Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Summer Schedule
Summer for me is always great, no matter what the weather is. I am blessed with my health and my family's health, we have a lovely home, and business is good. However, my schedule...well let's say I really don't have one.
With my children being out of school I am spending more time with them and taking them to places. The one constant is how I start my day. I start it with my delicious soy protein smoothie and take my supplements. This has been my regiment for almost 12 years now. It was a habit I got into. I thought in the beginning "WILL I BE DOING THIS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE?" YOU BET! Why?
I had my children late in life. I was 36 when I had my son and 39 when my daughter was born. They are now 15 and 12 (do the math and you'll know how old I am). My goal is to see my great granchildren and be active with them. It is always nice to see the shocking look on people's faces when they find out how old I am!
Now I don't always get as many fruits and vegetables in my diet that I would like. That is where supplementation comes in. Vitamins supplement my diet what I don't get in my food and what foods I can't always eat daily. It is my health insurance plan.
So many people are getting cancer, MS, Lupus, fibromyalgia and I am doing everything I can NOT TO! What is in you, on you and around you becomes a part of you.
My good friend introduced me to this lifestyle and I am so grateful. I've learned a great deal over the past 12 years from doctors, nurses, nutritionists and people who have chosen a healthy lifestyle for decades. They are my mentors.
If you are a savvy mom or savvy dad, and life is busy for you and you have the same goal as I do, click here and look at the healthy prescription.
Mama Bear Productions offers a wide variety of services. The one that is in most demand is Personalized Nutrition Consultations. The consultation can be done in person or by telephone, with the convenience of the internet. The consultations are confidential and the first one is at no charge.
Call Mary Beth at 810-813-3308 to find out more about the consultations.
Happy summer and many blessings!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Wellness in Harsh Times
In the US, market analyst, IRI, notes food supplement sales were up eight per cent in the period ended December, 2008, over the same time a year previous. Similar trends are being reported elsewhere from China to Europe, South Korea, South Africa and Australia.
US vitamin retailer, Vitamine Shoppe, notes 20 per cent of customers in the past six months are first-time food supplements buyers of the likes of omega-3s, multivitamins, herbal extracts, probiotics, glucosamine and chondroitin.
US natural foods merchandiser, Whole Foods, reported its first-ever negative quarter recently, but noted food supplements were the star performer in its nationwide chain of stores.
Self-medication
With fewer shekels in the coffers of household budgets around the world, food supplements are increasing in appeal as fear-ridden consumers look for ways and means to dodge the potential budget-busting hell of the mainstream medical system.
Doctors in white coats; hastily scribbled prescription notes; drug store visits for high-powered and high-cost drugs; hospital stays; clinic visits…no thanks.
As Uwe E. Reinhardt, a professor of economics at Princeton university in the US, told The New York Times last week: “When you go to the formal health system, you very quickly lose control over what this costs you.”
This information was provided by Food Quality News.
Mama Bear Productions provides Personalized Nutrition Consultations. The consultations are confidential, help us to determine which supplements are right for you, the consultations are available in person or over the telephone, and with a high level of customer service to ensure you are getting results.
Contact Mary Beth Potrykus at 810-813-3308 for your initial complimentary consultation.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Tip of the Week July 7, 2009
The immune system is just develop9ng in young children. That's why they are so susceptible to colds and allergies.
Did you know that those colds are good things, to a certain extent. They create the "immune memory" that they will need to fight off colds and infections in the future.
It is also means that children are particularly susceptible when something really nasty comes along. It is no coincidence that many of the recent victims of the Swine Flu were small children.
When we talk about immunity we need to also talk about intestinal health. It turns out that 80% of the immune system originates in cells lining the intestine. And when bad bacteria populate the intestine, those intestinal immune cells are so busy fending off the bad bacteria that the rest of the immune system can't function optimally. That's why it is important to make sure that our intestines are populated by friendly bacteria.
If children have frequent colds or infections they are often given lots of antiobiotics. Unfortunately, antibiotics wipe out the good guys in their intestines and leave the door wide open for bad guys like yeast.
Now that we understand why your child's immune system is so important and the role that friendly intestinal bacteria play in keeping their immune system operating optimally, it's time to turn our attention to oligofructose-enriched inulin.
We'll start with inulin, which is a complex carbohydrate that comes from foods like the Jerusalem artichoke and chickory root. It is poorly digested - so foods that are rich in inulin tend to be low in calories and high in fiber. Oligofructose-enriched inulin is simply obtained by a partial enzymatic digestion of the inulin.
This is all very medical stuff, right? How easy is it to purchase Jersualem artichoke or chickory root and will your children/family eat them? These are available in supplements made by Shaklee. Click here and find out how you can get the good guys into your child's intestines easy.
The above information was provided by Dr. Stephen Chaney.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Tip of the Week--June 29, 2009
Weight
We think as we age that it is more difficult to loose and/or keep the weight off. Our metabolisms do slow down, which may be due to feelings of tiredness and a lack of energy. An increase in calories take place. Now fewer calories are burned. To increase the metabolism naturally, have more energy and take in good calories can be a Cinch. Cinch is a weight management program that helps to loose the fat and inches while retaining muscle mass. One pound of fat the body burns 2 calories. One pound of muscle the body burns 50 calories! Big difference.
Mood Swings
Menopause is a process rather than an illness.
As estrogen levels drop, hormones are out of whack and can cause mood swings in even the most placid women. Another overlooked cause of mood swings is fatigue. Night weats and hot flashes can affect sleep patterns, causing tiredness and moodiness. To help combat the symptoms of menopause and make these years more bearable, there is Menopause Balance Complex.
Soy Isoflavones and flax seed lignans, which are currently being studied for their bone, breast and heart health properties, are included in Menopause Balance Complex to help keep your body in good health.
Mama Bear Productions provides Personal Nutrition Consultations. These consultations are available over the phone or in person. To schedule your consultation, call Mary Beth at 810-813-3308 or email marybeth1957@sbcglobal.net
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Tip of the Week--June 22, 2009
About 10-15 years ago scientists realized that wasn't just bone-forming cells that were affected by vitamin D. Almost every cell in our body has receptors for vitamin D.
So scientists set out to discover what else vitamin D does. The short answer is "a lot".
- Vitamin D is essential for a strong immune system. Some experts think that may just be why winter is cold & flu season.
- Significantly reduces the risk of several types of cancer, especially colon, breast, lung and prostate cancer. Plus, some studies suggest that adequate vitamin D intake may make cancer treatment more effective.
- May reduce heart disease risk as well. Studies have shown that vitamin D supplementation reduces the levels of C-reactive protein, a marker for the inflammation associated with heart disease. In addition, a combination of vitamin D, calcium and magnesium can also lower blood pressure, which is a risk factor for heart disease.
- Finally, there are a number of studies suggesting that vitamin D is beneficial in preventing auto-immune diseases. For example, in the Nurses Health Study just 400 IU of vitamin D was sufficient to reduce the risk of developing multiple sclerosis by 40%.
Ask your doctor to test your blood levels of vitamin D when you go in for your next physical. We are all unique individuals. What may be perfectly adequate sun exposure and vitamin D intake for someone else may not be adequate for you. Only by having your blood levels tested will you know if you are getting enough of this vital nutrient.
Where can you get Vitamin D? From sun exposure and your diet. Ten to 15 minutes per day in the sun will give you adequate amounts of vitamin D. Forget the old advice to slather yourself with sunscreen every time you set foot outside of the house. You still want to avoid prolonged sun exposure without sunscreen. If you plan on being out in the sun, click here for a natural sun block, that nourishes the skin and allows vitamin d into your skin.
Osteomatrix (click) is a food based supplement with an RDA of of 400 IU (100%) per serving.
HAPPY SUMMER!!
Mary Beth
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Tip of the Week, June 15, 2009

A business associate of mine, Dr. Bruce Miller, provided the following information.
The postmenopausal stage begins one year from the woman's last period. During this stage, the ovaries produce little or no estrogen, no progesterone (the hormone involved in pregnancy), and no longer release eggs.
Most women experience all some type of symptoms of menopause, which may include:
- Irregular periods
- Decreased fertility
- Vaginal dryness
- Hot Flashes
- Sleep disturbances
- Mood Swings
- Increased abdominal fat and weight gain
- Thinning hair
- Loss of breast fullness
- Bone loss
Let's first address Bone Loss. Estrogen helps bones to absorb calcium from the blood stream, as well as slow calcium loss from bones.
- Eat calcium rich foods
- Get plenty of vitamin D
- Exercise
- Decrease activities which lead to bone loss, such as smoking and drinking alcohol
- Get frequent bone density tests.
Tune in for next week's Tip of the Week, for The Rest of the Story.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Tips for a Safe and Happy Summer June 8, 2009
UV rays are strongest and most dangerous between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so the less time you spend outdoors during these hours, the better. That doesn’t mean you have to ditch out on all the fun. For instance, instead of heading out to the pool at 2 p.m., wait a few hours and go at 5 p.m. The sun will still be up and there’ll be plenty of light out. And don’t be fooled on an overcast day—you can still get burned because up to 80% of the sun’s UV rays can penetrate through the clouds. If you can, stay in the shade.
Cover Up Be fashionably smart. Wear protective clothing that covers as much of your body as possible. Remember to cover your hair and head with a wide-brimmed hat. You might even consider carrying an umbrella for shade. The more protection you have the better off your skin will be.
Protect Your Eyes
Always wear sunglasses. Not only are they great for complementing your wardrobe, they also deflect harmful UV rays that reflect off of water, sand, and other surfaces. This helps reduce the risk of cataracts and other eye conditions. And, you won’t have to squint!
Apply Sunscreen Generously (click)
Don’t be shy. Apply a liberal amount of sunscreen evenly on all areas of the skin—and don’t forget your lips, nose, ears, neck, hands, feet, and head (if necessary). Do so at least 20 minutes prior to sun exposure and remember to re-apply every two hours, especially after swimming.
And Arm Yourself with Antioxidants! (click)
What’s the big deal? Environmental assaults such as sunlight, pollution, stress, and even normal metabolism produce free radicals in our bodies, that can damage cells, alter DNA, and cause skin to age prematurely. Phytonutrients such as carotenoids and flavonoids—antioxidants found in fruits, vegetables, and plants—combat these free radicals and protect your body against cellular damage. So be sure to include lots of antioxidants in your diet. Your skin—and your overall health—will thank you.
Mary Beth Potrykus
www.mamabearproductions.net
