SLEEP AND WEIGHT: WHAT’S THE CONNECTION?

By:Deedra Mason, ND  nutraMetrix® | Director of Clinical Education & Research

Do you ever wonder why doctors, health experts, and your mom are always bugging you about getting enough sleep? A good night’s rest is vital for health and well-being, but essential when it comes to weight control.  Healthy weight and sleep go hand in hand.

While many dieters buy into the idea that a healthy lifestyle is as easy as watching what you put into your mouth, it isn’t the whole story but it is a great start.  True well-being understands the importance of all “fat factors” including nutrient sufficiency and sleep.

Sleep maintains a balance of the appetite hormones ghrelin and leptin. When you do not get enough sleep, your levels of ghrelin, the hormone that makes you feel hungry, increase. Simultaneously, your levels of leptin, the hormone that makes you feel full, decreases. Therefore, you feel hungrier when you are not well rested, and even after eating, you may feel less satisfied.

One target you want to hit to make sure you are doing what is best for your sleep, your cravings and your healthy weight is optimizing your neurotransmitters.   Lack of sleep disrupts the balance of our feel-good hormones dopamine and serotonin (2).  This may lead to increased cravings and fragment sleep.

The ability to make healthy levels of serotonin, the neurotransmitter responsible for optimal mood & healthy weight, also quiets food cravings and assists you in the production of melatonin for better sleep quality.  Serotonin is dependent on your dietary, or supplement levels of Vitamin D3, Magnesium, Vitamin C and B-vitamins.  (2)

There are also amino acids like taurine, glycine, and tyrosine necessary to balance your dopamine levels in the body so you can relax when you need to for a better disposition and ready yourself for sleep (3).

This approach is not just good for the late night hours, but benefit you throughout the day as well.  A healthy balance of serotonin and dopamine can help you make good choices during your day-to-day activities.  With a balance in your mind, you are less likely to choose take out or other quick and easy food options.   Without a balance, you may decide to skip your workout or become less productive at work.

You have many choices in how you support your waking and sleep cycles.  It appears the right combination of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids do some of the heavy lifting for a day with robust energy and a peaceful deep sleep.

Suggested Products:

nutraMetrix® Isotonix Essentials™ Turn Down:  features a custom blend of vitamins, amino acids and minerals all in one easy-to-use packet. The formula contains effective key ingredients to help you quiet down your body, promote mental clarity, control mental tension and support healthy sleep quality.

nutraMetrix® Isotonix Essentials™ Turn Up:  This unique energy supplement offers a synergistic blend of vitamins, amino acids and minerals designed   to boost energy in the body and the mind

Resources

1- Endocr Rev. 2005 May;26(3):439-51. ; Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2005; 113(9): 534-537

2- Bradley’s Neurology in Clinical Practice, 2-Volume Set / Edition 7 by Robert B. Daroff, Joseph Jankovic, John C Mazziotta, Scott L Pomeroy

3- Food Funct. 2015 Feb;6(2):383-93. doi: 10.1039/c4fo00758a.

The Many Benefits of Isotonix® OPC-3

Isotonix® OPC-3 is one of the most revolutionary nutritional supplements available today. Between its unparalleled formula, including the clinically-studied ingredient Pycnogenol, and the revolutionary Isotonix delivery system, there isn’t a more effective antioxidant supplement on the market today. Read on to learn more about the many benefits of this incredible product!

Isotonix OPC-3’s list of benefits is substantial. 

• Promotes cardiovascular health PLUS:
• Helps maintain healthy cholesterol and blood glucose levels
• Helps maintain healthy circulation by strengthening capillaries, arteries and veins
• Promotes healthy blood vessel dilation
• Demonstrates anti-inflammatory activity and promotes joint health

Additional Benefits

• Combats free radicals
• Helps maintain joint flexibility
• Helps reduce mild menstrual cramping and abdominal pain
• Helps support visual health/visual acuity
• Potent free radical scavenger
• Promotes healthy blood vessel dilation
• Promotes healthy nitric oxide levels
• Supports a healthy complexion
• Supports healthy blood glucose levels
• Supports healthy platelet activity
• Supports healthy sperm quality
• Promotes sinus comfort
• Supports immune health

Gluten Free - Vegetarian - No Detectable GMO - Pycnogenol

From promoting your cardiovascular health by helping you maintain healthy blood vessels and showing anti-inflammatory activity, Isotonix OPC-3 provides complete antioxidant protection thanks to its unique formula.

The power behind this advanced nutritional supplement powder comes from its formula of OPCs, or oligomeric proanthocyanidins: complex organic plant compounds called bioflavonoids that provide exceptional nutritional benefits to the human body, including antioxidant protection.

Isotonix OPC-3 includes a combination of powerful bioflavonoids that protect against free radicals. This includes Pycnogenol, a super-antioxidant that is one of the most clinically-researched ingredients in the nutritional supplements industry.

Many nutritional supplements – including other nutritional supplement powders – claim Pycnogenol as an ingredient, but only Isotonix products – including Isotonix OPC-3 – have exclusive worldwide rights to the isotonic form of the super-antioxidant Pycnogenol.

The isotonic form of a nutrient – the defining characteristic of Isotonix nutritional supplements – is of vital importance. Traditional tablets and capsules can take hours for the body to digest; Isotonix nutritional supplements digest more quickly and are distributed throughout the body faster than pills.

Click here to learn more about the benefits of Isotonix OPC-3 

*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.

Best Anti-Aging Products

At nutraMetrix, we try to bring you the best of the best and that includes the best in anti-aging products. Listen, I understand. No one wants a wrinkle here or to see anything sagging! That’s why it’s important to start early to prevent! I also think it is also super important to drink lots of water to aid your favorite anti-aging products. Check out the best in anti-aging here and let me know what you think in the comments section. What do you think? Have you used these products? Can you attest to their anti-aging properties? Please let me know!

Prime Advantage Anti-Aging Kit- This kit includes the Ultra Prime Secretagogue – HGH Enhancer, Prime Joint Formula by Isotonix, and the Prime Ultimate Longevity Formula by Isotonix. Together, these products help improve strength, increase energy and endurance, plus maintain joint comfort. Among a ton of other benefits together, these products, super charge the anti-aging process.

Timeless Prescription Anti-Aging Essentials Kit- Here’s another kit that really helps with the anti-aging process. This kit comes with the Facial Exfoliating Cleanser, the MDI Firming Activator and The Face Firming Moisturizer. These products work to help improve the look of your skin by making you look fresh and youthful.

VitaShield Vitamin C&E Intensive Moisturizer-  This moisturizer is perfect for your bedtime ritual. It intensely moisturizes, leaving your skin silky and smooth. It plumps cells to lessen the appearance of fine lines. How great is that? Your skin will feel youthful and you will feel youthful. It’s a win-win.

Lumiere de Vie Needle-Free Serum- An instant lift without any needles sounds too good to be true, but Lumiere de Vie Needle Free Serum is one of the most revolutionary skin products out there. With this serum, expect smoother taut skin for less than half the price of a doctor!

Lumiere de Vie Intense Rejuvenation Creme- When you’re in the market for a two-in-one anti-aging cream and moisturizer, the Lumiere de Vie Intense Rejuvenation Creme is where it’s at. This product is my personal favorite and my number one go-to. It manages to brighten the completion while getting rid of dark sports and wrinkles in a natural way, plus it’s insanely hydrating.

Cellular Laboratories De-Aging Lifting Facial Mask- I love a good mask. They’re so refreshing. I feel renewed after wearing one. The best part about the De-Aging Lifting Facial Mask is that it soothes the skin, while also fighting the signs of aging. it feels great and gets rid of those pesky wrinkles.

Getting You Recommended servings of Veggies

In grade school we all learned about the food pyramid, eating the right amount of fruits and vegetables and the importance of a balanced diet. But as we got older and busier and our moms stopped portioning out the right amount of greens we consumed on a daily basis; some of us skimp on giving our bodies the proper nutrition we need. This week we are going to learn all about the simplified and easy way to ensure that our bodies are getting the essential vitamins that they need with Complete Greens®! Read on to learn more about the benefits of this convenient supplement and how it can improve your diet, health and lifestyle!

A vegetable-rich diet is a great way to start looking, feeling and living better. But actually getting all the recommended doses a day is easier said than done. That’s where Complete Greens® can help. This supplement offers more than 50 natural ingredients including green vegetable powders and natural grass fibers that are low in sodium, fat and calories and contain no cholesterol. Complete Greens® helps to maintain a healthy digestive tract, providing beneficial probiotics, nutrients and natural enzymes to the body’s organs. Naturally-produced grasses can enhance diets which may lack the correct amount of fruits and vegetables needed as a part of a daily regimen.

A world full of fast food and processed meals has caused people to choose less healthy alternatives. This leads to deficiencies of the nutrients that are needed to lead a healthy lifestyle. Poor diets of unhealthy, processed foods, sweets and fats help set the stage for unhealthy living.

If you can’t seem to accomplish a vegetable-rich diet and healthy eating habits on your own, Complete Greens help you ingest nutrients that will help you live your demanding lifestyle. The ingredients in Complete Greens have been carefully selected for their efficiency and refined for optimal results. Complete Greens makes it possible for everyone to get the advantage of vegetables in their diets in a convenient manner. 

The Importance of Multivitamins & Healthy Weightloss

It's nice to lose weight, but what's the point if you look drained and unhealthy? That's where vitamins come in to play. Vitamins are essential to good health — they can increase your metabolism and actively increase your weight loss. When going forward with any kind of weight loss program, your body needs a foundation of nutrients — which can be obtained using a multivitamin. Multivitamins are intended to be taken in an effort to supplement the diet with vitamins and minerals that are not being acquired through food.
 It’s very important to choose a multivitamin which provides all of the essential vitamins and minerals, which are included at amounts that provide 100% of the recommended daily values. These nutrients play a variety of roles in supporting a healthy immune and cardiovascular system: promoting strong bones and skin health, maintaining normal metabolic functioning and healthy tissue growth and repair, among many other benefits.
 To name some specifics, vitamin C is a multi-faceted nutrient primarily known for its antioxidant benefits and strong role in immune health. It has also been shown to promote normal levels of cholesterol as well as normal platelet activity. A deficiency in vitamin C has been associated with fatigue. Also, vitamin C is critical in the proper absorption of iron — another nutrient critical for optimal health.
 Vitamin D is another nutrient that should be a part of any multivitamin. Americans are deficient in vitamin D, and this deficiency can lead to a number of health concerns in bone health and immune function.
 Ideally, multivitamins should be delivered in a way where little nutritive value is lost, making the absorption of nutrients highly efficient while delivering maximum results. So make sure you are starting off on the right foot and taking a multivitamin to ensure your body has the proper basic nutrients to be at its very best!

Why Isotonix?

The World’s Most Advanced Nutraceuticals

Learn About Isotonix®

Everything you eat and drink, including nutritional supplements, must be made isotonic before passing into your small intestine where it can be absorbed.

"Isotonic" means having the same fluid pressure as your other bodily fluids like blood and tears. When you eat food, drink a beverage, or take a pill or capsule, your stomach must first secrete diluting juices, enzymes, hydrochloric acid, and at least one vitamin-binding protein to continue the process of digestion. Muscular contractions of your stomach then mix the contents until a reasonably uniform solution is achieved. This process can take anywhere from 40 minutes to four hours.

In the time that it takes for most pills and capsules to disintegrate, and their contents to dissolve and transform to the proper isotonic state, much of their activity is lost. During digestion, the important micronutrients in pills and capsules can get trapped by fats, fibers, and tannins or inactivated by the highly acidic pH level of your stomach.

But Isotonix products are scientifically formulated with the perfect balance of fructose, d-glucose, citric acid, potassium bicarbonate and other ingredients to ensure that they are isotonic the moment they enter your body. When properly mixed with water and taken on an empty stomach, the isotonic solution flows into your small intestine almost immediately.

Isotonix products have been carefully formulated to clear your stomach at an optimal rate to maximize absorption. A pill does not fully deliver into your bloodstream the vitamins it holds within. Either the pill is dumped whole into your intestinal tract or the active ingredients pass through without being fully absorbed. Vitamins taken in Isotonix form do not have these shortcomings.

Isotonix delivers nutrient dense solutions which move from the stomach into your intestine in a fast, controlled way. And they're buffered to resist nutrient degradation and to be gentle on your system.

Defeating Diabetes: The Lifestyle Factor

From 1990 through 2010, the number of new diabetes cases in the United States has nearly tripled, increasing from 600,000 to over 1.7 million. Such numbers legitimately place diabetes at the top of the major health concerns of the 21stcentury.

In addition to the dangers it poses on its own, diabetes is also a precursor to otherlife-threatening complications such as heart disease, kidney disease and stroke. However, as a health disorder, diabetes—particularly type 2 diabetes, the variety which comprises nearly 95 percent of all cases—is unique in that lifestyle choices play the predominant role in prevention.  In this interest, the month of April has become Defeat Diabetes Month in the U.S.—a time when the Defeat Diabetes Foundation makes a special effort to promote both public awareness of the importance of preventative measures and the enormous value of people’s personal action in reducing their risk.

Physiologically, type 2 diabetes is the result a relative excess of intake carbohydrate and sugar intake without a corresponding need for these nutrients, such as occurs with regular exercise. Over time, the body’s cells become unresponsive to insulin, and blood sugar levels gradually elevate; this demands an ever-increasing release of insulin, with the unintended consequence of desensitizing the body’s cells to its effects. Left unchecked, this imbalance becomes cyclical, and increases until the body can no longer produce enough insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels at all.

As potentially vicious as this cycle might appear, the simple reality is that never has to begin. Taking decisive steps to manage blood sugar levels through proper eating, exercise and nutritional support play a pivotal role in maintaining normal insulin sensitivity, and reducing the risk for diabetes.

A key component is regular exercise, and all forms of exercise have proven effective for maintaining consistent blood sugar levels. Alternating between sessions of aerobic exercise and strength training, so that exercise is performed over the majority of the week, is the most common approach. For those who actually have diabetes, exercise frequency is of the highest importance, and it is recommended to engage in some form of physical activity (such as walking) every day.

Eating patterns also contribute enormously to blood sugar management, and the fact of the matter is that there are more foods available that will help regulate blood sugar than send it spiraling out of control. The well-known glycemic index, developed in 1981 specifically for diabetic patients, has since become a foundational reference in many popular nutrition programs. Making foods that fall on the lower end of this scale the basis of weekly eating , while also minimizing the intake of sugar and other high-GI carbohydrates, keeps both blood sugar and insulin levels in check.

For truly comprehensive nutritional support, there are a number of specific nutrients that have also proven effective for blood sugar management:

Chromium—this metal, available in various forms, is regarded by some experts as every bit as important as iron in human nutrition because of the benefits it offers for blood sugar management.

Fiber—certain forms of fiber, such as inulin and glucomannan, have proven effective in helping to minimize blood sugar spikes, and the corresponding insulin surge that occurs afterward.

Gymnema sylvestre—in its native India, this plant is known as gurmar (“destroyer of sugar”), and this concentrated extract has become well-known as a metabolic mitigator of blood sugar levels.

Niacinamide—also known as nicotinic acid amide and nicotinamide, this specific form of Niacin (vitamin B3) supports carbohydrate metabolism, and is believed to improve insulin response.

Vanadium—although recognized as an essential mineral, there is no established RDA for vanadium as of now. Nevertheless, it has demonstrated positive preliminary results for potentially offsetting conditions associated with diabetes.

With headlines warning of increasing numbers of people with diabetes and prediabetes, as well as grim predictions for the future, it is easy to become anxious and wonder if diabetes has become a matter of destiny. The good news is that nothing could be further from the truth, and that diabetes risk can be significantly reduced through diet, exercise, and other lifestyle choices. Organizations such as the Defeat Diabetes Foundation are working hard to encourage these choices, and their efforts represent a call to action for everyone involved in the health and nutrition community to do the same.