Overweight and thinking of pregnancy?

A commentary regarding preconception and obesity was released in the Obesity Journal today. The article details how obesity during pregnancy (high intake of calorie-dense and nutritionally depleted diets) has a correlation to infant death.

In their analysis of more than 1.2 million recent pregnancies and births in Pennsylvania, the risk of infant mortality increased linearly with maternal BMI, such that the risk of infant death (infant death per 1,000 births) for a mother entering pregnancy as normal weight was 3.7 compared to 4.6 for overweight, 5.3 for obese I, 6.5 for obese II, and 7.0 for obese III.

In the article, Leanne M. Redman and Suzanne Phelan, say that the Institute of Medicine suggests that women should not gain more than 20 pounds during a pregnancy and that they should enter the pregnancy at a normal weight. The increase in weight from being pregnant, along with poor diets, can lead to health issues for the mother and also her baby. The infant could be born small or larger than normal and have a higher risk for obesity in their life.

Infants born to women who begin pregnancy with obesity [body mass index (BMI) 30 kg/m2] are about 40% more likely to die than infants born to normal-weight mothers

Recommendation?

Reduce excessive weight if you plan on becoming pregnant (even though 50% of pregnancies are not planned!). Eat a proper diet and find a high quality nutrition program! 80% of weight loss is your nutrition and diet.

Further reading:

• The Pill and Nutrition
• Folic Acid vs Folate - Risks and Dangers 
• Study shows cutting sugar improves children's health
• Processed meat and cancer 
• Kids Multivitamins | IDLife Kids Nutrition - Product Review

You can read the entire commentary here and associated article here. 

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

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

Glucosamine Bleed Outs

Glucosamine is a very popular supplement to help with joint health (I’ve been taking it for several years). What I didn’t know is that Glucosamine can cause bruising and bleeding. Last year there were cases of bleed outs due to an interaction with Glucosamine and a prescription drug, Warfarin (Coumadin). In fact, many natural medicines can interact with Warfarin. This can be SERIOUS and DANGEROUS.

Do you know if your medications and supplements have dangerous interactions?

I didn’t know about this until today (the Chief Formulator for ID Life mentioned it in a conference call). As I’ve been taking IDNutrition, I wanted to mention that the assessment will prevent this specific combination of prescription drugs and supplements (by listing your medications and conditions). It analyzes and compares against recommended supplements.

Last year, there were 4,000 algorithms and now, 5,460+ algorithms that have evolved from 500 to some 2,600 drugs that are dispensed by Dr’s and Hospitals. Unless you read the literature that comes with your medications, or you talk to your pharmacist, how would you know about the interaction? Some 42 people that took this drug and supplement combination last year did not. 

Be careful about what you take if you are on prescriptions. ID Nutrition is one way to determine if you are taking the proper supplements with your medications. It’s a FREE assessment that will display the known interactions and the associated studies. Print it out; show it to your Doctor.

Live long and prosper.

Fiber and why you need it in your diet

There are two types of fiber. Soluble and Insoluble fiber. Soluble dissolves in water, insoluble does not. Insoluble provides that full feeling and increases your stool. 

If you are a low-carber, fiber is subtracted from your daily carb limit. This is because fiber cannot be absorbed by the body and passes through your digestive tract. Fat has 9 calories per gram, Protein and Carbs both have 4 calories per gram. Fiber has 0 calories. Also, for some on a low-carb diet, fiber will help if you are struggling with passing stool. 

Why do you want fiber in your diet?

Insoluble fiber, as it provides more bulk to your stool, can help with bowel issues, such as alleviating constipation. Soluble fiber can help stabilize blood glucose levels, suppress cholesterol syntheses, reduce LDL by binding to certain acids that contain cholesterol (so they end up in your stool rather than in your body), reduce formation of polyps, and other processes that promote health: 

• Reduce blood pressure
• Reduce risk of some cancers, such as colon cancer
• Increase Satiety (full-feeling)

Also, according to a Food Science Journal, fiber may help by saving some antioxidants for later absorption in the digestive tract.

To Juice or Blend

Blending keeps the fiber content, while juicing pulls out the fiber and keeps only the water substances. Obviously blending will help with satiety and also have plenty of nutrient absorption, and juicing will give an immediate concentrated dose of nutrients but lack the fiber. I blend. But there could be medical reasons why you would not want additional fiber; for example, juicing would be better for someone with Gastroparesis (inability for the stomach to empty properly due to vagus nerve damage, such as from high glucose levels in diabetics). 

How much fiber should I get every day?

20 to 35g’s a day according to the United States National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine. Most only get 12 to 18. Men, under 50, should aim for 37+ and women, 25+. Over 50? Slightly less, around 5g less.

Is there an easy way to get fiber?

Eat more vegetables and fruit, all plant based foods will have fiber (they also provide tons of other nutrients and antioxidants as well)! Of course, there are fiber supplements you can take. Be leery if it hasn’t been backed up by scientific studies or has 3rd party verification of the actual ingredients. Personally, I try to take only pharmaceutical grade supplements and nutrition, so I take a meal replacement shake from ID Life every day for Lunch that has additional fiber.

I’m taking more fiber and I still can’t poop!

Drink more water! You need to keep it soft and moving; adding fiber without drinking extra liquids may cause more problems!

 

Resources: Wikipedia Fiber

ID Life Review

There are numerous ID Life reviews out there, this review is my take on ID Life and why I decided to start taking their nutrition program and supplements.

Just to put things in perspective, I was skeptical about ID Life. A good friend that I've known since 1997 started taking their nutrition product and about how great he felt (you can read his testimonial here). I held off for about 2 months before purchasing ID Life Nutrition. I spent a considerable amount of time researching their products to make sure it wasn't a scam. I also finished up my existing supply of supplements and vitamins.

Previous Supplements

I'm not a novice to the vitamin and supplement industry. Previously I was taking Cellucor C4 Extreme (pre-workout), Osteo Bi-Flex Triple Strength, Optimum Nutrition Glutamine Powder (post-workout), Hardcore Micellar Casein, Shakeology, Nutrex Hawaiian Spirulina, Spring Valley Standardized Extract Ginkgo Biloba, Optimum Nutrition Opti-Men Vitamin, Ubervita W700 Thermogenic, Nature Made Chewable Vitamin C, Caltrate 600 + d3, Jarrow Formulas Methylcobalamin (B12), Now Foods Vitmain D-3 1000 IU Chewables, Melatonin (bed time), Coromega Omega 3, Optimum Nutrition ZMA, vizual EDGE Chewable* (still take this).

Quite a bit there! Fairly comprehensive, probably 85% of what I was taking. I've since replaced everything with products from ID Life except for my zeaxanthin suppliment (vizual EDGE Chewable) due to my low score on my MPOD eye test. 

So, why the switch? 

You only get one body, one life. You do not want to be taking something that is going to be harmful or even not beneficial. Their nutrition program is backed by double-blind studies (over 7,500). Some of what I was taking previously was "iffy". Studies completed by the respective supplement company, not from well-known published sources. Some of what I was taking is high quality, but I wasn't confident that everything was beneficial. That's what I switched to ID Life. Nothing is artificial or synthetic. Everything is personalized around you and your lifestyle. 

ID Life = Individually Designed Life

You work hard for your money.
You deserve to know that what you take will benefit your body and not harm you.

Switching to ID Life also saved me A LOT of time from having to research products, trying to get everything auto-shipped from multiple suppliers, and replace products as they are discontinued or the formula changed. 

Why ID Life Nutrition

 

Paul Sullivan from IDLife Corporate on Vimeo.

The free assessment, as mentioned in the video above, takes into consideration your allergies, dietary habits, lifestyle habits, stress levels, hereditary issues, medical conditions, prescriptions, and goals. That information is processed through a database and makes recommendations based on your answers. You can update the assessment as your diet and lifestyle change. It fills your nutritional gaps. This has never been done before in the health and wellness space!

The Science 

 

The science behind their system is from 5200 journals that are reviewed per month. New studies are looked at every week!

ID Life is putting together these programs based on scientific research for your specific needs. They are all in class A facilities and follow FDA regulations. This is important. For example; I spent a significant amount of time researching Spirulina to find a quality source before I switched to ID Life. Having vitamins made in facilities or countries that do not follow FDA guidelines can introduce containments into your supplements. There were several reports of people having issues with inferior quality Spirulina products. Also, a poor quality product will often appear a different color from one month to the next!

The assessment draws upon scientific data from over 7,500 clinical studies and peer-reviewed medical journal articles to create a personalized and targeted nutritional recommendation for each individual. This offers over 1.3 million possible combinations.

The vitamins are derived from pharmaceutical grade nutrients and feature an exclusive "AM and PM pack" approach to ensure that the right nutrients are delivered when the body needs them most, called chronobiology. The ingredients, ingredient levels, the time of the day given are all incredibly important.

They also have over 2,600 drugs listed in their database (that are dispensed by hospitals and pharmacies). This helps protect individuals from known drug interactions, ones that they may not even be aware of!. For example; they have an algorithm that will prevent taking glucosamine (which is recommended if you have joint issues) and Warfarin. Another example; I get vertigo from time-to-time and ginkgo biloba is recommended. However, I was taking allergy medications (stopped after being on IDNutrition for 4 months!) and the assessment would not allow me to take ginkgo biloba as there is a drug interaction between my allergy medications and that supplement.

On a side note, the science behind ID Life has changed my perspective on nutrition, so I have started researching and studying how nutrition impacts our bodies. You can read more on your DNA, genes, and nutrition here.

The Products 

 

ID Life has many products outside of their nutrition program. For more information, click on the links below or read my reviews.

• Skincare
• Kids (Click here for an in-depth IDLife Kids Nutrition Review)
• Snack bars
• Energyshot
• Sleep (Read my review on ID Life's SLEEP here)
• Shake (Depending on time, I'll either have this for breakfast or I replace my lunch)
• Appetite Chews (I found the chews stop my hunger for about 2 hours)
• Energy Chews
• Energy Drink (I take as needed when tired at work. I have the container version.)
• Hydrate
• Pre Workout (I take this every morning before my workout. Berry is the best!)
• Post Workout (The Strawberry Kiwi has a very strong Kiwi flavor, same for Pre. )
• Lean (This helps with my sugar cravings, I take this before dinner mostly)

Summary

 

There are real set backs in life, real problems. What you do today at 30, 40, 50 years of age will impact your health greatly when you are 60, 70, 80. You need to find real solutions. Also, keep in mind, one size does not fit all... especially when it comes to your nutrition needs! Your multi-vitamin is a good first step, but your health is critical. Find something that is customized for YOU. When you feel great, look great, life just works better.

Take control of your health and your future.

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

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails.  Explore, Dream, Discover."
–Mark Twain

Last Updated: Nov. 2015