NEM® Natural Eggshell Membrane - A Fast, Effective, Convenient and Safe Solution for Joint Health

It isn’t very often we have the opportunity to use an ingredient that solves more than one problem and addresses several needs at once.  When we find one of those ingredients, we grab it and get to work creating holistically based formulas so you can get the results you need.  NEM® Natural Eggshell Membrane for joint health just so happens to be one of those ingredients. 

            NEM® Natural Eggshell Membrane meets the needs important to so many of you:  fast and effective; convenient; and safe.  For so long, many people have been using glucosamine or glucosamine and chondroitin for their joint health.  These ingredients take commitment – both in time and cost to achieve the desired results.  Most studies on glucosamine show that it can take up to 6 weeks to feel any effect on joint comfort or flexibility.  That’s one of the main drawbacks to glucosamine.  Trust me, I have had many arguments with my mother about taking her glucosamine – everyday; twice a day in order for it to help.  When we were able to offer our Joint Health products with NEM®, I found the perfect solution for my mom’s “pill fatigue”.  With NEM® Natural Eggshell Membrane and Redd Remedies’ family of Joint Health products, we can deliver results in as little as 7 to 10 days – with one simple capsule a day or better yet, our once daily black cherry flavored soft chew which taste amazing.  Since most of you aren’t going to take something just because we say you should, here’s a little background on those important needs.  But first…

What is NEM®? 

            NEM® is a joint health ingredient derived from the membrane, or the inner lining, of eggshells.  You know, that pesky thing that won’t peel away from your hard-boiled egg.  That membrane is made of naturally occurring glycosaminoglycans; things like chondroitin, collagen, glucosamine, hyaluronic acid and other proteins and amino acids beneficial to your joints.  All of these nutrients are packed in that eggshell membrane and that makes NEM® a whole, food-based ingredient, unlike glucosamine which is an isolated, highly concentrated ingredient normally derived from shellfish.

Need #1:  Fast and Effective

            Multiple published human clinical trials have shown NEM®’s effectiveness for joint health.  Double-blind, placebo controlled and open trials have all demonstrated an increase for individuals in joint comfort, flexibility and range of motion.  All the studies showed improvement in the treatment group at the first evaluation of 7 or 10 days, with up to a 30% reduction in pain and a 50% reduction in stiffness and the improvement continued until the final evaluation at 60 days, with up to a 50% reduction in pain and stiffness. 

Need #2:  Convenient

            The clinically effective dose of NEM® is 500 mg daily.  That equates to one capsule a day or one scrumptious black cherry soft chew per day.  (I prefer the chew.  It’s pretty yummy!)  I don’t think we need to say anything more about the convenience.  One and done!

Need #3:  Safe

            In all of those human studies, there were no serious adverse events.  NEM® has even been studied at 50 times the clinically effective dose with no toxicity demonstrated.  50 times!  That’s like taking more than an entire bottle of Joint Health Original at once!  The eggshells used to make NEM® are U.S. domestic and fully traceable.  Eggshells mean no shellfish.  This is a great alternative for those individuals with shellfish allergies.  (Most glucosamine is derived from shellfish.)  NEM® itself is tested for antibiotic residues, heavy metals and pesticide residues proving it to be incredibly pure.  We take it even a step further and test our finished products for heavy metals, pesticides, microbes and gluten verifying the purity and safety of our products.

Why should you use our Joint Health products with NEM®? 

They are fast and effective.  They are convenient.  They are safe.  They are environmentally responsible.  NEM® is our ingredient of choice and Joint Health from Redd Remedies should be your product of choice.   

Your Brain and Pain

Our last blog post regarding pain brings us to a discussion about the brain.  After all, it does control our perceptions of pain, so any discussion about the topic needs to include a discussion about the brain.  *Warning!  Science-y words and concepts ahead!* I’ll try to keep it as simple as possible, but the truth is that researchers don’t fully understand the brain’s functions in pain perception and all of its twists and turns.  Some of these twists and turns are complicated.  Let’s start by revisiting the definition of pain. 

                “Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience that is associated with actual or potential tissue damage.”  Pain is an experience unique to each person.  We all have different pain tolerances.  Some of us can have blood drawn – no problem.  Not an issue.  Others of us can’t do it without the building expectation of something painful – that pinprick becomes a knife. 

While the intensity of pain varies from person to person, the basic biochemical and neurological processes that create the perception of pain is the same in every individual.  It’s a two-step progression that starts with a biochemical process involving nociceptors, special sensors all over our bodies that detect stimuli.  We’ll use that pinprick as our stimulus.  The needle is pushed into your arm.  The nociceptors in your arm immediately start firing signals that travel up the spinal cord and to the brain.  The neurons and glia in the brain process the signals.  This pathway is our somatosensory pathway and it ends in the cerebral cortex of the brain.  The speed and intensity of these pain signals depends on the level of pain or trauma being sensed by the nociceptors.  A network in the brain called the salience system decides whether you should stop the pinprick or whether you should carry on.  Step 2 is the neurological process, the perception of pain, and this is where it can get a little tricky.  This is where some of us shrug it off and some of us stop everything and pay attention to the pain.  Since there could be serious consequences to pain, the salience network is activated by the pain signal.  You immediately pay attention to the pain and other signals along the motor pathways force you to draw away, but most of us won’t draw away from the needle.  Most of us won’t pull our arms back.  We have the ability to overcome these signals.  We have the ability to “work through the pain”.

Once the pain signal is in the brain, the thalamus sorts out the signals and edits them.  The thalamus can direct the feeling to different areas of the brain.  Some of those areas are connected with emotion, attention, and memory.   Most of us don’t draw our arms back from the needle because we remember that having our blood drawn is really no big deal.  We sit through the pain.  But for those of us that have a fear of needles…well…emotion takes over.  The thalamus, for whatever reason, directs those pain signals to the emotional center of the brain.  This explains why emotions have such an impact on our perceptions of pain.  When we are in a bad mood or feeling down, our perceptions of pain are intensified.  The pinprick is still a pinprick in reality, but when emotions take hold…that’s when it turns into a knife.  This is the concept that ancient Chinese medicine practitioners understood thousands of years ago - well before modern science made the connection.  Remember, in Traditional Chinese Medicine, there is no difference between emotional pain and physical pain.

As I said earlier, we all have the ability to “work through the pain”, and we all have the ability to increase our tolerance to pain.  Now the brain has its own pain-suppressing analgesic system where natural opioids such as endorphins play a key role.  Depending on the situation, you may not sense pain because the pain signals are suppressed.  Prescription pain killers work along these lines.  They mimic the natural opioids in the brain.  That’s one way to increase pain tolerance, but it certainly isn’t the best way and comes with serious risks.  In my opinion, that’s not really a good option for most people.  So let’s look at some other options.  Over time, the brain can rewire those pathways to become less responsive to certain kinds of pain.  Studies have shown that a positive attitude can overcome pain by releasing serotonin.  Breathing exercises have also been shown to reduce discomfort.  Professional athletes are known to become more accustomed to pain through repetitive physical training.  You can also look to the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine.  Several common herbal medicines used in TCM pain formulas can help to alter your perceptions of pain without the risk of dependency.

 Let’s pull all the information from these 4 blogs on pain together into some take-away points. 

·         Pain is a physical and emotional response

·         Not all types of pain are inflammatory in nature

·         An obstruction of blood flow can lead to poorly nourished tissues and organs, which then can lead to pain

·         Stress contributes to the intensity or onset of pain

·         Pain is always subjective; the perception of which is influenced by emotion

·         Managing pain is a multi-pronged approach and should include support for both the body and mind

Some of the concepts presented in these pain blogs may be new to you, but keep in mind that they are not “new” in the general sense.  Many of these concepts have existed and have been applied for thousands of years as core tenets of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a system that is still in practice today.  Modern theories on pain are still developing and evolving and many of those theories are validations of these ancient concepts.  A holistic approach to pain is one that includes the theories of modern breakthroughs and the wisdom of historical philosophies; one that recognizes and appreciates the mind’s ability to influence the physical body and the potential to use that fact to our advantage. 

Pain and Stress

Apparently, stress has eaten its way into the American fabric so intensely that toy makers have found a way to sell the concept to children.  Introducing the “Orbeez Luxury Spa”, marketed towards girls between the ages of 5-15 that will “massage their cares away” when they are “feeling stressed”.  I thought that product was absurd.  I couldn’t stop laughing when I saw the commercial while I was watching Adventure Time with my daughter.  (Yes, I watch Adventure Time.  I think it’s funny and I’m not sorry about that.)  Here’s the sad thing:  she got it.  She understood.  She thought it was “awesome” that she could “relax” after a day at school – not because she actually needs to de-stress after school.  She thought it would be awesome to relax with me, because in her words, “Mommy is stressed ALL. THE. TIME.”  And I was the one that really needed it.  In her 9-year old brain, she theorized that Mommy doesn’t “get to relax” and maybe that’s why Mommy gets “really bad headaches all the time.”  Children watch; they observe; they understand and they incorporate what they see.  My daughter, for one, is exactly correct.  Stress is the reason why I get really, really bad headaches.  It’s also the reason why my neck and shoulders ache and why my back hurts on pretty bad days.

Believe or not, stress does have its benefits.  Moderate amounts of stress can actually help us learn and remember new information.  The moderate amounts of stress produced during short periods of intense exercise boost the immune system.  When we are young, brief periods of stress can help us deal with anxiety later in life.  As you can see, these benefits are attributed to moderate and brief periods of stress.  The stress response – the “fight or flight” mechanism is designed for actions related to threats.  When our brains sense a threat, signals are sent to the adrenal glands, which release adrenaline and cortisol and other hormones that work to prepare the body for action.  The muscles tighten, blood vessels constrict, heart rate increases and the digestive system slows – all in preparation for a fight or for running your “you-know-what” off.  It’s a fantastically perfect mechanism if you ever find yourself facing a life or death situation.  The problem is that the biochemical mechanism has not caught up with the evolution of our daily lives.  What if the threat your brain perceived was an impending layoff?  How long would that stress response last?  Days?  Weeks?  Months?  It isn’t designed for that kind of situation, but that’s where we often find ourselves.  The stress response is triggered during our daily commutes to the office; in the office; on the way home; running our children to their extracurricular activities; preparing dinner; watching the news.  It never stops.  Our muscles remain in a state of tension; they stay contracted.  That’s a great way to bring on a migraine, to create knots and kinks in the shoulders and neck and sharp pains in the lower back.  These areas of the body are already under enough pressure from sitting at a desk all day staring at a computer screen or being on our feet all day doing the same repetitive motions.   This constant state of stress will also disrupt sleeping patterns, which only leads to a cascade of other issues, one of which can be more pain due to a lack of sleep; stress can also make a painful situation worse by increasing anxiety and nervous tension, which are known to intensify pain. 

There are many things we can do to alleviate stress.  Exercise is one of the best ways to do this.  It doesn't need to be crazy intense - just 30 minutes of activity a day can help.  There are also herbal medicines that we can use to help the brain and body cope with stress.  These herbs are called adaptogens.  Adaptogens are an incredible class of herbs that have the unique ability to restore balance to the body and restore balance between the body and the mind.  If you want to read more about adaptogens, look to our past blog post from May 2012.

 

Pain Part 2 - Joints and Muscles

If you’ve read the first blog post in our pain series, you are aware that one of the ways we will be talking about pain is within the context of Traditional Chinese Medicine.  If you haven’t read the first blog post, you may want to do that now.  Doing so will make this post and the ones to follow make a lot more sense.  To understand the role of TCM in joint and muscle pain, we first need a little background on the joint tissue and muscle tissue. 

The joints of the body work to provide mobility and to hold the skeleton together while the skeletal muscles work to produce movement, maintain posture and stabilize and strengthen the joints.  These two body tissues work in concert to create mobility and manipulation.  Joints are the weakest part of the skeleton, but even so, they are able to resist many forces like crushing and tearing.  The muscles definitely play a role in this.  The stronger a person’s skeletal muscles are, the more stable that person’s joints will be.  With so many of us living sedentary lifestyles with little to no exercise, the weakest part of our skeletons can become even weaker because that lifestyle decreases the strength of the skeletal muscles.  With that in mind, it makes sense that pain often affects these vulnerable parts of our bodies.  Like most people, I don’t actively think about my joints or muscles.  They just do what I need them to do.  Like most of you, I don’t think about my joints and muscles until they hurt.

When viewed from the TCM perspective, both joint and muscle pain can fall under the category of “pulling pain”.  They may also fall under the category of “aching pain”.  Issues associated with pulling pain involve Blood stagnation which basically means that the Blood is “stuck” – it’s not moving properly.  It can also involve obstruction of the vessels and a failure of the Liver to nourish the muscle tissue.  Aching pain involves an excess of dampness.  These issues contribute to the pain, so the goal is to maintain the free movement of the Blood and to dry the dampness.  That makes perfect sense, right?

 In case it doesn’t make much sense, here are a few tidbits of info to help clarify.  Skeletal muscle has a rich blood supply.  It needs to have a rich blood supply because contracting muscle fibers use a huge amount of energy and require an almost continuous delivery of oxygen and nutrients by the arteries.  Muscle cells also create large amounts of metabolic waste products that must be removed through the veins if we want our muscles to contract efficiently.  In contrast, the joint tissues are not well vascularized.  For example, cartilage is avascular; it doesn’t have a blood supply.  This feature makes it very difficult for cartilage to obtain sufficient nourishment to repair itself.  Instead of nutrients being directly delivered to the cartilage, they have to permeate through layers of tissue.  So, if the Blood, which functions to deliver all the nutrients our bodies require, is moving sluggishly along or the vessels that deliver Blood to the tissues are obstructed, the skeletal muscles don’t receive that necessary constant supply of oxygen and nutrients and the joint tissues don’t receive what little nutrients are permeating through layers of tissue.  A lack of nutrients leads to weakness, which leads to malfunction, which leads to pain.  Sluggish movement of the Blood can also cause an accumulation of dampness.  Think about how heavy your clothes are when they are wet.  Wearing wet clothes can hinder your movement by weighing you down.  Same thing can happen in our bodies.  What do we do to dry wet clothes?  We apply heat.  Certain TCM herbs do the same.  They gently warm the body, providing a tender nudge toward Blood movement.  

Now it makes sense, right?  The basic concepts of Blood and Qi (energy) movement are directly related to the skeleton's ability to move itself and to move without pain.  If we can maintain and support Blood and Qi movement, we can ensure proper nutrition for the muscles and joints and prevent the accumulation of dampness that weighs us down.

Pain: Part 1

The most widely accepted definition of pain goes like this:  “Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience that is associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in such terms.”  This very long-winded definition goes on to say that “pain is always subjective”.   Look at the definition.  Read it again.  Did you see the phrase “pain is inflammation?”  Yeah, neither did I.   Yet, when you walk down the pain relief aisle of any drugstore, you see acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen….all NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).  What if the pain you feel doesn’t have anything to do with inflammation?  Did you realize that you can have pain without inflammation?   If that is the case – pain without inflammation -  how exactly would any of these anti-inflammatory products help you?  The fact is that while inflammation can be associated with certain types of pain, such as pain from a traumatic injury or pain associated with the wear and tear of the joints, it isn’t the only reason why people experience pain.  The single compound, single action theory of anti-inflammatories in the Western approach falls short for so many people struggling with pain.  It is time to recognize that there are other factors involved.  There are other pathways and channels in play.

 There are two key factors in that definition of pain that should be pointed out:  “pain is sensory and emotional” and “pain is always subjective”.   The Traditional Chinese approach to pain not only recognizes, but appreciates and uses these factors in its approach to pain.  In TCM, pain is defined as an imbalance between Qi (energy) and Blood.  This can happen when energy or Blood is deficient, or it can happen when energy and Blood get stuck in a certain area of the body.  Whenever the flow of energy and blood is obstructed and not free flowing, the organs of the body begin to malfunction and so pain develops.  TCM also recognizes that pain is either made worse or alleviated by the emotional health of the person and is quite often caused by stress itself.  In TCM, there is no distinction between physical pain and emotional pain; they are one and the same and they are treated in the same ways.  “Pain is always subjective.”  This means that an individual’s level of pain is influenced by his or her own feelings, emotions and opinions.  Each individual has his or her own perception of pain.  Because TCM does not view the mind as separate from the physical body, if the potential for higher thresholds for pain is present in one person, then the potential is there for all.  If strength is reinforced and the mind is quieted, the threshold can be altered.  In the Western medicine approach, pain is seen as a simple nerve impulse – an electrical message sent from the brain initiating the pain we feel.  It is viewed as mechanical; thus the symptomatic approach of anti-inflammatories or pain killing substances.  The Western approach does not recognize the emotional component of pain; it does not view pain as the dynamic physical and emotional response that it really is. 

Elements of TCM blended with the symptomatic approach of Western theory can have a dramatic impact on pain.  Looking at pain through a TCM lens and recognizing the following:   1) pain comes in all shapes and sizes; 2) there are multiple channels or pathways for pain; 3) stress contributes to pain; and 4) pain is subjective; will go beyond any benefit that an anti-inflammatory focused approach can offer.  Human beings are dynamic and fluid.  Our minds are not detached from our physical bodies.  They are one and the same.  You cannot support one without affecting the other.  You cannot aim to truly restore one without aiming to restore both.  

Real Food = A Healthy Heart

Cardiovascular health starts with good nutrition.  Food is a primary part of Eastern medicine, but not a part of Western medicine.  Real food- not Pop Tarts passed off as a serving of fruit and whole grains – I’m talking about an actual piece of fruit and an actual grain (hull and all).  If the food we eat is devoid of nutrients, so is the blood that pumps through the body.  As incredible as the human body is, it can’t make something out of nothing. 

PAUSE A MOMENT…AND LET THAT LAST SENTENCE SINK IN.

 Magnesium is a good example of that.  It’s a mineral and good sources include green leafy vegetables and whole grains, especially.  That mineral is incredibly important to muscle function and what is the heart?  It’s a muscle.  And guess what is a main component of the structure of arteries and veins…muscles again.  Magnesium helps muscle contract and relax normally.  In fact, they don’t really relax well without it.  With green, leafy vegetables being a top source of magnesium from food, does it make sense that many people with heart disease are advised not to eat large amounts green, leafy vegetables because of certain medications (blood thinners)?  What is a “large amount?”  1 serving?  2 servings?  3?  Because of those questions, many people avoid green, leafy vegetables all together.   That seems a bit counterproductive, because the most nutrient-dense foods are typically plants.   Here’s another little tidbit – we are told over and over again to avoid saturated fats, the “bad fats” as they are known (mistakenly).  We are told to replace them with polyunsaturated fats – especially olive oil.  We all know how good olive oil is for our hearts!  News flash – olive oil is pretty high in vitamin K – (that’s the reason why people on blood thinners are told to avoid “large amounts” of green, leafy vegetables.)  So…let’s think about this.  If you are a heart patient, with let’s say a stent and possibly on blood thinners, you can’t eat green leafy vegetables, you can’t eat olive oil, and you’re being told to avoid saturated fats.  Hmmmmm…. what’s left?  Low-fat/no-fat refined carbohydrates and low-fat/no-fat dairy?  The foods that probably put this person in this situation in the first place. 

Here’s a simple solution to this predicament.  Eat your food in the way nature presents it to us.  Full fat-unrefined and whole.  Avoid processed food.  It’s really that simple.  Honey nut cheerios?  Try steel cut oats instead.  Sodas and soft drinks - how about some water?   Skim milk?  No thank-you!!!  I’ll stick with the full-fat, whole version- cholesterol and all.  And I’ll tell you why in our next blog post.  

Raising Awareness - The Goal of American Heart Health Month

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in both men and women.  Six hundred thousand people die of heart disease in the United States every year.  That equals 1 in 4 deaths.  Why is this?  The prevalence of smoking has decreased to an all-time low since 1944 – at 20% of adults.  We’ve been bombarded by low-fat/no-fat foods for at least the last 3 decades and that is the diet pushed by the American Heart Association.  Three of the top 10 most prescribed drugs are designed to lower a person’s mortality from heart disease.  All of those facts lead me to these questions:

Why are so many people dying of heart disease? 

Why does it remain the leading cause of death? 

Did thousands of people lie on the Gallup poll on smoking? 

Are hundreds of thousands of people ignoring the dietary guidelines? 

Do the drugs not work? 

Think about what your heart does – from the 6^th week of fetal development to the moment life ends – it beats.  That muscle, about the size of your fist, will relax and contract over 3 billion times, pumping about 5 quarts of blood every minute.   In that blood is all the oxygen and nutrition your body needs to survive and thrive and the waste that needs to be removed.   That’s a lot of work; it makes sense why the heart is called the “King of the Body” in Traditional Chinese Medicine. 

Ponder those things during this month of February – American Heart Health Month.  

Schisandra Chinensis

Goji berries, acai berries, sea buckthorn berries, yumberries, macqui berries, blueberries…all considered “superfruits” for their nutritional content and antioxidant potential.  I’m sure you’ve heard of at least a few of those, but you likely have not heard of what could very well be considered the original super-berry:  the adaptogenic Schisandra berry.  

The berries of the Schisandra chinensis plant have been used in Traditional Chinese, Japanese and Korean medicine for thousands of years.  They are known as “wu wei zi” in TCM which means “five flavor berry”.   You see, these berries have the very unique property of possessing all five flavors of TCM:  sweet, sour, salty, bitter and pungent.  Because it possesses all five flavors, it benefits the 5 yin organs:  liver, kidney, heart, lungs and spleen.  It is widely used as a tonic remedy to increase energy and fight fatigue. 

                As an adaptogen, Schisandra berry displays the required properties to be considered a true adaptogen:  non-toxic; reduces stress; non-specific benefits (works throughout the entire body) and normalizing.  It has been shown to decrease fatigue, increase physical work capacity and promote endurance and stamina.  They are also quite useful for the immune system, particularly during times of stress.  When we are stressed, our bodies are more susceptible to infections like colds and flus.  I’m sure it’s happened to you.  When you think that nothing else could possibly go wrong, you wake one morning with a splitting headache, sore throat and a nasty cough.  Our defenses are down when we are under lots of stress.  Schisandra can stop that from happening.   These little red berries keep our immune systems alert and ready to attack invading pathogens even when we don’t feel like we can attack the next load of laundry. 

                The benefits don’t stop there.  Schisandra also has an unusual dual effect on the nervous system.  As I said before, it is used for fatigue and work capacity.  These show a somewhat stimulant property on the nervous system.  Keep in mind that this only happens when we need it; when we are under stress.  At the same time, Schisandra can have a calming effect on the mind and can ease anxiety.  These berries can actually increase our resistance to emotional stress and create a platform where we are more equipped and ready to handle the many emotional stressors we face from day to day. 

                Modern research has shed light on schisandra’s significant benefits for the liver.  It is a potent hepatoprotective  (liver-protective)  herb and has strong antioxidant effects specifically in the liver.  Basically, it helps the liver rid the body of toxins – whether they are the result of normal, everyday metabolic processes or something environmental. 

             

      It’s incredible that a small red berry would have so many benefits in the body.   Now, you could eat these, I suppose.  It’s common in China that medicinal plants are added to foods to increase their healing properties.  But I’m thinking that the weird flavor profile (first salty, then sweet and sour, then bitter and pungent) may not be appealing to most.  Schisandra is widely available as a dietary supplement.  It also makes a great complement ingredient in formulation.  And remember when the next fad “super-fruit” berry comes around that these little red berries have stood the test of time.  They were super 3,000 years ago and still are today.  

Panax Ginseng (Asian Ginseng)

Panax ginseng has a long, rich history of use in China, Korea and Japan that goes back thousands of years.  It is a well-known adaptogen and a widely used restorative tonic in Traditional Chinese Medicine.  Its scientific name “Panax” comes from the Latin word “panacea” because of its use for a huge variety of conditions.  Panax ginseng is one of the most studied herbs on Earth.  Its safety has been well established, not only through scientific research, but also through historical usage.  And even so, it has gotten a bad rap here in the States.  We are unfortunately “ginseng phobics” – the phobia being rooted in misinformation and simple misunderstanding of the plant. 

                The team here at Redd is not afraid of ginseng.  We feel it is one of the most prized natural medicines available to us.   Remember that Panax ginseng is a true adaptogen.   In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is one of the great tonic remedies, used to restore “qi”, or vital energy, and restore vitality.  Ginseng promotes resistance to fatigue and stress; increases physical work capacity; stimulates learning and is radioprotective.  It looks to balance and nourish; to support the normal functions of the immune, cardiovascular, endocrine and nervous system. All of these effects are very well-established.  There are so many health benefits of ginseng that I could write volumes on this plant alone.  The roots of Panax ginseng contain various components – polysaccharides, sterols, and saponins.  The active constituents in the roots are collectively called “ginsenosides”, and the amounts of these active compounds can vary depending upon the age of the plant, where it was grown and other factors. 

                Asian ginseng comes in many forms and many varieties.  This is where I think some of the confusion comes in.  There are 2 distinct forms of Panax ginseng that are widely available here in the States – white and red.  White Panax ginseng is simply dried in the air and sun.  Red Panax ginseng is steamed and then dried.  The steaming process slightly changes the properties of the root and essentially the effects in the body.  Red ginseng is much “warmer” than white ginseng, which is considered “slightly warm”.  These obviously aren’t terms we use in Western Medicine, but think about them for a minute….it makes sense.   A “warm” or “hot” herb is more stimulating; hence, its effects in the body might give more of a “push”.   The warming nature of the herb helps to move energy around the body.  While red ginseng is still considered a tonic, it is used when more of a “push” would be more appropriate for a person.  Ginseng is commonly used for fatigue and exhaustion.  In these cases, a little push is certainly needed.  And this brings me to another point…misuse.

                Much of the negative attention ginseng has received has a lot to do with misuse.  I don’t know why, but many of us have this “more is better” attitude.  It isn’t necessarily the “more ginseng” that is the issue; it’s the “more” of every other stimulant people consume with it.  Remember the first criteria for all adaptogens – they must be nontoxic and safe.  This is true of ginseng.  There is no known toxicity.  There are no known or recognized contraindications according to the World Health Organization and the German Commission E.  Caffeine, on the other hand…certainly has known toxicity issues – is the most widely abused stimulant in the world.  Put those two things together and the “push” it creates in the body can be significant.   It’s not inconceivable that mass amounts of ginseng (especially red) paired with excessive amounts of caffeine could cause issues.  Let me try to explain why.  Caffeine is a stimulant that artificially extends the central nervous system beyond its limits.  (That’s why we experience the “crash”).  Panax ginseng is going to make this artificial boost even stronger, because it is looking to balance a system that is obviously out of whack.  It will also up-regulate body systems, such as the adrenals and the central nervous system, because they need it.  It isn’t the ginseng that causes the irritability or the rise in blood pressure – it’s the caffeine.  If the correct type of ginseng is used in the correct doses in the absence of excessive amounts of other stimulants, the outcome would be very different – it would be normalizing. 

Panax ginseng is the grand-daddy of all adaptogens.  (Its Chinese name, ren shen, actually means “man root”.)  This incredible adaptogen has had the trust of several cultures for many millennia.  And as long as you don’t follow it up with a few cans of Red Bull, you can experience the truly significant health benefits of this little root.  

What are Adaptogens?

I think it goes without saying that we are huge fans of adaptogens here at Redd.  (I think I’ve talked about them once or twice in past blogs.)  Adaptogens are incredible plants and (sometimes fungi) and they deserve some spotlight of their own.  So the next handful of blog posts will focus on this exceptional group of herbs. 

                So what exactly is an adaptogen?  This exceptional group of natural medicines helps the body adapt to stress, restore balance and support normal body functions.  They have the unique ability to increase our resistance to stress – any kind of stress – mental, emotional, environmental or physical, whether it’s short term or chronic.  The use of adaptogens as medicine dates back thousands of years to ancient China and India, but modern science is still playing “catch-up”.  Modern research into adaptogens didn’t begin until the 1940’s in Russia and a formal definition wasn’t developed until 1968.  While there is currently no “official” definition for an adaptogen that is recognized by any herbal or scientific body, scientists and researchers continue to use the 1968 definition of an adaptogen, developed by Dr. Israel I. Brekhman, PhD and Dr. I. V. Dardymov.  In order for any plant or fungi to be considered “adaptogenic”, it should have the following 3 properties:

·         Adaptogens are nontoxic.  Adaptogens should not be harmful.  They must have very minimal side effects on overall health. 

·         Adaptogens have nonspecific actions against stress.  What does that mean, really?  “Nonspecific” is simply a way to describe the “adaptive” properties of these agents – their ability to keep the body balanced in the face of multiple stressors.

·         Adaptogens are normalizing.  Adaptogens work regardless of direction.  If something needs to be “toned-down”, they’ll do that.  If something needs a “tune-up”, they’ll do that too.  They especially have this influence on the immune system, the nervous system and the endocrine system. 

                These 3 properties just highlight the common properties that all adaptogens share.  Many adaptogens have a “highlight” or a “specialty” in the body.  Many adaptogens are cardioprotective, liver-protective, and radioprotective (protect against radiation).  The health effects of adaptogens are diverse and their reach is broad. 

So, I’ve given you a basic overview of adaptogens.  You want to take them every day, right?  We think you should.  Here are a few known adaptogens:  Panax ginseng (Asian ginseng), Ashwagandha, Rhodiola rosea, Reishi mushroom, Holy basil and Schisandra.  These are just a few.  We’ll focus on specific adaptogens and their unique properties in future blog posts.  And if you’ve been using some of our formulas, you probably already have felt the difference they can make in your daily life.

Weight Loss Part 4 - Hormones, Hormones, Hormones

We’ve come to the final part of our weight loss series, and if you’ve been following along, you may have come to realize that hormones play an integral role in our ability to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight. I’ll recap some of the hormones I’ve already mentioned and I’ll introduce some others. Like it or not, they have some control over our weight. Let’s get started with the new introductions.

The Thyroid

The thyroid is the master gland of metabolism. This gland and the hormones it produces decide how high our fat-burning engines run. When regulation of this gland is imbalanced losing weight can be difficult. Most people who are familiar with the thyroid are probably all too familiar with iodine. This element is important to the thyroid because it is a major component of thyroid hormone. But the thyroid doesn’t exist in a vacuum within our bodies. It isn’t completely isolated running on its own systems. Its function is dependent upon the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. After thyroid hormones are released into the blood stream, our cells’ ability to use that hormone is dependent upon enzymes, some of which are influenced by the liver. You really can’t expect dramatic changes if you ignore all those other body systems. Bottom line – iodine doesn’t really do anything for those other body systems. First and foremost, we need to make sure that the hypothalamus and the pituitary are communicating with the thyroid. If the pituitary never tells the thyroid to make and release hormone, it never will. Adaptogens like Ashwagandha do a good job making sure those lines of communication are open and running smoothly. In order for the body to utilize the hormones produced by the thyroid, they must first be converted to a usable form. Think of the process of refining oil into gasoline. What the thyroid releases is a rough, crude form of thyroid hormone. Before it can be taken up by the cells and boost metabolism, it must first go through a refining process in the liver. Therefore, a healthy liver is quite important to a healthy thyroid. Many of us have tried severe calorie-restricted diets to lose weight; however, what many of us don’t realize is that these starvation diets can be counter-productive to lasting weight loss. Starvation, or large restrictions of calories, triggers a decrease in thyroid function and metabolism. This decrease actually leads to your body storing more calories as fat and burning muscle tissue for energy.

Estrogen

“Estrogen” actually refers to a group of hormones, not just a single hormone. Normally, estrogen is balanced with progesterone, the other primary female sex hormone. At times, the balance can be tipped by an overabundance of estrogen, known as “estrogen dominance”. This can occur from excess estrogen production in the body, HRT, or an intake of estrogen-mimics from the environment. Weight gain can be an effect of estrogen dominance. Our own fat cells produce estrogen, and the more fat cells we have, the more estrogen we create. The more estrogen we create, the more fatty tissue we create. See the cycle? There are ways to reduce exposure to environmental estrogens – like eating organically grown produce or eating hormone-free meat, avoiding plastics with BPA and avoiding body care products that contain phthalates. You can also use certain supplements that contain a broccoli-derived ingredient called Indolplex©, which can change your ratio of good to bad estrogens.

Testosterone

Weight gain and weight loss isn’t just a girl’s issue! A loss in testosterone for men equals abdominal fat. As men age, testosterone levels decline and this causes levels of estrogen and insulin to rise. (Oh yes, boys, you too make estrogen!) This happens because aging men convert a lot of their testosterone into estradiol – a type of estrogen; the rest of the testosterone is bound to a protein and not biologically active. These two things lower a man’s free testosterone. The lower a man’s free testosterone levels, the higher the ratio of estrogen and insulin – and voila! A pudgy midsection is born! Men can have their levels of testosterone tested by a healthcare practitioner and there are replacement therapies for that. The supplement I mentioned for estrogen can also have benefits in men by balancing the ratio of testosterone to estrogen.

And a review…

Insulin

Insulin is a hormone and its main job in the body is to drive glucose into muscle tissue and into fat cells for storage. The problem with insulin lies within the cells’ ability to use it. The decreased ability of some cells to use insulin is called “insulin resistance”. When the cells don’t allow insulin to open the door for glucose uptake, blood sugar levels remain high and the body releases more insulin. This elevated level of insulin makes it difficult for the body to use stored fat as energy. The way to overcome these issues is two-fold. Most importantly is a change in diet. Reduce the amount of sugars and simple carbs (think processed foods) and increase complex carbs (think raw veggies, whole grains, i.e. – fiber). Secondly, make sure you are getting sufficient amounts of minerals such as chromium, which helps the body use insulin.

Cortisol

Aahhh…our beloved stress hormone. Remember that cortisol increases appetite and increases blood sugar levels. On top of that, elevated cortisol levels block the use of thyroid hormone by the cells (and testosterone too!). For any weight loss program to be successful, we have to address the stress response. How do we do that? ADAPTOGENS. Rhodiola rosea and Panax ginseng are good adaptogen choices.

I hope that I’ve provided you with some usable information. A weight loss plan is personal and unique. There isn’t one diet plan that will work for everyone. Adding just a few supplements to support your unique needs may be all you need to get over that plateau and on your way to a healthy weight.

Healthy Weight Loss Part 3 - Emotional Eating

Ever drown your sorrows in nice big bowl of ice cream, or over a plate of chocolaty brownies? I have. I think a lot of us have. There’s nothing wrong with turning to a comforting indulgence every once in a while to cope with a bad day. And there’s a biological explanation for why it really does help us feel better. Sugary foods like chocolate stimulate the release of endorphins. These are hormones that have a lot of effects in the body. One of them is to exert a pain-killing and relaxing effect on the body. Eating these foods also creates an excess amount of serotonin in the brain. This all leads us to feeling good, relaxed and maybe a little sleepy. Not a bad thing on occasion. Problems arise when the occasional turns into the habitual and we begin to use food as a coping mechanism for the bad times and a reward for every good achievement; when we eat for reasons other than hunger.

There are absolutely physical components that are involved in food cravings – particularly cravings for sugar and carbohydrate-laden foods. I covered this issue specifically in a previous blog, “Fight Your Sugar Cravings”. Part 3 of our weight loss feature is going to focus on the emotional and mental component of eating. We eat for so many different reasons and not all of them are related to actually being hungry or needing to give our bodies some nutrition. Sometimes we eat when we are bored; sometimes we eat as a distraction; we eat when we are nervous, stressed, sad, happy…the list goes on and on. Eating for emotional reasons will sabotage weight loss efforts and can lead to an unwelcomed cycle. The act of eating is just a quick fix. Regardless of the emotion that is driving the urge to eat, it will return and in addition to that emotion could be feelings of guilt about the setback – and the cycle begins. Your emotions drive you to eat; you beat yourself up because of getting off track; you feel terrible about your choices; you overeat again. There are things you can do to put a stop to this cycle. If you’ve been following our blog, you might start to see some recurring themes…

1. Get stress under control. In our previous blog, I talked about the reasons why stress has a negative impact on healthy weight management and the power of adaptogen herbs. There are adaptogens – such as Schisandra and Holy Basil that have an emotional component to them. These adaptogens can elevate your spirit and increase your resistance to emotional stress and give you a platform for building emotional strength.

2. Stop and check your hunger. Are you really hungry? If you just ate an hour ago and your stomach isn’t growling, then your craving probably isn’t based on a need for nutrition. Take a deep breath and give it a little time to pass.

3. Write it down. Keep a food journal and over time, you might see some patterns emerge that can help you recognize what you eat, when you eat and why.

4. Keep yourself busy. Many of us eat when we are bored. It’s just something to do to pass the time. Get up. Take your dog for a walk. Clean your house. Do whatever you need to do to get moving.

5. Eat regular, well-balanced meals with variety. Eat – do not starve yourself. Limiting your calories too much will just increase your cravings – especially your emotionally charged cravings. Don’t eat the same things every day. Mix it up and keep it fresh.

6. Don’t keep a secret stash. C’mon…admit it. You have one. It’s garbage. Put it where it belongs and throw it away! Clean out your pantry! Why tempt yourself with the foods you are trying to avoid? Replace it with fresh fruits, raw nuts and seeds.

It seems so easy as I type it (and probably as you read it). I said before that there is a biological reason why eating food helps us feel better. The more we cycle through the patterns for emotional eating, the stronger those urges become. Consider using a mood support formula to give you nutrients for healthy brain function and healthy neurotransmitter levels. A blend of B vitamins, amino acids and adaptogens can go a long way to help you gain control again.

Healthy Weight Loss Part 2 - Energy & Stress

Energy levels and stress can be significant obstacles in any weight loss program. Unfortunately, we often find ourselves in a situation where we have little energy and way too much stress - which I'm betting is the opposite of where most of us want to be. With low energy levels and elevated stress, it's hard to want to exercise and burn calories. It's also easier to make a misstep and fall off our healthy diet plan. That's the sad nature of stress when it comes to a weight loss plan.

Stress is a lifestyle in this country. The stress response was a pretty good thing for our ancestors - it kept them alive - running from things that wanted to eat them for lunch. But in the present day, we feel the stress response when we are stuck in our cars; when we have a bill that throws off our budget; when our kids miss the bus. The issue is that the response that made our ancestors run for their lives is the same biochemical response we have when we are stuck in traffic. Hormones are released that give us the strength and ability to fight or flee the things that stress us. Adrenaline (also called epinephrine) provides instant energy - and it decreases our appetite at first, but that doesn't last very long. Cortisol, which is also released during the stress response, is designed to help us replace the energy we lost after the stress is gone. And it likes to hang out in our bodies for a while. Constant stress means cortisol remains elevated. This results in an increased appetite and a constant feeling of hunger. Let me put it this way: your brain and your endocrine system don't know that you didn't run for your life after you were stuck in traffic for 45 minutes. They just know you are stressed, and they are still going to respond with the chemical signals to refill your nutritional engine - and that is going to make you feel hungry.

So what do we do?

1. I'm going to say that evil word - EXERCISE. Exercise is the best way to relieve stress. I know; I know...you don't have the energy to exercise. I'll get to that, but first let me just plant that word in your head - "exercise". It makes perfect sense that exercise would help relieve stress. When you're stressed, don't you have this overwhelming urge to move? To just move something? Your hands; your arms - whatever - that is supposed to happen. Remember? Fight or Flight. Yes, exercise will burn calories, but it will also release biochemicals that can counter the negative effects of those stress hormones. You don't have to work out for 2 hours a day to reap the benefits of exercise. It could be just 20 minutes a day. You can find 20 minutes. (I shoveled by driveway today for 30 minutes - exercise accomplished.)
2. Take adaptogens or a blend of them. Adaptogens are incredible plants (or fungi) that modulate our stress response. They help our brains and bodies deal with stress. Remember when I said that our brains and bodies don't know we didn't run for our lives? Well, adaptogens help our brains realize that we didn't run for our lives and they adjust hormonal output accordingly. Taking adaptogens, such as Rhodiola rosea, Panax ginseng, and Cordyceps sinensis daily can help to normalize cortisol levels; boost immune system function; improve sleep quality, and oh yeah - they give you energy! The stamina and endurance kind of energy. The "I can get up and walk for 20 minutes" kind of energy. The "I don't need to go to Starbucks" kind of energy. Adaptogens aren't stimulants, so they don't push your central nervous system beyond its limits. They don't cause a crash. They help you maintain your energy levels throughout the day and give a good sense of well-being.
3. Get a good night's sleep. Sleep is so important to stress-control. A lack of sleep will elevate your cortisol levels. Can't get a good night's sleep? Adaptogens will help with that.
4. Relax. Make time to relax. Doesn't matter what it is - whatever makes you feel calm. Devote that time to yourself. Every day.

Realistic Weight Loss and Weight Management - Part 1

Weight loss and weight management are struggles for millions of Americans. We are inundated with images in print, commercials, billboards, emails and pop-up ads on the next latest and greatest weight loss miracle. The simple fact is that there is no miracle. There is no magic bullet, magic pill, magic shake, magic whatever that will “melt” off pounds of fat and keep them off. First and foremost, the goal of weight loss should be about health. We are all aware of the dangers of being overweight – higher risk of poor heart health; higher risk of diabetes, cancer; and on and on. We need to realize and accept that people come in all shapes and body types. Not all of us are meant to be stick-thin. Some of us are meant to have curves; some of us are meant to be more muscular. We need to work within our own unique frames to achieve a realistic healthy weight. Healthy weight loss and healthy weight management takes work – it takes a lifestyle change. A healthy, balanced diet, exercise and stress management are the keys to maintaining a healthy weight.

Eating healthy doesn’t necessarily mean completely overhauling your diet in one day. For any diet change to be successful, it needs to be realistic. The ultimate positive impact comes only if you can commit to the changes. It’s ok if you make changes to your diet gradually, over time. But before you should make any changes, you should know what you need to change. You need to know where to start. So many of us lead incredibly busy, stressful lives and some of us honestly don’t know what we put into our bodies in a single day. We’re in a hurry. We grab whatever we can and wolf it down. Jot down everything you eat and everything you drink for 4 or 5 days. Be honest with yourself. If you run to Starbucks three times in one day, write it down. Somewhere in those days, you will find something you can and should change. I gave that Starbucks example because I’ve done that. I love me some Starbucks! My goal for the month of January is to not completely eliminate my grande vanilla latte ritual, but to reduce to once a week. That will save me (dare I say?) 1500 calories per week. 1500 calories!!! That’s an entire day’s worth of calories from one simple change!

OK. So you know where you can start, but where to go from there? There are many, many well-balanced diet guides out there, and I’m not here to endorse or recommend just one of them. But here’s what I will tell you:

1. Stay away from fast food and processed foods as much as you can. Eliminate the junk! There is nothing nutritious about these types of foods and they don’t belong in anyone’s diet.

2. Do not starve yourself. Eating 500 calories a day is not only incredibly unhealthy, it will likely lead to your body consuming its own muscle tissue, which will lead to WEIGHT GAIN in the end.

3. Eat fresh fruits and veggies. Incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables into your daily diet is important for many reasons. They are nutrient-dense foods. This means that they pack a ton of nutrition in a very small calorie package. That 5 oz tub of spring mix in the store – that’s ONE SERVING! They are a good source of fiber – which helps keep you feeling full.

4. Trade refined grains for whole grains. Whole grains offer more complete nutrition and added fiber. They also have a lower impact on blood sugar levels.

5. Eat fat –the right fat. Don’t be fat phobic. Our bodies need fat. You just need to eat the right kind of fat, such as the omega-3 fats found in cold water fish and the type of saturated fats found in coconuts. I’m not saying you should start cooking in lard, but don’t avoid high-fat foods simply because they are high in fat.

Weight loss and weight management has been and always will be more about what you put into your body. You must use more calories during the day than what you put in. It will be easier for you to cut calories if your daily diet focuses on fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains – as these foods are nutrient-dense and low in calories. This allows you to eat a bigger portion of them without adding a tremendous amount to your overall daily calorie intake.

Fight Your Sugar Cravings

In one year, the average American will consume over 45 pounds of sugar. That’s enough sugar to fill a wheel barrow. In addition to that type of sugar (sucrose), the average American will consume another 4 gallons of added sugar (high fructose corn syrup) in a year. The bulk of the added sugar comes in the form of soft drinks and sodas. It comes as no surprise that many Americans have a difficult time cutting sugars from their diets.

There are a variety of reasons, both physical and emotional, as to why we reach for the sweet stuff.

Cravings for sugar have a lot do with the way the body manages the sugar levels in the bloodstream. When we eat simple carbohydrates, like a sugary snack or a soft drink, it raises the blood sugar almost as quickly as an injection of sugar straight into the veins. In response, the pancreas releases large amounts of the hormone insulin. Insulin triggers cells throughout the body to pull the excess glucose out of the bloodstream and store it for use at a later time. This exaggerated effort to remove glucose can lead to a functional hypoglycemia – a condition in which blood sugar levels are too low. Now with the glucose removed, the excess insulin in the bloodstream leads to craving more sugar which then exacerbates the condition and continues the cycle. Repeatedly overloading the bloodstream with sugar can reduce the body’s ability to respond to insulin, called insulin resistance, a pre-diabetic condition.

Sugar cravings and an appetite for sweet things could be hardwired into our brains. As newborns, our first food is lactose – milk sugar. It is the taste that we prefer from the moment we are born. Carbohydrates, including simple sugars, stimulate the release of serotonin, the neurotransmitter responsible for making humans feel happy. Sugar also stimulates the release of endorphins. Endorphins are a group of hormones secreted within the brain and nervous system that have a number of functions. One of those functions is to activate the body’s opiate receptors and induce a pain-killing and relaxing effect. There are some researchers who believe that this particular reaction to sugar is similar to an addiction to cocaine or heroin. It has a numbing effect on the body.

On top of all that, sugary foods just taste good and we tend to reward ourselves with treats. This reward system makes us crave sweet foods even more and is difficult to overcome. The end-results of this cycle of craving and eating and craving and eating are decreasing the body’s ability to process glucose and insulin efficiently, which could ultimately lead to diabetes, weight gain and a great deal of stress.

So what can we do? There are a few simple steps that people can incorporate into their daily lives to help control those cravings

· Grab some fruit. Keep an apple around or some grapes handy for those times you want something sweet. You’ll get the sugar you’re craving, and you’ll also get some fiber and beneficial antioxidants.

· Move. Get up; walk around. Remove yourself from your surroundings for a few minutes to get your mind off of it.

· Eat regular meals. When we wait too long between meals, we run a greater chance of grabbing what is quick and easy – and usually packed with sugar and fat instead of what will nourish our bodies. Eating every 5 hours max can help stabilize blood sugar levels.

· Avoid artificial sweeteners. Not only do these chemicals do nothing for sugar cravings, they may also have a negative impact on your weight. i.e. they make you fatter.

· Give in – but just a little. Don’t completely deprive yourself. Schedule a regular reward time – like Friday afternoon. And keep it small. And if you are going to reward yourself – indulge. Buy the best chocolate and savor it in small bites.

And most importantly, don’t beat yourself up if you slip. Changing eating habits is a process that takes time and patience.