Believe it or not, next year marks the 90th anniversary of Nutrilite. Many amazing things are in the works to celebrate this important milestone.
For starters, something I’m truly excited about is the upcoming release of TheNutrilite Story, 3rd Edition. The updated version of the book will not only to tell the ongoing story of the Nutrilite brand, but its release will also coincide with the 90th anniversary.
The book tells the story of my father, Carl Rehnborg, and how his insatiable curiosity and dogged determination created Nutrilite. It also shares how my personal journey from childhood up to the present has helped Amway and Nutrilite become what it is today. You’ll be able to get a copy of the book early next year.
That’s not all we have been busy with lately. To help people better understand the Nutrilite story and how my personal life has been so intertwined with health and wellness, I spent several days in a production studio capturing my impressions about the past, present and future.
Here’s a teaser video we put together to give you a taste of the content you will soon be able to see.
There’s even more. During the last two weeks in October, I will be touring Asia – stopping in China, Thailand, Malaysia, and Taiwan – to begin celebrating the 90th anniversary of the brand and all the amazing things happening with Amway and Nutrilite.
So make sure you stay tuned to my blog for updates about my trip.
With Summer ending and our Fall routine right around the corner, it’s a perfect time to reshare a post about 3 lifestyle habits for better gut health. Gut health is an increasingly important topic, and these tips will help you increase the good bacteria in your gut.
Woman making a heart hand symbol over her stomach. Three lifestyle factors — no smoking, less stress, and regular exercise — are things you can do right now to improve the health of your gut microbiome. Love your gut, and your gut will love you right back!
The human microbiome – the bacterial community that calls the human body home – continues to fascinate me. I am not alone. Last year, over 9,000 articles were published in the scientific literature on the subject, many about the bacterial community that lives in the human gut (the gut microbiome). In a previous post, I talked about how the health of your gut bacteria depends on your diet. Now, emerging research suggests that there are three things you can do right now to improve the health of your gut microbiome.
If you smoke, quit. You’ll improve your gut microbiome
We can add a healthy gut microbiome to the long list of reasons to quit smoking. In one review, published in the July 2018 issue of Archives of Microbiology, researchers found that smoking alters the gut microbiome in two important ways.
First, smoking changes the makeup of the bacterial colony in your gut, including decreasing potentially beneficial bacteria like Bifidobacteria. Second, smoking narrows the diversity of the entire bacterial colony.
Researchers have yet to confirm how smoking exerts these negative effects, but some believe it may relate to the ability to increase oxidative stress. Others suggest smoking may directly alter the integrity and function of the cells that line the intestine.
Two friends enjoy a laugh. The stress-reducing benefits of laughter are also good for your gut microbiome. Live, laugh and love. That’s one of my life mottos!
Relax and de-stress, your gut microbiome will thank you for it
There’s no debate that too much stress can cause digestive upset. Now, emerging research reveals this uncomfortable effect may relate to the gut microbiome. How?
First, stress may deplete potentially beneficial bacteria in the gut, including Lactobacillus bacteria. Second, stress may trigger the production of undesirable bacteria. Third, stress may increase the ability of undesirable bacteria to adhere to the cells that line the intestine. That’s a triple whammy that can take a serious toll on your gut health.
A family enjoys a hike in nature. Exercise is another significant factor that helps keep your gut microbiome healthy.
Get moving, it will fortify your healthy gut microbiome
Exercise, even moderate exercise, delivers a wide range of benefits for the body (and brain). Now, emerging research suggests that a healthy gut microbiome is another benefit.
In one study, published in the December 2014 issue of Gut, researchers were able to confirm for the first time that exercise increases the diversity of bacteria in the human gut. For this study, they compared the gut microbiome in professional male athletes (rugby players) during pre-season training to that of their sedentary counterparts.
When the researchers assayed stool samples for bacterial composition, they found the athletes had significantly greater diversity of gut bacteria, and the absolute differences were impressive. The athletes had at least twice as many bacterial phylum and families and almost twice as many genera. What’s more, the athletes had a higher proportion of bacteria associated with health, especially those who ate more protein.
Since the publication of this study, other researchers have been actively exploring the role of exercise on the health of the gut microbiome. Does exercise intensity matter? Do some types of exercise like Tai Chi offer benefits? Does exercise frequency matter? I, for one, am following this area of research with much interest.
A healthy microbiome starts with diversity
All ecosystems thrive when there is diversity. After all, diversity promotes stability and maintains performance. The human microbiome is no different, whether it relates to the bacteria living in our intestines or other areas of the body. For example, in the vagina, numerous Lactobacilli species are common, particularly in healthy women. This diversity contributes to a microbiome in balance that, in turn, is able to act as a protective bacterial barrier to maintain vaginal health.
A colorful meal brimming with vegetables. A diet rich in plant-foods helps nourish your healthy gut bacteria.
A healthy microbiome is a new measure of optimal health
I am eager to watch what researchers will uncover next. I truly believe that a healthy microbiome, whether in the gut, the vagina or elsewhere on the body, will become an important biomarker of health.
It’s a simple notion, really. Healthy diet and lifestyle habits nourish a healthy microbiome that, in turn, promotes strong immune defenses and digestive health for children, vaginal health for women, and intestinal health for adults of all ages.
Ready to nourish your gut? Here’s an easy 3-step plan. First, eat a diet rich in plant-based and fermented foods to promote the growth and activity of beneficial bacteria. Next, take a daily probiotic supplement to fill any gaps in your diet. Finally, choose lifestyle habits that help keep your microbiome in balance.
This past month I visited Malaysia and Singapore and experienced the joys of traveling to Amway markets once again. It was great to be on stage sharing my optimal health journey with so many new people. And I’m so impressed by the passion of the staff and leaders. They are incredibly focused on being the best they can be and building the future of our business.
I believe that when we have the opportunity to experience different geographies and cultures, we often change our perspectives about ourselves. My travels have helped me see the world differently and better understand how connected we all are. And I believe that being able to connect through health and wellness makes our bonds even stronger.
Back when I was in my 40s, I was eager to take the Nutrilite brand around the world. To do this, I felt that I needed to experience the customs and dietary practices of various cultures around the world firsthand. So I set sail on a three-year journey on a sailboat called the Firebird that would take me to 36 countries.
During my travels, I discovered that the people I met with the best nutrition were also the happiest, most prosperous, and most involved in their communities. It was this observation that confirmed my belief that taking charge of our own nutrition is critical to living full, satisfying lives, to going after our dreams, and to having enough drive to act on what’s really important to us.
Continuing in my 50s and 60s, I traveled extensively around the world, helping Amway open up international markets at a record pace, introducing Nutrilite products to 47 new markets over a 20-year period from 1986 to 2006.
My latest trip reaffirmed my belief in the power of optimal nutrition and the incredible goodwill of people all over the world who make up our Nutrilite community.
Here are some photos from the trip.
Cheers!
Enjoying the sights in beautiful Malaysia. Photo credit – Braden BeckFrancesca and I enjoyed our time on stage with Amway Managing Director, Mike Duong. Photo credit – Braden BeckEnjoying a wonderful meal with Amway Managing Director, Mike Duong. Photo credit – Braden BeckFrancesca and me telling our Nutrilite story at the Malaysia National Leadership Conference. Photo credit – Braden Beck.
At the end of February, I traveled from California to Michigan to visit Amway World Headquarters where I experienced some of the incredible work that is underway to build the future of the Nutrilite brand. I spoke at an employee meeting, met with teammates, toured manufacturing facilities, and visited other departments on the Ada Campus.
Speaking at the Amway Employee Meeting with Doug DeVos.
It was a good week. And my time in Michigan reaffirmed my belief in the future and helped me see that the Nutrilite brand and Amway are on the right track.
One thing that stood out to me were the bonds that exist between employees, a thread between good people and good work. I believe a key component of a successful company is happy employees who find meaning and purpose in their jobs. Part of that magic stems from a workplace culture that prioritizes overall wellbeing and a balance between work and play.
Yes, we all need to provide for ourselves and our families, but our work life shouldn’t necessarily define us. It’s just one component of our identity.
That’s why I was pleased to interact with employees who really get it, those who have figured out how to find the balance between career success and family. Everyone is unique and different; they bring their own perspective and experience to a community that is working tirelessly to create positive impact in our world. That’s the good thread.
I met with the Nutritional Products Plant team.The eSpring team shared a sneak peek of the next generation with me.I was given a great tour of the Spaulding Manufacturing facilities.I visited the wonderful team in Archives.
It’s all about PREVENTION
You’ve heard me discuss Prevention before. But I want to reiterate its importance. This simple concept can change the trajectory of our future. We need to start now, taking care of our health, taking care of our community, and taking care of our planet. It’s the triple bottom line approach that Amway and the Nutrilite brand have adopted. You see it on our farms, in our laboratories, in our manufacturing, in our offices and in the community of ABOs spread throughout the world who believe in the power of optimal health.
The future is bright!
I’m pleased that we are following a “good thread” – that we are on a positive path to the future that can make the world a better place. It’s time to be proactive and creative.
We need to constantly search for innovative ways to protect and improve our prospects in a world where technology and things like artificial intelligence are disrupting how we think about things we’ve taken for granted for a long time.
While it feels like everything is speeding up, the goal is to slow down. If you can do that, you will find meaning and purpose in a world where it feels like everyone, and everything wants our attention all the time.
So take a walk, read a book, enjoy a healthy meal with your family and friends. Breathe!
You’ll be glad you did.
Cheers!
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We’re nearing the end of 2022 and I’m inspired. It’s been a year to remember, one with obstacles and change, but also opportunity. For me, it’s an exciting time because I believe that despite the challenges we’re facing in the world, we’ve begun to understand why we need to act in order to secure a healthy future.
Sunrise on the Nutrilite El Petacal farm in Ubajara, Mexico.
We’re learning that problems can’t be passed on to the next generation anymore. There is an immediate need to work toward solutions, and I believe we are beginning to make tangible progress.
If you are a regular reader of my blog, you know that my dad was deeply connected to the wonders of the universe. He understood how biological systems are intertwined with humanity, and that we shouldn’t take natural resources for granted. He saw the finite nature of our existence. And he realized how the components found in plants were instrumental to our health as a species.
He clearly articulated the idea in this quote:
“We are made of nothing but what plants provide and other substances available in the air and water of the earth, and so we are inescapably in and of the earth, and in and of the universe. If we cannot get what the plants provide, we cannot live.”
Carl Rehnborg inspecting botanicals in 1953.
When I reflect on these words from my father, I think about the continued progress we need to make as a species to help prevent unhealthy outcomes and damage to the planet.
Living in the future
We need to continue to gain momentum and help people see that the best way to avoid problems occurring in the future is to act in the present and prevent them from happening in the first place.
We shouldn’t be just reacting — for instance, many of our health problems can be avoided if we do simple things every day that keep our body and mind active and engaged. Waking up each day with a positive, healthy mindset positions us to learn, grow and find solutions to community issues that can affect the health of the entire world on a much broader level.
In other words, you can act locally to make a difference globally. That’s how it starts. The impact we make each day compounds into future success.
Here’s some of the progress I’m seeing:
More power from renewable energy systems is coming online, helping us reduce pollution and power a cleaner future.
Regenerative farming practices are helping remediate the land and bring soil back to its original nutrient-rich state. And many people are embracing circular economies and they are beginning to understand the importance of concepts like biomimicry.
Diets are changing and reframing the idea of food security into nutrition security is helping people eat healthier and improve their quality of life.
People are becoming more active and seeing that regular exercise increases our health span so that we might live beyond 100 years.
Through this, Amway and Nutrilite continue to grow and build community. People are understanding how to be a product of the product and lead healthy lifestyles that others can follow.
What could be better than that?
2022 has been a good year. Here’s to a successful and healthy 2023!
Cheers!
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Welcome to my blog on healthy living with the Nutrilite™ brand.
