WHAT SYMPTOMS TO EXPECT WHEN YOU IMPROVE YOUR DIET

If I were asked which is the area of greatest misunderstanding and confusion in the field of nutrition?  I would definitely be forced to reply, it is the failure to properly understand and interpret the symptoms and changes which follow the beginning of a better program.

A better nutritional program is the introduction of foods of higher quality in place of lower quality ones.  The quality of a nutritional program is also improved by omitting toxic substances such as coffee, tea, chocolate, tobacco, salt, pepper, etc.

Remarkable things begin to happen to the body as well as the mind.  When the quality of the food coming into the body is of higher quality than the tissues which the body is made of, the body begins to discard the lower grade materials and tissues to make room for the superior, which it uses to make the newer and healthier tissues.

What are the symptoms or signs which become evident when we first begin to omit the lower grade foods and instead introduce superior foods?  When the use of a toxic is suddenly stopped, headaches are common and a letdown occurs.  This is due to the discard by the body of toxins which are transported by the bloodstream during its many bodily rounds.  Before the noxious agents reach their final destination for elimination, the irritants register in our consciousness as pain or as a headache.  Usually, within three days the symptoms disappear and we feel stronger due to the recuperation which follows.

As one continues on the improved diet and gradually raises the quality, interesting symptoms begin to appear.  The body begins a process called “retracing.”  The cellular intelligence has a chance to get rid of old garbage and build a beautiful new house.  The accent is on elimination and the body begins to move garbage deposited in the tissues.

People may experience skin rashes or eruptions due to elimination of poisons and harmful drugs through the skin.  If they go to a doctor not familiar with this aspect of nutrition, he might diagnose it as an allergy and suggest the diet be discontinued.  They don’t understand that the body is “retracing.”  The skin is getting more alive and active. These toxins being discarded are saving you from more serious disease which will result if you keep them in your body too much longer.  Possibility: hepatitis, kidney disorders, blood disease, heart disease, arthritis, nerve degeneration, or even cancer.  Be happy you’re paying your bills now in an easy payment plan.  With some, colds may occur, or even fever.  This is nature's way of housecleaning. Understand that those actions are constructive, even though unpleasant at the moment.  Do not try to stop these symptoms by the use of certain drugs.  These symptoms are part of a curing process.  These are not deficiency conditions or allergic reactions.

Symptoms, they may include: Headaches at the beginning, Fever and/or colds, Skin breakouts, bowel sluggishness, occasional diarrhea, tiredness, nervousness, irritability, negativity, etc. 

BEAR WITH IT – IT IS WELL WORTH IT!!!

By Dr. Stanley Ss. Bass, N.D.,, D.C., Ph.C

Dream Big: Three Keys to Living Without Limits

To dream big dreams is the starting point of great success. There are obstacles along the way to achieving those dreams, however. Business management expert Elihu Goldratt explains this with what he calls the “Theory of Constraints.” In accomplishing any goal, he says, there is a bottleneck that serves as a constraint on the process. This constraint sets the speed at which you achieve the goal. But he has found that if you concentrate on eliminating that limitation, you can speed up the process.

Let’s say you want to double your income. What is the limiting factor that’s holding you back and slowing you down? Your income is a direct reward for the quality and quantity of the services you render to the world. If you want to double your income, you have to double the quality and quantity of what you do for that income. This requires making a change so that your time is worth twice as much.

Here is an example: 

One of the highest-paid commission-based professionals in the United States goal was to double his income in three to five years. When he analyzed his client base, he discovered that only a fraction of them contributed the majority of his profits. He also found that the amount of time he spent on a high-profit client was pretty much the same as the amount of time he spent on a low-profit client.  So he very carefully, politely, and strategically handed off the low-profit clients to other professionals in his industry.  He then put together a profile of his top clients and began looking exclusively for new clients who fit that profile. By taking on only clients who could become major contributors to his profits, instead of doubling his income in three to five years, he doubled it the first year!

Three Keys to Living Without Limits

What is holding you back? Is it your level of education or skill?  Is it your current occupation or job? Is it your environment or health? What is setting the speed for achieving your goals?

Remember, whatever you have learned, you can unlearn. Whatever situation you have gotten yourself into, you can probably get yourself out of.  To live without limiting what you can achieve, you must recognize your constraints and then act to expunge them. To do that, you need clarity, competence, and concentration.

#1. Clarity

 

Clarity means that you are absolutely clear about who you are, what you want, and where you’re going. You write down your goals and make plans to accomplish them. You set priorities and do something every day to move yourself forward. The more progress you make toward accomplishing what’s important to you, the more self-confidence you have and the more convinced you become that you have no limits.

# 2. Competence

Competence means that you begin to become very good in your chosen field. You dedicate yourself to continuous learning. You never stop growing. You realize that excellence is a moving target. And you make a commitment to do something every day that enables you to become better and better.

# 3. Concentration

 

Concentration means having the discipline to focus on one thing, the most important thing, and stay with it until it’s complete. It’s knowing exactly what you want to be, have, and do. It’s persevering, without diversion or distraction, in a straight line toward the things that can make a real difference in your life.

When you allow yourself to dream big dreams, abandon the activities that are taking up too much of your time, and focus your energies on alleviating your constraints, you start to feel an incredible sense of power. As you focus on doing what you love to do and becoming excellent in a few areas, you begin to think in terms of possibilities rather than impossibilities. And you move ever closer to the realization of your full potential.

Health Report – Water Consumption

Incredible as it may seem, water is quite possible the single most important catalyst in losing weight and keeping it off.  Although most of us take it for granted, water may be the only true “magic potion” for permanent weight loss.

Water suppresses the appetite and helps the body metabolize stored fat.  Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase while an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits.

Got to Fill Those Kidneys

Here’s why. The kidneys cannot function properly with out enough water.  When they do not work to capacity, some of the load is dumped onto the liver.  One of the liver’s primary functions is to metabolize stored fat into usable energy for the body.  If the liver has to do some of the kidney’s work; it cannot work at full throttle.  As a result, it metabolizes less fat; more fat remains stored in the body and weight loss stops.

Shed Water with Water

Drinking enough water is the best treatment for fluid retention.  When the body gets less water, it perceives this a threat to survival and begins to hold on to every drop.  Water is stored in extra cellular spaces (outside the cells).  This shows up as swollen feet, hands, and legs.  Diuretics offer a temporary solution at best.  The force out stored water along with some essential nutrients.  Again, the body perceives a threat and will replace the lost water at the first opportunity.  Thus, the best way to overcome the problem of water retention is to give your body what it needs  - plenty of water.  Only then will stored water be released.  If you have a constant problem with water retention, excess salt may be to blame.  Your body will tolerate sodium only in certain concentrations.  The more salt you eat, the more water your system retains to dilute it.  Getting rid of unneeded water is easy – just drink more water.  As it is forced through the kidneys, it takes away excess sodium.

The overweight person needs more water than the thin one.  Larger people have larger metabolic loads.  Since we know that water is the key to fat metabolism, it follows that the overweight person needs more water.

Water helps maintain proper muscle tone by giving muscles their natural ability to contract and by preventing dehydration.  It helps prevent the sagging skin that usually follows weight loss.  Shrinking cells are buoyed by water which plumps the skin and leaves it clear, healthy and resilient.

Water helps rid the body of waste.  During weight loss, the body has a lot more waste to get rid of – all that metabolized fat must be shed.  Again, adequate water helps flush out the waste.

Water Relieves Constipation

Water can help relieve constipation.  When the body gets to little water, it siphons what it needs from internal sources. The colon is one primary source. Result? Constipation. But when a person drinks enough water, normal bowel function returns.

So far, we have discovered some remarkable truths about water and about weight loss.  The body will not function properly without enough water and cannot metabolize stored fat efficiently.  Retained water shows up as excess weight. To get rid of excess water, you must drink more water.  Drinking water is essential to weight loss. How much water is enough?  On the average, a person should drink eight (8oz) glasses everyday.  However, the overweight person needs one additional glass for every 25 lbs. of excess weight.  The amount that you drink should be increased if you exercise or if the weather is hot and dry.  Water should preferably be cold – it is absorbed more quickly into the system than warm water.  Some evidence suggests that drinking cold water can actually burn calories.  To utilize water most efficiently during weight loss, follow this schedule:

Morning:  One quart consumed over a thirty-minute period.

Noon:  One quart consumed over a thirty-minute period.

Evening:  One quart consumed in the early evening between 5:00 & 8:00 PM.

When the body gets the water it needs to function optimally, its fluids are perfectly balanced.  When this happens, you have reached the “breakthrough point”.  What does that mean?  Endocrine gland function improves.  Fluid retention is alleviated as stored water is lost.  More fat is used as fuel because the liver is free to metabolize stored fat.  Natural thirst returns.  There is a loss of hunger almost over night.  If you stop drinking enough water, your body Fluids will be thrown out of balance again and you may experience fluid retention, unexplained weight gain and loss of thirst.  To remedy this situation you have to go back and force another breakthrough.

Taken from “The Snowbird Diet” by Donald S. Robertson, M.D. M.Sc. and Carol Robertson

Affordable and Fun Ways to Spend Summer as a Family

Sharing quality time with your family can build stronger relationships and foster a sense of well-being for all family members. The family vacation is a traditional part of the American summer and is intended to forge these family bonds in a relaxed environment. We all know that family vacations can often be expensive due to costs such as fuel, rental cars, food, lodging and even plane tickets. Don’t despair! There are a variety of ideas for family fun both inside and outside of the house that will not break the bank. This tip sheet will offer some direction on how you can make that happen!

If you ask some married couples on a fixed income the best way to keep their kids occupied during the summer, you may be met with confusion or blank stares. In today’s economy, fuel, childcare and other financial obligations stretch budgets to the point where there is little money left to finance family fun.  Though financial challenges can make vacations and other summer activities seem impossible, effective planning can help create enjoyable and cost effective summer fun even if leaving town is not possible.

 Summer Camps

Most youth organizations realize that some families will need financial support to participate in summer programs. In an effort to encourage economic diversity in their programs, most camps structure their budgets to include funds for scholarships. Some camps are also reaching out to military families and their children by offering camps free of charge. It is best to inquire about these scholarships during the school year before summer camp season begins.

From summer camps to sports camps, there are often donors willing to ease a family’s burden by sponsoring the child. If your child is not interested in attending a traditional camp, there are a variety of other options available. For example, a major computer software corporation offers free clinics to children where they can learn skills such as how to create their own music or PowerPoint Presentations.

Be sure to use all of the resources available to you when searching for financial aid to send your child to camp. A few good first steps include asking teachers, librarians, and school administrators as well as community agencies, churches and other faith based organization for suggestions. Remember that many organizations do not advertise the fact that they offer scholarships, so contact camp directors and outside organizations directly for more information. You can also try an internet search by typing the following keywords/search terms into a search engine:

• Free things to do in your city

• Free summer camps

• Camp scholarships

Camps are not the only activity that can provide summer fun. The following activities can also be enjoyed for little or no cost.

1.       National Parks/ Wildlife refuges

Share the love of the outdoors with your family, while instilling the importance of caring for the earth. Contact the park before you go for maps, events, prices, and tips for what to bring when you visit. Also, be prepared for changes in the weather. Asking the right questions before you go will eliminate surprises later about the park conditions, accessibility of trails, busy times to visit and other concerns. Take into account your family members’ limitations regarding physical exertion. Nature outings can be physically challenging due to the rough terrain and the often high temperatures.

The following websites will get you started with finding information on opportunities in or near your area: 

 http://www.fws.gov/refuges/refugeLocatorMaps/index.html

http://www.nps.gov

2.       Local Museums and Libraries

Whether your family enjoys history, arts, sports, technology, or any number of other interests, museums are a fun and educational way to spend time together as a family. Contact your local museum for any dates and times that they may offer free family days or reduced admission. If you don’t have access to a computer, or there is not a museum nearby, you can also visit your local library. Libraries typically have a lot of great activities planned for the summer. You can access the internet there to research other fun and cost-effective summer activities in your area.

3.       Fairs and Festivals

Many states have fairs in the summer, but sometimes these fairs can be costly when you calculate the price of parking, admission, food and activity tickets. Plan in advance how much money you are willing to spend at the fair so you do not exceed your budget. Setting limits up front is a good starting point. For instance, you can tell your children that they may go on three rides throughout the day. You can also pack a picnic lunch instead of buying food at the fair and research whether the fair has discount tickets if you come with a group.

If attending a state fair would be a stretch for your budget, in all likelihood there are also other free events in or near your town with similar activities as those found at the local fair or festival. Check your local newspaper, online calendar, or chamber of commerce for schedules of upcoming activities.

4.       Local Parks and Recreation Programs

Most areas have at least some form of a Parks and Recreation Department. These organizations and the parks in their care are funded by your tax dollars, and as such, some of their basic features are offered for free. For fun, you can pack a lunch and a blanket and enjoy a different park every weekend.

Many parks offer playgrounds and jungle gyms, which can be great fun depending on the age of your children. Some even have small bodies of water where you can watch ducks as well as ride paddle boats and canoes. Parks and Recreation departments are also typically responsible for organizing and operating camp programs. Be sure to check with your local Parks Department to confirm pricing on services and activities.

5.       Volunteerism

Opportunities to teach the benefits of volunteerism to your kids are plentiful. Consider age appropriate volunteer options for your family to do together. Contact local organizations with community-oriented goals and ask what sort of support they might need. Habitat for Humanity is one example of an organization that offers volunteer programs for older children. You can also start on the path to “going green” by beginning to recycle household items like paper, plastic and glass. The kids may enjoy helping you sort through your discarded items.

  For other ideas try visit these websites:

http://www.volunteermatch.org

http://www.redcross.org/

6.       Home Improvement

Your “Honey-do List” may include activities such as cleaning out the shed/garage, working on the garden, or painting your home. These can be fun activities to do with your children while teaching them the importance of work. If you have a lot of things you wish to get rid of you can also have a yard sale and maybe even make a few bucks in the process.

Use the kids to help get you set-up and organized, or to work as sales people! This is a good way to start them on the path to “going green” via recycle/reuse strategies. These activities can also teach them money management. A lemonade stand is also a great way to involve children in your project, as it can occur at the same time as the yard sale. You can use the money earned for a great night out with the family.

7.       Neighborhood cookouts/ Block parties

Hosting a cookout or block party in your neighborhood is a great chance to meet and mingle with new and old neighbors alike. By organizing a potluck style event for your block, everyone can pitch in and it will distribute the cost evenly. In some communities you can talk to the city about blocking off a street if you live in a subdivision or away from a major thoroughfare. Organizing this type of event can create a sense of community around you. Consider planning the event to coincide with a summer holiday such as the 4th of July or Memorial Day.

8.       Camping At Home

If you can’t afford to go away on a camping trip, arrange to camp out at home. You can set up a tent in the backyard, bring snacks and board games, sing campfire songs, and tell stories. Even if you don’t have a backyard or a tent, you can always build a fort using couch cushions, bed sheets, or other materials that are on hand already.

Spending time as a family is a wonderful investment you can make towards strengthening your marriage and family. It doesn’t take a great deal of cash to make a memorable summer for you and your loved ones. The only necessary ingredient is taking a little time to be creative and plan your activities. Be mindful that not all family outings will go as planned, so be flexible. A lot of times accidental mishaps lead to new adventures and new reasons to laugh.

These are just a few ideas to get you started thinking about fun, inexpensive ways to share time together. Remember to utilize the resources that are available to you. Your greatest resource is your imagination and creativity!

Causes of Morbid Obesity

The reasons for obesity are multiple and complex. Despite conventional wisdom, it is not simply a result of overeating. Research has shown that in many cases a significant, underlying cause of morbid obesity is genetic. Studies have demonstrated that once the problem is established, efforts such as dieting and exercise programs have a limited ability to provide effective long-term relief. Science continues to search for answers. But until the disease is better understood, the control of excess weight is something patients must work at for their entire lives. That is why it is very important to understand that all current medical interventions, including weight loss surgery, should not be considered medical cures. Rather they are attempts to reduce the effects of excessive weight and alleviate the serious physical, emotional and social consequences of the disease. Contributing Factors The underlying causes of severe obesity are not known. There are many factors that contribute to the development of obesity including genetic, environmental, metabolic and eating disorders. There are also certain medical conditions that may result in obesity, such as intake of steroids and hypothyroidism. What's more, our society has become increasingly inactive while our healthy food consumption decreases. High-calorie food and lack of exercise all contribute to the American population's becoming more and more overweight. Genetic Factors Numerous scientific studies have established that your genes play an important role in your tendency to gain excess weight. The body weight of adopted children shows no correlation with the body weight of their adoptive parents, who feed them and teach them how to eat. Their weight does have an 80 percent correlation with their genetic parents, whom they have never met. Identical twins, with the same genes, show a much higher similarity of body weights than do fraternal twins, who have different genes. Certain groups of people, such as the Pima Indian tribe in Arizona, have a very high incidence of severe obesity. They also have significantly higher rates of diabetes and heart disease than other ethnic groups. We probably have a number of genes directly related to weight. Just as some genes determine eye color or height, others affect our appetite, our ability to feel full or satisfied, our metabolism, our fat-storing ability and even our natural activity levels. The Pima Paradox The Pima Indians are known in scientific circles as one of the heaviest groups of people in the world. In fact, National Institutes of Health researchers have been studying them for more than 35 years. Some adults weigh more than 500 pounds, and many obese teenagers are suffering from diabetes, the disease most frequently associated with obesity. But, interestingly, a group of Pima Indians living in Sierra Madre, Mexico, does not have a problem with obesity and its related diseases. Why not? The leading theory states that after many generations of living in the desert, often confronting famine, the most successful Pima were those with genes that helped them store as much fat as possible during times when food was available. Now those fat-storing genes work against them. Though both populations consume a similar number of calories each day, the Mexican Pima still live much like their ancestors did. They put in 23 hours of physical labor each week and eat a traditional diet very low in fat. The Arizona Pima live like most other modern Americans, eating a diet consisting of around 40 percent fat and engaging in physical activity for only two hours a week. The Pima apparently have a genetic predisposition to gain weight. And the environment in which they live, the environment in which most of us live, makes it nearly impossible for the Arizona Pima to maintain a normal, healthy body weight. Environmental Factors Environmental and genetic factors are obviously closely intertwined. If you have a genetic predisposition toward obesity, then the modern American lifestyle and environment may make controlling weight more difficult. Fast food, long days sitting at a desk, and suburban neighborhoods that require cars all magnify hereditary factors such as metabolism and efficient fat storage. For those suffering from morbid obesity, anything less than a total change in environment usually results in failure to reach and maintain a healthy body weight. Metabolism We used to think of weight gain or loss as only a function of calories ingested and then burned. Take in more calories than you burn, gain weight; burn more calories than you ingest, lose weight. But now we know the equation isn't that simple. Obesity researchers now talk about a theory called the "set point," a sort of thermostat in the brain that makes people resistant to weight loss. If you try to override the set point by drastically cutting your calorie intake, your brain responds by lowering metabolism and slowing activity. You then gain back any weight you lost.

Cleansing: Detoxification Therapy

Detoxification is a broad term that encompasses many different ways of cleansing the body's internal systems and organs. Major methods include chelation therapy (EDTA therapy), colonic irrigation, nutritional supplementation, several varieties of herbal medicine, dietary therapy, fasting, juicing, probiotics, hydrotherapy, sauna and exercise.

Four main types of toxins are addressed through detoxification: heavy metals, chemical toxins, microbial compounds, and byproducts from protein metabolism. Advocates believe detoxification cleanses the body, clears the skin, enhances the senses, helps weight loss, improves fertility, improves flexibility, increases vitamin and mineral absorption, purifies, reduces blood fat levels, reduces symptoms of toxicity, rejuvenates, rests organs, and slows aging.

Organs that perform detoxification functions for the body include the skin, liver, intestines and kidneys. Many methods of detoxification focus on strengthening or supporting the natural processes of these organs.

For many methods of detoxification there is little or no evidence from clinical trials to enable recommendations for or against their use. See individual monographs on this site for reviews of the available evidence.

 

Theory

The various modalities of detoxification are thought to support the body's natural systems of detoxification or augment them. These systems and their related detoxification functions include the skin (perspiration), the liver (filtration of blood, secretion of bile and enzymes), the intestines (mucosal detoxification, excretion of feces), and the kidneys (excretion of urine).

Supplementation is intended to provide vital nutrients such as vitamins and minerals that support and stimulate the body's own detoxification mechanisms. One of the chief targets of nutritional supplements for detoxification is the liver.

Herbal approaches use "detoxifying herbs" to support the body's detoxification systems, bind with toxins to aid in their excretion, or aid the breakdown of toxins. Traditions of herbal medicine differ in their beliefs of how herbs aid detoxification. Western approaches use herbs for their biochemical properties, while Eastern approaches think in terms of the energetic qualities of the herbs.

Foods and diet: A cleansing diet is believed to relieve the burden on the body's detoxification systems by not introducing new toxins to be processed, and by allowing the body's natural mechanisms to work more efficiently on clearing accumulated toxins. Specific foods such as cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, oranges, tangerines, and caraway and dill seeds are believed to aid the liver in its role of detoxification.

Fasting: In fasting the body utilizes non-essential tissue (e.g., fat, digestive enzymes, muscle fibers, and glycolytic enzymes) for fuel. In naturopathic medicine fasting is regarded as a rapid method of eliminating wastes and enhancing the healing processes of the body. Fasting is thought to aid the release of fat-soluble toxins from the body.

Hydrotherapy: Hot water is believed to stimulate blood circulation and thereby stimulate filtration through the liver. It also works by excretion of toxins through perspiration.

Probiotics: Probiotics are thought to aid the detoxification functions of the colon by preserving the intestinal lining's protective barrier and inhibiting harmful bacteria that produce toxins in the colon.

Sauna: Like hydrotherapy, heat is believed to stimulate blood circulation and thereby stimulate filtration through the liver. It also works by excretion through perspiration.

Colonic irrigation: The basis for colonic irrigation (flushing the colon with water, sometimes accompanied by herbs) is the belief that toxins accumulate in the lining of the intestinal tract and penetrate into the bloodstream from there. Colonic irrigation is believed to directly flush these toxins out.

Chelation therapy: Chelation therapy is believed to draw heavy metals out of the cells and tissues for filtration by the liver and kidneys and excretion from the body.

Exercise: Exercise is considered to aid detoxification by virtue of the increased pumping of blood and lymph through the body's various filtration systems, as well as release of toxins through perspiration.

 

Synonyms

Ayurveda, bowel cleansing, chelation therapy, colon, colon cleanse, colon hydrotherapy, colon therapy, colonic irrigation, colonics, constipation, detox baths, EDTA therapy, enema, fasting, food allergies, gastrointestinal tract detoxification, heavy metal cleanse, herbal detoxification, herbs, high colonics, hormonal and skin care programs, hydrotherapy, intestinal cleanse, intestinal therapy, juice fasting, juice therapy, juicing, liver cleanse, lymph drainage, macrobiotic diet, nutrition, parasite cleanse, probiotics, rotation diet, skin care, skin cleanse, specific carbohydrate diet, supplements, toxic minerals, toxins, vitamins, water fasting, weight loss, wellness.

Not included in this review: Alcoholism and drug abuse detoxification.

 

Safety

The safety of the various approaches to detoxification varies depending on the methods being used and the health status of the individual. Possible risks of detoxification regimes by all people regardless of their health status include dehydration or depletion of essential nutrients. Professional guidance is recommended for anyone seeking a serious detoxification program. Unsupervised detoxification should not be attempted by people who have an acute or serious medical condition without medical consultation. Caution is advised in those taking prescription medications, as blood levels of drugs may be reduced by detoxification. This is especially a concern when herbs are being used as part of a detoxification regime. Consult with your healthcare professional first.

An effective detoxification regime may result in temporary side effects such as headaches and other aches and pains, fatigue, skin eruptions, emotional irritability, gas, tight muscles, yawning, temporary stopping of menstruation, and temporary constipation or diarrhea, as toxins are released from the body.

See the Natural Standard monographs on individual methods of detoxification for details about safety and precautions.

 

Evidence

These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider.

The Power of Soy

Soy-based products are on the rise for very healthy reasons. Learn how to get your recommended daily dose of this super bean. The humble soybean boasts some extraordinary benefits. In 1999, the FDA approved a dietary health claim for soy foods, recommending an average daily intake of 25 grams of soy protein with soy isoflavones—in addition to a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet—to reduce the risk of heart disease. This final rule is based on the FDA's conclusion that foods containing soy protein included in a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol might reduce the risk of cardiac-heart disease by lowering blood cholesterol levels. One way soy seems to promote heart health is its high content of isoflavones: Soy protein and soy isoflavones have been shown to promote healthy cholesterol that is already within normal range. Soy isoflavones help the body regulate estrogen levels, which might help alleviate many menopause and PMS symptoms. Soy protein enhances the body's ability to retain and better absorb calcium into the bones. Soy isoflavones help by slowing bone loss and inhibiting bone breakdown. Herbalife offers a wide range of great-tasting soy-based products including Formula 1 Nutritional Shake Mix,, Formula 3, Personalized Protein Powder, Bulk & Muscle Formula Protein Drink, Roasted Soy Nuts with Cardia® Salt, Protein Bars and Soup Mix.