An Apple A Day

Autumn typically means harvest time in Canada, making it wonderful to see the markets overflowing with colorful vegetables and plenty of fresh apples. One of nature’s finest foods, the apple comes in a variety of colors and flavours sure to please any palate. From McIntosh to Red Delicious, Gala to Cortland the health benefits of apples are countless.

One of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, there are more than 7,500 known varieties of apples. A member of the rose family, it is thought the apple has been around for some 4000 thousand years. And according to some researchers, archeologists have found evidence that us humans have been enjoying apples as far back as 6500 BC.

Apples made an excellent commodity for early settlers as they stored well and had many uses. When dried they were available all year round and apples could be easily turned into cider. In her book The Apple, A History of Canada’s Perfect Fruit, author Carol Martin describes how “apples have been a part of Canadian life ever since the first European settlers arrived in the early years of the 17th century. In the east, Champlain led his tiny colony to Hochelaga (Quebec City) and brought along young saplings to be planted. In the west, Sir George Simpson arrived to found the most westerly Hudson's Bay company fort with apple seeds tucked into his vest pocket. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries horticulturalists across the country worked to develop varieties of eating apples that could withstand Canadian winters.”

Today, people from all countries across the globe are enjoying apples daily making them the most popular fruit in the world. Although apples have endless culinary uses such as pies and dumplings, the best way to obtain the maximum nutrition apples have to offer is by eating them the way Mother Nature intended. Whole raw apples have many health benefits and there are many studies and claims to support this.

Apples contain vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytochemicals and soluble fibre. Because of the powerhouse of nutrients apples provide they can help boost our immune system, help build strong bones and teeth, help repair tissue, help to slow the aging process, reduce the risk of diseases including some cancers, osteoporosis and heart disease, help lower cholesterol, help increase fibre intake, help manage diabetes and help with weight loss.

Apples make a healthy and nutritious snack with many varieties available in the markets all year round. When shopping for apples look for bright, richly coloured apples that feel firm and pick fruit that is free from bruises, holes and soft spots and try to buy organic. Wash them well when you get them home. To keep them crispy store them in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator or a cold cellar but eat them at room temperature for the most flavour. Although some apples taste sweet and others may have a tart or tangy taste, it’s always fun to experiment and try different varieties. How fortunate we are to have this simple fruit so readily available to us daily.

The health benefits from eating apples are enormous and scientific researchers are discovering more and more reasons we should all be eating apples. The next time you’re looking for a snack, remember that old saying and reach for an apple. An apple a day can indeed help keep us healthy.

A Star Is Born

More and more people are realizing the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and health juices have become all and rave with young and old alike. Everything from Tahitian Noni Juice to the ever-popular acai juice, health conscience people are looking for alternatives to the regular juices we have been consuming for decades.

Although regular juices have come along way—no pulp, extra pulp, unsweetened, naturally sweetened, added calcium, from concentrate, not from concentrate, added Vitamin C, contains real fruit juice, and the like—consuming juices that are highly nutritious and in as close a pure and natural state as possible, can have many added health benefits than the regular juices can provide.

One such juice is pomegranate juice. More and more research is finding that pomegranate juice has a higher percentage of antioxidant capacity than red wine, purple grape juice, black cherry juice, blueberry juice, acai juice, cranberry juice, orange and apple juice, and green tea.

AIM Cellstar™ Pomagrape juice contains a concentrate blend of pomegranate juice and pomegranate extract. Although pomegranate is the featured ingredient in Pomagrape, this anti-aging juice is a combination of superfruits including cherry, white grape, strawberry, lemon, apple and pear. It also contains chokecherry extract, elderberry extract, blueberry extract, black currant extract, grape seed extract, hibiscus extract, raspberry extract, and apple extract. Pomagrape has half the sugar of regular juice as it contains only the natural sugars found in the fruit itself along with the addition of stevia, which has zero calories, zero carbohydrates and scores zero on the glycemic index.

With all the natural and nutritious ingredients found in this superjuice, Pomagrape provides antioxidant health, helps reduce the appearance of aging, helps lessen arthritis symptoms, helps to maintain prostate health, aids in mental cognition, and helps improve cardiovascular health.

Another superfruit juice AIM has developed is AIM Cellstar™ Mango Tango, which is a combination of superfruits and herbs, focusing on stimulating the body’s immune system. Mango Tango is a puree blend of mango and mangosteen with a concentrate blend of pomegranate, orange, pineapple, white grape, lemon, apple, pear, camu-camu extract, echinacea extract, hibiscus extract and raspberry extract. It too has half the sugar of regular juices thanks to the addition of stevia, and camu-camu contains more vitamin C than any other known plant in the world. As well as boosting the immune system, Mango Tango can help soothe joint pain, support intestinal health, help fight infection, help prevent urinary tract infection and balances mood.

With Pomagrape’s tart bite and dark ruby red colour, and Mango Tango’s pleasant sweet taste, these superjuices are sure to please. A star is born with AIM Cellstar™.

For more information about AIM Cellstar™ Pomagrape and Mango Tango please visit My AIM Store website at http://awealthofhealth.myaimstore.com where you can read more, download a datasheet and watch a video. As with any supplement it is always recommended to read the literature thoroughly to find out if this product is right for you, and consult a health care practitioner if you have any medical conditions or concerns.

Keep The Bugs Away

December 21st marks the winter solstice, which also happens to be one of my favourite days of the year. Although winter solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the year, it’s one of my favourite days because the daylight hours will start to increase making the days a little longer and the nights a little shorter. It’s also the first day of winter, and for some, that means the cold and flu season.

Although the cold and flu ‘bugs’ seem to be lurking just about everywhere we go nowadays, we can reduce the risk of getting a cold or the flu with antioxidants such as green tea and grape seed extract, proven to neutralize free radicals and support a healthy immune system.

Antioxidants are a broad group of compounds that destroy single oxygen molecules, also called free radicals, in the body, thereby protecting against oxidative damage to cells. They are essential to good health and are found naturally in a wide variety of foods and plants, including many fruits and vegetables. During the winter months however, there is less of a variety of fresh and nutritious foods to choose from, so we need to supplement with a daily intake of antioxidants. (It’s also worth mentioning that free radicals have been linked to many age-related diseases such as cancer, heart attack, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease.) A strong immune system is the best ways to ward off illness, and what better way for our immune system to get a boost then to take a variety of antioxidants.

AIM Proancynol™2000 is a combination of seven antioxidants which work together (antioxidant cycling) to improve each other. AIM Proancynol™2000
combines the proven ability of these seven antioxidant compounds— green tea extract, rosemary extract, grape seed extract, N acetylcysteine, alpha-lipoic acid, lycopene, and selenium—to provide us with the best antioxidant supplementation available.

It may be the cold and flu season but we can fight back this winter and help protect our immune system by eating a healthy diet and supplementing with AIM Proancynol™ 2000. Let’s have a fun, happy and healthy winter season and keep the bugs away!

For more information about AIM Proancynol™ 2000 please visit the AIM website at http://awealthofhealth.myaimstore.com where you can read more, download a datasheet and watch a video. As with any supplement it is always recommended to read the literature thoroughly to find out if this product is right for you, and consult your health care practitioner if you have any medical conditions or concerns.

Tis The Season

The holiday season is upon us and along with it comes season’s greetings, good wishes and the ever-present holiday cheer consisting of plenty of food and drink. It’s hard not to indulge ourselves in all the snacks, large meals and rich desserts we’re continually offered during this festive time, but the consequences of overindulging can leave us feeling not so festive.

Two of the most common physical side effects of overeating are indigestion and heartburn. Our body works hard to digest the food and drink we consume, and the foods we choose to eat can make all the difference in how our digestive system deals with it. Processed, refined and dead foods are ever present throughout the year in the typical North American diet and even more so during festive occasions. Because we’re going to consume foods that may not be all that good for us during the holidays, including digestive enzymes in our diet can help our body to do its job.

AIM PrepZymes® is specially formulated for high-sugar, high-fat diets and is an exceptional digestive supplement containing 8 cultured enzymes—protease I and II, alpha/beta amylase, lipase, cellulase, lactase, maltase and invertase. This unique combination of enzymes has been specifically formulated to help digest a wide range of processed foods including fats, proteins, hidden sugars, diary products and snack foods. AIM PrepZymes® also contains alpine wild garlic and papaya fruit powder which also aid in digestion and provide additional antioxidant benefits.

Large meals, rich desserts and snacks are all part of the holiday menu, so it makes good sense to help our body break down the foods we eat and maintain our digestive health. After all, it ‘tis the season!

For more information about AIM PrepZymes® please visit My AIM Store website at http://awealthofhealth.myaimstore.com where you can read more, download a datasheet and watch a video. As with any supplement it is always recommended to read the literature thoroughly to find out if this product is right for you, and consult your health care practitioner if you have any medical conditions or concerns.

AIM PrepZymes® are best taken immediately before or during meals so they can begin to break down the food before the pancreas becomes overworked by having to secrete more enzymes than necessary. You may take AIM PrepZymes® with other AIM products, however, AIM PrepZymes® will break down the healthy probiotic bacteria in AIM FloraFood®, so it is recommended to take these two products separately with different meals. It is also recommended that those with gastritis or gastric or duodenal ulcers should not use AIM PrepZymes® as it may result in irritation.

Avoid The Flu By Building A Stronger You

With all the hype in the media about the H1N1 flu (or swine flu as it is commonly known) people are lining up in droves to get vaccinated. Although there are people at risk of contracting the virus who have compromised immune systems, I feel (and this is my personal opinion and not meant to deter anyone away from getting the flu shot if they are at risk or feel they should have one) people need to work at building a stronger immune system by focusing on diet, exercise, lifestyle changes and sleep.

Health officials are also concerned this flu strain will combine with other flu strains, which will continually mutate making it more and more difficult to create an effective vaccine. In my opinion, by maintaining a healthy immune system we will be less susceptible to the virus and help protect ourselves from infectious diseases. If this is going to keep mutating then it makes sense to build up a resistance naturally rather than rely on vaccinations and other drugs when a “pandemic” occurs. I haven’t had a flu shot for a number of years now and I also haven’t had the flu. Sometimes I feel a little under the weather or catch the odd cold, but I know this is my body fighting off any attacking viruses.

While washing our hands frequently and keeping surfaces clean helps prevent the spread of the virus to our mouth, nose, eyes and other people, we must also look toward whole body health to minimize the risk of becoming ill. Washing our hands and keeping things clean should be the norm all of the time, not only when there is a flu bug going around. Proper hygiene is also essential to good health.

We can fortify our immune system with a diet rich in bright orange and green fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins such as chicken, fish and eggs, whole grains, nuts and seeds, and plenty of fresh water. We also need to make sure we are getting enough fibre in our diet (25-30 grams daily), and have an ample supply of “friendly bacteria” in our digestive system. Yogurt and kefir can help replenish digestive bacteria but in order to prevent the loss of these good bacteria we need to take a probiotic supplement. Reducing acidic foods (sugar) and increasing alkaline foods (BarleyLife®) will help prevent many illnesses as disease and other health conditions cannot survive in an alkaline environment.

Vitamin D will also help to build a stronger immune system and what better way to get both vitamin D and exercise than to enjoy activities outdoors on a nice sunny day. Although our days are cooler and shorter at this time of year, spending some time outside helps not only our body but our mind as well. Adequate sleep is also essential in preventing illness as our body does its best healing when it is well rested. And last but definitely not least, is a healthy lifestyle. Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, pharmaceutical drugs and stress are detrimental to good health and well-being and will play havoc on the immune system. These should be avoided as much as possible.

It is also important to realize there are a lot of natural remedies being marketed as “cures” for the H1N1 flu. As far as I am concerned, a product cannot “cure” anything. It is the human body that has the ability to prevent and cure and this is why it is important to provide it with all of the essential ingredients such as proper nutrition, exercise, adequate amounts of rest and a healthy lifestyle.

AIM provides a variety of superior whole food concentrates and nutritional supplements to support a healthy lifestyle, strengthen the immune system, and nourish our cells. Especially during this “pandemic” with the H1N1 flu circulating world-wide our body needs more than just good food. AIM’s key nutritional supplements can promote whole body health and fortify the immune system. Why not avoid the flu, by building a stronger you!

For more information on products AIM carries to help strengthen the immune system, please visit My AIM Store at http://awealthofhealth.myaimstore.com where you can read more, download datasheets and watch videos. As with any supplement it is always recommended to read the literature thoroughly to find out if this product is right for you, and consult a health care practitioner if you have any medical conditions or concerns.

Lemons – they’re not just for lemonade

Used for both culinary and non-culinary purposes throughout the world, the exact origin of the lemon has remained a mystery. According to Wikipedia, It is presumed that lemons first grew in India, northern Burma and China. It was known for its antiseptic properties in South and South East Asia and was used as an antidote for various poisons. The lemon was later introduced to Persia and then to Iraq and Egypt around 700AD. It was first recorded in literature in a tenth century Arabic treatise on farming and was distributed widely throughout the Arab world and the Mediterranean region between 1000AD and 1150AD.

During the time of Ancient Rome, lemons entered Europe near southern Italy however they were not widely cultivated. The first real lemon cultivation in Europe began in the middle of the fifteenth century and was later introduced to the Americas in 1493 when Christopher Columbus brought lemon seed to Hispaniola along his voyages. Spanish conquest throughout the New World helped spread lemon seeds and the lemons were mainly used as ornament and medicine. It wasn’t until the 1700s and late 1800s that lemons were increasingly planted in Florida and California and began using in cooking and flavouring.

Considering we see lemons just about everywhere, the simple lemon is very much understated. We use them to make lemonade and lemon pies, mix them in our drinks, use them in our cooking and for garnishes and they also make a great deodorize and air freshener. But perhaps we need to take another look at this yellow gem because there is so much more we can do with lemons than just make lemonade. Here are a few medicinal and non-medicinal facts and uses for lemons:

-Although acidic in taste, lemons are one of the most alkaline forming foods on the face of the planet.
-Lemon juice added to a glass of water can be sipped during a meal to help the stomach's digestive ability by adding to the digestive juices and acid.
-Lemon juice is a powerful antibacterial.
-Lemon juice is a great liver tonic and can help detoxify your liver.
-Lemon juice can be used as part of a cleansing process to rid the body of gallstones.
-Lemon Juice helps to prevent diabetes.
-Lemon is a diuretic providing relief in kidney and bladder disorders.
-Lemon juice relieves symptoms of asthma, tonsillitis and sore throat.
-Lemon-juice prevents or restrains influenza, malaria and cold.
-Lemon juice has been used in destroying intestinal worms.
-Lemon has been used for many years in gout and rheumatism.
-Lemon juice is known to relive hiccups.
-As a natural antiseptic, the juice of the lemon will destroy harmful bacteria found in cuts and other areas of infection.
-When applied to hair after rinsing, lemon juice will give volume and shine to your hair.
-Lemon juice makes a great household cleaner and deodorizer.

Lemon juice, or fresh lemon, can help detoxify the whole body. Next to drinking plain purified water, drinking lemon water daily is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Let’s not underestimate the power of this simple fruit. Lemons – they’re not just for lemonade.

Getting Enough Fibre?

Experts say the average North American consumes less than half of the recommended 25 to 40 grams of fibre we need daily to help prevent a host of health problems. Not only that, many people are not having any more than one bowel movement a day, and for some the bowel transit time is anywhere from 48 to 96 hours! These are pretty scary statistics considering we should be eliminating waste every 12 to 18 hours when our system is in optimal working order. Of course bowel transit time depends on what types of food we eat and how much we drink, so people who eat lots of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains will have shorter transit times than people who eat mostly starches, sugars and processed foods.
Not to mention, if we’re “full of it” we’re often overloaded with toxins which can result in a number of health concerns such as constipation, poor digestion, bloating, gas, fatigue, weight gain, headaches, excessive mucous, poor skin, and even depression. Some health professionals even believe toxic build-up may be related to conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and multiple chemical sensitivity amongst others.
In her book Cleansing the Body and the Colon for a Happier and Healthier You using Herbal Dietary Fiber, Teresa Schumacher, author and formulator of AIM Herbal Fiberblend® writes, “everyone is different”. “You should have from one to four eliminations a day, one for each meal eaten. They should be of a good consistency and not loose like diarrhea.”
Increasing the fibre content in our diet is not difficult to do and foods high in fibre also contain many important nutrients essential for optimal health and well-being. Consumed on a regular basis, high fibre foods also provide us with the energy and vitality we need from day to day. There are two types of fibre:
Soluble fibre: dissolves in water and is believed to help lower cholesterol and regulate blood sugar. Vegetables and some fruit contain soluble fibre.

Insoluble fibre: (also known as roughage or bulk) doesn’t dissolve in water and can help relieve constipation and maintain a healthy digestive system. Insoluble fibre is found in vegetables, fruits, legumes such as beans and peas, nuts, wheat bran and whole-wheat flour.

Foods that contain fibre and are easy to incorporate into a daily regime include fruits and vegetables such as apples, oranges, pears, bananas, berries, peas, broccoli, sweet potato, corn and carrots. Another great source of fibre are beans (kidney and baked), lentils, almonds and other nuts, seeds such as sunflower and pumpkin seeds, and whole grain breads and pastas. It’s also important for our digestive health to drink plenty of water every day (six to eight cups). Taking herbal and fibre supplements regularly will also help to ensure we are getting enough fibre in our diet as well as help to eliminate toxins.

AIM Herbal Fiberblend® contains both soluble and insoluble fibre making it an ideal product as a source of fibre, as well as cleansing herbs to aid in bowel regularity, scouring the intestinal wall, and ridding the body of toxins. AIM FibreBalance® (Canada only) provides 12 grams of fibre (soluble and insoluble) in two scoops, prevents constipation and protects the intestinal wall. It reduces transit time and provides a more thorough evacuation of waste and helps maintain digestive health.

A diet which includes foods that are high in fibre, can reduce the incidences of colon cancer, heart disease, appendicitis, diverticulosis, hemorrhoids, and other health complications related to poor digestive health. A diet rich in fibre can help manage and protect against many diseases, prevent constipation, and reduce transit time providing a more thorough evacuation of waste. Are you getting enough fibre?

For more information about AIM Herbal Fiberblend® and AIM FibreBalance® please visit the AIM website at http://awealthofhealth.myaimstore.com where you can read more, download a data sheet and watch a video. As with any supplement it is always recommended to read the literature thoroughly to find out if this product is right for you, and consult a health care practitioner if you have any medical conditions or concerns.