That may be the definition that dictionary has written down, but I’ve added a twist that I think my friends would agree with…

Like Mr. Webster, to me, a sabbatical is an extended leave for rest, but I would also like to add in “…and extended leave for rest, relaxation, rejuvenation and stress relief (both physical and mental).”

And no matter who you are everyone needs a sabbatical every once in a while.

As we all know, I believe in exercise, not just for the physical health aspect of it, but it’s also been clinically proven to reduce stress.

In this present day and age, many people have careers that require little or no physical exertion, you know like sitting behind a computer, driving a police car, etc. , a fact that can seen by the alarming rate the western world is becoming severely overweight.

Think about it, forty hours a week spent behind a desk or wheel of a car, the rest of your time watching T. V. and sleeping without exercising, that’s a recipe for disaster. 

That lifestyle helps to create a downhill slide in general health, loss of range of motion, pain and other symptoms.

I’m a police officer and I spend many hours each week behind the wheel of a police car and add to that at least one hour per day driving to and from work.

But when I’m home I spend a lot of time exercising and very little time watching television or on the computer.

I tend to vary my exercises which include: bike riding, swimming, running, body weight exercises and stretching.

But as you know, I was always this way…

It was a long steady fight back from self-created bad health, every day was a battle, but gradually, I was able to add more and more to the regimen.

I was never satisfied, my health wouldn’t allow me to be, I kept evolving my routine, and kept adding more and more to it.

You can’t last long doing what I was doing, and sure enough, one day my body just said, “Enough!”.

During my down time from feeling beat up, tired and sore, I took inventory of my daily routine, and boy was I surprised…

My exercise routine had grown out of control, here’s what I was doing: 15 mi. bike ride or 1/2 mi. swim, 2.5mi run, 200 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 15 min of hammer training, 200 squats, 15mins of stretching and frequently I work in other body-weight exercises and a couple of days a week I try to work in some weight training.

And on my “off” days, I was still riding the bike, and usually twenty five to thirty miles at that.

As you can tell I enjoy exercising and especially the rewards gained from it, but too much of a good thing can still be bad for you, and I was overtraining.

Opinions vary on the theory of “overtraining”, but from my experience, it’s a very real result of working too hard, doing too much for too long.

Have you ever heard the old joke about the man that went to his doctor and said, “Doc it hurts when I do this” and lifted his arm above his head and bent his elbow,  and the doctor’s reply, “well don’t do that”.

Well, needless to say, I decided it was time for a break from training.

If you’ve been exercising for a while without a break and you’re in pain, then just maybe you too should think about taking some time off for rest, relaxation and rejuvenation.

Pain is our body’s way of telling us to stop doing whatever we’re doing.

It’s important to make exercise a priority in your life, but it’s also important to have that planned sabbatical once in a while,  or what I call the “The Three R’s”, Rest, Relaxation and Rejuvenation.

After my sabbatical, I felt rested, relaxed and rejuvenated,  I was also injury and pain free, and I just jumped back on the horse and got back to training.

It’s important to realize though, after an injury or extended time off, it’s never a good idea to start back with the same routine and high intensity.

I ease back into my training and soon, I’m going full steam ahead.

Sabbatical’s are great, and if you haven’t taken one in a while, I suggest you plan one soon, maybe a weekend away with your honey or a vacation to somewhere peaceful and relaxing.

Believe me, your brain and body will thank you for it!

As always, never say “I’m too old” or “I can’t”… because you’re not and you can!
 

MIZPAH!

Doc

     But every once in a while, a supplement comes along that exceeds even my wildest expectations. CoQ10 was one of them. Now I’d like to add another supplement to that list. And it’s one you may know well.

A Truly Multi-purpose Supplement

     You’re probably familiar with resveratrol. It’s called a polyphenol, and it occurs naturally in plants. It’s found in the skin of grapes, peanuts and other plants. And it’s been linked to an impressive list of health benefits:

• Skin – Resveratrol a protects skin from damaging ultraviolet B light.¹
   
• Brain – Italian scientists discovered resveratrol may protect your brain from the negative effects of aging.²
   
• Cartilage – Animal studies show that resveratrol may help repair damaged cartilage – even in the spinal column.³
   
• Lungs – In a Korean study, resveratrol significantly reduced breathing problems. In fact, researchers said it worked as well as a common medicine.⁴
   
• Muscles – Resveratrol protects skeletal muscles from oxidative stress. It even helps individual muscle cells resist “cell death.”⁵

     The list goes on and on. For example, such well-known benefits as protecting your heart and acting as a powerful antioxidant.⁶

     These are all good reasons to take resveratrol. But it’s another area of resveratrol research that has me most excited. One you may not be familiar with.

Unexpected Health Benefits

     As you may know, restricting caloric intake can slow the negative effects of aging. That’s because restricting calories activates a stress-related gene called SirT1.

     Here’s what happens when SirT1 is activated:

• Visceral (midsection) fat levels drop
• Insulin resistance goes down
• LDL (“bad”) cholesterol decreases
• Inflammation calms
• Several other healthy changes take place, as well.⁷

     Its no wonder that SirT1 is often called “the Longevity Gene.” It reverses most of the common risk factors for heart and blood sugar problems.

     So what does this have to do with resveratrol?

     Just this: Several studies have now shown that resveratrol mimics caloric restriction… and activates theSirT1 gene.⁸ In other words, resveratrol gives you serious protection from some of the worst health problems linked to aging.

     But that’s not all.

14 Times the Antioxidant Protection

     A recent study from Canada’s Brock University had amazing results. Researchers found that resveratrol stimulated a 14-fold increase in the activity of a protein called MnSOD (mangenese superoxide dismutase).⁹

     MnSOD is a key antioxidant in your cell’s mitochondria. Mitochondria are your body’s “cellular engines” – producing the energy used in every cell. And MnSOD keeps them humming along smoothly.

     So, not only is resveratrol an effective antioxidant itself, it revs up a second powerful antioxidant, too.

Resveratrol – With a Bonus

     You can probably see why resveratrol is one of my favorite all-round supplements, and I’m very proud of the Resveratrol product my forward thinking associates at Best Life Herbals have created. That’s because they’ve added a perfect bonus to their resveratrol formula: pomegranate.

     Pomegranate adds extra protection as a powerful antioxidant. In fact, when Cornell University compared the antioxidant power of 25 common fruits, pomegranates came out on top.¹⁰

     Plus, pomegranate has been proven to lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol without affecting the levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol in your blood. Together, resveratrol and pomegranate can give your health a powerful boost.

     There’s still a lot of exciting research going on into resveratrol. I’ll be sure to keep you informed as more news comes out.
 

Yours In Good Health,

Dr. Kenneth Woliner, M.D.
Best Life Herbals

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1 Regan-Shaw S, et al. Resveratrol imparts photoprotection of normal cells and enhances the efficacy of radiation therapy in cancer cells. Photochem Photobiol. 2008 Mar-Apr;84(2):415-21. Epub 2008 Jan 23.

2 Rossi L, et al. Benefits from dietary polyphenols for brain aging and Alzheimer’s disease. Neurochem Res. 2008 Dec;33(12):2390-400. Epub 2008 Apr 16.

3 Li X, et al. The action of resveratrol, a phytoestrogen found in grapes, on the intervertebral disc. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2008 Nov 15;33(24):2586-95.

4 Lee M, et al. Anti-inflammatory and anti-asthmatic effects of resveratrol, a polyphenolic stilbene, in a mouse model of allergic asthma. Int Immunopharmacol. 2009 Apr;9(4):418-24. Epub 2009 Feb 8.

5 Dirks Naylor AJ. Cellular effects of resveratrol in skeletal muscle. Life Sci. 2009 May 8;84(19-20):637-40. Epub 2009 Feb 21.

6 Marques FZ, et al. Resveratrol: cellular actions of a potent natural chemical that confers a diversity of health benefits. Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2009 Nov;41(11):2125-8. Epub 2009 Jun 13.

7 Daniel Sedding and Judith Haendeler. Do We Age on Sirt1 Expression? Circulation Research. 2007;100:1396-1398.

8 Lekli I, et al. Longevity nutrients resveratrol, wines and grapes. Genes Nutr. 2009 Sep 4. [Epub ahead of print]

9 Robb EL, et al. Molecular mechanisms of oxidative stress resistance induced by resveratrol: Specific and progressive induction of MnSOD. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2008 Mar 7;367(2):406-12. Epub 2007 Dec 31.

10 Wolfe KL, et al. Cellular antioxidant activity of common fruits. J Agric Food Chem. 2008 Sep 24;56(18):8418-26. Epub 2008 Aug 30.

One of the many conditions those who are 50 plus start worrying about is the weakening of their bones.

And for many… the price paid from a decrease in bone density and deteriorating bone tissue is the risk of easily broken bones. 

About 10 million people in the U.S. suffer from this condition… and 34 million more are estimated to have low bone mass which puts them at risk as well.

You’ve probably seen the many TV commercials or magazine ads promoting prescription drugs that are usually prescribed by doctors to help prevent bones from weakening and keeping them strong… it’s hard not to.

But you’ll notice that these ads are generally geared toward women.. and in fact… most people think of the problem of weakening bones to be strictly a woman’s problem.

And while it’s true that more women have this problem overall (especially in post-menopausal)… the truth is that men can get it too – particularly older men.

In fact… men account for about 2 million or 20% of Americans who have this condition… and 12 million more men are still at risk.

What makes low bone density and weak bones so devastating is the potential for bone fractures. A person can’t feel their bones getting weaker, so they won’t know they have a problem until they actually break a bone.  And these types of fractures can really lower a person’s quality of life.

For example… something like a hip fracture can start a downward spiral with someone’s health and cause a total loss of mobility… and the dark reality is that some people never recover.

It turns out that one in four men over age 50 will have a fracture at some point in their remaining lifetime due to weak bones. What’s more, while the rate of hip fractures is higher in women, men are twice as likely to die from them than women.

So what puts men at higher risk for this bone-weakening dilemma? Here are some of the typical reasons.

• Low levels of the sex hormone testosterone
• Chronic illnesses that affect the kidneys, lungs, stomach and intestines and changes hormone levels
• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol use
• Low calcium intake
• Lack of physical exercise
• Hereditary

Now that you know the risk factors are… there’s plenty you can do to preserve bone health. Here are some steps you can follow that are recommended by experts from major organizations such as The National Osteoporosis Foundation and John Hopkins Medical Center.

• Recognize and treat any underlying medical conditions that affect your bone health. Identify medications you are taking that are known to cause bone loss and discuss with your doctor.
• Change any unhealthy habits… you know the ones… Smoking, excess drinking, lack of exercise.
• Get enough calcium each day. The NOF recommends men under 50 take 1,000 mg of calcium a day, and men over 50 take 1,200 mg.
• Get enough vitamin D. Men under 50 need 400 to 800 IU daily, and men 50 and over need 800 to 1,000 IU daily.
• Exercise regularly with weight bearing exercises where bones and muscles work against gravity. A few good examples are walking, climbing stairs, or tennis. Also, strength or resistance training may help to preserve bone density. Old-fashioned calisthenics such as sit ups, push ups, pull ups, lunges, and squats are the best kind of resistance exercises because all you need is your own body weight.
• Strengthening your core also helps. That means strengthening your abdominal muscles. Strong abs help you keep your balance… and studies show that improving strength and balance are key to preventing falls which can cause damage to your bones.

It’s important though, to check with your doctor before you begin any exercise program.

• Have your doctor check your testosterone levels. As you now know, low levels are a risk factor for bone density problems. And testosterone helps protect a man’s bones.

In the meantime, here are a couple of things that you can do to keep your testosterone levels up.

o       Eat cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts. They contain a substance called diindolylmethane (DIM) and indole-3-carbinol. Together they can help your body break down and get rid of the excess estrogen that’s throwing off your testosterone levels.

o       Skip the extra carbs and stick to protein. Too many carbs can spike your insulin and pack on the pounds which can effect your testosterone levels.

o       You can also try a natural herbal supplement like Tribulus Terrestris. It’s been used for centuries by ancient healers as a natural performance enhancer and testosterone booster. Study after study confirms that taking Tribulus Terrestris regularly can increase your testosterone levels, and without any dangerous side effects.

So, if you want to stay strong and keep moving for years to come – take good care of your bones!
 

Stay healthy!

Dr. Kenneth Woliner, M.D.
Best Life Herbals

“Beware the Ides of March,”

And as interesting (or boring) as you may have found Shakespeare, that creepy prophecy has imbued the 15^th of March with a sense of foreboding.

Well, it may have been a bad day for Caesar, but Friday, March 15^th 1963 is a great day for Rosemary and me because that’s the day we were married.

And I’ve have to admit, we’ve had a great life and continue on with a never-ending story about love and friendship.

We are the proud parents of two children who have grown up and become prosperous adults who contribute to society.

So how have we gotten to this point in one piece?

The answer to that question is both simple and complex at the same time.

I remember back in ‘04 I was at the dojo training one Saturday morning, and while taking a break, one of the young students who was about twelve asked me,

“Doc how long have you been married?”

I told him with smile, “40 years.”

After hearing the answer, he paused, and I could see him trying to grasp what forty years entailed.

When he understood that meant almost 4 times as long as he’s been alive, he asked one more question…

“How?”

Well, here we are seven years later, and the answer remains the same, and in the two simplest words I can put it…

Freedom and understanding.

We didn’t buy each other that day in 1967, we don’t own one another, we’re free to go and do as we please, and we understand when one of us has to spread their wings.

We’re together because we want to be together.

We made our own decisions before we met and we still make our own decisions, though many times we will ask for the other’s opinion.

But that doesn’t mean it has to be accepted and followed like some kind of order.

Sometimes we do something that the other doesn’t agree with, and that’s where the understanding comes in.

We’re individuals, and just because we’re married, that doesn’t mean we’re always going to see eye to eye.

We wear what we want, we drive what we want and eat the way we want.

When we got married we didn’t get a title of ownership for one another, Rosemary is my wedded wife not a possession.

I remember we were checking out at a local retail store and Rosemary opened her wallet to pay for the merchandise, on the inside of her wallet is a small police badge that says “Wife”.

When the cashier saw the badge, she told us that her husband was a Police Officer and then asked if Rosemary was a police officer as well, and pointing to me she replied, “No, but he is.”

When I told the young lady she could get a badge just like that at a local cop shop she said her husband wouldn’t allow her to go in to one of those places.

I hear that phrase more and more everyday,

“My husband won’t let me…” or “My wife doesn’t allow me…”

That’s a term you won’t hear Rosemary or me use because it’s a matter of respect, we have a marriage license not titles of ownership.

We are not each other’s parent and we don’t need permission to do anything.

Another important thing is we don’t make disparaging remarks to one another.

It makes absolutely no sense to berate the person you love and chose as a life partner; after all, you chose your partner, and what does that say about you if you don’t show respect for your spouse.

We support one another even though we don’t always agree with our partner’s decision.

If we disagree it is voiced behind closed doors not in public… we’re firm believers of not airing dirty laundry.

There has been a lot of laughter and a lot of tears in our forty-seven years together, there has been sickness and injury and we have always been there for one another.

We are best friends and spend a lot time together and there is absolutely no one I would rather be with than Rosemary. We have many fond memories from many wonderful trips; we’ve seen Cats in New York, Mama Mia in London and Le Miserable in Toronto.

We’ve walked around Stonehenge, seen the Grand Canyon and yet we still enjoy walking our dogs in the evening.

Our marriage is about love, life, trust and respect.

And that’s why we’re still together and continue to be lovers and best friends.

I feel like there’s a lot I haven’t told you, but that would only take forty-seven years, so lets leave it with saying we are still very much in love and enjoy our life together.

Enjoy your spouse, partner or companion for who they are not who you can make them.

And remember… never say “I’m too old” or “I can’t”,  because you’re not and you can.
 

MIZPAH!
Doc

     She’d been to the doctor and given a complete exam, so she was sure there was nothing seriously wrong.  Yet, maybe because of stress, being a little anemic, etc., she was still getting nasty headaches. 

     Over the counter pain relievers helped a little, but they have side effects she wants to avoid.  They can be nasty on the stomach and some of them made her tired.

     Then, a friend of mine, Laura Devlin who’s a martial arts practitioner and very big into natural ancient healing remedies offered to show Barbara a way to solve her problem.

     Laura introduced us to Acupressure.  If you haven’t heard of this, it’s a close cousin to acupuncture which most everyone has heard of.  Up until recent years western medicine didn’t give much credence to acupuncture.

     But things have changed.  Now, many western medical doctors will often recommend that a person try a therapy like acupuncture alongside of traditional Western therapies. For example there was an article in USA Today that said, “The National Institute of Health recommended acupuncture as a treatment for chronic headaches and a new report from Duke University Medical Center researchers says it really does the trick.

     I was getting convinced, but I wanted to do more research as I had my own doubts.  Then I came across a report published by The World Health Organization (WTO) which had a review of controlled trials using acupuncture and concluded it was effective for the treatment of 28 conditions and there was evidence to suggest it may be effective for several dozen more.

     The thing is that my wife might’ve considered trying acupuncture, but there’s a few things that make it difficult.  Acupuncture requires sticking needles into the body and must be done by a trained professional.  This requires time she didn’t have and money she wasn’t anxious spend. This is why we were thrilled when Laura told us about Acupressure.

     Acupressure is an ancient healing art that uses the fingers to press key points on the surface of the skin to stimulate the body’s natural self-curative abilities.

     When these points are pressed, they release muscular tension and promote the circulation of blood and the body’s life force to aid healing. Acupuncture and acupressure use the same points, but acupuncture employs needles, while acupressure uses the gentle but firm pressure of hands (and even feet).

     Foremost among the advantages of acupressure’s healing touch is that it is safe to do on yourself and others – even if you’ve never done it before – so long as you follow the instructions and pay attention to the cautions.

     There are no side effects from drugs, because there are no drugs. And the only equipment needed are your own two hands.

     With nothing to lose, Barbara studied what Laura had to teach and the results were truly amazing.  Suddenly with the touch of a finger her headaches were gone.  I was so amazed I told some friends and family about it.

     A friend of mine with constant neck pain could suddenly start sitting in front of the computer screen again.  And another friend started using it to relax his digestive problems after eating.

Larry Berman
Editor, Naturecast Health Publication

P.S. One final thing that is really great about Acupressure is that it can be done almost anywhere discreetly.  You could be sitting in a business meeting and treating yourself without anyone knowing…or in an elevator or anywhere else.  If you’re interested in healing yourself naturally you should check out this free special report by clicking right here.

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Editor’s Note: From time to time, we receive articles that we believe you, as a valued customer, may want to know about. Please note that the claims in the following message do not necessarily reflect the editorial positions or opinions of Best Life Herbals, LLC

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     An estimated 70 million Americans are affected by chronic pain.

     This pain interferes with every part of their lives.  Whether it’s work, travel, home, and hobbies, pain just really takes the wind out of the sails. And, even worse, chronic pain contributes to a host of secondary problems, such as depression, insomnia, irritability, and anxiety, which are themselves health risks.

     The unfortunate thing is that the majority of these people don’t know about a simple ancient system that might be able to relieve their pain without drugs of any type.

     I stumbled across this powerful system by accident.  What was so amazing to me is that I could do it almost anywhere anytime.  Let me explain how I got started.

     Back some years ago, I was someone that was in pain.  I used to get terrible headaches and I had back and knee problems.

     For some unknown reason I was drawn to martial arts and began to train under a grandmaster.  The physical exercise helped, but it was when my teacher exposed me to this other ancient art that my life really changed.

     He introduced me to acupressure.  It is similar to acupuncture but doesn’t require any needles.  That’s why anyone can do it anywhere because the only equipment needed is your own fingers.

     The ancient Chinese discovered these points on the body that held extraordinary healing power when stimulated.  Traditionally, Asian cultures conceived of the points as junctures of special pathways that carried the human energy that the Chinese call chi and the Japanese call ki.

     That is why most western medical professionals used to discount this healing art.  But, over time as it’s popularity grew more studies were done and western scientists discovered that besides these spiritual explanations there were scientific explanations as to why acupressure seemed to work.

     The acupressure points are places on the skin that are especially sensitive to bioelectrical impulses in the body and conduct those impulses readily. Scientists have actually mapped out and proven the existence of this system of body points by using sensitive electrical devices.

     Stimulating these points with pressure, needles, or heat triggers the release of endorphins, which are the neurochemicals that relieve pain. As a result, pain is blocked and the flow of blood and oxygen to the affected area is increased. This causes the muscles to relax and promotes healing.

     Besides relieving pain, acupressure can help rebalance the body by dissolving tensions and stresses that keep it from functioning smoothly and that inhibit the immune system.

     Tension seems to concentrate around acupressure points. For example, when a muscle is chronically tense or in spasm, the muscle fibers contract due to the secretion of lactic acid caused by fatigue, trauma, stress, chemical imbalances, or poor circulation.

     As a point is pressed, the muscle tension yields to the finger pressure, enabling the fibers to elongate and relax, blood to flow freely, and toxins to be released and eliminated.

     Also, increased circulation brings more oxygen and other nutrients to affected areas. This increases the body’s resistance to illness and increases the chances for a longer, healthier, more vital life.

     If you’ve been suffering from pain and tension here are a couple acupressure tips you can try:

     For headaches and muscle or joint pain, press the fleshy part of your hand between your thumb and index finger. Hold for this for one minute, then, repeat on the other hand.

     For knee pain, put a tennis ball on a pillow, then, place your leg over it so the ball is pushing into the crease behind your knee. Find the sensitive spot just below your kneecap and slightly to the outside of the shinbone. Press into it gently with your fingertips for about one minute.

Give one or all three a try… you’ll be glad you did!

 
Laura Devlin
Contributing Writer

Really angry, and the only thing I can do is talk about what has made me angry.

I always finish my articles with never say “I’m too old” or “I can’t” and I mean that, but that also means never let anyone else tell you that you’re too old or you can’t either.

This is a tale of two ladies who were told they were too old and they shouldn’t do certain things.

First is woman, we’ll call her D, is in her early 70’s and has a figure that any lady in her early 40’s or 50’s would envy.

She jogs, plays tennis, and walks at a brisk pace. She pays attention to her eating habits and has a great attitude; she always comes off as being happy and content.

In other words she has a great lifestyle.

D was wearing a tennis skirt and matching top while visiting a friend in the hospital. On the way back to the first floor in the elevator a young lady who just happened to be overweight and out of shape, chose to admonish D for wearing the tennis skirt.

What was her unsolicited comment?

“You shouldn’t dress that way.”

When D asked why not, this woman answered with…

“You’re too old, people your age shouldn’t dress that way.”

I’m certain that unlike the younger person,  D handled it like a lady and graciously excused herself when the elevator door opened.

I wasn’t there but I’m guessing this young overweight, out of shape person was jealous and envious of what she was looking at, and I’m betting there is no way in hell she would be able to do what D can do.

A note to all the younger generation: before you choose to tell one of us baby boomers we’re too old to do something, make sure you can do it yourself and able to do it better.

We just might make you wish you had never gotten involved, on second thought go ahead and say it,  and learn a valuable lesson.

The next story is about a friend of mine who we’ll call K…

I have never met K who is in her mid 50’s, but I know her husband.

I while I don’t know her, I admire her, as she’s very active in checking off item’s from her bucket list.

She was on a trip with some younger family members and one of the items was to go ice-skating, but while they were out on the ice, K fell and fractured an arm.

K called her employer to tell them about the accident and was told she was “too old to be ice-skating” and that she “should know better”.

Unbelievable.

She was also told that upon returning to work she would have to sign a contract that would disallow her from participating in activities such as skating and skiing.

It’s truly hard to believe that we still have such narrow minded individuals in this day and age.

That is the epitome of disrespect…

How dare they speak to anybody that way, let alone a woman who is young and active. It appears that some people don’t regard the baby boomers as being a viable and capable part of our society.

However, I would like to report that D is still playing tennis, running and power walking….

And still looking great.

As for K, she’s feeling better and doing well, I haven’t heard anymore about the terms of her employment, but let’s all throw some positive thoughts her way.

Neither of the ladies allowed these small-minded people to discourage them. They continue on showing that they are worthy and active citizens…

They’re role models.

By the way, I appreciate all of the emails I’ve been receiving, thanking me for the words of encouragement; there are many people of our generation out there showing that some of us “older folk” are not ready to sit down and wait for God. 

So this message is to all of you baby boomers and seniors out there: If someone tells you that you’re “too old” to do something… ignore them, do whatever you want within your abilities.

It’s your life, live it how you want.

And please pass this message on to those who don’t read my blog.
 

MIZPAH!
Doc

Editor’s Note: If there is one thing you could never do, it would be to consider Doc Daville “old”. At 67 years young, this Senior Superman refuses to let his age be anything but a number, to him, and to those he comes in contact with. A competitive triathlete and mixed martial artist, Doc Darville is in better shape than people half his age (if not younger!), and if you would like to recapture some of your vitality, no matter how old you are, then follow in Doc’s footsteps as he guides you to a better and healthier you. To get all of Doc’s workout secrets, follow this link today for your copy of 60 Going on 20, and become one of the thousands that Doc has helped along the way.

Psychological stress takes a terrible toll on your body. In fact, a study in the prestigious Proceedings of the American Academy of Sciences came to a startling conclusion. A high-stress life left women with cells that appeared at least ten years older than women with low stress.¹

And let’s face it, who isn’t under a lot of stress these days?

But there’s a simple way to beat stress. It’s easy, it’s fun and – best of all – it’s absolutely free.

Breathe Your Way to Better Health

I’ve told you about some of the benefits of yoga before. It’s wonderful, gentle exercise that increases flexibility and leaves you feeling energized. But the easiest yoga exercises – breathing – do even more.

Indian yogis have practiced pranayama – “restraint of the breath” – for centuries. But it’s only in recent years that science has started to catch up to what practitioners have always known. Yogic breathing safely lowers stress, boosts your immune system and increases feelings of optimism.^{2, 3}

And when I say yogic breathing lowers stress and boosts immunity, I don’t just mean it makes you feel better. In one study, researchers found participants’ levels of natural killer cells increased “significantly.”⁴ Another study measured the participants’ antioxidant levels. Practicing breathing techniques caused the levels of three important antioxidants – SOD, catalase and glutathione – to shoot way up.⁵

At this pint, you may be thinking, “That sounds great… but I can’t twist myself into a pretzel.”

Don’t worry. If you can sit up straight, you can benefit from pranayama.

Discover the Easy Side of Yoga

Here’s a simple and effective yoga breathing exercise:

Find a quiet room without distractions. Sit on the floor with your legs crossed. Or sit in a straight-backed chair with your feet flat on the floor.

Relax. Keep your spine straight, your hands resting lightly on your lower thighs. Breath in slowly.

Start by expanding your belly like a balloon. (This uses your diaphragm.) Then expand your chest upward and outward. The goal is to fill your lungs fully.

Hold your breath briefly, then slowly exhale. Let your chest deflate, then your stomach.

Keep your mind focused on your breathing. If your attention wanders, simply bring your attention back to your breath.

Start with just a few minutes. Eventually, try to work up to 20 minutes a day. If you’re like most of my patients who’ve tried this technique, you’ll feel the stress “melt away” long before you reach 20 minutes.

Added Benefits for Your Active Lifestyle

If you love sports, yogic breathing may be your perfect workout recovery tool, too.

Italian researchers recently tested pranayama techniques on athletes undergoing a heavy training regimen. Some athletes practiced yogic breathing after their workouts, while others relaxed for the same amount of time.

Yogic breathing significantly increased the athletes’ post-exercise antioxidant levels compared to the relaxation-only group. And it did something else, too. It lowered their levels of cortisol – the major stress hormone.⁶

Stress is a killer. And it’s difficult to avoid it in today’s high-pressure world. But if you’re ready to get rid of that stress, there’s no simpler, safer way than yoga breathing techniques.
 

Stay Healthy!

Dr. Kenneth Woliner, M.D.
Best Life Herbals

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1 Epel ES, et al. Accelerated telomere shortening in response to life stress. PNAS December 7, 2004 vol. 101 no. 49 17312-17315.

2 Kjellgren A, et al. Wellness through a comprehensive yogic breathing program – a controlled pilot trial. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2007 Dec 19;7:43.

3 Sharma H, et al. Gene expression profiling in practitioners of Sudarshan Kriya. J Psychosom Res. 2008 Feb;64(2):213-8.

4 Kochupillai V, et al. Effect of rhythmic breathing (Sudarshan Kriya and Pranayam) on immune functions and tobacco addiction. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2005 Nov;1056:242-52.

5 Sharma H, et al.  Sudarshan Kriya practitioners exhibit better antioxidant status and lower blood lactate levels. Biol Psychol. 2003 Jul;63(3):281-91.

6 Martarelli D, et al. Diaphragmatic Breathing Reduces Exercise-induced Oxidative Stress. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2009 Oct 29. [Epub ahead of print]

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So today, I’d like to clear that up… by talking about how to nourish your skin from the outside.

Build Healthy Skin by Working From the Inside Out

A good contractor puts up a house’s foundation and framing before he adds the clapboards and paint. A house that’s just a pretty exterior – without a strong foundation and frame – will fall apart quickly.

Your skin is a lot like that house. The nutrients we discussed earlier – vitamin C, green tea extract and grape seed extract – are your solid foundation. They work from the inside out. But when your framework’s done, you can move on to the exterior.

I’m not talking about putting goopy make-up on your face, though. I’m talking about “food” for your skin. Today, you’ll discover three nutrients that protect and rejuvenate your skin from the outside.

Soothing Protection for Your Skin

One of the best things you can do for your skin – from the outside – is to apply aloe vera gel. Aloe has been used for centuries to promote healthier skin – and to sooth skin after injuries of all types.

Modern science says that this ancient practice is still a good idea. And soothing sore skin is just the start. Studies show that aloe supports your body’s defenses against radiation damage,¹ reduces inflammation,² speeds skin  repair,³ and much more. It’s a powerful protection package.

But as remarkable as aloe gel is, there’s an even more remarkable nutrient that’s already in your skin.

Increasing Your Skin’s Natural Protection

You may have heard of hyaluronic acid (HA). It’s the major component in many of the injectible products used to reduce lines and wrinkles in skin.

But it’s also an important component of your skin itself. HA promotes skin repair and naturally inhibits scarring. It helps keep your skin elastic and youthful, too.

HA is easily absorbed through the skin. In fact, it penetrates into your skin so rapidly, that some researchers think your body may actively “pull it in.”⁴ And once HA is in your skin, it promotes natural hydration⁵… so your skin looks smoother and younger.

Surprising as it may seem, HA isn’t the only substance already in your body that can make your skin appear more youthful from the outside.

CoQ10 to the Rescue

CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant. It’s at its highest concentration in your skin in your 20’s. By the time you reach 30, your skin’s CoQ10 level begins to drop.

But here’s the good news: Like HA, your skin absorbs CoQ10 quite easily. When you apply it to your skin, it provides antioxidant protection… and also helps lessen the appearance of wrinkles.⁶

Best of all, both HA and CoQ10 are completely natural – and completely safe. Added to aloe vera, they provide your skin with powerful protection. And promote a smoother, more youthful look.

The Complete Package – Inside and Out

Vitamin C, green tea extract and grape seed extract work from the inside to support healthier, younger-looking skin. Aloe vera, hyaluronic acid and CoQ10 do a similar job from the outside.

Together, they make an unbeatable team to keep your skin feeling and looking younger and healthier.
 

Stay Healthy!

Dr. Kenneth Wolliner, M.D.
Best Life Herbals

Editor’s Note: Your skin is your body’s first line against illness as well as your most visible measuring stick for your health. Undamaged, vibrant skin means healthy skin, and if you want to put the healing power of Aloe Vera, CoQ10 and Hyalouronic Acid to work for you, then look no further than Best Life Herbals’ Dermesin Crème. Let these, plus 13 other skin protecting ingredients repair cracked or damaged skin, order Dermesin Crème today!

No matter what is happening to them, whether they’re getting arrested or getting a speeding ticket, they keep trying to talk me into letting them go.

The talk and talk and talk, hardly letting me get a word in edgewise…

They tell me all about their problems, where they were or where they’re going…

But these people aren’t acknowledging the situation they’re in, mentally, they’re not present.

Which brings me to my point…

To get the most out of any situation you’re in, you must live in the moment…

Or as I like to call it, “Be where you are.”

Sounds like a no-brainer, right? Be where you are…

But an awful lot of people don’t understand it and don’t live this way.

A well-known dance instructor by the name of Martha Graham said, “All that is important is this one moment in movement. Make the moment vital and worth living. Do not let it slip away unnoticed and unused.”

In my opinion, this couldn’t be said any better.

But Martha’s wisdom applies to more than just dance; you’ll miss an awful lot of what life has to offer if you don’t live each and every moment.

Let me give you an example…

A friend of mine recently took a trip around the world, visiting many different countries and destinations.

Sounds great, right?

The only problem is, my friend is a meticulous planner, scheduling everything down to the smallest detail…

And once she arrived at a destination, she never took the opportunity to experience the moment  because she immediately started planning for her next location.

Imagine what she missed out on by sitting in her hotel…

Myself, I like to be where I’m at.

When I’m out cycling, I’m in the moment.

I’m a cyclist, I’m not a swimmer, runner, police officer or anything else. I’m on my bike and aware of my surroundings, I’m focused on being the best cyclist I can be…

And I try to carry that through to the rest of my life.

When my dog Jake and I are out for a walk, I enjoy each and every moment, I’m taking in the surroundings and what’s happening…

I push the thoughts about work, bills, trips or anything else out of my head, instead, I take a page out of Jake’s book and just relax and be in the now. 

When I’m on duty, I’m a police officer, I’m not a cyclist or anything else. Police officers who are not alert or living in the moment are setting themselves up for tragedy.

Many officers meet their demise because they have become complacent. Trust me, I pay attention, I don’t plan on getting blind-sided by some angry bad guy.

My plan is to go home at the end of my tour of duty and not to the hospital or the morgue.

Be where you are, life is happening all around you, enjoy it, take it all in.

Don’t just skim over what you see, look at it and appreciate it.

Before we say goodbye for another week, I wanted to share with you one last example of living in the moment.

I was patrolling on a side street and stopped to say hello to one of the local residents. He said he always walks to the beach in the evening to enjoy the beauty that God has given us.

I asked him what he looks for on his way to the beach, and he just stared at me, asking me what I was talking about.

I asked him if he looked at the trees and foliage, stopped to pet a dog or can, or even stop to talk to a neighbor.

He shook his head.

He wasn’t aware of his surroundings, he couldn’t tell me about what he had seen or if anything had changed in the neighborhood because when he steps out of his house, mentally, he’s already at the beach. 

After a brief discussion he said he understood, since then I’ve seen him out petting the neighborhood dogs and cats and even playing catch with his neighbors son.

Remember, be where you are, enjoy and appreciate every moment, don’t let it slip away unnoticed and unused.

As always,  never say “I’m too old” or “I can’t”… because you’re not and you can.

MIZPAH!

Doc