Kids Multivitamins | IDLife Kids Nutrition - Product Review

There are many kids / children's multivitamins on the market and it's difficult to determine the best kids vitamin. IDLife Kids Nutrition is a high quality vitamin for ages 2 and up. This review will show you how IDLife is creating a standard that other companies are striving to meet.

IDLife has formulated a vitamin that covers antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, the basic nutrients for bone development, nervous system, cardio vascular development, but more important, brain (neurodevelopment, memory development) and vision (eye/retina development).

The safety of the product, the healthy levels of ingredients, the quality... nobody has a product like this on the market, it simply didn't exist until now. IDLife is creating a benchmark for other companies to try to achieve (and this applies to all of their product lines, not just IDLife Kids Nutrition). IDLife Kids Nutrition is the leading vitamin for children, and I'm going to show you why, so let's dig into the details...

Background on IDLife Kids Nutrition and Competition

About 14 months ago IDLife starting looking at nutrition for kids. They looked at what was currently available from competitors and what science was available. Unfortunately, not many studies are out there, and what is available, has your standard recommendations between 11 to 18 minerals (think of the cartoon character that drives the stone car). They wanted to find out what was good out there and what they should include in their formula.

They were mortified by what was available. These other companies selling nutrition products for kids to caring parents to supplement diets from fast foods and non-nutritious foods... giving them a vitamin expecting all bases to be covered. These vitamins have labels promising health and vitality and it's just plain deceptive. Why? Most of those vitamins with the standard 11 nutrient formula have no minerals. There is one that has no B1, B2, or Vitamin K. Another had a moderate level of iron (which for children under 6 can have a danger of poisoning!). Many had no calcium or manganese.

The "Bad Stuff"

Many kids vitamins contain artificial ingredients; chemical forms of sweeteners, synthetics, artificial flavoring, preservatives, and other additives - all of the "bad things". Others have label paint, a lot of ingredients listed that impress people thinking that they have plenty of coverage. But when you look at the amounts, the levels of those ingredients, they do not meet what science indicates as being efficacious.. required by the body. They end up being sub-potent and do not meet the bodies requirements.

"Unlike most children’s vitamins that contain artificial ingredients and fillers, IDLife Kids Nutrition offers a formula that will ensure your child is getting the best ingredients available with no artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, preservatives or additives. Boasting 24 vitamins and minerals, these easy-to-chew tablets deliver all the necessary ingredients that your child needs to fill their nutritional gaps with a great taste that will have them begging for more." - IDLife

IDLife Kids Nutrition Ingredients

So what is IDLife's philosophy on a good kids vitamin? I mentioned some of the bad stuff that may be in your kids vitamins. Or simply the lack of what should be included. Paul Sullivan, the Chief Formulator, for IDLife decided that the vitamin should include, what he calls, the three "A's" and two "P's".

The three A's.

1. Anti-inflammatory
2. Anti-neurotoxic
3. Antioxidant (read about free radicals and oxidants here)
   

The two P's

1. Pro brain development
2. Pro eye development

Many focus on the A's, but everyone misses on the P's.

"Kids, like adults, are deficient in certain vitamins and minerals due to a number of contributing factors. To address these nutritional gaps, IDLife has developed a fun and great tasting chewable packed with 24 vitamins and minerals designed just for kids." - IDLife

Cofactors

IDLife included cofactors in their vitamins which many others lack. Cofactors are basically an insurance factor that helps with metabolism and absorption, cellular absorption as well; they are complimentary to the vitamins. And nobody else does it to the extent that IDLife does.

So, let's take a look at some of the ingredients (vitamins, minerals, and cofactors) that are in IDLife Kids Nutrition.

Methylfolate and Methylcobalamin

They mandated two ingredients, methylfolate and methylcobalamin. I've mentioned folic acid and the associated dangers in a previous post, and many of you probably have heard of the MTHFR gene abnormality (having this marker hampers the process to properly absorb folic acid). Why is this important? Not a single kids vitamin has methylfolate and nobody has requested to use it, which is shocking. Both of these ingredients are so critical to overall health.

"Folate deficiency in the periconceptional period contributes to neural tube defects; deficits in vitamin B₁₂ (cobalamin) have negative consequences on the developing brain during infancy; and deficits of both vitamins are associated with a greater risk of depression during adulthood." - Journal on the Effects of vitamin B12 and folate deficiency on brain development in children.

Methylfolate alone may help in clinical depression. Folate (B9) is an essential nutrient that is required for DNA replication, it cannot be synthesized by the body, it can only be obtained from diet or supplementation. Methycobalamin (Methyl B12) rescues neurons from cell death due to excess homocysteine (toxic to neurons). It has also been shown to help with Autism. There are many other benefits as well.

Choline

Choline is essential for the integrity and signaling functions of cell membranes. It's primarily for brain and memory development. Some prenatal vitamins even lack this critical nutrient, so the child is pretty much depleted of that nutrient right out of gate. It helps develop those neurotransmitters, the signaling pathways within membranes in the brain. It also helps methlyfolate to develop cells and DNA in a healthy manner.

"Choline is critical during fetal development, when it influences stem cell proliferation and apoptosis, thereby altering brain and spinal cord structure and function and influencing risk for neural tube defects and lifelong memory function." - Journal - Choline: Critical Role During Fetal Development and Dietary Requirements in Adults

Inositol

Inositol works closely with Choline for nerve cell communication. And it can help fight depression in children as there is evidence that depressed kids have lower levels of inositol. Adults as well.

"A double-blind controlled trial of 12 g daily of inositol in 28 depressed patients for four weeks was performed. Significant overall benefit for inositol compared to placebo was found at week 4 on the Hamilton Depression Scale." - Controlled trials of inositol in psychiatry.

It's also beneficial for the eye membranes.

Lutein

There are few vitamins out there for kids that have ingredients to help the eyes. Lutein is essential to both the brain (helps improve neurons) and retina. They also have zeaxanthin and carotenoids listed in their ingredients. For a child's first 4 years these nutrients are important, eye development is very rapid in the first year. Long term cognitive performance, learning and memory all are impacted by these nutrients.

"Oral supplementation with the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) formulation (antioxidant vitamins C and E, beta carotene, and zinc) has been shown to reduce the risk of progression to advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Observational data suggest that increased dietary intake of lutein + zeaxanthin (carotenoids), omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (docosahexaenoic acid [DHA] + eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA]), or both might further reduce this risk." - Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 Research Group.

These are the basic nutrients for bone development, nervous system, cardio vascular. But more important, brain and vision. Before the child can even speak they use their vision to learn.

And it's not just for children. I take a zeaxanthin supplement (EyePromise Restore) as I have a low MPOD (Macular Pigment Optical Density) score, which as seen above, can lead to macular degeneration when you are older.

Other Vitamins and Minerals

• Vitamin A deficiency can result in poor immune function. Infant impaired neural cognitive development is another result from a deficiency in Vitamin A. It promotes normal growth and development; tissue and bone repair; healthy skin (inside and out), eyes, and immune responses. It also helps protect against many forms of cancer. 
• Zinc is used in over 200 enzymes in the body. It promotes a healthy nervous system and brain, especially in the fetus. 
• Calcium for building strong bones, contracting muscles, teeth health, clots blood. 
• Vitamin D helps maintain healthy and strong bones by retaining calcium. 
• Vitamin K for metabolism pathways in tissue and bone. It can reduce neural damage and stop free radicals. Also controls blood-clotting.
• Vitamin E is an important antioxidant. It protects the cells from damage. It prevents blood clots, improves wound-healing, it's good for the skin, and helps against cancer.
• Vitamin B1 (aka thiamine) is essential for energy function and intellectual development (brain function). It helps the body make use of protein. 
• Riboflavin (aka B2) is also used for energy (by converting fats, protein, sugars), healthy skin repair and maintenance, used for hair, nails, eyes. Also important to help protect against free radacals. 
• Niacin (B3) helps lower cholesterol levels and balance blood sugar. Also helps with diarrhea. 
• Pantothenic Acid (B5) controls fat metabolism, creates anti-stress hormones, helps with immunity. 
• Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) has been shown to help with protein digestions, brain function, hormone production, help balance sex hormones (more useful in older individuals with PMS and menopause), used as a natural anti-depressant, and known to help with allergic reactions. 
• Biotin (B7) is particularly important for children to prevent pain and fatigue in muscles, that ache from physical activity. 
• Vitamin B12 is essential for energy, it helps to carry oxygen in your blood. Also helps with allergens and deals with toxins. It's also essential for the nerves. 
• Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) - What doesn't this remarkable nutrient do? It's a very important antioxidant that strengthens the immune system. It fights pollutants, helps to protect the heart from disease, it protects against cancer, turns food into energy, helps making those anti-stress hormones, keeps joints, skin, and bones firm by making collagen. 
• Selenium is another antioxidant that helps protect the body from free radicals. It can also reduce inflammation, fight infections, and helps the Vitamin E's processes. 
• Manganese is important for the thyroid and calcium absorption. It helps cartilage formation, tissues, nerves, stabilizes blood sugars, promotes healthy RNA, and is important for insulin production. 

Wait, No Iron?

You may have noticed there is no Iron. This was an executive decision by IDLife, and included many many long conversations. Why? Because under the age of 6 it’s a big danger. There should be a warning on vitamins that contain iron. Just imagine if you had an open bottle of delicious candy (to your 1 or 2 year old) laying around. They could ingest far too much and cause iron poisoning.  If they are over 6, you can probably add iron. But IDLife decided against adding iron, especially since they wanted to create a vitamin for children as young as 2 (like my son in the picture at the beginning of this post). They did find safer versions of iron that could possibly work, but it's a risk they do not want to take.

Summary

With the risks we are seeing today, such as the dangers from sugar (primarily fructose) and associated cancer risks from processed meats, it's your duty as a parent to make sure your children are meeting their requirements to live long healthy lives. It can be difficult to determine if they are getting their required essential nutrients. It's more difficult to find a high quality product that doesn't contain artificial ingredients (colors, preservatives, additive, sweeteners).

The intentions and the way IDLife designed their kids nutrition product should tell you that it was a labor of love. The science behind it, which keeps changing, is solid (and they will reformulate as the science evolves). IDLife has created a product line that nobody else has, it simply didn't exist at this quality. It will help to develop your kids immune system, help protect them from everything they are exposed to, they'll be healthiest kids on the block.

Order IDLife Kids Nutrition <-- CLICK HERE!
30 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE

FAQ

Q: When should my kids switch to IDLife Nutrition?

A: At the age of 12+ and 100 pounds healthy weight, once they have reached maturity.

Resources:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3218540/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3137939/
http://www.clinicaleducation.org/2011/11/01/methylfolate-and-methyl-b12-play-a-profound-role-in-health/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2441939/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3607807/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3140638/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inositol
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9169302

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23644932

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2699988/

Conference call with Paul Sullivan - October 2015 

Study shows cutting sugar improves children's health

A study conducted on 43 children, published in the journal Obesity, found reductions in diastolic blood pressure, lactate, triglycerides, and LDL-cholesterol when sugar was substituted for starch (complex carbohydrates) over the period of 10 days. The children had very little weight change in this time, less than 2 lbs, in fact they tried to not have a reduction or change in weight. No other dietary changes were made or exercise introduced. They also noted that glucose tolerance and hyperinsulinemia improved.

The children's diet contained comparable amounts of protein, fat, and carbs with a reduction in sugar (from 28% to 10%). The only change; sugar was substituted with starch. So instead of pastries or high sugar/fructose foods, they had other complex carbohydates such as those in fruit, bagels, cereal, pasta, and bread.

"This “child-friendly” study diet included various no- or low-sugar added processed foods including turkey hot dogs, pizza, bean burritos, baked potato chips, and popcorn that were purchased at local supermarkets. "

 

Why limit sugar to 10%?

 

In January, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) presented their scientific report for U.S Dietary Guidelines (which is 571 pages long!). In their findings they recommend 10%, maximum, for daily sugar intake.

"The DGAC recommends limiting added sugars to a maximum of 10% of total daily caloric intake. This recommendation is supported by: 1) the food pattern modeling analysis conducted by the 2015 DGAC and 2) the scientific evidence review on added sugars and chronic disease risk conducted by the Committee." - Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (page 466+)

This is also based on the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. If you want to read more, download the report from here.

Why not just remove all sugar? 

 

Other studies have looked at removing all sugar, or using excess sugar to test it's effects. There are also studies that specifically test weight gain only with sugar. Whereas this study focuses on those that already have metabolic syndrome and adjusting their daily intake of sugar (and fructose) to the daily recommended limit and not focusing on weight loss/gain, - just the impact of limiting sugar on their diseases, even though in 33 children they did see weight loss (more on this below). 

"Metabolic syndrome is a clustering of at least three of five of the following medical conditions: abdominal (central) obesity, elevated blood pressure, elevated fasting plasma glucose, high serum triglycerides, and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. Metabolic syndrome is associated with the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes." - Wikipedia

Is sugar bad?

So, the question, is sugar bad for you? Or is the resulting weight gain from sugar the cause for health problems? This study may help answer that question, even though it was only conducted on children that were obese and had metabolic syndrome. It was not conducted on children within a healthy weight range. However, please note that the associated diseases also occur with those that have a normal weight. But, they are more prevalent in obese children. Additional studies will be needed.

Weight loss 

 

An interesting side note, they wanted to keep weight stable to show just the impact of reducing sugar and fructose. The study points out that fructose "does not suppress the hunger hormone", which results in you consuming far more than you should. And it also, "stimulates the nucleus accumbens resulting in increased reward and continued ingestion".

"After the first 17 participants were studied, seven were noted to have lost >2% in weight, so caloric targets for each participant were increased by 10% thereafter."

Of course, those that didn't lose weight, saw the same improvements and trends in health as the other children who did lose weight.

"Furthermore, we analyzed the 10 participants who did not lose weight over the 10 days in a separate post hoc sensitivity analysis, and the results were directionally consistent as compared with the entire cohort."

What can you do?

 

Watch what your kids consume. Cut out the sugary drinks and the pastries, especially those that contain fructose. While you're at it, cut out artificial flavors, synthetics, and processed meats.

If you are looking for high quality vitamins, snack bars, kids shake, or a substitute for sugary drinks like Gatorade, take a look at IDLife's Kids nutrition line.

Develop healthy habits for your children

Resources:

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/oby.21371/abstract
http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015-scientific-report/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metabolic_syndrome

Processed meat and cancer

A team of scientists reviewed 800 epidemiological studies, with greatest weight to high population-based case-control studies, on the association of cancer risk due to consumption of processed meats and red meats. They just released a journal today: Carcinogenicity of consumption of red and processed meat - and as usual, the news is running wild with the story. "Meat causes cancer!". Perhaps it does...

First, let's define processed meat and red meat.

Processed meat is meat that has been transformed through a process like salting, smoking, fermentation, curing, and other methods to improve preservation or to enhance the flavor of the meat.  Hot dogs, baloney, ham, sausage, bacon (le sigh).

Red meat is "unprocessed mammalian muscle meat"; Pork, lamb, beef, veal, etc.

Note: The article does not mention if the studies were conducted with pasture-raised/grass-fed meats or industry meats.

How does meat processing cause cancer?

Smoking or curing meat can result in the formation of carcinogenic chemicals. Cooking meat, can also produce carcinogens. And High-temperature (frying, grilling, barbecuing) produces the highest amount of carcinogens. 

Did you know that fried food causes a significant amount of free radicals? And nitrosamine, which is a common chemical found in processed and cured meats, causes cancer ("90% of nitrosamine compounds were deemed to be carcinogenic" - Wikipedia). 

"A  majority of the Working Group concluded that there is sufficient evidence in human beings for the carcinogenicity of the consumption of processed meat." 

Not all 800 studies were used. For example, 12 of  18 cohort studies that provided relevant data showed positive associations of colorectal cancer with processed meats. In a meta-analysis of colorectal cancer from ten studies, they saw an 18% increase per 50g per day of processed meats.

What about red meat?

Only 7 of the 15 case-control studies, with relevant data, showed positive associations of colorectal cancer with high consumption of red meat, which is a limited data set. In a meta-analysis of colorectal cancer from ten studies, they saw an 17% increase per 100g per day of processed meats.

However, red meat also contains important micro-nutrients, such as B vitamins (B12, B6) and iron. It also has high biological-value proteins. Meat also contains CoQ10, which is an antioxidant that helps protect cells from carcinogens (also in fish, nuts, and seeds).

Summary

"A  majority of the Working Group concluded that there is sufficient evidence in human beings for the carcinogenicity of the consumption of processed meat." However, for red meat, they found that there is limited evidence to support carcinogenicity of red meat consumption. But they classify it as "probably carcinogenic to humans".

Most people already know processed meats are unhealthy. This is not ground breaking news folks! And just to put things into perspective, about your risk from meat, there are over a million deaths per year from smoking, and red meats? Assuming all of the above is accurate, less than 34,000.

What should I eat/do?

Stay away from processed foods. Not just processed meats, but party goods, ice cream, deli, etc.. You can also up your veggies and fruit intake - your antioxidants. For example, grapes, strawberries, and raspberries contain ellagic acid that can neutralize carcinogens before they mutate or damage your DNA.

Or, if you are open to a high quality nutrition program, take a look at ID Nutrition, which depending on your personal lifestyle, health, medical conditions, environmental factors, hereditary history, allergies, and diet, can contain significant amounts of antioxidants to help fight carcinogens. 

Also stay away from artificial colors and flavorings, soda (including Diet Soda), white flour, corn syrup (your pastries) -  you know the drill.

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045%2815%2900444-1/fulltext

http://www.healthdata.org/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coenzyme_Q10

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrosamine

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellagic_acid

GNC sued due to ingredients in supplements

Back in Feburary, an investigation by the New York State attorney general’s office, tested store-brand herbal supplements at GNC, Target, Wal-Mart, and Walgreens. They tested 24 products and all but five contained unknown ingredients or a form of which was not related to the product. 

“Contamination, substitution and falsely labeling herbal products constitute deceptive business practices and, more importantly, present considerable health risks for consumers,” said the letters.


Currently, this week, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum has filed a lawsuit against GNC due to substances called picamilon and BMPEA. Both of which are illegal in the US. Picamilon is a prescription drug which has been used to treat neurological conditions. And BMPEA has been banned for athletes, it's a amphetamine-like stimulant.

"It is scary to know that certain products sold by GNC contain an ingredient that is not even labeled -- let alone approved in the United States," Rosenblum said. "When Oregonians buy a dietary supplement, they deserve to know that the ingredients in the products are safe and comply with the law."

Apparently, Vitamin Shoppe, back in April, had to pull supplements off of shelves due to BMPEA as well.

Scary stuff! And just another example, an outbreak of hepatitis struck at least 72 people in 2013. This was across 16 states! And it was all due to a contaminated supplement. One woman died. Three others had to have liver transplants!

There are no guidelines, no regulations for the supplement industry. It's all up to the manufacturer. So who do you trust for your supplements?

If you are looking for products that are high quality, pharmaceutical grade, and follow FDA regulations (even though they are not required) check out ID Life. They have Vitamins, Pre and Post workout supplements, Weight loss supplements, Energy, Meal replacement drink, and even a Kid's line. Or you can read my ID Life review here.

Be Safe! Research what you are buying, read the ingredient labels.

Folic Acid vs Folate - Risks and Dangers

Folate is found in many fortified foods and supplements, usually as folic acid, and is considered an important nutrient. It's found and listed on many prenatal vitamins and is recommended to take before and during pregnancies. However, recent research shows some serious risks associated with folic acid, such as cancer. And with a genetic mutation of the MTHFR gene, nearly 40% of the population may not be able to properly absorb folic acid. So, what should you be taking and what should you avoid? First, some basics, what is folic acid, folate, and L-methylfolate?

Folic Acid ($50 per kilo)

It's an oxidized synthetic compound and derived from folate. On average, you can get a kilo of folic acid for about $50. Very cheap and easy to obtain. If you have a genetic mutation with the MTHFR gene, you ability to process and break down folic acid properly is limited. There are numerous studies coming out that show serious risks when taking folic acid (more on that below).

Folate and L-methylfolate ($15,000 per kilo)

Folate is natural and found in foods (aka B-9), such as Lentils and Spinach. It's been shown to help with neural tube defects (NTD) during pregnancy.

L-methylfolate is man-made, and therefore synthetic as well. However, it's already broken down, unlike folic acid. So for those with the mutated MTHFR gene, they can absorb it far easier (see more below). However, in order to make it stable as a supplement, it is VERY costly. A kilo of L-methylfolate will set you back about $15,000!

The MTHFR Gene

The Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (NAD(P)H) gene is used in a process to create an enzyme in processing amino acids. This enzyme, Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, is involved in a multi-step process to convert the homocysteine amnio acid to another called methionine, which is used to make other proteins and compounds in your body.

However, there are around 40 mutations of this gene. This prevents the body from processing certain amino acids properly, such as folic acid. Somewhere around 40 to 50% of the population has a type of this mutation! This mutation can cause depression, anxiety, miscarriages, pre-cancerous cells, and other medical issues.

Folic-acid Dangers?

For years now folic acid has been an important nutrient for prenatal vitamins. However, recent research says otherwise. Some 40% to 50% of the population can't properly absorb it. And it's "fortified" in a lot of foods we eat, and in MANY supplements and vitamins. This was introduced as mandatory in 1998, as a protective effect before and during pregnancy for NTD (neural tube defects). What are the other risks?

• Breast Cancer Increase
• Colon Cancer Increase
• Prostate Cancer Increase
• Cognitive Impairment
• Childhood Asthma

A study published in 2014 shows that folic acid supplementation may promote mammary tumor progression. This doesn't say it causes cancer, but can promote the progression of breast cancer if it already exists, by 20 to 30%!

Another study shows an increase in colon cancer (about 35%) in the U.S., Canada, and Chile that utilized a flour fortification program with folic acid. And,on a related note, a clinical trial shows a risk of prostate cancer, a 163% increased risk.

Vitamin B12 can be masked by having a high intake of folic acid. The low levels of B12 and high folic acid has found to cause a higher prevalence of cognitive impairment in older Americans.

Another study showed that an increase of 26% in childhood asthma due to mother's supplementing with folic acid during pregnancy.

Should I stop taking folic acid?

There are studies that show we are deficient and that folate does indeed provide protective benefits. But with the research research, folic acid is not a good replacement for folate. Currently, to supplement or for your prenatal vitamins, look for L-methylfolate in your vitamins. Natural foods is best, such as Lentils, Spinach, Asparagus, Pinto Beans, Navy Beans, Black beans, etc for obtaining folate. If you eat clean, and have the nutritional knowledge to do so, then by all means go for natural foods.

To answer the question, stop taking folic acid.

Do not take multivitamins that contain folic acid and do not take prenatal vitamins that contain folic acid.

If you have a busy life and do not have the time to research what you should be taking, then help armor yourself. I highly recommend trying ID Nutrition. If you want a pharmaceutical grade vitamin nutrition program, that is unique to you, your lifestyle, your medical conditions, and environment,  that has no folic acid, and protects you from drug interactions, then you've found it! You can take the assessment for free.

ID Nutrition and folic acid

The Chief Formulator talked to ID Life's leadership about folic acid and L-methylfolate about 18 months ago. It went something like this (Note: not word for word):

He informed leadership that "methylfolate is a better source and better absorbed by the population. Whereas folic acid may not be absorbed very well by nearly 40% of the population with a genetic mutation." The Chief Formualtor also said, "there is an associated cost... that folic acid is around $80 a kilo and methylfolate is $15,000 a kilo". ID Life leadership said, "okay, so it's better, and you recommend it?" He replied, "yes". The leadership went on to say, "we don't care about the cost, go ahead, and put it in."

That mindset, mission, dedication... that's how you know you are getting the best nutrition program on the market today. Nobody else has anything like this.

Take the free assessment for ID Nutrition!

All relevant studies on what is recommended that is unique to you is available for free after taking the assessment (also free). And there is a 30 day money back guarantee! So add that extra arrow to your quiver and armor yourself for the future!
  

Additional reading

• You may be drinking or eating something right now that could be causing free radicals and not even know!
• Are your children getting the proper nutrition? Are they picky eaters? Read about ID Life's Kids Nutrition here. 
• What to know more "sciencey" stuff about Genes and Nutrition?
• Do you have trouble sleeping? Read about how I solved my sleep issues.
• Want to know more about ID Life? <-- CLICK!

Resources
http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/MTHFR

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18038944
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3897399/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19190501
http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/content/101/6/432.full
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15824266
http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/85/1/193.abstract
http://chriskresser.com/folate-vs-folic-acid/
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=63
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19880541

The Pill and Nutrition

The Pill, (aka: Birth Control Pill, Oral Contraceptive), can deplete nutrients from your body amongst other harmful effects. This has been known since the 80's, "The use of contraceptive pills has been shown to decrease the physiologic levels of six nutrients--riboflavin, pyridoxine, folacin, vitamin B12, ascorbic acid and zinc".

Apparently, the label fails to mention that you should be on a healthy diet, even though in the literature it does mention nutrient depletion. 

"It was concluded that females consuming OCA [Oral contraceptives agents] should pay particular attention to vitamin and mineral intake and, if warranted, consume physiologic supplements of needed nutrients."

Were you informed about these depletions? How is your nutrition?

 I also found the following interesting from the Susan G. Komen® organization.
  
"Current or recent use of birth control pills (oral contraceptives) slightly increases the risk of breast cancer. Studies show that while women are taking birth control pills (and shortly after), they have a 20 to 30 percent higher risk of breast cancer than women who have never used the pill"

There is evidence that being on The Pill can cause birth defects and mis-carriages. Be sure to stop taking it if you are planning to become pregnant. Recommendations vary, but stop 6 months before trying (this is what my wife was told from her OBGYN, and what we implemented).

Nutrition wise, being on ID Nutrition can make a huge difference for you and your family. Consider it a shield, an extra arrow in your quiver, to help protect you from the unknown dangers lurking in everything from your car fumes, medications (The Pill), city water, processed and fried foods, to your own stress levels.

If you want a healthier life with high quality nutrition, take your free assessment here. There is a 30 day money back guarantee if you order, or simply print out the recommendation and take it to your Dr. All ingredients are pharmaceutical grade, which means they go through rigorous testing and numerous control protocols, the same tests used for your medications at the pharmacy. No pesticides, preservatives, food coloring, none of the "bad stuff". All individualized for you based on your assessment, allergies, medications, ailments and conditions.


Resources:
http://ww5.komen.org/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6481708
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7001015
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7400487

The Doctor of the Future

Sickness, accidents, etc are going to happen. But having the proper nutrition, eating the right healthy foods is how you can take control of your own life. You do not have to hand it all over to the doctors and labs. I have no animosity towards doctors or health care providers. They provide excellent healthcare and want to help others. However, you can still educate yourself…

"The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease." – Thomas Edison

Even Mr. Edison knew all those years ago that exercise and nutrition were the key to prevent disease, or at least help diminish the risk.

A single individual can't process all of this information, all of the scientific journals and studies. The assessment, containing around 5,460 algorithms (currently) , knows the drug interactions with supplements. It has advanced formulas to determine what should be taken with what and when they should be taken. It changes when you change, when you take new medications, have new ailments. You can update your assessment at any time, and it's recommended to do so every quarter even if you are already healthy.

It's all right here, in this free assessment. It will help you to improve yourself, it gives you the information you need and helps you avoid possible drug interactions.

Every day that you take your ID Nutrition, trust that you are on your way to maintaining and increasing your health. And decreasing future diseases. They will get worse, diseases... Just look at MRSA. It's your choice to keep your immune system as strong as  possible to face the diseases of the future.

Is the Dr of the future here? I don't know, but it's amazing what we can accomplish with today's science and technology! This is a step in the right direction. Just remember that one size does not fit all when it comes to your nutrition! Take your free assessment and get your personalized, your individualized nutrition, program today!

Take control of your health! <-CLICK

What are free radicals or oxidants?

Cell Oxidation

To understand free radicals (oxidants) you'll need a basic understanding of how your genetic expression is changed through methyl tags (I cover the basics on epigenetics in a previous post). In simplistic terms, in DNA methylation, proteins attach tags to your DNA in specific places. These tags are known as methyl groups. DNA methylation can supress your genes (turn them off). There is another part to this called histone acetylation, which basically, comes down to activating genes (turning them on).

Free Radicals (or oxidants) can come from our environment or be created in our bodies. Some environmental sources for free radials are: sunlight, fried food, poor diet, pollution, cigarette smoke, drugs, illness, stress. Smoking, diet, disease can change the chemical responses in your body and thereby lead changes to your epigenome. Your body can produce free radicals as well, such as burning fat. That fat molecule can be converted into energy which also creates free electrons.

"A free radical is a molecule with an unpaired electron. The molecule is reactive and seeks another electron to pair. Free radicals are involved in the mechanisms of damage associated with disease development"- wikipedia

So that free radical that is floating around doesn't have anything to attach to... That's where antioxidants come into play. They'll attach to that free radical and neutralize them. Otherwise, it could try to attach to other molecules, like DNA. These free radicals can be damaging and cause faulty methylation.This can form cancer cells, cause DNA mutations, and all sorts of bad mojo.


What does this mean for the cells in your body?

 “About a trillion molecules of oxygen go through each cell every day, inflicting about 100,000 free radicals hits or wounds on your cells genes or DNA, estimate geneticist, Bruce Aimes, of the University of California at Berkley.’’

According to Dr. Aimes, by the time we are old, each cell will have "a few million oxygen lesions"! For example, cancer, can be caused by changed in the epigenome.

"Cancers are caused by changes in the genome, the epigenome, or both. Changes in the epigenome can switch on or off genes involved in cell growth or the immune response. These changes can lead to uncontrolled growth, a hallmark of cancer, or to a failure of the immune system to destroy tumors." - Genome.gov

How can I prevent free radials?

Antioxidants can neutralize free radicals. These antioxidants can come from us (our bodies can create them) or from external; nutritional foods like vegetables, and supplements like vitamin C and spirulina. Spirulina has been found to have high concentrations of antioxidants. The issue is quality control, so make sure you have a high quality product.

"Quality control in the growth and process of Spirulina to avoid contamination is mandatory to guarantee the safety of Spirulina products." - cbi.nlm.nih.gov

The need for antioxidants in our daily life is becoming more critical with increased exposure to free radicals.

Before you jump on the bandwagon for antioxidants and overdose on Vitamin A, C or E, be aware that antioxidants can be harmful if not taken in moderation. Getting what you need, or knowing the amount needed, is something that is being debated by the health industry. There is a lack of evidence on how much they help (at least in human studies), but more research and studies are coming out frequently.

What can you do?

• First steps, check your diet. Diets rich in vegetables (antioxidants) have been shown to be 'good for you'. But, are you getting enough? If you are on a restrictive diet (Atkins or Low-Carb) you may not be getting the proper nutrition. Or for medical reasons, such as Gastroparesis (inability to empty your stomach), thereby limiting foods you can eat. This could possibly lead to getting a nutritional deficiency.

• Next, limit toxic environmental factors (such as exposure to smoking, stress, pollution, sunlight, etc). Stress is a huge one... work, family, lack of sleep, relationships, finding time to do just about anything.. you need to balance your life. It's not easy.
• Exercise daily. Note that exercising can increase free radicals! However, regular exercise can also protect against free radical damage by enhancing your antioxidant defense system. But, if you only exercise excessively once or twice a week... it can generate more free radicals. So for you "weekend-warriors", it may be doing more harm than good due to the increased oxygen utilization. 30 minutes a day keeps the fee radicals at bay (I just made that up).
• Limit over supplementation. Figure out what your body needs based on your lifestyle habits, allergies, dietary habits, medical conditions, prescriptions, and goals. You can do so through the free assessment link located at the bottom of this page.

Summary/TLDR!

Free Radicals can lead to epigenome changes that can lead to human disease, such as cancer. How do you prevent them? Eat right (fruits and veggies), limit toxins (smoking, pollution, fried food, STRESS), daily exercise regime, supplement if you can't eat right, and limit over supplementation (figure out what you need using the health assessment below). You are unique; your environment, diet, DNA, everything. Your nutrition should be too.

>> Click here to take your free assessment. <<

References:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20633020
https://www.genome.gov/27532724
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_radical
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antioxidant
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3249911/
https://nccih.nih.gov/health/antioxidants/introduction.htm
http://www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/antiox.html
http://thenationonlineng.net/anti-aging-tips-for-buhari-in-change-era-3/

Are you unproductive and dead tired?

Here are some tips for when you are unproductive and dead tired:

• Drink more water. Being dehydrated leaves you feeling tired and lethargic. Get a 1 gallon insulated jug, fill it half with ice, add water, and take it to work. Try to drink it all before you get home.
• Take breaks. Take a brisk walk every couple of hours. It’ll help force the water into your body and muscles; otherwise it’ll just run right through you.
• Caffeine may give you a temporary boost. For myself, caffeine keeps me awake, but it doesn’t give me tons of ‘energy’. It’ll help fight off sleep, but it has diminishing returns. It helps right before a workout after working all day. Also, drink even more water if you are taking in caffeine as it is a diuretic. I've tried caffeine pills, and a multiverse of energy drinks (some make me queasy or I crash HARD afterwards). So far, the best sustained energy I've had is IDLife's ENERGY. I do not feel queasy or crash afterwards. I take this before my morning workouts (not at night as I would be up all night long!)
• Cut out the artificial light at night and listen to your body when you should go to sleep. Don’t trick your body into thinking its daytime when you should be sleeping. Google "blue light", it can suppress melatonin which can interfere with sleeping. 
• If you need something natural, try melatonin. Or try SLEEP, I take it nightly and it helps me to fall asleep and stay asleep.
• Get at least 8 hours of sleep. You should wake up naturally and not need an alarm. If you do, you are not getting enough sleep.
• Unwind after work. Do not go to sleep immediately after working, try to relax, spend time with your family, read a fun book, or watch a movie, just do something to unwind.
• Eat healthy, take a multi-vitamin, drink Shakeology, and make sure you are getting the correct supplements. My wife and I have a customized nutrition plan through IDLife (utilizes 7,000+ published studies for over 4 million possible combinations for nutritional supplementation). Also, putting junk (refined sugar and processed foods) into your body isn’t going to help you feel energetic. Vitamin D may help if you are a vampire (get some sunshine).
• Schedule more time for “guilt free play”. Find time where you can enjoy life and do not feel guilty about putting off other work.
• Exercise! View All Beachbody Products
• Look at your attitude. Excessive worry, holding onto small things can make you feel fatigued.
• Find something that excites passion in you, that motivates you, that invigorates you, something that gives you strength.

If you are doing all of the above, getting more than 10 hours of sleep a night, and still feel fatigued consult a physician. You may have a thyroid problem, sleep apnea, or who knows what.

My biggest problem area is getting more than 8 hours of sleep at night (9 hours seems to be about right for me). Just an extra 15 minutes of sleep can change you entire day. Exercise and eating healthy help a lot for me as well, I sleep better at night. I’ve been taking Shakeology which helps with my energy levels as well.

Good luck!

Disgusting! Numerous violations at egg farms.

Unless you've been living under a brick you have heard about the bad eggs that have been going around and the outbreaks of salmonella. Here is a new update from CNN.com.

(CNN) -- Rodents, piles of manure, uncaged birds and flies too numerous to count were found by investigators at Iowa farms at the heart of the recall of more than half a billion eggs, the Food and Drug Administration reported Monday.

Inspection reports released by the FDA noted numerous violations at six farms operated by Wright County Egg and Quality Egg, which are owned by the same family, and three Hillandale Farms locations.

At some Wright County Egg facilities, federal inspectors found chicken manure in piles up to eight feet high. In other spots, mounds of manure prevented doors from closing, allowing rodents and other animals to possibly come inside, FDA inspectors said. "The uncaged birds were using the manure [pile] ... to access the egg-laying area."

The report said Quality Egg and Wright County Egg workers did not always wear protective clothing, that birds were in storage and milling facilities, and feed bins had rusted holes and gaps. Inspectors also found maggots, and in some areas, "live and dead flies were too numerous to count."

Inspections at three Hillandale farms found -- among other things -- rodents and rodent holes, liquid manure leaking into a chicken house and uncaged chickens tracking manure from a manure pit into a caged henhouse, the inspectors said.

Federal officials pledged Monday to inspect all 600 facilities covered under the new egg rule within the next 15 months.

Triple Cheeseburger Heart Attack

I saw this over on failblog.

Stay away from those Triple Cheesburgers! Get something healthy instead like Shakeology.

A triple cheeseburger and large fry would contain 1040 calories total, 540 for the burger and 500 for the fries.

Stick with real fruit for your kids

Stick with real fruit and not the "made with real fruit" substitutes, at least according to an article at LA Times. The plastic wrapped bars, rolls, etc. are not as good and definitely not as health as the real thing.

.... parents shouldn't kid themselves. "They're not as good as eating regular fruit," no matter the promises on the package, says Mark Kantor, professor of nutrition and food science at the University of Maryland in College Park. Fruit snacks, whether or not they claim to provide a serving of fruit, don't offer all the nutritional benefits of whole fruit and often contain added sugars and sometimes fats, he says.

....

The bottom line: To give kids a serving of fruit, hand them an apple, cut up some watermelon or put blueberries on their cereal. But, says Nestle, when it comes to packaged fruit snacks, "consider these products fruit-flavored candy — and sticky at that."

Read more here.

7 Foods That Make You Smarter

Today's Beachbody Newsletter discusses 7 foods that make you smarter.

1. Spinach is one of the most nutrient-dense foods available.
2. Oatmeal is a great source of insoluble fiber, iron, magnesium, and zinc.
3. Fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
4. Walnuts contain protein and omega-3.
5. Berries with rich colors offer antioxidants, flavonoids, vitamin C, and have anti-inflammatory properties.
6. Yogurt is an excellent source for bones, containing one of the top sources of calcium. 
7. Eggs contain nutrients that aid in memory development and improve eye health (Egg yolks contain lutein).

Read more here on how the above foods make you smarter and younger.

Cell phone health study

We've heard it before; Switch your cell phone to the other side every 5 minutes. Use Bluetooth! Use the speaker phone. Well, someone is taking a look into the long-term health effects from cell phone use.

The biggest study to date into the effects of mobile-phone usage on long-term health was launched on Thursday, aiming to track at least a quarter of a million of people in five European countries for up to 30 years.

The Cohort Study on Mobile Communications (COSMOS) differs from previous attempts to examine links between mobile phone use and diseases such as cancer and neurological disorders in that it will follow users' behaviour in real time.
...
Professor Lawrie Challis from MTHR said: "Many cancers take 10, 15 years for the symptoms to appear. So we've got to address the question: Could there be something out there that we need to look at?"

Read more about the Biggest study on mobile phone health effects launched at itnews.

Carbs help you lose weight?

Health.com has an article on 8 Reasons Why Carbs Help You Lose Weight.

Eating a diet packed with the right kind of carbs is the little-known secret to getting and staying slim for life.

When we talk about the right kind of carbs, we mean Resistant Starch. Hundreds of studies conducted at respected universities and research centers have shown Resistant Starch helps you eat less, burn more calories, feel more energized and less stressed, and lower cholesterol.

At higher obese weights, low carb has been proven to help reduce weight fast (worked for me). Once you get your metabolism steam rolling and are at a manageable weight, you'll need those carbs to keep your energy up. Also eating five times a day is a must. Health.com has an article on 5 Truths About Low-Carb Diets. Remember to eat the RIGHT KINDs of carbs.

6 Reasons for Why Your Workout Isn’t Working and Bariatric Surgery

Here are some news snippets that caught my eye today.

From Health.com Tina Haupert goes into 6 reasons as to why her scale did not move despite countless hours at the Gym. I can see this happening to some if you are doing Beachbody workouts. Insanity, P90X, and other Beachbody programs are too intense to allow texting on a phone or to watch T.V. while working out. Their programs are also varied and changing so you will not get stuck in a routine that doesn't promote growth.


From The Atlantic Magazine Marc Ambinder goes into a lengthy discussion about Beating Obesity.

By 2015, four out of 10 Americans may be obese. Until last year, the author was one of them. The way he lost one-third of his weight isn’t for everyone. But unless America stops cheering The Biggest Loser and starts getting serious about preventing obesity, the country risks being overwhelmed by chronic disease and ballooning health costs. Will first lady Michelle Obama’s new plan to fight childhood obesity work, or is it just another false start in the country’s long and so far unsuccessful war against fat?

He focuses on diets and exercise saying, "There is a way to beat obesity. But it is radical and expensive. No other diet or weight-loss approach is remotely as effective as bariatric surgery. Most people who seek it out have tried everything else. Many of them can pinpoint the moment they concluded that they had no other choice.".

$30,000 for surgery on something that can be cured by eating right and exercise. People are too comfortable today in our society and they believe they have the RIGHT to be. Your body was not designed to sit idle day-in and day-out. It took a millennia for our bodies to become the amazing machine that they are today. Get off your butt and get moving! Of course there are genetic defects that can prevent that level of activity, but for the majority of us we are lazy and are looking for the magic pill.

Take a look around this site. Find a program that works for you. Get moving, don't worry about your neighbors fitness level, and in the words of Tony Horton, "Do your best and forget the rest".

Boost your immunity by losing 10 pounds

An Australian study has shown that losing 10 pounds could help boost your immunity system.

"Excess weight disorders now affect 50 percent of adult Australians, with obesity being the major cause of Type 2 diabetes and some cancers," said study researcher Katherine Samaras, a professor at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney. In the United States, one-third of the population is considered obese.

"The situation has reached crisis point, and people must be made aware that excess fat will affect their immune systems and therefore their survival," Samaras said.

A weight loss of about 13 pounds was enough to bring the levels of pro-inflammatory cells down to that found in lean people, according to Samaras.

Ugly? Quit Smoking

15 Ways Smoking Ruins Your Looks from Health.com.

Younger Next Year - A Book Review

I first heard about this book from Tony Horton's Blog (creator of Power 90 Extreme - P90x). He said it was the "catalyst for my present thinking". This is a fantastic book on how our bodies work and how to be/feel younger. It’s primarily targeted for those approaching retirement in their 50’s and 60’s. But, at the time of this review, I am 30. I’ve been recommending this book to family, friends, associates, and co-workers. It’s well written and the authors have a good sense of humor. The book was written by a medical doctor and his 70-year old patient.

I particularly enjoyed the science of how our bodies work. Several of my blog entries on Fit Corner are based on the knowledge I gained from Younger Next Year. The main concept of the book is about growth and decay. Cytokine-6 (C-6) and Ctyokine-10 (C-10). C-6 is the chemical that is constantly being produced in your body, a tidal wave (as they put it) that is forever crashing against you. Death approaches. C-10 is the master chemical for growth and repair.

They recommend 45 minutes a day of HARD exercise. Something that makes you sweat, six days a week. Not five days, four days, or less. Do both aerobic and strength training. In order to push back that tidal wave and produce the wonderful C-10 you must workout. You have to sweat. When you workout hard a flood of C-6 is produced. This is the catalyst that lets your body know to produce C-10. It’ll repair what you break down. It will make you stronger and healthier, younger next year.

The book also goes into several other aspects about your body and how it works. Saturated and unsaturated fats is fascinating (at least I found it to be). And, an important point in the book, is what you put in your mouth, what you eat for nutrition. Read up on what they think about French Fries!

The last few chapters of the book are about finding commitments in life and how to approach retirement. It’s a good read and has useful information but younger audiences may find themselves skimming through this section.

The original version of Younger Next Year is geared towards men. However, they have released an updated version for women as well. I’ve purchased one for my Dad and Mom. It’s a good book to have in your fitness arsenal and a good one to give to the people you care about. It’s an easy read and the science is presented in a clear and humorous manner.

High-fructose corn syrup causes weight gain

Princeton University conducted an experiment that shows High-fructose corn syrup can cause weight gain, even more so than table sugar. They discuss the long term effects that "led to abnormal increases in body fat, especially in the abdomen, and a rise in circulating blood fats called triglycerides".

Read the full article.