Celebrate the Women in your Life This Mothers Day

Looking for an affordable, long lasting quality gift for the special lady in your life this Mothers's Day?  Than look no further than the unique paraben and pthylate free nourishing, cleansing and anti - oxidant  patented skin care  line known as Sense brought you courtesy of the fabulous team of scientists and researchers at Usana Health Sciences!

Get the full line that includes the soap free GentleDaily cleanser (soap free) , Hydrating Toner(aloe based), Daytime Protective Emulsion (SPF 15), Night Time Cream (rich in A and E), the awesome Rice Bran Polisher that gently exfoliates leaving your skins soft and hydrated, the Cream Masque with mango butter (!),  the Eye Cream for reducing crows feet, and your choice of either one of the anti  - aging enhancers Serum Intensive (great for reducing fine lines and wrinkles) or the collagen boosting Perfecting Essence that helps even out blotch complexions.

Want to know why I look so young? Now you know!!
Ekayani Chamberlin
Model,  Health and Lifestyle
p.s. This line is great for guys too. Get him the Gentle Daily Cleanser, Hydrating Toner and if his skin is oily Serum Intensive.

Can Marijuana Help Disease? My Experience Taking Cannibidiol Oil

Dose of Nature Redstrap Cannibidiol Oil

Can medical marijuana help the ailing body? It has been in the news a lot lately with certain states legalizing the sale of marijuana for medical purposes. My own encounter with such a place occurred purely by coincidence as I was traveling in the San Jose, Santa Cruz area of California in 2010. My host needed to make a stop and it turned out it was for a newly opened distribution site that was impeccably clean which had many samples of plants available for customers. I found this fascinating and about as far away from New York's harsh Rockefeller Drug laws as one could get in the continental United States.  About two weeks ago I received a sample bottle of Red Strap CBD in Apricot Kernel Oil from an outfit called Dose of Nature. CBD stands for Cannibidiol or better known as hemp oil or if you prefer marijuana. Based in Utah, Dose of Nature makes oil and glycerine based products that are fully legal. This is because the THC is in such a small quality that you cannot "get high". The hemp is ingested bilingually under the tongue  (no smoking or inhaling) and is  used medicinally. It is considered to be an anti inflammatory and to be a neuro protectant in her words it appears to be good for  brain health. It  seems to be having a positive affect on persons with a wide range of diseases and disorders such as PTSD, diabetes, cancer, Parkinsons , epilepsy and autism.
Watch Dose of Nature's intriguing video here on Vimeo

My Tender Breast: My Personal Experience 

As for my own personal experience taking the drops, before receiving the bottle I was experiencing some tenderness in my left breast. Having just turned 52 I am now "at the age" where breast cancer strikes women down. When examining my breast using hand movements, it seemed to me that I had a rather large lump and although not hardened I wondered if it could be categorized as "benign". Needless to say I was not pleased with this and felt alarmed. As I turned over in my mind what my options were, I got an offer to sample a bottle of CBD oil. I accepted. On Monday April 13, 2015 I begin taking 20 drops under the tongue which is the recommended dosage. I did this daily over the next three days and by April 16, 2015 I felt no discomfort in my breast. I felt no tenderness and no lump and I still don't. As I write this entry, it is April 30 and I have continued taking the drops daily in the morning as part of my routine. I also felt no "high".  This has been a completely subjective experience. I have not gone to have a mammogram or any formal breast cancer examination as of yet. Clearly for anyone feeling any alarm getting a check up  should be part of the process of taking responsibility for ones health. I can only say that this subjective experience has given me hope and made me consider the intelligence of plants and the possibility that they can target diseased cells and kill them before they have a chance to spread and compromise my organism. My expression here is  my own opinion and is not intended to be prescription. My purpose is to share food for thought.
Curious? Visit  Dose of Nature

Action! Here's the Light Video IndieGoGo Fundraiser EKAYANI

USANA Green: Happy Earth Day (Reducing Carbon Footprint)

USANA Green: Happy Earth Day



Earth Day is never just one day is it?

GREEN: With all the environmental disaster taking place daily I am proud and pleased to share with you just one of the many practices this leader in health takes repsonsibilty for HOW it does business implementing sane practices while actually working to reduce their carbon footprint. I encourage you to look through their archives on water use, recycling and more. Wishing every business that dares to use Mother Earths resources did the same. More gratitude please in action!

Click the hyperlink above and consider getting involved with this great company that I am so proud to be a part of. - Ekayani Chamberlin

Higher blood Vitamin D levels may be related to a lower risk of depression

April 15, 2015 Higher blood Vitamin D levels may be related to a lower risk of depression  At a Glance A new study in a large population of Finnish adults shows that higher serum vitamin D levels are related to a reduced risk of depressive disorders, especially in those with poorer health to begin with.  Read more about this research below.  Previous research has suggested that vitamin D may be helpful in protecting against depression, but the evidence is still somewhat inconclusive. In a new study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, researchers investigated the potential relationship between serum vitamin D levels and the prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders. The study population consisted of a representative sample of Finnish adults between the ages of 30 and 79 years of age that participated in the Health 2000 survey. Of the 5,371 individuals in the study group, 354 were diagnosed with depressive disorders and 222 individuals were diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.  Serum Vitamin D concentrations were determined from frozen samples taken previously. A total of 4 indicators of depression and a single indicator of anxiety were studied as variables.  Individuals with a higher serum Vitamin D concentration showed a reduced risk of depression. After adjustments for socioeconomic, lifestyle, and metabolic factors, individuals in the highest 25% of vitamin D levels had a 35% lower risk for depression when compared to individuals with vitamin D levels in the lowest 25%. Higher Vitamin D levels had the greatest impact against depression in younger men with unhealthy lifestyles, who were divorced, or who suffered from metabolic syndrome. Based on statistical analysis, it was noted that raising the vitamin D levels above 50 nmol/L (20 ng/ml) could have avoided about 19% of the depression cases in the study. Vitamin D serum levels did not correlate significantly with anxiety disorders.   The results of this study support the theory that higher serum vitamin D concentrations may be protective against depressive disorders, especially in individuals with poor socio-economic status, diet and lifestyle choices, and metabolic health. Tuija Jääskeläinen et al.. Higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations are related to a reduced risk of depression. British Journal of Nutrition, available on CJO2015. doi:10.1017/S0007114515000689.

Higher levels of carotenoids may reduce breast cancer risk - Weekly Essentials of Health by Usana

Higher levels of carotenoids may reduce breast cancer risk 

Note from Ekayani: The health salad recipe I have shared often is packed with these nutrients and is oh so tasty keeping well for up to a week! See TheLivingConnection.blogspot.com for that recipe!

April 22, 2015

Higher levels of carotenoids may reduce breast cancer risk

At a Glance

The results of a new large study indicate that women with higher plasma carotenoid levels have a reduced risk of breast cancer, and particularly the more aggressive tumors.
Read more about this research below. 

Carotenoids are among the nutrients needed for plant photosynthesis.  They are also the pigments in fruits and vegetables that provide  the yellow, orange and red colors. Of over 600 known dietary carotenoids, a-carotene, b-carotene, b-cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, and lycopene are the most prevalent in the US diet, comprising 90% of circulating carotenoids.  Current evidence suggests that carotenoids may reduce breast cancer risk, but at what stage they are most influential and in what tumor subtypes is less clear. 

In a recent large study published online in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers examined the issues of timing of carotenoid exposure as well as associations by breast tumor subtypes. 

The study group included 32,826 women that participated in the Nurses’ Health study and donated blood samples in 1989-1990.  In 2000-2002, 18,743 of these women donated a second blood sample.  Women diagnosed with breast cancer between first and second blood collection, and those diagnosed with breast cancer within ten years of the second collection, were matched with control subjects.

After adjusting for several breast cancer risk factors, significant inverse associations were observed between a-carotene, b-carotene, lycopene, and total carotenoids and breast cancer risk with an overall 18–28% lower risk in the women with the highest blood levels compared to women with the lowest levels. The protective benefits of b-carotene and total carotenoids were more pronounced in leaner women (BMI < 30).  In addition, a-carotene, b-carotene, b-cryptoxanthin, and total carotenoids were associated with a 46% reduction in risk of the more aggressive types of cancer than recurred or caused death.

In this large prospective analysis with 20 y of follow up, women with the highest blood levels of carotenoids had a significant reduction in breast cancer risk, and particularly the more aggressive and lethal subtypes. 

A Heather Eliassen et al.  Plasma carotenoids and risk of breast cancer over 20 y of follow-up. Am J Clin Nutr doi: 10.3945/ajcn.114.105080

Zinc deficiency may alter how the immune system responds to inflammation

 
April 8, 2015 Weekly Essentials of Health courtesy of Usana Health Sciences

Zinc deficiency may alter how the immune system responds to inflammation 

 At a Glance

A new study has shown that a zinc deficiency contributes to chronic inflammation by causing improper immune cell activation and dysregulation of a protein that affects inflammation in the cell.

 Read more about this research below. 

 Zinc is an essential mineral in human health required as a cofactor in numerous biological processes including DNA and protein synthesis, cell division, normal growth and development, neurological function and immunity, and wound healing. It is also required for normal taste perception and smell. 

Zinc is naturally available in a wide variety of foods with higher amounts found in protein-rich foods including meat, poultry and seafood. Regular intake is necessary to maintain a steady state because it is not stored. Zinc deficiency most often occurs when intake is inadequate or poorly absorbed, when there are increased losses of zinc from the body, or when the requirement for zinc increases. Evidence from NHANES III data show that zinc intakes among older adults might be marginal, increasing the risk of a zinc deficiency.

Zinc deficiency is thought to contribute to the development of chronic diseases that involve inflammation and often show up in older adults who have a higher risk for zinc deficiency. In a new study published in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research researchers examined how the immune system responds to zinc deficiency resulting in mechanisms that promote inflammation. Using in vitro cell culture and the aging mouse model, researchers found that zinc deficiency can induce an increase in the inflammatory response in cells by causing improper immune cell activation and dysregulation of cytokine IL-6, a protein that affects inflammation in the cell. When comparing zinc levels in both young and older living mice, the older mice with low zinc levels had a corresponding increase in chronic inflammation and decreased IL-6 methylation, an epigenetic mechanism that is used by cells to control gene expression.

The results of this study provide evidence of a potential link between zinc deficiency and increased risk of chronic inflammation, especially in aging adults.

Watch Dr Oz Show 4/16 The Living Connection Ekayani Chamberlin Health &...

Featured Product - Two Layers, Singular Liver Support with Hepasil DTX™

Click Here to read about >>> Two Layers, Singular Liver Support with Hepasil DTX™

Dear Friends,
Please watch the Dr Oz Show on April 16, 2015 to hear about this months featured product Hepasil DTX.


Please click on the hyperlink above for an excellent article on your liver and why it is so awesome! I talk about the liver almost as much as I do about Vitamin D and for good reason: My grandfather Bernando LaPallo has told me - and everyone around him-  that it is critical to keep your liver and colon clean for health and longevity. These two organs have the thankless task of removing toxins from your body. Did you know that:

1.The liver is our second-largest organ, and is critical to long-

term health. It acts like a washing machine, filtering harmful
toxins from the blood. And if you live in a big city, eat fatty or
sugary foods, drink alcohol, or take medications, you may
expose your liver to more toxins than you realize. To support
your liver and natural detoxification process, make sure to adopt
healthy lifestyle habits and consider adding a supplement like
Hepasil DTX to your daily routine.

Why I recommend these products: 

2. USANA’s patent-pending Hepasil DTX provides nutrients
that can help your body’s natural production of the powerful
detoxifying antioxidant glutathione. Our unique, comprehensive
formula has been clinically shown to boost glutathione levels
and support your body’s natural detoxification process.*




3. USANA Health Sciences is the only company to combine all the liver-supporting
ingredients in one two-sided tablet. They call it Nutritional Hybrid
Technology, and it gives you powerful potency in one convenient
tablet. 

And last but certainly NOT least the meticulous care in manufacturing these products that frankly EVERY COMPANY should be implementing. It's going in your body isn't it?  I take these myself and Spring is an excellent time to detoxify after a long hard winter. 

To your health!

Ekayani Chamberlin

Lutein and zeaxanthin supplementation improves measures of visual performance in healthy adults

April 1, 2015

Lutein and zeaxanthin supplementation improves measures of visual performance in healthy adults - Weekly Essential of Health brought to you by Usana Health Sciences

At a Glance

A new study shows that supplementing with lutein and zeaxanthin—compounds contained naturally in green, leafy vegetables, such as kale and spinach—may improve measures of visual performance such as photostress recovery and the response to glare conditions. 

Read more about this research below.

 

Dietary carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin are plant-derived pigments that concentrate in the inner layers of the macula region of the eye. The macular pigments act much like a sunscreen within the eye to protect the delicate tissues of the retina. It is well known that sufficient levels of these carotenoids reduce the risk of macular degeneration, a major cause of blindness in the elderly. Less is known of the benefits of supplementation of lutein and zeaxanthin in young, healthy adults. 

A new double-blind placebo controlled study published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science assessed the link between higher macular pigment optical density (MPOD) resulting from supplementation to improvements in glare disability, photostress recovery, and other measures of visual performance.   

The study included 115 young, healthy adults who either received a supplement containing a daily dosage of 10 mg of lutein and 2 mg zeaxanthin or a placebo over a one year supplementation period. Several measurements were collected at baseline and every 3 months: serum lutein and zeaxanthin, MPOD, photostress recovery, chromatic contrast and glare disability. MPOD is a measure of the amount of macular pigment present in the macular. Photostress recovery is a measure of how fast the eye recovers sight after being exposed to a flash of bright light. Chromatic contrast is the ability to discriminate an object from its colored surroundings. Glare disability is a measure of the amount of glaring light that can be tolerated before vision is significantly impaired. 

MPOD and serum lutein and zeaxanthin levels increased significantly in the treatment groups versus placebo. In the supplemented group, chromatic contrast and photostress recovery times improved significantly versus placebo during the study period. The researchers also found that improvement in glare disability was highly correlated to increased macular pigment density.  

The results of the current study demonstrate that lutein and zeaxanthin supplementation improves several measures of visual function in normal healthy individuals and adds to evidence from previous studies that increased MPOD results in improved visual performance. 

Hammond BR et al. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study on the effects of lutein and zeaxanthin on photostress recovery, glare disability, and chromatic contrast. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2014 Dec 2;55(12):8583-9.