Guest blog by Dr. Frederick Vagnini, MD, FACS, Heart, Diabetes & Weight-Loss Centers of New York

If you’ve recently listened to me on the Res-Q HealthLine radio shows, I recently indicated that there were four silent killers. But now, due to expanded research and more and more problems coming through my centers in New York, I have expanded them to eight.

First of all, what is meant by a silent killer? Well, it’s simple. It’s something you don’t feel until a heart attack occurs, or until you fracture a bone, or you have a stroke. These silent killers include:

1. High blood pressure: Many times you could have a blood pressure of 200 and you don’t feel it.
2. High cholesterol and triglycerides: There’s typically no pain in the arteries. Unless you get your lipids checked, you’re not going to realize that your arteries are clogging up.
3. Inflammation: Inflammation is the backbone of pathophysiology for cardiovascular disease and aging, which is very prevalent in Western culture. It can be anything from a swollen toe to inflamed arteries, the latter of which you cannot feel.
4. Oxidative stress: Damage from free radicals and oxidative stress is when the body’s antioxidant system becomes overwhelmed. Oxidative stress accelerates the aging process.
5. Blood glucose: Another silent killer is blood glucose. Many people are coming into my office with 200-300 blood-sugar levels. They don’t feel a thing.  But they are pre-diabetic or diabetic and they have been doing damage to their bodies for many years before they even realize it. High blood-glucose levels can not only lead to diabetes, but also eye disease, blindness, kidney disease, nerve disease or death.
6. Glycation: (sometimes called non-enzymatic glycosylation) is something that accelerates heart disease, cellular damage and aging, and it is simply a problem with glucose that adheres to proteins lipids and DNA to create something called “Advanced Glycation End Product” (AGE)
7. Telomere shortening: Telomeres are the tips of chromosomes and when they shorten you have progressive aging. What happens to accelerate this aging process is inflammation and oxidative stress.
8. Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis is a bone disease that leads to an increased risk of fracture. It is another silent killer simply because you don’t feel your bones weakening until you’ve lost four inches of height.

What can we do to prevent these silent killers from leading us into cardiovascular disease, heart attack, stroke, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and accelerated aging? Well, I developed a protocol in my Centers based on the following:

• Diet: a modified, low-carbohydrate Mediterranean diet
• Exercise: Any exercise is good; cross training is the best, which is when you do a combination of resistance training with aerobics.
• Stress reduction: Stress reduction is critical. It’s one of the leading factors that influence degenerative diseases and especially cardiovascular disease.
• Supplements: The right supplements can combat high triglycerides, high cholesterol, high blood pressure oxidative damage, high blood sugar, arthritis, weight reduction, diabetes, fatigue, and basically all of the degenerative and cardiovascular problems.
• Pharmaceuticals: Medical drugs are prescribed when necessary.

Prevention Through Supplements & Nutrition
Years ago, I developed a program called Cardio Nutrition, and that is simply a program, along with diet and exercise, in which we use supplements. Here’s a list of some of the “silent killers” and what Res-Q products will work best to combat them.

High Cholesterol/Triglycerides:

•  L-D-L less (red yeast rice)
•  Res-Q LDLx2 (polycosanol) with or without niacin
•  Res-Q 1250, which is primarily a triglyceride-lowering agent
•  Res-Q Land ’n’ Sea Fiber is excellent for lowering lipids
•  Res-Q Multi, as it has 300 milligrams of garlic
•  Res-Q HDL+ (raises your good cholesterol)

When it comes to cholesterol we also worry about the oxidative damage and we have a number of antioxidants including Res-Q Multi, Res-Q CellPower (CoQ10), Res-Q Resveratrol, Nature’s Shield Superfoods and Nature’s Shield Leg & Vein Support, which all protect the LDL against oxidative damage.

Hypertension/ High Blood Pressure:

• Res-Q Multi vitamin, which has taurine, hawthorn berry, garlic and L-carnitine
• Res-Q Orosine
• Res-Q 1250
• Nature’s Shield Smart Cal (with vitamin D3)
• Res-Q 1250+
• Res-Q Multi
• Res-Q Land ‘n’ Sea Fiber
• Res-Q Mg (magnesium)
• Res-Q CellPower (CoQ10)
• Nature’s Shield Leg & Vein
• Res-Q Sleep

Oxidative Stress

• Res-Q Multi
• Res-Q Mega Acai
• Res-Q Land ‘n’ Sea Fiber
• Res-Q CellPower (CoQ10)
• Nature’s Shield Leg & Vein
• Res-Q Resveratrol
• Nature’s Shield Superfoods
• Res-Q Sleep

Glucose Levels:

• Res-Q Land ‘n’ Sea Fiber
• Res-Q 105MAX (specifically designed to lower blood sugar)
• Res-Q 1250+
• Res-Q 1250
• Nature’s Shield Superfoods
• Res-Q Resveratrol

Telomere shortening:

Research now shows that an omega-3 supplement can prevent telomere shortening

• Res-Q 1250
• Res-Q Calamarine
• Res-Q 1250+
• Res-Q Multi

Osteoporosis:

• Nature’s Shield SmartCal is great for osteoporosis
• Res-Q 1250
• Res-Q 1250+
• Res-Q Multi

Inflammation:

• Res-Q 1250
• Res-Q Calamarine
• Res-Q 1250+
• Res-Q Multi
• Res-Q CellPower (CoQ10)
• Res-Q Orosine (repairs at the cellular level)
• GlycoMarine

Glycation:

• Res-Q 1250+
• Res-Q 1250
• Nature’s Shield Superfoods
• Res-Q Resveratrol
• Res-Q Multi

Weight and Digestion:

• Res-Q All Essential Enzymes
• Res-Q Probiotic
• Res-Q Land ‘n’ Sea Fiber
• Nature’s Shield Weight Control
• Res-Q Trim System

On Monday, a relatively unknown, small, scientific study called the Iowa Women’s Health Study came across the newswire. Articles were written about it. Bloggers were blogging about it. It was even on the nightly news. The problem is that the study itself mildly claimed one thing while the media claimed something else entirely.

The claim? Vitamin supplements are killing us.

In a matter of hours, news agents were reporting fact-based articles entitled, “Study finds vitamin supplements unnecessary for most people,” “ Vitamin supplements: New evidence of too much of a good thing,” and “Harmful Vitamins.”

All pretty serious headlines in the news. But where were the facts?

The Study
For starters, the study’s goal was essentially to figure out if the distribution of body fat predicts the incidence of chronic diseases, and to “determine to what degree diet and other lifestyle factors influence risk of chronic disease.” The team of researchers, in order to meet these goals, based their findings on a rather specific group (not so randomly chosen) of roughly 39,000 older Iowan women, living in rural areas—mostly farms—who were asked to fill out three surveys, in 1986, 1997 and 2004. Participants were able to freely fill out the surveys on their own, self-reporting over the course of roughly 20 years, sharing the vitamin supplements they took, the foods they ate, and other health-related questions they could answer.

Participants had to write down, for example, if they took a multivitamin. But they were not required to state the brand, the quality, the density of ingredients or whether the multivitamin was all-natural or synthetic. They were also required to list many components of their lifestyle—whether or not they smoked, drank alcohol, exercised, ate their veggies and so on. On the flip side, they weren’t required to include things like the status of their memories, as in whether they had incidences of Alzheimer’s, dementia or Parkinson’s. Keep in mind that these women would have been turning 80 by the end of a 20-year study. They were expected to remember, through their own self-reporting, if they took a certain vitamin seven or eight years between studies. Lastly, the group was divided in two: those who used supplements and those who didn’t. Fairly straightforward, but not entirely reliable as far as data collection is concerned.

The findings were then reported in the American Medical Association’s (AMA’s) Archives of Internal Medicine, which were then picked up by the press. Which, in turn, took a fairly positive report on vitamins and somehow turned it ugly.

All stress is not bad. Most temporary stress is based on the body’s ability to send chemical messages to other parts of the body that need to take action. Noticing an accident within a few hundred feet ahead of you, stress chemicals known as cortisol are released and you immediately slam on your brakes. When the threat, or the perceived threat is over, your body works to return to normal. In most cases, this goes off without a hitch.

But sometimes, stress lingers and your body continues to sense a threat, real or imagined. When this happens, the sympathetic nervous system stays chronically stimulated, risking long-term health problems, which can include anything from migraines, anxiety disorders, high blood pressure, depression, heart disease, a compromised immune system, alcoholism, muscle pain, fatigue, insomnia and even death.

Taking action to de-stress is crucial to your health and overall well-being. It means finding a MANAGMEMENT PLAN that works, and getting your body and mind back in shape. As a supplement to your “plan,” these essential vitamins and minerals offer some a serious boost to mood.

Omega-3s (EPA and DHA)
Nothing has proved more potent than the effects of EPA and DHA on brain health. And let’s be real, that’s one of the first things anyone who craves de-stressing needs to address first. Calming their mind! With hormones fluctuating and moods rapidly changing, a good omega-3 can do wonders to regulate mood and improve overall brain health.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
B vitamins are commonly utilized for depression, occasional stress, fatigue, irritability, healing, digestion and a potent dose of Vitamin B1 isn’t an exception. B1 may help mental function, thinking clearly and mood.

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
Vitamin B2 has been used for fatigue, stress and migraines. It plays an important role in the metabolism of amino acids and fats that are beneficial for the brain.

Vitamin B3 (Niacinimide)
There are two types of B3:  niacin, for cholesterol, and niacinimide, the form used for anxiety. Make sure to supplement with niacinimide for stress.

Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)
This B5 vitamin, the alleged anti-stress vitamin, aids the use of other B vitamins and helps produce neurotransmitters like acetylcholine that balance dopamine’s effect.

Vitamin B6
Serotonin, the “feel good” chemical and an important key chemical for mood and sleep, is made from an amino acid that uses an enzyme generated from vitamin B6. Enough said!

Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid
Any deficiency in B12 or folic acid may lead to a series of biochemical reactions that can impair neurotransmitter production. Vitamin B12 is one of the most important vitamins in the B group.

5-HTP
This is an amino acid derivative, much like tryptophan, and basically works to safely elevate mood and levels of serotonin. “Serotonin promotes a sense of well-being, decreases depression, and makes the glass look half full–and 5-HTP helps the body synthesize more serotonin in a more natural way,” says Russell Canfield, M.D., a clinical assistant professor at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in Albuquerque. Take 50 to 100 mg once or twice a day to start and then you can increase dosage over time. If, however, you are taking an antidepressant, be sure to consult your doc on this first. Too much serotonin may cause confusion, increase heart-rate and loss of coordination.

CoQ10
CoQ10 is manufactured by the body but decreases with age or after ingestion of certain medications over time. It may also decrease with long-term stress. So it is imperative to supplement with CoQ10 if you are trying to de-stress. It’s known to help relieve migraines, chronic fatigue syndrome and heart conditions.

Keep in mind there isn’t any “happy pill.” Even anti-anxiety meds don’t cure stress or remove the underlying cause of it. All stress can not be eliminated from your life but it can be managed. Be sure to talk to your doc before taking any drug or all-natural product.

Vitamin D3 for Bones

What Is Vitamin D?
Vitamin D is acquired by diet, fortified foods, supplements or exposure to sunlight. As reported in the vitamin D fact sheet for health professionals, “Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in very few foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. It is also produced endogenously when ultraviolet rays from sunlight strike the skin and trigger vitamin D synthesis.”

What’s So Great about It?
Vitamin D is so great because it is essential for strong bones, for which you need more than just calcium. In fact, studies insist that both vitamin D and calcium are needed to maintain strong bones. Vitamin D is so important that in the 1930s, it was added to milk because children were getting rickets or soft bones from lack of vitamin D.

The Office of Dietary Supplements says, “Supplements of both vitamin D and calcium can reduce the risk of bone loss and fractures in elderly people.” They go on to say, “Osteoporosis is most often associated with inadequate calcium intakes, but insufficient vitamin D contributes to osteoporosis by reducing calcium absorption.”

Vitamin D is so very important because it promotes calcium absorption in the gut, helps maintain bone minerals and keeps healthy bones strong as we grow older.

Doesn’t My Diet Provide Enough Vitamin D?
It is difficult to get enough vitamin D every day from diet because very few foods contain it naturally. Excellent all-natural sources of  vitamin D are fish like sockeye salmon and mackerel, which many people can’t afford to eat everyday.

Although foods have been fortified with vitamin D, it can still be very difficult to get enough. One cup of milk, an egg yolk, a yogurt or a can of sardines or tuna fish provide small amounts of vitamin D, just a fraction of the RDA, an amount established by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies as an “average daily level of intake sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97%–98%) healthy people.” The recommended daily allowance of vitamin D for adults is 600 IU per day. However, adults over age 70 need more: 800 IU per day.

Although the body can make vitamin D from the sunlight, most people use suncreen to reduce the risk of skin cancer and in the winter months the sun in the northern half of United States is just not strong enough.

According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2005–06, the average intake of vitamin D from foods is less than the RDA. However, when supplements were used, the vitamin D levels were higher. As reported, “For women aged 51–70 years, mean intake of vitamin D from foods alone was 156 IU/day, but 404 IU/day with supplements. For women >70 years, the corresponding figures were 180 IU/day to 400 IU/day.”

But Then There’s Vitamin D3?
Vitamin D3  is the form of vitamin D found in the all-natural human diet. When mankind started fortifying foods and providing supplements, another form called vitamin D2 was used. But vitamin D3 remains the preferrred form of vitamin D. Vitamin D3 is its natural form. Vitamin D3, cholecalciferol, is the same form of vitamin D produced by our skin and found in the fish that we eat. It should therefore be the form of vitamin D with which we supplement our diets.

References:
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/
http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/vitaminDPharmacology.shtml
http://www.ajcn.org/content/84/4/694.full

Breaking News!  New study on Vitamin E and Immune System 

Vitamin E has always been linked to a healthy immune system. 

Being an essential antioxidant, it is touted for its ability to protect our cell membranes, and keep our skin, heart, circulation, nerves, muscles and red blood cells healthy. Vitamin E also protects cells against the effects of dangerous free radicals. And as we’re now learning, free radicals can cause cell damage and lead to cardiovascular disease and cancer. 

More recently, it has been suggested that elderly patients who are being immunized for the flu or the swine flu, can improve their health by taking a Vitamin E supplement for additional immune-system support.One study in particular, involving 153 elderly residents and 95 healthcare workers, proved that Vitamin E promotes immune system health. And, as reported in Food Consumer, “…among the elderly, only vitamin E was significantly associated with the immune response to A/H1N1…” 

Anyone trying to stay well this winter will benefit from taking Vitamin E, especially prior to and after receiving flu immunizations. But those of us 65 and older need to add Vitamin E to our daily regimen.

Res-Q Multi has 333% of the daily recommended dosage of Vitamin E. It is a pure and potent heart-healthy multivitamin with multiple vitamins for immune system health.

Don’t just think about staying healthy this winter, go for it, with Res-Q Multi!

For more information on Res-Q Multi or to find out what supplements to take for immune-system health, please contact a Res-Q Consultant at 1-800-26-ALIVE. Press “2” for information.  

References:
Vitamin E may boost immune response triggered by flu vaccine, Foodconsumer

Many factors influence the immune system. Adults over age 65 may have a poor immune response which increases risk of illness. It is possible that older adults may not be eating right thus neglecting their immune-system health. Nursing homes are involved with improving immunity by providing vitamin supplements. The stress of bereavement has also been reported to decrease immunity.

Receiving proper nutrients is critical to the proper functioning of the immune system. A multivitamin is the primary supplement recommended by many doctors to improve the health of the immune system. Ask your physician questions regarding optimal vitamin intake levels for good health. A physician can perform blood tests. Vitamin deficiencies can occur and are associated with many types of illness, sickness, and disease. Multivitamin supplements can help restore blood levels to their optimal level.

Res-Q Multi is a pure, potent multivitamin that can help restore vitamin deficiencies, promote heart health and support the immune system. Just one Res-Q Multi capsule contains multiple vitamins and minerals. Res-Q Multi contains nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin C and zinc to support immune-system function. 

Vitamin C enhances the function of white blood cells involved in the destruction of bacteria. Vitamin B6 helps maintain the health of organs that make white blood cells. Vitamin B6 is good for the thymus, spleen and lymph nodes. 

Every day, we suggest taking 3 caplets of Res-Q Multi, our heart-healthy multivitamin, with a meal. The 3 caplets per day allows for ideal levels of nutrients to provide benefits for both the arteries and general health. One serving of Res-Q Multi (3 caplets) provides a higher level of nutrient intake when compared to the majority of multivitamins commonly sold in stores. The higher level of nutrient will help to restore nutritional deficiencies.

Res-Q Multi contains the same nutrients as many leading name brand one-a-day vitamins. One look at our label will show you the superiority in potency with Res-Q Multi, our heart-healthy multivitamin. Res-Q Multi not only improves immune-system health but it also encourages heart health.  

For questions or to order Res-Q Multi, please call 1-800-26-ALIVE. Ask about our current special promotions and money-savings offers that can get you the best price on Res-Q Multi.

A study was conducted to see if multivitamin supplements have an effect on telomere length. Telomeres are caps that protect chromosomes. Telomeres indicate age.  With age, new cells end up with shorter telomeres.  Shorter telomeres are associated with aging and growing older while longer ones are associated with longevity. The result of the study: women that took vitamins supplements had longer telomeres. 

Res-Q Multi is a dietary supplement that contains vitamins, minerals, and additional heart-healthy ingredients. Res-Q Multi promotes cell function, health and wellness. Additionally, Res-Q Multi is a heart-healthy multivitamin supplement that promotes health and longevity by providing proper intake levels of vitamins.  

 For questions or to order Res-Q Multi, please call 1-800-26-ALIVE, visit Res-Q Product Website, or email sales@n3inc.com.

 References:
 Multivitamin use and telomere length in women, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 89, No. 6, 1857-1863, June 2009. 
 Vitamins add vitality to aging chromosomes, Science News, June 24^th 2009,

 The new study was reported in Diabetes Care.

 94% of the participants were Vitamin D “deficient” or “insufficient.” 

 Of the 94%, 42% had metabolic syndrome.

Having metabolic syndrome doubles the risk of heart disease and increases the risk of becoming diabetic by 5 times.

Res-Q Products and Metabolic Syndrome

 A multivitamin can supplement the diet and restore proper vitamin levels. Res-Q Multi is a pure and potent multivitamin that provides minerals and vitamins for good health. Additionally, Res-Q Multi contains the proper levels of nutrients to help maintain a healthy cardiovascular system and promote healthy arteries. Res-Q Multi contains Vitamin D in the form of Vitamin D3, also called cholecalciferol. Cholecalciferol is the best type of Vitamin D.

Buy Res-Q Multi, a heart-healthy multivitamin

 To learn how you can the best price on Res-Q products, please call us at 1-800-26-ALIVE or email sales@n3inc.com.

References:  
Low vitamin D may raise metabolic syndrome risk. FoodConsumer.org 2009

There is a direct relationship between Vitamin D levels and mental ability.

Vitamin D may support brain function by influencing brain proteins associated with learning, memory, motor control, and maternal and social behavior. It is also thought that Vitamin D supports increased levels of glutathione, which works as an antioxidant.

Vitamin D may also support mood. A study on Vitamin D in the form of Vitamin D3, inclusive of a group of people supplementing with 800 I.U. of Vitamin D3, provided beneficial brain-health benefits. Vitamin D3 is the more effective form of Vitamin D.

One serving of Res-Q Multi, our heart-healthy multivitamin complex, provides 800 I.U. of Vitamin D3, also known as cholecalciferol, a potent and natural form of Vitamin D3.

http://www.MyResQProducts.com/

For more information or to learn how you can save money on Res-Q products please call 1-800-26-ALIVE or email sales@n3inc.com

References:
Science Daily, Vitamin D Important in Brain Development and Function. April, 2008
Vitamin D and Depression, The Vitamin D Council
Vitamin D Deficiency may harm brain function: study. Reuter’s Feb 2009
Association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and cognitive performance in middle-aged and older European men.J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2009 Jul;80(7):722-9. Epub 2009 May 21.

 
The American Medical News, a news publication for physicians published by the American Medical Association, is encouraging physicians to perform Vitamin D testing!

Natural Vitamin D intake from both dietary sources and sunlight could be a lot less than we think, thus increasing the risk of vitamin deficiency. Therefore, testing may be an important way of uncovering Vitamin D deficiencies. Supplementing a healthy diet with additional vitamins can help protect against vitamin deficiencies and increase vitamin levels.

Res-Q Multi is a heart-healthy multivitamin that contains Vitamin D in the form of Vitamin D3. Vitamin D3, also called cholecalciferol, is the best form of Vitamin D because it is the same form that the human body makes. However, due to the necessity of sunscreen to protect the skin from skin cancer and damaging burns, and the long winter months spent inside, our bodies may not be making enough.
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