May is Healthy Vision Month and the focus is “Healthy Vision: Make it last a lifetime.” Maintaining your eye health and optimal vision is an important part of your overall health, not to mention your safety, independence and quality of life. But just like your body changes as you age, your eyes may show signs of decline as well, especially after the age of 60. It’s important to be aware of normal age-related vision changes that may occur and be aware of the symptoms of eye conditions.

Unfortunately, there are often no warning signs or symptoms of serious eye conditions such as glaucoma, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). You may think your vision is fine and put off getting your regular eye exams, which may leave problems undiagnosed. If left untreated, some eye conditions could lead to vision impairment, partial vision loss, or blindness. That’s why it’s so important to get your regular eye exams.

The American Optometric Association recommends adults up to the age of 60 have comprehensive dilated eye exams every two years and annual exams for those over 60. You should have more frequent eye exams if you have any eye health risk factors such as:  if you have diabetes, hypertension, or you have a family history of ocular conditions like glaucoma or macular degeneration; if your job is visually demanding or hazardous to your eyes; if you take medications that have ocular-related side effects; if you wear contact lenses; or if you’ve had eye surgery.

Age-related Eye Conditions that May Occur

Presbyopia is a normal loss of the ability to focus on objects close-up caused by the hardening of the lenses of the eyes, which usually starts to occur around the age of 40. Getting reading glasses, multi-focal contacts or multi-focal eyeglasses can remedy the situation. Corrective surgery options are also available such as monovision LASIK and conductive keratoplasty (CK).

Cataracts are also extremely common in senior eye health and are the leading cause of visual impairment for older Americans. The Mayo Clinic reports that about half of Americans over the age of 65 have some degree of cataracts. For those over the age of 70 the percentage is even higher. Cataracts are cloudy or opaque areas in what should be the clear lenses of the eyes that develop when proteins in the lenses are damaged. Vision can be impaired depending on the size of cataracts. You may notice that colors appear duller, you have less contrast sensitivity, and you see more glare. Cataracts can be corrected with surgery and usually lost vision can be restored. Multi-focal intraocular lens implants are also available that can potentially restore vision, reducing the need to wear glasses after cataract surgery.

Macular degeneration (also called age-related macular degeneration or AMD) is the leading cause of blindness among seniors in America. The National Eye Institute (NEI) reports that macular degeneration affects more than 1.75 million Americans. With the rapidly aging U.S. population, this number is projected to reach almost three million by 2020. Currently, there is no cure, but medical treatment may stabilize or slow its advancement.

Glaucoma is an eye condition characterized by damage to the optic nerve that results in vision loss. Those at a higher risk of developing glaucoma include people with a family history of glaucoma, African Americans and older adults. Your risk of developing glaucoma increases with each decade after the age of 40, with about a 1% increase in your 40s and up to a 12% increase in your 80s. The number of Americans with glaucoma is expected to increase by 50% to 3.6 million by the year 2020. If detected early enough, glaucoma can often be controlled and vision loss prevented with medical treatment or surgery.

Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that affects people with diabetes caused by the progressive damage done to the blood vessels that feed the retina. These tiny blood vessels leak blood and fluid that clouds vision and causes retinal tissues to swell. The longer someone has diabetes, the higher the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, which can lead to blindness. According to the NEI, more than 10 million Americans over the age of 40 have been diagnosed with diabetes, and experts believe many more millions have diabetes but have yet to be diagnosed and don’t know they have it. The NEI estimates that among known diabetics over 40 years of age, 40% have some degree of diabetic retinopathy, and one of every 12 people with diabetes in this age group has advanced retinopathy that could threaten their vision. The key to preventing vision loss is early diagnosis of diabetes and controlling diabetes in the early stages.

Retinal detachment is a tearing or separation of the retina inside the eye. It can be caused by trauma, health problems like diabetes, and eye inflammation disorders. However, it usually occurs spontaneously from changes to the gel-like vitreous fluid that fills the eye. To avoid permanent vision loss from a retinal detachment, you must receive emergency treatment right away.

Other Subtle Changes in Eye Health as You Get Older

Reduced pupil size occurs as you age because the muscles that control pupil size and respond to light lose strength, causing the pupil to shrink and be less responsive to changes in ambient light. People in their 60s require three times more ambient light for reading than those in their 20s, and seniors are more sensitive to bright sunlight and glare. Wearing photochromic eyeglasses with anti-reflective coating can help with this problem.

Dry eyes can be a common problem because you produce fewer tears as you age. This is especially common for post-menopausal women.  Using artificial tears throughout the day can help, or your eye doctor may prescribe dry eyes medications.

Loss of peripheral vision also may occur with age, decreasing the size of your visual field by approximately one to three degrees per decade. So when you are 70 or 80 years old, you may have lost 20 to 30 degrees of your peripheral field of vision. This is a safety concern for older drivers.

Decreased color vision is caused when cells in the retina that sense color start to decline in sensitivity as you age, causing colors to appear duller and with less contrast. There is no treatment for age-related loss of color perception.

Vitreous detachment occurs when the gel-like vitreous inside the eyes begins to liquefy and pull away from the retina, creating spots, floaters, and sometimes flashes of light. Vitreous detachment is usually harmless; however, floaters and flashes of light can also be a sign of a possible retinal detachment, which is a serious problem that can cause blindness if not treated immediately. If you suddenly experience a lot of floaters and/or flashes, you should see your eye doctor immediately.

What You can do for Your Eye Health

Your best defenses against age-related changes in your eye health are to get regular eye exams, eat a healthy diet and take vision supplements, exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, reduce stress and don’t smoke.

Nourish Your Eyes with Eye-friendly Nutrients in Foods & Supplements

In the past 20 years, researchers have linked diet and nutrition with a decreased risk of age-related macular degeneration. In addition, research has linked specific nutrients, such as lutein and zinc, to a reduced risk of certain eye conditions, including macular degeneration and cataracts. So adding these nutrients to your daily diet through foods and supplements can support your eye health:

• Lutein is an important nutrient in leafy green vegetables and eggs. Many studies have shown that lutein reduces the risk of chronic eye conditions like age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.
• Essential Fatty Acids are a necessary part of the human diet that supports the nervous system, fuel cells and the immune system. Two omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to be important for visual development and retinal function.
• Essential Fatty Acids are a necessary part of the human diet that supports the nervous system, fuel cells and the immune system. Two omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to be important for visual development and retinal function.
• Bilberry Extract comes from a European berry shrub and it contains vital flavonoids, chemically known as polyphenols, which research has shown to be beneficial for eye health and a healthy circulatory system. Bilberry’s flavonoids are anthocyanosides that enhance microcirculation throughout the body including the tiny blood vessels in the eye structures and retinal tissues.
• Grape Seed Extract contains procyanidines, a group of compounds that help increase the effectiveness of antioxidants. This herb helps improve blood circulation in the eyes, and it helps strengthen the retina and may help combat macular degeneration and cataracts.

Healthy Choice Naturals Vision Care Complete contains all of the above ingredients plus other important all-natural eye nutrients including vitamin A, quercetin, L-taurine, N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine, and Lycopene. Vision Care Complete is scientifically formulated to provide all the nutrients your eyes need for a lifetime of optimal vision and eye health.

“Essential” nutrients are important nutritional elements that we must get from our diet, either from food or supplements, for optimal health. Unfortunately, the typical modern diet doesn’t provide enough of these essential nutrients, so most of us are deficient in these five areas:

1. Vitamins and Minerals: Vitamins and minerals are required for everything from building our physical bodies to blood coagulation and energy production. Most of the vitamins and all of the minerals required for optimal health are classified as essential.
2. Amino Acids:  Our bodies are built from proteins that are constructed with eight basic building blocks called essential amino acids.
3. Antioxidants:  Every day our bodies are bombarded with pollution, pesticides and numerous other toxins, and this creates many of the destructive free radicals in our bodies. Antioxidants are important because they are our only defense against free-radical damage.
4. Anti-inflammatory Compounds: Chronic inflammation has been recently associated with almost every major detrimental process in human health. Anti-inflammatory compounds are our only protection and line of defense. Unfortunately, anti-inflammatory prescription medications have some of the worst side effects for prescription drugs.
5. Essential Fatty Acids:  Omega-3 and omega-6 are the essential fatty acids, or the good fats, that are essential for optimal cellular health.

 Organic Moringa: A Nutritional Powerhouse

Introducing Moringa: One of the most nutritious plants on earth. While it’s one of the newer discoveries in modern science, Moringa has been used in various societies and cultures for thousands of years. Moringa continues to amaze the scientific world with its nutritional value because of its unique balance of antioxidants, minerals and amino acids, which is rare for a plant source.

Taking an organic Moringa supplement, such as Healthy Choice Naturals Maximum Moringa, provides you with all five of the essential nutritional elements listed above that are deficient in the modern diet, including:

1. Ten essential vitamins and eleven essential minerals.
2. All nine essential amino acids.
3. More than two dozen natural, powerful antioxidants.
4. More than two dozen natural, powerful anti-inflammatory nutrients.
5. Both omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids.

What is Organic Moringa?

Organic Moringa Oleifera is a small tree that grows quickly in dry climates and sandy soil, and it bears fruit during its first year of planting (Folkard and Sutherland, 1996).(1) Every part of the tree is beneficial in various ways, and it is an important resource, especially in areas where people depend on crops for their livelihood and sustenance.

The plant species was originally native only to the foothills of the Himalayas but has rapidly spread around the world to tropical and sub-tropical climates. It regenerates itself quickly, second only to bamboo, making it a hearty, viable crop. Much of the plant is edible by both humans and livestock, and the bark and wood is used as firewood.

Small Leaves…Huge Benefits!

Because the tree produces leaves during the dry season and times of drought, it is an excellent source of green vegetable when other food is unavailable (Folkard and Sutherland, 1996).(1)

According to Optima of Africa, Ltd., 25 grams daily of Moringa leaf powder provides a child with the following percentages of recommended daily allowances:(4).

• Protein 42%
• Calcium 125%
• Magnesium 61%
• Potassium 41%
• Iron 71%
• Vitamin A 272%
• Vitamin C 22%

Experts agree that the long-term solution to malnutrition is the use of foods rich in the essential nutrients often lacking in people’s diets. Even small amounts of the Moringa leaves could protect thousands of people from suffering malnutrition.(3)

Dried Organic Moringa Leaves

Gram for gram, dried Moringa leaves contain approximately:

Healthy Choice Naturals Maximum Moringa supplement with 500mg of organic Moringa is packed with over 90 nutrients and 46 antioxidants. Plus, it provides all eight essential amino acids and is rich in flavonoids, including Quercetin, Kaempferol, Beta-Sitosterol, Caffeoylquinic Acid and Zeatin. And because it is made from a 100% natural plant source, nutrients are easily absorbed in the body so you get all the benefits of this amazing supplement.

As Western cultures continue to research and learn more about organic Moringa, the demand for it will continue to increase and its use will help make the modern diet more nutritious and complete.

References:

1. Folkard, G.K. and Sutherland, J.P. 1996, Moringa oleifera – a multipurpose tree. Food Chain – Intermediate Technology, ISSN 0964-5810.
2. http://www.treesforlife.org/our-work/our-initiatives/moringa/more-about-moringa-leaves
3. http://forest.mtu.edu/pcforestry/resources/studentprojects/moringa.htm

Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum), the dark green leafy herb with the distinctly robust flavor, has been a staple of cooking and a remedy for various ailments throughout the centuries. Cooks consider one of the benefits of cilantro to be its ability to stand up to other strong flavors – garlic, onions, herbs and spices with a kick, can all be tempered by the addition of cilantro.

The health benefits of cilantro are just as assertive. From easing digestion to providing powerful antioxidants, the health benefits of cilantro surpass those of rosemary, tarragon, and parsley!

The benefits of cilantro, which is grown from the coriander seed, range from its anti-inflammatory action to its ability to ward off urinary tract infections. Its dark and pungent green leaves are packed with natural oils that act as a cleansing agent, ridding the body of harmful toxins.

The taste and health benefits of cilantro are so powerful that countries all over the world cultivate and incorporate it into their foods. From the Egyptians to the Greeks, dishes are traditionally made with cilantro, in part because of these powerful cleansing abilities.

Here are some of the specific health benefits of cilantro:

• Cilantro is rich in antioxidants, which have been shown to help to lower cholesterol, bolster the immune system, and reduce the risk of heart-related diseases.
• High levels of folic acid, vitamin A and vitamin C are also benefits of cilantro. They have been identified as immune system boosters that work to fight infection and viruses. In fact, cilantro is so high in Vitamin C that its leaves can provide up to 30% of the recommended daily levels.
• Cilantro is a proven anti-inflammatory, effective at reducing swelling and easing arthritis pain.
• One of the most amazing benefits of cilantro is the role it can play in removing heavy metals from the body. Mercury, which may be present in salmon and other farmed fish, is an example of a heavy metal. The chemical compounds in the leaves actually bind to heavy metals, and loosen them from tissues and organs.
• Cilantro’s natural oils act as a protective agent against bacterial infections like salmonella, which is usually contracted from food products. Another benefit of cilantro is that it can also help to relieve diarrhea from these same infections.
• Coriander seeds have a variety of medicinal uses, including acting as a digestive agent, anti-fungal, and an anti-nausea aid.
• Cilantro is high in dietary fiber, a necessary part of healthy digestion.
• Some of cilantro’s natural, essential oils, like borneal and terpineol, mayhelp to ease macular degeneration and conjunctivitis, both of which are stressors on the eyes.

Some other notable benefits of cilantro include the promotion of healthy liver function, the reduction of menstrual cramps and mood swings, and the stimulation of insulin.

How much you would have to consume to gain the healthy benefits of cilantro varies. But it’s clear that eating cilantro is a natural way to enhance your health and well being.

Proper levels of DHEA, Melatonin and Pregnenolone are critical for every man and woman over the age of 40. By the time you are 40, production of these vital hormones drops by 30%-40% and continues to drop every year thereafter. Each of these hormones supports important functions including memory, mental focus, libido, energy, immune strength, sleep, and the process of aging, to name but a few. That’s why supplementation of DHEA, Melatonin and Pregnenolone should be a part of your daily nutritional regimen. Healthy Choice Naturals Three-In-One Hormone capsules make it easy and affordable to get all three of these hormones in one convenient capsule.

DHEA

DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is an important hormone produced naturally in the body by the adrenal glands. However, DHEA levels begin to decrease after the age of 30. Since there are no food sources of DHEA, taking a DHEA supplement can be very beneficial.

Research studies have found that DHEA supplements may help with depression, obesity and adrenal deficiency. DHEA may also support healthy skin in older people and help with osteoporosis and some psychological conditions.

Melatonin

Melatonin is a hormone made by the pineal gland in the brain that helps control your sleep and wake cycles. Minute amounts of melatonin are found in foods such as meats, grains, fruits, and vegetables, and melatonin is also available as a dietary supplement.

Your body’s internal clock controls your natural sleeping and waking cycles, and it helps to control how much melatonin your body produces. Normally, melatonin levels begin to increase in the mid to late evening and remain high for most of the night. Then, melatonin levels drop in the early morning hours.

Light also affects your melatonin production. During the shorter days of winter, your body may produce melatonin either earlier or later in the day than usual. This can result in symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or winter depression. Light in the room that you sleep in can also affect your melatonin production, so you should always sleep in the darkest room possible.

As you age, your natural melatonin production will decrease. Some older people produce very little melatonin or none at all. A melatonin supplement may be beneficial in this case.

Melatonin supplements may also be beneficial for jet lag or sleep problems (insomnia). Scientists are also looking at other possible uses for melatonin, such as:

• Treating seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
• Helping to control sleep patterns for people who work at night.
• Preventing or reducing problems with sleeping and confusion after surgery.
• Reducing chronic cluster headaches.

Pregnenolone

According to the American Cancer Society, Pregnenolone is a steroid the body makes as a precursor to other steroid hormones, such as progesterone, DHEA, mineralocorticoids (which regulate electrolyte balance), corticosteroids (which influence inflammation and metabolism), estrogens, and androgens.

Pregnenolone is mainly promoted as an alternative substance that helps support memory and alertness and reduces stress, depression, and fatigue. Some experts claim pregnenolone also helps with a variety of other conditions that are associated with aging.

Three-in-One Hormone Supplements

Healthy Choice Naturals Three-in-One Hormone supplements are 100% natural and provide a combination of DHEA, Melatonin and Pregnenolone into one convenient capsule. It’s the best way to maintain optimum levels of DHEA, Melatonin and Pregnenolone, especially if you are over the age of 40 because your levels of these vital hormones will naturally drop every year thereafter.

Purified krill oil is harvested from shrimp-like crustaceans that live in the cold oceanic waters such as the Antarctic and Arctic Seas. Krill is the primary food source of whales, seals, penguins, sea birds, squid and fish. An adult whale can eat up to 8,000 pounds of krill per day.

People take purified krill oil as a nutritional supplement because it offers many health benefits similar to fish oil, and some believe it’s even superior to fish oil.

Krill oil is mainly consumed for its Omega-3 essential fatty acids which have numerous health benefits. Omega-3s are called essential because our bodies can’t manufacture them, so we must get them from food and from supplements.

Studies suggest that krill oil may be a more powerful way to get Omega-3s compared to fish oil supplements, possibly due to better absorption and other nutrients in it, including the antioxidant Astaxanthin, which is a carotenoid antioxidant with natural health benefits.

Purified krill oil supplies Omega-3 fatty acids, but unlike fish oil, they’re mainly tied to phospholipids and not triglycerides. Phospholipids are the type of lipids that form cell membranes and that is believed to be the main reason Omega-3 fats in krill oil are more readily absorbed.

Another advantage of purified krill oil over fish oil is that many fish are contaminated with toxins such as Mercury. Since krill is lower in the food chain than fish, it contains far less toxins.

What are the Benefits of Taking Purified Krill Oil?

Krill oil contains fatty acids that are believed to be “good fats” that help to decrease swelling, lower cholesterol, and make blood platelets less sticky. When blood platelets are less sticky, they are less likely to form clots that can enter the blood stream and cause strokes, heart attacks, and pulmonary problems.

Consuming the Omega 3 fatty unsaturated acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in phospholipids instead of triglycerides allows the body to absorb them more efficiently. Therefore, supplementing your diet with purified krill oil can result in the more efficient uptake of DHA and EPA.

People often use krill oil for the same reasons they use fish oil, flax oil or other Omega 3 fatty acids. But unlike fish oil, krill oil doesn’t cause fishy burps or the fishy aftertaste that is common with fish oil.

Research suggests that krill oil is a more potent source of Omega 3 fats than regular fish oil. It carries substantial benefits for heart and brain health. Plus, it may slow the aging process due its abundant antioxidant properties that are over 40 times more powerful than those found in fish oil. Antioxidants protect our bodies from cell damage caused by free radicals, which are unstable molecules that contribute to the aging process and are a factor in chronic health problems. Unlike many other antioxidants, Astaxanthin crosses the blood-brain barrier, where it may protect the eyes, brain and central nervous system from free radical damage. It could also protect the skin against the harmful effects of UV rays and the reduction of collagen which typically comes with age. (1)

Since studies indicate that the fatty acid DHA may be beneficial for developing children’s brains, krill oil is sometimes taken by pregnant women and given to children.

Balance Your Omega-3 to Omega-6 Ratio by Taking Krill Oil

Although some Omega-6 fats are good for your health, it is the balance of Omega-6s to Omega-3s that is important. Unfortunately, most Americans consume an alarmingly insufficient amount of Omega-3 fatty acids and consume far too many Omega-6s, another fat found in corn, soy, sunflower and other oils. The ideal ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 should be 1:1, but the typical American’s ratio ranges from 20:1 to 50:1.

Because of this imbalanced ratio, most people can greatly benefit from getting more Omega-3 fats by taking a krill oil supplement, such as Healthy Choice Naturals Purified Krill Oil with 1000mg of purified krill oil in every daily dose of just two easy-to-take gel caps.

REFERENCES:

(1)  http://www.legioncaceres.org/2011/11/krill-oil-the-new-source-of-omega-3/

Men joke about who’s the toughest and who has the most testosterone, but being deficient in this critical male hormone is nothing to poke fun at. It’s a serious health concern that negatively affects a man’s life in many ways. Research studies have found that men with low testosterone, or “low-T,” have a higher risk of serious illnesses such as diabetes, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular problems. Plus, low-T can cause frustrating changes in a man’s life and his personal appearance, as well as make him feel “off his game” at work and more of a “couch potato” at home.

As a man ages, his body naturally produces less testosterone each year, declining an average of over 1% per year after the age of 30. So by the time he is 70, a man’s testosterone may be diminished by up to 50%.(1)

A simple blood test is all it takes to diagnose low-T, but there are several warning signs to watch out for that may indicate a testosterone deficiency:

1. Low Sex Drive. Testosterone fuels a man’s sex drive. If his testosterone levels are low, then his libido will most likely be low.
2. Erectile Dysfunction. Erections are triggered by the release of nitric oxide, which is triggered by testosterone. Without adequate testosterone, erections won’t happen, or they won’t be firm enough to perform intercourse.
3. Less Seminal Fluid. In order to produce the normal amount of seminal fluid during ejaculation, the prostate, seminal vesicles and testicles all need a healthy boost from testosterone. A man with low-T may notice less seminal fluid when he ejaculates.
4. Genital Numbness or Decreased Sensitivity. Men with low testosterone often complain of less sensitivity of the genital area, or even numbness.
5. Extreme Fatigue. After a hard day’s work, it’s normal to feel tired. But when men have low-T, they feel completed spent and noticeably more tired than usual.
6. Less Energy. In addition to extreme fatigue, men with low testosterone often lose their drive and initiative in their daily activities. Guys who used to be “hard chargers” every day often become couch potatoes.
7. Mood Changes. Men with low testosterone often feel down, more depressed and less optimistic than they used to feel.
8. Increased Irritability. Low testosterone can make men more grumpy and irritable. Often this change in demeanor is more obvious to family and friends than to the men themselves.
9. Reduced Muscle Mass. Men with low testosterone often feel their muscles are weaker than they used to be. Some men notice their chest, arm and leg muscles are actually shrinking. And they may find that weight-lifting and working out is not as effective as it used to be for gaining muscle mass.
10. More Body Fat. Low testosterone also causes men to accumulate more body fat, especially in their mid-sections or chests, resulting in the dreaded “man boobs.”
11. Shrinkage of the Testicles. Low testosterone can cause the testicles to shrink and feel a bit softer than normal.

The Good News is there are Simple Solutions to Boost Testosterone

If you are experiencing any of these warning signs, the good news is there are simple things you can do about it. There’s no need to suffer from the effects of low testosterone.

Healthy Choice Naturals Resurge Low Testosterone Formula can help you maintain healthy levels of testosterone in order to fight unsightly weight gain, boost energy levels, and provide support for mood and memory. Healthy testosterone levels can help you gain muscle mass and improve your sexual performance. Resurge Low Testosterone Formula contains a proprietary blend of 100% natural herbs and nutrients that are highly effective in combatting declining testosterone levels as you age.

In addition to taking a nutritional supplement, other things you can do to boost testosterone are:

• Get enough sleep because testosterone production is directly related to the amount of sleep you get each night.
• Limit your cortisol production by limiting your consumption of stimulants from nicotine, alcohol, sugar, energy drinks, coffee, etc. Cortisol is a catabolic hormone that can cause testosterone levels to plummet up to 70%. Cortisol is produced when you don’t get enough sleep so limiting you intake of stimulants is important.
• Reduce the stress in your life.
• Exercise regularly.
• Reduce estrogen levels by limiting your intake of soy and eating more vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, turnips and radishes.
• Improve your diet to reduce carbohydrates, increase proteins, and get more Omega-3 essential fats from olive oil, fish, nuts, flax seeds and fish oil and krill oil supplements, such as Healthy Choice Naturals Omega Naturals Fish Oil 1000 and Healthy Choice Naturals Purified Krill Oil Supplement. Plus, eat foods high in zinc and take a zinc supplement, such as Healthy Choice Naturals Full Spectrum Daily Multivitamin which provides 100% of the daily recommended value of zinc, along with 55 other essential nutrients for great health and vitality.
• Maintain a healthy weight because fat converts testosterone into estrogen, and there is a direct correlation between being overweight and having low testosterone.

REFERENCES:

• (!)Staff, Mayo Clinic. “Male Menopause: Myth or Reality?” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 23 July 2011.

The blood vessels in your legs, calves and feet are the furthest extremities from your heart and therefore, are the most difficult to maintain good blood circulation. And as you age, it is even more difficult for your body to maintain healthy blood flow from your extremities. As a result, your legs may feel achy, swollen and fatigued, and your poor circulation could lead to serious complications such as blood clots (thrombosis) plus you may also develop unsightly varicose veins. According to estimates by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, more than 80 million Americans have varicose veins.

The National Women’s Health Information Center of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services reports about half of all American women will develop varicose or spider veins at some point in their lives. In addition to being unattractive, varicose veins can be painful. Typically, varicose veins appear as bulging, blue, and sometimes painful and swollen veins that occur mostly in the calves and thighs. Spider veins appear as a web of fine lines from thin veins that can make your legs look like a road map.

While age and heredity can be factors in the development of varicose and spider veins, weight gain, pregnancy, menopause and the use of hormone replacement therapy can also contribute to vein problems. Not exercising, living a sedentary lifestyle, standing for long periods of time, and habitually crossing your legs may also make you more prone to develop vein issues.

Like every other organ and tissue in your body, good nutrition is critical for optimum blood flow. This is particularly true as we age because our bodies’ are less efficient at absorbing sufficient nutrients as we get older.

To ensure you’re getting all the important nutrients you need for healthy blood circulation, taking a natural supplement can be beneficial, such as Healthy Choice Naturals Circulation Essentials. Circulation Essentials provides a potent blend of all-natural ingredients plus Diosmin, which is designed to combat swollen and enlarged leg veins and tissues and help support healthy circulation.

Diosmin is a unique bioflavonoid derived from citrus fruits rinds that has been clinically shown to be a highly effective at improving circulation and strengthening veins in the legs. European doctors and patients have relied on Diosmin for more than 30 years for varicose vein and circulatory problems in the legs. Diosmin specifically targets blood vessels in the legs to help reduce pain and strengthen veins.

Your Plan Should Include Exercising, Eating Healthy and Taking a Supplement with Diosmin

Your plan for battling vein problems naturally should be two-fold:  (1) to improve leg circulation by exercising and being more active, and (2) to strengthen vein walls by getting the proper nutrition from your diet and taking a dietary supplement with Diosmin like Healthy Choice Naturals Circulation Essentials.

The easiest way to improve blood flow is to counteract gravity. Standing or sitting all day makes it difficult for blood to flow from your legs and back to your heart. But resting a few minutes each day with your legs higher than your heart will allow gravity to assist the blood flow back to your heart.

Exercising and maintaining a healthy weight can also help relieve varicose and spider veins, and it may even stop new ones from forming. As we age, we lose muscle tone, including in the leg muscles. Following a consistent exercise regimen will promote good circulation and can help to keep your leg muscles and blood vessels toned. Walking, weight training, low-impact aerobics and swimming are excellent ways to exercise and strengthen the legs and circulatory system, as well as help to reduce the pain and discomfort from varicose veins.

Eating a low-fat diet filled with fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes and whole grains is also important. A fiber-rich diet will help reduce your risk of constipation and help to avoid the vascular damage that can result. An added benefit of eating healthier and exercising is that it can help you drop a few pounds. Being overweight creates extra pressure and stress on your heart and blood vessels, which can impair blood circulation.

With today’s busy lifestyles and our typically poor eating habits, it’s difficult to get the proper nutrition we need for optimum health through our diet alone. So taking dietary supplements can be very beneficial. Healthy Choice Naturals Circulation Essentials with Diosmin is an excellent way to get the specific nutrients your body requires for healthy blood flow in the legs and to help minimize your chances of developing leg vein problems.

Turmeric (Curcuma Longa or Turmeric Curcumin) is a plant native to South India and Indonesia which has been used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for more than 4,100 years. Today, Turmeric Curcumin is widely known and used for its numerous health benefits. In fact, over the last 2 years, sales of Turmeric in the United States have risen by 721% as more people learn about the research and results others have obtained by taking Turmeric supplements daily along with their other vitamins.

Learn more about the benefits of Healthy Choice Naturals 100% Pure, Turmeric-Curcumin Supplement.

Summer is just around the corner, and let’s face it, everyone looks better tan. There’s just something about golden, sun-kissed skin that radiates health and sex appeal. So now is the time to get a jumpstart on your summer tan. And a healthy way to do this is to take natural tanning pills that boost your skin’s melanin production. The more melanin your skin produces, the deeper, darker sun tan you can achieve.

However, with all the sunscreen ads and media hype about how bad the sun is for us, it’s a wonder that we ever dare step outside into direct sunlight. But not all the news about the sun is bad. In fact, sunshine is moderation is actually good for us. Sun exposure is still the best way to get the natural Vitamin D provided by the sun. And a sun tan is your skin’s natural protective layer—or sunscreen, if you will—that helps protect your skin from sun burn.

Of course, it’s still true that too much sun exposure is dangerous and can result in skin cancer and premature aging. And we all know that the more time we spend in the sun, the higher our risk of skin damage.

Get Twice the Tan in Half the Time

This is where tanning pills come in because they can help you get twice the tan in half the time. By taking a natural tanning supplement, such as Healthy Choice Naturals Tanamins, you can get the deep, dark tan you desire with minimal time spent in the sun.

Tanamins tanning pills contain a synergized blend of 2000mg of L-Tyrosine, a natural occurring amino acid, along with the nutrients your body needs to increase melanin production. It includes 400 IU of Vitamin D, 30mg of Vitamin E to keep your skin supple, 20mg of PABA to lessen your chance of sunburn, and 2 IU of copper to speed-up the tanning process. Tanamins are all natural and they don’t contain any harmful dyes or preservatives that are found in many tanning lotions and other products on the market.

If you can’t afford to spend long hours laying out in the sun, yet you want the healthy glow of a year-round tan, this is the ideal solution for you. Whether you’re an avid sun bather or you’re fair-skinned and find it difficult to tan, Tanamins tanning pills can help you achieve a noticeable change in your skin tone after just three 20-minute tanning sessions.

Take Tanning Pills to Look Your Best on Vacation or at an Upcoming Event

Are you planning a beach get-away or a tropical vacation this year? Start taking Tanamins tanning pills now to maximize your base tan so you’ll look good the first time you hit the beach. Plus, by tanning ahead of time, you’ll be less likely to sunburn and ruin your vacation, which happens all too often to pale-skinned vacationers after a long winter season.

Or, do you have an upcoming special occasion, such as a wedding, prom, or graduation, which you want to look your best for? Start taking Tanamins tanning pills today so you can enjoy glowing, vibrant skin and feel confident and sexy at your special event.  

Get the best tan you can and look your best this spring and summer with Tanamins tanning pills! They’re effective, easy to take and affordable. For more information, go to www.healthychoicenaturals.com.

The eyes may be the window to the soul, but they are also a reflection of your overall health and wellness. Your eyes can provide the first signs, or cues, that you may have an underlying ailment or condition, if you know what to look for. Here are some health “eye cues” that your eyes might be saying about you:

Eye Cue #1: Silver- or copper-colored arteries in the eyes may be a sign of high blood pressure.

It’s estimated that 77% of the population has hypertension but don’t know they have it, choose not to treat it, or are treating it without success. Perhaps, if more people visited their eye doctors, high blood pressure could be diagnosed earlier and treated sooner. Hypertension gives retinal arteries in the eyes a silvery or copper-colored hue that is called “copper wiring.” If high blood pressure is left untreated, it could lead to hardening of the blood vessels and an increased risk of heart attack or stroke.

Eye Cue #2: A mole on the inner layer of the eye may be a sign of melanoma.

The sun’s harmful rays can damage more than just your skin. It can increase the risk of cancer inside the eyes. This type of cancer can manifest as small bumps or tiny moles in the pigment layer of the retina. Early detection is crucial since this condition often has no other symptoms and it can quickly metastasize to other parts of the body.

Eye Cue #3: Leaky blood vessels in the eyes may be a sign of diabetes.

If you have a problem with high blood sugar, overtime it can block or damage retinal blood vessels, making them weak and at risk of bursting or leaking. Eye doctors can often spot the seepage or the new, abnormal blood vessels that form to replace blocked ones. Diabetes takes a big toll on the eyes. In severe cases, it can lead to blindness.

Eye Cue #4: Inflammation in the eyes may be a sign of an autoimmune condition.

This can cause the body to attack its own healthy cells and tissues, including in the eyes which causes inflammation. With this type of swelling, the eyes will be red, itchy watery or dry, and often patients may have some form of undiagnosed autoimmune condition, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.

Eye Cue #5: Blisters inside the eyes may be a sign of CSR, or central serous retinopathy.

If interior blisters are present inside the eyeballs, the condition is known as CSR. The cause is usually too much mental and/or emotional stress which wears the body down to the point where the retina leaks fluid that causes the blisters to develop. If you have CSR, you may have blurry vision or see wavy lines when focusing on a set point. Reducing stress can often alleviate symptoms, and sometimes laser treatment is needed.

Eye Cue #6: Red, blood-shot eyes may be a sign of allergies.

Swollen blood vessels on the whites of the eyes may be an allergic response to pollen, dust, animal dander and other airborne allergens. It’s the body’s natural defense to produce anti-inflammatory histamines and other natural chemicals to protect against these airborne aggravates. But the side effects of this allergic reaction may include noticeably red, blood-shot eyes that may be itchy, watery, dry or scratchy.

Get Regular Eye Exams

To maintain your vision and eye health, it’s important to have your eyes examined regularly.  The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends that adults age 18-60 have their eyes checked every two or three years, with yearly eye exams after the age of 60.  However, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recommends “occasional” exams between the ages of 18 and 40. Around age 40, the AAO recommends a comprehensive eye exam, followed by a check-up every two to five years.

Nourish Your Eyes by Taking Natural Vision Supplements

Our eyes require specific nutrients, vitamins and minerals to maintain optimal health and vision. Unfortunately, most of us don’t get the proper nutrition we need from our diet alone, so taking natural vision supplements can be highly beneficial. An excellent supplement is Healthy Choice Naturals Vision Care Complete, which contains vitamins, minerals and herbs to help support optimum vision and eye health*. Vision Care Complete’s comprehensive formula provides 20mg of Lutein and 80mg of Bilberry, which are critical for healthy eyes and provides all the antioxidant benefits of Quercetin, Vitamin A, Grape Seed Extract, L-Taurine, N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine, plus Lycopene.