Juice Wars: What’s In Your Glass?

Who doesn’t enjoy a tall, cool glass of juice? The color
is vibrant, the taste sweet, and it’s good for you, too. Not so fast, say some
dieticians. Although the best kinds of juice deliver a bounty of vitamins, the
worst are hardly better than liquid candy. WebMD helps you spot the difference.

Best Choice: Vegetable Juice

Drinking your veggies is a convenient way to add powerful
plant-based nutrients to your diet. The lycopene in tomato juice appears to
lower the risk of prostate cancer. Beet juice may reduce blood pressure. Pulpy
vegetable juice is also packed with fiber that can help control hunger. And all
of these benefits come without a catch. Vegetable juice has far less sugar and
fewer calories than the typical fruit juice.

Worst Choice: Juice “Cocktails”

Be on alert for the terms juice cocktail, juice-flavored beverage, or juice drink. Most of these
products contain only small amounts of real juice. The main ingredients are
usually water and some type of sugar, such as high-fructose corn syrup.
Nutritionally, these drinks are similar to most soft drinks — rich in sugar and
calories, but low in nutrients. Research suggests that sugary fruit drinks put
kids at risk for obesity and related health problems.

The 100% Fruit Juice Dilemma

What about pure fruit juice with no added sweeteners?
Such an innocent-sounding drink has sparked endless debate. No one disputes the
fact that real fruit juice is loaded with vitamins and disease-fighting
antioxidants. The problem is juice can also be naturally high in sugar and
calories. A cup of pure apple juice can have as much sugar as some candy bars.
That’s why many experts recommend sticking to one serving per day.

Good Choice: Pomegranate Juice

If you’re only going to drink one glass of juice each
day, you want to make it a good one. So let’s explore which juices offer the
biggest nutritional payoff per sip. Pomegranate juice tops the list. It’s high
in sugar and calories, but delivers an abundant dose of antioxidants. These
substances appear to protect brain function and may ward off cancer. In one
study, 8 ounces of pomegranate juice daily reduced the recurrence of prostate
cancer.

Good Choice: Cranberry Juice

Cranberry juice is packed with vitamin C, which is vital
to a healthy immune system. There is also evidence to support a folk remedy —
drink unsweetened cranberry juice to reduce your risk of urinary tract
infections.

Good Choice: Blueberry Juice

Substances in blueberries may help keep the brain
healthy. In a small study, researchers looked at the effect of blueberry juice
on memory in adults in their seventies who had age-related memory decline.
Those who drank 2 1/2 cups of blueberry juice for 12 weeks had significant
improvement on learning and memory tests compared to those who drank a
non-juice beverage. So choose blueberry juice to boost brain health.

Good Choice: Acai Berry Juice

Researchers have only begun looking into the health
benefits of acai juice, which is made from a berry found in South
America. But early studies are promising. Acai pulp appears to
have a higher concentration of antioxidants than cranberries, blackberries,
strawberries, or blueberries.

Good Choice: Cherry Juice

Besides delivering a wealth of antioxidants, some berry
juices appear to have anti-inflammatory properties. According to one study,
drinking cherry juice before and after your work-out can reduce
exercise-induced muscle pain.

Good Choice: Prune Juice

Another viable folk remedy, prune juice has long been
recommended to relieve constipation. It works because it’s extremely high in
fiber and contains a natural laxative called sorbitol. But the benefits of prune
juice don’t stop there. The juice is also packed with antioxidants, iron, and
potassium.

What About Orange
Juice?

It’s a staple at breakfast, but does this popular juice
carry its weight? The good news is orange juice is loaded with vitamin C, a
star for its immune-boosting benefits. In addition, orange juice is often
fortified with calcium and vitamin D, nutrients that strengthen the bones.
Unsweetened orange juice has fewer calories than some berry juices or grape
juice. The trade-off is that it also has fewer antioxidants overall.

Kids and Juice

Most children love juice, but the AmericanAcademy
of Pediatrics has set clear guidelines on how much is too much. For kids
younger than 6, the AAP recommends no more than 4 to 6 ounces of pure fruit
juice per day. For ages 7 to 18, the suggested amount is 8 to 12 ounces.

Water It Down

If you or your kids crave more than a single cup of juice
per day, try watering it down. By mixing water and juice, you slash the
calories in every serving. Instead of drinking one glass of pure juice, you can
enjoy two or three cups of the water-juice mixture throughout the day.

Go for Whole Fruit

Dieticians say a great alternative to guzzling fruit
juice is to eat the whole fruit. This provides fiber and additional nutrients
from the flesh and pulp. Unlike juice, fresh berries or orange wedges also help
control hunger.

(webMD reprint)

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Calories in Drinks and Popular Beverages

Beverage	Serving Size	Calories
Soda	12 ounces	124-189
Diet soda	12 ounces	0-7
Bottled sweet tea	12 ounces	129-143
Brewed tea, unsweet	12 ounces	4
Orange juice, unsweetened	12 ounces	157-168
Apple juice, unsweetened	12 ounces	169-175
Tomato/Vegetable juice	12 ounces	80
Cranberry juice cocktail	12 ounces	205
Whole Milk	12 ounces	220
2% low-fat milk	12 ounces	183
1% low-fat milk	12 ounces	154
Nonfat milk	12 ounces	125
Soy milk	12 ounces	147-191
Coffee, black	12 ounces	0-4
Coffee with cream (2 tablespoons half and half)	12 ounces	39-43
Coffee with whipped cream (2 tablespoons from can)	12 ounces	15-19
Coffee with heavy whipping cream (2 tablespoons)	12 ounces	104-108
Caffe Latte, whole milk (Starbucks)	12 ounces	200
Caffe Latte, nonfat (Starbucks)	12 ounces	120
Sports drink (like Gatorade)	12 ounces	94
Energy drink (like Red Bull)	12 ounces	160
Beer	12 ounces	153
Red wine	5 ounces	125
White wine	5 ounces	122
Hard liquor (vodka, rum, whiskey, gin; 80 proof)	1.5 ounces	96

Chocolate is the Answer. The question is irrelevant.

Heart Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate:
Dark chocolate is good for your heart. A small bar of it everyday can help keep your heart and cardiovascular system running well. Two heart health benefits of dark chocolate are:
•Lower Blood Pressure: Studies have shown that consuming a small bar of dark chocolate everyday can reduce blood pressure in individuals with high blood pressure.
•Lower Cholesterol: Dark chocolate has also been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) by up to 10 percent.
Other Benefits of Dark Chocolate:
Chocolate also holds benefits apart from protecting your heart:
•it tastes good
•it stimulates endorphin production, which gives a feeling of pleasure
•it contains serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant
•it contains theobromine, caffeine and other substances which are stimulants

Why is Dark Chocolate Healthy?:
Chocolate is made from plants, which means it contains many of the health benefits of dark vegetables. These benefits are from flavonoids, which act as antioxidants. Antioxidants protect the body from aging caused by free radicals, which can cause damage that leads to heart disease. Dark chocolate contains a large number of antioxidants (nearly 8 times the number found in strawberries). Flavonoids also help relax blood pressure through the production of nitric oxide, and balance certain hormones in the body.
Health Benefits of Chocolate
By Mark Stibich, Ph.D., About.com Guide

Eat like your life depends on it

Heart & Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular disease (heart disease, diseases of the blood vessels and stroke) accounts for the death of more Canadians than any other disease (1). Every 7 minutes in Canada, someone dies from heart disease or stroke. Blood vessels around the heart deliver essential nutrients and oxygen to the heart muscle. Over time, factors can affect a change on the interior of these vessels, roughing the surfaces, encouraging clotting and creating a porridge-like plaque to form.The build-up of this plaque narrows the passage way for blood, restricting the amount of oxygen and nutrients that can be delivered and the amount of cellular waste that can be removed. The narrowed vessels lose their natural elasticity and become hardened. This is commonly referred to as Atherosclerosis, or “hardening of the arteries”. According to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada risk factors for heart disease are: smoking, alcohol, physical inactivity, obesity, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and diabetes.The Cholesterol ConcernAmbulances cause accidents Every time your commute is slowed to a crawl on the expressway, you will commonly see a crumbled vehicle or two, a tow-truck, police cruiser and as an inevitable result of the 911 call, an ambulance on scene. So, one could assume that, since they are always at the scene, ambulances cause accidents. It seems an absurd notion to those of us in the know, yet this is the same logic used to conclude that cholesterol is the cause of heart disease. Chicken or egg? If disease prevention is your primary objective then the question you need to ask is, “What comes first?” In the body everything is inter-connected. A domino cannot fall without creating a cascade of actions and re-actions so rather than chasing symptoms like a chicken with your head cut off, the ultimate goal should always be to discover which came first. Cholesterol is manufactured by the human liver as an anti-oxidant. Your body will go to great lengths to regulate the amount of cholesterol contained within (which is why cutting dietary cholesterol is often ineffective at lowering blood cholesterol levels.) If your blood cholesterol levels are high then you are likely suffering from some degree of oxidative or “free-radical” damage in the body (2). Free radicals can instigate cellular mutation and lesions in the smooth muscle of arterial vessels (3) and like the ambulance that shows up at the accident to help the injured, cholesterol arrives at the site of the arterial damage, to form an internal type of band-aid over the wound. The notion that elevated cholesterol alone increases our morbidity from heart disease is misleading. After following almost 5,000 Canadian men for 12 years, Dr. Gilles Dagenais and his team, based in Quebec, were unable to find an associated risk between elevated cholesterol and atherosclerosis (4). A distinction needs to be made between Risk Factor and Cause. Elevated cholesterol should not be seen as a danger in and of itself, but rather as a marker for some underlying issue. By addressing the root cause you can positively change the course of your heart health. Factors to Consider  Smoking, alcohol, excess caffeine, chemical food additives, petrochemicals, heavy metals, environmental pollution and consumption of rancid fats can create free radical damage in blood vessels (5). Like a car that sits outside all winter, the exposed metal begins to roughen and rust. When this occurs in blood vessels, the smooth membrane becomes rough and clotting factors, minerals and cholesterol form a patch over the damaged area. This patch can increase in size like a runaway snowball until the passage way for blood flow becomes completely restricted, or the “patch” breaks off and becomes a clot in another area of the vessel (6). In a study conducted at the Evans Department of Clinical Research and the Cardiovascular Institute in Boston, Dr. Dieter Kramsch and his colleagues studied over 2 dozen wild rhesus monkeys, divided into 3 control groups (7). Two groups were fed a diet of high cholesterol fodder while the third group was fed regularly. Blood cholesterol levels became increasingly elevated in both groups eating a high-fat diet, however only the group kept sedentary and confined to their cages developed atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. The group allowed to exercise regularly had no signs of hardened arteries or CVD, in spite of their high fat consumption. High Blood Pressure (hypertension) affects 1 in 5 Canadians yet 42 percent of those with the condition do not realize because there are no outward symptoms. Blood pressure can rise as arterial vessels begin to lose elasticity and harden. Hypertension stresses the heart muscle and over time the heart can become weakened and enlarged. Weakened blood vessels begin to form saclike bulges that can rupture and cause stroke. In the body, the breakdown of an amino acid called Methionine produces another toxic amino acid (or protein constituent) called Homocysteine. When nutrition is optimal the body is able to easily neutralize and eliminate this by-product. However, if the raw materials to complete this task are not present, Homocysteine can build up in the blood. Several studies suggest that elevated Homocysteine levels are associated with increased risk of vascular disease and atherosclerosis. (8) Diabetes is a disease whereby the pancreas does not produce enough insulin and/or the cells do not respond to insulin, making glucose (sugar) in the blood unusable as an energy source, leading to harmful excess. Uncontrolled Diabetes is associated with many heart harming risks including; elevated cholesterol and blood fats, acceleration of atherosclerosis, damage to the heart, capillaries and arteries. The Public Health Agency of Canada states that heart disease will kill 80 percent of those currently living with Diabetes. Signs & Symptoms There are many subtle warning signs that can indicate diminished blood flow long before a heart attack or stroke. When minor indicators present themselves, taking corrective action can stop and even reverse degeneration. Key success factors are self-awareness and a proactive approach. The following is a list of indicators that could be associated with other health concerns but can also be the result of diminished blood flow and arterial degeneration: Cold sensation in fingers and/or toes Limbs often “fall asleep”, feel numb or heavy Cramping in hands when writing Sharp, diagonal crease across earlobe Cramping or pain in legs after minimal exertion Diminished memory Persistent, nagging cough Ankles swell late in the day Urinating more than twice per night Hypertension Chest pain after physical exertion or emotional stress Erectile dysfunction in men Conventional Treatment Conventional medical treatment will vary depending on the severity of the symptoms and condition presented. Diet and lifestyle recommendations can include; regular physical activity, smoking cessation, reduction of dietary fats in particular saturated and trans-fats. A progressive physician or dietician may recommend increasing dietary fibre and eating fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids regularly. Dietary Recommendations The issue of heart disease is complex and without a single solution but one factor that everyone   can agree upon is that diet plays a tremendous role. This is wonderful news,   considering everyone has 100% control over what they decide to put into their   body and when matters of the heart are on the line, it is always a good idea   to eat like your life depends on it. Water – “is the medium for all bodily fluids including blood” (9) and an important factor in blood pressure regulation and blood “stickiness”. Chlorine and fluoride added to tap water can have detrimental effects on the blood vessels and bodily cells (10) so choosing a filter to remove these chemicals, reverse osmosis water and distilled water are your best options (11). Your body weight in pounds, divided in two is the number of ounces of water you need to drink daily for optimal hydration. Hot climates, high altitudes and physical activity increase your need for water. If in doubt, the wetter the better as your experience of thirst is not a good indicator of optimal hydration. (12) Carbohydrates – rich in fibre and in their natural state are the best options for heart health. This means choosing oats instead of processed cereals for breakfast, whole grain brown rice instead of bread and pasta for dinner, eating a piece of fruit instead of drinking a glass of juice. Whole foods will have a more moderate impact on your blood sugar, keeping it steady and stable rather than way up or way down. These wild fluctuations can lead to Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes, two risk factors for heart disease (13). Protein – and its building blocks amino acids are essential for many vital functions in the body including, repair of muscle tissue (including the smooth muscle of arterial vessels) and production of healthy blood cells. Certain animal proteins such as beef, pork and mutton are higher in saturated fat and for this reason leaner meats such as chicken and turkey breast have become favoured over the past few decades. Oily fish rich in heart healthy omega-3 fats are also a popular choice. Eggs, nature’s “perfect protein” are also our richest source of dietary cholesterol. Although it has been common practise to advise patients with elevated blood cholesterol to avoid egg consumption, a multitude of studies have proven that the intake of cholesterol-rich foods has almost no bearing on blood cholesterol levels (14). The body naturally produces cholesterol and when dietary intake increases, natural production in the body decreases to regulate the total amount. Conversely, when you stop eating cholesterol rich foods your cells increase production to make up for the lack (15). Essential Fatty Acids – particularly Omega 3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) found in fatty fish, are essential to heart health. Regular consumption of this important fat has been shown to reduce all-cause mortality in men who have already suffered one heart attack and cut the risk of stroke by up to 50 percent. (16,17) This may be attributed to the properties in fish oil that reduce the “stickiness” of blood, decreasing the risk of clotting, favourable impact on inflammation, blood pressure and blood vessel integrity. (18,19,20) Sodium – Countless studies have demonstrated a link between excessive salt intake and hypertension. The Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada estimates that most Canadians are consuming two to three times the recommended daily maximum of 2,300mg or 1 teaspoon. An estimated 80% of the salt consumed in the average Canadian diet is from processed, pre-packaged, frozen, canned and store-bought foods (21). Keep the spice rack fully stocked as a variety of natural herbs and spices will keep food flavourful while avoiding the sodium over-load.Trade in nutrient-dead processed food for nutrient-dense ingredients as adequate mineral intake (such as calcium and magnesium from fresh fruits and veggies) have been shown to decrease salt sensitivity in both healthy and hypertensive populations (22,23). Therapeutic Supplementation When provided with the proper raw materials in therapeutic amounts the human body has a remarkable ability to heal, cleanse and repair damaged vessels. The following key nutrients are required by the body to achieve an “arterial cleansing” effect. (31) Vitamin A – Enhances immunity by promoting the increased production of T-cells and antibodies. Increases the utilization of the anti-oxidant selenium. Protects epithelial cells and mucous membranes. 22,000 – 40,000IU/daily Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) – Facilitates the removal of lead from tissues. Required for health of heart tissue. 66 – 200mg/daily Niacin – Helps to dilate or enlarge blood vessels. Helps the body eliminate excess cholesterol. 44 – 70mg/daily Pantothenic Acid – Necessary for the production of healthy antibodies. 330-550mg/daily Vitamin B6 – Helps prevent the amino acid methionine from breaking down into homocystine. 50-150mg/daily Folic Acid – Facilitates the removal of excess homocysteine in the blood. 0.04 – 2.2mg/daily Vitamin B12 – Works synergistically with Folic Acid to facilitate the removal of excess homocysteine in the blood. 160 – 550mcg/daily Choline – Emulsifies fats, keeping them in solution in the blood, preventing them from plugging up in narrowed arteries. Helps prevent blood fats from sticking together. Burns fat in the liver. 440-725mg/daily Inositol – A general relaxant. 40-55mg/daily Vitamin C – A powerful anti-oxidant and chelating agent. Protects against heavy toxicity and keeps them in solution so they can be eliminated via the urine. Stimulates the production of lipoprotein lipase (LPL). 4,000-4,400mg/daily Vitamin E – A powerful anti-oxidant that protects against free radicals. Dissolves clots in the bloodstream and helps to prevent clots from forming. Increases the rate at which collateral blood vessels develop around damaged areas. Assist in normalizing viscosity of blood. Helps to prevent platelets from sticking together. 600-650IU/daily Chromium – A trace mineral essential to the proper metabolism of lipids and sugar. Helps lower serum triglycerides and cholesterol. Magnesium – Helps to keep calcium in solution so that it cannot adhere to artery walls. Helps to regulate heart beat. Counteracts the build up of aluminum in the body. 400-555mg/daily Potassium – Helps to normalize blood pressure and regulate heart rhythm. 400-444mg/daily Zinc – A free radical inhibitor. Helps the body utilize Vitamin A. 25-33mg/daily Selenium – Incredibly potent antioxidant. Enhances antioxidant capacity of Vitamin E. Counteracts mercury build up in the body. Helps to normalize blood pressure. 200-330mcg/daily l-Cysteine Hydrochloride – An amino acid that acts as a chelating agent in the excretion of lead from tissues. Assists in the termination of free radicals. 600-1,000mg/daily dl-Methionine – An amino acid that helps detoxify the body and emulsify fats. A chelating agent and free radical scavenger. 160-550mg/daily Thymus Glandular Concentrate – Glandular tissue that supports thymus function, supports immunity and helps the body overcome free radical activity. 55-100mg/daily Healing Herbs “Cinnamon has a long history of use in both Eastern and Western Cultures as medicine.” (24) Scientific studies have supported the use of cinnamon as a sedative for smooth muscle (like the muscle found in the middle layer of arterial vessels) and circulatory stimulant. A study examining 60 patients with Type II Diabetes for 40 days revealed that consuming 1 to 6 grams of cinnamon daily reduced fasting blood glucose by up to 29 percent, triglycerides by up to 30 percent, LDL cholesterol by up to 27 percent and total cholesterol by up to 26 percent. (25) Bitter Melon – (Momordica charantia), member of the gourd family of fruit, has green skin and appears something like an ugly, bumpy cucumber. Beneath its unattractive exterior is a white flesh and loosely packed seeds with serrated edges. One of the most popular fruits in South East Asia, Bitter Melon has a long history of medicinal use in both Ayurvedic Healing and Traditional Chinese Medicine. In fact, Bitter Melon has a potent healing capacity that has been scientifically proven to work as well as pharmaceutical drugs for some diabetic patients (26). The health benefits of Bitter Melon are derived from the insulin-like compounds contained in the juice of the fruit which have an exceptional capacity to lower blood-sugar levels without the side effects of insulin, even when consumed in small amounts. Zwell Lifestyle Recommendations One of the greatest advantages to fighting heart disease is its slow progression over time. This allows anyone with the motivation to take proactive measures to safe-guard their heart health. CRON – Eating a diet rich in nutrients and low in calories does not mean depriving or starving yourself. It means making the most of every bite and creating a diet based on whole foods in their natural state. This could be the simplest diet   you have ever followed. Just remember nature got it right the first time and anything “man made” like margarine, chocolate-puff cereal or meat from a can is probably offering you more calories than you need with fewer nutrients than you deserve. CRON diet is naturally low-glycemic, high fibre and anti-oxidant rich; three essential factors in heart healthy eating, weight optimization and vitality. Stress – Whether from positive or negative sources stress places strain on your system. A car going 120 kilometres / hour on the expressway will burn fuel at a much faster pace than a car puttering along at 50kms. The same is true for a body under stress. Protein, healthy fats and co-factor nutrient (such as vitamins and minerals) will be used up at a higher rate during stressful periods. Production of the stress hormone cortisol increases the rate at which free radicals are released in the body, adding to the increased need for exceptional nutrition. (27) If the diet is inadequate at meeting these demands then deficiencies and degeneration occur. Sweat – Your body knows two things for sure; growth and decay. Regular strenuous exercise that elevates your blood pressure for at least 20 consecutive minutes 3 times per week offers measurable health benefits including; lowered “bad” cholesterol, increased oxygen capacity and increased life expectancy for hypertensive patients. (28) Exercise uses fatty acids for 80% of the energy needed to complete a given activity. Inactivity sets the stage for unused fatty acids to accumulate in the body and blood vessels. Obesity and overweight are major factors in hypertension. Almost 60 percent of Canadians are currently overweight or obese, an increase of 9.3 percent over the past 25 years. (29) So put down that bag of chips, get off the couch, fill up the ‘Klean Canteen’ and go for a walk. Your heart will thank you. Connect – As important as it is to feed your body the right stuff, you also require a bountiful diet for your mind. Humans are curious and social animals to the core. Connecting with people and constantly developing interests and ideas is proven to keep you living better, longer. Epidemiological studies demonstrate clear links between depression, anger, hostility, that classic Type A personality and heart disease. (30) So, why not comit and connect to something bigger than yourself – your family, community, church, charity, favorite sport – whatever is important to you – and put those stressful feelings into perspective. Travel, play, flirt, frolic, reach out, and do new things. Appreciation for what you have, how far you’ve come and who you share your life with certainly will do your body good. Reprinted from Zwell

Hello World

Feel good, look better, become financially
free….

As this is my first effort let me begin with a brief introduction. My name is Bill Martin and I am
one of the many Baby Boomers. I have been involved in several very successful
start-up business ventures and a couple not so successful. Over the years you
learn from those experiences, both the good and not so good, but more
importantly you learn your passion in life, what motivates you, what inspires
you. One of my past and very successful business ventures was to be involved
with Haagen Dazs Ice Cream Shoppe franchises. Back then I was young, well
younger, and my daily routine went something like this: Get up in the morning to
have several cups of coffee then off to one of the ice cream shoppes. Lunch time
would roll around and I would have an ice cream sundae or banana split with a
milk shake. Seriously, that was lunch every day. Did I have variety, you bet I
did, we had over thirty flavors. Often I would repeat this for dinner because it
was convenient. On the way home, 8:00-9:00 grab a pizza, watch some news then
off to bed. And start over again the next day. I should mention I intended the
ice cream shoppes to be absentee owner cash cows, no pun intended. Part of that
wasn’t true… the absentee owner part. I can’t tell you how many times the Friday
and Saturday night flu hit my high school and college age staff and when they
don’t show up for work, well of course, I had to often be there closing past
midnight.

Years later when I
sold the ice cream shoppes and went into other ventures my eating habits of
convenience really didn’t change much, except that now instead of an ice cream
sundae, lunch became a burger and fries, super sized with a shake. Sound
familiar. Now as I look back and realize the importance of proper nutrition, my
passion in life has become health and wellness. By that I mean good health, no
great health. Great health, spiritually, nutritionally, physically and
financially. I have been through an incredible experience learning curve and
believe my true calling, my passion, motivation and inspiration is to help
others to feel good, look good and become financially free.

What I know is we
are a country overweight all the while starving. We are a country starving for
nutrition. Who eats fruits and vegetables? If you count french fries and ketchup
I was eating two. Almost Seventy five percent of the population is overweight
but nutritionally starved. So many annual physicals my doctor said I needed to
lose 15 pounds while prescribing blood pressure medications. All those years of
convenient meals, coupled with little or no exercise, here I was along with the
majority of other Baby Boomers older and overweight. I had become sick and
tired.

Now one of my close
friends comes along and introduces me to the concept of relationship marketing
(how I wish I knew this friend when I was in my 20s). Now I am able to be
involved in a business opportunity with only a small fee if any at all. Let me
mention each Haagen Dazs Ice Cream Shoppe averaged $250,000 to build plus a
$25,000 franchise fee for each store – had to sell a lot of ice cream cones to
pay that off. With relationship, network marketing I had no capital investment,
no employees (that could come down with Saturday night flu), no ridiculously
high government insurance and no stress. I have always worked long hours,
normally a 70-75 hour work week. Now I work “part-time”, say 40 hours a week or
20 or less if I choose with 50 people (down line) working part-time, say 10
hours a week. That becomes 500 hours every week (50 people by 10 hours each
equals 500 hours) coupled with my 20 hours, or 520 hours every week building
both my business and each of theirs. There is the miracle of exponential network
growth. But I am preaching to the choir.

Back to my passion.
About 10 years ago I started another company, Jovene Age Management, with my
partner, Dr. Gene Delucia, a health and wellness company specializing in hormone
replacement therapy and weight management (after past positions as Director for
Sun Scientific Pharmaceuticals, Dalen Pharmaceuticals & BT Pharmaceuticals).
The concept was good but the therapy was expensive and with possible side
effects (just ask Barry Bonds). What we both learned from all of the many, many
medical conferences, you can significantly slow down the aging process or more
specifically stop the age acceleration process from a lifestyle of poor nutrition,
eating habits and little or no exercise naturally with proper nutrition and
exercise, a major lifestyle change for most Boomers and the rest of the American
public but with wonderful results. We, all of us, are here on a one way ticket but my
intent is to die young at a very, very old age. I had become sick and tired of
being sick and tired. My passion and motivation, my inspiration is to teach and
promote this philosophy to live young with great health. My life’s goal is to encourage
as many as possible the benefits and rewards of great health, spiritually,
nutritionally, physically and financially.