What a wonderful story

Thought for the day... Go to this video, it is wonderful!

http://www.stservicemovie.com/?cm_mmc=CheetahMail-_-FR-_-03.30.12-_-STSRmovie-USCAXX-&utm_source=CheetahMail&utm_campaign=STSRmovie

Zig Ziglar had this to say about quotes:

"If you're like me, you'll jump at the chance to bypass all the churning and scoop the cream right off the top. And that's what quotes are...the cream of our learning."

Many blessings!

Mary Beth Potrykus
www.mamabearproductions.net

What is the best for your athlete?

There is so much out there to give athletes energy, focus,and optimal performance.  But are you sure the products you give your athlete free of drugs, contain safe herbs, and is the store/person you are purchasing from guaranteeing those products are safe?

GNC is in court over unsafe products.  They lost last time.  Really why should marketing supersede safety? 

Check out this article.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/27/gnc-supplements_n_1304493.html?ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false

"The compound, 1,3-dimethylamylamine, also known as DMAA, is “illegal and dangerous,” court filings said. The lawsuit also claimed that “experts in the industry have become concerned that this potent stimulant drug will lead to serious health issues and even death.”
The suit was filed by Lynette Bates, a Southern California woman who last summer bought a pre-exercise drink powder called C4 Extreme, which promises “explosive workouts.”

Bates sued retailer GNC and Cellucor Sports Nutrition, which manufactures, distributes and markets the supplement, for "making false and unsubstantiated representations concerning the efficacy, safety and legality of C4 Extreme," among other claims. Cellucor’s parent company, Woodbolt International, is also named in the suit.
C4 Extreme is no longer manufactured with DMAA. But the substance can still be found in a variety of dietary supplements aimed at boosting physical performance or weight loss, such as Jack3d (pronounced “jacked”) and OxyELITE Pro, which are sold online and at retail stores."

I know what I use is safe for my son and daughter. 

Pass this information along to athletes, parents of athletes, and coaches what would find it valuable.

Mary Beth Potrykus
www.mamabearproductions.net

Battle of the bulge

People generally gauge leanness or obesity solely on the basis of weight.  It's all about stepping on the scale. 

But it's not really weight that's the enemy, it's fat!

Comparing the couch potato and the body builder...They're both overweight according to standardized weight versus height tables.  But the couch potato's excess pounds come from fat and the body builder's excess pounds come from muscle mass. 

It is the couch potato who is at risk for diabetes, HBP, and heart disease, not the "overweight" body builder (unless the body builder is using steroids, but that's a whole other story).

It is this distinction between fat gain and weight gain that makes the recent study by Bray et al (JAMA, 307: 47-55, 2012) interesting.

Dr. Bray and his colleagues set out to determine the relative effect of excess calories and protein intake on both weight gain and fat gain.

The study consisted of 25 healthy, normal weight, ages 18-35 subjects for the study.  They lived in a controlled environment at LSU for the duration of the study.  Everything they ate was carefully controlled.

They consumed a weight stabilizing diet (calories in carefully matched with calories burned) for the first 13 - 25 days. 

The next 8 weeks they were divided into 3 groups with all 3 groups consuming a diet that contained 40% excess calories and coming from fat.

The diets of the 3 groups differed with respect to protein content.  One group consumed a low protein diet (5% of calories from protein), the second group consumed a normal amount of protein (15% of calories) and the third group consumed a high protein diet (25% of calories from protein).

The results:  Fat gain was identical for all 3 groups.  All gained about 7 pounds of fat during the 8 weeks.

Weight gain was significantly different.  The low protein group gained 7 pounds, the "normal" protein group gained 13 pounds and the high protein group gained 14 pounds.

The normal and high protein group extra weight gain was from increased muscle mass. 

The normal and high protein groups metabolic rate was 227 calories per day vs. low protein of 160 calories per day.  Lean muscle mass increases our metabolism.

While this study addressed the effect of protein content on increasing muscle mass on a high calorie diet, previous studies have shown that the protein content of the diet is also important for maintaining muscle mass on low calorie, weight loss diets or normal diets in adults over the age of 50.

High protein diets (25% of calories from protein) is significantly more effective in retaining muscle mass than either normal or low protein diets. 

Got protein?

Mary Beth Potrykus
www.mamabearproductions.net

7 reasons to eat beets

Seems either people love or hate beets.  Personally, I really like beets.   Whether you already love them, or just haven't discovered their many marvels, here are 7 reasons to eat more beets:

1. Beets are high in nutrients such as folate, manganese, potassium, and vitamin C, making them an excellent source of nutrients, and a particularly good choice for pregnant women who have higher folate needs during pregnancy.
2. In their uncooked state, beets also contain an important compound called betaine, which research has shown reduces several compounds linked to inflammation in the body. In other words, it’s a great anti-inflammatory food that helps protect us from the effects of aging and disease.
3. They are one of nature's miracles in the prevention of cancer.  The fiber found in beets seems to increase the body's special immune compounds that are responsible for detecting and removing abnormal cells before the become cancerous.
4. Beets help fight cancer.  The phytonutrients-proanthocyanidins-that gives beets their rich purplish-red hue has potent anti-cancer capabilities.
5. Beets have been recommended for many years to help purify the blood.
6. In conjunction with #5 it just makes sense that beets also help cleanse the liver, which has over 500 functions including: cleansing toxins, removing excess hormones and metabolizing fat.
7. They are versatile.  They can be eaten raw (grated), steamed, boiled (although many nutrients are lost in the cooking water), or added to soups and stews.  Remember:  the anti-cancer properties of beets lessen with heat.  So it's always a great idea to enjoy a little grated raw beets on your salads.  Actually, that is the way I especially like to eat beets, is on my salad. 

So are you thinking there is no way you will eat beets?  You can get the many benefits of beets and other vegetables and fruit from Vitalizer. 

~The name of the game is taking care of yourself, because you're going to live long enough you wish you had.~ Grace Mirabella

Mary Beth Potrykus
www.mamabearproductions.net

9 tips in Preventing Colon Cancer

Did you know more women die from colon cancer than from breast cancer and HIV combined.

Colorectal cancer can be prevented if it is caught early. 

Here are 9 tips to help you prevent colon cancer.

1. Eat a balanced diet.  Fruits and vegetables lower your risk of colon cancer as does a high fiber diet.  Whole grains such as barley, buckwheat, quinoa and whole wheat lower your risk.
2. Watch your weight.  Although obese men are at more risk for colon cancer than obese women, being obese increases the colon cancer risk for everyone.
3. Stay active.  Exercising reduces colon cancer risk by as much as 40 percent and reduces your risk of other risk factors like obesity and diabetes.
4. Know your genetic risk.  Some people have an increased risk due to genetic mutations.  So do people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.  Speak with your doctor about genetic counseling.
5. Find out your family medical history.  Knowing your family medical history can save your life.  A family history of stomach, liver, and bone cancer may also put you at increased risk for colon cancer.
6. Discuss your personal medical history.  Time with the doctor is often limited, but be sure to discuss your personal medical history.  Make sure they know if you have a history of polyps, certain cancers, or chronic inflammation of the bowel.
7. Don't smoke.  Tobacco smoke that's inhaled or swallowed carries carcinogens to the colon.  Studies suggest that tobacco increases polyp size.  One more reason NOT to smoke.
8. Reduce radiation exposure.  The world we live in is full of low amounts of radiation coming from the soil, radon, electronics and airplane travel.  Medical x-rays like dental, mammograms and chest x-rays have fairly low radiation but others like a barium enema or a CT scan are higher.  If you travel a lot, even though they claim the airport scanners are low levels of radiation, an alternative is getting pat downs. 
9. See your doctor if you have thin stools, cramping, unexplained weight loss, or bloody stool.

The name of the game is taking care of yourself because you're going to live long enough to wish you had. ~Grace Mirabella.

Mary Beth Potrykus
http://www.mamabearproductions.net/

PMS

Ever wonder what other definitions of PMS there are?  How about Psychotic Mood Shift, Provide Me with Sweets, Pack My Stuff.

We hope you never get to the last one and there are natural, simple ways to reduce the symptoms of PMS.

1. Exercise.  Getting moderate exercise a few times weekly can go a long way towards alleviating your PMS woes.
2. Get plenty of sleep.  Listen to your body.  That period-related fatigue means you need your rest.  Ideally 7 sound hours of sleep per night.
3. Tailor your diet.  It is what you eat the entire month, not just a few days before, that will reduce PMS and possibly eliminate the symptoms.  Eat healthy 80% of the time (dense breads, organic fruits/veggies, lean meats (cage free, grass fed is best).  Eat smaller portions several times per day versus large meals.  Your blood sugars will be more stabled, less hunger, and cravings will be reduced. 
4. Supplements to take every day.  Calcium increases bone density, and you want one with magnesium and vitamin D as both of these will help absorb the calcium into the body and magnesium will reduce cramping.  Vitamin E  400 - 800 IU daily.  Vitamin C protects from the dangerous free radicals that causes cancer and other degenerative diseases and many women don't get enough in their diets.  B-Complex is the BE HAPPY vitamin.  When stressed, the body is depleted of B vitamins.  B vitamins help with depression.  It is hard to take too much B Complex. 
5. Herbal Remedies  GLA provides essentially fatty acids that combat the symptoms of PMS.
6. Non GMO Soy Protein.  This will boost energy levels and stabilize blood sugars and mood swings.  The American Heart Association recommends soy protein as part of a heart healthy diet.

All of this will help you to reduce/eliminate PMS and also a great prevention to other illnesses and disease.

To view these supplements and herbal remedies, go to http://www.mamabearproductions.net/.

Be happy.

Mary Beth Potrykus
Mama Bear Productions

Not before bed

Why is it bad to eat an hour or less before bedtime? 

1. Indigestion
2. Restless sleep
3. Food does not digest
4. Gain weight

So if you're thinking "I am hungry", ignore that thought, drink a little water and go get a good night sleep (7 hours). 

Mary Beth Potrykus
Mama Bear Productions

March is Nutrition Month

Nutrition is not always a fun subject.  Important, but not fun.  There are ways to have fun with nutrition and learn about good nutrition at the same time. 

Click on this link http://www.eatright.org/NNM/content.aspx?id=5334 and have some fun with your family!

Also, if you know of a business, school, church or organization that would benefit from my Solutions on Stress seminar, contact me at marybeth@mamabearproductions.net with their contact information.

How about a protein bar?

Mary Beth