Gluten-free diet: good for Celiac Disease, bad for gut health.

A recent article published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that while a gluten-free diet is beneficial for patients suffering from food-related diseases such as Celiac Disease, it is detrimental to gut health and gut-related immune function. A gluten-free diet is often prescribed for patients with gluten-intolerance, wheat allergy or Celiac Disease to reduce the chance of an allergic reaction. This includes the exclusion of wheat, rye, barley, and oats from the diet. Gluten is a small protein composed of gliadin and glutenin that makes up roughly 80% of the protein content in wheat. In patients with Celiac Disease, exposure to gluten can result in an inappropriate immune response in the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in changes in enterocyte anatomy, poor absorption of critical nutrients and resultant systemic deficiencies, and other intestinal problems.

Researchers at the Microbial Ecophysiology and Nutrition Group in Valencia, Spain found that a gluten free diet resulted in a decrease in beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium longum and an increase in potentially pathogenic bacteria such as Enterobacteriaceae and Escherichia coli. They also found the ability of colonic bacteria to stimulate cytokine production (an immune response) was reduced in patients on a gluten-free diet.

Isotonix Might-A-Mins Spectrum Probiotics is a great way to supplement your digestive tract with beneficial bacteria that may be reduced while following a gluten-free diet. One capful of Isotonix Might-A-Mins Spectrum Probiotics contains more than 14 billion colony-forming units (CFUs) from 7 different probiotic strains.

De Palma, G., et al. Effects of a gluten-free diet on gut microbiota and immune function in healthy adult human subjects. British Journal of Nutrition. 2009.
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=5578208

Support healthy aging with Ultra Prime

You cannot talk about healthy aging without mentioning the integral hormone “human growth hormone” or HGH. HGH is the master hormone that drives the growth and development of the body. It causes the liver to produce powerful insulin-like growth factors (IGF), which contribute to the maintenance of lean body mass and the health of the body’s vital organs.

Ultra Prime™ Secretagogue HGH Enhancer is a natural secretagogue that works as an HGH releaser, helping to raise HGH levels in an entirely physiological manner. It gently stimulates the endocrine system to produce and release its own HGH naturally. The ingredients work synergistically to maximize the effectiveness of the amino acids in the formula. Ultra Prime Secretagogue:

• Functions as a secretagogue to help naturally increase the production and secretion of HGH by the brain's pituitary gland
• Helps increase strength and energy
• Helps maintain cardiovascular health
• Helps increase endurance
• Helps maintain optimal immune health

Take a step towards healthy aging by supplementing with Ultra Prime.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Sugar and Your Genes

A recent Australian study reported in the Journal of Experimental Medicine may help explain, at least in part, why so many people are struggling with their weight today, and why weight problems tend to run in families.

Sam El-Osta, from the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, led the study which examined the impact of diet on human heart tissue and in mice. The researchers found that cells remember the effects of a single spike in sugar intake by temporarily switching off the genetic controls designed to protect the body against diabetes and disease.

"We now know that the chocolate bar you had this morning can have very acute effects, and those effects can continue for up to two weeks" said lead researcher Sam El-Osta, from the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, during an interview with the Australian Associated Press.

"These changes continue beyond the meal itself and have the ability to alter natural metabolic responses to diet. With chronic poor eating habits, this genetic damage may last months or years, and could potentially pass through bloodlines... to one's children"

I don't know about you, but I find this very interesting. The more we learn about the interplay of our genes and our diet through the new field of nutritional genomics, the closer we are to finding new approaches for health.

Curcumin: It’s Quality over Quantity

A six-month, placebo controlled, double-blind trial in humans found that taking 1 gram of Curcumin BCM-95™ results in much greater blood levels of curcuminoids than consuming 4 grams of curcumin with a meal. 940 ± 920 vs. 120 ± 140 nmol/L. These results indicate that the patented extraction process and formulation found in Curcumin BCM-95™ yields superior absorption and bioavailability compared to other curcumin extracts and powders. Researchers also found that it is the concentration of curcuminoids in the blood that is positively associated with cardiovascular health and not the total amount of curcumin ingested. Stay tuned for more great news on Curcumin!

Baum, L., et al. Curcumin effects on blood lipid profile in a 6-month human study. Pharmacological Research. 56(6): 509-514, 2007.

Supporting metabolism and normal hormone production

As we age, many of us look for ways to maintain our youthful vitality. There are many ways to do that and many of them relate to two very important basics: maintaining a healthy metabolism and supporting normal hormone production. nutraMetrix® Prime™ Factor for Men and Prime Factor for Women address both of these important goals. These two formulas were carefully formulated for the unique needs of men and women as they age. Prime Factor provides a blend of vitamins, minerals, herbs and pro-hormones which promote the normal growth and repair of cells and support the production of human growth hormone (HGH). Healthy levels of HGH are important because HGH promotes healthy growth and cell reproduction, helping to maintain a youthful vitality and support normal hormone production. Both of the Prime Factor formulas support the natural release of hormones that may decrease during the aging process.

Take a step towards a healthier you with Prime Factor!


These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product(s) is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Support your immune system!

It seems as though everywhere I go lately I find hand sanitizer. Dispensers are mounted to the walls of my gym, the grocery store, public restrooms and many people even carry around a small bottle with them. Finding ways to protect yourself and your health is all over the news. Our bodies work hard all day to protect us from all of the potentially harmful elements we encounter from the air and the people with whom we come into contact. It is important to support our bodies and do all that we can to support the optimal functioning of our immune system. We can help our bodies by eating a healthy balanced diet, getting enough sleep, minimizing stress and exercising regularly. We can also support our immune system with proper nutritional supplementation. nutraMetrix® Immune™ Maximum Defense Formula is a great way to help maintain general health, help support our normal cellular defenses and promote healthy immune function.

The compounds found in Immune Maximum Defense Formula promote healthy activity of interleukins, interferons and necrosis factor, all key components in a healthy immune system. Maitake Gold 404®, a highly studied extract of the maitake mushroom, is shown to be effective in supporting the body’s immune cells, including natural killer cells, macrophages, T cells and B cells.*


These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.This product(s) is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Pre-Workout Meals: More Important Than You May Think

A new study published in the May 2009 Journal of Nutrition found that your pre-workout meal may be just as important as your workout . The study found the type of carbohydrates you eat before a workout may influence how much fat you burn during your exercise session. Women who ate a breakfast rich in low glycemic carbohydrates such as muesli, yogurt, skimmed milk -- burned 50 percent more fat during a post-breakfast workout than those who ate a breakfast rich in high glycemic carbohydrates such as cornflakes and white bread. So make your pre-workout meal work as hard as you do.