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.

Need An Energy Boost?

The primary source of energy for every function that occurs within each cell of the body is adenosine triphosphate (ATP). If ATP is depleted, cells cease to function properly which can result in many of the diseases we associate with stress or aging. ATP is a product of the Krebs cycle, in which cells produce usable energy. ATP production begins to diminish after age 20 and by age 70 we make about half as much ATP as we used to.

Considering everything we do depends on energy, which is constantly being depleted, we need to make sure that it is continuously restored. ATP rejuvenates our cells, blood and tissues, and increases energy levels without boosting our heart rate, which can occur with products such as caffeine or ephedra. Replenishing ATP levels with a supplement can reduce fatigue, protect vital organs, provide energy, help to improve muscle strength and recovery and has anti-aging benefits. AIM Peak Endurance™ provides PEAK ATP®, the only oral source of ATP clinically proven to elevate ATP levels within the body, and is so unique it is protected by several patents.

In addition to PEAK ATP®, grape-flavoured AIM Peak Endurance™ contains electrolytes, and is truly an “energy drink”. Electrolytes are minerals that are necessary for conducting nerve impulses in our bodies. As we sweat, valuable electrolytes such as chloride, calcium, phosphate, magnesium, sodium and potassium are excreted making it important to replace them on a regular basis, especially when we perspire due to intense exercise or hot weather.

When sweating takes place during sports, exercise, or other strenuous activities, it causes loss of fluids and electrolytes, making the body dehydrated. And in hot, humid weather, people can become dehydrated in as little as 15 minutes. If not taken care of, dehydration can cause fatigue, impaired performance, heat stroke and circulatory difficulties, and fluid loss can also diminish the capacity for performing muscular work. It is important to stay well hydrated during physical activity, and although water is a perfect choice for replacing fluids, replenishing electrolytes and other nutrients the body loses is equally important.

A typical commercial sports drink can contain only three electrolytes and 10 to 49 grams of sugar. AIM Peak Endurance™ contains six electrolytes – sodium, potassium, phosphorous, calcium, magnesium and chloride – and is low in sugar. Sweetened with all-natural stevia and lo han fruit extracts there is only half a gram per serving. It also contains six of the B vitamins – B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine) and the easy-to-absorb form of B12 (methylcobalamin). Peak Endurance™ is also a source of vitamin C, supplying 11mg, which is about what you get from an apple (8mg) or a banana (10mg).


Some of the key benefits Peak Endurance™ provides are:

-Elevates ATP levels in cells, blood, and tissues
-Increases energy levels and reduces fatigue
-Supports cardiovascular and respiratory health
-Replenishes electrolytes lost during exercise or strenuous activities
-Supplies B vitamins that are lacking in vegetarian diets
-Improves muscle growth, strength, and recovery

Especially during the hot, humid summer months when so many of us are enjoying the nice weather and increased activity—be it sports, exercise, gardening, or some other strenuous activity—it is important to stay hydrated and replenish nutrients the body loses when we perspire. Peak Endurance™ will not only replenish lost electrolytes and ATP but also will revitalize you. Do you need an energy boost?

For more information about this amazing product, please visit My AIM Store 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.

Authors note: My husband and I have owned and operated a home improvement service for over twenty years. We work outside alot during the hot, humid weather and are finding Peak Endurance™ a lifesaver. We used to drink the “other” brands on the market, but since using Peak Endurance™ we are finding there is no comparison. When we’re out working in the heat we add a serving to a bottle of water (500ml) and drink. Within minutes our body temperature is moderating and we feel a sense of renewed energy. We also drink Peak Endurance™ while doing our yard work and gardening. It’s great!

The Skinny On Fat

Back in the 1980s health professionals were recommending low-fat diets for optimal health. Fat in our diet was considered the culprit in obesity, heart disease, and high cholesterol. In the last twenty-five plus years though, our knowledge about fat has changed. The reality now is, this important nutrient is essential for good health and vital for a healthy diet. We need to choose the right types of fat that promote our health positively. The key is to replace bad fat with good fat. It is the type of fat, not only the amount, which impact our overall health.

Depending on the effect it has on heart health, fat can be “good” or “ bad”. Studies are showing that choosing more of the “good” monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, instead of the “bad” saturated and trans fats can help reduce the risk of developing heart disease. Canada’s Food Guide recommends that we include 2 to 3 tablespoons of unsaturated fat each day in our diets to get the fat we need. (Unsaturated fats are divided into monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats and both are thought to have beneficial effects on heart health and cholesterol.)

Known as “bad fats”, saturated and trans fat can raise blood cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease. Saturated fat is found in dairy products such as butter, cream and cheese, meat and poultry skin. Trans fat is found in foods prepared with partially hydrogenated oils and include donuts, fries and packaged foods. It is a good idea to reduce or eliminate these types of fats in our diet and replace them with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated “good” fats. These good fats also provide us with essential omega-3-6-9.

Monounsaturated fats help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol while also increasing HDL (good) cholesterol. Some foods high in monounsaturated fat include nuts (particularly almonds, pecans and hazelnuts), avocadoes, canola, safflower and olive oil.

Polyunsaturated fats are also thought to help lower total and bad cholesterol and are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. Foods high in polyunsaturated fat include fatty fish such as salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies and sardines, walnuts, sunflower, soy and flax oils. Omega-3 fatty acids are also thought to lower blood pressure, combat bad cholesterol (LDL), protect the brain and nervous system and fight inflammation.

The human body can manufacture most fatty acids that we require for optimal health, but the fatty acids that our body cannot manufacture and need to acquire from diet and supplementation, are called Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) and are vital to our health. Consuming “good fat” foods and taking EFA supplements on a daily basis is the only way to get these essential nutrients. Consuming fish once in awhile is not enough. EFA deficiency has become one of the most widespread nutritional deficiencies, and supplementation is becoming very popular with more and more people enjoying the results.

A great supplement to take which supplies essential omega –3 and –6 fatty acids as well as omega –9 in an easy-to-swallow soft gelatine capsule (which protects the oils from light and oxygen for optimal freshness) is AIMega®.

With the growing popularity of vegetarian diets, or people who prefer not to take fish oil, AIMega® contains a healthy ratio of beneficial omega-3, -6 and –9 fatty acids derived from plant sources, providing us with essential fats needed to maintain optimal health and well-being.

Now that we know “good fat” isn’t the culprit we once thought it was, a healthy and balanced diet, along with supplementation, can help us build a solid foundation for maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. In a nutshell, that’s the skinny on fat.

If you’d like more information about AIMega® please visit My AIM Store website at http://awealthofhealth.myaimstore.com where you can read more about this beneficial product, download a data sheet or watch a video.

Get Fresh

With summer rapidly approaching it’s the perfect time to purchase and consume fresh local fruits and vegetables. (What better way to supply the body with much needed enzymes).

The latest North American food guidelines recommend adults consume between 5 to 10 servings of fruit and vegetables daily. Although that may seem like a lot, it is an easy goal to reach and something we need to strive for.

Studies are showing that a diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables helps to lower the risk of certain cancers, heart disease and other chronic conditions. Many of these fresh foods have high amounts of vitamins and minerals and some of these foods have also been shown to have strong antioxidant qualities. In addition to all the nutrients fresh fruit and vegetables provide, they are also a very good source of fiber.

Not only do fresh fruit and vegetables taste great they are also low in fat and calories and contain no cholesterol. For anyone watching their weight these foods can be effective for long-term weight management.

Fresh food markets are now open, making it the ideal time to purchase fresh fruits and veggies and have fun as well. Many of these markets offer pick your own programs (also known as U-pick) and many provide activities for children and adults alike, making them a great way to get some exercise and introduce children to the joy of healthy eating.

To find a market near you, visit http://www.pickyourown.org/canada.htm where you can find a pick-your-own farm near you. This website is loaded with information on finding a farm, what is in season or coming into season, picking tips and tons of other information. It also provides a listing for farms in the USA which can be found at http://www.pickyourown.org/statelist.htm#statelist .
One thing I should point out is that most of these farms also have fresh foods already picked and ready to take home, as well as pickles, preserves and fresh baked goodies! You can also check with your own provincial/state Ministry/Department of Agriculture to find out where a farm is located in your area or search on the web.

Besides all the nutritional benefits fresh fruits and vegetables have to offer, they can add a great deal of variety to everyday meals. Because they come in such a wide array of rainbow colours, flavours, and textures, fresh fruit and vegetables can be used in practically every meal. And if you’re looking to maximize your consumption of these fresh foods try adding fruit to salads or using fruit and veggies as toppings and garnishes.

Eating more fresh fruits and vegetables is a delicious, nutritious way of getting the vitamins, minerals (and enzymes) our bodies need every day. Go ahead..Get fresh!

Visit My AIM Store at http://awealthofhealth.myaimstore.com for more information on healthy eating.

Balancing your body’s pH

pH is a scale that measures the ratio between acids and akalines in our body fluids. The scale ranges from 0 to 14 with 0 to 7.0 being acid and 7.0 to 14.0 alkaline. pH is the abbreviation for ‘potential of hydrogen’.

The key to vibrant health and well-being is partly a matter of keeping our pH in balance. The cells in our body cannot function if the pH varies too far from the narrow range of 7.35 to 7.45. Our body will go to great lengths to maintain this level. If we have a health problem, it is most likely because we are too acidic.

The body needs to have a balanced pH or it does not function properly. The alkaline level is very important because, as research has already proven, disease cannot survive in an alkaline environment but will flourish in an acid one.

Research also shows that unless the body's pH level is slightly alkaline, the body cannot heal itself. If the body’s pH is not balanced we decrease the ability to absorb minerals and other nutrients, decrease the energy production in the cells, decrease the ability to repair damaged cells, decrease the ability to detoxify heavy metals, make tumour cells thrive, and make us more susceptible to fatigue and illness. Our body’s pH affects everything.

An acidic pH can occur from toxic overload, emotional stress, immune reactions or anything that deprives the cells of nutrients. But the primary cause of an acid medium in the body is from what we eat and drink. And it has nothing to do with how the food and drink tastes in our mouth. Foods that are sour such as grapefruit and limes can taste acidic, however, upon ingestion break down into a base-forming alkaline “ash”. “Ash” is the end product which remains in the body after the food has been broken down through digestion. Foods which produce an alkaline ash are classified as “base-forming” foods, whereas those producing an acid ash are called “acid-forming” foods.

The body will try to compensate for acidic pH by using alkaline minerals. If the diet does not contain enough minerals to compensate, a build up of acids in the cells will occur. Fortunately, it is quite easy to change the pH level almost immediately for the better and make it more alkaline. It’s a matter of changing your diet and eliminating some of the more acid foods and adding more alkaline foods.

Before you start, it’s a good idea to get a baseline of what the pH is in your body so you can see how you are improving or if you need to continue to eliminate more acid foods and add in more alkaline ones. You can do this by testing the pH of your saliva on a regular basis. This is really simple to do using the AIM Canada pH Test Kit (range 5.0 – 9.0). The test kit contains 100 pH test strips.

In addition to decreasing the amount of acid foods we eat and increasing the amount of alkaline foods we eat, one of the best ways to immediately begin changing our pH is to drink “green drinks”. AIM BarleyLife® will help support our health by providing the body with the necessary nutrients to help balance the body pH and is an excellent source of alkalinity.

To learn more about the AIM Canada pH Test Kit or AIM BarleyLife® please visit our AIM Store Website at http://awealthofhealth.myaimstore.com click on Products, then…Canadian Residents, then…Products and Sales Tools. You will find the PH Strips under the heading AIM Canada pH Test Kit—100 pH test strips about one third of the way down the page.

Happy Easter..eat some chocolate!

It’s Easter time! What better way to celebrate than to spend time with family and friends, give thanks for what Easter really means, and eat some chocolate.

Chocolate is one of the world’s most favourite foods and recent research is showing that eating moderate amounts of dark chocolate can be good for us. Because it is made from plants, chocolate contains many of the health benefits of dark vegetables. These benefits are from the flavonoids, which act as polyphenol antioxidants, protecting our body from aging caused by free radicals.

Research has demonstrated that the quality and quantity of antioxidants in chocolate is relatively high when compared to other high-antioxidant foods and dark chocolate contains about eight times the polyphenol antioxidants found in strawberries. Having 65 percent or higher cocoa content, dark chocolate contains a large number of antioxidants, and has far more antioxidants than white or milk chocolate.

The earliest record of chocolate was several thousand years ago in the South American rain forests, where this ideal climate provides all the necessary ingredients for cultivation of the Cacao Tree. Worshipped by the Mayan civilisation the Cacao Tree was believed to be of divine origin, hence it’s generic Latin name meaning ‘Food of the Gods’. The Mayan word Cacao was corrupted into ‘Cocoa’ by Europeans. The Aztecs, who came after the Mayan’s, also prized the beans and used them as currency. In 1528, Cortez brought chocolate to Europe. The first chocolate factories soon opened in Spain. and by the early 17th century chocolate powder, from which the drink was made, was being exported to other parts of Europe

The Cocoa beverage made from the powder became popular, first in Italy then France, the Netherlands, Germany and finally, in about 1520 it arrived in England with the first Chocolate House opening in London in 1657, with many others to follow. In the early 1700’s English colonists carried chocolate with them to England’s colonies in North America, which later became Canada and the United States, and are now the worlds largest consumers of chocolate.

Eating 40 to 50 grams a day of plain dark chocolate with a minimum cocoa content of 70% or more, can be beneficial to your health. Look for pure dark chocolate or dark chocolate with nuts, orange peel or other flavourings. Avoid anything with caramel, nougat or other fillings, which are just adding sugar and fat that can erase many of the benefits you get from eating the chocolate.

With all the known health benefits chocolate can provide for us it makes sense to include a small amount in our diet. Happy Easter …..eat some chocolate!

The good, the bad, and the brittle

Our bones. They keep us upright, they keep us tall. They help us walk, and they keep us strong. Without them, we’d be a blob and flop around like jelly. They give us shape and support, and help to protect our heart, lungs, brain and other organs. They team up with our muscles, and if we don’t take care of our bones they become weak, brittle and even break.

Along with cartilage the adult human skeletal system is typically compromised of 206 bones, and their strength is essential to whole body health and wellness. Considering that about 99% of our body’s calcium is stored in our bones and teeth, it makes good sense to keep our supply topped up daily. If our daily diet is low in calcium, bone is literally broken down to keep our blood calcium level normal--because calcium plays other critical roles in supporting our bodies’ vital functions such as maintaining our heartbeat and controlling our blood pressure.

Our body continually removes and replaces small amounts of calcium from our bones. If the body removes more calcium than it replaces, our bones will become weaker and have a greater chance of breaking. Because bones have their own “calcium bank account” it’s important we keep this account balanced. If too much calcium is “withdrawn” and not enough is “deposited” we run the risk of creating a calcium deficiency, which can lead to an increased risk of fractures, osteoporosis and other ailments.

There are many ways to get calcium in our daily diet and ensuring we’re getting enough, through diet and supplementation, is crucial in maintaining strong, healthy bones. Our diet should include the primary food sources of calcium—dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, kale and cabbage. Sardines, eggs, tofu and low-fat dairy products are also rich in calcium, which help support a healthy skeletal frame.

It’s also important we get regular exercise and sufficient sleep. Because bones are living tissue, weight-bearing physical activity causes new bone tissue to form, which makes bones stronger. Not only is this type of physical activity good for our bones, it also makes our muscles stronger. By pushing and tugging against each other, and gravity, both our bones and muscles benefit. Some examples of weight-bearing physical activities include: walking, running, dancing, aquafit, rebounding, stair climbing, hiking and weight lifting.

Considering calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body we tend to think it’s only purpose is keeping our bones and teeth healthy. However, this mineral is also needed for the proper function of our heart, muscles and nerves. Recent studies are linking high-calcium diets to weight loss and are suggesting that a diet rich in calcium may even help lower and maintain blood pressure levels.

Recognizing the importance of calcium to our health, The AIM Companies™ formulated CalciAIM™ which provides highly absorbable calcium and other supporting nutrients which are crucial for proper skeletal function and overall wellness.

Carefully formulated to determine the most beneficial types of calcium, the most effective method of delivery, and a combination of nutrients to help achieve superior whole-body health, CalciAIM™ (along with a healthy diet and exercise) can help us have and maintain strong healthy bones. A combination of 3 types of calcium, magnesium, L-lysine, vitamins C & D, zinc, and copper, this unique powder drink mix delivery system provides excellent calcium absorption levels helping in the development and maintenance of our bones,cartilage, teeth and gums.

The good, the bad, and the brittle…what type of bones would you like?

If you’d like more information about CalciAIM™ please visit the AIM website at http://awealthofhealth.myaimstore.com where you can read more, download a data sheet or watch a video.