Live for Today!

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift."

I love this quote which I picked up in the office one day. This phrase reminds me of the story of the baker and his wife. When the baker would bake bread, he could only think about having sex with his wife later that night. On the other hand, when he was having sex with his wife, he could only think about baking bread the next day. He was never satisfied because he didn't live for the moment. Imagine you are on a plane and you jump out with a parachute on your back. Would you think about the stockmarket, bills, past arguments, or future career choices? I don't know about you but I would develop laser like focus and attempt to land safely. Life is indeed a journey; enjoy it one day at a time.

Weight Loss--do herbs/vitamins work?

Spring is here and many people are looking at the natural weight loss products to lose weight. Frankly I feel that most of these products are more hype then help. At any rate the most important thing is to avoid trouble. It doesn't pay to look good and live a shorter life. Right? OK, here's the low-down.

1)Hydroxycitrate. This is an extract from the garcina plant. You'll find it in products such as Citrimax, Diet Fuel Herballife etc. Yes, it's supposed to inhibit fat production but there's no proof that you'll lose weight.

2)Ephedra (Ma huang). Examples of this supplement include Metabolife, and Dexatrim Results. Ephedra with or without caffeine is linked with heart attacks, strokes, hypertension and even death. These products sell like crazy. Read your labels and stay away from this stuff.

3)Bitter orange or country mallow (Heartleaf). These products are often marketed as "ephedra-free" but in reality we're still looking at agents that contain ephedrine like substances. An example is Dexatrim Natural. Stay away!

4)7-keto DHEA. Examples of this supplement include 7-keto Lean, 7-keto Fuel, and PatentLean. Early evidence shows that this derivative of DHEA may decrease body fat. Long term side effects are not known.

5)Conjugated Linoleic acid (CLA) This fat which is found in Body Solutions, Diene-O-Lean, and Tonalin works by destroying fat cells. It seems to be well tolerated but we don't have any firm evidence that it works.

6)Chromium Picolinate. This trace mineral is likely safe at 50-200mcg. per day and works by converitng fat to muscle.Once again more proof is needed for weight loss.

7)Chitosan. This substance absorbs fats from the gut and should be avoided if you are allergic to shellfish. Anecdotes abound but no controlled trials have been done.

The moral of the story is that if an herb is too good to be true, then it is. We have a product that combines Chromium, Chitosan and a nonstimulating herbal blend that might help and runs about $35 per month. Always check with your doctor first. Exercise and smart food choices remain the best solution to the epidemic problem of being overweight.

Poison! Keep this handy number close by.

I am happy to say that we now have a national poison hotline! The number is 1-800-222-1222. This no. can be used anywhere in the USA to obtain urgent poison info. Lot's of poisonings occur daily, so call the poison hotline and obtain "Poison Help" stickers and magnets. This will prove especially useful for parents and grandparents. Emergency rooms are not always prepared to handle these type of calls due to patient volume. Keep this number handy.

Q-Gel (coenzyme Q-10)

Yes, you all know I love this vitamin. Also you're aware that I like clinical trials supporting alternative medicines before I accept a vitamin or herb as being worthwhile. The nobel prize was won in the late 1970s for the discovery of this important natural nutrient. Coenzyme Q-10 is necessary for energy production in the body and levels begin to decrease after age 35. I like how Q-Gel accumulates readily in the brain and heart tissues. In a study of 150 patients waiting for heart transplants, 96% survived after 3 years on coenzyme without ever having a heart transplant! Besides heart disease, coenzyme is also being studied for the prevention of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Q-Gel maintains blood levels 3-4 times higher than conventional coenzyme in the stores. It is used by many cardiologists worldwide. Go to www.advancedvitamins.com and click on the apple that says "Q-Gel" You can then order the vitamins or obtain further information.

Cannabis (Pot)--an intelligent thing to do?

Smoking weed may help reduce muscle stiffness in patients with multiple sclerosis and it may help with nausea associated with chemotherapy. However, it clearly does not help our intelligence. A study of 102 patients who used marijuana nearly daily for years, showed reduced learning potential, retention and retrieval of knowledge. I have always had the feeling that pot leads to more serious drug use and parental usage will indeed encourage the child to smoke weed as well. Now that we have 2 studies showing an IQ decline with chronic long term use, it's best to avoid this drug. The brain is a muscle, it needs mental exercises not drugs.

The "art" of investing--save a bundle!

You'll really enjoy acquiring beautiful works of art and valuable collectibles at substantially discounted prices when you speak with Mike Kuschmann at 1-800-229-4322 (Fine Arts Ltd.) A Hart sculpture... a Nieman print... a Tag Heuer watch... a diamond ring...a Persian rug...a fine antique... when you see something you are interested in-before you buy, call Mike for a quote-don't pay retail! Best of all, Mike offers unique tax savings. He can show you how to profitably donate to a charity which will put a smile on your face and money in your pocket. Mike is a frequent speaker at national investment conferences and holds a B.A., M.A. and M.B.A. from Stanford University. For learning how to save money throughout life, call him for a free phone session or brochure at 1800-229-4322.

I hope this newsletter has been helpful for you. Always check with your physician and financial advisor about the above. Until next month, "Live well, laugh often and love much."

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