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The five founders of goodelements.com were honored by Time Out New York for their healthy lifestyle website and commitment to providing strategies for good health to the public at large. The article, entitled “Goodbye Cube Farm,” seeks to explain how a person can leave the “stressful corporate world and ride the natural health trend to pursue professional nirvana.”

The article then proceeds to tell how the passing of a close friend prompted the founders of goodelements.com to create super supplements that would ultimately change their lives and the lives of its customers:

“Apply your honed professional skills to ensure better odds for success. The five founders of Good Elements (goodelements.com), a website that dispenses nutritional supplements, were inspired to work in the natural health industry when they witnessed the premature death from cancer of one of their close friends. “We rallied around a cause, with each of us bringing a skill and intense drive to launch our company,” says Lyle Deitch, a venture capitalist and cofounder.”

Thankfully, the founders of goodelements.com took the leap to bring their all-natural, non-addictive super supplements to the marketplace, as the mass public can now take advantage of the health benefits provided in these trendy named and packaged products.

Did you know that there is an “Almond Board of California”? We didn’t either. But now we do. And now you do too. And the good folks at the Almond Board of California have put out some pretty interesting information about almonds and heath health.

According to the World Health Organization report (2004), heart disease accounts for 17.5 million deaths worldwide annually. One way to improve heart health is to make dietary choices that reduce triglyceride levels, an established risk factor for developing heart disease.

The Almond Board recently funded a study to investigate heart health risk factors, namely high triglyceride levels. During the study, human subjects ate muffin products made with pieces of whole almonds, compared to those made with oil. Researchers witnessed a delayed release of fats from the almonds into the body, which resulted in a lower rise in triglyceride levels.

“This new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, expands upon previous cardiovascular research by investigating not only how the plant cell wall may impact how fats are absorbed into the body, but also the potential impact on acute changes in triglyceride levels,” noted Dr. Sarah Berry, Nutritional Sciences Division, Kings CollegeLondon, United Kingdom. “The data suggest that an intact plant cell wall, as found in whole almonds, may impact on how much and how quickly fat is released into the blood, contributing to a lower acute rise in blood triglyceride levels.”

Now that’s a scientific mouthful, so let’s get a little more basic. Triglycerides are the primary form of fat in foods, regardless of the type of fat i.e., unsaturated or saturated. Blood triglycerides normally increase after eating a meal containing dietary fat. Elevated blood triglyceride levels are a risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease.

The study indicates that the fat found in whole almonds is not as quickly absorbed by the body as that found in almond oil or sunflower oil, which researchers attributed to the plant cell walls found in the whole almond nut. Researchers believe that the plant cell walls found in almonds, act as a physical barrier hindering the rate and release of the lipid during digestion. The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

So what else can be found in almonds? One ounce of almonds, about a handful, offers: Fiber (3g); Calcium (75mg); Protein (6g); Iron (1.0mg); Potassium (200 mg); Saturated Fat (1g); Unsaturated Fat (13g).

Source: Almond Board of California - Wed, 12/17/2008
Source: eMaxHealth

Our diet and healthy living site, Goodelements.com, has been honored in an LA Times article entitled, “Tired of Thinking Pink, Skip to Green,” for having a corporate commitment to breast cancer awareness month. The article highlights corporations that have released special “pink” products to support the cause and those that actually donate profits to further breast cancer research and funding.

Listed among companies such as OPI, Easy Spirit, Huggies, and Masterlock, our diet and healthy living site was highlighted for donating 20% of October proceeds to the Susan G. Komen Foundation and for showing a continued commitment for health and wellness across the globe. We look forward to participating again next year.

GoodElements.com was featured yesterday in the Baltimore Sun.

Click:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bal-to.hs.briefs052jan05,0,7048217.story

To Read:

Tips to Beat Midday Winter Work Blahs!

We know that exercise helps the heart, and a lack of it can help promote the factors that lead to heart disease.  But how late in life is too late to begin exercising? Well good news, friends, it seems as if it’s never too late.

Epidemiologist Dietrich Rothenbacher of the University of Heidelberg and his colleagues surveyed 312 patients–mostly men–between the ages of 40 and 68 who suffered from coronary heart disease and 479 volunteers matching the patients in age and sex. The scientists asked them to detail their physical activity from the ages of 20 to 39, 40 to 49 and 50 years and older. More than 10 percent of patients and 6 percent of the controls admitted to lifetimes devoid of physical activity.

Compared to these inactive counterparts, those who were active throughout their lives enjoyed more than a 60 percent less chance of developing heart disease. But even those who became active only after the age of 40 enjoyed a 55 percent less chance of cardiovascular trouble, and those who went from being inactive to very active saw the greatest benefits. Although such a survey technique is open to so-called recall bias–a tendency by test subjects to incorrectly estimate their exercise–the researchers found that individuals’ reports matched well with physical fitness measures and even matched better with their ultimate fate. “Our results suggest that a more active physical activity pattern is clearly associated with a reduced risk of [coronary heart disease],” the researchers write in the paper presenting their findings published online in Heart. “And that changing from a sedentary to a more physically active lifestyle even in later adulthood may strongly decrease [coronary heart disease] risk.”

Source:  Scientific American

January 2, 2009

Are you a young woman who took your Good Elements Essentials or Renewal today? If so, then you enjoyed some Vitamin C – which is linked in a new study with lower blood pressure in young women.

This “strongly suggests that vitamin C is specifically important in maintaining a healthy blood pressure,” lead author Dr. Gladys Block, of the University of California, Berkeley, told Reuters Health.

Previous research linked high plasma levels of vitamin C with lower blood pressure among middle-age and older adults, typically those with higher than optimal blood pressure readings, Block and colleagues report in the Nutrition Journal.

The current study involved 242 black and white women, between 18 and 21 years old, with normal blood pressures, who were participants in the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study. Further analyses of vitamin C and blood pressure changes over the previous year, “also strongly suggested that the people with the highest blood level of vitamin C had the least increase in blood pressure,” Block said.

Since these findings infer a possible association between vitamin C and blood pressure in healthy young adults, Block and colleagues call for further investigations in this population.

SOURCE: Nutrition Journal, December 17, 2008

We have to be honest – we love sugar treats. But we love our health and our teeth more so we at Good Elements promote and live the mantra of “moderation.” The easiest way to avoid sugar? Skip the soda. The Good Elements family is soda free (though Lyle occasionally cheats with a Diet Sprite. We are working on him!) Today, the average size soft drink is 20 ounces and contains 17 teaspoons of sugar. Thinking about a fruit drink instead? Think again. Some citric acids found in fruit drinks are more erosive than hydrochloric or sulfuric acid — which is also known as battery acid. These refined sugars and acids found in soda and citrus juice promote tooth erosion, which wears away the hard part of the teeth, or the enamel.

Once tooth enamel is lost, it’s gone forever. And there’s nothing good about that. So we recommend brewed tea. Nothing bad about that according to a study in the July/August issue of General Dentistry, the clinical, peer-reviewed journal of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).

Apart from tasting good, brewed tea has many health benefits. Tea is loaded with natural antioxidants, which are thought to decrease incidence of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

Mohamed A. Bassiouny, DMD, BDS, MSc, PhD, the lead author of the study, compared green and black tea to soda and orange juice in terms of their short- and long-term erosive effect on human teeth. The study found that the erosive effect of tea was similar to that of water, which has no erosive effect. And, when comparing green versus black, he discovered that there is a better option among those as well.

Dr. Bassiouny says that “when we look at tea and read about the benefits, it’s amazing — not because green tea is ‘the in thing’ — but because there are advantages.” He adds that much research done overseas, in countries such as Japan and Europe, found that green tea was identified to being superior over black due to its natural flavonoids (plant nutrients) and antioxidants.

But, if you do drink tea, experts suggest avoiding additives such as milk, lemon, or sugar because they combine with tea’s natural flavonoids and decrease the benefits. In addition, stay away from prepackaged iced teas because they contain citric acid and high amounts of sugars. It does not matter whether the tea is warm or cold — as long as it is home brewed without additives.

Kenton Ross, DMD, FAGD, AGD spokesperson, sees patients’ erosion problems on a daily basis in his practice. “Severe cases of erosion occur monthly and are frequently associated with high rates of soft drink consumption,” he says. “This study clearly shows that brewed teas resulted in dramatically less enamel loss than soft drinks and acidic juices,” says Dr. Ross. “I would highly recommend patients choose tea as an alternative to more erosive drinks like soda and fruit juice.”

Tips to decrease erosion:

* Reduce or eliminate carbonated beverages. Instead, drink water, milk, or tea
* Skip the additives such as sugar, lemon, and milk
* Drink acidic drinks quickly and through a straw
* Chew sugar-free gum to increase saliva flow in your mouth
* Rinse with water to neutralize the acids, and wait an hour before brushing

Tips to decrease sugar cravings
* Good Elements Craving Control

Source: Academy of General Dentistry

At Good Elements.com, we like to say that our superior supplements are the perfect complement to a healthy and active lifestyle. But what is a healthy and active lifestyle exactly? One place to turn to for a definition is the new Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans written by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).The advisory committee’s recommendations are reflected in the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans issued in November. The guidelines say:

* Healthy adults, aged 18-64, should do 2 hours and 30 minutes per week of moderate-intensity physical activity like brisk walking and water aerobics or 1 hour and 15 minutes per week of vigorous intensity physical activity such as jogging and swimming laps or a combination of the two. Adults should include muscle strengthening activities in their work-outs 2 days per week. Those workouts leading to sore joints and inflammation? Good Elements’ Motion joint pain relief supplement can help.

* Older adults, aged 65 and older, should follow an activity plan based on their abilities and if they are at risk for falling should include a balance training program.

* Children, aged 6-17, should aim for one hour or more of physical activity per day, incorporating vigorous exercise at least three days per week. The guidelines call for muscle strengthening and bone strengthening exercises at least three days per week. The advisory committee cited “strong evidence” showing physically active children have less body fat and are at lower risk for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Activities for children should be developmentally appropriate.

* Adults and children with disabilities should be as physically active as possible.

* Healthy pregnant and postpartum women should do moderate-intensity physical at least 2 hours and 30 minutes per week. Women who engaged in vigorous-intensity physical activity prior to pregnancy can continue with the permission of their health care providers.

While it may seem obvious that exercise improves health, there is an increasing amount of scientific data supporting the concept. “After reviewing a body of scientific research, we saw evidence that physical activity contributed to overall health and reduced the risk for most chronic conditions including heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers,” said Tufts University’s Miriam E. Nelson, PhD, who served as vice-chair of the advisory committee. “In addition, the evidence showed that the health benefits of physical activity are seen at any given body weight. In our final report to HHS, the advisory committee also identified a need for specificity and suggested individualized guidelines for population subgroups including adults, older adults and children.”

Nelson stresses that, while aerobic exercise is the most important part of the equation, “it’s also important for adults and children to supplement their workouts with strength exercises. Activities like push-ups and sit-ups build muscle and bone strength. In older adults, strength training can help improve functionality and reduce the risk of falls,” Nelson said.

It remains unclear whether there is a minimum dose of exercise that will yield health benefits. “There is mounting scientific evidence that one hour per week of moderate intensity physical activity is associated with improved health and reduced risk for heart disease,” Nelson said. “While not ideal, even limited physical activity appears to be better than none at all.

Source: Tufts University, Health Sciences

While the holiday cake baking (and eating!) season may be over, and our thoughts are turning to how to eat healthier in the new year, we wanted to address the seemingly age old margarine vs. butter question.  Which is healthier?

It seems like margarine has been the choice of health professionals as a substitute for butter.  But we’re here to say….not so fast.  Margarine is usually made from hydrogenated oils - which we all know better as the dreaded trans fats.  Butter is a source of saturated fats, and though not recommended for excessive consumption, saturated fats still beat hydrogenated oils in the healthy department.

Butter is comprised of about 80 percent butterfat and 20 percent liquid and is held together with natural emulsifiers. This makes the cooking properties of butter unique compared with other types of fat.  It also  allows sauces to blend and adds flavor and moisture to baked goods.

Margarine is made using either hydrogenated oils or a combination of saturated tropical fats mixed with oils to provide the consistency of butter.  Research suggests that consumption of trans fats is even more closely linked to heart disease risk than saturated fat.

But we’d rather that neither butter or margarine be used! If you must use butter or margarine when cooking or baking, we suggest that you use “cholesterol-lowering margarines” made without hydrogenated oils.  These “margarines” are pricier and don’t taste quite the same as butter or “regular margarine.”  But it’s worth it to avoid the trans fats.  If you must use margarine, and can’t stomach those without hydrogenated oils, then the rule of thumb is to use tub margarine.  Stick margarines are more likely to contain trans fats than tub-style margarines.  As always, read the labels before you buy.

We believe the concept of balance is an important guiding principle for healthy and happy everyday living. The idea of balance has so many applications ranging from our diets (sure greens are important but a little dessert is yummy too) to work/life strategies (hard work is part of the American dream but surely we can also learn from the European approach to vacations). A balanced mind is perhaps most important and often the hardest thing to achieve as we are often so busy/ stressed/ worried that we fail to enjoy our life experiences to the fullest.

Periodically through our Good Elements blogs and health tips we will try to address strategies that have helped us to be in better position to achieve this balance. Because balance and happiness mean different things to different people, we will also try to point out things that speak to us and inspire us as we hope they may also inspire you.

The Last Lecture

Last September a computer science professor named Randy Pausch rose to worldwide fame after his inspiring lecture entitled Achieving Your Childhood Dreams. This lecture, given in September 2007, was part of a series at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh where professors were invited to give a lecture on any topic they choose were this to be their “Last Lecture”. While Professor Pausch is a fantastic lecturer, what made this one particularly poignant was he had recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and this lecture would in fact, really be one of his last.

The lecture is a heartwarming, educational and inspirational discussion that is unique in its approach as it does not dwell on Professor Pausch’s certain death sentence but instead on the life he has lived and the lessons learned. Professor Pausch was a professor at our alma mater the University of Virginia and watching this entertaining video makes us want to go back to our days as students to be inspired by great minds like his or perhaps to someday become an inspirational professor ourselves.

Professor Pausch passed away on Friday, ten months after this lecture.

Please click on the link below to access the video. It is approximately 75 minutes long, but we believe it is worth the effort, enjoy.

The Last Lecture Video