A Novel Study To The Rescue

As a reaction against the endless publication of failed single-substance studies, researchers at McMaster University (Canada) and the Institute of Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine (China) decided to explore the impact of taking a broad spectrum of nutrients on 2 groups of mice. [15]

Their formulation, including 30 different nutrients, was developed to target five key mechanisms associated with ageing: [16]

Of these, the most serious components of aging involve genetic and cell membrane damage, caused by free radicals. Cancer cells are produced by damaged DNA.

The cell membrane manages transport of food into the cell, and the elimination of waste products out of the cell. Damage to this transport system can either starve the cell, or pollute it with waste that can’t be eliminated.

These researchers focused on 2 easily observed components of aging:
mental acuity and physical capacity.

The object of this study was to see if supplemented mice would remain more physically and mentally active than the unsupplemented mice.

The nutrients were blended to address two current theories of aging:   The free radical theory and the mitochondrial theory, both which suggest that oxidative damage to our DNA and the cell membranes initiates the cellular decline that initiates the onset of the diseases of “old age”.

The supplements that targeted for mitochondrial performance included
carnitine, coQ10 and fish oil.

The antioxidants that targeted free radical damage included
vitamins A, C and E, selenium, and N-acetyl cysteine.

And the results?

• In the non-supplemented group, mitochondrial (energy) production dropped to 46 per cent of youthful levels after the first year, where as the supplemented mice, exhibited a “remarkable 56 per cent gain in mitochondrial activity”, along with a significant gains in their physical activity levels.
  

• Lead researcher David Rollo noted that the supplemented mice were twice as physically active, and they also seemed to get smarter.
  

• When examining their brain tissues, they discovered that the supplemented brain cells experienced significantly less free radical damage — evidence suggesting this supplement cocktail made a big difference.
  

• Incidentally, the supplemented mice also lived 11 per cent longer, and when this supplement mix was given to grasshoppers, they lived twice as long as normal!

• Shaklee 180 Energizing Tea
  
  
• Garlic Complex
  
  
• Stomach Soothing Complex

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  Strategies For Maintaining Health

  Shaklee added 26 separate antioxidants to the
  Vitalizer System and the Shaklee Life Strip to prevent this pervasive damage caused by free radicals. Each type of antioxidant contributes to a different aspect of our built-in cellular defense mechanism. Deficiencies in any specific antioxidant will increase cellular damage rates, causing premature aging.
  
  Vitalizer and the Life Strip also contains 80 different vitamins and minerals that were used in the Mouse Study. It provides sustained-release B and C vitamins, and targeted release of vitamin E, the carotenoids, and all 7 of the naturally occurring omega-3 fatty acids, in significant clinical dosages.
  
  They also provide the most advanced nutrient delivery system on the planet, to make sure that every nutrient is delivered to that portion of the digestive tract where they are best absorbed.
  
  

  Shaklee’s CoQHeart is the next important nutrient, because it protects the mitochondria and the circulatory system from damage.   Although our cells can manufacture Co-Q, production begins to decline in our 20s, and by the age of 50, cellular reserves are reduced to about half of what’s required for energy production.   Co-Q is also depleted by drugs used to treat diabetes, and also by beta-blockers, cholesterol lowering drugs, diuretics, and antidepressants.   That includes more than 50% of Americans over the age of 50.
  
  In 2002, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) completed a small placebo-controlled clinical trial with Coenzyme Q10 that suggested that it slowed disease progression in patients with early-stage Parkinson's disease.   Low levels of B vitamins and Co-Q have also been found in the brain tissues of individuals who succumbed to a variety of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease and vascular strokes. [20] All these disease processes involved significant oxidative damage of the mitochondria. Reduced Co-Q levels are also associated with chronic fatigue syndrome [21], diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease [22], and cancer. [23], [24]
  
  

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  Shaklee also produces several other products that strengthen the immune system and can also help protect against the ravages of aging:

  
  Nutriferon is a proprietary blend of natural plant extracts that stimulates the immune system, by increasing the activity of macrophages (white blood cells), and inducing natural interferon production. [25] Nutriferon optimizes the immune responses to environmental irritants associated with allergies [26]   and asthma   [27], and can also reduce the impact of stress. [28]   No adverse reactions to these plant extracts have ever been recorded.
  
  

  
  The newly improved Vivix cellular anti-aging tonic contains resveratrol and 15 other powerful polyphenols.   This updated formula has been shown clinically to be 30% more effective at blocking AGE protein formation.   You may recall that the formation of advanced glycation end products (or AGE proteins) eventually leads to cell death. [29]
  
  Clinical testing also demonstrates that the new improved Vivix is 40% more effective than its predecessor at protecting our cellular DNA.
  
  

  Click to enlarge.

  This was measured by Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis assays, also known as the Comet assay. [30] Simply put, DNA was exposed to oxidative stress, and then observed by fluorescence microscopy. Undamaged DNA will look like the head of a comet. (See Left-side of this picture) However, the more damage that occurs to DNA, the smaller the head becomes, and the larger and more diffuse the tail appears. (See R-side of this picture) [31]

  
  Comet testing revealed that DNA, which had first been treated with the new Vivix maintained a bright comet head, with virtually no tail dispersion. That’s just the kind of protection we all want.
  
  Vivix polyphenols have also been shown to be protective of the liver [32], nerve and brain tissue [33], and has been shown to inhibit the growth of cancerous human breast, lung, stomach and leukemia cells by up to 73 percent. [34]
  

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  The Landmark Study

  
  Shaklee products have a proven track record for improving health and reducing the incidence of disease. [35] Shaklee's Landmark Study clearly demonstrated that long-term Shaklee users had much lower blood homocysteine levels, which naturally led to much lower incidence of vascular disease, heart attacks or strokes in the Shaklee participants. The control groups were not as fortunate.
  
  ALL the Shaklee users had normal C-reactive protein levels, which is why they had drastically lower incidences of heart disease, diabetes, or cancer, even though the average age of the Shaklee group was 65 years, the typical age when such diseases usually manifest.
  
  The Landmark researchers used self-reported health questionnaires, so that they would be comparing “apples-to-apples”. When computing the risk factors for a variety of diseases, the Shaklee group scored between 200 to 500% better than the 2 control groups. More importantly, their actual incidence of coronary artery disease, heart attacks, stroke, and diabetes was also significantly lower.
  

  

  Finally, when asked to rate their personal health, 85% of the Shaklee users listed it as “very good to excellent”, whereas less than half of the 2 control groups scored themselves that well. What does that tell you about the state of their health, or the quality of the vitamins they were taking?
  
  The most profound differences between the 3 study groups was revealed by their use of prescription drugs. The Federal Government compiles prescription statistics through the Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys (MEPS) [36] These statistics reveal that any person, under the age of 65, who makes any prescription purchase during a given year, will end up consuming at least 12.5 prescriptions during that year.   Far worse, individuals over 65 years of age use TWICE as many prescriptions, at 4 times the cost! [37]
  
  Although the control groups consumed on average of 19 prescriptions per year, the Shaklee group on average only filled ½ of one prescription per year!
  
  That’s a 3800% difference in their usage patterns!   This is a very significant measure of how much healthier the Shaklee group was, is, and will remain!
  

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  Why not take some sage advice from this two-time Nobel Prize laureate:
  
  

  “I believe that you can, by taking some simple and inexpensive measures, extend your life and your years of well-being.
  
  My most important recommendation is that you take vitamins every day in optimum amounts, to supplement the vitamins you receive in your food.”
  
  -- Linus Pauling, Ph.D. (1901–1994)