Thank you to Women and Mothers Everywhere

May is the special month we honor the women who have made a difference in our lives.

We at Life Priority would like to honor all women by showing you ways to rev up your health regimen. Your loved ones will thank you in return. . . because you will feel a renewed sense of well-being and confidence in knowing how you can easily improve your health. And we all know that when the special women in our lives feel good everyone feels good.  

Home is where the heart is

Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death of American women each year, killing 1 in 4, and 5 times as many women as breast cancer?

Up until a woman enters menopause, the female hormone estrogen offers protection against heart disease by maintaining levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.  Estrogen also helps to relax the smooth muscle of the arteries, which supports healthy blood pressure. These benefits disappear after menopause, which is why the risk for heart disease rises in women later than in men. But women of all ages should be concerned about maintaining a healthy heart.

Additionally, since a woman’s heart, arteries and other blood vessels are smaller than a man’s it takes less plaque to fill them up. Women also tend to have blockages in the smaller arteries that supply blood to the heart, not just in the main arteries.

10 ways to support a healthy heart

  1. Eat a nutritious, high-fiber, low-fat heart healthy diet
  2. Include foods high in phytonutrients (the nutrients found in plants)
  3. Get plenty of foods containing omega-3 fatty acids (cold water fish) or take Life Priority’s Omega-3 Priority. Vegetarians should take flax seed oil or ground flax seed.
  4. Practice a stress reduction technique, such as yoga or meditation
  5. Exercise
  6. Stop smoking!
  7. Reduce and/or avoid alcohol
  8. Get an annual physical exam to rule out other health factor risks
  9. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of purified water every day
  10. Get plenty of restful sleep!

But that’s not all! Now is the time to start taking important heart-healthy supplements.

  1. CoQ10 (also known as Coenzyme Q10 and ubiquinone) is a co-enzyme and antioxidant found in the mitochondria of every cell and in high concentrations in heart tissue. It helps maintain cardiovascular health and promotes vitality and energy. Co-Q10 is directly involved in creating 95% of the body’s usable energy.  It can increase the pumping strength of an aging heart through increased energy production, which in turn enhances the amount of blood flowing through the heart and out to the body.

When you are young and healthy, your liver can produce adequate amounts of Co-Q10.  But as you get older, your liver struggles to detoxify the chemicals in your food and environment.  Over time, your ability to maintain efficacious amounts of Co-Q10 is severely compromised, which can dramatically impact your health.  While CoQ10 production levels peak around age 20, they can decline to an average of just 68% of peak production by age 40.  By age 80, CoQ10 levels can drop to 43% of normal, healthy levels–which is why it is important to add CoQ10 to your health regimen!

  1. Omega-3 Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are the healthy fats you cannot live without. They are critical to every cell in your body and essential for normal growth, functioning and anti-aging. Since the body cannot manufacture them, EFAs must come from the food you eat and/or nutritional supplements. Most Americans eat plenty of saturated fats, but few eat the fats that you need to support healthy blood pressure and a healthy heart.

It’s a fact of life. Maintaining balance in the female physiology is complex … because women’s hormones are in a constant state of flux, waxing and waning like the moon.  The balance becomes even more delicate when the body begins to decrease its estrogen production.  Whether you need ongoing or transitional support, you’ll be amazed by how much easier it is to fight stress and fatigue and bring your system back into balance with Omega-3s. Life Priority’s Omega-3 Priority helps support mood, memory, blood lipid levels, and cardiovascular health. This product is really a no-brainer for all women, no matter how old they are.

Calcium and magnesium supplementation — along with exercise and a healthy diet —is the best way to support healthy bones

  1. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in your body and plays a vital role in many areas of health including the maintenance of proper nerve and muscle function, normal blood clotting, cardiovascular function, proper sleep, and bone formation. 99% of the body’s calcium is found in your bones, which serves two functions: it provides strength and structure and it serves as a calcium bank or reserve. Whenever your body senses a decrease in blood calcium, calcium is removed from the bones. This is why it’s absolutely vital to maintain your calcium intake on a daily basis, so that calcium is not drawn out of your bones setting up the stage for osteoporosis.

Preventing osteoporosis

One out of two women older than age 50 suffers an osteoporosis-related fracture during her lifetime. Complications from these fractures are a major killer of women. Recent research shows that osteoporosis is not limited to post-menopausal women. Each year men suffer one third of all the hip fractures that occur, and one third of these men will not survive more than a year. Fortunately, research has also shown that a healthy diet, weight-bearing exercise and calcium supplementation can aid the body in building and maintaining healthy bone mass, while reducing the risk of osteoporosis.

  1. Magnesium is necessary for every major biological process including the body’s production of healthy bone. Magnesium helps the body absorb calcium, converts vitamin D into its active form for calcium absorption and helps regulate calcium.

Often called the “relaxation” mineral, magnesium assists in helping you sleep through the night peacefully without leg cramps, spasms heart palpitations, or anxiety. In fact, if you experience twitching or cramping of any kind, you probably have a magnesium deficiency. Magnesium is found in nuts, seeds, legumes, green leafy vegetables, whole grains and avocados. Taking Magnesium PriorityÔ is a great way to ensure that you are getting the adequate daily allowance of this vital mineral.

Try this recipe for a delicious and nutritious start to the day

Blueberry and Yogurt Pancakes (serves 3)

½ cup flour (your choice, i.e. all-purpose, whole wheat, non-gluten)

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp baking powder

¼ tsp baking soda

¼ tsp salt

¾ cup milk

1 Tbsp. butter

½ cup plain Greek yogurt

1 egg

½ cup blueberries

¼ cup walnut pieces

Oil or butter for frying pan

Combine the dry ingredients. Whisk together the egg, milk and yogurt and 1 Tbsp. of melted butter. Blend with the dry ingredients and then gently add ¼ cup of the blueberries. Heat frying pan and add oil. When sizzling hot, drop batter to form pancakes. Sprinkle more blueberries onto each pancake and let the pancakes cook until the edges start to brown and you see bubbles appear.

Serve with more fresh blueberries, if desired, and chopped walnuts.

This delicious recipe provides calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, antioxidants, and protein, and omega-3 fatty acids (in the walnuts).

Enjoy!

Omega-3 Priority™ Supports Cardiovascular Function-Circulatory System*- and Brain Health. What are the specific benefits of using fatty acids?

Do you need Omega-3 Priority™?

Omega-3 Priority™

Supports Cardiovascular Function-Circulatory System*- and Brain Health.Omega-3 Priority provides the vital fish oils that can improve your heart and brain functions, while enhancing your mood.

Questions and Answers:
Q: What is Omega-3 Priority™?
A: Life Priority’s Omega-3 Priority™ is a pharmaceutical grade fish oil concentrate providing one of the highest potencies of EPA 400/mg (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA 200/mg (docosahexaenoic acid) available*.

Q: Where do people get omega-3 in their diet?
A: The best sources are from deep water fish. (Flax seed and/or flax oil (ALA) are not the optimum source of EPA and DHA.)

Q: Are omega-3 fatty acids essential for optimum health?
A: Polyunsaturated fatty acids, specifically from omega-3 fatty acids, play an essential role in the function and health of cell membranes.

Q: What are the specific benefits from using omega-3 fatty acids?
A: Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and may help lower risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and arthritis. Omega-3 fatty acids are highly concentrated in the brain and appear to be important for cognitive (brain memory and performance) and behavioral function.*

Q: Are there any side effects?
A: Because of blood thinning activity, those who are on NSAIDS, warfarin, or other anti-clotting medications should consult a physician/pharmacist before using*.

Q: How much omega-3 fatty acid should I take each day?
A: Depending on the amount of fresh, deep sea fish that you eat daily, you should be fine using 1-2 capsules of Omega 3 Priority™ per day after meals. If you do not eat deep sea fish, you might consider using 3 to 4 capsules per day after meals.

Life Priority, established in 1994, offers supplements that are scientifically-formulated, results-oriented, and GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) and are manufactured at USDA and FDA inspected facilities.

Life Priority Inc. 11184 Antioch RD #417 Overland Park, KS 66213                                                                        Phone: 800-787-5438  913-438-5433   www.lifepriority.com
Information provided for educational purposes only. *These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

 

Staying on top of all the latest healthy foods and diets is exhausting, and knowing all the latest news about vitamins is no different.

Lifeguarding Women’s Health

Staying on top of all the latest healthy foods and diets is exhausting, and knowing all the latest news about vitamins is no different. Almost everyone can benefit from taking a supplement with calcium because most people don’t get as much as they need through their diets — 1,000 mg a day for adults, increasing to 1,200 mg after age 50.

What Consumers Need to Know About Vitamins

From “Everything You Need to Know About Vitamins” in Everyday Health:

Paul Thomas, EdD, RD, scientific consultant with the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements, notes that some vitamins become especially important at certain times in a person’s life. For example, pregnant women or women who may become pregnant should be certain to get enough folate, or folic acid, a B-complex vitamin — 600 units a day, rather than 400. And as you age, you should probably take a daily supplement to get additional B12, he suggests.“You don’t have to become an expert or learn all the intricacies of all the vitamins — because you can’t,” adds Dr. Thomas. There’s simply too much information to try to remember. What you need to do is eat a healthy diet, selecting recommended foods based on the USDA guidelines. Because few of us consistently eat a well-balanced diet, Thomas says taking an over-the-counter multivitamin, even a store brand, is a good idea. “It’s sort of like an insurance policy that covers all your bases,” he explains.

Insuring the Right Balance in Your Diet

Insuring your nutrition with a multivitamin could possibly be your summer’s lifeguard. We cannot possibly intake the proper amount of nutrients and vitamins from our daily diets so we need multivitamins to help protect our body, like a lifeguard protects and watches over you when you’re swimming.

Multivitamin One-Per-Meal LifeGuard might help when you’re drowning in a bad diet. It was formulated by two of the top nutritional scientists in the world who wrote a bestselling book in 1978 about life extension. LifeGuard is packed full of 27 essential vitamins and nutrients that may strengthen the immune system and protect your body from free radical damage.

Lifeguard Life Priority Supplements

 

Life Priority, established in 1994, offers supplements that are scientifically-formulated, results-oriented, and GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) and are manufactured at USDA and FDA inspected facilities.
*The products and statements made about specific products on this web site have not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. All information provided on this web site or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional. You should not use the information on this web site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new vitamins, supplements, diet, or exercise program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem.
*Any testimonials on this web site are based on individual results and do not constitute a guarantee that you will achieve the same results.
Baby blues refers to the first days & weeks after your new baby arrives can be sweet and savored, but they can also be overwhelming. 

7 Simple Natural Suggestions for Postpartum “Baby Blues”

Here are 7 simple and natural ways found to be effective in helping new mothers with the “baby blues”. The term “baby blues” refers to the first days and weeks after your new baby arrives can be sweet and savored, but they can also be overwhelming. Consider these 7 simple natural suggestions:

  1. Start with your Diet your diet will help support you in your effort to be healthier and have more energy. Diet is one of the most important things you can do for both your health and the health of your
    newborn baby. I suggest you meal plan with the goal of a good nutritional plan to get the best nutrients from a healthy diet. Be sure to get lots of fresh organic fruits and vegetables. Meal planning will help you analyze your diet and make life easier and save time and money. Keep plenty of healthy snacks, apples, carrots, nuts and fruit juices handy to help insure your blood sugar levels and make sure you are getting enough fluids. (Hydrated)

Staying hydrated especially when breastfeeding is essential. Dehydration can cause fatigue, irritability and confusion.  Try to consume at least 8 glasses of water a day or herbal teas, sparkling water can help with fluid intake but sweeten with natural honey or stevia.

  1. Supplements can help support your diet and intake of essential nutrients for a healthy diet. Many womenOmega-3 Priority provides the vital fish oils that can improve your heart and brain functions, while enhancing your mood. continue to take their prenatal vitamins for 3 to 6 month period after the baby is born. Omega3 Priority is a supplement that can help with moods and brain health. Many healthcare professionals recommend taking during and postpartum. It has been reported taking 1000mg of Omega3 fish oil every day, will make a big impact on your mood, your stress levels and your overall emotional well-being. Within a day or two of beginning to take fish oil many report feeling less stress and overwhelmed by their emotions. If you don’t like eating fish, supplementing can be a simple and easy choice. Niacin & B Vitamins (found in our Lift formula) are supportive of more energy and fatigue. Niacin can help to ease symptoms of depression, and B-vitamins in general help lift your mood and energy.  Vitamin D3 has been found to help support hormone regulation. People who don’t get enough sunshine can get a form of SAD (seasonal affective disorder). Vitamin D3 is especially valuable in the winter months when there is limited sunlight. 
  1. Fresh Air going outside, and getting fresh air, can really help you to feel better and boost your mood. Also getting some sun (Vitamin D3), is good for you, and good for the baby; it helps to reduce jaundice. Make an effort to get outside at least once every day that the weather is cooperative. Sometimes with a newborn it can feel hard to get out the house, but staying home alone with a baby all the time can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness and can make your baby blues worse. Aromathery or Essential Oils – can help to boost mood and reduce stress and anxiety during the postpartum period. Some of these oils include sandalwood, lavender, citrus oils. Make up a room spray, simply add water and several drops of essential oils in a little spray bottle and spray it around your house as often as you like.
  1. Light Exercise- Exercise helps to clear your mind boosts your serotonin levels, and helps your body bounce back from pregnancy, which will also help you to feel better. Walking is a great way to get moving and start getting back into shape. You do need to be careful not to overdo it. (Be sure to check with your doctor, especially in the first postpartum weeks) Taking a  short walk/jog about three times a week can really be a great bonding time, put your baby in a carrier or stroller and take a light walk around the block. Get out of the house by yourself and talk a quick walk, after the baby is fed and content or sleeping, leave dad or a friend in charge.
  1. Rest -Making sure you rest and get enough sleep during those early weeks. When the baby is sleeping you may feel like you need to use that time to catch up on getting things done, but try to make an effort to sleep some of the time when your baby is sleeping. Getting enough sleep can really make a big difference in how you feel. So while you don’t always have to sleep when the baby is sleeping, babies sleep a lot, try to make it a point to try to sleep with the baby at least once during the day. Maybe adjust your bedtime to even go to bed early and catch up on that much needed sleep.
  1. Talking many women have found that one of the best ways to deal with the” baby blues” was to talk about it. Sharing your emotions and feelings are very important. All women go through a hormone imbalance after a pregnancy. Diet and exercise will definitely help but it is very important to talk about what you are feeling. Newborns sleep all the time, and will sleep pretty much anywhere, so you don’t have to worry about being at home for nap time. Taking advantage of this time by making a point to meet with family and friends will help to ease those feelings of isolation.
  1. Ask for help the first few days, weeks, and even months with a newborn can feel overwhelming. Between the time spent sitting and nursing, to caring for older children, it seems like there are not enough hours in the day to get everything done. Try to get as much help from others as you can – whether it’s accepting meals, offers to watch your older kids, or even cleaning your house.

Finally, with the support of family and friends, you cannot only help feel better, but get better support. Having a good support system to find ways to help ease stress and the feelings of being overwhelmed, as well as finding  ways to boost moods and balance your  hormones, will help you to feel  better. *If you are experiencing baby blues, or stronger feelings of depression, the most important thing you can do is to seek medical help,  talk it over with your doctor or midwife to find a treatment plan that will work for you.* 

To Your Health!  

*Information is provided is for educational purposes only. Information is NOT intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition.

Information sourced from Baby Blues: A Naturopathic Approach for Postpartum Health By Dr. Nancy Lins, ND)

Americanpregnancy.org/first-year-of-life/baby-blues/

Mayoclinic.org

Postpartum baby blues symptoms

Signs and symptoms of baby blues — which last only a few days to a week or two after your baby is born — may include:

  • Mood swings
  • Anxiety
  • Sadness
  • Irritability
  • Feeling overwhelmed
  • Crying
  • Reduced concentration
  • Appetite problems
  • Trouble sleeping 

Postpartum depression symptoms

Postpartum depression may be mistaken for baby blues at first — but the signs and symptoms are more intense and last longer, eventually interfering with your ability to care for your baby and handle other daily tasks. Symptoms usually develop within the first few weeks after giving birth, but may begin later — up to six months after birth. Postpartum depression symptoms may include:

  • Depressed mood or severe mood swings
  • Excessive crying
  • Difficulty bonding with your baby
  • Withdrawing from family and friends
  • Loss of appetite or eating much more than usual
  • Inability to sleep (insomnia) or sleeping too much
  • Overwhelming fatigue or loss of energy
  • Reduced interest and pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
  • Intense irritability and anger
  • Fear that you’re not a good mother
  • Feelings of worthlessness, shame, guilt or inadequacy
  • Diminished ability to think clearly, concentrate or make decisions
  • Severe anxiety and panic attacks
  • Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
  • Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

Information sourced from the Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/postpartum-depression/basics/symptoms/con-20029130

Life Priority, established in 1994, offers supplements that are scientifically-formulated, results-oriented, and GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) and are manufactured at USDA and FDA inspected facilities.
*The products and statements made about specific products on this web site have not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. All information provided on this web site or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional. You should not use the information on this web site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new vitamins, supplements, diet, or exercise program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem.
*Any testimonials on this web site are based on individual results and do not constitute a guarantee that you will achieve the same results.
One disease which doesn’t receive a lot of attention is heart disease, the leading killer of both men and women in the U.S.

Can Omega-3s Help Prevent Cardiovascular Disease in Women?

Countless health hazards and risks threaten us daily. With more and more pollutants in the air, and in our food and water, staying healthy and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is becoming more challenging. In addition to eating properly, people should also know about the main contributors to our health concerns. One disease which doesn’t receive a lot of attention is heart disease, the leading killer of both men and women in the U.S. And it’s especially harmful and deadly for women. Women need to know about the dangers of heart disease and what they can do to possibly prevent it.

Cardiovascular Disease is the #1 Killer of Women

  • Heart disease is the leading cause of death of American women, killing more than one third of them who contract cardiovascular disease.
  • 35.3% of deaths in American women over the age of 20, or more than 432,000, are caused by cardiovascular disease each year.
  • More than 200,000 women die each year from heart attacks – 5x more women as breast cancer.
  • More than 159,000 women die each year of congestive heart failure, accounting for 56.3% of all heart failure deaths.

How Women Can Avoid Heart Disease with Omega-3s

Fit Women on Exercise Bikes

Research shows strong evidence that the omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, can boost heart health and lower triglycerides.  Omega-3s are found in fatty layers of cold-water fish and shellfish, plant and nut oils, English walnuts, flax seed, algae oils, and fortified foods. In the opinion of Life Priority Inc., the modern diet is deficient in adequate amounts of Omega-3s so we feel that using a fish oil supplement is the most effective and logical way to get adequate amounts of Omega-3 in your diet. There are the two main types of Omega-3s:

  1. Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids are EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). These are plentiful in fish and shellfish. Algae often provides only DHA.
  2. Short-chain omega-3 fatty acids are ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). These are found in plants, such as flaxseed. Though beneficial, ALA omega-3 fatty acids have less potent health benefits than EPA and DHA. You’d have to eat a lot to gain the same benefits as you do from fish.

Omega-3s are considered essential fatty acids. We need them for our bodies to work normally. Since essential fatty acids are not made in the body or are inefficiently converted from ALA to EPA and DHA, we need to get them from our diet.

EPA and DHA help maintain the healthy function of the brain and retina.  DHA is a building block of tissue in the brain and retina of the eye.  It helps with forming neural transmitters, such as phosphatidylserine, which is important for brain function.  Omega-3s are also thought to play an important role in reducing inflammation throughout the body – in the blood vessels, the joints, and elsewhere. Experts say that DHA and EPA have better established health benefits than ALA.

In our opinion, supplementing with Omega-3s is a no-brainer, especially for women.  From menstrual cramps to menopausal symptoms and breast cancer, Omega-3s can help women of all ages in many ways.  Omega-3s can help with hot flashes, osteoporosis, mood, memory, cardiovascular disease, blood pressure, lowering LDL cholesterol while helping to increase HDL levels and more.

Other Ways to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease

Supplementing your Omega-3s can have a significant positive impact on your health, but it should also be combined with other efforts to protect yourself from this cardiovascular killer. Below are several other positive changes you can make in your life to reduce your risk for heart disease:

  • Quit smoking.
  • Maintain a healthy BMI and waist circumference.
  • Exercise daily.
  • Pass on the processed foods.
  • Lower your sugar intake.
  • Have one glass of red wine per day.
  • Cut back on red meat, up your fish intake.

Life Priority offers OMEGA-3 PRIORITY, a concentrated (60% vs. the normal 30%), pharmaceutical-grade Omega-3 supplement.

OMEGA-3 PRIORITY – Pharmaceutical grade EPA 400mg / DHA 200mg

We formed a company to help people get access to these research-based, high-quality dietary supplements. Remember, keep an open mind to new ideas, but always do your own homework, and combine that with common sense to figure out what’s best for you.

 

Life Priority, established in 1994, offers supplements that are scientifically-formulated, results-oriented, and GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) and are manufactured at USDA and FDA inspected facilities.
*The products and statements made about specific products on this web site have not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. All information provided on this web site or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional. You should not use the information on this web site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new vitamins, supplements, diet, or exercise program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem.
*Any testimonials on this web site are based on individual results and do not constitute a guarantee that you will achieve the same results.

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