I'm sorry. I'm afraid I haven't been totally honest with you...

A question I am frequently asked is "If I start Isagenix, will I have to continue using it for the rest of my life?" to which I generally answer "No, of course not."

Recently, one of my customers brought the Isagenix products in to her primary health care provider, who basically told her otherwise. My immediate reaction was that she was wrong, however I have thought about that, and I have to apologize and tell you why she might be right.

Even losing 1.5% of this can cause adverse effects in mood, energy level, and the ability to think clearly

You may have guessed it. It's loss of water volume in your body. In his book, 'Your Body's Many Cries For Water', Dr. Batmanghelidg emphasizes both the healing effects of water, and the damaging effects of dehydration. Losing 1.5% of your water volume isn't really that difficult.

Listen to Lawrence E. Armstrong, professor of physiology in UConn's Department of Kinesiology in the Neag School of Education. He is an international expert on hydration, and has conducted research in the field for more than 20 years. "Our thirst sensation doesn't really appear until we are 1 [percent] or 2 percent dehydrated. By then dehydration is already setting in and starting to impact how our mind and body perform. Dehydration affects all people, and staying properly hydrated is just as important for those who work all day at a computer as it is for marathon runners, who can lose up to 8 percent of their body weight as water when they compete."

You may enjoy raisins, but you don't want to be one. Same with prunes. Not a pretty thought. Now think of your brain turning into a raisin or prune.

As summer approaches (here in the Pacific Northwest) or is in full swing (nearly everywhere else), this becomes even more important. Studies have shown, for instance, that elderly people who are hospitalized for dehydration often die within that same year. Your body will attempt to rob moisture from vital organs to help your blood carry vital nutrients along.

In coaching people to health using the Isagenix system of foods and supplements, we recommend 100 ounces of clean water daily as a good place to start. Larger-bodied people will require more, possibly, to stay well hydrated. Here's a little test you can do at home. On a day when you have had an adequate amount of water, pinch the skin on the back of your hand, as you hold it out in front of you, palm down. The skin will quickly return and not stay in a "tent" shape. If you do this little test, and the skin does stay in a tent-like shape, it's a good indication you need more hydration.

Drink more water! Drink less of the dehydrating beverages like coffee and alcohol. One tool many of our team members use to help them consume enough water, is to use Want More Energy to make the water taste better, and to provide vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes their body needs. My personal favorite is orange, but the hibiscus is also not only delicious, but a sort of aroma-therapy experience as well. If you enjoy the taste of lemonade, citrus may be for you.

I'm so thankful that you've taken the very important step of getting in control of your health. My goal is to support you in achieving YOUR Isagenix goals. Since this system is designed primarily to assist the body in getting rid of poisons and impurities by flushing them out through the urinary system, it is absolutely imperative that you consume enough clean water. If you don't, you may experience some negative effects as the released impurities remain in your body. Now - go get a glass of water!

Successfully Yours,

Ruth Shapovalov
1 425 802 2763
ruthashapovalov@gmail.com

Are you for real?

Why do you eat food? Be honest. What's the first thing that came to your mind when you read that? My honest first reaction is "Because I like it!" Of course, everyone knows that human beings require food to live. Everyone also agrees that, at least in America, many human beings eat far more than is required to live. 

What are we eating? And, is it "real"? How do you even know what nutritional value that food has, that you are happily consuming. I can pretty much guarantee it's not what you think it is, unless you raised it yourself under absolute clean conditions, and ate it the day it was harvested, with zero processing.


Here is a little information from a website called 'Mother Earth News' :


Official U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutrient data shows that the calcium content of broccoli averaged 12.9 milligrams per gram of dry weight in 1950, but only 4.4 mg/g dry weight in 2003.

Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Sustainable-Farming/Nutrient-Decline-Industrial-Farming.aspx#ixzz1uaETT2ls


For the past 68 months I have been enjoying very, very real food as my nutritional foundation, and supplementing with foods from local grocery stores, farmers' markets, and fruit stands. Why don't I call those "real"? So glad you asked. There is definitely a difference, and it's not just in the form in which the foods come. The nutritional content, for the sake of this discussion, will be what determines "real" food (that nourishes and strengthens the body), and sub-standard food (may taste wonderful, but doesn't do the utmost good for the body). 


As I write this letter, I am enjoying a wonderful salad. It's shredded organic cabbage, topped by a crumbled organic vegetable patty, and topped with hummus dressing and raw, organic chia seeds. It's delicious. I like food.  I like the smell, the crunch, the warmth, the friendliness of food. But my little lunch is sub-standard. Why? Because I don't know how long the cabbage sat in the store before I bought it. I don't know how long the ingredients in my vegetable patty were in the facility before being processed and frozen. I really don't trust the dressing ingredients, however tasty it may be. Am I getting a decent amount of minerals? Vitamins? Quality protein? I don't really know. Am I enjoying the salad? Absolutely.

But what I had for breakfast set me up for nutritional success for the day. I know that it was 100% fresh when I consumed it. I know it was 100% toxin-free. I know the exact amount of every vital mineral, vitamin, and amino acid I put into my body. My breakfast was more full of "REAL" nutrition than 99.9% of Americans' diet for the entire day. And that, my friends, is a documented truth. If you want to look at the ingredients in my breakfast, here are the links to the 3 parts:  Part 1, Part 2, Part 3. These links will simply show you what I ate. I wish you could taste it...

What if we could have the best of both worlds? What if we could create a nutritional foundation which fulfilled all of our body's needs to thrive, and then enjoy the social pleasure and taste, smell, and texture pleasure of munching on so-called "real" food, too? Guess what! We can.

The beauty of having super foods which become live when you add water, is that you can enjoy them once, twice, three times, or all the time, without risk of spoilage, loss of vital nutrients, or any kind of compromise. You can know you've provided your body with all the fuel it requires, and then go satisfy your desire to sit over a delicious cup of coffee or tea with a friend, and enjoy a sensible meal. These actions are not mutually exclusive. 


What if you want to drop excess pounds, and along with them, excess toxic fat? Just enjoy more of the super food meals than you do grocery store or restaurant foods. Follow a simple Cleansing plan, and achieve that goal. What if you want to suspend that more intense plan during a special season or occasion? It's your plan. Do as you like. Just know that you will have different results based upon your actions. Actually, isn't that how life works, in general?


So, when I hear people say, regarding Isagenix, that they just want to get their nutrition from "real food", I have to smile to myself. I know that some of what they are calling "real" is as stripped of anything that nourishes the body as it can possibly be. Just because it is  good for food, and a delight to the eyes doesn't mean it's your best choice for breakfast.

Are you "for real"? 

Rainbow Stuffed Peppers

Sweet bell peppers are among the most nutrient-dense foods available. They supply impressive amounts of fiber and vitamins C and A, as well as silicon, an element that promotes beautiful hair, skin, nails, and teeth. With only 12 calories per 1/2 cup raw, they can be enjoyed raw, roasted, juiced, or added to a variety of recipes. They’re definitely a superfood.

Serves: 4

Ingredients

4 large sweet bell peppers in different colors
1 cup finely diced celery
3 ripe tomatoes, chopped
3 scallions, finely diced
1 large ripe avocado, mashed
1 carrot, grated
1 cup mixed sprouts
1/4 cup diced jicama
1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
1 Tbsp. Sesame-Seed Salt (also known as Gomasio; see Chapter 16 for the recipe)
Butter lettuce
Fresh parsley sprigs for garnish

Directions

Cut off the top of each pepper, remove the seeds and ribs, wash, and dry with a paper towel. In a bowl, combine all other ingredients. Spoon the filling into the peppers. Serve on a bed of lettuce or sprouts and garnish with fresh parsley sprigs.

Variations 
When you’re in the mood for something a little spicy, drizzle the stuffed peppers with a little salsa or add a chopped jalapeno pepper. Try using some fresh corn kernels cut off the cob or fresh peas. To add some extra protein, include some beans or sprouted lentila in the mixture or sprinkled on the lettuce leaves.

When awareness becomes action

Are you aware that our food supply is tainted and nutrient-depleted? What action are you choosing to take?

Are you aware that cancer is taking down over a million people a year in the US? What action are you choosing to take?

Do you know that obesity causes serious health issues, and is a rapidly-growing problem in the US? What action are you choosing to take to remedy or avoid that?

Maybe you're happy just being aware. I'm not. What hope is there, in awareness? There is only hope when action is taken to avoid or fix that which is killing us.

Here are some suggestions:

Your very best choice for nutrition would be organically home-grown (or very locally grown) eaten raw right after harvesting, vegetables and fruits. Next would be super clean animal proteins, including wild-caught fish. Even then, you would need to be sure what you were eating had not been contaminated by nearby pesticide or herbicide sprays, or even things like jet fuel.

There is information in abundance on how you can help your body avoid cancer. Rather than sporting a ribbon, why not find and take action? Find someone who has beaten cancer with nutrition, and follow their example. Find documented proof that a particular diet helps you resist cancer. Take action. Awareness does not save lives.

Avoid becoming obese. If you're overweight, turn that around. If you're already obese, the time to take action is NOW. There simply is no time to waste. Your life depends upon your action; not your awareness. Do one thing different today. One thing. Do some research. What can you give up today, which will give your body a fighting chance? Maybe you can give up pop. Maybe you can give up your daily candy bar.

Can supplements help?

Can enzyme-live foods which become live when you add water, help?

Are you ready to move from awareness to action?

Let's talk.

Are you Upside Down?

Being upside down in your health is worse than being upside down in your mortgage...

You don't "remember" the hunter-gatherer days, but you know of them. What hunter-gatherers consumed were foods with high nutrition and low calories. Today, most Americans, Canadians, and increasingly people in other countries around the world, are getting the reverse—high calories and low nutrition. Many are overfed, yet starving to death. Their bodies are accumulating fat and pollutants from intentional AND unintentional contaminants in our food supply, causing their biological systems to shut down and be vulnerable to a variety of chronic diseases.

Ask the Doctor