior. Two specific hormones are involved. Ghrelin is responsible for feelings of hunger. Leptin tells the brain when it's time to stop. When you're sleep deprived, your ghrelin levels increase at the same time that your leptin levels decrease. The result is an increased craving for food and not feeling full (a hormone disaster as far as staying on track with a healthy eating plan). Nothing is worse than craving food and being hungry at the same time.

3. Many people don't know this, but your body adjusts itself based on your circadian rhythms and the amount of sunlight outside. Without getting too deep into the science, these rhythms and light tell your body to physically recover approximately between the hours of 10pm-2am and to mentally recover approximately between 2am-6am. If you aren't getting to bed until 12am, you are missing out on 2 crucial hours of physical repair. This can result in all sorts of aches and pains that do not get better, no matter what you try. I have seen clients relieve bad backs and aching joints by just getting to bed by 10pm. I have even seen people get smarter by sleeping til 6am (ok, I made this last statement up, but wouldn't that be great?). All kidding aside, I have seen people act consistently sharper when they are well rested.

How are you going to get a good night's sleep to ensure you are not sabotaging your weight loss efforts?

Here are a few tips for getting a good night's sleep:

1. Don't watch TV before bed. You may not realize how fired up the news or your favorite TV show gets you before bed time. Instead grab a book or your favorite magazine and read in bed. This works wonders, especially a good fiction book that will help you forget the day's events.

2. Cut your caffeine intake early in the day. An afternoon coffee or tea can still be racing through your blood stream at 10pm. Cut out your last caffeinated beverage by noon. This includes all coffee and teas (except herbal teas). Once you catch up on your sleep, you won't be so dependent on your afternoon java kick.

3. Avoid sugar before bed. (You were avoiding sugar anyway right?) Consuming sugar right before bed leads to a blood sugar roller coaster ride, potentially waking you up in the middle of the night due to a blood sugar low.

4. Put your work away before bed. There is nothing worse than a racing mind before bed. Crunching numbers and reading work documents right before bed may lead to dreams about work (or nightmares). End all work at least 2 hours before bed. If this is not possible for you, you may need to reassess your work schedule a bit.

Whatever the adjustments are for you, remember, sleep may just be the missing link in your nutrition, exercise and health regimen. Stick to your Diet Solution Meal Plans and tuck yourself in at 10pm each night.

Health Tip: Carry Salt With You!

People are always so shocked when I break out my salt shaker from my purse (like Mary Poppins and her umbrella and coat rack). You see, I absolutely love salt and I put it on everything, so I make sure to have it on hand all the time.

Before you start lecturing me about high blood pressure and how unhealthy salting my food is, I'm going to let you in on a little secret: Salt is good for you! Woohoo, salt it up baby!

People freak out on me when they see how much salt I use and then freak out even more when I tell them they MUST have salt as part of their healthy eating plan.

Here are the real facts (not to mention good news for saltaholics everywhere).

The human body cannot survive without salt (which is why you get a saline drip when you are in the hospital). Sodium is an essential nutrient that your body can't manufacture on its own, therefore it must be consumed.

Here's the probleml. Most people are eating the wrong kind of salt. The only way to receive all the benefits of salt is to eat unrefined sea salt, NOT processed table salt.

The reason why salt has gotten such a bad reputation is because 99% of the world's salt research has been done on commercial table salt, the only salt most people know about (which is bad, bad, bad). Some of the best scientific research on the healthy properties of unrefined sea salt are written in French, German and Portuguese and many Americans have not been exposed to them (until now, right?).

Well, not anymore. Unrefined sea salt has worked its magic in hundreds of my clients, and, not to mention, ME.

When you consider that sea salt aids in balancing blood sugar levels, is needed for the absorption of food particles through the intestinal tract, can help prevent muscle cramps, is needed to make bones strong, regulates and normalizes blood pressure, increases energy levels, helps regulate the metabolism, helps maintain proper electrolyte balance, and supports the immune system, how could you not use it?

What salt should you buy?

Look for unprocessed, unrefined sea salt. My favorite brands are Celtic Sea Salt, Redmond's Real Salt and Himalayan Sea Salt (but any unprocessed, unrefined brand is great - be careful though, if it doesn't mention unprocessed & unrefined, assume it is not).

These salts can be found on these great websites:

www.celticseas.com and www.truefoodsmkt.com (Look for Mineral Rich Salts)

Oh, and of course, avoid refined white table salt at all costs (unless you want high blood pressure for some reason). This is the kind of salt we want to avoid like the plague.

So the next time someone tells you to take it easy on the salt, tell them "Salt it up, baby. It's good for you and you're really missing out."

In health and happiness,


Isabel De Los Rios
Certified Nutritionist
Certified Exercise Specialist